The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2019 election

  • ‘No thumb printed ballot papers found in my house’

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun state, Otunba Babatunde Onakoya, on Thursday declared that there were no thumb printed ballot papers found in his house in Ijebu – Ode area of the state.

    Onakoya added that neither him nor his son who is the Chairman of Leguru Local Council Development Area, in Ijebu, Ololade Onakoya, is being investigated by security agencies in connection with the 2019 general elections or any other matter.

    The Federal Board member of Benin/Owena River Basin Authority, who made this known to reporters while reacting to news making the round that he and his son were involved in thumb printed ballot papers, also said the Chairman, Odogbolu Local Government, Wale Shittu, was not under any investigation for anything or over thumb printed ballot papers.

    Onakoya described the allegation as baseless, fake and unfounded rumour being purveyed by those threatened by his avid support for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He also dismissed the allegation as “tissues of lies and a good example of fake news concocted by enemies of democracy.”

    He said: “I have never engaged in any acts of brigandage in the name of politics and will never do.

    “I strongly suspect that this is handiwork of those who are feeling threatened with our total commitment to ensure that President Buhari coast home to victory on Saturday.

    “We are pushing for this within the ambit of the law and we shall not be intimidated by anybody or group of people that want to return us to era of waste and stinking corruption.”

    Onakoya said his attention was drawn to the malicious information on Thursday morning and was surprised to discover that people could resort to destruction of his hard-earned reputation and dignity of his family just because of his unrepentant commitment to actualization of President Buhari’s second term ambition this Saturday.

  • INEC okays resumption of campaigns

    PARTIES threatening to resume campaigns following the postponement of the general elections got the nod to return to campaign grounds last night.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reversed itself on its earlier position that political campaigns ended last Thursday, being 48 hours to the Presidential and National Assembly elections that was shifted by a week.

    The commission after reviewing its decision yesterday gave parties the go-ahead to resume campaigns.

    INEC had in the early hours of Saturday postponed Presidential and National Assembly election from February 16 to February 23 and the Governorship and State Assembly, as well as Federal Capital Territory (FCT) polls of March 2 to March 9.

    The commission cited logistics and alleged sabotage of its efforts for the shift.

    Fielding questions at a stakeholders meeting where INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, explained the last minute’s decision, the commission insisted that the ban on campaigns would remain in force.

    But the parties vowed to go ahead with campaigns since Section 99 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, stipulates that campaign should stop 48 hours to the election.

    INEC announced the resumption of campaign yesterday through a statement by its National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye.

    The statement reads: “The Independent National Electoral Commission met on Monday, 18th February, 2019 and reviewed its preparations for the 2019 general elections re-scheduled for Saturday, 23rd February, 2019 for the Presidential and National Assembly elections and Saturday, 9th March, 2019 for governorship, State Assembly and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections.

    “It would be recalled that at the briefing held on Saturday, 16th February, 2019 at the Abuja International Conference Centre (AICC), the commission gave reasons for re-scheduling the polls and released a new schedule of activities leading up to the elections.

    Read also: Court remands pastor for allegedly raping girl, 11

    “The commission has also worked out in detail, concrete steps to be taken to ensure that election materials arrive at the polling units in good time for prompt commencement of the polls on Saturday, 23rd February 2019.

    “An update will be provided by the Commission at a press conference on Tuesday, 19th February at the Abuja International Conference Centre by 3pm.

    “In the meantime, after consultations with political parties, the Commission has approved that campaigns by parties and candidates can resume forthwith to end by midnight of Thursday, let February 2019.

    “Media organisations are at liberty to accept, publish, broadcast and circulate campaign materials up till midnight of Thursday, 21st February, 2019. Political parties and their candidates are enjoined to abide by the extant laws governing campaigns.

    “The commission wishes to thank all Nigerians for their understanding regarding the rescheduling of the elections. We appeal to stakeholders to be dispassionate and circumspect in their comments.

