The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2019 general elections.

  • Scores injured as youths scramble for Atiku’s money in Delta

    There was pandemonium Tuesday at the Unity Hall in Delta State Government House, Asaba over money allegedly released for People’s Democratic Party (PDP) delegates during the consultative visit by the ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

    Trouble started shortly after Atiku exited from the meeting venue when irate youths pounced on the party officials whose duty it was to allocate money to various delegates from the 25 local government areas of the State.

    The scramble for the money resulted in injuries as security men shot sporadically inside the hall.

    Delegates in their desperation snatched huge bundles of money and made away with others in hot pursuit around the Delta State Government House grounds.

    Security personnel attached to many party leaders shot into the air to scare away the youths as the situation threatened to degenerate.

    An unidentified youth who was chased around the grounds and beaten up by youths as he tried to escape with wads of naira notes.

    He was stripped naked and beaten to stupor.

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    Torn five hundred naira notes littered the grounds as desperate youths attempted to escape with the loot.

    Several hours after the ex-vice-President departed from the venue, many youths loitered around the grounds hoping for more largesse.

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar Tuesday harped on the need for restructuring of the federation to make progress.

    A government house press release made available to The Nation stated that the former Vice President was in the state to consult the people on his aspiration for the Presidential ticket of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Atiku disclosed that he has been in the fore-front for the restructuring of the country since 2004, stressing it will bring out the best among Nigerians.

    Alhaji Abubakar had said that his aspiration to be Nigeria’s President was borne out of his passion to ensure that the country make progress, disclosing, “the security architecture of the country must be reviewed and decentralized.”

    He decried situation where security agencies does not take orders from the state governors, asserting, “As an individual, I don’t think this is true federalism, we must restructure the security architecture.”

    The former Vice President also listed ways to tackle unemployment in the country observing, “to create jobs, you must liberalize the economy, support the private sector, create incentives to make the private sector boom and open up the economy to foreign direct investment.”

    “I will have a very small federal government with powers and resources devolved to the states to manage the affairs while they pay tax to the federal government; with this, each zone can survive on its own without leaning on oil money,” he emphasized.

    Okowa commended Atiku Abubakar for engaging in consultation visit, assuring that delegates to the Presidential Primaries of the PDP will make their decisions based on acceptability, reach, experience and level of intelligence of the individual aspirants.

    He urged the aspirant not to relent in moving to different states of the country, stating that more efforts should be made for the PDP to be in control of more states of the country to enable it clinch the Presidential position in 2019.

    Others who spoke at the event include, former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, his Imo State counterpart, Chief Achike Udenwa, former Minister of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, among others.

  • 2019: Mixed fortunes for Southwest PDP

    As the Peoples Democratic Party prepares for 2019 General Elections the state chapters in the Southwest zone have recorded mixed fortunes, Assistant Editor, ‘Dare Odufowokan, reports

    AS the race towards the 2019 General Election continues to garner momentum in the southwestern part of Nigeria, certain developments of the past few weeks within the ranks of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across the states of the region are eliciting mixed feelings from the chieftains and members of the opposition party in the region.

    While those in Ogun State are currently rejoicing over the reconciliation efforts that have seen the camps of Senator Buruji Kashamu and former Governor Gbenga Daniel, who buried their old political differences and promised to work together to ensure victory for the party come 2019, those in Oyo, Ekiti and Lagos have continued their political losses following the defection of some leading chieftains of the PDP into the fold of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Observers of the politics of the region say PDP will need to do everything possible for it to make any meaningful impact in 2019. And with the party at the national level daily expressing its determination to return to power after the next election, not a few pundits are keenly following the happenings in PDP, especially in the southwest where it is hoping to garner votes that will help it turn the table against President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC.

    Fola Samad, a pro-democracy activist and former Director of Voters’ Alliance, while examining recent events within the troubled party across the region, concluded that PDP is not providing a virile opposition to the APC. “All these talks about the PDP winning the next general election to me are more of paper permutations than realistic examination of the true state of the party.

