The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2019 polls

  • Why we adopted Buhari as presidential candidate, by SDP

    The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Thursday adopted President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as its Presidential Candidate for the February 16 2019 presidential poll.

    The adoption took place in Abuja after the party’s NEC meeting where a communiqué was issued and adopted by NEC members present.

    But National chairman of the party, Chief Olu Falae was absent at the NEC meeting.

    Present however were National chairman South Prof. Tunde Adeniran; Deputy national vice chairman northeast Prof. Rufia Alkali; national Organising Secretary Hon. Emeka Atuma and National Secretary Shehu Gabam.

    The party explained it adopted Buhari because the battle for its presidential ticket between former Minister of Information Prof. Jerry Gana and former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke has taken a great toll on it.

    SDP, in the communiqué read by the National Vice Chairman, Dr. Abdul Ahmed Ishaq said: “It is in view of all this that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the SDP has resolved to adopt President Mohammadu Buhari and Vice Presidential candidate Prof. Yemi Osibanjo of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as candidates of the party for the 2019 Presidential election. “Consequently, all members of the party are hereby enjoined to vote for President Buhari of the APC at the presidential election coming up on Saturday 16 February 2019.

    “With less than ten days before the Presidential election, our great party is caught up in a web with very little room for manoeuver.

    “The options before us at this critical juncture are limited: we either realign our forces or we lose out completely

    “Whatever the dangers and demerits of political alignments, it is far better than to go on alone at this point as it will, in the end, disenfranchise our members.

    “With the multitude of parties in the race for the crucial Presidency of the country, it has become imperative for engagements and strategic collaboration between and among parties that are strongly committed to the Nigerian ideal so that the future of our great country is not doomed.

    “A number of political parties have approached the SDP for collaboration during the forthcoming elections. However, after extensive deliberations, NEC noted the party that comes close to and nearly shares the Social Democratic and Progressive ideals and values of the SDP is the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    “After further weighing the options and reviewing the political situation in the country, NEC was convinced that with the SDP and the APC working together.

    Read Also: Buhari mourns loss of lives at APC rally in Jalingo

    “SDP has a better chance of gaining lost grounds in meeting the yearnings of Nigerians and we have no doubt whatsoever that Nigeria will surely make progress and leap forward in the match go greatness through the solution of pending challenges and progressively to the next level.”

    The party NEC insisted that the adoption was only for the forthcoming presidential poll, stating “for the avoidance of doubt, NEC restates that this is not a merger between the SDP and the APC and therefore the SDP retains its identity and remains a distinct political party.

    “NEC calls on all our members nationwide to vote for SDP candidates for the National Assembly, Gubernatorial and State Houses of Assembly elections.

    “We indeed expect and demand reciprocity from the APC in return as the implementation of these resolutions will be coordinated through Zonal and State committees, in view of local peculiarities.”

  • Edo denies bribing INEC staff with N.5m

    Edo State Government has denied allegation by the opposition People’s Democratic Party that it held meetings with newly recruited ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ).

    It also debunked allegations that it bribed INEC’s Electoral Officer with N500, 000 to release bulk Permanent Voter Cards to its candidates.

    Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said the PDP’s allegations were signs of panic measures ahead of the elections.

    Osagie said officials of state government and leaders of the APC were currently on campaign to Owan Federal Constituency.

    He said the PDP leaders know the fate that await them on February 16 and March 2nd.

    His words, “As I am talking to you we are in Owan campaigning to the people. Who is now meeting with anybody in government house?

    Read Also: Edo flags off 740m College Road in Uhunmwode LGA

    “These are simple signs of panic. They know what fate that is ahead of them. They know they are going to lose the election.

    “All these things are lies. The people of Edo know the government working for them and they are going to vote for the APC.”

  • Ezekwesili’s group declares support for Atiku

    The Red Card Movement (RCM), a civil society group founded by Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili has endorsed the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar for the February 16 presidential election.

    The endorsement was a departure from the group’s initial position under Ezekwesili whereby the RCM issued a Red Card to the PDP and the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Ezekwesili resigned from the group to contest the presidential election on the platform of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) but withdrew from the race a few days ago.

    At a public declaration in Abuja Thursday, co-chairman of the RCM, Dr Tony Akabuno, said the decision to endorse Atiku was informed by the failure of the APC to fulfill its campaign promises to Nigerians.

