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Tag: Bauchi State

  • Court clears INEC to conclude Bauchi governorship poll

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abubakar and the All Progressives Congress (APC), challenging the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to resume collation of the March 9 governorship election results in the Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area.

    INEC had declared the election inconclusive on the grounds that the number of cancelled votes was higher than the margin of lead between the two top political parties – the ruling APC and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    The electoral body later announced that it would resume collation because it discovered that the number of cancelled votes was tampered with, a decision Abubakar and his party challenged in court.

    In a judgment yesterday, Justice Inyang Ekwo declined jurisdiction and disagreed with plaintiffs’ lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN), who said the suit related to pre-election matters.

    Justice Ekwo set aside the order for maintenance of the status quo earlier made by the court and ordered INEC to proceed with its activities geared at concluding the governorship election in Bauchi State.

    The judge said, although his court has jurisdiction to determine the questions, relating to the interpretation of the Constitution and Electoral Act raised in the suit, he would prefer to allow election tribunal with an overall jurisdiction over election matters to handle the case.

    He directed that INEC should be allowed to conclude its constitutional responsibilities in relation to the governorship election in Bauchi, following which any aggrieved party could approach an election tribunal.

    Justice Ekwo said: “My view is that this court has jurisdiction to interpret the provision of the Constitution as to the alleged breach of the plaintiff’s fundamental right to fair hearing and interpret the provision of the Electoral Act tabled before the court.

    “And also looking at the provision of Section 60 of Electoral Act, the court or tribunal can determine the issues thereof. It can then be said that there is concurrence of jurisdiction between this court and the Election Petition Tribunal on this issue.

    “The difference in this case is that the alleged infringement occurred in the process of an election and the decision of the defendant in Exhibit B (the press releases issued by INEC on March 15, 2019) also occurred in the process of an election.

    “There is no debate that the issues concerning elections are to be exclusively handled by the election tribunal.”

    Justice Ekwo said if the court decides to look into the issue raised by the plaintiff’s, it could amount to piecemeal approach to adjudication, which could lead to multiplicity of suits.

    He added: “In my view, the election tribunal has the jurisdiction to handle every facet of the claims arising from electoral process.

    “This court will defer to the election tribunal for its holistic jurisdiction on electoral matters, so that the tribunal can exercise same jurisdiction.

    “It is my opinion that, if the defendant (INEC) is allowed to conclude the process, any party desirous of ventilating his grievance can then approach the election tribunal. The tribunal can then determine all the issues of concern to the parties.” “Finally, having declined jurisdiction, the order of status quo made by this court on March 19, 2019 is hereby vacated.

    Read also: Fashola: we can’t cover every road in Nigeria

    “Consequently, I hold that there is no legal impediment preventing the defendant from proceeding with their decision in their press release of March 15, 2019 forthwith. Accordingly, I make an order dismissing this case.”

    The judge adjourned till Thursday, hearing in the suit by the African Action Congress (AAC) and one other, querying the propriety of INEC’s handling of the last governorship and State Assembly elections in Rivers State, particularly as it relates to its announcement of the results.

    The suit has AAC, Biokpomabo Festus Awara and Pastor (Dr.) Ben-Gurion John Peter as plaintiffs, with INEC and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    The plaintiffs noted that INEC had earlier admitted that the election in Rivers State was marred with substantial violence that compromised the credibility of the entire process, and thereby suspended the election.

    They added that without calling for a fresh election, INEC announced, via a press release, that it was now set to continue with the election from Wednesday March 20, 2019.

    Yesterday, Justice Ekwo said since the defendants have reacted to the suit, and in view of its nature, he will do away with the motion ex-parte and motion for interlocutory injunctions filed by the plaintiffs and proceed to hear and determine the substantive suit.

    He adjourned to March 28 for the hearing of the substantive suit.

    The Body of Bauchi Lawyers of Conscience (BOBOLAC) yesterday hailed the court’s decision on the state’s governorship election.

    It called on the INEC to immediately resume the collation of the results in the affected council area.

    Addressing reporters, the group’s convener, Shipi Rabo, said: “The suit of the APC and Governor M.A. that was dismissed moment ago (yesterday) represented a desperate attempt to scuttle the people’s victory on the matter.”

    Another member of the group, Jibrin S. Jibrin, argued that the governor ought to have waited for the conclusion of the collation and declaration process before seeking judicial redress.

