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Tag: 2019 ELECTIONS

  • ‘Why Akwa Ibom will not vote for PDP’

    Some stakeholders in Akwa Ibom politics have indicated that residents of the state will not vote for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

    A legal practitioner and an indigene of Ikono Local Government Area, Mr. Edo Ukpong-Udoh, said there are many factors that endear him to President Muhammadu Buhari, which he believes will sway the people of Akwa Ibom to vote for him and other APC candidates in Saturday’s elections.

    Ukpong-Udoh who described himself as a die-hard supporter of the President said: “I am one of those who believe that Nigeria is a blessed country, with all. Kinds of resources; be it material, human and natural endowments.

    “But, why is the country not where she ought to be? Why are we not developing? The answer is, whether people like it or not, our affairs have not been run properly as a nation and state. The reason is the main problem of Nigeria, which is corruption.”

    The legal practitioner said, from his antecedents in the last four years, President Buhari is somebody Nigerians can trust, in terms of integrity and honesty.

    In contrast, he said the PDP presidential flag bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, cannot be compared to his APC counterpart.

    He said: “In fact, Atiku is an epitome of corruption. For example, when he was the Vice President, he sold Nigeria’s assets to his cronies.

    “These are incontestable facts. We in Akwa Ibom State should not forget that we are victims. Look at the Aluminum Smelting Company (ALSCON) in Ikot Abasi, Atiku sold it to the detriment of Akwa Ibom people and Nigeria.

    “Consider how much was invested in it and look at how much Atiku sold it. As Vice President, he was the Head of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) that privatised national assets.

    “He betrayed the trust of Akwa Ibom people and Nigerians and sold ALSCON to his cronies and today we have seen the result. If the PDP government in their 16 years of reign had run the plant, Akwa Ibom won’t be crying today of unemployment?

    “So, Atiku, because of his selfishness and greed, kept us at where we are today. He is part of those that caused unemployment in the state, so I am sure Akwa Ibom people will not make the mistake of voting for him as president. ”

    Another stakeholder, Mr. Mfon Okon, believes that the PDP’s Governor Udom Emmanuel’s hyper politics will push the people of Akwa Ibom to vote for the APC candidate.

    He asked rhetorically: “What would this outgoing government be remembered for? In Akwa Ibom State today, it is not debatable, more than half of the population are wallowing in abject poverty and ravaging economic hardship, because the government in the state is so interested in politicising almost every activities of government.”

    Mfon said a careful look at the state today would reveal that there is so much decay and loaded in human development and above all total misplacement of priorities. He said: “It looks as if the present government was conditioned to misrecognise the truth; as it has consistently embarked on much lies in almost all facets of the economy.

    “What really beats my imagination is the fact that the present government has also failed to understand that in the 21st Century political settings, the aggregate economic system cannot be placed totally on the political narratives.

    “In fact, whenever I saw some of these jargons commonly called ‘industrialisation’ and many other political abracadabras in the state, it makes me to panic more about the future of this dear state. ”

    Mfon wondered how Akwa Ibom State would have looked today, if it had not been placed on the roadmap of infrastructural development by previous administrations.

  • Last-minute campaigns move to mosques in Kwara

    Barely 24 hours to the battleground for tomorrow’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, the last- minute campaigns have shifted to mosques in Kwara State.

    The Imam of a popular mosque in Muritala area of the state, Alhaji Muritala did not mince words when he declared in his sermon that enough was enough on Friday.

    He pointed out that a lot of people died along Monkwa-Jebba road for many years and a government came and rehabilitated the road, apparently referring to the All Progressives Congress(APC) administration and “some people said such good venture should not continue, please vote wisely.”

    Referring to the attack on the Vice President convoy by some thugs on Thursday at Aluko side of the metropolis, the lmam enjoined parents to warn their children as he who kill by the gun will be one day equally silenced by gun.

    Read Also: Police justify arrest of Kwara Senator

    According to him, it was no longer news that Kwara civil servants are the worst paid in terms of allowances and emoluments, adding that “we have pleaded and cried to Allah that they should go away because their holding to power is inimical to the people.

    “Are they not in government these years that they are now paying bursary to students few days ago?

    “We know the real candidates and the bastards that Allah will never allow them to rule us again.”