    Akabuno said the group would mobilise 20 million votes for Atiku to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari as the APC were defeated in the upcoming elections.

    The group described the PDP presidential candidate as the “best option” for now, saying however that the RCM will not merge with the PDP.

    Read Also: ACPN to Ezekwesili: Return our money or face court action

    Akabuno said: “Some co-conveners were of the opinion that we should not get into any arrangement with PDP. These ones suggested a ‘siddon look approach’.

    “They appealed to me, as one that is very close to the state champions, to persuade our leaders across the federation to desist from supporting the Atiku/Obi ticket.

    “But as a pragmatic political strategist and the peoples’ general, I had no choice than to reject the inferior argument of some co-coveners and strongly aligned with our state champions, who are in sync with the grassroots”.

    Akubono said the coming election will be a defining moment in the political history of the country, adding Buhari has failed in all his cardinal programmes of improving the economy, provision of adequate security and fighting corruption.

    He accused the President of playing politics with the fight against corruption, saying the nation cannot afford to perform experiment with the Presidency.

    “This is not about Buhari but about the future of the country. The question is if we want the status quo to remain or if we want a change.

    “We the leaders of RCM are not in doubt that the Atiku/Obi ticket is the most efficacious brand that can send Buhari back to Daura.”

  • Army deploy 95 percent troops for polls

    The Nigerian Army on Thursday said 95 percent of its troops would be engaged in security duties during the forthcoming general elections.

    It added almost 40 percent of the troops to be deployed would be in the Northeast.

    Its Spokesman Brig. Gen. Sani Usman said in a statement that it was not true that the troops were being paid some allowances in other to sway their votes for a particular party as being alleged in the social media.

    Brig Gen Usman said: “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to some insinuations on various social media platforms that the recent payment of uniform allowance to officers and soldiers was done to sway their voting towards a particular political party. This is not true.

    “The payment of uniform allowance was started in 2016 to assist troops deployed on Operation LAFIYA DOLE as uniform upkeep and maintenance.

    Read Also: Boko Haram: Army denies takeover of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa towns

    “The allowance was however extended to all Nigerian Army personnel because of their increasing engagement in various Internal Security Operations across the country.

    “It is important to note that 95 per cent of Nigerian Army troops will be engaged in security duties during the forthcoming general elections.

    “Out of this, almost 40 per cent are in the North East. Therefore, it is gross unfair and sheer mischief to associate the Nigerian Army with such mundane action.

    “We therefore implore all well- meaning Nigerians to dissociate themselves from such fake and unwarranted information calculated to smear the Nigerian Army.

    “Although investigation is ongoing to ascertain the source of such malicious allegations, we would like to warn such unpatriotic individuals to stop this mischief forthwith.

    ” We would like to further warn all officers and soldiers to desist from acts that are inimical to Service discipline and code of conduct and reiterate the Chief of Army Staff’s warning during his conference with General Officers Commanding and Operations Commanders that, “All Nigerian Army personnel must remain neutral, non-partisan and transparent in all their actions.

    “I need to reiterate that there will be zero-tolerance for any action and in-action by commanders at all levels that is deemed tilted towards giving undue advantage to any candidate, political party, ethnic or religious leanings to the detriment of the unity and integrity of Nigeria.

    “The Nigerian Army has always been professional, impartial and apolitical. We wish to state that no amount of campaign of calumny against it would change that”.

  • We are ready for polls – Police

    …as FRSC deploys 20,000 personnel nationwide

     

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu has reiterated the determination Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to ensure a violence free and credible 2019 general election.

    He also said the Police would not be a tool for politicians or political parties during the exercise.

    Towards this end, Adamu said enough police personnel would be deployed to every part of the country to prevent violence and other electoral malpractices.

    The IGP spoke in Abuja on Thursday at a stakeholders meeting organized by the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) where he said the Police is ready for the election.

    Represented by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Samuel Musa, the IGP said, “We are ready for the election, we are determined to make sure that no single Nigerian is prevented from voting. We have strategies in place to protect all election materials and personnel.

    “What we want Nigerians to know is that what is wrong during the election periods is diversion of election materials, ballot box snatching, vote soliciting or buying would not be allowed. what is right is queue orderly, vote and maintain peace throughout the exercise”.

