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Tag: APC

  • Buhari, APC arm-twisting security, INEC to rig polls, PDP alleges

    The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari and leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of arm-twisting key stakeholders in the electoral process.

    The main opposition party listed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies as being arm-twisted to rig the February 23 elections in favour of President Buhari and the APC.

    At a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, accused the Presidency of launching ferocious plots with INEC and security agencies to ambush the rescheduled elections and foist Buhari on the nation.

    The PDP vowed the “evil plots” of the “fear stricken” Buhari and the APC come to naught.

    Commenting on the alleged plots, Ologbondiyan said: “Since the postponement, the Buhari Presidency and APC have been breathing down the neck of the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, in a desperate and feverish bid to consolidate their control of the operations of the commission and execute their rigging plot.

    Read Also: Buhari will get 80 percent votes, Enang boasts

    “At a meeting held in Buhari Presidency/APC situation room in the Presidential Villa last night, where Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, the Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mustapha Boss, among others, were in attendance, Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) were directed to issue out result sheets to APC agents to falsify and declare results in favour of the APC.

    “Intelligence at our disposal reveals that the INEC Chairman has succumbed to back channel bullying by the Buhari Presidency and APC to accede to their demand to replace Electoral Officers (EOs) in various critical states with APC agents who will vehemently execute President Buhari’s rigging plans in the February 23, presidential election”.

    The PDP said it is in possession of full details of how the Department of State Services (DSS) has allegedly been interfering with operations of critical departments of INEC, including the ICT department, to do APC bidding.

    The party also claimed to have details of President Buhari’s Tuesday night meeting with some APC northern governors and Service Chiefs where pressure was allegedly mounted on the Service Chiefs in connection with the APC rigging plans.

    Continuing, the PDP spokesman said: “We alert Nigerians that the INEC Chairman has been intimidated with threat of ‘Onnoghen’s treatment’ to accept a list of APC members and agents and post them to serve as EOs in various states including Kano, Kaduna, Rivers, Bauchi, Akwa-Ibom, Zamfara, Benue, Sokoto, Lagos, Plateau, Taraba, Borno, Adamawa, Kogi, Delta, Ebonyi among others.

    “These APC EOs have been briefed to ensure the diversion of sensitive electoral materials from designated polling centres, delay the accreditation process, so as to frustrate voters’ enthusiasm, compromise the collation process to allocate and announce fictitious results for President Buhari and muddle up the process to pave way for result cancellation where it becomes impossible to rig for President Buhari.

    “The PDP stands with Nigerians in directly rejecting this latest arm-twisting of security agencies as well as the nefarious plots to use APC members as INEC Election Officers”.

  • Oyo sacks Akala’s son as LG boss, swears in acting chairman

    Oyo State Government has endorsed the sack of a son of a former governor of the State as the Executive Chairman, Ogbomoso North Local Government, Mr Olamijuwon Alao-Akala.

    In his place, the former Vice Chairman Mr Abas Bello has been announced and sworn in an acting capacity to chair the Council.

    The decision follows the change of party loyalty on the part of the sacked council boss from the ruling All Progressive Party (APC) to the Action Democratic Party (ADP), the platform on which ex-governor Alao-Akala is contesting the governorship seat.

    The state government made the announcement as well as the swearing in of the Acting Council boss through the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Bimbo Kolade at the Agodi Secretary, Ibadan on Wednesday.

    The sacked Council boss would be recalled was elected on May 12 on the platform of APC but alongside some of his councillors defected to the ADP to support his father’s ambition.

    While speaking at the swearing-in of the Acting Council boss, the Commissioner noted that the ministry had on February 18 received official correspondences from the Council’s legislative body announcing the suspension of Mr Alao-Akala.

    Read Also: Akala‘s son suspended as Ogbomoso council chair

    The commissioner said that the councillors had suspended the chairman for alleged “misconduct and abuse of office”.

    He added that apart from Alao-Akala who was suspended, four other Councillors from the same local government were also suspended, giving their names as, Mr Olawunmi Olutayo, Adeniyi Adekunle , Oladele Sunday and Alagbe Ayodunmade and another four from the neighbouring Ogbomoso Central Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

    He said, “Other Councillors that were suspended from Ogbomoso Central Local Council Development Area (LCDA) are Akande Ranti, Olabode Abiola, Salaudeen Muhammed and Muhammed Yusuf.”