  • INEC resumes collation of Bauchi governorship poll result

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says it has resumed the collation of the Bauchi Governorship Election results, for the Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area (LGA) which was earlier suspended.

    INEC on Monday, in a notice posted on its twitter hand media handle, @inecnigeria, said that the process would be completed on Monday.

    The notice read: “Following the striking out of the case instituted by the APC and its candidate Mohammed Abubakar against INEC and the order of injunction stopping the process, and collation of the Bauchi Governorship Election results, for the Tafawa Balewa LGA by INEC, has commenced.

    ” The suspended process will be concluded today with the state collation and declaration of result of the election.”

    The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, gave INEC the leeway to continue and conclude the collation of the results of the March 9, Governorship election in the Tafawa Balewa LGA of Bauchi State.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Inyang Ekwo set aside his earlier order of March 19, 2019, which stopped the collation of the results.

    Read also: 9th Assembly: Onyejeocha declares for Speaker

    After declining jurisdiction to hear the substantive case, the judge ruled in his judgment on Monday, “the defendant, INEC, should be allowed to continue its constitutional duty.

    “There is no legal impediment before the defendant to go on with the decision of the defendant, to execute its decision in its press release,” the judge ruled.

    The ex parte order was given, following an application filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Gov. Mohammed Abubakar, of Bauchi state.

    The governorship election is keenly between incumbent Abubakar of the APC and former minister, Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party.(NAN)

  • INEC begins announcement of supplementary result in Bauchi

    The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, has commenced announcement of result of the supplementary guber polls held Saturday, 23rd of  March, in Bauchi State.

    The announcement commenced on Sunday morning around 9:30am after much delay from the electoral empire who kept collation and returning officers stranded for almost 18 hours.

    A Returning officer, Husesanni Malemi of the United Progressive Party, U.P.P. had earlier berated INEC saying he had to spend the night at the  headquarters of the electoral empire after waiting  in vain for several hours.

    “This is not acceptable, we know this is part of an orchestrated plan to  subvert the will of the people ” He alleged.

    It would be recalled that the  absence of the Returning Officer in charge of Bauchi State gubernatorial election, Prof. Mohammed Kyari, had delayed the announcement of the outcome of the governorship re-run elections in the state.

    Read also: Supplementary polls: Ortom leads in nine of 13 LGA’s of Benue

    The situation created anxiety among the supporters of  the People Democratic Party supporters in Bauchi State who kept vigil few kilometres from the INEC office.

    As at yesterday around 2:pm in the midnight,  they were seen venting their anger over the delay in the announcement , alleging that “INEC is up to something”

  • Politicians, others upbeat over pending polls results

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended its planned resumption of the collation of the March 9 governorship election results in Bauchi State.

    Bauchi Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Ibrahim Abdullahi announced the development at a news conference yesterday.

    The REC said it was in line with a court order restraining INEC from resuming the collation of the results which it suspended on March 13.

    Abdullahi said the order did not affect the House of Assembly election, disclosing that the commission would go ahead with the collation of Tafawa Balewa constituency and subsequently announce the winner.

    The REC said: “As you are aware, we have been indulged by members of the press as to the news that in respect of the news making the rounds in respect of Tafawa Balewa.

    “So, I am to inform you formally that the INEC is in receipt of a court order restraining it from proceeding with the collation and announcement of results in respect of Tafawa Balewa only.

    “I’m also to add that the order which was sort and granted does not include the Tafawa Balewa constituency, hence we will make arrangements to continue with the state constituency collation and subsequently announce the results.”

     

    Observers seek synergy

    between Ganduje,

    Police Commissioner

     

    A domestic observer group, Centre for Intervention (CFI), has called for synergy between the police and Kano State government to ensure peaceful and violence-free make-up poll.

    In a statement by its coordinator, Dr. Ibrahim Baba, the group lamented the perceived bickering between the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Wakili, and Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, describing it as unhealthy and uncalled for.

    The statement reads: “We urge the Commissioner of Police to develop much mutual/cordial relationship with the Kano State governor. The state police commissioner should cultivate the right attitude to work with the Kano State governor in order to make sure that the rerun election is free, fair, credible and transparent.”

    The group urged the supporters of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to play by the rules to avoid plunging the state into unnecessary violence.

    The group called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rectify all the anomalies witnessed in the March 11 elections.

