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Tag: 2019 general elections.

  • How we prevented Rivers from destruction during 2019 polls – Army

    Brig.-Gen. Felix Omongue, Acting Director of Operations, Nigerian Army, has disclosed that Rivers would have burnt to ashes, if not for the military’s quick intervention during the 2019 General Elections.

    Omongue made statement in Port Harcourt on Monday at the House of Representatives public hearing on political violence in Rivers.

    The House Committee on Army, Police, Human Rights and Justice was in Rivers to investigate the murder of Dr. Ferry Ogberegbe, a lecturer at Saro Wiwa Polytechnic Boro.

    The lecturer was alleged to have been shot by men of Federal Anti-robbery Squad (FSARS) during the elections.

    He said the political landscape of Rivers was charged before and during the elections, hence the army played the necessary roles.

    According to him, “the Nigerian Army was the sole hero of 2019 elections.

    He, however, said the military arrested some criminals for alleged impersonation during the polls.

    “The Political environment in Rivers was heated up.”

    The General said it was only in Rivers that the public accused the army of killing, intimidation and arrest, while local and international communities commended it for positive role in the exercise.

    According to the director of operations, the Odi massacre in Bayelsa, would have been repeated but that the army exercised restraint when its officer was killed.

    An army officer was killed in Abonnema, in Asari Toru Local Government Area during the presidential polls.

    “Only Rivers in Niger Delta zone is accusing the military of wrong doings.

    The military has a rule of engagement (operation), ” he said.

    Omogue said three soldiers were killed during the elections in Rivers.

    Dr. Gogo Jack, Rivers Commissioner for Education, told the committee that 187 people were arrested by soldiers, including himself and detained in a military facility in Boro camp, Port Harcourt.

    The education commissioner said his house was ransacked while N1.5 million he left on a dinner table was stolen.

    According to him, his house was surrounded with several trucks and Amoured Personnel Carriers (APC).

    Mr Ibim Dokubo, a counsel to Asari Toru Local Government Area, said 43 persons died; 24 “identifiable persons were wounded, while 14 were brutalised and arrested.

    Nine persons, including the military personnel testified at  the public hearing while the committee adjourned to May 8, for continuation. (NAN)

  • ‘Rebel’ lawmakers who won’t return

    The final results of the 2019 general elections have shown that defections of some All Progressives Congress (APC) federal lawmakers to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had no effect on the ruling party’s electoral fortune. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines how some of the defectors fared in the election.

    Majority of senators and members of the House of Representatives who dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2019 general elections have failed in their bid to return to the 9th National Assembly.

    Some of them were defeated at the poll by APC candidates. They include Senate President Bukola Saraki, Senators Suleiman Nazif, Monsurat Sunmonu, Barnabas Gemade, Abdul Azeez Murtala Nyako, Rafiu Salami and Ubale Shittu. Those that didn’t seek re-election include Senators Rabiu Kwankwaso, Isa Misau and Usman Nafada.

    Those in the House of Representatives that contested on the platform of the PDP and lost include Aminu Shagari and Razaq Atunwa. Other members that defected along with them were Sani Rano, Ali Madoki, Hassan Saleh, Shehu Usman, Danburam Nuhu Abubakar, Tope Olayinka, Ahman Pategi, Samuel Udende, Abubakar Kannike, Abdu Samad Dasuki and Bode Ayorinde.

    Justifying their defection in July 2018, the lawmakers said the decision was taken after due consultation with their constituents and stakeholders in their constituencies, in proper recognition of Section 61(1) (d) of the 1999 Constitution, and for the fact that the APC then was factionalised.

    In actual fact, they were aggrieved PDP members that formed the so-called ‘new PDP’ in 2014 and later merged with the APC towards the build-up to the 2015 general elections. Again in 2018, they contrived another crisis and formed what they called the ‘reformed APC’ to create the impression that there was crisis within the party. Analysts said they were forced to return to their former political party because they had failed to hijack the APC machinery. The defection did not affect APC status, as it maintained majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

     

    Saraki

    At a meeting held with Kwara PDP stakeholders in August 2018, Saraki predicted that his new party would win the 2019 presidential election. He said: “I am confident that PDP would emerge victorious at all levels in Kwara State. The victory of PDP at both federal and state levels would be beneficial to all Nigerians.” He added that the victory would wipe off the challenges that confronted Nigerians under the Muhammadu Buhari administration. “If we emerge at the federal level, all of us will be the beneficiaries. With your support we will win the state,” he said.

    But eight months after, his prediction fell on his face. Saraki lost his re-election bid. He was defeated by the APC senatorial candidate Alhaji Ibrahim Oloriegbe who polled 123, 828 votes against Saraki’s 68,994. Rather than accept defeat Saraki said he lost to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the military.

    A political observer in Kwara State, Dr Abubakar Malik, said Saraki’s defeat was not by accident. He said: “Saraki’s game is up. He is reaping what he sowed. Remember how he emerged as Senate President. He stabbed the party at the back. He connived with the PDP to frustrate President Muhammadu Buhari’s programmes and policies. The budgets sent to the National Assembly were not passed as at when due. List of government nominees were not approved months after they were sent to the Senate.  The results of elections in Kwara State has nailed political coffin of Saraki.”

     

    Danbaba

    Abdullahi Danbaba represents Sokoto South Senatorial District. He was elected on the platform of APC in 2015, but defected to the PDP in 2018. He was very critical of the Buhari administration. His words: “The APC-led Federal Government has derailed from its mandate and failed to meet the yearnings of Nigerians. The APC has failed to address the three core issues facing the country which are those of security, economy and corruption for which it was voted into power in 2015.” The senator said he opted to leave the APC because of lack of equity, justice and fairness to all members.