    He presented a letter of authority to Bello, the Acting Chairman, urging him to discharge his duties according to the rules.

    In his response, Bello said he would not do anything to jeopardize the confidence reposed in him, expressing confidence in ensuring the success of APC in the next election.

  • APC to INEC: You must earn the confidence of Nigerians again

    …says asking Yakubu to resign not the solution

     

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) Presidential Campaign Council said on Wednesday that asking the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to resign is of the solution to delivering a credible election this weekend, saying the commission must work to earn the confidence of Nigerians again that they can deliver a credible poll.

    Director, Election monitoring and Planning, Babatunde Raji Fashola who spoke at a news conference in Abuja said many Nigerians have sacrificed so much for Nigerian democracy, pointing out that their sacrifice must not be allowed to waste, pointing out that any party asking the INEC Chairman to resign does not understand the workings of government

    He said “Election and lack of elections have consequences. Many people have fought hard for this democracy, it has delivered uncomfortable results in the past as well as results we can live with and every effort to continue to improve it is an opportunity we must not turn our back on. Every party is disappointed, every well-meaning Nigerian is disappointed, but that is no reason to throw the baby away with the bath water.

    “So, it is for the INEC Chairman and his team to reclaim the confidence of the people and show us that they can deliver on what they have been asked to do. If you ask him to resign, will that give us an election?

    “If he resigns, will that give us an election? If the person who has been there for four years is having challenges now, who is prepared that will replace him and do what he has not been able to do in three and half years. The party that is thinking that way does not even know how government works. The solution is for all Nigerians to rally round INEC to get it right and that is what we intend to do.”

    Fashola who is also the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, said Nigerians must not allow the action of anti-democratic agents dampen our enthusiasm. Although a week looked like eternity, it has trickled down and is getting closer to the reversed date.

    He said “lots of Nigerians have sacrificed greatly and sometimes supremely with their lives to give us this democracy. We must covert the disappointment 16th February 2019 to an all-time determination on the 23rd of February 2019 that others have made. It is democracy that will preserve our freedom and the vigilance, particularly those appointed to serve as agents of our party must be all time high. The vigilance of those appointed to serve as agents of our party must be all time high.

    Read Also: I remain APC candidate in Enugu east senatorial zone- Ezeh

    “Our agents must know what their rights are and notice the public of our commitment to a free election. The agents have a right to be admitted to polling centres and collation centre in the area where the party is contesting election.

    “They have a right to take notes and statistics in a manner to undermine or impugn the integrity of the electoral process. They have a right to object to a prospective voter if he is suspected to be an impostor or if he has voted earlier and the record shows that if he does not belong to that polling unit. These are steps taken to ensure free and fair election. They also have a right to ask for a recount of the ballot only once at his polling unit after his presiding officer might have counted it in his presence.”

  • I remain APC candidate in Enugu east senatorial zone- Ezeh

    Chief Lawrence Eze of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) says he remains the candidate of the party for the Enugu East Senatorial Zone in the Feb. 23, National Assembly election.

    Eze disclosed this in a press statement signed by the Director General of his campaign organisation, Mr Ikemba Nwagu and made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Enugu.

    The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that a Federal High Court in Enugu had on Tuesday sacked Eze as the candidate of the party for the senatorial zone.

    The court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Mrs Ada Ogbu-Aguocha as the duly elected candidate of the party for the general elections.

    However, Eze said that in spite of the pronouncement of the court, he remained the APC candidate as he had filed a stay of execution of the judgement.

    The business mogul advised his supporters not to be discouraged by the judgement of the court, adding that steps had been taken to ameliorate it.

    He expressed confidence that the appeal court would upturn the judgement of the lower court which he described as a `miscarriage of Justice’.

    “We have already instructed our lawyers to file a stay of execution order and a notice of appeal, which is underway.

    “We appeal to our supporters to remain calm and resolute and come out en mass to vote on Saturday,” he said.

    He said that it was sad that media organisations had begun to be compelled to stop airing his campaign jingles.

    “This judgment is an orchestrated plan to distract us and a ploy to deceive our supporters in this last minute of campaign.

    “The truth is that Eze is still very much in the race and remains the APC candidate for Enugu East Senatorial Zone.

