The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2019 ELECTIONS

  • Ballot box snatchers will pay with their lives – Buhari

    ….Insists INEC has no excuse to postpone six hours to election

     

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday warned that anybody involved in ballot box snatching will pay with his or her live.

    He spoke in Abuja during the opening session of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caucus meeting at the APC National Secretariat.

    Such act, he said, would be the last unlawful act the person will engage in.

    According to him, he has given the security agencies instructions to ensure free and fair elections in the country.

    He said “I do not expect any body to cause any disturbance. The security agencies have identified hot spots and flash points and should be prepared to move. We have made as much arrangement as possible for them as much as the country can afford.

    Read Also:Two suspected ballot box snatchers lynched in Kogi bye-election

    “Anybody who decide to snatch ballot boxes or lead thugs to disturb the process, may be that will be the last unlawful action you will take.

    “We have directed the military and other security agents to be ruthless. We are not going to be blamed that we want to rig elections.

    “I want Nigerians to be respected and let them vote whoever they want across the parties. I am not afraid of that. I went round the 36 states and the FCT and I think I have enough support across the country to vote for me.

    “So, I want to warn anybody who think he has enough influence in his locality to lead a body of thugs to snatch ballot boxes or disturb the voting system, he will do it at the expense of his own life,” he stated

    The President also explained that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had all the time and resources and didn’t have to wait for only six hours to cancel the elections and tell the public it was impossible.

    He said “Definitely, the reason why such incompetence manifested has to be explained to the nation. After the elections, we have to know exactly what happened and who is responsible.

    “Otherwise, our efforts to make sure that this system is acceptable would have been eroded. The constitution and the law protected INEC. But they must not take us for granted.

    “If for example, the National Assembly refused to approve what they wanted, INEC would have had moral reasons why they couldn’t perform. If the time of four years of election was not constitutionally obeyed the government, INEC would have a case.

    “But we don’t understand the reason for this inefficiency and we have to go into details after the election to find out who is responsible,” he said.

    He thanked the party leadership for their commitment.

    He went on “That was why we sat and said we must have committed leaders in all constituencies to be our agents. We also sat down and worked out the least the party should do for our agents so that they will not depend on anybody or say I am going to drink water or I am going to toilet.

    “We made all those arrangements and put it before the governors and Chairmen of the parties. Where the APC has no governors, the governorship candidate and state Chairmen were given that assignment.

    “I am satisfied that this instruction has been passed down. Right now, we have so much to do and so, we should now go back to our loyal members in all constituencies so that if anything happen, we will know who to blame.

    “We have told our constituents to be patient and react in a very matured way by going peacefully and vote and depend on party representatives in the polling unit,” he said.

     

  • We may not obey INEC’s directive on campaign – APC

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has given indications that the party will not obey directives by INEC not to reopen campaign, saying the directive was against the laws of the land.

    Oshiomhole said that the electoral management body does not have the power of making laws and cannot on its own amend the law by asking parties not to campaign after shifting the election.

    Read Also: Elections: APC UK wants INEC reviewed, reformed

    He said the APC and its members nationwide will continue in their campaign till Thursday this week as provides for by the Electoral Act and will be prepared to meet the commission in court.

    He also accused the commission of failing to take concrete action against some of its officials accused of taking side with certain political parties.

    Details shortly…

  • Elections: APC UK wants INEC reviewed, reformed

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in the United Kingdom has called for review of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) operational model with a view to reforming it.

    The chapter made the call following INEC’s postponement of the general elections on Saturday.

    In a statement copied to the News Agency of Nigeria in Uyo on Monday, the Chairman of the APC in the United Kingdom, Dr Philip Idaewor, said that the postponement indicated a systemic exhaustion within INEC and necessitated review of its operational model and enabling laws.

    “This is with a view to radically reforming it and making it fit for purpose. This is because well organised free, fair and credible elections are important to the enthronement and sustenance of democracy.

    “The announcement by INEC to postpone the 2019 General Elections has come as a huge shock to us, especially given the timing of the announcement, when political parties had already deployed huge resources to the field for the elections.

    “We have carefully listened to all the explanations given by INEC as well as the reactions of our party’s leadership, our presidential campaign council, President Muhammadu Buhari and international observers.

    “We align ourselves with the position of our party leadership, our presidential campaign council and Mr President.