    Danbaba had boasted that the defectors would not regret dumping the APC for the PDP. He expressed optimism that the PDP would return as the nation’s ruling party in 2019. He was one of the strong supporters of Saraki when the APC was calling for the Senate President’s resignation, after his defection from the APC to the PDP.

    His dream that the PDP would bounce back as ruling party was not fulfilled, as the opposition party lost the 2019 presidential election to the APC.  He boasted that the PDP would win 10 northern states in the general elections. Danbaba also failed to realise his ambition to return to the Senate. He lost the senatorial election to the APC candidate, Shehu Tambuwal, who scored 134,224 votes to Danbaba’s 112,546 votes.

     

    Nazif

    He was elected on the platform of the APC to represent Bauchi North Senatorial District in 2015. He was among the 14 senators that dumped the APC in 2018. He is the Chairman at Employment, Labour and Productivity Committee. Born in 1970, he is one of the youngest senators in the National Assembly.

    Nazif belongs to the Abuja-based political group that was determined to unseat Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abubakar. With the result of the supplementary election released by INEC, Abubakar lost to the PDP governorship candidate, Bala Muhammed.

    However, Nazif was not lucky in his bid to return to the 9th Senate on the platform of the PDP. He came third in the contest won by Alhaji Muhammed Bukachuwa of the APC who polled 110,631 votes. Nazif garnered 56,379 votes.

     

    Shittu

    Senator Ubale Shittu represents Jigawa North East Senatorial District. His defection from the APC to the PDP was opposed by his constituents. They protested and told him that he was on his own. Shittu had vowed before his defection that he would work to unseat the state Governor Abubakar Badaru. He premised his defection on the failure of APC government to fulfil its promise.

    He alleged Badaru of poor performance. According to him, “Governor Badaru deceived my senatorial district because since he came on board he didn’t commission a single project in Hadejia emirate. All the projects in the district were inherited from previous regimes.

    Shittu who vowed to unseat the governor and the APC controlled Federal government was instead stopped from returning to the 9th Assembly. He lost the senatorial election to Ibrahim Hassan of APC who scored 184,185. Shittu got 103, 039 votes.

    Misau

    The senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Isa Misau had boasted that he didn’t need the APC to win election. He claimed that despite his defection from the ruling party to the PDP, his popularity has not been affected. Explaining why he defected, he said: “The APC’s lack of internal democracy and justice for all members were some of the reasons that informed my decision to quit the ruling party.

    “I was a founding member of the APC, but we and our supporters were short changed in the local and state congresses of the party. Our people were denied forms and election officials were hidden from us. So the injustice in the APC is worse than what we accused the PDP of in the past. In APC, if you are maltreated, you have nowhere to channel your grievances. Everybody knows there is discipline in the PDP. If you are treated unfairly you know where to report your grievances and you will be heard.”

    Though Misau didn’t get PDP’s ticket to contest, the APC candidate, Mr Haliru Jiga won the Bauchi Central senatorial seat. He polled 66,024 to defeat Bappa Aliyu of the PDP who scored 57, 069. Thus, Misau’s popularity failed to see Aliyu through.

     

    Atunwa

    Rasaq Atunwa represents Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency, Kwara State in the House of Representatives. He is a disciple of Saraki. He had benefitted immensely from being loyal to Saraki leadership. His political career started in 2005 when Saraki appointed him as a commissioner; in 2011, he was elected member of Kwara House of Assembly and became Speaker of the House. In 2015, he was elected into the House of Representatives on the platform of APC. He followed his political godfather to PDP in 2018.

    He called President Buhari a tyrant while commenting on the Supreme Court judgment which cleared Saraki of wrong asset declaration. Atunwa said “the Supreme Court has just declared that the action of the tyrant in harassing Saraki with CCT is unlawful.” He also berated the performance of the Buhari administration which he said was responsible for defection of some federal lawmakers from the APC to the PDP.

    Atunwa who contested 2019 Kwara governorship election on PDP’s ticket lost to APC candidate, AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq.

     

    Muhammed

    Zakari Muhammed is a member of the House of Representatives from Kwara North. He has had longstanding political ties with Saraki, a relationship that has advanced the political career of Muhammed. In Baruten Local Government where he hails from, a prominent politician said Muhammed’s blind loyalty to Saraki was responsible for the former’s meteoric rise within the Saraki political camp. He has been touted as a possible governorship candidate, if Saraki decides that power should be zoned to Kwara North.

    Though Muhammed didn’t seek re-election but the APC won his seat. The APC candidate, Malam Mohammed Bio scored 37,914 to defeat Alhaji Abubakar Musa of the PDP with 14,476 votes.

     

  • Lagos lawmakers thank Tinubu, party leaders, voters for re-election

    LAWMAKERS at the Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday at the plenary expressed happiness over the results of the 2019 general elections.

    They hailed the All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, party stakeholders and constituents for their re-election.

    The House, which resumed yesterday after about two months recess, attributed their reelection to the 9th assembly to God, party leaders, the Speaker and their constituents.

    The lawmakers, who won reelection into the assembly, hailed the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, for intervening in their matters and for ensuring that they were victorious in the elections.

    In his contribution, Bisi Yusuff, representing Alimosho Constituency I, lauded former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, residents, party stakeholders and his family for standing by him to ensure his third term.