    “Here in the southwest, it has been one step forward, two steps backward for PDP. While we must give credit to the new leadership under Uche Secondus for initiating some ground-breaking reconciliation efforts like the ones in Oyo and Ogun, one is left worried by the daily news of defection from the party of prominent chieftains who would have played significant roles in the expected victory of 2019.

    “For me, the PDP is failing Nigeria by not providing the much needed virile opposition to the ruling APC, especially at a time like this when many Nigerians feel the current administration is leaving a lot of things undone to the detriment of the masses. To make the APC sit tight and work harder ahead of the 2019 General Elections, the PDP must be seen to have put its house in order across the states,” he said.

    A chieftain of the PDP in Lagos State, Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe, while speaking on the state of the party in the region, said that there is still much work to be done if the PDP intends to do well in the 2019 General Election in the southwest. The party could not realise its objective of capturing Lagos and other states in 2019 if members are working at cross purposes.

    “The PDP members in the southwest need to work in unity to achieve our objectives in the 2019 election. Election is around the corner. This is a time for unity and not for fight or discord. Personally, I see the same people in the various camps as belonging to the same PDP. Yes, there are disagreements, which is normal in a democracy, we will sort ourselves out,” he said.

     

    Ondo and the Mimiko challenge

    Just when many PDP members and supporters in Ondo State were hoping that immediate past governor of the State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, will heed the call on him by the leadership of the PDP in the state to help in making the party stronger, he officially dumped the PDP for good last Wednesday, citing “well considered personal reasons” for his unexpected political decision.

    Mimiko revealed this in his letter of resignation to the PDP leadership in the state, informing them of his decision to leave the party. In the letter addressed to the PDP on Wednesday, the former governor explained that his reason to leave the party was personal to him. Mimiko thanked the PDP leadership and members of the party for the support he received while in the party.

    Though the letter didn’t specify the ex-governor’s next political abode, reports have it that he is headed to his former party, the Labour Party. The letter reads in part: “I hereby with utmost humility inform you of my decision to resign my membership of the PDP with effect from today, June 13, 2018, for some well-thought-out personal reasons. It was an honour working with the many prominent Nigerians with whom I shared the PDP platform for the entire period I was there as a member.”

    Pundits say contrary to statements by PDP leaders in the state to the effect that the defection of Mimiko will not affect the party; the PDP is on its way to decline with the development. “Mimiko is PDP and PDP is Mimiko in Ondo State for now. Take away Mimiko’s structure from PDP in the state and nothing will be left. So, with his exit, PDP in Ondo State will have to start all over again,’ a source claimed.

    Earlier this month, amidst the rumour that Mimiko was on his way out of the party, leaders of the PDP in Ondo State pleaded with him  to help resuscitate the party instead of dumping it for another political platform. Party sources told The Nation that talks about Mimiko’s defection threw the PDP into disarray as it is believed that majority of the party’s chieftains will exit with him.

     

    It was the State Chairman of the party, Clement Faboyede that made the appeal. He said: “It would be in the interest of the party and the supporters of the former governor to remain and salvage the party instead of dumping it for another political platform. “Mimiko is our leader until he officially leaves the party. We are appealing to him to stay and provide leadership for our teeming aspirants. Mimiko said he is consulting and he has not finished consultation. We hope he will rescind the decision to leave the party.”

    Now that it has become official that the former governor has dumped the party, allegedly over some disagreement on the national leadership of the party between him and Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State and his Rivers State counterpart, Nysome Wike, observers of the politics of the state are of the opinion that it may take the party a longer time beyond 2019 to be able to unseat the ruling APC in the state.

     

    Respite in Ogun

    But it is not all bad news for the PDP in the region. From Ogun State, where the crisis in the opposition party had been fiercest before now, some rays of hope emerged during the week with the reported reconciliation between the political camps of former Governor Gbenga Daniel and the Senator representing Ogun East, Buruji Kashamu. The duo had been at loggerheads since 2010.

    The disagreement between the two politicians left the party fictionalised ever since and contributed largely to the defeats suffered by the PDP during the 2011 and 2015 General Elections in the state. While Kashamu had managed to firmly hold on to the party leadership all the while, Daniel’s camp has consistently played the spoiler’s role at each election, leaving the PDP nothing more than a house divided against itself.