    Read Also: Buhari, Osinbajo, Tinubu, others meet in Abuja

    “We are saddened that INEC leadership did not deem it necessary to brief Nigerians on a regular basis when it realised the difficulties it listed as reasons for this postponement.

    “We note that the decision by INEC falls well below the expectations for a seamless performance, given that INEC has conducted similar elections since 1999 when this fourth republic started, with opportunities for extensive field experiences and organisational discipline that would have ensured operational options even in unforeseen circumstances.

    “Moreover, INEC leadership presented the needed budget for this elections, with evidence showing that all of INEC’s requests were fully met to ensure successful implementation of this election cycle,” he said.

    Ideawor said that INEC should tell Nigerians why elections could not hold in states which did not have the logistics problems it listed.

    “Why postpone the elections in the entire country? What happens now to those ballot papers and other election materials already distributed to local government areas around the country?

    “What is the cost of this postponement to our national purse? Where will money for another deployment come from? Who takes responsibility for this, and what is the consequence?” he asked.

    He, however, urged Nigerians to refrain from spreading messages capable of heating up the polity.

    “Nigeria needs peace to continue on the path of national reclamation started by the APC government led by President Muhammadu Buhari.”

  • Buhari, Osinbajo, Tinubu, others meet in Abuja

    President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday met in Abuja in the party’s caucus meeting.

    The meeting started at the APC National Secretariat around 11.30am when the President arrived.

    Those in attendance included the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole.

    State governors at the meeting included that of Zamfara, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Jigawa, Borno, Bauchi, Kebbi, Niger, Lagos and Kaduna state.

    Read Also: Buhari: no plan to remove INEC Chairman Yakubu

    Also in attendance were the Senate leader, Ahmad Lawan, senators, Secretary to the Government of the Federation(SGF), Boss Mustapha, ministers, among others.

    Discussions at the meeting will not be unconnected with the issues affecting the party, including the postponement of the general elections by a week.

  • Election postponement: NLC demand public holiday

    … warn Workers against voter apathy

     

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked government to declare a two or three-day public holiday to enable workers travel to perform their civic responsibility in the face of imminent voter apathy as a result of the shift in the date of the general elections.

    The Congress also asked Nigerians especially workers not to be disillusioned with the postponement of the elections, but the go all out and cast their vote, saying the postponement of the election was a better evil than disenfranchising several millions of Nigerians.

    President of the Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said in a statement that from evidence available, many people would have been able to cast their vote as a result of logistics problems if the election had been allowed to go ahead.

    Wabba said: “We at the Nigerian Labour Congress join other Nigerians in expressing our shock at the last minute postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 16, 2019.

    “We share in the pains of those who in an uncommon show of patriotism, had to travel long distances to perform their civic duty. We similarly understand the outrage of those who had incurred huge and unquantifiable logistic costs. No explanation will be good enough given INEC’s repeated assurances and the zeal of Nigerians to cast their vote.

    “However, given the fact that had the election taken place, a huge number of Nigerians would have been disenfranchised on account of gross and wide-spread logistic deficit, the postponement, as painful as it is, is a lesser evil of the two.

    “In light of this, we enjoin all Nigerians to quickly put behind them this ugly incident and brace up for the rescheduled election next weekend. In spite of the huge costs to them, we call on all Nigerians to self-mobilise on the same scale that they did the previous weekend.

    “Let them not be disillusioned or react to this postponement in a manner that will create voter-apathy. This will certainly be counterproductive and will in the long run work against the interests of the electorate.

    “We call on institutions to be flexible with their staff to enable them travel in good time to perform this important civic duty even if it means government declaring a day or two public holiday to achieve this.

    “As for INEC, we do hope they have learnt their lesson. On no account ever again, should they allow this to happen. All effort and expertise must be deployed by INEC to guarantee free, fair and credible elections. We appeal to all Nigerians to put this incident behind them and go out en mass to vote next weekend.”

  • Buhari expresses disappointment over shift in general elections

    *To immediately return to Abuja

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday in Daura, Katsina State expressed his disappointment over the postponement of the 2019 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Buhari was in his home state since Thursday for the All Progressives Congress Presidential campaign rally and to vote for the presidential election earlier scheduled for Saturday.

    But INEC, in the early hours of Saturday had announced postponement of the elections by another one week due to some challenges.