    “Late arrival of materials and officials to polling unit should be addressed in this rerun more importantly. INEC should ensure that the smart card readers (SCR) are functional because it remains one of the vital aspects of the elections in Nigeria.”

    The group hailed the Chairman of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC),  Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, for his tireless efforts in fighting the menace of vote-buying. It called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to ensure that culprits of vote-buying are prosecuted according to the law.

     

    ADP Rivers calls for

    cancellation of polls

     

    The governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), in Rivers State, Victor Fingesi, has criticised the violence that characterised the March 9, 2019 governorship and state legislative elections in the state.

    Fingesi, in a statement in Port Harcourt, the state capital yesterday, blamed the bloody exercise on the activities of security operatives, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party(PDP) and called for their exclusion from a fresh exercise.

    The statement reads: “Action Democratic Party in Rivers State is calling for the outright cancellation of the March 9, gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections in the state for being marred by violence, vote buying, ballot box snatching/ hijacking, intimidation by military gangs and thugs.

    “Our party and others were prevented from all the collation centres from the ward, LGA and state levels. In so many polling units, only agents of PDP, AAC and APC proxy were allowed to observe the calling of the results. Also our polling agents were not signatories to any documents at the polling unit and collation centres.

    “Both PDP and APC via their proxy AAC were responsible for the disruption of the enabling environment INEC had put in place. ADP as a law abiding party whose manifesto and constitution believes in peaceful, free and fair elections, participated in the election according to the electoral procedure.

    “We fielded many credible House of Assembly candidates and me, the gubernatorial candidate for our party. The statement by 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Bori camp, indicting the police and INEC has resulted in a war of words between the military, Police and INEC.

    “It is sad that Rivers state is now the battle ground for all these acrimonies. INEC having admitted collation centres were invades, being the proximate reason for the suspension means that materials have passes through the wrong hands and so cannot be used to conclude the election.”

    “Again we are asking INEC to not only prosecute the political parties found culpable to the electoral offences after investigation, but  also ban them from participating in any exercise INEC will recommend for the resolution of the  electoral process in the state; as this cannot be waved away and would act as a deterrent for future elections nationwide.”

     

    INEC unfair to Rivers

    APC, says Cole

     

    Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Tonye Cole yesterday said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has demonstrated bias in the handling of the electoral crisis in the Southsouth state.

    He alleged that the electoral agency has failed to resist undue influence by Governor Nyesom Wike, adding that its integrity has been compromised.

    Cole called for the cancellation of the election results and the transfer of the Resident Electoral Commissioner as the critical steps for the resolution of the electoral logjam.

    A statement by his media aide, Tonye Princewill, said the commission made nonsense of the anti-corruption trend enacted by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Noting that Rivers APC has been vindicated by its earlier complaints against the umpire, Cole said “the recent terse statement made by the Nigerian Army exposed a wide gap in the relationship between the “independent” umpire and the security agencies, which provided the conducive environment for INEC to operate.”

    He added: “What is striking in the statement released by the Army is not that they simply dented INEC’s credibility, but that they called them out in a key aspect of their qualification that leaves them in tatters; their expected independence. How INEC recovers from this remains to be seen. But, suffice to say that they can no longer speak with the freedom of the benefit of doubt they have been enjoying, from not only Nigerians, but from the international community.”

    Cole lamented that Wike has “tried to show us that he can buy anyone, recruit everyone and not be held accountable to anyone in his pursuit of his ambition to lord it over Rivers State”.

    He hailed the Army and the Inspector-General of Police.

    Cole added: “We in Rivers State know that there was no widespread violence that called for a total suspension of a whole state. If there was, how did INEC get results in 17 out of 23 LGAs? We know that widespread violence leaves a trail of death and destruction.

    “If that was the case, how come INEC was able to declare results for the presidential election when death and destruction were validated, but not for the governorship election when death and destruction were unconfirmed?”

    The chieftain said apart from obeying court orders, INEC should apologise to Rivers people and security agencies, especially the army, to rebuild the sense of joint duty needed to move forward.

    He also said the electoral agency should issue a statement condemning the violence triggered by the invasion of the collation centre by the governor.

    Cole added: “INEC should cancel the entire process and start again or pending the resolution of all legal matters, announce the results as a collation of results announced per LGA, up to the point of “suspension;” and change the REC and principal officers to conduct the election whenever the opportunity so provides, as there is no confidence in their neutrality and/or competence to conduct a free and fair election. Anything short of the above is business as usual and an exercise in futility.”