    “Since this is a pre-election issue, we are filing for an appeal and are going to ensure that this anomaly is corrected.

    “We urge our supporters, well wishers, voters and lovers of Ezeh to remain focused, resolute and ensure that they come out en masse on Saturday to vote for us,” he said.

    Eze said that he was still very much in the race and would not be distracted by the court pronouncement.

    “This is just a distraction aimed at bringing down our morale and that of our supporters but this will not work at all.

    “A dampened spirit is not an option; a depressed mind is also not an option. Do not let anyone deceive you into believing that Ezeh is no more in the race.

    “Stay resolute and be more than ever determined to vote in the game changer on Saturday,” Eze said.

  • Rivers APC writes INEC, says enlist our candidates for 2019 poll

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) demanding the enlistment of its candidates for the 2019 general elections in view of the ruling of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court ordering the stay of execution of the judgement of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt which disqualified the party from fielding candidates in the election.

    In the letter addressed to the Chairman of the Commission and signed by its Counsel, Tuduru Ede, the party reminded the commission that its candidates names were removed from the list of contestants following the ruling of the federal high court, pointing out that the commission has nothing to do with the case before the Rivers High Court as it was not a party to it.

    The names of the National Assembly, governorship and state house of Assembly candidates of the party were removed from the list of candidates following a judgement of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, but the party went on appeal and got a stay of execution order from the Court of Appeal, while the Supreme Court threw out the appeal challenging the order of the Court of Appeal

    A copy of the letter obtained by The Nation in Abuja reads: “We are solicitors to the All Progressives Congress (APC) (hereinafter referred to as our client) and on her behalf make this request. Recall that All Progressives Congress (APC) duly submitted the list of its candidates for Rivers State for the 2019 general elections in line with the timetable and schedule of activities released by the commission.

    Read Also: Polls: Again, FG reads riot act to INEC

    “Also recall that the names and particulars of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates were duly published by the commission as required by law.

    “We are aware that pursuant to the judgment in suit no: FHC/PH/CS/149/2018 between Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) v. All Progressives Congress (APC) and others, the names of APC candidates for Rivers State were removed from the final list of candidates published by the commission.

    “However, the APC aggrieved by the said decision of the Federal High Court on which the decision of the commission to remove the list was anchored, appealed to the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division in appeal number: CA/PH/38/2019 and the Court of Appeal in a considered ruling delivered on 6 February, 2019, has stayed the execution of the said judgment of the Federal High Court.

    “The Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division also in another appeal numbered as appeal Number: CA/PH/39/2019 further stayed the execution of the judgment of Federal High Court, Port Harcourt. Furthermore, appeal to the Supreme Court in appeal number: SC/118/2019 against the order of stay of execution granted by Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division has been struck out by the Supreme Court.

    “We are therefore dismayed that despite the ruling of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, the names of candidates of APC have not been published by the commission for the purpose of participating in 2019 general election.

    “It is imperative to place on record that the judgment of the Rivers State High Court, in suit No. BHC/78/2018 which was fought to the Supreme Court in appeal No: SC/1332/2018, SC 1333/2018, SC 1334/2018 and SC 81/2018 has nothing to do with INEC as it is not party thereto. You may also wish to note that in spite of the judgment of Rivers State High Court, the commission accepted and published the names of candidates of APC in respect of Rivers State and it was the judgment of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt that warranted the removal of the names from the final list published by the commission which judgment has now been stayed.

    “In view of the foregoing, we call on the commission to without delay publish the names of candidates of APC in Rivers State for the 2019 general election as submitted by the APC.We have no doubt that the commission as a law-abiding institution will accede to this request without delay.“

  • Rivers APC denies alleged move to scuttle elections

    Mr Chris Finebone, Publicity Secretary, the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Rivers has denied allegation making round that the party plots to scuttle elections in Rivers.

    Finbone told the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Port Harcourt that the accusation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was a mere imagination.

    He also said that the allegation that the Transportation Minister,Mr Rotim Amaechi was holding secret meetings in Abuja and strategising to disrupt elections in the state was another mere imagination by PDP.

    “Well, the claim by PDP that the Minister for Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, is holding any meeting whatsoever, dwells only in the infantile imagination of the PDP characters behind such outlandish allegation,” he said.

    NAN reports that PDP , during a media briefing on Tuesday, accused APC of conniving with the security agencies and employing other undemocratic strategies to scuttle elections in parts of the state.

