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Tag: 2019 polls

  • 2019: INEC creates 57,023 voting points

    …Lagos, Kano leads with highest voting points

    ..Ekiti, Bayelsa holds record of lowest voting points

     

     

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has created 57,023 voting points across the country ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    There are 119,973 polling units in the country.

    The creation of the voting points, therefore, brings to 176,996 voting designation for the forthcoming elections.

    The voting points INEC argued was for the ease of voting population. The polling unit is the designated voting point conveniently designed for voters and each polling units according to INEC should not exceed 700 voting population.

    The creation of voting points, which is not far from the original polling units, according to INEC was created to accommodate the extra voters within a polling units.

    For the purpose of 2019 general elections, besides the official 119,973 polling units, the commission created 57,023 voting points across the country.

    A total of 84, 004, 084 million people registered to vote in the general polls scheduled for 16th February and 2nd March, 2019.

    Lagos and Kano states have the largest number of designated voting points in the forthcoming general elections.

    Lagos has 8, 462 polling units and 4,976 voting points while Kano has 8,074 polling units and 3,148 voting points.

    Ekiti and Bayelsa have the lowest voting points in the country. Ekiti has 2,195 polling units and 250 voting points; Bayelsa has 1,804 polling units and 440 voting points.

    The breakdown of polling units and voting points for the 2019 general elections made available yesterday by the Commission shows: Abia with 1,932,892 million registered voters has 2,675 polling units and 1,387 voting points. Adamawa, with 1,973,083 has 2,608 polling units and 1,496 voting points.

    Read Also: INEC to domestic, foreign observers: you’re to observe, not monitor

    Akwa Ibom recorded 2,119, 727 million registered voters with 2,980 polling units and 1,373 voting points.

    Anambra has 2,447,996 million registered voters with 4,608 polling units and 1,112 voting points. Bauchi state has 2,462,843 million voting population with 4,074 polling units and 1,348 voting points. Bayelsa state has a voting population of 924,182 with 1,804 polling units and 440 voting points.

    Benue has 2,480,131 million registered voters with 3,688 polling units and 1,414 voting points. Borno with a registered voting population of 2,315,956 million has 3,933 polling units and 1,138 voting points. Cross River registered 1,527,289 million voters for the coming general elections and has 2,283 polling units and 998 voting points. Delta recorded 2,845, 274 million voters and has 3,624 polling units and 2,239 voting points.

    Ebonyi with 1,459,933 million registered voters has 1, 785 polling units and 1,161 voting points.

    Edo recorded 2,210,534 million registered voters and has 2,627 polling units and 1,892 voting points. Ekiti has a voting population of 909,967 with 2,195 polling units and 250 voting points,

    Enugu with a voting population of 1,944,016 million has 2,958 polling units and 1,187 voting points. FCT has registered voter population of 1,344,856 million with 562 polling units and 2,261 voting points.

    Gombe has 1,394,393 million registered voters with 2,218 polling units and 770 voting points. Imo recorded 2,272, 293 million registered voters while polling units is 3,523 and voting points 1,235 voting points.

    Jigawa has 2,111,106 million voting population and has 3,523 polling units and 1,235 voting points.

    Kaduna has a registered voting population of 3,932,492 million with 5,101 polling units and 2,911 voting points. Kano has 5,932,747 million eligible voters with 8,074 polling units and 3,148 voting points. Katsina recorded 3,230,230 million voting population with 4,901 polling units and 1,751 voting points. Kebbi has 1,806,231 million registered voters and 2,398 polling units and 1,345 voting points. Kogi with 1,646,350 million registered voters has 2,548 polling units and 960 voting points. Kwara recorded 1,406,457 million registered voter and has 1,872 polling units and 1,015 voting points. Lagos with a voting population of 6,570,291 million has 8,462 polling units and 4,976 voting points. Nasarawa recorded 1,617,786 million registered voters with 1,495 polling units and 1,783 polling units.

    Niger with 2,390,035 registered voters has 1,495 polling units and 1,765 voting points. Ogun has a voting population of 2,375,003 million with 3,213 polling units and 1,846 voting points. Ondo with 1,822,346 million voting population has 3,009 polling units and 923 voting points. Osun state has 1,680,497 million voting population with 3,010 polling units and 753 voting points. Oyo state recorded 2,934,107 million, voting population and has 4,783 polling units and 1,607 voting points.

