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Tag: 2019 ELECTIONS

  • Why we lost to PDP in Edo Central, by ex-Deputy Speaker

    A former Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Frank Okiye, has said that the All Progressives Congress lost the Presidential and National Assembly election in Edo Central Senatorial district because of the campaign of calumny against President Muhammadu Buhari by some religious groups.

    Edo Central comprising of five local government areas is a stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party. It was only in Igueben that the APC has been able to overrun the PDP in the February 23 general election.

    Hon Okiye who is the APC House of Assembly candidate for Esan North East constituency 1 said the influence of late Chief Tony Anenih also played a role.

    Okiye noted that the people late Anenih made were still influential and they understand the management of election in a political system.

    He, however, insisted that results declared from the district were manipulated in favour of the PDP as records showed there were compromises in some areas.

    The former Deputy Speaker said many APC leaders in the zone were not committed and argued that the results were not true reflections of what happened in the field.

    On the chances of the APC in Saturday’s election, Okiye said the APC candidates have bright chances of winning the elections.

    His words, “Our chances are very bright. We have a number of things going for us. We have captured the national and our people are conscious of joining mainstream politics.

    “We have the candidates that are credible and have the capacity to win elections. Our candidates have good public relations with people across political divide. Our people have a bigger picture of what we can get in the likely hood of winning the election. Oipnion moulders are involved and the narration has started changing.

    “We have overcome the initial challenges. This election is local. We are facing it ourselves.

    “Our people should understand we are one common people. We mean well for them. They should give us opportunity to demonstrate that we can do better.”

  • Why we’ll contest presidential results, by Obi

    The Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded presidential elections, Mr. Peter Obi on Monday asked those discouraging the party from heading to court to perish the idea.

    He said the party was not going to court to challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC) but the process that brought them to power.

    Obi, who spoke with newsmen in Onitsha, said dissuading the party from contesting the outcome of the poll was allowing impunity to go unchallenged.

    He accused the APC of gross manipulation of the electoral process, describing the act as worse than corruption.

    Obi said he aligned fully with PDP as a party, the Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and well-meaning Nigerians in condemning the exercise.

    He expressed confidence that the party would reclaim its mandate at the court.

    He said: “There is nothing to reconcile because we are not quarreling with them.

    “We are quarrelling with the process that declared them winners.

    “Every competition has its own rules. You can’t go into a football competition and score from the offside and said it should be accepted.

    “This is even worse than scoring from offside. They went and threw in the ball into the goal post when nobody was there.

    “We can’t continue with election rigging, incompetence and nepotism which are worse than corruption in any society.”

    Obi thanked Nigerians for their support for the party, especially the youth and women, some of who he said were exercising their voting rights for the first time.

    “I was touched by the eagerness with which Nigerians came out to fulfill their civic duties of voting in the over 119,000 polling booths scattered all over Nigeria.

    “I also condole the families of those that lost their lives and those that sustained various degrees of injuries during the election,” he added.

    He appealed to them not to allow their spirit become dampened towards the performance of their civic duties in future.

    According to Obi: “The election was anything but a transparent, free and fair election, which certainly fell far below the standard established by the 2015 presidential election.

    He claimed it was characterised by deliberate voters’ suppression and intimidation throughout the South-East and South-South, actions he described as the highest form of corruption.

    Read Also: Abdusalami peace committee meet Atiku, Obi

    Obi lamented that the two zones under reference witnessed different sets of rule.

    He continued: “While some zones voted strictly using the card readers, other zones, as part of the manipulation orchestrated by the ruling party, APC were allowed to vote without card readers contrary to the guidelines INEC issued before the election.

    “As law abiding citizens, the PDP as a party, its Presidential candidate and himself, had decided to go to court because of their belief in the rule of law.

    “Though elections give citizens a means to hold their leaders accountable by voting incumbents out of office or promising to hold to account those leaders successfully elected, the process is more important than the outcome as the rule of law must always prevail.

    “Thus, the consequences of Nigeria without rule of law will be unimaginable chaos and tyranny.”

  • Kaduna: PRP, PDP senatorial candidates, call for poll cancellation

    .. I’m going to court – PDP Candidate

     

    People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ) Senatorial Candidate in Kaduna Central, Lawal Adamu Usman (MR LA) and People’s Redemption Party (PRP) have described the February 23rd Presidential and National Assembly (NASS) election in Kaduna central senatorial district as a sham and call for its cancellation.

    PDP Senatorial Candidate and PRP in their separate press conference in Kaduna, commended the people of all the seven local government areas that make up his designated constituency for their support and the roles played by community leaders, the youth, women and multitude of independent voters to ensure their ‘victory’ at the polls.

    Usman however said that, he would be challenging the outcome of the election, which favours the APC candidate, Malam Uba Sani in the court of law.

