The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2019 ELECTIONS

  • Breaking: We’re good to go for Saturday’s polls- INEC

    ..Deployment of material to end on Thursday

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has said that the deployment of voting materials to the 774 Local Government Areas of the country will be completed on Thursday.

    INEC also said that it has completed 100% the configuration of the Smart Card Readers (SCRs) which will be used for the accreditation of voters on the 23rd February and 9th March 2019.

    Updating the media and observers on the preparedness of the commission on Wednesday, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Commission said deployment commenced on Wednesday in ten(10) states. This he said will be completed on Thursday.

    Read Also: INEC supporting Emmanuel, says Akpabio

    He also acknowledged that there are reports of missing materials in some states.

    The commission he assured has made good progress in the area of logistics and is good to go.

    He also said that only accredited diplomats will be allowed to move about as there is restriction on movement.

    Details shortly…

  • Group alleges presence of 3000 ‘fake’ soldiers in Taraba

    The Taraba Volunteer Group (TVG) Wednesday alleged that some three thousand soldiers were deployed to Taraba state for the purpose of rigging the elections on February 23 and March 9 in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The APC has however denied the allegation.

    TVG State Coordinator, Joseph Terence, in his briefing in Jalingo, noted that Taraba is among the 10 (PDP) states the APC-led government has earmarked to “forcefully” wrestle power from, irrespective of the damages and costs involved.

    “The postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections on February 16 exposed the plot. 3000 fake soldiers were deployed to the state.

    “All the road check points, that were hitherto dismantled, came back alive with strange-looking, unprofessional men in military uniforms taking charge. They were fake soldiers but heavily armed.

    Read Also: Buhari sends SGF, others to console families of 8 dead Taraba supporters

    “The same contingent of fake soldiers is on their way back to their duty posts in Taraba for the election starting on February 23.

    “Their brief is to pave the way for fake electoral materials to have smooth sail in their destinations, and to cause confusion in PDP strongholds. This is to create opportunity for the APC to manipulate the poll,” Terence said.

    The group said the arrangement for rigging is in fulfillment of the request by the Taraba State flag bearer, Sani Abubakar Danladi, that President Muhammadu Buhari should provide him and the APC “adequate security men” to enable him take over Taraba State.

    APC spokesman, Aaron Artimas, denied planning to rig the election in Taraba state, saying the PDP was only jittery of the election.

    He added he is not aware of fake soldiers’ presence in Taraba state.

    “But I am aware that the federal government was deploying military personnel to flash points in the country, of which Taraba is one of them.”

  • ‘Dickson’s airport ‘ll attract votes to Bayelsa PDP’

    A stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Reuben Okoya, on Wednesday expressed optimism that projects embarked upon by Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson especially the airport project would attract votes to the party in the state.

    Okoya, a frontline PDP governorship aspirant in 2015, insisted that PDP had done very well in the state over the years and deserved victory in the forthcoming elections.

    Speaking in Yenagoa, the state capital, Okoya said he was particularly happy that the governor made it possible for the first airplane to land in the state describing it as one of the greatest achievements of the PDP government.

    He said: “I am proud of the work that the governor had done to ensure that we get an airport in Bayelsa state, so we must commend him and the PDP for that achievement.

    Read Also: Polls: No life, property would be lost in C/River, Ayade assures

    “Generally, airports are federal projects but the state government led by Governor Dickson decided to take it upon himself to ensure that we have an airport.

    “The benefits of airports are immeasurable; some are intangible you can not feel them. Driving to Port Harcourt everyday you want to fly, is a tough thing to do.

    “So, those of us who fly to Abuja, Lagos consistently will be able to drive 30 to 20 minutes to our airport and fly. Let us commend the PDP. If for no other reason Bayelsa should vote for PDP just for this airport accomplishment”.

    Okoya said he went round the state to campaign for the candidates of the PDP and appealed to voters not to experiment with a new party in the coming elections.

    “PDP has done very well for Bayelsa state, so PDP needs to keep ruling and running Bayelsa state. The success of the party needs to be rewarded by people coming out to vote for PDP en masse.

    “The record of achievement is all over the state. You can see it everywhere, I don’t want to go into details. But I want to employ the people to please vote for PDP for continuity, for success.

    “Let’s not experiment the new parties because we don’t know them very well. Let’s take what we have and try to make it better because there is no family that is perfect. There are always issues, debates, disagreement but ultimately when family sit down together we can always come together and make progress and success”.

