Twelve presidential candidates in Saturday’s election on Thursday expressed their support for President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of the candidates’ closed door meeting with Buhari.
According to him, the candidates have directed their supporters to vote for President Buhari on Saturday.
Details shortly…
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has declared he is not contemplating resigning from his position.
“I see no reason why I should resign,” he stated.
He was reacting to calls for his resignation following postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections last Saturday.
Yakubu stressed the idea of resigning has not in any way crossed his mind.
Ahead of the Saturday polls, he said over 72 million Permanent Voters Cards(PVCs) have been collected so far.
There are over 84 million registered voters in the country.
Updating the media and observers ahead of Saturday’s polls, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu also said 19 states have fully deployed electoral materials to all their Local Government Areas.
Yakubu also assured that before the end of Thursday, all the states would have done the same except Bayelsa state, which will deploy on Friday.
He assured that there will be no more postponement of elections, saying last Saturday’s incident would never happen again.
On participation of Rivers and Zamfara All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the polls, he said INEC stands by its earlier position on their disqualification for not emerging from primaries within the stipulated time.
He stressed that the commission as a law abiding institution will always obey court orders.
Details shortly…
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed astonishment at the huge amount of foreign currency flooding the country intended to influence the general elections beginning on Saturday.
He spoke during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.
The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, issued on Thursday, accused some politicians of flouting money laundering regulations in their desperate bid to capture political power.
President Buhari, however, commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for successfully tracking the money in “millions of United States dollars.”
“The EFCC success followed the presidential directive to investigative agencies to probe a number of high profile cases.”
Reassuring the nation of his administration’s determination to wage a relentless war against money laundering and terrorist financing, the President again appealed to Nigerians, especially politicians to place the interest of the country above all others, as they troop out to cast their votes in the coming elections.
Less than 48 hours to the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly elections slated for February 23, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Thursday met with leaders of the APC from the 18 local government councils in the state.
Speaking to journalists after the closed-door meeting at Government House in Benin City, Governor Obaseki said his administration has recorded huge successes within a short time owing to support from President Buhari.
He said: “Edo is an APC state and there is no doubt about it. President Buhari led-administration has been supportive to us. He has granted all our requests. He has also assured to do more for us.”
The governor expressed confidence that the state would deliver one million votes for the re-election of President Buhari.
Oshiomhole assured that the party would not allow thuggery and ballot box snatching during conduct of the elections on Saturday, February 23, across the country.
He noted: “We had a special meeting today. We met as APC family to reaffirm our commitment in ensuring we do what is expected of us as leaders to mobilise Edo people to vote en masse for President Muhammadu Buhari and other APC candidates in the election.
“In Edo, we are used to one man, one vote. So, we will not allow thuggery and ballot box snatching,” he said.
According to Oshiomhole, President Buhari has demonstrated that he is a trusted and honest leader, who deserves re-election to complete his developmental agenda across the country.
He said: “We have resolved to give Buhari a second term and based on the track records of the APC governments in Edo State, I believe President Buhari will win.“
Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi on Thursday alleged plans by some desperate politicians to import thugs to bomb some local government offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Umahi disclosed this during a live security situation briefing to the people of the state.
He said: “I have been told that there are plans to bomb lNEC local government offices.”
He said security agencies have been informed and have beefed up security in all INEC facilities in the state
The governor frowned at the outbreak of violence, characterised by burning houses and killings at Mkpuma Akpatakpa in Abaja community of Izzi local government area, promising that perpetrators would be fished out and brought to book.
He further condemned the attack on Ikwo local government area Vice Chairman, Mrs. Regina Iteshi who was attacked by hoodlums.
According to the governor, the thugs inserted objects into her private part and cut the tendons of some of the people with her.
He promised that the perpetrators must be punished.
“My major concern is that we have free and a fair election on Saturday. There were few things we noticed on 15th February that were not in the character of Ebonyi people.
“Inserting objects in the private parts of the vice chairman of Ikwo. Justice may be delayed but the law must take its full course.
“Yesterday, I visited Izzi and saw the faces of defenseless father and mother whose son was killed and their houses burnt down.