    The President in a statement on Saturday said “I am deeply disappointed that despite the long notice given and our preparations both locally and internationally, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the Presidential and National Assembly elections within hours of its commencement.

    “Many Nigerians have traveled to various locations to exercise their right to vote, and international observers are gathered.

    “INEC themselves have given assurances, day after day and almost hour after hour that they are in complete readiness for the elections. We and all our citizens believed them.

    “This administration has ensured that we do not interfere in any way with the work of INEC except to ensure that all funds were released to the commission.”

    He urged INEC to ensure that materials already distributed are safe and do not get into wrong hands.

    He also charged the electoral umpire to do everything to avoid the lapses that resulted in this unfortunate postponement.

    Read Also: Buhari’s statement on postponement of elections by INEC

    Buhari tasked INEC to ensure a free and fair election on the rescheduled dates.

    He added “While I reaffirm my strong commitment to the independence, neutrality of the electoral umpire and the sanctity of the electoral process and ballot, I urge all political stakeholders and Nigerians to continue to rally round INEC at this trying national moment in our democratic journey.

    “I, therefore, appeal to all Nigerians to refrain from all civil disorder and remain peaceful, patriotic and united to ensure that no force or conspiracy derail our democratic development.

    “I have decided to move back to Abuja to ensure that the 14.00 hrs meeting called by INEC with all stakeholders is successful.

  • Buhari’s statement on postponement of elections by INEC

    STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT BUHARI ON THE POSTPONEMENT OF GENERAL ELECTIONS BY INEC

    I am deeply disappointed that despite the long notice given and our preparations both locally and internationally, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the Presidential and National Assembly elections within hours of its commencement.

    Many Nigerians have traveled to various locations to exercise their right to vote, and international observers are gathered.

    INEC themselves have given assurances, day after day and almost hour after hour that they are in complete readiness for the elections. We and all our citizens believed them.

    This administration has ensured that we do not interfere in any way with the work of INEC except to ensure that all funds were released to the commission.

    We now urge INEC to ensure not only that materials already distributed are safe and do not get into wrong hands, but that everything is done to avoid the lapses that resulted in this unfortunate postponement, and ensure a free and fair election on the rescheduled dates.

    While I reaffirm my strong commitment to the independence, neutrality of the electoral umpire and the sanctity of the electoral process and ballot, I urge all political stakeholders and Nigerians to continue to rally round INEC at this trying national moment in our democratic journey.

    I, therefore, appeal to all Nigerians to refrain from all civil disorder and remain peaceful, patriotic and united to ensure that no force or conspiracy derail our democratic development.

    I have decided to move back to Abuja to ensure that the 14.00 hrs meeting called by INEC with all stakeholders is successful.

    Muhammadu Buhari

    Daura, February 16, 2019

  • Polls: Police deploy 20, 000 security in Kano

    Kano state Police Command is deploying no fewer than 20,000 security personnel to secure the 484 wards in 44 Local Government Areas in Saturday’s presidential and senatorial election in the state.

    The deployment is to ensure a peaceful conduct of the polls as well as protect the lives and property of the citizens of the state.

    Briefing reporters at the Command Headquarters on the preparations on Friday, the commissioner of Police Mr. Wakili Mohammed, said 15,000 specially trained police officers and 5,000 sister organizations would be drafted for the election.

    Wakili, warned that anyone caught with weapons, during the elections, would be arrested and prosecuted according to the provisions of the law.

    According to him, voters should vote for any candidate of their choice, stressing that, the election is not a war, but for the election to be credible.

    He maintained his men are ready to ensure a peaceful conduct of the election, promising that his men will protect all voters, asking as they conduct themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner.

    “We want the voting to start peacefully and end peacefully am calling on the good people of Kano to cooperate with security agencies to ensure peaceful conduct of the election.

    Mohammed also warned that nobody is authorized to come to the polling station, with dangerous weapons, as anybody caught would be dealt with, so as to serve as deterrent t others, whose mission is to cause disorder to scuttle the elections.

    Meanwhile, in a Press Conference held at NUJ Press Centre, the spokesperson of South-African based election observer body, Pan African Women’s Project, Belinda Maduna, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its level of preparedness ahead of the elections.

    Accordingly to her, representatives of the body have been on ground for the last 48 hours, “and we are Impressed. INEC is doing a wonderful job here in Kano. We have seen the staff working round the clock to ensure that all the election materials get to the designated places on time.”

