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  • UPDATED: Atiku not Nigerian by birth, APC tells tribunal

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has argued that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had no candidate in the last presidential election.

    The APC contended that by fielding Atiku Abubaka “a non-Nigerian by birth” as it’s candidate, the PDP cannot claim to have had a candidate in the last presidential election.

    The party argued that, by virtue of his not being a Nigerian by birth, Abubakar, a former Vice President, was not qualified to have contested the last presidential election.

    It contended that by Section 131(a) of the Constitution, a person must be a citizen of Nigeria by birth to be qualified to contest for the office of the President of the country.

    The party noted that Abubakar was born on November 25, 1946 in Jada, now Adamawa State, then in Northern Cameroon, “and is, therefore, a citizen of Cameroon.”

    APC made the argument in it reply to the petition filed by Abubakar and the PDP before the presidential election petition tribunal in Abuja.

    It said Abubakar (listed as 1st petitioner in the petition) “had no right to be voted for and returned in the election to the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria held on Saturday 23” February, 2019 having regard to the clear provision of Section 131(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) 1999 as amended, which unequivocally stipulates inter alia, that for a person to be qualified for election to the office of President, he must be a citizen of Nigeria by birth.

    “The 1st petitioner is not a citizen of Nigeria by birth and ought not to have even been allowed in the first place, to contest the election.

    “From available records, The l“ petitioner was born on the 2.5” November, 1946 in Jada, Adamawa, in Northern Cameroon and Is, therefore, a citizen of Cameroon.

    “His father was Garba Atlku Abdulkadlr who died In December, 1957. Prior to 1919 Cameroon was being administered by Germany.

    “But following the defeat of Germany In World War I which ended In 7918, Cameroon became a League of Nations mandate territory which was split Into French Cameroons and British Cameroons In 7919.

    “Brltlsh Cameroons was administered by the British from neighbouring Nigeria. In 1961, a plebiscite was held in British Cameroons to determine whether the people preferred to stay in Cameroon or align with Nigeria.

    “While Northern Cameroon preferred a union with Nigeria, Southern Cameroon chose alignment with the mother country.

    “The transition took place on June 1, 1961. It was as a result of that plebiscite that Northern Cameroon, which included Adamawa, became a part of Nigeria and by derivation, the 1” petitioner became a citizen of Nigeria, but not by birth.

    “The 1″ petitioner, therefore, contrary to the assertion in paragraph 1 of their petition, had no right to be voted for as a candidate in the election to the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria held on 23rd February, 2019 across Nigeria,” the party said.

    It added that, by reason of Abubakar not having qualified to contest the election, all votes purportedly cast for the petitioners at the 23″ February, 2019 election and as subsequently declared by INEC  on the 27th of February 2019, are wasted votes.

    In a preliminary objection raised by the party, the APC contended that the tribunal lacked the jurisdiction to countenance greater portion of the petition by the Abubakar and his party on the grounds that the claim contained therein, which relates to the challenge of the qualification of its candidate (Muhammadu Burai) was statute barred.

    It added that by the provision of section 31(5) and (6) of the Electoral Act and Section 285(9) of the Constitution, the election tribunal was not the appropriate forum to litigate such claim.

    Read Also: Govt warns Atiku against self-help

    The APC noted that before the election, INEC posted on its notice boards personal information of candidate for the public to see. It argued that since the petitioners did not challenge what they felt was wrong in Buhari’s qualification at the pre-election state, they cannot raise the issues now.

    It said: “The petitioners failed and or neglected to challenge the validity of the 2nd respondent’s claim regarding his education qualification as contained in the Form CF001 submitted to INEC before the election.

    “The petitioners have waived their right (If any) to challenge the propriety of the information contained in the INEC Form CF001 duly submitted to INEC.”

    The APC, while asserting its victory at the election, noted that by the election results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC and as contained in its (INEC’s) website, the PDP and its candidate did not win the election as claimed by the petitioners.

    As against the claim by the petitioners that they had access to INEC’s website, the APC said, on its part, it never had access to INEC website at any time.

    The party denied all the allegations raised by the petitioners and faulted the allegations made against Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, service chiefs, military personnel and other security personnel, who were not made parties to the petition.