    Abiodun Tobun, representing Epe Constituency I, who also commended the people of Epe for supporting his third term, promised to serve the people more.

    In his contributions, Jude Idimogu from Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 2, also hailed Asiwaju Tinubu, Obasa and other APC leaders in his constituency for giving him the opportunity to serve for second term.

    Other lawmakers, who spoke during plenary include: Yinka Ogundimu (Agege I), Olusola Sokunle (Oshodi-Isolo I) and Setonji David (Badagry II)

    Others  were Nurudeen Solaja-Saka (Ikorodu II), Moshood Oshun (Lagos Mainland II), Noheem Adams (Eti-Osa I), Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti-Osa II), Ibrahim Layode (Badagry I), Fatai Mojeed (Ibeju-Lekki I) among others.

    Others such as Adefunmilayo Tejuosho (Mushin I) and Dipo Olorunrinu (Amuwo-Odofin I), who would not be returning to the House for Ninth assembly, also commended the people for the opportunity to serve.

    Read also: Tricycle owners hail Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat

    Olorunrinu, the only member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the House specifically stated that his heart was with the APC despite being in the PDP.

    Obasa lauded his colleagues for their support and loyalty and assured that Lagos had the capacity to soar higher than where it was presently operating.

    The Speaker urged the lawmakers to reciprocate the love and support received from the people during the elections and ensure that they do more for the people in the Ninth Assembly.

    Obasa said: “I want to thank all the members for praising me. You stood by us. So, we too should stand by you.

    “As we are thanking God, we cannot give thanks with ordinary mouth. Let us appreciate the people with our works.

    “Let us serve the people effectively so that they could see that we are working.

    “Let us ensure that we push Lagos State to be like a country. A state like California and Atlanta in the United States of America could stand on their own based on what they have been doing.”

    Obasa said the House could do a lot by working with the incoming governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    The Speaker urged chairmen of the standing committees in the House to conclude their legislative duties before the end of the Eighth Assembly.

    He thanked the outgoing Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for his developmental projects.

  • Elections victory: PDP BoT congratulates party, candidates

    The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated the party for the success recorded by it and its candidates in the just concluded general elections.

    The BoT Chairman, Sen. Walid Jubrin, sent the party organ’s congratulatory message at a press conference after its 65th meeting held on Thursday in Abuja.

    Jubrin said that in spite of the challenges faced by PDP candidates in the general elections, they performed well.

    He expressed the board’s support to all the party’s candidates who were in court to seek redress for their grievances during the elections.

    He stated: “The BOT hereby wishes to congratulate our great party and all our candidates who participated in the 2019 elections, for bracing the odds and strengthening democratic rules and culture.

    “This was done in spite of the unprecedented level of militarisation which runs clearly against the letters and spirit of the judgment of the Supreme Court that says the military has no business in the conduct of elections.

    Read also: PDP cautions Kogi lawmakers over alleged plot to remove Chief Judge

    “The BOT also wishes to assure Nigerians and all members of our great party, especially those whose mandate were stolen, that the BoT stands by them at all times in the wheat to reclaim the mandate freely given to them by the good people of Nigeria.”

    Jubrin expressed the board’s dismay over what he described as systematic erosion of the gains made under the PDP administration in enhancing the credibility of the electoral process over the years.

    “The BoT calls on all Nigerians, especially our teeming PDP supporters to stay calm and be law-abiding as we believe justice will take its proper place in spite of the traumatisation of the judicial arm of government by the present administration,” he added (NAN)

  • CODER decries high voter apathy

    THE Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER) has decried the apathy that characterised the general election, saying the national average of voter turnout was 34 per cent.

    CODER said its data sugggested the problem was more prevalent in urban centres, particularly among the elite.

    The organisation spoke in Lagos yesterday while presenting its Observer Field Report for the 2019 elections.

    Executive Director/Chair Transition Committee Dr. Wunmi Bewaji, who read out the report, linked the development with a number of factors, including the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) failure to develop and enhance its human capital.

    It also identified lack of access to weak and vulnerable groups, such as the aged, the sick, disabled and illiterates, as well as what he described as the growing phenomenon of ‘judicialisation’ of the country’s democracy.

    Bewaji said the data was alarming, with millions of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) at INEC offices nationwide.

    He said: “To safeguard our democracy, there is the need to explore voters’ pre-registration and incentivisation of franchise with the introduction of a Voter Participation Certificate (VPC) with attendant benefits and consequences. For example, possession of a valid VPC could be made a criteria for employment/promotion in the civil service, for postgraduate admissions, participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), to obtain drivers’ licence, international passports, for registration of companies etc.”

    The CODER director said “the location of polling stations, haphazard placement of voting materials, self-accreditation etc. all add up to disenfranchise many, especially the aged, the sick, disabled and illiterates,”

    He enjoined the commission to make access and ease of voting a priority to prevent voter apathy and disenfranchisement of eligible voters.

    Read also: Rivers: INEC to resume collation of of March 9 elections results

    CODER decried the reckless and rampant use of fake news by political gladiators.

    “Deliberate and shameless attempts were made by some political actors to destroy …INEC, the Army, the Police and our security agencies … Adequate security arrangements made for the protection of lives and property were demonised as militarisation. Few cases of security breach were exaggerated… to portray the elections as being marred by violence.”

    To curb the development, he called for punishment of persons and organisations involved in the creation and distribution of fake news.

    The report said the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Fourth Republic should be used to amend the constitution, to enshrine democracy as one of the fundamental human rights.