    Finebone urged the public not to take the accusation serious, adding that it was a deliberate attempt to discredit APC and to dissuade its teaming supporters.

    “Rivers PDP is doing exactly what the Holy Bible refers to as the guilty running when no one is pursuing.

    “We hereby warn PDP to desist from maligning innocent members of APC who have done nothing wrong, whatsoever.

  • Dollar – for -vote: APC raises concern about free, fair elections

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the alleged $3 million dollars per state cash for vote budget by the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) raises fresh concern about the readiness of the party for a free, fair and transparent election.

    APC National Publicity Secretary Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, in a statement  in Abuja, said the PDP’s action showed signs of desperation from the party and its “candidate, who has confessed that they are only strong in two of the country’s six geopolitical zones”.

    Onilu dismissed insinuations by the PDP that the governing party imported card readers from China to be deployed to the Southsouth and the Southeast.

    The statement reads: “The leaked security report of the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) plan to deploy $111 million for vote-buying across the states under the pretence of “logistics” during the general elections raises new fears, ahead of the forthcoming polls.

    “It is now clear that the PDP has no plans to win the elections through legitimate votes, but through illegally procured votes.

    “Again, in the aftermath of the configured card readers recently recovered from PDP agents in some states, the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has gone to town with face-saving conspiracies that the APC has imported slow-working card readers from China, which will be deployed to the Southsouth and Southeast, which Atiku considers his ‘stronghold’.

    “Atiku also alleges a plan to shut down communication on election day. How illogical that a party that is in a contest with clear superior numerical support would shut down communication on election day. Will the communication shutdown affect only the PDP while leaving APC supporters and agents? Nigerians can see through the infantile lies.”

    The party’s spokesman added: “Nigerians will recall that the APC had earlier reported the PDP’s plot before last Saturday’s postponed elections. The recent arrest of several armed PDP political thugs and recovery of INEC card readers and arms from PDP agents in some states points directly to the PDP’s plan as revealed by the security report.

    ‘Atiku has called on the President to retract his instruction to security agencies regarding violence, ballot box thieves, and other electoral malpractices. The question is how such instruction disturbs anyone that is truly interested in free, fair and credible elections.

    “We reiterate the resolution of the Monday’s meeting of the APC expanded National Caucus, which urged the security agencies to step up their activities by ensuring that all those involved in violence, ballot box snatching, falsification of results, vote-buying and other election illegalities should face the full weight of the law.

    “It is a shame that PDP is kicking against this. We are not surprised because PDP has marshalled plans to get to power by all means possible. The option of one man one vote is not on the PDP’s table.

    “Atiku has admitted what we already know that he is not popular by claiming he has two geopolitical zones while the APC has the four other geopolitical zones. On Election Day, Atiku and the PDP should prepare for the shock of their lives. The Southsouth and Southeast are not oblivious of the unprecedented developmental achievements recorded in the zones under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration, compared to the PDP’s wasted years.

    “The good people of the Southsouth, Southeast and indeed all the geopolitical zones will speak through their legitimate votes, not the procured ballots planned by the PDP.

    “The PDP’s illegal plot requires improved surveillance by our security agencies, particularly the Department of State Services (DSS), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and allied agencies to check illicit financial flows and movement in the lead up to and on Election Day.

    “On INEC’s part, following the unfortunate last-minute postponement of the election, the electoral body must realise that it has a lot to prove to the Nigerian electorate that it is still able to conduct credible elections. A first step will be that the electoral body identify and change its officers, who have now beyond doubt become partisan and are actively working for partisan interests.”

     

  • Be proactive or lose Ondo, APC group tells Buhari, party leaders

    •Akeredolu accused of working for opposition •Commissioner: allegation against governor mischievous

    A group of All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters in Ondo State, under the aegis of Ondo APC Mandate Group, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the national leadership of the party to take steps that will ensure it does not lose the forthcoming general elections.

    The group accused Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of working against the interest of the party in the state.

    Addressing reporters yesterday at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, the nation’s capital, its spokesman Olugbenga Bojuwomi said it was unfortunate that the government had not considered it necessary to investigate its previous allegations against the state government.

    Then group insisted that the state government was working for candidates of the Action Alliance (AA) for National Assembly elections and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate.