    Plateau has 2,480, 455 million registered voters and 2631 polling units and 2,358 voting points.

    Rivers has 3,215,273 million registered voters, 4,442 polling units and 2,424 voting points. Sokoto has 1,903, 166 million voting population with 3,035 polling units and 855 voting points. Taraba with 1,777,105 million registered voters has 1,912 voting points and 1,685 voting points. Yobe has 1,365,913 registered voters with 1,714 polling units and 1,109 voting points.

    Zamfara with the voting population of 1,717,128 million has 2,516 polling units and 1,013 voting points.

  • INEC to domestic, foreign observers: you’re to observe, not monitor

    …Launches election translation App

     

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) Tuesday morning briefed accredited domestic and foreign observers on the preparation of the commission ahead of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly polls.

    Not fewer than 196 observers have been accredited for the elections.

    At the briefing, INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu reminded the observers that “You are observers and not monitors.”

    He also assured them of their security, saying that necessary security arrangement has been put in place in all the states they intend to deploy their people to within the country.

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Adamu who also briefed the observers on the security arrangement assured them of the readiness of the security agencies for the polls.

    Adamu noted that the no movement restriction will be observed within INEC stipulated time.

    He also assured Nigerians and the international community that the police will be professional and neutral in the conduct of free, fair and credible elections.

    Read Also; INEC engages EFCC, FIU, CBN, others to track campaign finance

    Besides, the IGP said the police to be deployed for duty will not be carrying arms.

    He however said a detachment of armed police will be stationed some distance from the polling units to provide security.

    The Acting IG also noted that police personnel on election duty are expected to wear INEC best for easy identification.

    He noted that the police will be looking out for vote buyers/sellers and also touts so as to prevent disruption of the elections.

    Adamu also urged voters who may want to wait to protect their votes to maintain the distance stipulated by INEC.

    The police boss also warned that security personnel who are not deployed for election should stay away from the polling units, saying any security personnel found wanting will be arrested.

    Likewise, he said observers not accredited will be arrested, after clearance from INEC.

    An App, for the election translation, was also launched as part of the arrangement to ensure smooth observation of the polls.

  • My husband has passion for the masses – Aisha Buhari

    Wife of the President Aisha Muhammadu Buhari said on Tuesday that though the President may look tough and hard on the outside, he is a compassionate and loving person with the interest of the ordinary masses at heart.

    Speaking through the former Lagos state governor, Brig. General Mohammed Buba Marwa, Hajia Aisha who heads the All Progressives Congress (APC) Women and Youth Presidential Campaign Team also said the President was concerned about the increasing rate of drug abuse in the country which has been identified as one the causes of accident in the country.

    She told members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers National (NURTW) that President Buhari has led by example and has not tinted himself with corrupt tendencies, pointing out that it was the same act of leadership by example that the President wants to replicate when elected for a for a second term in office, and sought collaboration of the union in the fight against drug abuse

    She said “President Buhari is leading by example. There are two kinds of leaders. One will lead by example and tell you, do as I do and you have the other one saying do as I say and not as I do. You will agree with me that when you have a leader who leads by example you do the right thing and don’t steal so that the money is stretched further to cover more projects. This is the secret behind the success of the President.

    “Without all the interest usually built into projects as a result of corruption, more projects will be executed with little and the money can go further. In the area of security, the Road Transport Workers will be in a better position to know and say the parks are safer. It is a clear indication that things are working because the President is up and doing.

    “Electricity is better now than before and by the time you add Mambilla to it, everything will be nomalised. But of greater interest to you are the roads. Work is ongoing in the entire trunk A roads across the country and there are about 25 special roads that are being dualised. You know the roads better because you ply the roads.

    “One of the first things he did was not to start building infrastructure, but to ensure that workers who are owed salaries are paid. He gave states money to pay salaries and also paid over 20 billion to Nigeria Airways pensioners. He also paid Biafra Police who served during the civil war. He has clearly demonstrated that he is a man of the people and he wants to improve the lives of Nigerians and make everyone safe.”

    While noting types of leadership, Aisha said President Buhari in the last three and half years had led the country by example and had proved to be an incorruptible leader over the period.

    National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, (NURTW), Comrade Najeem Yasin said the union will never forget what President Buhari did for them as Military Head of state when he abolished those he called Yan Kamiso from the motor parks across the country.