    “The Commission is focusing on the elections to be held on 23, February and 9, March to ensure that they are free, fair and credible. We urge all Nigerians to participate fully in the elections, notwithstanding the disappointment.”

  • APC chieftain to U.S., UK, EU: solve your own problems first before helping us

    AN All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Yekini Nabena has asked the United States (U.S.) to concentrate on probing the alleged involvement of Russia in its 2016 presidential election instead of trying to dictate to Nigeria how to conduct its general election.

    Nabena also asked the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) to find ways of addressing the breakdown of the Brexit deal between them and many other serious challenges facing them.

    In a statement made available to The Nation in Abuja, Nabena reminded the western nations that they have enough already on their hands and therefore, their time and energy should be spent on the probe of alleged Russian interference in the immediate-past U.S. elections.

    He said: “In all elections conducted in the country, we have always welcomed local and foreign monitors and observers. In our view, this is a best practice and geared to ensure the transparency of our elections.

    “But comments on our election processes coming from some western diplomats and accredited foreign observer missions have been downright meddlesome and tantamount to interference.

    “Nigeria is a sovereign nation and such actions by these western countries negate the principles of international law, which outlaws interference in the domestic affairs of a sovereign nation by another country.

    “While the electioneering process might not be perfect as seen with the last-minute postponement of the general elections, we must all work together to make it better. Statements and actions by these western diplomats and accredited foreign observer missions that erode confidence in the elections are inexcusable and strongly condemned. As a country, we will always find local solutions to our local challenges whenever they arise.

    “The U.S., UK and EU have enough already on their hands. Their time and energy should be spent on the probe of alleged Russian interference in the immediate-past U.S. elections, the breakdown of the Brexit deal between the UK and EU and many other serious challenges they face.”

    He, however, condemned the last-minute postponement of the elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He urged the INEC to correct the lapses, which led to the postponement to ensure hitch-free rescheduled elections on Saturday.

  • Buhari: no plan to remove INEC Chairman Yakubu

    There is no plan to remove Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Mahmood Yakubu over the abrupt postponement of the general elections, the Presidency said yesterday.

    A leading politician has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari was planning to give Yakubu the push over last Saturday’s postponement of the elections.

    “It is not true,” a Presidency source said.

    The denial came amid claims that Prof. Yakubu has taken charge of logistics for the elections.

    Besides, The Nation learnt,  the electoral agency is to release details of the state-by-state collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, debunked the reports that Yakubu was to be removed.

    Shehu said: “Those reports are utterly baseless and false. There is nothing like that.

    “Whoever is saying the President is removing INEC chairman is just displaying his illiteracy. Let him go and read the constitution.

    “You need a resolution by two-thirds majority of the Senate for any such action.”

    The clarification by the Presidency came against the backdrop of the agitation by National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, and the alarm raised by the amorphous Coalition of United  Political Parties( CUPP) that President Muhammadu Buhari was plotting to remove the INEC chairman.”

    Another government source, who spoke in confidence, said: “What PDP National Chairman Secondus wanted was more of electoral anarchy, which this Buhari administration will not oblige him. Resignation or removal of INEC chairman is never contemplated by the President.

    “Buhari’s administration  will not change the rule in the middle of the game. Asking INEC chairman to quit will cause rumpus within INEC management , disrupt all preparations for the poll and create unrest nationwide.

    “The opposition has a hidden agenda, which this government will not buy into. We will also not play into their hands.The INEC chairman will remain in charge of the electoral agency.”

    Secondus said the “shoddy” arrangement for the elections by INEC was “a deliberate agenda” of President Buhari to cling on to power even when it’s obvious to him that Nigerians want him out.

    Secondus called on Yakubu to resign immediately.

    The PDP leader  warned that the party will not accept anything short of a well organised electoral process devoid of manipulation,   harassment and intimidation of voters and the opposition, particularly members of the PDP.

    Having failed in all their nefarious options to enable them cling on to power, the APC and the INEC came up with the idea of shifting  elections, an action that is dangerous to our democracy and unacceptable, Secondus said.