    In spite of the above shortcomings that characterized the 2019 general elections, CODER insists that it was free, fair and credible.

  • In Nigeria, election is warfare!

    Let’s be honest with ourselves, in our country election is warfare! It is not even the equivalent of war but real war, period! It is a savage, mortal combat, a blood spot where gladiators and their loyal warriors are armed to the teeth with physical weapons…guns, machetes, knives, even cudgels and blunt weapons to bludgeon their opponents, not forgetting the spiritual and metaphysical ones (charms, amulets, incantations) which are freely employed alongside various battle tactics, all for the accomplishment of the ultimate “strategic objective” of capturing political power.

    That’s right, capturing power…not winning it in a fair contest…is the essence of political contestation in our country. Anybody who believes the contrary is either being plainly mischievous or is living in a fool’s paradise, an Orwellian sugar-candy mountain of his own creation, so unreal to those of us who live here and witness the sheer murderous violence that elections have become.

    The evidences of elections as warfare are there on the ground and in plain view for all to see. I couldn’t help but laugh aloud when the ambassador of one of the major Western nations in Abuja declared to Nigerians that election is not warfare. I must say that he was neither being mischievous in that statement nor can anyone accuse him of living in a fool’s paradise, after all elections are always peaceful in his own country. He was merely being diplomatic, i.e., saying the nastiest things in the nicest way as diplomats are wont to do. At another level, the statement could be seen as exhortatory, urging Nigerians to see electioneering not as a savage contest but rather as a civilized method for the mass of the people to participate in deciding who governs their country.

    In a purely technical sense, the 2019 general elections may be ranked as the best so far, in terms of its meticulous organization and implementation, though not without considerable hiccups, shortcomings and attendant violence. The clever deployment of modern ICT tools throughout the entire electioneering process, from voter registration, voter sensitization, through to the actual voting, collation, recording, announcement and display of the results, is unrivalled in the annals of election administration in Nigeria. Without question, it must also rank as one of the most violent and by far the most disrupted elections in recent memory. The numerous incidences of murder of politicians, security personnel, party agents, electoral officials and even ordinary Nigerians; the forcible kidnapping of politicians, INEC staff and security agents; the burning down of INEC offices and facilities in different places before and during the voting and collation exercises; the massive threats of violence against, harassment and physical intimidation, of regular INEC and ad hoc staff, which forced many collation officials to hurriedly announce results under duress while looking down the barrel of guns wielded by paid political thugs, are so mind-boggling they shouldn’t be spoken of in the 21st century. If judged by the sheer naked display of banditry and hooliganism that marred the voting and collation processes in many parts of the country, there is no doubt the 2019 will rank as the most uncivil.

    Elections have always been a zero-sum contest since independence when Nigerians themselves started conducting it. The national general elections of 1964 and the Western Region elections of October 1965 were so badly riddled with irregularities that caused Nigeria to spin out of control until the military struck in January 1966 to put an end to a democracy that had gone totally berserk. Elections since then have been marred by contrived irregularities, violence, mayhem, kidnapping, murder and arson because of the incurable desperation of politicians for office. President Olusegun Obasanjo in a Freudian slip in 2007 famously warned that the general elections of that year were going to be “a do-or-die affair”. And they truly were as he went on to superintend the greatest electoral robbery that even its principal beneficiary, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, had to openly own up to the grand heist.

    What is it that makes electoral contests that are conducted so easily and peacefully in other climes such a zero-sum contest in Nigeria? It is simple: political office gives unrestricted access to power and unearned wealth for self, family and cronies. The late Nigerian political scientist, Claude Ake, in his book, Democracy and Development in Africa, reflected the reality that holding power is everything as it guarantees unrestricted access to unearned wealth from the common patrimony. According to him, it is also the main guarantor to personal security and well-being, and that those outside the power loop cannot afford to take both their personal safety and even their entrepreneurial activities for granted. For the power elite, entrepreneurial engagement is a distraction since wealth can be made easily from the national treasury. There is so much money to be made just by holding a position of power; hence great premium is placed on acquisition and retention of state power!

    It is not surprising that because such huge premium is placed on acquisition and retention of state power, “political competition tends to assume the character of warfare”. The struggle for power is often so intense that every other activity pales into insignificance by comparison. For Nigerian politicians and office seekers, the maxim is: winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing! This desperation for electoral victory is certainly at the root of the series of inconclusive elections, as well as the associated crimes and criminality.

    Something urgently needs to be done to make elections less violent and less traumatic for Nigerians. It is time for INEC to think outside the box and design an entirely novel, innovative, much more efficient and less costly electoral administration for the country. And this should not be difficult, given the calibre of scholars and other experienced Nigerians in INEC. Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi after casting his vote for the March 9 state House of Assembly elections, advised INEC to devise a new system that will allow all elections to be held in one day through the use of electronic voting that will make the exercise less stressful, save time and reduce needless paper work and logistics. INEC should take this suggestion very seriously. The federal government and the National Assembly should get on board as a matter of urgency. It is not beyond INEC to design such a template that will be effective and efficient. It’s time we gave it a try.  It is not expected to be perfect at first try, but we will continue to improve on it until such a time electronic voting would be so perfected and become a routine activity. Nigerians must be saved from the evil machinations of political desperadoes and protected from the sheer drudgery and trauma that elections have become. It’s time to do something new. We are in the digital age and cannot escape it. INEC must ignore the naysayers who argue that we are not ripe or sophisticated enough for e-voting. The journey of a thousand miles must begin with the first tentative steps away from home. Let INEC not be shy of taking these first steps.