    He said that with that singular act, Buhari gave them the advantage they enjoy today with drivers operating freely without being harassed at the parks.

    He informed the delegation that by virtue of the MoU signed between the union and the Independent National Electoral Commission to transport electoral materials across the country, they are required to maintain as much neutrality as possible, adding that already, their members nationwide are already engaged in electoral assignment with the commission.

    He said however that they are not unaware of the various road projects currently going in in different parts of the country and commended President Buhari for the good work he is doing.

    He asked members of the union to go all out this Saturday to use their PVC to elect the right candidate who they believe will move the nation forward.

  • Polls: Displaced residents urge INEC to provide alternative voting venue

    The displaced people of Peremabiri, a coastal settlement in Bayelsa, have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) to provide alternative voting venue to enable them exercise their franchise.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that hundred of the displaced persons led by their traditional ruler, Chief Progress Neverdie, submitted a petition to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Monday Udoh.

    Addressing officials at INEC’s headquarters in Yenagoa, Neverdie said that no fewer than 3,000 adults had fled Peremabiri to Yenagoa and neigbouring communities over threats to their lives my militants.

    He said that under the prevailing circumstances, it would be impossible for INEC to conduct elections in the area as the place was not conducive for political activities.

    “The reason we are here today is to bring to the attention of INEC the situation in Peremabiri, the community has been deserted following insecurity created by an ex-militant leader from Peremabiri.

    “People are not free to go about their normal businesses and because of the violence they (militants) unleash on innocent people.

    “The place is like a ghost town; we do not want to be disenfranchised on Feb. 16 and March 2 elections.

    “That is why we are here with a written request that alternative arrangements be made for my subjects to vote.

    “I am conversant with the provisions of the law to pave way for displaced persons to vote.

    “It is our hope that there is a window of opportunity for INEC to act so that my community people can exercise their civic responsibilities in the forth coming elections,” Neverdie said.

    Also, Mrs Polomi Suanaimi, the Vice Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government, said the council was making concerted efforts on the welfare of over 2,000 displaced persons currently in makeshift shelters.

    She said that both the local government and traditional institutions had resolved to wade into the crises so that the people could participate in the electoral process.

    However, Mr Lebai Samsi, Administrative Secretary of INEC in Bayelsa told members of the community, who carried placards in a protest march to the office that security was beyond the commission.

    He, therefore, urged them to report the situation to the police and other security agencies, adding that INEC relied on the law enforcement agencies to do its job of conducting elections.

    Samsi reassured that INEC remained committed to the conduct of free and fair credible polls on Feb 16 and March 2.

  • Polls: Lagos, Kano leads with highest voting points

    ..Ekiti, Bayelsa holds record of lowest voting points

     

    Lagos and Kano states have the largest number of designated voting points in the forthcoming general elections.

    Lagos has 8, 462 polling units and 4,976 voting points while Kano has 8,074 polling units and 3,148 voting points.

    Ekiti and Bayelsa have the lowest voting points in the country. Ekiti has 2,195 polling units and 250 voting points, Bayelsa has 1,804 polling units and 440 voting points.

    Read Also: Lagos 2019: Christian group declares support for Salis

    The polling unit is the designated voting point conveniently designed for voters, which should not exceed 700 voting population.

    The voting points, INEC noted was created to accommodate the extra voters within a polling unit. For the purpose of 2019 general elections, besides the official 119,973 polling units, the commission created 57,023 voting points across the country.

    A total of 84, 004, 084 million people registered to vote in the general polls scheduled for 16th February and 2nd March, 2019.

     

  • Polls: DSS vows to deal with lawbreakers, purveyors of fake news

    The Department of State Services ( DSS ) has expressed determination to deal with lawbreakers, including those who may try to use violence and fake news to sabotage coming elections.

    In a statement by its spokesman, Peter Afunanya in Abuja on Monday, the DSS emphasised preparedness to deal with politicians, electoral officers, voters and erring mass media whose acts run contrary to the Electoral Act and other laws.

    “The Service commits itself to the provision of adequate security throughout the period of the electoral process.

    “Politicians and the youth are expected to shun all acts of violence the same way observers are urged to keep to the fundamentals and principles of election monitoring as allowed by law and global best practice.

    “Without doubt, the Electoral Act is clear on the roles of stakeholders; the common aim of all and sundry should be for Nigeria to hold successful elections that will be adjudged free, fair, transparent and credible and accepted nationally and internationally.