    It faulted the competence of the entire petition and prayed the tribunal to dismiss it for being incompetent.

    The APC stated that “The petition discloses no reasonable cause of action or any cause of action at all;

    It argued that allegations in a substantial portion of the petition “are generic, vague, unpreferable, non-specific, nebulous, bogus, imprecise, speculative and at large contrary to the mandatory provisions of paragraph 4(1) (d) of the 1th Schedule to the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).

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  • Updated: Presidential poll: FG warns Atiku against self-help

    The Federal Government on Thursday warned the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alh. Atiku Abubakar against resorting to self-help over the outcome of the February 23 presidential election.

    It asked Atiku to realize that the only lawful channel for challenging the result of an election is through the courts.

    It warned that any act of anybody capable of triggering local crisis will not be condoned by this government.

    The government said it was absurd that Atiku had hired a lobbying firm to convince the United States not to recognize the re-election of President Buhari until the Supreme Court has ruled on the suit he filed.

    It said having lost by almost four million (4m) votes, it was US recognition as the winner of an election

    It said it was unfortunate that Atiku was thinking of replicating the Venezuelan model right here in Nigeria.

    The government made its position known at a briefing in Abuja by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed, which was attended by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu.

    Mohammed said: “As you must have noticed in recent times, posters bearing the picture of former Vice President and the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, with the inscription: ”THE PUKKA, H.E. ATIKU ABUBAKAR, THE REAL AND THE RIGHT”, have surfaced across major streets in Abuja.

    “The appearance of these posters coincide with the media report that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has hired a US lobbying firm to convince the United States not to recognize the re-election of President Buhari until the Supreme Court has ruled on the suit by the PDP presidential candidate

    “The posters and the hiring of US lobbyists, the latest of such by the PDP candidate, have triggered questions about what Alhaji Abubakar is up to. Is he starting a fresh campaign after the elections have been won and lost?

    “Has he rescinded his decision to challenge the results of the presidential election in court, perhaps after realizing that the results he claimed to have obtained from the INEC back server are cooked? Is he now going for self-help? What really is Atiku’s motive?

    “Gentlemen, we are aware of media reports that the PDP presidential candidate on Wednesday distanced himself from the posters that are circulating in Abuja. He also reportedly denied hiring US lobbyists, claiming tongue-in-cheek that the APC fabricated the report.

    “If the media reports are right, it means that the former Vice President has suddenly realized the grave implication of his actions, hence has decided to beat a quick retreat before it is too late.

    “As a self-avowed democrat, he should realize that the only lawful channel for challenging the result of an election is through the courts. Resorting to self-help, as he seems to be doing now, is an act of desperation and the consequences are dire.”

    The Federal Government described Atiku’s plot to replicate the Venezuelan model in Nigeria as sheer daydreaming.

    Mohammed added: “There is no doubt that the PDP presidential candidate, out of desperation, is thinking of replicating the Venezuelan model right here in Nigeria. But he should realize that Nigeria is not Venezuela, and that the situations in both countries are not the same.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari won the Feb. 23rd 2019 presidential elections fair and square, with a margin of 3,928,869 million votes. The election’s credibility was attested to by local and foreign observers.

    “There is no doubt that President Buhari’s victory is well- deserved. As I said at a different forum, it represents the triumph of the ordinary Nigerians over the elite.

    “The election is a direct contest between ordinary Nigerians and the elite, most of whom are rent seekers. Of course, the ordinary Nigerians have won. This is not a surprise, considering the pro-poor policy of the Administration.

    “Despite the antics of the naysayers, Nigerians demonstrated that they appreciate the giant strides that have been made by the administration; whether in the areas of economy, fight against corruption or in tackling insecurity.”

    Although the Minister admitted that it is within the fundamental human rights of Atiku to go to court on the results of the Presidential Election, he cautioned him against seeking US recognition as the winner of the poll.

    He said: “ Alh. Atiku Abubakar has the right to do whatever is lawful to
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  • BREAKING: Presidential poll: FG warns Atiku against resorting to self-help

    The Federal Government on Thursday warned the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alh. Atiku Abubakar against resorting to self-help over the outcome of the February 23 presidential election.

    It asked Atiku to realise that the only lawful channel for challenging the result of an election is through the courts.