    According to him, “we however find it saddening, embarrassing and ridiculous that the state government and the ruling party in the state went as low as to temper with the mandate voluntarily and collectively given by the people; a mandate freely given and universally acknowledged.

    “Consequent upon this, and for the avoidance of doubt, we state here that we are committed to exploring all available lawful, constitutional and democratic windows to ensure that the people’s stolen mandate is reclaimed and restored.

    There is no doubt the election was rigged and manipulated by the ruling party in the state and it must not be allowed to stand because it is not the will of the people.

    “Accordingly, we hereby announce in categorical terms that we reject the process that led to the announcement of that manipulated, fabricated and concocted results, and call for their immediate cancellation.

    “We wish to reiterate the call for all the people of Kaduna State, and in particular the good people of Kaduna Central District not to relent in their democratic struggle for a meaningful in the state – a change we can see, feel and use – by coming out en masse once again to assert their right to select leaders that would responsibly shape their future.

    “Notwithstanding the ugly and shameful act of desperation shown by the state government and the ruling party, we remain committed to the overall peace of the state and communal harmony based on our abiding faith that only God gives power to whomever He wills,” he said.

    At its own press conference addressed by the state chairman, Abdulrahman Haruna Danbirni, PRP said, “we condemn the last Presidential and National Assembly elections, as it ridiculed our Democratic participation of one-man one-vote in which each vote must count.

    “It is sad that the election that has costs Nigerian a colossal sum of money and a great deal of time to prepare ended as a charade and a rape to our democratic process.

    “Inundated with electoral irregularities, we are left with no option than to throw away the baby with the bathwater. Our agents from across the state have flooded us with reports of electoral irregularities, most prominent and widespread are: Alteration of results, vote-buying and non-accreditation of voters before casting their votes, non-application or deliberate bye-passing of card readers and the use of financial inducements and vote buying was business of the day on date of the election.

    “The ruling party was seen openly engaged in buying votes from the electorate using cash and other valuables. APC Local Government Chairmen in the state were seen sharing money and materials openly to voters in election centres in order to win their votes.

    “This open show of partisanship by public office holders is an indictment on their presumed non-artisanship and a testimony of the misuse of public funds for political gains.” He said.

    Other irregularities alleged by the PRP include, over-voting in most polling units, cancellation of results in almost all the polling units that did not favour the ruling party, non-availability of result sheets in most of the polling units and intimidation and open partisanship of security personnel.

    “For instance, in Birnin-Gwari and Giwa, Kajuru, Igabi, Birnin-Gwari and other local governments, security personnel were used to intimidate and scare away voters perceived to be in opposition to the ruling party.

    “Another particular point of note is over-voting where the total number of ballots cast exceeds the number of accredited voters, which have been reported in most local governments and our agents have protested to no avail.

    “INEC presiding officers have been fingered for numerous electoral malfeasances, where officials connived with the ruling party to manipulate results in its favour.

    “It is also an established fact that the ruling party has replaced trained polling personnel with its cronies to aid in the manipulation of results to its favour.

    “We therefore reject the complicity of INEC and the role of the security and the APC-led government in deploying state resources to aid the party in its mission to rig elections in its favour.

    “We therefore call for the cancellation, Senatorial and House of Representatives elections in Zone II by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” said PRP.

  • We were not involved in Bayelsa killings, violence – APC

    The Bayelsa State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) has dissociated itself from the electoral violence in Oweikorogha, Southern Ijaw Local Government Council of the state.

    A Government House photographer, Reginald Dei, and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mr. Seidougha Taribi, were shot in the area by gunmen in military uniform.

    But the State Publicity Secretary of Bayelsa APC, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, in a statement dismissed insinuations by Governor Seriake Dickson and the PDP that the deceased were victims of violence perpetrated by APC supporters.

    The APC challenged the picture painted by the state government, saying nothing could be further from the truth.

    The party in its account of the incident said: “On the day of election, materials were brought to Oweikorogha. PDP supporters led by Moses Taribi, Seidougha Taribi, Promise Elijah, Reginald Dei and others were fomenting trouble with the intent to destroy the electioneering materials or hijacking them for their party. APC supporters did all they could to allow voting to take place.

    “While voting was ongoing, a certain Perebigha Azikwe of the PDP arrived the polling unit with a locally made pistol, and snatched the card reader. At that instance, the APC Ward 2 Agent, Deizigha ThankGod, approached the PDP loyalists to plead with them to return the card reader, but they refused.

    “APC loyalists then insisted that voting could not continue. While they were concentrating on the other two units, PDP thugs led by Moses Taribi forcefully took away the remaining materials of that unit to Seidougha Taribi’s house and were thumb-printing in favour of the PDP.