    Kashamu allayed fears of party loyalists when he publicly recognised Daniel as his political leader last Sunday in a statement personally signed by him, saying an end to the rift between Daniel and himself, would end the political wrangling in the Ogun State chapter of the PDP. Just as he called on all leaders and members of the party to come together and forge a common front in the overall interest of the party ahead of the 2019 General Elections under the leadership of the former governor.

    He said the reconciliation was due to the mediation of eminent personalities and national political leaders, even as he described it as “genuine and long overdue.” The statement reads, “My recently publicised reconciliation with His Excellency OGD is truly very genuine and I accept that in fact it is long overdue. I thank the Almighty God for His grace over both of us, culminating into this resolution of age-long dispute to the betterment and advancement of our teeming supporters, political associates and the Ogun PDP generally. Happening in the holy month of Ramadan, as a practicing Muslim, I take it as divine and shall be permanent.”

    With the reconciliation between Kashamu and Daniel, it is believed that the multiple disagreements within the PDP in Ogun State, which have led to expulsions and counter expulsions of nearly all the prominent chieftains of the party, including Daniel and Kashamu themselves, by warring factions, will end, paving way for the much expected reorganisation of the party ahead of the 2019 general election.

     

    Uncertainty in Lagos

    Chief (Mrs.) Oluremi Adiukwu is a leading chieftain of the PDP in Lagos State. A three-time gubernatorial candidate in the state, she contested for the position of Deputy Women Leader at the party’s congress. The popular and respected socialite and astute political amazon, according to very reliable sources, may have decided to dump the opposition party and pitch her tent with the APC.

    The Nation gathered that in a matter of days, the beautiful politician of repute would find her way into the progressives’ camp where she rightly belongs. Adiukwu, it would be recalled, before joining the PDP in 2008, was one of the trusted allies of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC National Leader and the former Governor of Lagos State. Sources in her camp said she is highly impressed by the performance of the progressive government in the state for almost 16 years of the current democratic dispensation.

    So shocking is the news of Adiukwu’s planned exit from the party that many PDP chieftains are reportedly prevailing on her to forget about the plan. “Her house, since the news broke, is now a Mecca of some sort for PDP members. Not less than two presidential aspirants have visited her this week alone. A gubernatorial aspirant from Ikorodu, in Lagos State was here on Tuesday.

    “Another gubernatorial aspirant, an Ife-born prince, eyeing the governorship seat in Osun State was here with leaders of his political group. They all came to prevail on her to reconsider her decision. But I can confirm to you that she is done with the PDP. Her argument now is that all politics is local and she needs to be part of the laudable progress being made in Lagos by the progressives. Don’t also forget the cordial relationship she enjoys with Tinubu and Aregbesola among others in APC,” a source said.

    It was further gathered authoritatively that, in preparation for her grand return to the ruling party, she has been reaching out to the remaining members of her erstwhile Crystal Alliance Group within APC. Members of the group in both APC and PDP have met severally in the last two weeks and sources claim it is all geared towards the planned defection of the politician and her supporters to the APC.

    With Adiukwu and her supporters planning to leave the party and the camp of Chief Bode George unusually inactive since his botched national chairmanship ambition, the PDP in Lagos State is currently clouded by uncertainty. Many party members are so distraught that they are contemplating abandoning the party soon unless some of their leaders speak up in good time.

    Osun’s mixed bag

    The people of Osun State will be electing a new governor later this year but the Osun State chapter of the PDP seems far from being ready for the big task of reclaiming the seat it lost to Governor Rauf Aregbesola almost eight years ago. Rather, the party is struggling to assure its teeming supporters that the defection of its strongest hand since 2002, Otunba Iyiola Omisore, to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), will not affect its chances in the election.

    Amidst speculations about his next political move after he lost control of the PDP in the state to some young Turks led by the new state chairman, Soji Adagunodo, Omisore officially announced his decision to dump the main opposition party for the SDP. Few weeks before the announcement, majority of his political aides, loyalists and supporters, including Dr. Bayo Faforiji, Ojo Williams, Bade Falade, among others, have joined the SDP.