“All those who participated in the killing of the young man and burning of houses will never go scot-free.
“Politicians are behind the killings and burning down of houses. My promise to all the victims, the young man that was killed and six others injured, all those behind it must be brought to book.
“I appeal that there should be no reprisal attack. I have ordered that anybody that wants to kill our people should be shot at sight.
“People must be allowed to exercise their right and vote for whom they want to vote for. I promised that if there is no reprisal attack, after the election, I will start the process of building the burnt houses.
“Lives of Ebonyians are very important to us than positions and election. And anyone that takes the lives of others such will follow them to their fifth generation. Ebonyians must be alert and demobilize anybody that is parading thugs with police escort.
The governor also had some warnings for INEC officers in the state.
“Let me also warn INEC. I learnt that certain political party wants to cancel election. That they will go from polling booth to another killing people.
“If you are INEC worker, discharge your duty according to the electoral law. I have asked the youths and Ebonyians to resist any INEC officials that wants to compromise. I learnt that collation officers are meeting, saying they nominated this and that.”
National Chairman of the Door-to-Door Campaign group of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign, Bola Ilori, has explained why President Muhammadu Buhari ordered security operatives to prosecute ballot box snatchers during the Saturday’s election.
He said the directive was to guard against manipulations during the polls, stressing the pronouncement would curtail killings and maiming during elections and prevent electoral stealing.
Ilori, who spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital, while leading canvassers to different parts of the state in furtherance of the door-to-door and market -to-market mobilisation strategy of the Field Operations of the Directorate of APC Presidential Campaign Council.
The former Osun state commissioner for Regional Integration said the APC was prepared for a free and fair election on Saturday.
According to him, the achievements of the Buhari- led administration cut across the various sectors of the nation’s economy, assuring he would be re-elected.
Ilori said Buhari’s administration has achieved in the areas of rural development, social investment programmes and far reaching reforms in other areas of the economy.
He appealed to voters to choose Buhari and other APC candidates from Saturday.
He assured the people that if President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are reelected on Saturday, Nigerians would enjoy more of the numerous social investment programmes their administration has embarked upon since inception.
Ilori said: “God used Moses to take the Israelites from Egypt as He first led them into the wilderness, not five star hotel.
“Some people complained about hardships in the wilderness and made another god to lead them back to Egypt, thereby unwittingly turned a journey of 40 days to 40yrs.
“Eventually Moses led them out of the wilderness and handed them over to a Joshua that led them to the Promise land.
“It is clear that Nigeria has left PDP’s Egypt through Moses Buhari, but currently in a wilderness Moses is laying a solid foundation for a Joshua to get Nigerians to the promise land.
“The Next Level is not to go back to Egypt but to move to the Promised land and we shall get there.
He said the President was against ballot box snatching, stressing that order was to check against the perpetration of extra judicial killings during elections.
Ebonyi State Governorship candidate of the Advanced Allied Party (AAP), Ogbonnaya Okorie has stepped down for the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Governor David Umahi.
The development came barely one week after the state Governorship candidate of Alliance for Democracy (AD), Hon. Ozuma Peter also stepped down for Umahi.
Briefing newsmen in Abakaliki, Okorie declared that he has resigned his membership of Advanced Allied Party to throw his support and supporters to join the PDP in the reelection of Umahi on March 9.
Okorie noted that all the leadership and executive of his former party, AAP, were in full support of his decision to pitch tent with Umahi and PDP.
He added that the decision was informed by the achievements of the Umahi’s administration and the need to support in his quest to develop all sectors of the state economy.
Okorie said that the Governor has demonstrated uncommon leadership and there was no need to change the winning team, noting that everybody must not be Governor at the same time
“After wide consultations and in consideration of the achievements of the incumbent Governor, Engr. David Umahi, I have resigned my membership of my party, Advanced Allied Party (AAP) and to throw my support and supporters to join the PDP”.
“I was never forced or cornered to join the PDP, rather it was my own decision backed by evidence of the leadership the Governor has provided. In the cause of my debate with the Governor, he did promise to give me N10 million for my election and I, hereby urge the governor to add the money in his campaign while I will make my personal donation towards the election of Governor David Umahi come March 9, 2019”.