    The government said it was absurd that Atiku had hired a lobbying firm to convince the United States not to recognize the re-election of President Buhari until the Supreme Court has ruled on the suit he filed.

    It said it was unfortunate that Atiku was thinking of replicating the Venezuelan model right here in Nigeria.

    The government made its position known at a briefing in Abuja by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed, which was attended by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu.

    Mohammed said: “As you must have noticed in recent times, posters bearing the picture of former Vice President and the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, with the inscription: ”THE PUKKA, H.E. ATIKU ABUBAKAR, THE REAL AND THE RIGHT”, have surfaced across major streets in Abuja.

    “The appearance of these posters coincide with the media report that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has hired a US lobbying firm to convince the United States not to recognize the re-election of President Buhari until the Supreme Court has ruled on the suit by the PDP presidential candidate

    “The posters and the hiring of US lobbyists, the latest of such by the PDP candidate, have triggered questions about what Alhaji Abubakar is up to. Is he starting a fresh campaign after the elections have been won and lost?

    “Has he rescinded his decision to challenge the results of the presidential election in court, perhaps after realizing that the results he claimed to have obtained from the INEC back server are cooked? Is he now going for self-help? What really is Atiku’s motive?

    Read Also: Atiku denies paying US lobby group $30,000 to stop Buhari’s inauguration

    “Gentlemen, we are aware of media reports that the PDP presidential candidate on Wednesday distanced himself from the posters that are circulating in Abuja. He also reportedly denied hiring US lobbyists, claiming tongue-in-cheek that the APC fabricated the report.

    “If the media reports are right, it means that the former Vice President has suddenly realized the grave implication of his actions, hence has decided to beat a quick retreat before it is too late.

    “As a self-avowed democrat, he should realize that the only lawful channel for challenging the result of an election is through the courts. Resorting to self-help, as he seems to be doing now, is an act of desperation and the consequences are dire.

    …Details shortly

  • Atiku far better than Buhari, Obasanjo insists

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has defended his endorsement of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

    He said despite the fact that Atiku lost to President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he remains “far better” than the incumbent.

    The elder statesman spoke on Sunday evening when the Southwest PDP leaders led by the party’s National Vice Chairman (South West), Dr Eddy Olafeso, visited him at his Pent-House Residence within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    In attendance at the meeting were Senate Minority Leader, Biodun Olujimi; Senators-elect Oyo South Kola Balogun; Ondo Central Ayo Akinyelure; Rep-elect (Ibarapa North and Central), Hon Ajibola Muraina; former Osun State Governor Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Minister for State for Defence Erelu Olusola Obada and PDP gubernatorial candidate in Ekiti State 2018 election, Prof Olusola Eleka.

    He said: “Politically speaking, you can’t be my friend if you don’t buy into the Nigeria’s project. For me, till death, I will continue to push for a better Nigeria.

    “I said if you compare the two of them (referring to Atiku and Buhari) with what I know and all I have written about the incumbent, which they have decided to cover up, Atiku is better than the incumbent by far. That’s the point I am making. And nobody is perfect.

    “I am not a perfect person. I have my shortcomings. If I deny my shortcomings, it means I am not being truthful to myself.

    “But, my shortcomings have nothing to do with my love for Nigeria. It has nothing to do with being greedy or selfishness.”

    Obasanjo told his guests Nigerian situation demands a vibrant voice and opposition in PDP to engender a virile democracy.

    The former Head of States also bemoaned the failure of leadership, saying Nigeria can’t move forward “if we continue the way we are.”

    He urged the PDP to purge itself of “bad eggs and hypocrites,” whom he said, lacked commitment to return the opposition party to its lost glory.

    Obasanjo lamented many of the PDP leaders are still preoccupied with what ministers to “their pockets and stomach,” wondering why some of them left the party while others lost hope the seconds the results of 2019 Presidential election were announced.

    Obasanjo, whose Coalition for Nigerian Movement(CNM) failed to provide a formidable force to unseat President Muhammadu Buhari and his the All Progressives Congress(APC) at the centre, advised PDP to purge itself of “hypocrites and bad eggs.”

    He noted the purging exercise would put the party on a higher pedestal to scout for those he called “critical mass of committed people,” who “would be ready to stand with the party come rain, come shine.”