    Eventually, Omisore in a prepared text, announcing his defection to the SDP, said, “notwithstanding my enormous contributions over the past years or so to building of the PDP, after very deep thought and the widest consultations with my God, my family, my supporters in and outside Osun State, it is with great concern that I have made a very expedient decision today, to withdraw my membership from the PDP and join SDP.”

    Describing SDP as “a party that believed in a balanced, equitable and truly functional Nigeria”, the former Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation declared that “on the platform of the SDP, I shall with the support of my supporters, followers, and the electorate of the state, seek the nomination to contest for, and by His grace, be elected as the Executive Governor of Osun State on September 22, 2018.”

    The development elicited mixed reactions from members and chieftains of the party. While some are rejoicing over Omisore’s exit, claiming his refusal to allow for a fresh governorship candidate has been responsible for PDP’s many defeats, others say without the former Deputy Governor’s structure and war chest, it may be difficult for the party to make much impact in the September election.

  • 2019: 54 parties sign code of conduct

    …PDP shuns signing

     

    Ahead of the 2019 general elections, registered political parties in the country have adopted and signed the reverse code of conduct for political parties to guide their operations before, during and after the conduct of the general elections.

    The adoption and signing was witnessed by the National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in charge of Election and Party Monitoring, Prof. Anthonia Okorie-Simbine after a two day workshop on the validation of the code organised by the Political Parties Leadership and Policy Development Centre of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).

    While the Deputy National Chairman (North) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Lawal Shuaibu led 54 other political parties to sign the reversed code, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led the 14 parties that were conspicuously absent at the event.

    Read Also:2019 elections: Buratai warns soldiers against partisan politics

    Speaking at the signing ceremony, Prof. Okoosi-Simbine who represented the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu assured the parties of the commitment of the Commission to ensure a level playing field for all political parties in the conduct of elections in the country.

    Prof. Simbine said INEC remains committed to strengthening its internal systems and providing a level playing Field for all political parties and candidates by ensuring the sustenance of a credible electoral environment.

    She said further that Political Parties as principal actors in the electoral environment will no doubt play a significant roles towards the success of the 2019 General Elections and beyond.

    According to her, “it is vital that political party leaders take their commitment to the code of conduct beyond the official signing of the document by translating the provisions of the code to visible actions that impact positively towards sustaining and enhancing the gains of Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

    “By contributing to and signing the code of conduct, political parties have indeed committed to a pact with Nigerians that their activities will, going forward, be consistent with international best practices and enhance the confidence of citizens in our evolving democratic culture.”

    Prof. Simbine said INEC has been a significant partner at various stages of the evolution and development of the code of conduct with the technical and financial support of international development partners, particularly the UNDP/DGD project first, and now the European Center for Electoral Support (ECES).

    She stressed that “Although the principal objective of having a code of conduct for political parties was centered on the need to have a set of mutually agreed and acceptable behaviour and best practices that guide the conduct of political parties, their candidates and supporters, before, during and after elections, the code also became the instrument for the establishment of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) which without doubt, now plays a significant role as the umbrella body of all registered political parties.

    “It is in this context that the Commission has remained committed to both encouraging political parties to abide by the tenants of the code of conduct as well as actively support the activities of IPAC towards attaining the ideal electoral environment that is characterized by a general commitment of all stakeholders to the entrenchment of free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.”

    She asked the political parties to use the umbrella of IPAC to exert peer pressure for the adoption of best practices in key areas including the promotion of internal democracy, provision of expanded roles for disadvantaged social groups particularly Women, the Youth and Persons living with disabilities, as well as deliberate commitment by leaders of political parties to the rule of law and strict compliance with the provisions of respective political party constitutions.

    The code of conduct sets the parameters of acceptable behavior for political parties, their candidates and their supporters throughout the electoral cycle.

     

  • 2019: Umahi throws Ebonyi House of Assembly contests open

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has said that his administration and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) would favour no candidate during the 2019 general elections’ for House of Assembly.

    Umahi made the assertion on Monday at Ezillo, Ishiellu Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebony during a solidarity rally in his honour.

    The governor had earlier at several fora, canvassed for the re-election of all the House members.

    Umahi, however, noted that the only exceptions were the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker with all the contestants required to organise rallies in their constituencies to test their popularities.