    Alhaji Muritala pointed out that anybody that collects the stipend they are doling out to vote for them “has missed the road because the hour has come when their fake government will be taking away from them and given to real candidates who will restore the lost glories of the old state.”

    He challenged all the worshipers to go all out to vote for credible candidates that will give peace to the state.

  • Polls: Kwara, Kano, 10 others major flash points, says CCC

    The Centre for Crisis Communication on Friday identified 12 states including Kano, Kwara, Kogi, Kaduna and Imo as major flashpoints during the Presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday.

    The CCC whose findings are usually based on credible intelligence from military and security agencies stated this in its mid-February collation and dissemination of data on crisis situation across the country.

    Other states in this category included Adamawa, Taraba, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Anambra, said the group’s Executive Secretary Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (rtd).

    These disclosures which were made at Forum of Spokespersons of Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA) in Abuja was confirmed to The Nation by Anas, a former spokesman for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

    He said the possible flash points were arrived at after a review of recent incidents and violent activities in some of the states.

    “We strongly recommend that adequate security arrangements should be made to ensure that the elections are not disrupted in some of the states we have identified.

    “We identified these states and grouped them according to geopolitical zones. In the north, Kano and Kaduna are major flashpoints. We have Kwara and Kogi in North Central; Adamawa and Taraba in Northeast.

    “In the south, we identified Lagos and Ogun for southwest, Rivers and Akwa Ibom south-south and Imo and Anambra States for southeast.

    “We appeal to politicians and community leaders to advise their subjects against involvement in any activity capable of inciting violence that could have negative effects on the electoral processes.

    “We also urge all security agencies deployed for elections to be proactive and conduct themselves professionally by carrying out their duties with absolute neutrality, devoid of bias, while the media and Civil Society Organizations should continue to monitor and keep Nigerians abreast before, during and after the elections,” said Anas.

    According to him, the centre gathers, collates, processes, harmonises and disseminates information on potential crisis situation in the country.

    “It has been providing credible and professional crisis information and early warning alerts to strategic institutions with the view of taking appropriate measure towards ensuring adequate security as well as promoting peaceful coexistence in the country.“

  • INEC moves sensitive materials to Bayelsa LGAs

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in Bayelsa state has distributed all sensitive materials for the presidential and National Assembly elections to the Registration Area Centres (RACs) in the eight local government areas of the state.

    It was gathered that the materials were moved through the Ministry of Transport jetty in Yenagoa.

    The materials were escorted by heavily armed security operatives comprising the police, the military, Department of State Service (DSS) and other sister security agencies.

    Head, Department of INEC Voters Education and Publicity, Mr Wilfred Ifogah, said the commission was ready for the presidential and national assembly polls.

    Ifogah disclosed that all non-sensitive materials had been distributed to the different registration area centres in the state.

    He said: “Movement of non-sensitive materials and sensitive materials to area offices of INEC in the state has been done; we started with non sensitive ones on Wednesday and it continued until Thursday.

    “For the riverine areas it was on hold because of the terrain, so, today which is Friday, a day before elections, the distributions of sensitive materials to the coastal communities has been completed.

    “So, as you can see some of the buses moving the materials to the jetty and security operatives are on ground to ensure that all the materials are were secured.

    Read Also: INEC clears Zamfara APC to present candidates

    “INEC is good to go, the security men are ready and we have about 10, 482 adhoc staff to perform the national duty.”

    Alao, the Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) in the state, Mr. Ide Oduasekpor, urged politicians to steer clear of sponsoring thugs during the elections.

    He said: “Do not go to the polling units with gun but go with your PVCs; police will not disturb anyone unless you go with the intention to cause violence.

    “We want free, fair and credible polls for the citizens.”

  • Updated: INEC clears Zamfara APC to contest

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared the Zamfara state All Progressive Congress (APC) to present candidates for the general elections.

    This follows the Court of Appeal ruling on the matter.

    The state APC was barred from presenting candidates following an internal crisis, which prevented the party from conducting its primaries within the time frame set by INEC.

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Thursday over ruled the lower court on technical ground.

    There were two conflicting rulings from two court of the same jurisdiction, one sitting in Zamfara and the other in Abuja.

    While the Zamfara Court ruled in favour of the ruling party, the Abuja High court ruled against the party, which therefore forced INEC to take a decision.

    However, the Appeal Court ruling on Thursday changed the narrative.