    “At that point, the voters sought for security intervention to secure the electoral materials. Soldiers arrived Oweikorogha, and stormed Seidogha Taribi’s house. There was an exchange of gunshots.

    “The APC is concerned that houses of our members and their relations have been burnt down in the community and property looted. Our members are also being hunted for possible assassination.

    “The party condemns this unnecessary insult in Oweikorogha. APC is the victim, not the aggressor. We call on the armed and security forces to restore law and order in Oweikorogha community. Our members and other peace-loving residents in Southern Ijaw need protection”.

  • Polls: Bayelsa govt house photographer dies in hospital

    The Bayelsa State Government House Photographer, Reginald Dei, has finally died in an emergency ward of a private hospital in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Dei was shot by gunmen in army uniform in Oweikorogha, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area during the last Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    He was shot alongside the leader of the PDP in Oweikorogha community, Mr. Seidougha Taribi, who died on the spot.

    Though the photographer was initially reported dead, he was later said to be unconscious in a Yenagoa hospital, after his colleagues and some government officials paid him a visit.

    But a statement by the Director Corporate Communications, Governor’s Office, Chief Nathan Egba-Ologo, said that the photographer could not survive the lethal wounds from the gunshots.

    He died on Sunday night, a week after the incident.

    Egba-Ologo called on the relevant security agencies to investigate the activities of the various security formations to bring the culprits of the dastardly act to book.

    He, however, lamented that while the state was mourning the unfortunate murder of Taribi and Dei, some suspected thugs were wreaking havoc in Nembe-Bassambiri.

    He alleged that the rampaging thugs sacked the mobile policemen and the operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on deployment in the besieged community.

    Read Also: Bayelsa elders condemn electoral malpractices, killings

    According to him, the thugs dug military fashion trenches in Bassambiri with barricades to harass PDP members in the community and prevent those, who fled the community from returning.

    He called on the leadership of the Nigerian Army and the other security agencies to prevent brigandage and a breakdown of law and order in the area ahead of the next elections.

    He urged the security agencies to adhere strictly to their constitutional responsibility to ensure the provision of security and indeed the requisite environment in the next election.

  • Oyo: Ajanaku returns to APC, pledges support for Adelabu

    As part of plans to ensure the victory of the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo state, the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party for Ibadan North West/South West Federal Constituency in the just concluded National Assembly election, Dr Rotimi Ajanaku has made a return to the ruling APC.

    Ajanaku, accompanied by thousands of his supports at his Oke Ado base noted that his absence and that of his supporters was felt in the APC camp.

    He said his return to the APC was made possible by the “timely and uncommon intervention of the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi who unequivocally fast-tracked the whole process, through his assurances of immediate re-integration of my followers into the party hierarchy and other worthy considerations.”

    Reading his text entitled; “I am back to my root”, the business mogul noted that his consultations with his supporters, loyalists, party leaders, elders approved the request and insistence of the APC governorship candidate for him to return to the ruling party.

    He vowed to work for the success of the APC candidates at the governorship and house of assembly levels.

    Ajanaku said, “The only constant phenomenon in life is change.

    “In my press statement when I joined the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), after my unpalatable experience in the All Progressives Congress (APC), as I was denied the House of Representatives ticket, I emphasized that my supporters and loyalists are the determining factor in every political decision I take.

    “I do not always decide without their consent. These people were severely embittered and they insisted that I must run on any available platform since there was no provision for independent candidacy.

    Read Also: Yoruba group drums up support for Adelabu

    “You may recall that I reiterated that leaving the progressives bloc was a painful decision for me, judging by my investment and unquantifiable contribution since my foray into politics in the late 90s.

    “The outcome of the last National Assembly elections showed that my political camp is a formidable force to reckon with in Ibadan Northwest /Southwest Federal Constituency. Though, I didn’t win the election, the results of the election reflected our conspicuous absence in the APC.

    “Having consulted widely with the relevant stakeholders – the party hierarchy, public opinion leaders, supporters, loyalists and well-wishers, including the APC Governorship Candidate, Chief Adebayo Adelabu (Penkelemesi), who personally insisted on my comeback, I , Otunba Rotimi Ajanaku hereby succumbed to the public pressure to return to All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “This became necessary in order to support the governorship and state assembly candidates of the party and to further brighten their chances at polls on Saturday, March 9, 2019.

    “In view of this, I hereby direct my followers to start mobilising for the APC in their respective wards. Henceforth, all our campaign vehicles, billboards and other promotional materials should wear APC looks.”

     

     

  • Polls: 323 arrested nationwide for electoral offences – IGP

    The Inspector General of Police ( IGP ) Mohammed Adamu has disclosed that no fewer than 323 suspects have been arrested for electoral offences across the country.