    Sections 157 and 158 of the 1999 Constitution prescribe conditions for the removal of the INEC chairman and National Commissioners as well as board members of nine other agencies.

    Section 157 says: “(1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, a person holding any of the offices to which this section applies may only be removed from that office by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that he be so removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or for misconduct.

    “(2) This section applies to the offices of the Chairman and members of the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Federal Civil Service Commission, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the National Judicial Council, the Federal Judicial Service Commission, the Federal Character Commission, the Nigeria Police Council, the National Population Commission, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission and the Police Service Commission.

    “(3) All members of the National Population Commission shall cease to be members if the President declares a National Census Report as unreliable and the report is rejected in accordance with Section 213 of this Constitution.”

    Section 158 (1) says: “In exercising its power to make appointments or to exercise disciplinary control over persons, the Code of Conduct Bureau, the National Judicial Council, the Federal Civil Service Commission, the Federal Judicial Service Commission, the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission, the Federal Character Commission, and the Independent National Electoral Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other authority or person.”

    A source, who spoke in confidence, told The Nation that “the INEC chairman had told his team of his plan to supervise the logistics for the elections”. He said from Monday, he will shift base to the airport to take stock and monitor the airlift of sensitive materials to all the states,” The source said, adding:

    “He has vowed not to leave any stone unturned. The latest plan is to ensure that all the 36 states and the FCT are ready for the first phase of the elections on or before Thursday. We want everything set in 8,809 Registration Areas, Wards and in 119, 973 Polling Units and 57,023 Voting Points nationwide so that accreditation can take off simultaneously on Saturday.

    “If the Central Bank of Nigeria or the Nigerian Air Force cannot cope with the airlift of materials, INEC has floated a Plan B to engage chartered aircraft. No stone will be left unturned.”

    Meanwhile, the electoral commission may release the statistics on collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards on state by state basis during the week.

    A National Commissioner said: “We will be as transparent as possible. During the week, we will release the statistics of PVCs’ collection per state. Also, each Resident Electoral Commissioner ( REC) will be mandated to make the breakdown of the PVCs available to the public on local government basis.

    “While it is true that over 84million eligible  voters registered, not all of them collected their PVCs. We want to give account of what was collected before the poll.”

    The CUPP on Saturday raised the alarm over an alleged plan by the President to suspend the INEC chair.

    It alleged that President Buhari was planning to replace Yakubu with Amina Zakari as Acting Chairman under the guise of INEC’s inability to conduct the presidential and National Assembly elections.

    According to CUPP, Buhari wanted to sack the INEC chair  for refusing to conduct staggered election.

    In a statement by its National spokesperson, Ikenga Ugochinyere, the CUPP alleged that the Buhari-led APC sabotaged INEC distribution of materials and turned back to condemn the electoral umpire.

    The coalition warned that the move to sack INEC chairman will throw Nigeria into full electoral and constitutional crisis.

    The statement reads: “The Coalition of United Political Parties is alerting the world of plan and decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to announce the suspension of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, from office.

    “The President has also pencilled down Amina Zakari for appointment as the Acting Chairman citing her experience as the oldest and most experienced National Commissioner of the Commission.

    “The President is planning to use the excuse of inability to hold election today (Saturday) as a reason for the imminent suspension.

    “Feigning ignorance of the real reasons behind the shift, the President in his earlier statement did not have just a word for the shameful and despicable actions of security forces and the central Bank staff who in obedience to Presidency directives deliberately sabotaged the distribution of sensitive materials in selected states.

    “We are aware that his hurried return to Abuja today (Saturday) from his home state, Katsina is to sack the INEC boss. But this should be resisted by all well-meaning Nigerians and the international community.

    “The sin of the INEC chairman is that he refused to conduct staggered elections that will allow the President and his men to manipulate the process.