    “Everyone is urged to conduct themselves properly before, during and after the elections and avoid actions that may cause breakdown of law and order,” the DSS spokesman stated.

    According to Afunanya, Nigerians should expect DSS’ uncompromising professionalism as it embarks on sustaining peace and ensuring security.

    “On its part, the DSS will professionally discharge its statutory mandate which, among others, is to detect and prevent threats and crimes against the internal security of Nigeria; also, it will appropriately engage stakeholders for the protection and success of the elections.

    “Similarly, the service will not condone fake news, incendiary or hate speeches designed to whip up dangerous ethnic, religious and/or political sentiments capable of stoking the embers of violence.

    “Consequently, prospective lawbreakers are forewarned to steer clear of acts capable of undermining national security and stability; the Service will, however, not stand idly and watch miscreants and mischief makers bring avoidable chaos and disorder upon the nation,” the DSS stated.

    Urging law-abiding citizens to go about their normal duties and participation in the elections, it also advised that the DSS should be reached via 07055655591, 09030002189 and dsspr@dss.gov.ng in case of vital information that requires DSS attention during the period.

  • Police to deploy dogs, horses to INEC headquarters, collation centres

    The Force Animal Branch (FAB) of the Police has disclosed that dogs and horses will be deployed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters and collation centres during the election.

    The animals are expected to help control the crowd that will be present at various locations where election duties will be taking place.

    Speaking during a meeting in Abuja on Monday with Officers in Charge (OCs) of FAB on their roles during the election, the Commissioner of Police FAB, CP Aishatu Abubakar said dogs and horses are more efficient in crowd control operation.

    She said: “We want to use dogs to control crowd because they are very effective. When you are confronted with issues of crowd, ten to 20 policemen cannot do what one or two dogs will do. Once a dog stands, people will behave themselves. Also for the mounted troop, a man on a horse can easily control crowd. So, the animals will be deployed to INEC headquarters and collation centres because that is where we have large number of crowd.

    “We also have veterinary doctors to support and ensure that all animals are safe.”

    On whether the animals will not scare people away and prevent them from voting, she said: “We expect understanding from members of the public. Our dogs are well trained and they won’t bite indiscriminately. If there is a problem or the dog is suspicious of somebody, that is when they will come close. We expect the public to understand that the dogs and horses will be there to protect lives and property.

    “To better reposition the department for efficient service delivery, the branch will be distributing to all its formations across the counter about 500 bags of K9 food, 1000 different categories of K9 operational gears, over 200 veterinary clinics equipment ranging from examination tables, stretcher, surgical, ambulatory and necropsy kits, 2500 variety of veterinary drugs and consumables.

    “The Mounted section of the department will be distributing over 600 bags of the horse feed, guinea corn, millet and 500 varieties of mounted operational gears.”

    The Deputy Inspector of Police in charge of Operations, DIG Abdulmajid Ali also urged the personnel of the department to conduct themselves well as they will be in public eye during the election.

    Ali who stated that the personnel will be monitored, cautioned them not to sell the food and other equipment that will be deployed.

    He said: “I want to remind you of the forthcoming election. Your performance will be monitored and we want to see how you will perform and how the items deployed will be utilized and not sold. All items deployed must be utilized and used justifiably because we want the election to be free and fair.”

  • Polls: Clinton boycotts Abuja Peace-Pact meeting

    Former United States of America’s (USA) President Bill Clinton will not be in Abuja on Wednesday for the second National Peace Accord signing ahead of the general elections.

    Clinton, according to the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar led Peace Accord committee was expected to deliver a keynote address at the event slated for the International Conference Centre (ICC) Abuja.

    Clinton, the committee said, was expected to hold meetings with President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar aimed at nipping threats of unrest in the bud.

    But a statement by Clinton’s spokesman Angel Ureña regretted the former President’s visit might be politicised in a way that is not in line with the goals of the committee.

    The statement said: “President Clinton appreciates General Abdulsalami Abubakar and the Nigerian National Peace Committee’s invitation to travel to Nigeria.

    Read Also; Bill Clinton, Scotland to witness second signing of the national peace accord

    “He is incredibly supportive and respectful of the committee’s efforts, of the election process, and of the work being done to try to ensure a peaceful, free, fair, and transparent outcome.

    “This is a crucial time in Nigeria, and President Clinton is hopeful that the election’s outcome reflects the will of the Nigerian people.