     

    • Prof Fawole writes from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

  • How APC can avert repeat of 2015 NASS leadership crisis – Shehu Sani

    Senator representing Kaduna Central zone in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Shehu Sani, bared his mind on how the ruling APC can avert repeat of the 2015 leadership crisis in the NASS. In this interview with Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Sani also tells Buhari what to do in his second term. As he speaks on security challenges in Kaduna and his battle against his opponent in the election petitions tribunal. Excerpt

    THE 2019 General Elections have come and gone. As a player in the election, what is your assessment of the whole process?

    Well, let me say we have passed the first phase. We are now in the second phase, which is the litigation aspect of it, where the candidates have gone to the court to challenge the outcome of the polls. We cannot say this election was perfect; actually there is no perfect election anywhere in the world. But the expectation on this election was very high, in view of the standard that was set in 2015. Many things have come into electoral lexicon of Nigeria today, which have to do with inconclusive elections and some issues that have to do with lack of clear definition of which election could be termed inconclusive. There is also the violent aspect of the election; the killings that have happened during these elections are something that we have to all condemn.

    I think if we are to score these elections, we can say that achievements have been recorded, but there are areas that actually need to be put straight; the issue of money politics was a case of incumbents clearly buying votes. And also the role played by the Police and the Army in most parts of the country is condemnable. There is also the very fact that the foundation of these crises also has to do with the inability of the politicians to play the game fairly and squarely. These are all fundamental issues that have seriously undermined the integrity of this election. But, I believe we cannot throw the baby away with the bath water. We now have a judiciary that has started doing a wonderful job in some certain places and the outcome of the cases that are before the courts will further either give credit to the elections or seriously prove how worthless the process is.

    Compared to the 2015 elections, which one would you say is better?

    Well, there are elements of 2015 elections, many things were introduced now, that were not introduced in 2015. First of all, we must commend the fact that Jonathan made it very clear that, no blood of any Nigerian is worthy of his own ambition, and he went further to demonstrate it by conceding defeat. But, as of now, we have seen desperation on the side of the governors in their attempt to hold on to power. We have seen how public resources were used to buy votes. We have seen how the security agencies became the armed wing of the state government. We have also seen how electoral officials themselves were intimidated and manipulated.

    There is no political party that can say the election has been free and fair. The APC in Akwa Ibom are complaining that they have been rigged out, that the Army and Police sided with the ruling party in the state. The APC in Rivers are raising the same issue. And in other states like Kano, the PDP are saying that they have been short-changed and that violence was used. So, if you look at it, in the area of vote buying, in the area of violence and manipulation of and use of security agencies, the election has not proven to be better than that of 2015.

    But, in the general sense like I have said, whether what was done was right or wrong, will also be dependent on what the judiciary will be able to do in the coming election. It is natural for those who won to say the election was free and fair, while those who lost will say it is not fair. But, we have seen that the political elite have carefully embraced and included thugs and thugery as part of the political institution. And if we continue to use violence to achieve our political objective, we will continue to do serious damage to the integrity of our democracy itself. A society like ours that is desirous of good leadership cannot get it right when leaders have to buy their ways into power or use violence to assume the position of leadership.

    As a legislator, what would you be recommending to better this democratic process?

    You see, what we are facing today is a direct result of the failure of the successive administrations in Nigeria to implement the much needed reforms that could have addressed some of these issues and advanced us forward. The Nnamani report was dumped, the Awesu report was also dumped. You see a systematic pattern of disregard and also refusal by different governments to implement electoral reforms. Why most governments refuse to implement electoral reforms is because they benefit from the failure and weaknesses of the electoral system as it exists today. They don’t want to reform the election because if they do it, it is going to undermine their power base and make it difficult to retain power.

    For now, the task before the next Assembly is to implement the much needed electoral reforms, to establish electoral offences commission, and to remove the burden of registering political parties from INEC and leaving it with only the responsibility of conducting elections and not arresting electoral offenders. When we unbundle INEC, it would be able to concentrate more on the responsibility of conducting elections.

    So, as far as I am concerned, electoral reform is very important for us to have better elections in the future.

    Can’t electronic voting address all these challenges?

    You see, we learn as we move forward; electronic voting, the use of card reader, the use of PVC, punishment for those who unleash mayhem and buy votes, are all necessary tools that we need to take, in order to millions of voters? So, I think we need to adopt and include the necessary technological instruments that are needed for us to have a perfect election difficult for anyone to manipulate. When people get into office by simply manipulating the electoral process, they will not represent the people; they will be representing a certain class of people to the detriment of the overall interest of the people. perfect our electoral process. We are living in a technological world. Questions need to be asked, if banks can handle over hundred million in their data base and they are not having system failure and they are able to account for every kobo, why should we live in the same century where an electoral body is still having problem dealing with few millions of voters? So, I think we need to adopt and include the necessary technological instruments that are needed for us to have a perfect election difficult for anyone to manipulate. When people get into office by simply manipulating the electoral process, they will not represent the people; they will be representing a certain class of people to the detriment of the overall interest of the people.

    Let’s come back to your own election. You are challenging the victory of the ruling party candidate, what are issues you are taking to court?

    Yes, we have made it very clear that the National Assembly election in Kaduna was marred with fraud and corruption. We have cases of places where election did not take place; they simply thumb-printed, with the assistance of the security agencies in Birnin Gwari and Giwa. We have cases where even the INEC officials were denied, they were simply removed and replaced by certain persons. We have cases of where we had over voting. We have cases where people were disenfranchised from voting. We have cases of vote allocation. So, to us, this election was a complete fraud. We have evidence and documents. We are going to court to demand for justice.