     

    ‘Publish list of collated

    results in Rivers’

     

    A coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations in Rivers State has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the list of local government areas in Rivers State where election results have been collated and the ones left uncollated before the process was disrupted.

    The coalition, in a statement by its convener, Somina Wokoma warned the commission against turning the state in a theatre of war.

    The coalition accused the Resident Electoral Commissioner Obong Effanga of collaborating with the Governor Nyesom Wike to re-write the results of the election.

    The statement reads: “We closely monitored the March 9th governorship and Assembly elections and we are alarmed by the treachery exhibited by the State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner Obong Effanga and his staff, especially the Admin Secretary who openly collaborated with the incumbent Governor Nyesom Wike in trying to manipulate the governorship election in his favour failing which Mr Effanga had the effrontery to wrongly advise INEC headquarters to suspend a smoothly running election.

    “We the members of the coalition, true sons and daughters of Rivers State and law abiding citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria wish to state that the suspension of the election process was a well-orchestrated move by Governor Nyesom Wike and his co-conspirators, Obong Effanga and Elder Etim Umoh of Rivers State INEC.

    “Since the suspension of the collation of results in the State on March 10, 2019, the outgoing Governor Nyesom Wike and the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner Obong Effanga have been re-writing and doctoring unit results already collated in Rivers State Government House to favour Wike.

    “The suspension of the largely smooth running electoral process in the State is a flagrant violation of section 26 of the electoral Act. 2010 (as amended). INEC’s refusal to publish the names of the acclaimed collated seventeen(17) LGA’s and the outstanding Six(6) LGA’s is a clear act of deceit and treachery & confirmation of our long held suspicion that all is not well with the current Rivers INEC team .

    “That the clearly and openly compromised actions of Obong Effanga and Elder Etim Umoh have made us lose confidence in them to complete the process as this will be tantamount to Wike being also the umpire in his own election. We will resist this to our last blood.

    “The activities of the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Obong Effanga, and the Administrative secretary Elder Etim Umoh are a breach of public trust and abuse of public powers.

    “We have it on record the Governor Wike through the Rivers State REC Obong Effanga secretly changed the list of the Collation and Returning Officers who conducted the presidential election and replaced them with card-carrying members of the PDP who realising that the elections were not favouring their paymaster, triggered the illegal suspension order by INEC.

    “We hereby inform these conspirators against the sovereign will of our people that we know them by name and have all their details. We will not sit idle and watch them destroy the peace of our State and return scot free to their own States. The coalition will act as one united body to ensure that the Rivers State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Obong Effanga and the Administrative Secretary, Elder Etim Umoh and all those who are a party to this nefarious activity are held responsible for any break-down of law & order in the State.

    “We warn the national security agencies of an impending breakdown of law and order should unholy alliance/collaboration with Wike to force himself on Rivers people using INEC and the Judiciary is not nipped in the bud right away

    “We are sure that by now the intelligence agencies have confirmed that if not for the highly professional conduct of the security agencies especially the Military in protecting the electorate during that elections, Governor Wike and his thugs dressed on military uniforms would have turned Rivers State into an ocean of blood, worse than what they did in the 2015 general elections.”

    They however demand the redeployment of the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner Obo Effanga and the administrative secretary Elder Etim Umoh with immediate effect to forestall any foul play that will lead to making our dear Rivers State a theatre of war.

    They also want the INEC Chairman Prof. Yakubu Mahmood to replace them with people of integrity and sound reputation that cannot be bought over by tyrant Governor Nyesom Wike and his blood sucking thugs; we also call on EFCC and other agencies to as a matter of urgency investigate and arrest Obo Effanga, Elder Etim Umoh and their partners in crime.

     

    Adamawa SDP

    governorship candidate mobilise voters

     

    The governorship candidate of  Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Adamawa, Chief Emmanuel Bello, has urged voters in the affected units of Saturday’s supplementary election in the state  to troop out en-masse to vote.

    Adamawa is one of the six states where the March 9 governorship elections were declared inconclusive by Independent National Electoral Commission and supplementary polls scheduled for Saturday.

    Bello, in a statement yesterday by the Media Director of his campaign organisation, Malam Umar Mustafa, reiterated his commitment to participating in the supplementary election.

    He debunked speculations that he had withdrawn from the race, describing it as an attempt to confuse his supporters.