  • Poll shift: FG orders immediate payment of February salary

    The Federal Government on Wednesday ordered the immediate payment of February salaries to assist workers wishing to travel to vote during Saturday’s rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to him, the payment of February salaries to federal workers commenced on Tuesday.

    The early payment, he said is “to ease the burden off civil servants planning to travel for the elections”.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the elections to this Saturday.

    Many who travelled to their voting destinations were forced to return to their bases and there is fear among the populace that many will not return.

    The Minister, who said FEC on Wednesday discussed the issue, said that it also reviewed some of the palliatives put in place to help people return to cast their votes.

    He said the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), with a membership of about 50,000 and “who controls 80% of petroleum sector distribution has agreed to cushion the effect of the postponement by reducing the price of pump price of petrol from N145 to 140 from February 21st to 25th”.

    The Minister said the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) with about 2 million members and operates motor parks in all the 774 local government areas across the country has offered to provide discount to travellers using their motor parks.

    “All these is aimed at encouraging voters who might have been disenfranchised by the postponement,” he said

    He also said as part of the incentives, two airlines, Aero contractors and Arik Air are offering discounted fares to passengers.

    He said while Aero is offering a 50 percent discount to all travellers who present their Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) at point of purchase, Arik has slashed the price of their tickets to N16,000 to all destinations across the country from February 18 to 11 March 11, 2019.

  • Polls shift: Group urges agents to beef up security

    A South African based election observer body, Pan African Women’s Project, has urged the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency beef up its security apparatus, ahead of the rescheduled February 23 March 9, general election, so as to avert a planned bomb attack by political Thugs worshippers in the country.

    The Publicity Secretary of the body, Madam Mphoentle Keitseng,who spoke to reporters on arrival with her team from Abuja last night at Bristol Hotel,said,”following some classified information that reached us,a planned attack/Bomb explosion at some sensitive locations in some areas is targeted at general Mosque and popular market, as well as Churches.

    According to the body,”this is a message to Nigeria government,as we used this medium to speak with the Nigeria government to beef up security on all public areas,such as mosque,churches and markets for protection.

    Keitseng,further said,”following our consultation with various stakeholders with regard to the recent postponement Nigeria 2019 general elections,we observed that the Nigeria government did not release the INEC fund on time which resulted in supply not been made to produce materials as expected for elections.

    For instance, many observers groups are yet to receive their accreditations tags,Jackets and caps.

    When asked,how do they come to know about the non release of fund on time,she said that,they got the information from suppliers that the money was released to them last month as deposit,which brought about the delay in the supply of the sensitive and non sensitive materials normally used during elections.

    She,however,urged INEC to ensure that everything are in order for a peaceful,free,fair and credible 2019 general elections.

    She also advised voters to come out en–mass and exercise their franchise without fear or favour.

    Speaking to the Nation,the spokesman of the Kano state Police Command,DSP Abdullahi Haruna said that Police were not aware of planned attack ,adding that,”the group has not contacted us about the information.”

    According to him,we have taken adequate measures to ensure the conduct of a peaceful election in the state.

  • Buhari’s man, others defect to PDP

    BARELY three days to the rescheduled general elections, the Sokoto state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has made a big catch into its fold as Alhaji Sani Muhammad Gobirawa, Northwest Zonal Vice President of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners and top notch of the Buhari Support Organisation(BSO) “Buhari Sak” in Sokoto defects from APC.

    Gobirawa who currently is at the vanguard as Vice Chairman of the Aminu Waziri Tambuwal(AMATA) Support Group exclusively told The Nation in Sokoto Wednesday that his defection along with others in the BSO was voluntary and based on their conviction that PDP is the most fulfilling political platform that symbolises the democracy for Nigeria to work again.

    ” Our decision to join PDP was purely based on our firm conviction of the ability and capability of Governor Aminu’s reality and myth, as such, we don’t need the approval or inclination of any family to actualize our political aspirations”, he pointed out.

    According to the Pensioners top echelon who similarly seized opportunity to clear the air on some misinformation on his defection, said ” I have to put it straight to the people of the state and to shame doubting Thomases that as a Nigerian and an adult with my senses, I can decide on which party to join without associating my actions to any family.

    Read Also: Buhari’s directive against ballot snatchers patriotic, says ex- Speaker

    ” This clarification has become necessary for Sokoto people to discountenance insinuations from some quarters associated with family issue”, he explained.

    The political opinion leader and elder who also holds a traditional title of ‘ Wakilin Gwiwa and Walin Dabagin Ardo’ in the state continued, ” when I joined BSO I did not seek the permission nor associated my membership to any family.”