    She further appealed to INEC to ensure smooth conduct of the elections, “our expectations are large. We expect credible, peaceful, free and fair elections.”

    Belinda also appealed to security agencies to remain committed to peaceful conduct of the elections, adding that, “we are appealing to security agencies to be honourable and perform their duties deligently. They should not intimidate voters. They should be friendly to the electorate and ensure their safety during the elections.”

    Belinda also advised politicians to desist from vote-buying and other forms of electoral crime, urging them not to allow their supporters to carry arms or engage in snatching of ballot boxes and other electoral crimes during the elections.

    She, however, advised Kano electorate to troop out en mass and vote candidates of their choice, adding that, “it is the right of every Nigerian eligible voter to go out there tomorrow and vote for candidates of their choice.”

  • Buhari urged justify integrity through credible polls

    A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to put his integrity to work by being faithful to his promise to ensure free, fair and credible Presidential and national assembly elections on Saturday.

    He said the President must also demonstrate his strong resolve for a united Nigeria and prove to the whole world that he is really in charge of affairs in the country by working his talks as contained in his nationwide broadcast on Thursday.

    In a statement made available to The Nation, Frank said: “It is good that President Buhari has once again pledged to ensure that the elections are free, fair and credible. That is what Nigerians and the world expect of him at this time save for the fact that those who are out to frustrate and rig the elections on his behalf are people he supervises directly.

    “If the President is serious with his promise, let him stop the security agencies, especially the police, military and the DSS from intimidating and harassing Nigerians especially opposition party leaders as we count down to the first election tomorrow.

    “If the President is serious with his promise, let him stop illegal arrests and disruption of voting anywhere across the country by security agencies.

    “If the President is serious on his promise to guarantee a credible election, let him withdraw his men mounting undue pressure on INEC officials to help him win re-election by fraudulently allocating unearned votes to the APC.

    “If the President is serious, let him warn the Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, all National Commissioners of INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioners, staff and all adhoc staff of the agency to abide by their oath of office which is to put Nigeria first above personal and selfish gain during these elections.

    “If the President wants Nigerians and the world to take him serious, let him stop the evil being plotted to disable GSM and internet signals nationwide in order to frustrate voters and election observers from communicating, sharing information and comparing notes.”

    He urged the President to emulate former President Goodluck Jonathan whose commitment to democratic ideals led to a highly acceptable electoral outcome in 2015 and a peaceful transmission of power to the then opposition APC.

    He insisted that Nigerians will only believe his “free and fair elections’ promise if the election is conducted in an atmosphere devoid of intimidation, harassment, violence and rigging by the APC, INEC and security agencies.”

  • Police to deploy air assets, sniffer dogs for polls

    ….We have received our allowances, motivated, say operatives

     

    Lagos Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu has said the command would deploy air assets for constant patrols during the elections.

    He stated this during an interview with reporters at the Command headquarters in Ikeja, adding that there was no anticipation of violence in the state.

    According to the police chief, the command was fully prepared for the exercise and has a robust operation order in place.

    “We have aerial patrols even before the elections. These patrols are going to continue.

    “We do not anticipate any violence anywhere but we have made adequate arrangement just in case we have any.

    “The command is fully prepared for the election. On my arrival in the command I met a robust operation order in place which I went through and was satisfied everything was in place. Now, this operation order has divided Lagos into various commands and formations and all have been adequately planned for.

    “We have not left anywhere unmanned. From INEC offices to the polling units and then collation centers, everywhere is going to be fully manned by security operatives.

    “We are working in collaboration with other security agencies in Lagos State. I want to assure you that all flash points have been protected.

    “Electorates should come out enmass and cast their votes without fear of anything. Adequate security has been provided for each voter at his polling unit to cast his vote,” he said.
    Meanwhile, The Nation gathered that the K-9 (dog) unit of the police would be fully engaged during the exercise especially in areas notorious for drug peddling and related crimes.

    At the state headquarters yesterday, a detachment of operatives including those from the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Anti-bomb and Intelligence Bureau were seen jumping into trucks and buses for movement to their assigned communities and local governments.

    Asked why they were excited, some of the operatives confirmed to The Nation that they have received their allowances. It was gathered the other ranks (Corporal to Sergeant) received N30, 000 and above which were paid directly into their accounts.