    “The Presidency had mounted pressure on the Commission to conduct election today (Saturday) in states where there were no issues and postpone only the states with materials distribution issues. The INEC Chairman insisted on conducting the election at the same time, hence warranting the postponement of the entire election.

    “We hereby warn President Buhari that the position of the INEC chairman is independent, hence, he cannot be removed from office via suspension. The 1999 Constitution in Section 157(1) states that the Chairman and members of the Commission may only be removed by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate that the person be removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or for misconduct.”

  • N’Assembly shifts plenary resumption over election postponement

    The National Assembly on Sunday shifted its resumption date earlier scheduled for 19th February 2019.

    According to a statement by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, Senators and House of Representatives members will now resume plenary on February 26, 2019.

    Omolori said that the shift on the date of resumption of plenary  was informed by the postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections which is now to take place on Saturday February 23, 2019.

    Read also: Poll Shift: INEC retrieves sensitive materials from LGs in Plateau

    The statement read “This is to inform all Distinguished Senators and Honourable members that resumption of plenary session earlier scheduled for Tuesday 19th February, 2019 has been postponed to Tuesday 26th February, 2019 due to the postponement of the national elections.

    “All Distinguished Senators and Honourable members are expected to resume plenary session by 10 am on the 26th February, 2019.”

  • Poll Shift: INEC retrieves sensitive materials from LGs in Plateau

    Following the shift in the date for the conduct of the general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Plateau has retrieved all sensitive materials earlier distributed to the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.

    Mr Osaretin Imahireogbo, Head, Voter Education and Publicity of the commission in the state told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Sunday in Jos.

    NAN recalls that INEC had, last Thursday, distributed all sensitive materials to the various LGAs in the state.

    Imahireogbo said that the retrieval, which began on Saturday night, was concluded on Sunday morning, adding that all the materials had been deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Jos, the State capital.

    Read also: Election postponement won’t stop APC’s victory, says Egbeyemi

    “With the change in the date of the general elections, we have retrieved all the sensitive materials that we earlier distributed to the 17 LGAs of Plateau.

    “All the materials are intact and now kept in the custody of the CBN where it was collected and distributed to the LGAs,” he said.

    The official said all card readers had also been retrieved and kept at the Commission’s office. (NAN)

  • Bride-to-be laments elections postponement

    The postponement of the presidential and national assembly elections has left a bride-to- be in  a dilemma  as the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) timetable has disrupted her marriage plan for a second time.

    Miss Rita Osawende’s wedding was originally fixed for yesterday but was unexpectedly  re-scheduled for Saturday,February 23,the same date she had picked because of the earlier clash of  date.

    Osawende told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin that  all arrangements for her big day had been concluded for February only for INEC to upset her plan again.

    “INEC please help me revisit this issue,” she said.

    “The original date was fixed for February 16, but as soon as I knew it’s elections day, it was postponed to February 23rd.

    “What do I do? All arrangements have been made.

    “I have printed and distributed my invitation cards for the wedding. I am so confused,” NAN quoted her as saying.

  • INEC chairman speaks on postponement of polls

  • Why we postponed polls, by INEC

    After a marathon meeting which lasted about eight hours, the  Independent National Commission (INEC) in the early morning of Saturday announced postponement of the general elections.

    Consequently, the Presidential and National Assembly elections will come up next Saturday, 23rd February 2019 while the governorship and state Assembly election will now hold on 9th March, 2019.

    INEC had earlier scheduled today 16th February 2019 for the presidential and National Assembly, while the State elections were scheduled for 2nd March, 2019 before this latest decision by the commission.

    INEC hinged the postponement of the elections on logistic challenges.

    INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and the National Commissioners met with some observer for hours before reaching the decision.

    The announcement came barely few hours to the elections.

    Announcing the decision, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said it was a difficult decision to take.

    Yakubu however, said INEC will be meeting with stakeholders by 2pm today.

    He said: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) met on Friday 15th February 2019 and reviewed its preparations for the 2019 General Elections scheduled for Saturday, 16’h February 2019 and Saturday, 2nd March 2019.