    “We are appealing to the ‘divine mandate’ his (political structure) for peaceful primaries because we are not going to stop anybody from contesting.

    “Continuity will, however, benefit Ebonyi people but we are not going to impose unpopular candidates on the people during the elections.

    Read Also: Ebonyi Assembly Chief Whip arraigned for alleged certificate forgery

    “I will attend the rallies you are going to organise individually because it is not only the delegates that will elect you during the primaries,’’ he said.

    Umahi said that his vote during the election would be tied to those of the House of Assembly contestants and the masses needed not to be disfranchised in the process.

    “We will support any contestant that mobilises the greatest number of people because I don’t want to take risks during the election.

    “You should therefore, go back to the field and mobilise the people and not go to sleep because the governor has endorsed you,’’ he said.

    He said the elders of the state would sit and decide on the National Assembly positions to avoid possible crises.

    “We will not allow the other parties to benefit from our situation but ensure that all matters concerning the positions are resolved amicably without rancour.

    “I thank the people of Ishiellu for the reception and commend them for maintaining the peace we instituted in the area, especially at the Ezillo and Ezza-Ezillo communities,’’ he said.

    Chief Austin Umahi, the PDP South-East Zonal Vice-Chairman, commended the people for supporting the governor and urged them to massively vote for him in the 2019 elections.

    Umahi, who is the governor’s elder brother, noted that the best support for the governor was for the people to massively register in the ongoing voters registration exercise.

    “Ebonyi is a PDP state as other political parties exist on the pages of newspapers, magazines and the social media,’’ he said.

    Chief Onyekachi Nwebonyi, the PDP Chairman in Ebonyi, also assured that the party would not endorse any candidate but allow all contestants to freely pursue their ambitions.

    Mr Henry Eze, Chairman of the council, said the reception was to thank the governor for his numerous favours to the people in areas of infrastructure, empowerment and political appointments among others.

    Stakeholders pledged their solidarity to the governor as he was given the chieftaincy title of “Achinagbara Oha’’ meaning the seed that spreads to all by the council’s traditional rulers.

    NAN

     

  • INEC commences distribution of over 100,000 PVCs in Nasarawa

    In preparation for the 2019 general elections; the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of over 100,000 permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in Nasarawa state.

    The commission disclosed that the available PVCs currently being distributed are for those that applied for it across the state in 2017.

    Resident Electoral Commissioner in Nasarawa state, Dr. Uthman Abdulrahman Ajidagba, stated this during the flag off of the distribution of the PVCs in Lafia, the state capital on Monday.

    Read Also: Nasarawa gets new CP

    According to him those that registered for PVCs in 2017 and applied for transfer of such PVCs were also captured in the current distribution.

    He said: “We have more than 100,000 PVCs to be distributed across the 13 local government area of the state for those that registered in 2017″.

    “So I am imploring all those in this category to go to their various local government areas of registration to get theirs”, he added.

    He noted that those that registered this year will get theirs before the 2019 general election and called on those yet to apply for their PVCs to do so before the elections.

  • Fears over 2019 elections

    Stakeholders are expressing fears over the outcome of 2019 General Elections. Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, reports on some of the issues eliciting concerns

    AS the 2019 General Elections draw near, more Nigerians have expressed fears over the likely outcome of the exercise. While some observers and stakeholders wonder if the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free and fair general elections, others expressed fear that the elections may either be marred by voter apathy or be rigged through surreptitious use of technology, among others.

    Just this week’s Wednesday, the National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, expressed misgivings over INEC’s willingness to conduct free and fair election in 2019.

    Speaking when the United Nations assessment team paid the leading opposition party a courtesy call, in Abuja, Secondus said what President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government owes Nigeria is to conduct free and fair elections.

    He pointed out that free and fair election would only guarantee the unity of the country, adding that the 2019 election would make and mar the togetherness of the nation.

    “This visit is timely because of the unfolding event in our country and the political situation; I believe this is the time for intervention.

    “We have fears since APC came on board, if election is not in their favour, there is a rerun.

    “There must be election that is free and fair and when there is no free and fair election it breeds crisis and we are witnessing what is happening in Kenya.