    INEC, in a statement by the National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said the commission has complied with the Court order.

    The statement reads: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has consistently maintained that it will always obey court judgments and orders.

    Read Also; INEC deploys sensitive materials in Akwa Ibom

    “In the case of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, the Federal High Court Abuja and the Zamfara State High Court issued conflicting orders relating to the participation of the APC in the two strands of elections scheduled for 23rd February and 9th March 20l9.

    “While the former ruled that the APC, having failed to conduct party primaries cannot field candidates in the said election, the latter decided that it can field candidates having conducted valid party primaries.

    “However, the Court of Appeal Abuja Judicial Division on 21st February 2019 set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja for “lack or want of jurisdiction on the part on the lower court.

    “This in effect means the Zamfara State High Court‘s decision that the APC can field candidates for the National Assembly, Governorship and State Assembly elections is the only valid and subsisting order.

    “Consequently, the Commission has today, in compliance with the said order, restored the APC to the ballot in the National Assembly. Governorship and State House of Assembly elections scheduled for 23rd February and 9th March 2019.”

     

     

  • Polls: IGP orders tight security nationwide

    The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu has ordered nationwide tight security ahead of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly election.

    The IG also directed the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGs) deployed to the geo-political zones to ensure adequate coordination and supervision of security personnel deployed for the elections.

    Adamu also charged the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police to beef up security in their Area of Responsibilities.

    He also warned officers deployed nationwide to remain apolitical and non-partisan adding that he will not tolerate any form of impunity or unethical conduct on the part of any personnel.

    This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Friday by the Force Spokesman, ACP Frank Mba.

    The statement reads: “In view of the Presidential/National Assembly Elections scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, 23rd February, 2019, the Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu has ordered a water-tight and robust security arrangement in the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    “In this vein, the IGP has directed the Deputy Inspector Generals of Police already deployed to the six geo-political zones of the Country to ensure adequate security presence, coordination, supervision and implementation of security strategies for the election in all Polling Units, Registration Area Centres (RACs), Super RACs, Collation Centres, INEC offices, Government and critical National Infrastructures, flash and vulnerable points across the States of the federation.

    “Similarly, the Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) in the 12 Zonal Commands and the Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the 36 State Commands and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been directed by the IGP to beef-up security in their respective areas and to work closely with the Senior Police Officers deployed on election duties to the three senatorial districts and form part of security management base for each State.”

  • Polls: SARS allegedly arrest scores in Kogi communities

    … allegations baseless, says CP

     

    Less than twenty four hours to the commencement of the presidential and National Assembly elections, scores of people have been reportedly arrested from across Kogi State, by operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), Lokoja.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Busari, has however debunked the allegations of indiscriminate arrest of persons.

    He said that those spreading the falsehood were doing so in bad faith.

    The police, he said, will always do its routine work, irrespective of the season.

    Speaking with The Nation on the telephone, the CP said that those peddling the ‘falsehood’ were doing so, for ulterior motives.

    He said that six persons were arrested about two weeks back, based on petitions against them, adding that four were released after investigation, while two others who were later arrested, also based on petitions, are being investigated, and will be released, if cleared.

    According to him: “It is falsehood; these people are doing it for ulterior motives.

    “One politician and former governor for three months alleged that people were arrested; petitions were written and after investigations, we invited six persons. Four were released, while two others are still being investigated.

    “If they are cleared, they will be released. This is election period and anything that happens, they will ascribe to ethnic, political or religious colouration. There is nothing as such; police will always carry out its routine duty, whether it is election or not. We are doing our work.”

    The said arrests, according to sources, who did not want their names in print, began as early as 3am, in Mopa, Mopa-Moro Local Government Area (LGA), Kogi West, where former Acting Governor, Clarence Olafemi hails from, and where no less than fifteen persons, including a septuagenarian Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Women Leader, were said to have been ’rounded up’.

    Read Also: Kogi East: Court orders NASS to swear-in Alfa

    Those arrested were said to have been moved to the SARS operational base located at the ‘A’ Division, Lokoja.

    “At 3am this morning, men of SARS Lokoja, came to Mopa, broke down doors of people’s homes and commenced indiscriminate arrests; beating up pregnant women and damaging properties.