    “Following a careful review of the implementation of its logistics and operational plan and the determination to conduct free, fair and credible elections, the Commission came to the conclusion that proceeding with the elections as scheduled is no longer feasible.

    “Consequently, the Commission has decided to reschedule the Presidential and National Assembly Elections to Saturday, 23” February 2019. Furthermore, the Govemorship, State House of Assembly and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections is rescheduled to Saturday 9‘h March 2019. This will afford the Commission the opportunity to address identified challenges in order to maintain the quality of our elections.

    “This was a difficult decision for the Commission to take, but necessary for the successful delivery of the elections and the consolidation of our democracy.

    “The Commission will meet key stakeholders to update them on this development at 2pm. on Saturday, l6lh February 2019 at the Abuja International Conference Centre.”

  • Who wears the crown?

    WHO rules Nigeria over the next four years? That is the major task before voters as they go to the polls today to pick the country’s president in the biggest election ever in its history. Although a  total of 73 candidates are in the presidential race, according to the list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the contest from all indications will be a straight fight between the  incumbent, Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the only candidates to have physically gone round the country to canvass for votes. It has been a tough duel; it is the race of their lives. But the odds seem to be in favour of Buhari with projections and poll experts tipping him to win the most votes.

    There are a total of 84 million voters registered for the elections and the March 2 governorship and state assembly elections. Buhari’s APC  is in control of the four states with the largest concentration of registered voters: Lagos 6.8m, Kano 5.4m, Kaduna 3.9m and Katsina 3.2m, and his popularity in the Northwest with 20.1million voters and Northeast with 11.2m voters is unrivalled. Poll projections suggest that in the Northeast,the President will win in Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Yobe while Atiku is likely to win in Taraba. Adamawa, where Atiku comes from, is generally seen as a battleground between the two leading candidates, although many residents acknowledge Buhari as the brain behind the relative peace being enjoyed in the state now after many years of insecurity unleashed by Boko Haram.

    Most of the states in North Central – Kwara, Kogi, Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa- are regarded as battlegrounds but Buhari is tipped to win in Niger. The Northwest, especially Kano with its enormous votes, has always been Buhari’s comfort zone .His home state – Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Kebbi, Zamfara and Jigawa are all considered safe for him. Same goes for the Southwest where the APC is in control of the six states in the zone:Lagos,Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo. Atiku is projected to win in all the five Southeast states of Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo, although Buhari is tipped to receive more votes in the zone than he did in 2015. Most of the states in the South-South are also projected to vote for Atiku. These are Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta and Cross River while Edo and Akwa Ibom are likely to cast their lot with Buhari. Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina have largest number of voters With  6,570,291 ,Lagos has the largest number of registered  voters for this year’s elections.It if followed by  Kano with  5,457,747, Kaduna with 3,932,492 and  Katsina  with 3,230,230. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it registered over 84 million voters for the elections .

     

    Following is the breakdown of  how voters were registered  state by state:

    Abia 1,932,892 Adamawa 1,973,083 Akwa Ibom 2,119,727 Anambra 2,447,996 Bauchi 2,462,843 Bayelsa 923,182 Benue 2,480,131 Borno 2,315,956 Cross River 1,527,289 Delta 2,845,274 Ebonyi 1,459,933 Edo 2,210,534 Ekiti 909,967 Enugu 1,944,016 FCT 1,344,856 Gombe 1,394,393 Imo 2,272,293 Jigawa 2,111,106 Kaduna 3,932,492 Kano 5,457,747 Katsina 3,230,230 Kebbi 1,806,231 Kogi 1,646,350 Kwara 1,406,457 Lagos 6,570,291 Nasarawa 1,617,786 Niger 2,390,035 Ogun 2,375,003 Ondo 1,822,346 Osun 1,680,498 Oyo 2,934,107 Plateau 2,480,455 Rivers 3,215,273 Sokoto 1,903,166 Taraba 1,777,105 Yobe 1,365,913 Zamfara 1,717,128