    “What is happening in the West should happen here. There is a great fear whether INEC will conduct free and fair election. Free and fair election will guarantee the unity of this country and we are afraid if INEC will conduct a free and fair election.

    “Take this to New York for all the necessary actions required. Election is coming in 2019; the election that will make and mar the nation. What this government owes this nation is to conduct free and fair election. The National Assembly and the judiciary are important arms of the government, but the judiciary is not respected.”

    The leader of the team, Mr. Serge G. Kubwimana, had said earlier that they were meeting with political parties to form assessment on how to support them ahead of next year’s general elections.

    Voter apathy

    Besides the fear of influence of the ruling party on the electoral umpire, another fear that has been expressed is the fear of likely voters’ apathy. Just last week, the Anambra State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, said the major headache the commission faces in the state is voter apathy.

    The fear, according to some sources has led to speculation that INEC’s verification exercise is aimed at de-registering some political parties.

    Speaking during the stakeholders meeting with leaders of political parties in Anambra State at the INEC headquarters in Awka, Orji said the commission had no power to deregister any duly registered party as that was not part of the mandate of the commission.

    He said the exercise was “primarily for administrative purposes which included verification of the authenticity of the existence of the various political parties in the state.”

    On the preparation for the general elections in 2019 in the state, Orji said the Commission had already commenced stocktaking of all equipment and other infrastructure, including the smart card readers, vehicles, among others.

    As he puts it: “We are riding on the back of the last governorship election in the state in activating the process.

    “The equipment tested so far indicated that most of them are in good condition,” he said.

    Describing voter apathy as a major challenge of the electoral process in the state, he attributed it to “irregularities in previous elections.”

    Our investigation shows that the fear of possible voter apathy is not limited to Anambra. In fact, there is fear that in some states where violence has reigned for some time now, voters may shy away from the exercise, except more concrete arrangement are made to reassure the people of their safety.

    Electronic rigging

    Another fear which even INEC has admitted is the fear of possible attempt to employ electronic tools and modern technology to rig the election.

    Early this year, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, openly expressed fear over the increasing incidence of election meddling through the use of technology in many countries.

    He said there was the need for African countries to tackle it in order to protect democracy.

    He made the call at the opening ceremony of a conference attended by the Electoral Management Bodies of the ECOWAS member countries and the South African Development Community member states.

    Speaking at the event titled, ‘Opportunities and Challenges in the Use of Technology in Elections: Experiences from West and Southern Africa,’ Yakubu said “Given the high stakes of conducting elections in developing countries, electoral commissions must understandably be worried about the twin issues of communication and security, especially in situations where data reside with and is directly transmitted to the tallying centres through offshore vendors rather than exclusively controlled within national boundaries by election monitoring bodies.

    “In addition, we have to contend with the disturbing but rapidly increasing incidence of election meddling through the deployment of counter-technology on a global scale by state and non-state actors.”

    He however said that since technology had come to stay, election management bodies must learn to use it for the benefit of the people.

    Allocation of polling units

    Another fear that has generated controversy is allegation that INEC may have concluded plans to allocate more polling units in some selected areas as a smart way of rigging the 2019 elections.

    Responding to the allegation, Rotimi L. Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, said such reports not only misrepresent the facts and intentions of INEC in its bid to respond to legitimate demands of the citizens of Nigeria, but also made unwarranted insinuations capable of creating confusion in the minds of the general public.

    The elections are a few months away.

  • Moghalu seeks high voter turnout in 2019 elections

    Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Deputy Governor and Nigerian presidential aspirant, Kingsley Moghalu has called on Nigerian electorates to come out in large numbers and cast their votes in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

    He also urged Nigerians to stop ‘managing’ political leaders and recognise that there is no force more powerful and determined than citizens who have decided that enough is truly enough.

    The former United Nations official made the statement at The Platform, an event organised by the Covenant Christian Centre, Lagos.

    Stating that Nigerians are weary and disappointed in Nigerian politics and the country’s underdevelopment, Moghalu explained that citizens have learnt to lower their expectations, believing that they do not deserve nice things or the possibilities of developing a country with policies that provide solutions for all citizens.