    Saying that the theme of the meeting, ‘Towards a credible 2019 election, the role of stakeholders’, the IGP said the Police is ready to take its role very seriously, adding, “This is why we have been having training, retraining, seminars and workshops in-house as well as with other stakeholders”.

    He also said in order to ensure that plans put in place for the successful prosecution of the election were not thwarted, adequate personnel would be provided for all election centers from the ward level to the result announcement centers.

    Read Also: Police arrest six suspects for assaulting lady

    “Our men have been told what to do to make it credible, we are not for any political party but make the election credible,” he said.

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Corps Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi said 20,000 personnel would be deployed nationwide to compliment the security arrangement for the elections.

    According to Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM) Victor Nwokolo, who represented Oyeyemi, FRSC would be involved in forward and reverse logistics for the election.

    The Corps would also certify all vehicles to be used for the exercise, train and retrain drivers, ensure their suitability for the exercise, oversee vehicular movement, in addition to denying or allowing access to certain routes during and after the exercise.

    Earlier, the acting Executive Director of the Centre, Faith Nwadishi said for a free, fair and credible elections, stakeholders must critically examine and proffer enduring solution to issues of voter apathy and non-collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) by the electorates; insecurity; preparedness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); vote buying, destruction or stealing of PVCs; desperation of the political class; and the role of security agencies.

    She, however, expressed satisfaction of the Centre over the level of preparedness by INEC for the election, saying, “There has been improved consultation with stakeholders but we call on the entire INEC staff and officers having different roles and responsibility to discharge their duties in the highest professional manner”.

  • Elections: SPU, CTU to protect INEC staff, NYSC members

    …May withdraw personnel attached to personalities

    The Inspector-General of Police has disclosed that the Special Protection Unit (SPU) and Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) of the Force will be in charge of the protection of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff, National Youth Service Corp members and other Adhoc staff.

    The Ag. Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu said this in Abuja during a meeting with Commanders of both units.

    To ensure full mobilization, the IGP also hinted that he may withdraw SPU and CTU operatives that are currently attached to certain categories of personalities.

    The IG while highlighting the roles both units will play during the election said: “The Counter Terrorism Unit was established as a specially trained strike Force with capacity to address the threat of terrorism and sundry insurgency threats to our national security, while the Special Protection Unit is a Police detachment that is dedicated to the provision of specialized security and escort duties for high-risk individuals and corporate organisations that may be under security threat.

    “The Two Units were established to complement the Police Mobile Force towards supporting the conventional police in addressing critical internal security threats and civil disorders.

    “By virtue of their training and expertise, personnel from the Counterterrorism Unit and Special Protection Unit are critical components of the broad election security plan of the Nigeria Police Force.”

    He continued: “Within this context of the Strategic Election Security Operational Plan of the Force, you shall be required to deploy your personnel to provide specialized protection for INEC staff, and NYSC and other ad-hoc personnel of the Commission that will be deployed for the elections and secure INEC facilities across the country.

    Other roles include: “To undertake patrols of the public space before, during and after the elections, act as reserve Forces that could be deployed for rapid response to crisis areas during the elections, provide specialized security for local and international election observers, escort sensitive electoral materials and provide specialized protection to critical national assets during the exercise.

    On the likely withdrawal of operatives, Adamu said: “In order to ensure full mobilization and deployment of personnel for these duties, we shall in the coming days prune down or order the withdrawal of SPU and CTU operatives that are currently on non-essential duties including those attached to certain categories of personalities.”

    He also assured the personnel that proper arrangements have been made for their welfare.

    “In performing your election security duties, let me assure you that adequate provisions have been made for your welfare. In return, we expect the highest possible level of professionalism from you, knowing that your conducts will be subjected to national and international scrutiny.

    “I am confident, on my part, that you have the professional depth, strength of character and strong sense of commitment to duty which is needed to guarantee your optimal performance and the success of the exercise.“

  • Nwobodo dumps APC for PDP

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Jim Nwobodo has returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) less than 24 hours after Ohaneze Ndigbo endorsed the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar.

    The former governor of old Anambra state announced his return to the PDP when some members of the Ohanaeze led by former chairman of Police Service Commission, Chief S. N. Okeke visited him in his Amechi Awkunanaw country home.