    “I urge all my supporters to come out en-masse and partake in the election.

    “It is to be noted that the votes cancelled in the total of 44 polling units spread across the state are mostly in SDP’s stronghold,” Bello said.

    He lauded the people of Adamawa for their support and solidarity and urged them not to lose hope.

     

  • Bauchi: INEC challenges court order stopping collation of results

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it has challenged the order of a Federal High Court in Abuja, ordering it to stop the collation of the governorship election results in Bauchi State.

    Mr Festus Okoye, INEC’s National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education said the commission has filed a ‘motion on notice`, challenging the jurisdiction of the court in granting the order.

    ” The motion has not been taken. Until that motion is taken, the court order barring us from collating the result of Tafawa Balewa area subsists,” he said.

    Although Okoye told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, that the commission has stopped the collation of the governorship result, he said the collation process would continue in the state assembly elections in the affected areas.

    On Tuesday, a Federal High Court in Abuja barred INEC from resuming the collation and announcement of governorship election result in Bauchi.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo issued the order following an ex parte application filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Bauchi state Governor, Mohammed Abubakar.

    “The commission has already taken a decision. The order is from a properly constituted court of law, so we complied.

    “We have fully complied with the court order in relation to collation of the governorship election for Tafawa Balewa local government area,” he said

    He said the commission would conduct supplementary elections in areas not affected by the order of the Federal High Court.

    INEC initially declared the governorship election in Bauchi, along with the elections in Benue, Plateau, Sokoto, Kano and inconclusive.

    It also announced that supplementary elections would take place on 23 March. But in a sudden twist, INEC said it would no longer hold supplementary elections in the contentious Tafawa Balewa Local Government, where it said the result of the poll on March 9 was torn by an armed gang. INEC also said it has appointed a new returning officer for the council and that collation would resume on Tuesday.

    INEC said a fact-finding committee headed by Okoye recommended that the results of polling units in the council should be upheld and then cancelled the planned election in the council.

    INEC’s volte-face angered the All Progressives Congress candidate and the incumbent governor, Muhammed Abubakar and his party.

    There were accusations about denial of fair hearing by the Okoye committee and that the committee was compromised because Okoye has some relationship with some PDP leaders, such as Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

  • Anxiety in Benue, Kano, Bauchi ahead of elections

    THERE is anxiety in Kano, Benue and Bauchi states over the “inconclusive” governorship elections.

    Collation of results is to resume today in the Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, seven days after the election was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The electoral umpire has scheduled a supplementary poll for the Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State to decide who takes charge at the Government House from May 29.

    Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abubakar was at the State House yesterday to brief President Muhammadu Buhari on the twist introduced into the electoral process by the INEC. He was encouraged by the President to seek legal redress.

    INEC’s decision to resume collation of the outstanding results today triggered criticisms among groups in Buachi State yesterday.

    In Kano, an elders’ forum said it will not fold its arms and watch desperate politicians plunge the state into a crisis.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were trading words in Benue State.

    After his private session with President Buhari, Abubakar accused the electoral umpire of introducing an “unknown procedure” to the laws of the land during the March 9 governorship and state Assembly elections.

    He told State House reporters: “I briefed him on the issues surrounding the inconclusive elections. The Returning Officer for Bauchi State, at the end of collation, rejected the result of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area and then 36 other units spread across 15 local government areas of the state and ordered a rerun.

    “Surprisingly, we woke up one morning and the independent electoral commission came up with a procedure that is not known to law.

    “Because, where a Returning Officer has declared the result, only an election petition tribunal can reverse the result. But INEC is attempting to reverse itself in the case of Bauchi. And when one juxtaposes that of Bauchi and other states with inconclusive elections, one wonders why that is happening only in Bauchi State.

    “So, for that reason, there is a need for me to come and brief Mr. President because that has the potential of touching on the security of the state and it is paramount we …”

    “Of course, it is definitely extra illegal. It is a straight forward matter. The returning officer is the final arbiter even with respect to scores and declaration of result.

    “And once he makes a declaration, no power can reverse that declaration, except duly constituted court of the land.”

    On what he expects the President to do over the matter knowing that INEC is independent, the governor said: “No, no, no… I said I came to brief Mr. President. I am not seeking any action of Mr. President. We all know Mr. President. He’s a stickler for procedure.

    “What I pointedly told him was that I am not here to seek for you to intervene on our behalf sir, but to brief you on what is happening and what actions I have taken.”