    “So we have decided, let’s manage the recovery of 165 girls; it is impossible to get back all 265. Let us manage a president, who is not personally corrupt, it could always have been worse. Let us take the governor that promises a few flyovers but chases poor people out of our cities as if they are not human. That’s the cost of development. Let’s pretend that 60 percent of our federal revenue doesn’t go to maintaining just 1 million people; after all they haven’t killed anybody. Let’s manage the one we have, we tell ourselves. Because we can’t really get what it is we truly want,” he said.

    Sharing his experiences from his tour and town hall meetings held across the country – from Benue to Nnewi, Kano and Abeokuta – the candidate emphasised that nothing will stop Nigerians from getting the leadership that they truly deserve in the forthcoming elections.

    “Over the past three years, I have spent quality time talking to the people no one really talks to when they hold massive rallies with people they have paid to stand in the sun, and what I have seen has convinced me of something powerful. We did it in 2011 when we together voted a minority president in a country where they told us it wasn’t possible. We did it in 2015 when we elected an opposition president in a country where ruling parties never lose national elections. We just have done it for people that we were ‘managing’, because we didn’t think we could get what we really deserved,” he explained.

    Calling on voters to believe in the coming democratic revolution, Moghalu encouraged Nigerians to seek each other out and encourage everyone to vote, sharing the truth about where Nigeria will be if they choose to vote against the status quo.

    “We start with one number. Just one. Find one person – a friend, your security guard, the woman who sells fruit round the corner, your work colleague – find one person and persuade them to be there at the polls in February 2019. Be their ‘polling buddy’ and make sure they have their voter’s card, make sure they are aware of the issues. Then, help them be a “polling buddy” to somebody else,” he reiterated.

  • 2019: Jega urges reformation of election volunteering

    2019: Jega urges reformation of election volunteering

    Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, yesterday called for the reformation of electoral volunteering ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    This, he said, would enhance credibility of the polls.

    He canvassed the inclusion of more professionals, like engineers, doctors and journalists, to join National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members for volunteerism.

    Jega spoke at a public lecture organised by the University of Lagos Muslim Community (UMC) in honour of the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Rahamon Bello, at Julius Berger Hall in Akoka, Lagos.

    The theme of the lecture is: Prospects and Challenges of Involving Volunteers in Nigeria’s Electoral Process.

    The ex-INEC chief said there is need for an increase in the number of volunteers in the nation’s electoral process.

    He said: “It is necessary and desirable. And if appropriately deployed, it can add tremendous value to having elections with integrity, with positive spin-off effects on good democratic governance. Since Nigeria and Nigerians have chosen liberal democracy as the political and governance system, citizens’ active participation and constructive involvement are prerequisites for its entrenchment, stability and legitimacy.

    “However, to maximally tap the benefits of volunteerism in the electoral process, urgent reforms are needed, leading to 2019 general elections, to reposition the continuous role of members of the NYSC and academics, to open avenues for additional groups of professionals, like engineers, doctors, journalists, among others, to join academics.”

    Prof. Bello expressed delight at the gesture of the Muslim community, saying he was proud to be a member of the institution’s Muslim community.

    He said: “As Muslims, we have the obligation of doing all we have to do according to the Islamic tenets and the will of Allah. We must be vanguards and good ambassadors of Islam at all times.”

  • 2019: PDP renews call for Atiku’s return

    2019: PDP renews call for Atiku’s return

    The Adamawa State chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party ( PDP ) has renewed its call on former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to return to the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Mr Shehu Tahir, the state chairman of the party, made the call while speaking the party’s stakeholders meeting on Wednesday in Yola.

    Tahir said: “It is not a wise decision for Atiku to abandon the house he helped to build, so we want him back.’’

    He said that the problem that led to mass defection of former members of the party to other parties were over, hence the need for them to return.

    “We are calling on Atiku Abubakar, who is among the PDP founding fathers, not to abandon the house he had helped to build.

    “This is because the party needs him now to continue from where he stopped.’’

    Read: PDP chair: Dokpesi flays BoT members’ role

    He also called on other stakeholders to help prevail on the former vice-president to return to the party.

    “We urge our stakeholders to prevail on him and others who left to reconsider their decision and return to the party.”