    Bojuwomi said the Ondo State governor was not happy that his candidates did not win APC’s primaries and was sponsoring opposition parties for that reason.

    The spokesman said the governor had concluded plans to bring in fake policemen and fake ballot papers to be used against the APC during the elections.

    He said: “As the spate of insubordination and ego increase unabated on the part of Governor Akeredolu, his evil plan against the wish of the good people of Ondo State and the upcoming victory of our dear President Muhammadu Buhari are in tandem with that of a desperate and devilish undertaker.

    “Apart from the fact that series of these aborted plans have been revealed by this group – Ondo APC Mandate Group – and other sister groups in the state before now, which has yielded no fruits in the ears of the Presidency and APC national headquarters, but as lovers of President Buhari and APC, the group will continue to expose evil plans by Akeredolu which can as well lead to loss of lives and property on the Election Day.

    “However, to buttress this, a secret meeting was held in Akeredolu’s hometown, Owo, on Thursday, February 14, with all the divisional police officers (DPOs) where he informed them of the arrival of the fake policemen, soldiers and ballot papers already printed at the Governor’s Office.

    “The attack on APC loyalists, who are working for Buhari’s success, was also discussed with the DPOs that night. On Friday, February 15, less than 24 hours after the meeting, several concerted attacks were carried out against some APC stalwarts in the same Owo under the supervision of these so-called DPOs and their men. Some people were macheted and shot; the case was reported to the new Commissioner of Police in OndoState. But up till now, no arrest has been made.

    “The fake ballot papers have been printed in the Governor’s Office in other to use it to assist his AA National Assembly candidates and PDP presidential candidate in Ondo State. Also, all these fake policemen and soldiers with uniforms are being camped in the three senatorial district of the state.

    “There have been several threats and warnings from Governor Akeredolu against house-to-house campaign for Mr. President in Ondo State. He is only promoting AA and PDP presidential candidate. That is why up till now there is no campaign for President Buhari in Ondo State by party members.

    “Logistics that was released to Mr. Governor from Abuja was not given to APC stalwarts. In fact, the only condition for the money to be released to local governments was that you must work for AA or the PDP presidential candidate.

    “Governor Akeredolu’s message to all obas and party faithful in Ondo State was that they should vote for AA in National Assembly and PDP candidate for the President during the elections.

    “Furthermore, on Thursday, February 14 night, an undisclosed huge amount of money was given to Akeredolu from one of the PDP financers, a business mogul in telecommunication industry from the Southwest, for the ballot paper printing and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials as well as mobilisation for vote-buying for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar during the elections.

    “We hereby call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and INEC to, as a matter of urgency, investigate their men in Ondo State before Governor Akeredolu uses them to cause popular unrest. This is because if all these evil plans, as exposed, are not stopped, Ondo State will boil during the elections.

    “We call on the National Chairman of APC to investigate the activities of Governor Akeredolu and the party’s state executive with a view to unveiling their nocturnal activities on behalf of AA in Ondo State.”

    “Under normal circumstances, we expected APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole not to extend any invitation of caucus meeting held yesterday (Monday) to Governor Akeredolu since it is established from all indications that the Ondo State governor is Atiku Abubakar’s campaign director general in disguise.

    “Prevention is better than cure. We say once again: if all these evil plans by Governor Akeredolu against the victory of our dear President Buhari and the peace of Ondo State are not aborted by concern authorities, Ondo State will catch fire on February 23.”

    Also, the Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Yemi Olowolabi, yesterday described as mischievous those behind the protest against Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for his alleged disloyalty to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said: “Governor Akeredolu has no divided loyalty to the ruling party. There was nowhere he campaigned for the Action Alliance or any other opposition party.

    “To show his absolute commitment to the party, he flooded the streets with APC billboards, purchased campaign vehicles for the party in the 18 local government areas and funded intermittent radio jingles and television slots to market APC and its candidates.”

    Olowolabi recalled that last week, there were mega political rallies in the three senatorial districts in Owo, Akure and Ore.

    The commissioner said it got to a stage where the governor mandated his aides and State Executive Council (Exco) members to deliver their communities to the APC in the forthcoming general elections.

    He condemned the group, saying the intention of those behind the allegation was to heat up the polity for their selfish interests.