    Obasanjo said: “I knew PDP would lose election in 2015 because it was clear. And I knew PDP will need to be rebuilt after losing the election.

    “You need what I call critical mass of committed people, and come rain, come shine they are committed. With that, you can make Nigeria better.

    “You see peoples’ faces beautiful but you don’t know what each person harbours inside of him.

    “If you discover a bad egg, remove such a person. And if such person has learnt his or her lessons there can still be room to accommodate the person.”

    Also at the meeting were former Lagos Deputy Governor Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele; former Deputy National Chairman Shuaibu Oyedokun; PDP Governorship candidate in 2017 Ondo State Governorship election, Eyitayo Jegede SAN among others.

  • Maharji Ji to Atiku: spend litigation budget on less-privileged

    The founder and leader of One Love Family, Satguru Maharaj ji, has advised presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the March 9 poll, Atiku Abubakar, to spend money budgeted for electoral litigations on the less-privileged.

    This, he said, will earn him more favour from God instead of wasting colossal amounts on litigations.

    Maharji Ji told our correspondent on phone last week that Atiku can never upturn the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari at the tribunal no matter how hard he tries.

    He said: “Atiku should not waste his money on electoral litigations. I know he has money but he should give it to the less-privileged.

    “God will see his heart and bless him even more. I am telling him this because no matter what he does, he cannot Buhari. Atiku is not destined to lead Nigeria.”

    He told Atiku to stop chasing shadows, declaring the election has been won and lost.

    “Buhari has won. There is nothing anybody can do about it. He is the one God wants there for now.

    “Atiku cannot upturn that reality because he has not been chosen by God. Someone who says he will give looters amnesty cannot rule Nigeria,” the self-acclaimed Living Master declared.

  • Fintiri’s election signifies new dawn in Adamawa, says Atiku

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has said that the election of Mr Ahmadu Fintiri as governor of Adamawa State is a dawn of a glorious new era for the state.

    The former Vice President expressed delight that the PDP came victorious in the governorship election in his home state, and that the decision of the vast majority of Nigerians to vote for the PDP signified that the party is truly a party of the people.

    In a statement Friday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku said, “My home state of Adamawa has chosen the PDP to lead them. I am truly proud of this and let me assure you that you have chosen a leader with the zeal and determination to put Adamawa on the best path.

    Read Also: Atiku, PDP get tribunal’s nod to serve Buhari through APC

    “You have chosen a leader who appreciates Adamawa’s diversity and who will run an inclusive government for the betterment of all”.

    He congratulated governor-elect on his resounding victory at the polls, adding that Fintiri won the poll in spite of the various antics of the ruling party to frustrate the wishes of the people in the state.

    “Our people have stood with Governor-Elect Fintiri in the course of this election with an abiding commitment never to allow the power that be to rob them of their votes.

    “I congratulate you on your election, while I also hail our people for making the right decision to choose you as leader at this point in time. I am confident that the hope reposed in you is well placed and that your tenure will launch our state to greater heights”.

  • ‘Atiku should accept election outcome’

    A group, KUNDUNAR MAi GASKIYA, has urged presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to accept the outcome of the elections in good faith.

    A statement by the group’s chairman Aminu Ahmed and vice chairman Abubakar Isyaku, pleaded with Atiku to live by example as a true Moslem and leave everything to Allah according to the teachings of Islam.

    According to them, the north has had enough communal restiveness and cannot afford another self-motivated political chaos.

    The statement reads: “Nothing can be too much to let go as long as peace is sustained. We thank Nigerians for their trust in the president, and promise that he will deliver far better than his first tenure.”

    They group also release thanked many across board who contributed to Buhari’s victory, particularly Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for his continuous support and contributions towards Northern progress and promised to reciprocate.

  • Breaking: Atiku, PDP get tribunal’s nod to serve Buhari through APC

    The Presidential Election Tribunal has acceded to the request by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the last presidential election, Atiku Abubakar for permission to serve their petition of President Muhammadu Buhari through his party, All Progressives Congress (APC).

    PDP and Atiku, who, by the petition they filed earlier this month, are challenging Buhari’s victory at the election, applied for leave to effect service of the petition on the President on the grounds that they were having difficulty serving him personally.