    On the 2019 general elections, the chairman said that the party was ready to provide credible alternative to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

    According to the chairman, the party’s doors are open to all Nigerians willing to join its fold, assuring that level playing ground would be provided to all members.

  • Breaking: Ali, Makarfi differ on zoning in PDP 

    Breaking: Ali, Makarfi differ on zoning in PDP 

    …Southwest should produce chairman, says Ali

    Prominent leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from the three geopolitical zones in the North Tuesday urged adherence to the zoning arrangement agreed upon for the party’s national convention and 2019 general elections.

    Among others, the party has zoned its chairmanship slot to the South and the presidential ticket reserved for aspirants from the North.

    The party leaders, at an enlarged consultative meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, appealed to aspirants to various elective positions not to violate the zoning arrangement, saying the party paid dearly for such violations in the 2015 presidential election.

    But there was disagreement.

    While a former National Chairman Dr. Ahmadu Ali argued in favour of electing the next chairman from the Southwest geopolitical zone, Caretaker Chairman Ahmed Makarfi said the position was zoned to the South and that micro zoning is not binding.

    Ali said: “It’s either we choose our next national chairman from the Southwest or we forget about PDP”, adding that the zone had yet to occupy the chairmanship position since the formation of the party in 1998.

    “We must be ready to ensure that at the convention, the main issue, which is the national chairmanship of the party, is well handled. If we don’t vote the South-West, we can as well forget the PDP.”

    Ali maintained that the way forward for the PDP is to remain united and warned against unauthorised divisive meetings among certain members for selfish reasons.

    Makarfi restated the commitment of the party to respect the various zoning arrangements, adding however that those bent on going against the zonin arrangement should allowed to please themselves.

    Makarfi said: “The Port Harcourt convention decisions remain valid and one of the decisions taken at that convention was zoning.  But microzoning does not have a binding effect.

    “If a position is zoned to the North and you are from the North and you come to buy form, we will sell for you. Don’t forget that people will not get tired of taking the PDP to court”.

    Another former National Chairman Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, called for sanctions against members that go against the party’s zoning arrangement.

    Haliru added that going against the party’s zoning arrangement should no longer be tolerated; saying doing so amounted to disobedience and disloyalty that must be addressed by the leadership.

    The ex-party chair called for sanctions against Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, who declared his intention to run for President, noting that “zoning and rotation are part of the PDP Constitution. We must adhere to them if we are to keep this party alive.

    “There are people who are bent on contesting whether the office is zoned to their place or not. We must discuss with the South, so that anybody who goes against zoning can be punished. We cannot afford to have people come to the convention and make a fool of themselves and ridicule the party”.

    Former Senate President Iyorchia Ayu described the north as one with the required number to decide who becomes the next chairman.

    “We in the North have the number and we will decide who eventually becomes the national chairman from any part of the South. We have done it before and we are going to do it again”, Ayu said.

    A former Minister of Information, Prof Jerry Gana warned against impunity and imposition of candidates to avoid a repeat of past mistakes.

    “I want to appeal to you to give to the party the very best in the positions that have been zoned to us. Let us therefore give to the party, men and women of impeccable integrity.

    “Whatever the Fayoses of this world may be doing, the party has resolved that the presidential candidate will come from one of the three zones in the north”.

    A former Special Duties Minister, Dr. Kabiru Taminu insisted that zoning was one of the principles recognised and entrenched in the party’s constitution.

    Makarfi lauded the sacrifice made by delegates to the meeting.

    Makarfi called for unity among members as the surest way for the PDP to regain power in 2019.

    The chairman announced the decision of the Osun State chapter of the Labour Party to join the PDP as part of the reconciliation efforts.

    Also present at the enlarged meeting were former Governors Ibrahim Idris and Idris Wada (Kogi); ex-Governor Ramalan Yero (Kaduna); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina).

    Others include former Ministers Abba Moro, Adamu Maina Waziri Zainab Maina and Chief Fidelis Tapgun.

    A former Deputy President of the Senate, Ibrahim Mantu, former National Woman Leader, Ina Ciroma and the chairman of the BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin also attended the meeting.