    The suspects he said, following various electoral offences committed in the last Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Read Also: IGP condemns attacks on police officers

    The Police chief also revealed that the Force lost two of its personnel during the election while several others were attacked and assaulted.

    The IG noted that a Police Team will liaise with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prosecute electoral offenders.

     

    Details shortly…

  • My son-in-law, lawyer detained for supporting me, says Atiku

    The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has condemned the alleged detention of his son-in-law and lawyer by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Atiku, via a Tweet on his Twitter handle on Monday, said: “My son in law and lawyer have been detained, one for 3 weeks and the other recently. They are paying the price for supporting me. I urge those now persecuting them to remember that a government’s mandate is to pursue peace and justice for all, and not just those who support them.’

    Atiku’s tweet is coming two days after he raised an alarm of alleged moves to make him congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari, following the outcome of February 23 election.

    In a statement by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, on Saturday, the PDP candidate said his son-in-law, who is also the finance director of his group of companies, was arrested in Abuja.

    According to the statement, officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) allegedly invaded the Maitama residence of Babalele (Atiku’s son-in-law)  in Abuja.

    Atiku insisted that he would under no circumstance “mortgage the mandate of Nigerians as freely expressed on the 23rd of February 2019.”

    However, the EFCC and other relevant agencies are yet to react to the allegations by the former vice president.

  • I remain APC flag bearer in Niger east, says Senator-elect

    The Senator-elect for Niger East, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Musa has described news making round that the All Progressives Congress (APC) might have made a U-turn on his candidature as false.

    He said reports that the party has endorsed Senator David Umaru as the party’s flag bearer for the zone as false and an act of crass desperation.

    The report, he said, was a deliberate attempt to ignite crisis and set the state, especially Niger East senatorial district, on an avoidable and unnecessary political turmoil.

    The Senator-elect in a statement by a member of the Advisory Committee of Mohammed Sani Musa Campaign Council, Honorable Nma Kolo, said the publication titled: “Niger East: APC Makes U-turn, Backs David Umaru” was an impunity to upturn the collective will of the peace loving people of Niger East Senatorial district.

    “There is no iota of truth in the publication. It is another ploy to upturn the will of the people which was earlier declared at the party’s primary where the Senator-elect has emerged as the APC candidate and his overwhelming endorsement at the February 23 National Assembly election was a testament of the love his people have for him.

    “It will be foolhardy for Senator David Umaru to get what he lost at the party’s primary through the pages of newspapers.

    “Aside from the emergence of the Senator-elect as the flag bearer at the party through primary, the Federal High Court judgement also affirmed him as the bonafide APC candidate, a position that was further endorsed at a general election”.

    The statement further noted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had already recognised Mohammed Sani Musa as the Senatorial candidate before the elections.

    He added that the electoral body had in a letter dated 15th February, 2019 signed by Mrs. Rose Oriaram-Anthony, the Secretary of the Commission, directed the Niger state Resident Electoral Commissioner to remove Senator David Umaru as the Senatorial candidate of APC for Niger East Senatorial District.

    The letter, he added, instructed Umaru should be replaced with Musa in pursuant to a court order.

    Musa said: “Titled, “Forwarding of Commission’s Decision Pursuant to Order of Court in suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/140/2018 – Mohmmed Sani Musa V. APC& 2 Others”, the letter directed the REC to update the record and reflect it on the final list.

    “The truth of the matter is that Alhaji Mohammed Sani Musa, remain not only the APC candidate, he is also the Senator-elect for Niger East Senatorial District.”

    The Senator-elect called on his supporters to disregard any information contrary to the facts that have been on ground while urging perpetrators of such news to avoid means of igniting crisis in the state.

  • Breaking: I’ll be tough in the next four years – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday warned that he is going to be tough in his governance of the country in the next four years.

    He gave the warning while receiving members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) who came to congratulate him for winning the 23rd February, 2019 Presidential election.

    Buhari secured another term of four years by scoring15, 191,847 votes the votes of 11,262,978 scored by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

    Buhari said that he will intensify efforts in the three areas of security, economy and fighting corruption.

    Read Also: Buhari appoints new acting Controller General, Federal Fire Service

    He also disclosed that he campaigned in all the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory to prove to his critics that he was fit.

    At the brief ceremony that started around 12 noon, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha spoke on behalf of the public service and congratulated the President and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for winning the elections.

    According to him, the President’s victory was well deserved success as it was a referendum of honesty and sincerity.

    He said that the public service totally aligns itself to the millions of Nigerians that voted for the President.

    Apart from the ministers, those in the Council chamber included the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Chief of Staff Abba Kyari and Head of Service, Winifred Oyo-Ita.

    Congratulatory cards were presented to the President by the Mustapha and Oyo-Ita