  • I’ll drive to campaign without bulletproof, Shettima dares Boko Haram

    Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima on Tuesday vowed to return to Gambaru Ngala in a non-bulletproof vehicle to campaign for his senatorial bid and re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The Boko Haram insurgents had last week carried out attacks on his convoy at Maiduguri-Gamboru road while travelling for campaigns for his senatorial bid on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The Islamic State, ISIS, which appears to be working in collaboration with the Boko Haram, claimed responsibility for the attack on the convoy.

    ISIS, in a statement, claimed that 42 people were killed in the attack on the Governor’s motorcade.

    The attack was confirmed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communications and Strategy, Malam Isa Gusau, in a statement, claiming only three persons were killed.

    But speaking to State House correspondents after a security meeting presided by President Muhammadu Buhari and attended by heads of security agencies at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Shettima said the attacks will not deter him from meeting with the people even if it would cost his life.

    He said: “Leadership requires courage. I will go back to Gamboru Ngala next week and ready to pay the supreme price if need be and I will not be going in a bulletproof car.

    “I will go in a normal car like any other members of my convoy and expose myself to all the risk that they are bearing for me to be protected.

    “But believe me, no matter how long the night is, darkness must give away to the light of the dawn. No matter how stormy the weather may well be, it won’t rain forever.

    “This madness will come to an end because it is a fight between light and darkness. It is a fight between cause and justice.”

    He added: “Be that as it may, uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. I am the chief security officer of the state, I should have the courage and believe me not that I am not petrified, no!

    “As the chief security officer of the state, the day I say I cannot go to a certain part of the state because of the insecurity, then what sort of confidence are you inspiring on the common man?

    “The Boko Haram basks in the oxygen of publicity, by attacking my convoy, by targeting my person.

    “They have gotten the much-needed boost. But then as they say if you cannot withstand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”

  • We are ready for Saturday elections, APC boasts

    The APC Presidential Campaign Council has said that only the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can say whether the rescheduled Presidential election will go ahead as scheduled, saying the APC were ready for the election.

    Director of Contact and Mobilization, APC presidential campaign council, Hadiza Bala Usman who spoke after inspecting the election situation room of a civil society group, Yiaga in Abuja also seek collaboration between political parties and civil society group to monitor the workings of INEC and ensuring that electoral materials get to their destination on schedule.

    She said “It’s important for APC as a political party to engage with civil society, to see what civil society is doing to ensure a free and fair election. We are keen to have a transparent, free and fair election. So, we encourage observers, we encourage any form of interrogation of the process.

    “I am here to lend the voice of the APC to show encouragement to the civil society and to encourage them to ensure that whatever is happening at the polling unit are highlighted for the world to see and whatever incidences  happen are brought up for the necessary agencies to deal with. We want the security agencies to be on ground to provide the necessary support, where INEC is required to deploy additional input and we believe that such situation rooms are very helpful and necessary for such feedbacks

    Read Also: APC embarks on rally in Ikorodu

    This is an election situation room, would you have preferred something to the run up of the election?

    “With what has happened and with the postponement of the election, I think pre-election day situation room is important so that we can see where our materials are in the country? Have they started been moved to the necessary voting points? Are the right materials being deployed to the right places? So such pre-election situation rooms are important.

    It is important for us and the political parties, for APC and indeed civil society groups to put a spotlight on the election monitor to ensure that this postponement that happened will not be repeated again and for us to monitor and follow Election material. You are all aware that some of the critical errors around voter concern has to do with election materials, if the especially sensitive ones fall into the wrong hands. We are open to any form of manipulation and so, it’s imperative that we put a spotlight and follow the sensitive material, follow what INEC is doing.

    One of the presidential candidate is asking INEC to extend the rescheduled election beyond this Saturday, what is the view of APC?

    “Our view is that INEC knows what it’s doing and they the determinant of whether it is ready for Saturday. INEC conveyed to all Nigerians that it is ready to conduct the elections on Saturday. So we look forward to see what INEC will say next.  For us in APC, we were ready for the election on Saturday 16 and we are indeed ready for Saturday 23rd. We look forward to INEC briefing us as we requested on a daily basis to ensure that materials are deployed anf in the right place at the right time. Ad I mentioned earlier, INEC is the umpire, and will tell us whether there is any additional postponement. But we are ready for Saturday the 23rd of February.”