    On the actions so far taken, Abubakar said: “I am a lawyer and I am pursuing the legal angle. I briefed him and he emphasised on that legal angle – that it is the best way to go.”

    On security, Abubakar said: “We are on top of the situation, thank God. We have since ordered the ban on procession in the metropolis and things are very calm.”

    He said that his visit to President Buhari yesterday was not because a similar visit he made to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo last week was unfruitful.

    ”There are procedures in these matters and levels of authority. I am a stickler for procedure, I started at the right place and I have also ended up at the right place,” the governor said.

    The Kano Concerned Citizens Initiative (KCCI) yesterday said that the group of elders would not fold their arms and allow anybody to push the state into chaos in a bid to lead the people.

    The group’s Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Tofa, with other eminent members, bared their minds on the unfolding political developments in the state.

    They said that the elders will do everything possible to protect Kano and never allow the state to burn on account of “inordinate” ambition of an individual.

    Tofa, a former presidential candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), said: “The KCCI is disturbed, anxious, concerned and troubled by the seeming discord and agitated impatience manifesting in Kano since the collation of the March 9 election results which culminated in INEC declaring the process inconclusive.”

    He called on political leaders to refrain from unguarded utterances capable of inflaming passion, which could trigger violence.

    Tofa said: “It is incumbent upon political leaders to strictly obey the rules of engagement and the law by admonishing their members, operatives and followers to be mindful of the full wrath of the law this time around.”

    Open monitory and other unlawful inducements must never be condoned during the rerun elections.”

    Tofa urged security operatives to be on the alert from now until the declaration of the results and after.

    He also advised that sufficient personnel be posted to each of the polling units scattered over the 88 registration areas (wards) in the 30 affected local government areas.

    He said: “Security operatives must be seen to be upright and above board and completely non-partisan. They have done well during the previous elections but the rerun exercise may yet prove to be more arduous and daunting.

    “It also becomes imperative to take such security measures as would prevent people from neighbouring states, who are non-residents of the state, from coming in to partake in the March 23re rerun elections to forestall unnecessary tension or violence.

    “The youths need to wake up to the reality that it is their future the KCCI and every well-meaning person in Kano is trying to nurture and secure. Thus, they should eschew and stay away from violence in cahoots with anybody as we cannot afford to let the polity overheat.

    “We call on every segment of Kano society to do everything in our power to avoid heating the polity. This is the time for us to turn to Allah in prayers, because we must realise that political chaos will lead to violence, thuggery, mayhem and unnecessary loss of lives and property. Peace is the only recipe to healthy and positive development.”

    INEC’s decision on Bauchi sparks row

    The Body of Bauchi Lawyers of Conscience (BOBOLAC) hailed the decision.

    It members said: “We consider INEC’s decision as the best and most proper thing to do under the prevailing circumstances.”

    The convener of the group, Shipi Rabo, said INEC acted in accordance with the dictates of the law and in the greater interest of all.

    Shipi called on all political actors to demonstrate the understanding necessary for INEC to successfully conclude the process and formally announce the winner so that the waiting game characterised by tension and rumours would be over.

    But the Concerned Citizens of Tafawa Balewa kicked against INEC’s decision, saying: “It is ultra vires and contrary to law and therefore illegal with no regards to the provision of Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and INEC guidelines for 2019 general elections.”

    According to the group, the INEC has no power to reverse any decision taken by a Returning Officer concerning election results from the collation centre.

    Its Caretaker Chairman, Salihu Barau, said the law provides that such a decision can only be reversed by a court of law or a tribunal and not the Commission for whatever reason.

    Barau said: “There is no certainty on the genuineness of the allegedly generated results. Thus, we have lost confidence in INEC as it is apparent there would be no justice in the whole exercise.”

    A fact-finding panel was raised by the INEC to investigate the circumstances that led to the cancellation of results for the Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area and following the findings of the committee, INEC had approved the resumption and conclusion of the collation of results for Tafawa Balewa.

    The commission also directed that the error in total number of cancelled votes in four polling units in Ningi Local Government Area, which was recorded as 25,330, in form EC40G (i) be corrected to 2,533.

    INEC would not join issues over Bauchi

    INEC said that it would not join issues with Abubakar over the commission’s decision to resume collation of election results.

    The commission said it would rather wait for the judicial process to take its full course.