    Considering your popularity and the way the election went, would you say leaving the ruling party is part of the problem?

    No. My position is that, every vote I have gotten, people voted me for my credibility, my principles, and my ideals. They voted me for what I stand for. But, every vote the APC candidate got was given to Buhari. What this implies is that, people who voted for the APC candidate voted for Buhari, but those who voted for me, voted for the candidate. So, I am proud of every vote that I have gotten, because it is genuine and it is from the heart. So, there is a sense of satisfaction. Where we have problem is if you don’t count my votes, if you suppress my votes and count the votes of people you prefer, that is very wrong.

    Any regret leaving the APC?

    There is no regret, because the party has treated us badly. We gave our lives, our blood, our sweat to build the party. I reached out to every nook and corner with people who we worked together. Even in 2015, they didn’t like us but it was impossible for them to stop us because they were not in position of power. But now, the governor of the state now has the state resources, he has contacts more than he had in 2015.

    What is responsible for banditry around Birnin Gwari, ethno-religious crisis in Kajuru, as well as farmers/herders clashes in other places? And what is the way out?

    In Birnin Gwari, bandits have driven away villages and people can no longer go to their farms. Women, children and the elderly have been kidnapped and the place has become so lawless. In Kajuru, Muslims and Christians are at war with each other. In Southern Kaduna, herdsmen wiped out villages and kidnapped people. The fundamental problem is that the government has not provided adequate equipment and security personnel to really tackle these problems. Secondly, the governor of the state has openly sided with one party of the conflict against the other. He is being perceived to be in support of people from his own ethnic and religious background. If you are a leader presiding over a state that is multi-cultural and multi-religious, for you to be able to strike a balance and bring about peace, you must treat everyone with justice, with equity and fairness. Peace is impossible in a state with a divisive leader, a leader that has shown he is on one side of the crisis. Even if you want to help your own people, you must show the other side that you can also be fair to them.

    What can be done to remedy the situation?

    The remedy is, for areas where you have ethno-religious crisis, you need justice, fairness and equity to everyone above everything, and for areas where you have banditry, you need to fund our security agencies, support the local vigilante groups, provide materials for them to be able to fight.

  • 2019 elections: ‘Prisons to pay officers allowance soon’

    The Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) will soon begin the payment of allowance to officers that took part in the just concluded 2019 general elections, it was learnt on Tuesday.

    This was in reaction to recent protest by some officers and men of the service over the alleged non – payment of their allowances for conduct of the elections.

    It would be recalled that some of the NPS officials told a national daily newspaper last week that personnel of other departments in the Ministry of Interior like the Prisons Service were paid their entitlements immediately after the elections.

    NPS spokesman, Francis Enobore who spoke with our correspondent in Abuja over the issue vowed that payment of the said allowance will commence soon.

    Enobore confirmed to The Nation that the delay was occasioned by the additional officers who were asked to join those already on election duty.

    He vowed that as soon as the money is ready payment would commence.

    His words: “there are some others that are asked to be on standby and as the event progress we discovered that other staff that were asked to stand by were pulled to join those ones already on the field.

    Read also: Presidential Committee frees 84 prisoners

    “In fact I have been in a meeting since morning doing final collation of all their name, account numbers and other details so that we can pay them as soon as the money comes.”

    Asked how soon would the payment be, Enobore said: “For now I may not be able to be specific on the time on when the money will be released but I was reliably informed that the money have been approved and any moment from now payment will be paid. I wouldn’t know how much each officer will be receiving until when the money come.”

    He called for calm adding that all issues concerning the welfare of officers and men of the NPS will be addressed.

     

  • Polls: Domestic observers rate Plateau high in peaceful, orderly conduct

    Civil Society Organizations in Plateau state and Coalition of Domestic Observers has rated Plateau state high in peaceful and orderly conduct during the just concluded 2019 general elections.

    The group comprising of 2,500 members said Plateau state is the most peaceful and orderly based on individual member’s observations during the elections.

    The CSOs/ Domestic Observers made their observations known Monday in a press conference held at the state secretariat of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Jos.

    Leader of the Group Godwin Okoko who read the text of the briefing said, “Our observations were collated from the reports of our members stationed at various polling units spread across the 17 LGAs of the state.

    “Generally, elections in the Plateau state was the most peaceful, orderly and fair from our assessments

    “We commend CSOs, security agencies, the media, observers groups, religious groups, traditional institutions, political parties and other stakeholders for their conducts during the elections.

    ”We also commend the electorate for their involvement in the process and peaceful conducts before, during and after the elections. As we look forward to a more peaceful, transparent and credible future elections, we use this medium to once more appeal to the Plateau State Government to ensure the strengthening of peace and security structures in the states through the promotion of peace and strengthening of community cohesion structures, provision of good governance, inclusive participation, accountability, increase youth empowerment programs, employment opportunities and youth/women development.

    ”We also appeal to the Governor-elect Barr Simon Bako Lalong as a leader of the state to begin the healing of wounds, closing of gaps, division and polarisation through the processes of reconciliation irrespective of party affiliation We also encourage all good sons and daughters of the state to give a supportive hand to the Governor-Elect towards a stronger, developed, peaceful and united Plateau State.

    ”We urge all good people of the state and residents of the state to continue to imbibe the culture of peace and tolerance. The Observers groups however recommend that INEC improves on the general conduct of the elections specifically; Smart Card Readers should be further enhanced.