    In the entourage were the secretary to the Abia State government Prof. Eme Okoro; former Foreign Affairs minister, Chief Dubem Onyia; Senator Ben Obi; former Minister for Health Prof. A. B. C. Nwosu; Oseloka Obaze and late Dr. Ekwueme’s daughter, Mrs. Ada Onyemelukwe.

    They all appealed to Nwobodo to come back “to the house which he built.”

    Nwobodo, replying, saying: “I am back to PDP.”

    According to him: “At this stage of my life, I see myself more as an elder statesman than a partisan politician and I speak from this standpoint.

    “I have served our country both at the state and the federal level. In the course of my political journey from second republic till date, I have had my fair share of ups and downs.

    “I made mistakes and learned from my mistakes, I have learned a lot from my experiences and feel qualified to speak on burning issues confronting us as a nation.

    “I cannot pretend that all is well in our country today with the escalating crisis, ranging from the economy, insecurity, tension among the three arms of government – executive, legislative and judiciary.

    “Dangerous divisions along tribal and religious lines, and different militant groups arising from the hues and cries ofmarginalisation.

    “What we are seeing are symptoms of deep rooted issues that should be brought to the table for discussions on how to address them.

    “I am a democrat and a strong believer in democracy. Those of us who claim to be democrats have a duty to tell the president the truth and advise him appropriately.

    “I have been chief executive of a big state and I appreciate how difficult it could be for the chief executive of a state or a country to know the true situation of things with the people you govern.”

    Read Also: No shortcut to wealth, success – Lai Mohammed

    He went on: “Just a few of the many undemocratic moves and sayings that are capable of igniting crisis.

    “As a member of APC and a democrat, I got visibly worried when I heard party members boasting we have won the election and just waiting for results to be announced.

    “My question was how? How? How was the election won when the elections are yet to take place?

    “One of the tenets of democracy is the division of power among the different independent arms of government.

    “The desecration of any of these arms of government portends danger to democracy.

    “The ongoing attempt to arraign and prosecute the chief justice of the federation in disregard to due process is a mockery of the judiciary, which is the last hope of the common man.

    “It is even more worrisome to read in the papers that President was not aware of such moves.

    “Now that the President is aware, he should please intervene and stop the desecration of judiciary and restore respect for the rule of law. We are all aware of the implications of disrespect for the rule of law and its dangerous consequences.

    “No genuine investor will take us serious and our image as country will be seriously bruised.”

  • FG hails UK, US for demanding credible polls

    The Federal Government ( FG ) has described the demand by the United States of America (USA) and United Kingdom (UK) for credible and peaceful elections in the country as a welcome development.

    It also applauded the duo’s threat of punitive measures against election riggers and perpetrators of electoral violence in during the polls.

    Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, in a statement, said the Federal Government is particular delighted the statements came after it alerted the nation to machinations of some opposition elements who are working to scuttle the 2019 polls through widespread violence.

    ”A few days ago, we alerted the nation to the plot by the opposition to orchestrate widespread violence in the country, using insurgents and criminal elements within and outside the country.

    “Their plan is to scuttle the election and then push for an interim government, having realised they can’t win free, fair, credible and peaceful elections.

    ”The fact that those statements came after we issued our red alert, which is based on credible intelligence, shows the international community is closely monitoring events ahead of the election.

    “We urge them to keep a close tab on the desperate opposition, whose language, actions and undisguised threats are antithetical to the conduct of peaceful polls,” he said.

    Mohammed said Nigerians and the international community should take seriously the assurance of a credible and violence-free election that has been consistently given by President Muhammadu Buhari, who he described as a tried-and-tested democrat and a globally-acclaimed man of integrity.

    Read Also: Thugs attack refugee commissioner, officials in Sokoto

    He said the APC-led administration is very confident of victory in the forthcoming elections, adding a party that was not so desperate as to rig election while in opposition had no business rigging election or perpetrating violence now that it is in power and enjoying massive support from the citizenry.

    The Minister called on the international community to keep a close eye on those, he alleged, are spending more time on a dubious strategy of scuttling the polls than campaigning to win in a free, fair, transparent and peaceful election.

    ”As their campaign flounders and their strategies collapse, they have resorted to seeking power by subterfuge.

    “That’s why they are doing everything possible to discredit an election that has yet to be held by unleashing their attack dogs on INEC, the police and the entire electoral process.