    INEC National Commissioner in charge of Voter Education, Festus Okoye, said it would be better not to comment on the issue.

    Okoye said: “Since the matter is already in court, it is better to allow the judicial process run it’s full course.”

    “I would not want to say anything that would amount to pre-empt the court,” he added.

    He also noted that it would not be the best to discuss the issue on the pages of newspapers.

    Benue APC, PDP clash

    In Makurdi, the PDP clashed with the rival APC over which party is best positioned to win Saturday’s supplementary poll.

    Reacting to a comment by the PDP that the rival party lacked what it takes to win the makeup election, the APC fired back that the PDP erred by assuming it can decide who will win.

    At a news conference yesterday, PDP chairman in Benue, Chief John Ngbede said that the results of the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly Elections showed the PDP as the leading party in the Northcentral state.

    According to Ngbede, the PDP won the Presidential vote by 10, 000 votes, won all the three Senatorial seats and six out of the nine House of Representatives seats so far declared out of the total of eleven federal constituencies, adding that the APC only won one.

    But the APC fired back through its Publicity Secretary James Ornguga. He said the PDP was not qualified to decide who will win the rescheduled election.

    Ornguga reminded that PDP to stop heating up the polity ahead of the poll.

    Ngbede also took exception to comments credited to APC leader in the state Senator George Akume, saying such remarks could undermine the process.

    The PDP chair alleged that Akume has assured APC leaders that the APC candidate, Emmanuel Jime would be declared winner.

    He said that Senator Akume told the APC leaders that he had the support of the Presidency and national leadership of the ruling party to influence Jime’s victory.

    Senator Akume, however, described the PDP claim as untrue.

    He accused the ruling party of preparing the ground to scuttle the rescheduled poll so that the INEC would be forced to fall back on the election earlier discussed as inconclusive.

    Akume said: “They (PDP) don’t want a rerun. They are doing everything to frustrate the process. They want to cause confusion, believing that in the event of confusion, the PDP will be declared winner.”

    According to the senator, the ruling party manipulated the February 23 and March 9 elections.

    “They (PDP) rigged the Presidential and governiorship elections in the state”, he said.

    Also reacting, APC Administrative Secretary Mark Hanmation described the PDP allegations as baseless, saying that the APC has its eye set on victory on Saturday.

    Hanmation said: “The APC will win the rescheduled election on Saturday and would not want to be drag into unnecessary media war.”

    Lalong at the Villa

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong was also at the Villa yesterday – to brief the President on the political developments in his state.

    Lalong is preparing for a supplementary election on Saturday, following the declaration of the February 9 poll as inconclusive.

    His Bauchi State counterpart is heading for the court to challenge INEC’s decision to resume collation of results from the Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, after its initial decision to conduct a supplementary election.

    Lalong boasted that the supplementary election will be a walkover for him and the APC.

    Speaking with reporters after meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Lalong said that the renewed insecurity in the state was politically motivated.

    He also said that workers were interested in his victory to guarantee the prompt payment of their salaries.

    On his mission to the Villa, Lalong said: “My meeting with the President is the usual briefing. I call it usual because of my passion for peace in the state. It is not about the election; it is about the peace, to ensure we have a very peaceful election.

    “So far so good; we have had very good and peaceful elections. We are coming back for a supplementary election. I will like INEC to conduct a peaceful election and so we will like the security apparatus to be on ground in the state. That was my briefing to Mr. President.”

    He said that he was not in panic ahead of the election on Saturday.

    “How can I be when all the votes that were cancelled were my votes?” he queried.

    The governor went on: “These were areas that I won. There was no need for cancellation but then, as a lawyer, I still want to comply with the rules. I don’t want to be talking about infringing on the rules when the election, result is very clear.

    “They said the registered voters were 49,000 but that the votes were not up to 20,000 but people were still saying we need 49,000 and I was already on top with 45,000 votes. So, we are going to get the 49,000. How can you imagine that a sitting governor cannot get 3,000 votes out of 39,000 in an area that I have well dominated for a very long time?

    “So, for me, election is as good as concluded in Plateau State. I see it as an opportunity for people whose votes were cancelled, for them to vote. People came and said their votes were cancelled; it is for them to go back and vote and ensure their vote counts this time around.

    “That is why I support that we go back and conduct the elections. If they (INEC) like, let them conduct the elections more than once, we will soon win.”