    “We recommend that Collation Centres be more accessible to observers. We recommend that further delineation of voting points be carried out so as to make PUs more accessible to electorates.

    “Improve on logistics for INEC officials and ad-hoc staff to perform their duties optimally.

    “INEC and political parties should engage on sensitisation of the electorates and party members’ supporters.

    “Enhance capacity training for security agencies that will be involved in future conduct of election exercise.

    “We recommend that INEC should make information/data available on cancelled Polling Units where supplementary elections will be conducted.

    “We recommend that INEC should ensure prosecution of all her staff involved in electoral mal-practice

    “We recommend that voters should be more actively involved in subsequent elections. We recommend enhance capacity training for security officers that will be involved in future elections

    “We recommend capacity training for political party agents for future elections.”

  • Ogun: Uneasy calm after the storm

    The ripples from the contentious 2019 general elections in Ogun state have yet to smoothen out as Governor-elect, Prince Dapo Abiodun set about the task of reconciling factions within his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and creating room to accommodate the hordes of defectors now seeking political refuge in the victorious ruling party, writes Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor.

    THE relative peace with which the last general election came and went in Ogun state, contrary to some earlier predictions based on obvious pre-election day developments, is one reason why it may be correct to say the 2019 general election was successful. In the build up to the elections, Ogun state featured prominently on the list of states where the polls were expected to have ended in chaos and confusion.

    The unexpected chaos and mudslingings that characterized President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaign in the state on February 11 during which he was heckled and stoned for publicly endorsing Prince Dapo Abiodun as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the state, created worries that the general elections in Ogun, especially the governorship and House of Assembly polls, will be dogged by violence across the state.

    To further raised the fears, in the run up to the guber election, clashes between supporters of the leading parties and candidates became the order of the day. Campaign trains were attacked and supporters of the various gladiators engaged in uncountable free-for-all fights in various parts of the state leading to the loss of lives and properties while many people were injured.

    So tense was the situation that many observers blamed the low turn out of voters during the presidential and national assembly elections in the state on the fear of violence that preceded the polls. Utterances of the gladiators and their cohorts didn’t help the situation as threats and counter threats laced the statements of many frontline politicians, in the days leading to the governorship election.

    Worried, the police and other security agencies warned of its resolve to deal decisively with trouble makers, before, during and after the elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that it will not hesitate to cancel the results of appalling units where violence and other electoral malpractices are reported. And as the day drew closer, the settings across the state was battle-ready.

    Surprisingly, the March 9 elections, save for isolated cases of fighting, went peacefully across the state. Voting was concluded and there was no need for the police or the electoral body to actually make good their threats. Also, the voters turn-out was better than was it was on February 23. The collation of results across the 20 council areas of the state went hitch free. And at the state level, the final result was peacefully announced to the surprise of many observers worldwide.

    INEC declared Abiodun, the candidate of the APC, winner of the March 9 governorship polls in the State. The state Returning Officer for the governorship poll, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, announced in Abeokuta at about 12. 45 a.m. on Monday, March 11, that Abiodun scored a total of 241, 670 votes to clinch victory. Olayinka explained that Abiodun beat his closest rival, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) who came second with 222, 153 votes.

    He said that the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Gboyega Isiaka, came third with 110, 422 votes while the Peoples Democratic Party Candidate, Sen. Buruji Kashamu, who scored 70,290 votes, was fourth. A breakdown of the results on local government basis as announced by local government collation officers showed that Abiodun won in 11 council areas and scored over 25 per cent of total votes cast in 16 out of 20 local governments in the state.

    The councils won by Abiodun are Ijebu-Ode , Odogbolu, Odeda, Ijebu North-East, Sagamu, Abeokuta  South, Ijebu-East. Others are Remo- North, Ogun Waterside, Obafemi-Owode and Ikenne, Akinlade of the APM won in six council areas which are Abeokuta  North, Egbado- South, Ewekoro, Ipokia, Ifo and Ado Odo- Ota. Isiaka of the ADC won in Imeko- Afon and Egbado-North local governments while Kashamu of the PDP won in the Ijebu-North local government area.

    Uneasy calm

    With the results announced and winner declared, calm returned to Ogun state as the gladiators sheath their swords. The verbal warfare also ceased. The social media platforms, where supporters of the various contenders have been hurling abuses and threats at each other endlessly also went to sleep. Safe for congratulatory messages and a few explanations on how the elections were won and lost, not much is been said again.

    Rather, it appeared as if the moment for stock taking and fence meddling is here after all the storm. Away from the worries that heralded the polls, stakeholders in Ogun state are today battling new fears. While some chieftains and members of the ruling APC are said to be currently concerned about how political positions would be shared in the new government, others are said to be strategising over control of the party machineries across the state.

    In one of such moves, Lotto magnate, Sir Kessington Adebutu, has reconciled Abiodun, and, his son, Hon. Adebutu. According to reports, the meeting, which held at the instance of Sir Adebutu at his residence in Lagos was called to ensure the two illustrious son of the soil embrace peace. Sir Adebutu reportedly called for peaceful and cordial relationship between the two Remo-born politicians, as much work needed to be done to uplift the people of the state.

    A source told The Nation that many chieftains of the APC, especially those who worked closely with Abiodun during the electioneering process, are expressing concern over the rate at which prominent individuals and groups are now flocking into the APC across the state. Another source claimed chieftains and members of the defeated APM are also making moves to return to the APC on the orders of Governor Amosun.