    ”On our part, we have confidence in the electoral process and the institutions saddled with organizing and securing the election. That’s why we have been busy campaigning vigorously across the country, attracting unprecedented, organic crowds everywhere we go.”

  • Bayelsa bans use of oil firm’s assets, security details for campaigns, elections

    The Bayelsa State Security Council on Friday prohibited the use of assets, personnel and security operatives attached to surveillance contractors from political activities in the state.

    Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Kemela Okara, said in a statement the council also decided to restrict such personnel and their assets to their oil and gas platforms.

    Okara also said the council comprising the heads of all security agencies and top officials of the state government further banned the use of security operatives attached to very important personalities (VIPs) and political appointees for election purposes in adherence to the stipulated guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He said that it was further resolved the security agencies should not arrest, detain, or restrict the personal liberty of any leader or member of a political party without adherence to constitutional provisions.

    But, Okara said the council decided agencies could arrest any leader of political party found to have been involved in acts inimical to national security with immediate notification to the governor.

    According to him: “The Bayelsa State Security Council at its meeting held on Thursday, 17th January, 2019, resolved, amongst others as follows:

    “All assets, personnel and security operatives attached to surveillance contractors of oil and gas companies operating in the State shall be limited strictly to their designated areas of operations, and specifically within such oil and gas platforms or facilities.

    “Further, that in no circumstance should assets, personnel of surveillance contractors be used or involved in any political activity or electioneering processes.

    “All security operatives attached to VIPs, political appointees, etc, shall in no circumstance be used or be involved in any election processes in accordance with stipulated INEC guidelines.

    “No security agency, acting by itself or by its servants or agents or by any person(s) or authority howsoever described shall henceforth arrest, detain, or restrict the personal liberty of any member, stalwart or leader of any political party in Bayelsa State without recourse to the due process of law and/or court order, between now and the general elections.

    “In Exceptional cases bordering on proven national security breaches or where a person is seen committing an offence in the presence of a member of any security service, he may be arrested and investigated, in which case the Governor shall be notified immediately.”

    He said decisions of the council were meant to assure the Bayelsans of the commitment of the security agencies to be neutral, apolitical and professional in the forthcoming election in accordance with their respective service regulations, ethics and values.

  • INEC needs 1.2m personnel for 2019 polls

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) needs no fewer than 1.2million personnel, including security agencies, to conduct the 2019 general elections, its chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stated on Friday in Kano.

    He said over 360,000 security personnel are needed to man polling units across the country during the elections.

    Yakubu spoke through the chairman Board of the Electoral Institute (BEI) Dr. Sa’ad Idris at the election security personnel training of trainers.

    The training was organised by INEC in collaboration with European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) and the European Union (EU).

    Yakubu further revealed Nigeria is the second largest democracy in the world with 84 million registered voters after the United States of America (USA) with Nigeria the largest in Africa.

    He appealed to security agencies to provide conducive atmosphere for credible elections, urging them, “not to live any stone unturned while performing their duties.

    “Election is supposed to be a civil exercise so you have to conduct yourself in such a manner that the electorate will not be scared of you.”

    According to him: “This training on election security is, therefore, very important as it will serve to equip the security personnel with knowledge of our electoral process, electoral environment, electoral laws and guidelines and the risk elements inherent or associated with them.

    “Therefore, I implore participants to take the training seriously as it will deepen your standard Electoral Operation Guidelines and create a harmonise relationship amongst security agencies on election duty.”

    ECES Project Director, Rudolf Elbling who was represented by the ECES Senior Media and Communications Advisor, Paul Anderson, noted that conducting hitch-free and credible elections required a peaceful environment devoid of threats to lives and properties.

    Read Also: INEC chiefs jailed 7 years for receiving bribe from Diezani

    According to him: “Election officials can only discharge their responsibilities of organising elections, including deployment and retrieval of materials in a secured environment.

    “Voters also require a peaceful environment to be able to come out and vote during elections without fear of intimidation and harassment.”

    He said for the 2019 general election to be successful, “security agencies have critical roles to play in securing the electoral process, a role that has become more challenging in view of reported cases of security breaches in certain parts of the country.

    “The issue of security is indeed very complex in a vast country like Nigeria where election personnel and materials have to be deployed across land expanse and some difficult terrain.”