    “Over the course of the last several days, and after various conversations with the different stakeholders, it’s become apparent that President Clinton’s visit to Nigeria has the potential to be politicized in a way that is not in line with the goals of the committee. Therefore, he will not be traveling to Abuja.

    “He looks forward to talking to both candidates and General Abubarkar this week.“

  • APC Campaign Council accuses American envoy of bias

    …says comments, direct attack on Nigerian Government

    The All Progressives Party ( APC ) Presidential Campaign Council has accused the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington of creating an impression that President Muhammadu Buhari cannot win free and fair election, saying his comments remain implicit attacks against the government of Nigeria.

    The Campaign Organisation said the continued warnings by the America Ambassador about ‘flawed elections’ is capable of casting an unwarranted cloud over the process, adding that Instead of encouraging our country toward credible elections, such statements undermine public confidence, stressing that President Buhari would win the 2019 election free and fair.

    Spokesman of the council, Barrister Festus Keyamo said in a statement in Abuja that it was concerned about the statement credited to the Ambassador threatened to “hold to account” anyone whose speech, no matter the motivation of that speech, engendered hatred during the elections.

    Keyamo said further that these statements by the America envoy imply that the Nigerian government is inclined to rig the election in favour of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying this is unfair and unacceptable as President Muhammadu Buhari has never been accused of electoral malpractice all his life.

    The statement reads: “We are deeply concerned about many of the expressions of the United States’ Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador W. Stuart Symington and other Western Diplomats which have been directed towards Nigeria’s upcoming elections. Whilst we laud and whole-heartedly welcome their interests in the elections, many of these expressions have been notably off- key.

    “The continued warnings about ‘flawed elections’ is capable of casting an unwarranted cloud over the process. Instead of encouraging our country toward credible elections, such statements undermine public confidence. It would appear that these envoys seem to have discredited the election before it has even taken place.

    “We truly hope some of the statements attributed to these diplomats are inaccurate. For instance, the Premium News reported that Ambassador W. Stuart Symington threatened to “hold to account” anyone whose speech, no matter the motivation of that speech, engendered hatred. We all agree that any speech willfully intended to trigger violence is condemnable.

    “However, in condemning other forms of political speech, the American envoy overstepped his ambassadorial brief. For instance, the American Ambassador was reported to have condemned a situation where a candidate says that his opponent’s political and economic policies are abhorrent and dangerous to the greater welfare of the people and calls on the citizens to hate and reject such policies.

    “In our view, this is a correct statement because it is the duty of the candidate to tell the people these truths to protect the nation from subsequent calamity. But Ambassador Symington says his country would punish such necessary political speeches.

    “For us it is significant to note that such strong political speeches are not unlawful in the United States, but Ambassador Symington is seeking to penalize such speeches by Nigerians. He seeks to shrink our ambit of free speech so that we may behave in accordance with their vision of well-behaved Africans, rather than in consonance with our vision of our own democracy, no matter how tumultuous and dramatic we may be.

    “It would appear that his position seeks to prohibit forms of expression integral to our political discourse. These forms of expression have time and time again been adjudged to be constitutionally-protected speeches by the United States Supreme Court.

    “However, Ambassador Symington intentionally issued his threats to place a chilling effect on speeches in Nigeria that, if uttered in America, would be constitutionally protected. Unfounded allegations and threats to penalize people for constitutionally-protected free speech is improper interference in our internal affairs. Sadly, what Ambassador Symington and some other western diplomats are doing border on the improper.

    “We take the view that the constant statements by Ambassador Symington and the other diplomats are implicit attacks against the government of Nigeria. These statements imply the Nigerian government is inclined to rig the election in favour of President Muhammadu Buhari. This is unfair and unacceptable to us. President Muhammadu Buhari has never been accused of electoral malpractice all his life.

    “However, in contrast, former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar publicly boasted a few months ago that he rigged the 2003 election in the Southwest States. Here, we have an open confession of blatant electoral malfeasance by the PDP candidate. But in all of these, there seem to be no concern by Ambassador Symington and other diplomats about this well-acknowledged proclivity of the main opposition.