    Gobirawa however, urged the public to focus on issues and not personality as to the issue of choice in a democratic setting where a citizen has the right to freely associate and express his wish as to his or her aspiration.

    He said his group remain determined and focused with resilience for the success of PDP and for the reelection of Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

    ” I wish to reaffirm the commitment of our group and we remain firm and resolute behind the PDP under Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal from the grassroots up to the National level for the good of the people and the coming generations yet unborn. I also urge the people of Sokoto state to continue to extend their support to the Governor so that he can transform the state and return it’s lost glory.“

  • 2019: Over 10m PVCs collected so far – INEC

    Over 10 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have so far been collected, the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has said.

    Over 14 million new registered voters were added onto the voter register since after the 2015 general elections.

    The PVCs are to be used for voting in the general elections which commence on Saturday with the presidential and National Assembly elections, while the governorship State Assembly and FCT council polls comes up on the 9th of March, 2019.

    Read Also: Polls: Again, FG reads riot act to INEC

    The polls were earlier scheduled for 16th February and 2nd March 2019 but was however rescheduled following the inability of the commission to successfully execute its logistics arrangement.

    Full story shortly…

  • Polls: Again, FG reads riot act to INEC

    ..Says no more excuses

     

    The Federal Government has again read out the riot act to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The Federal Governmenton Wednesday said INEC is condemned to conduct election this Saturday; saying nothing less will be acceptable.

    Besides, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mathew Onyeama said the government demands 100% assurance that this Saturday is sacrosanct.

    Details shortly…

  • Rivers APC denies alleged move to scuttle elections

    Mr Chris Finebone, Publicity Secretary, the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Rivers has denied allegation making round that the party plots to scuttle elections in Rivers.

    Finbone told the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Port Harcourt that the accusation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was a mere imagination.

    He also said that the allegation that the Transportation Minister,Mr Rotim Amaechi was holding secret meetings in Abuja and strategising to disrupt elections in the state was another mere imagination by PDP.

    “Well, the claim by PDP that the Minister for Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, is holding any meeting whatsoever, dwells only in the infantile imagination of the PDP characters behind such outlandish allegation,” he said.

    NAN reports that PDP , during a media briefing on Tuesday, accused APC of conniving with the security agencies and employing other undemocratic strategies to scuttle elections in parts of the state.

    Finebone urged the public not to take the accusation serious, adding that it was a deliberate attempt to discredit APC and to dissuade its teaming supporters.

    “Rivers PDP is doing exactly what the Holy Bible refers to as the guilty running when no one is pursuing.

    “We hereby warn PDP to desist from maligning innocent members of APC who have done nothing wrong, whatsoever.

  • We’ll support Buhari on credible polls, says Ortom

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has given assurances of support for steps being taken by President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure free and fair elections.

    The governor however kicked against the President’s directive to the military and police to ruthlessly deal with would-be ballot box snatchers.

    He said obeying such directive could amount to perpetrating extra-judicial killings.

    Obeying such directive, the Governor cautioned, could attract prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

    He urged the military to stick to the rules of engagement during the conduct of the elections.

    Ortom, who spoke to newsmen in Abuja Tuesday, said, while he would not condone election rigging, due process must be followed in dealing with those that may be found breaking the law.

    The governor said: “It is unfortunate that Nigeria is gradually drifting to a banana republic where the rule of law is not respected and observed.

    “A government that was elected democratically is gradually turning into a dictatorship. It is unfortunate for our own President to come out and disregard the provisions of the laws of the land and give orders for extra-judicial killings in the state and torture against innocent Nigerians.

    “Let me say unequivocally that I am completely against the rigging of any form by any political party. It is wrong and we do not need that.

    “For me, I did not rig election to become governor. But the truth of the matter is that we have laws. And I expect that Mr. President who is the chief custodian of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, should protect our constitution and the laws of the land. It is unfortunate that Mr President gave that order.

    “I was just reading from the social media the reaction of the military that they are going to obey the directives of Mr President to the letter. It is unfortunate. This cannot stand, this cannot hold.”

    He added: “I want to advise those who are in the military, police and the other security agencies that they should know that they are also Nigerians.

    “Today, they are serving the public; tomorrow they will not be there. Maybe some of them will become politicians like some of us are.

    “It has happened in the past and it will happen again. And I also want to remind them that the day of reckoning will definitely come when they will be alone to give account of their stewardship.

    “So, I want to advise them to respect the rules of engagement based on the laws of the land. No matter the directives of Mr President. The police, army, DSS and all other security agencies should be professional rather than taking arbitrary directives. This is not correct. In a democratic set up, things must be done rightly”.