Okorie therefore called on other governorship candidates of other political parties to join hands in ensuring the emergence of Umahi on the poll as he has shown that he is the best among equal.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of the Southeast for the general elections, Micheal Ogbizi Anthony, has warned politicians and hoodlums not to underrate the resolve of the Police and other security agencies to deal decisively with anyone planning to subvert Saturday’s election.
He warned that any person or group of persons found to be sponsoring violence or other acts capable of disrupting the election process will not go unpunished.
The DIG who addressed journalists shortly after a joint meeting of Security Chiefs, said that politicians who procure fake military uniforms and arms for thugs to cause mayhem during and after the election will be fished out and punished.
According to him, “the essence of this meeting is to underscore the importance of this election, we have a directive to ensure that no one subverts the election process and we will not allow that to happen.”
He continued that, “we are assuring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the voters of adequate security during and after the election. We urge the people to come out and vote for candidates of their choice without fear of intimidation”.
Meanwhile the Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Brigadier General Hamza Bature, has warned against the announcing of election results by unauthorised persons or establishments.
He noted that it is the sole responsibility of INEC to announce election results, adding that announcement of fake results is capable of triggering crisis.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo, on Thursday began the distribution of sensitive materials to the 18 local government areas in the state for Saturday’s rescheduled elections.
The first batch of the materials left the Benin branch of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in an articulated truck at about 9.30 a.m.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr Emmanuel Alex-Hart, told newsmen that the vehicle was conveying the materials to Uhunmwonde, Owan East, Owan West and Akoko-Edo Local Government Areas.
The truck was accompanied by some buses conveying security personnel and political party agents.
“The second batch of materials are loaded into another truck under the watchful eyes of security and party agents and the truck is heading to Etsako East, Etsako West and Etsako Central Local Government Areas.
“The third truck is going to be loaded now with materials meant for Esan West, Esan Central, Esan North-East, Esan South-East and Igueben local government areas,” he said.
According to Alex-Hart, the process is going on smoothly under the watchful eyes of security personnel and the party agents.
“Hopefully, in the next few hours all the materials would have left the CBN to various local government areas.’’
The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of elections in the Northwest, Mr Aminci Baraya on Thursday urged officers and men of the force in Sokoto to be professional in their conduct and remain alert to situations during the polls.
He accordingly warned against allowing themselves to be induced by political actors during elections” Don’t allow that. Not even with pure water. Go with your pure water please”, he begs.
Similarly, the top police officer stressed the need for the police to adequately and urgently ensure all NYSC members on adhoc appointment by INEC were secured and protected accordingly.
” We want all on elections duties as well voters be secured and allowed to exercise their franchise under peaceful and friendly atmosphere”, he added.
Baraya who was on tour of commands under his supervision to assess their readiness said the elections period was a prime and stressful moment for the police as such should endeavour to give out its best.
” Our credibility and image is at stake and all we need to do is to exhibit the best possible to lift Nigeria’s image during the elections.
” It is our duty to also provide voters enabling environment to cast their votes peacefully and return to their homes. Their security is paramount”, he stressed.
Baraya who is of the Research and Planning at the Force Headquarters also alerted the personnel that thuggery was a crime that the police would not condone, pointing out that the police is ready to arrest anyone found culpable.
He, however, noted that” we don’t expect to experience problems during voting but during counting and declaring results at polling units or voting spots. No police should retire until the results and votes gets to the collation centre or point.
” DPOs must detail their men to accompany results and must also write reports. You can only stand down three days after results are declared at the state level.
” Inexperienced officers like cadets must be deployed to LG headquarters and under the guide and supervision of DPOs in charge”, he explained.
He further called on political actors to maintain the peace while police in collaboration with relevant security agencies would be fair to all.
The AIG Zone 10, Muhammad Mustapha reiterated the need for all police personnel to demonstrate and bring to bare their professional skills by showing the world that they are capable and ready to give what Nigeria needed.
” You should know that there are international monitors and observers in the country”, he reminded.
Mustapha further cautioned them against mistakes, adding” it is a national assignment and you should bring out your best”, he insisted.