    On Wednesday, the three-man tribunal, after to listening Chris Uche (SAN) who moved the ex-parte filed by the petitioners, granted them permission to serve through substituted means.

    Justice Abdul Aboki, who led the panel, ordered that Buhari, who is the second respondent to the petition, be served through any senior official or an officer of the APC at the party’s secretariat in Abuja.

    Justice Aboki, in his lead ruling, said “it is in the interest of justice” to grant the prayers in the petitioners’ motion.

  • APC to Police, DSS: investigate Atiku’s access to INEC server

    The All Progressives Congress(APC) Presidential Campaign Council has asked the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate claims by the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar of obtaining information from the server of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which they were not supposed to have access to.

    Director of Strategic Communication off the Council, Festus Keyamo said in a petition in Abuja the information by the PDP candidate is a confirmation of earlier fears that the opposition party perfected ways of hacking the INEC server before the 2019 general election.

    Keyamo said the recent statement by Atiku revealed why the PDP was insisting President Muhammadu Buhari should sign the 2018 Electoral Act which recommend electronic transmission of election results.

    The petition reads: “It would be recalled that an Electoral (Amendment) Bill containing the provision for electronic transmission of results to INEC’s central computer system (otherwise called “server”) was sent to President Muhammadu Buhari by the National Assembly for assent late in the year 2018.

    “Despite the shortness of time before the Presidential/National Assembly Elections, and the lack of time to first simulate the process to ensure its effectiveness in a country like ours with problems of effective networks in many rural areas and constant failure of technological devices, together with its violation of the time frame of such laws as provided for in regional and continental Protocols in terms of the length of time required for the passage of such laws before any major election, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party was hell-bent that the President should sign the Bill into law.

    “That was the first indication that the main opposition was up to something sinister regarding the electronic transmission of the results.

    “Upon the last-minute postponement of the February 16, 2019 Presidential/National Assembly Elections, the nation was shocked to see already prepared presidential elections results floating around in the cyber space just less than 24 hours after the postponed election was originally billed to hold.

    “The fake results had details of the scores of the candidates of the major parties. Of course, the fake results gave victory to the candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, even when elections did not hold.

    “The only conclusion one can draw from the above is that the PDP had prepared those results which were to be smuggled into the INEC Server.

    “However, the sudden postponement of the election scuttled that evil plan, but it was too late to restrain the release of the fake results.

    “The proper elections were held on February 23, 2019 and President Muhammadu Buhari declared the winner. Despite the approval of the elections as credible by nearly all local and international observers (except some few known PDP acolytes masquerading as local observers), the PDP cried foul and made a shocking claim: it claimed that from purported results it obtained from INEC’s server, it has so-called proof that its candidate won the election by about 1.6million votes!

    “Shockingly and coincidentally, this margin was about the same margin by which it also purportedly “won” by the fake results released just hours after the postponement of the February 16, 2019 Presidential/National Assembly Elections.

    “As if this expensive joke was not enough, the PDP and its Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, have gone ahead to file an Election Petition against the clear victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and have repeated the same outlandish claim of having access to INEC’s server which shows that they have some purported results at their disposal giving “victory” to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    “We wish you to note that INEC’s server is the back end of electronic records of INEC. This is not INEC’s website but its server! Although, the purported results have been conclusively shown by public engagements to be false and even ridiculous, especially as the total number of accredited voters is exactly equivalent to the purported votes of the APC and PDP candidates, this criminal claim of the PDP has revealed that It is now clear that some criminally-minded PDP operatives have access to the INEC server to be able to smuggle in fake results into that server.

    “The only means by which they could have access to the INEC server is by the criminal hacking of the server or through the criminal conspiracy of some INEC officials.”

  • Sokoto rerun: Atiku congratulates Tambuwal on re-election

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has congratulated the party’s governorship candidate in Sokoto election, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, after he was announced the winner of the re-run election by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) on Sunday.

    On his verified Twitter handle, Atiku also hailed the decision of the people of Sokoto.

    He said: “I congratulate His Excellency, Governor Aminu Tambuwal on his re-election and I assure the good people of Sokoto state that they have made the right decision that will see them continue on the path to peace, progress and prosperity. -AA #SokotoDecides”