    “The influx of new members into the party at all levels, following the many alliance and collaborations entered into leading to the election, is the new source of worry for both chieftains and members of the ruling party. Not a few are wondering how government and party positions will be shared. Don’t forget that the terms of these deals were not made public. We are now hearing various sharing formulas and many people and groups within the party are threatened by this.

    “Even some close aides and associates of the governor-elect are expressing concern about the happenings around him. We are now seeing people and groups who openly worked against him coming around to felicitate with him and speak of how hard they worked for his victory. Even those who opposed him openly till the elections were over are now being reconciled with him by prominent persons he cannot but listen to,’ another source added.

    On their part, chieftains and members of the APM, alongside some allies and associates of outgoing governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, are faced with an uncertain political future. According to reliable insiders, the political camp of Governor Amosun is in deep confusion over what to do next. The Nation gathered that contrary to the usual, not a single meeting have been held by the group since the result of the March 9 elections were announced.

    A source, who also contested for a seat in the state assembly on the platform of the APC said, aside the governor and a few persons, most of the top notches in the governor’s camp are currently out of the country. “Nothing much has been said or done. It is not true that a directive has been given as regards what we are to do next politically.

    “A s we speak, I can tell you that majority of our leaders are abroad holidaying. The governor has not said anything concerning the future of APM but don’t forget that we have resolved to challenge the outcome of the election at the tribunal. It is therefore not proper for us to abandon the party when we still nurse the hope of getting victory at the tribunal,” he said.

    The dramas before

    The peaceful elections and the eventual results saw Governor Ibikunle Amosun being the major loser, following his inability to install Akinlade of the APM, the man he had vowed ‘must’ take over from him, as his successor. Although he is a Senator -elect on the platform of the ruling APC, Akinlade’s failure to win the governorship means Amosun has lost control of not only the politics of the state, but also the structures of the ruling APC.

    Shortly before the governorship election, the national leadership of the APC announced the suspension of the governor from the party, while recommending him for expulsion. His fate, according to party sources, will be determined at the next NEC meeting of the ruling party. “The recommendation was sent to APC’s national executive committee, the party’s highest decision making organ, for ratification,” the party’s spokesperson, Lanre Isa-Onilu, confirmed.

    Before the guber election, Amosun had described his suspension  said that his suspension from the APC is a distraction. Speaking with reporters in Abuja while paying a courtesy visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, the Governor said, “for now, I will not talk on the suspension issue because I have learnt in life that when you are pursuing a goal, your eyes should be on the ball and not on the spectators. If you take your eyes off the ball, you will miss the goal.”

    Amosun’s suspension was not the only unexpected drama that happened in the build up to the governorship and House of Assembly polls. During the ‘week of long knives’, queer alliances were also formed by people and groups least expected to think of, not to talk about, working together. Many pundits today will argue that the governorship seat was won and lost on the accounts of the alliances formed during this period.

    First to move was a faction of the PDP loyal to a member of the House of Representatives, Oladipo  Adebutu, himself a factional gubernatorial candidate of the party. Adebutu unexpectedly led his campaign organization and supporters to adopt the governorship candidate of the APM, Akinlade, moments after an appellate Court confirmed Kashamu is the authentic candidate of the PDP. Earlier, Adebutu had accused the Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo,  of sponsoring Senator Kashamu.

    Adebutu’s faction, after a closed-door meeting with the APM leaders 48 hours to the election, announced the adoption of  Akinlade as its candidate. The factional Chairman of the PDP, Sikirulahi Ogundele, announced Akinlade’s adoption. The meeting, which was attended by the Director-General of the APM, Sarafa Ishola;  Akinlade, Ogundele and Adebutu, was held in a hotel in Abeokuta.

    “Politics is all about responsiveness. Politics is about being upright. So, we found all these qualities in Akinlade, and as I speak  with you,  all the state executive  members, local government executive members and ward executive  members have graciously adopted the candidature of Abdulkabir Akinlade.” Ogundele had claimed while defending his faction’s decision to work for Akinlade of the APM.

    Same day, in a move many analysts are still trying to understand, Director General of the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign organisation and former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, urged members of the PDP in Ogun state to vote for Dapo Abiodun of the APC during the governorship election. Daniel,  before then, was supporting Adebutu, who enjoyed the support of the national leadership of the party.

    “You would have noticed my studied silence in our local politics in recent times. I have busied myself with national politics having served the state for 8 years. I have also been very busy supporting the ambition of the son of our great philanthropist in Remoland to become the next governor of our dear state. You however would have become aware of the court decision yesterday which did not favour him.

    “Going forward, I have directed all our structures statewide to cast all their votes on Saturday for Prince Dapo Abiodun, another bona fide Remo son despite current party differences. I therefore enjoin all to please go and cast your vote on Saturday for Dapo Abiodun in the overall interest of our people. With best regards,” Daniel said while making the historic announcement.

    Eventually, the election came and the APC swept the votes, with the support of its old and new allies. The APM and Amosun were disappointed as Akinlade came second behind Abiodun, the man Amosun had vowed will never come near the government house. Analysts say the voting pattern recorded during the governorship election showed that the people of the state totally disagreed with Amosun’s choice of successor.

    “It is not Amosun the people rejected; it is the man he wanted to succeed him. The governor, from the look of things, is still loved by his people but he made a big mistake in choosing Adekunle Akinlade, a man who commands neither respect nor acceptance anywhere in the state, as his preferred successor. Amosun won an election into the senate. But Akinlade could not even win his senatorial district,” a source claimed.