    “We expected that such open confession to rigging in the past would have drawn condemnation from the United States. Rather what we witnessed recently was the ignoble act of giving such a self-confessed rigger with a decade-old indictment in America for corruption hanging over his head a special status to enter the U.S for a few days. Such is the double standard that America now displays for the whole world to see.
    “It is unfortunate that most of these countries that sermonize about free and fair elections have ugly histories of denial of voting right to people because of their colour and are still facing many challenges with their electoral systems till date.

    “The continued reference and praise of the 2015 election by Ambassador Symington clearly shows he needs further briefing about the Nigerian situation. For his information, the 2015 presidential election, at the end of the day, produced the correct outcome, but with flawed figures in many areas.

    “Though they lost, the figures attributed to the PDP were inflated in many places, especially in the South South, to save the face of the past President and to reduce the margin of his defeat. President Buhari is determined to improve on the 2015 elections and so it cannot even be our benchmark.

    “An American ambassador has a great responsibility in representing the strongest economic and military power in the world. His comments carry weight because of the status of his nation. This means his comments should reflect a deep knowledge of the subject.

    “Sadly, Ambassador Symington has not shown the deep knowledge of Nigerian situation. The impression he creates by constantly harping on suspected government interference with the electoral process is that President Buhari cannot win without tipping the results. He seems to be saying that only a PDP victory will be evidence of a fair election.

    Read Also: 2019: APC, PDP revel in psychological battle

    “Again, he is in great error. From all of the information at our disposal, President Buhari can and should win a free and fair election. However, it appears to us that Ambassador Symington is substituting his subjective conclusions for the sovereign will of the Nigerian people. In doing so, he has abandoned the impartiality of a true envoy and has trespassed into interfering in our electoral process.

    “Instead of encouraging free and fair elections, these judgmental statements and threats only cast an unnecessary pall over the elections and the nation. This is an international disservice and not international diplomacy. The days of unquestioned condescension to Western powers are long gone and we are not prepared at this time in Nigeria to recede to that era.

    “Nigerians will define Nigeria’s democracy. We shall hold fair and just elections, not because of scolding by diplomats, but because we have sufficient intelligence and morality to do what is right for ourselves.

    “If Ambassador Symington has familiarized himself with Nigeria’s history from 1999 till date, he would have realized that those in the main opposition are being haunted by their past: they think President Buhari would behave exactly like they did all these years when they consistently rigged elections and denied Nigerians the right to choose their leaders.

    “If Ambassador Symington truly intends to be impartial, his statements should acknowledge that both Government and Opposition (particularly in States where the opposition have Governors in place) must respect the process and refrain from rigging.

    “We expect him to counsel both governing party and the Opposition from any form of electoral malpractice. After all, it is not only Governments at the center that rig elections. Elections can also be rigged in opposition-controlled areas.

    “It is not too late for Ambassador Symington to repair the damage of his uninformed statements. He needs to speak as an impartial envoy instead of someone who appears to have prejudged the quality of the process and the outcome. Until he attains that level of informed impartiality, whatever good he seeks is better achieved by his silence than by tendentious utterances.”

  • ‘Atiku’ll get 90 per cent votes in Cross River’

    The Coordinator of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign in Cross River State, Mr Chris Agara has expressed confidence that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would score not less than 90 per cent of votes in the presidential elections in the state.

    Mr Agara in an interaction with reporters in Calabar,  said that they were carrying out an aggressive campaign down to the grassroots to mobilize support for Atiku in the elections.

    “We are looking forward to having a minimum of 90 per cent votes for the PDP in Cross River State. There is no arrogance in it. It is just so. We go right down to the polling units to mobilize and let the people know the difference between PDP and the Federal Government and for them to come out in their numbers and vote that day and vote the PDP and change the government of the day. Cross River is a PDP state and nobody can take that away.

    “One of the problems we have in the country is unemployment. Atiku came to Cross River and said he is going to support the deep seaport and the construction of the superhighway. That alone would generate not just thousands but millions of job opportunities. The youths are willing to work, only that the opportunities are not there. So if the youths are properly engaged their lives would change and the economy would go round. Trade and commerce would definitely thrive. The multiplier effects cannot be quantified. That is what we would be telling the people.

    “Whoever wants to lead should have pedigree. He should have tried something on his own and developed it. You need a lot to start a transaction and grow that transaction to success because you would go through a lot in terms of financial discipline, personal discipline, emotional stability, and foresightedness to grow. If the man in Adamawa is the single largest employer of labour in Adamawa, then you can imagine what such a person can do if given the opportunity to run the country,” Agara said.