    “They alleged they came on the order of the CP and local government administrator. They were accused of gun running. Among those picked up are the PDP Women Leader, Marion Alege- 74yrs, Emma Amufasaiye, PDP exco member, Abayomi Akeju, PDP ward chairman, Little (44), PDP LG secretary and ten others,” said a source.

    While the CP debunked the allegation, others yet allege that close to a hundred people have so far been arrested, on the eve of elections.

  • Lagos CP assures residents of peaceful polls

    Lagos Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu has again appealed to residents to come out on Saturday and exercise their franchise, assuring that nothing would disrupt the peace, security in the state.

    Muazu gave the assurance after a meeting with all heads of security agencies in the state held at the command headquarters in Ikeja.

    According to the police chief, security had been adequately deployed across the state to ensure peaceful conduct of the exercise, security of lives and properties.

    A statement released by the spokesman for the command Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) appealed to residents to contact emergency numbers- Control 1: 08127155132 and 07035068242; Control 2: 08127155150 and 08065154338 Control 3: 08127155071 and 08063299264- in case of any distress.

    Oti said: “The CP restates that the command, as part of its commitment to a peaceful conduct of the polls, has adequately deployed men and officers to different parts of the state.

    “He assures Lagosians that the command in collaboration with other sister agencies has put in place all the necessary security measures to ensure that the exercise is free, fair and credible.

    “The CP says eligible voters have no cause to entertain fear or feel intimidated in performing their civic duty, urging them to conduct themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner.

    “He warns violence-minded people to steer clear from engaging in acts capable of truncating the election, noting that whoever is caught will face the full weight of the law.“

  • Allegations of Islamisation, wicked, ungodly, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has described the allegation of his plan to Islamise the country as wicked, deceptive, and ungodly.

    He made the remark in a statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina.

    According to him, the fresh allegation is coming up as a result of the 2019 general elections.

    The statement reads “It has come to the notice of President Muhammadu Buhari, ahead of the forthcoming elections, that some unscrupulous Nigerians are again falsely and wickedly claiming that the administration has an agenda to impose Islam on Nigeria.

    “The objective is clearly to stoke up religious division for political gains. Some of these same persons made these devious and fabricated claims ahead of the 2015 election. They failed woefully.

    “The President strongly affirms the oath he took before the Nigerian people to faithfully defend the Constitution of Nigeria. That Constitution guarantees freedom of worship for every Nigerian.

    “It is this guarantee that enables all Nigerians to practise their faiths or religion without hindrance.” it stated

    President Buhari, according to the statement, further affirmed his commitment to freedom of religion and worship for all Nigerians, and that under no circumstance will any religion or faith be imposed on any Nigerian.

    “It is dangerous, deceptive and ungodly to play politics with religion.“

  • Elections: IYC warns security agencies against jungle justice

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has warned security agencies against relying on the position of President Muhammdu Buhari on ballot box snatching to perpetrate jungle Justice during the elections.

    The council condemned Buhari’s position against electoral offenders describing the President’s warning that ballot box snatchers would do so at the expense of their lives as undemocratic and less presidential.

    The IYC in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Mr. Alfred Kemepado, said its members would not tolerate anything illegal, including the snatching of ballot boxes to undermine the sanctity of the electoral process within its territories.

    Kemepado, however, said that the desire and resolve to ensure credible, free and fair elections should involve the promotion of undemocratic values.

    He said the President’s speech had the capacity to instigate violence and make law enforcement agents take laws into their hands.

    Noting that Nigeria must be built and sustained as a country of law and order and not a country of jungle justices, the IYC scribe appealed to Buhari and other candidates to desist from heating up the polity.

    He said: “The President must realize the place of his body language, which may have made it possible for his loyalists like Governor El-rufai to issue inciting and provocative statements like that of the “body bag” speech.

    “The oil of the Niger Delta is not available to fund body bags but to promote the unity of Nigeria that will be subjected to restructuring for the benefit of all Nigerians.

    “We call on International bodies to come to the aid of harmless and willing electorates who are willing to express their franchise to get the needed change, so they are not shot at or butchered by the Nigerian military or police in the guise of harvesting ballot box snatchers.

    “The IYC reaffirm the commitment of the Ijaw Nation to align itself with the laws of Nigeria, and will resist any form of ballot box snatching and electoral violence. This we will do across party lines, as free and fair election is what all Ijaw youths desire, which is for our collective national interest, and for the betterment of One Nigeria.”