    The most recent attack on the Plateau, the said:  “That was why I said I was concerned about security. Usually, it starts like that, they start rustling and killing cattle and the next thing you will hear is that it is farmers/herders crisis. I know that I have addressed that issue for a very long time and the police is handling the security.

    “So, I informed Mr. President that we are on top of the situation because we wouldn’t want that to escalate into farmers, herdsmen crisis. It is not farmers, herdsmen crisis; it is criminals trying to foment trouble after losing elections.”

    Asked if he suspected any political undertone in the crisis, Lalong said: “Very well. I always say it has political undertone, why is it happening immediately after elections? It usually happens immediately before or after elections, why is it like that? It has some political connotation.”

    The governor said that people in the state were happy with his administration because there will be completion of projects and initiation of new projects.

    He said: “The civil servants have been crying that if I lose the election, that means they will be owed salaries again.

    “So, we want to continue with payment of salaries, gratuities, completion of projects that were started before I came and the ones I have initiated. That is the next level in Plateau State.”

    Dalok advises Plateau electorate

    The running mate to Plateau PDP Governorship candidate, Dr James Dalok,  yesterday advised the people of Plateau to come out en-masse to exercise their mandate.

    Dalok gave the advice in an interview with the the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos.

    “Next Saturday’s supplementary election by INEC is an ample opportunity for the indigenes of Plateau to reclaim their mandate from the APC government in the last Governorship Election.

    “We all know that there were some shenanigans that attributed to the APC taking the lead during the governorship polls, we all have to rise and resist it as electorate and stakeholders in the state.

    “PDP is known for its rescue mission on the Plateau but the enemies of the state seemed bent on pulling us down the more and that we must vehemently resist.

    “It’s left for all patriotic Plateau indigenes to come out and vote PDP in the various polling units where supplementary elections will hold across the state,’’ he said.

    Dalok, a former Assistant Director at the Industrial Training Fund, described the heavy presence of security operatives in some polling units across the state during the general elections as a “grand design’’  to rob PDP of victory.

    According to him, “this is the more reason why as Plateau people, we must make a statement that no one can force him or her-self on us.’’

    He specifically called on the people of Shendam, Langtang South, Mangu, Barkin Ladi and Jos North Local Government Areas to vote and protect their votes during Saturday’s supplementary elections.

  • INEC has done justice to Tafawa Balewa result – PDP

    The Bauchi State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has hailed   the decision of  the independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to resume collation of result for Tafawa Balewa Local government , which hitherto was cancelled .

    The state chairman of the party, Alhaji Hamza Koshe Akuyam in an  interview with the Nation  said  INEC has been fair in it’s decision after a fact finding committee was set up to investigate the events that led to the cancellation.

    In his words ” INEC  have done justice. We cried foul and they set up a committee to investigate and the committee has done justice. To us,  we still have confidence in INEC.

    “We have been  waiting for justice to be done . finally it has come.
    As we told you from the beginning,  our party has already won this election. And God so kind, to us INEC and to me or to our party,  has done what is right”

    Akuyam also expressed optimism that  the People’s Democratic Party, PDP gubernatorial candidate will  win the election considering the latest development.

    “So, we are all prepared for whatever, and we know that victory is with us Insha Allah”

    “We will now go back to our arithmetic and see what will happen. But let’s assume that there is going to be a rerun, we are already in the lead with about 14,000 votes. So, we are prepared”

    ” We still have upper hand  in the contest even if there later happens to be a re-run,  because, before what the returning officer said was 45,000 votes, now it is coming down to 22,000 votes which is fair as 22,550 votes that were added on the initial figure” He added further

    The PDP ,  however, accused the  Commissioner  of Police and the Director state security, SSS, of being partisan during the entire process . “We don’t have confidence in the Commissioner of police, we done have confidence in the Director SSS.  who have compromised in all these issues” He added.

    In the same vein, a group known as Bauchi Forum of Lawyers with Conscience, BOBALAC, has also commended INEC decision. The convener of the group, Esq. Shipi Rabo Esq,  said  “It is a fair judgement, we can’t query INEC”

    It would be recall that INEC had announced the decision in a press statement on Friday night after resolving some issues around the result of Tafawa Balewa local government and some polling units in Ningi local government.

    The result for Tafawa Balewa LGA , a strong hold of the PDP was initially cancelled after the  Collation Officer,Mrs Dominion Anosike alleged she was  under pressure from Party Agents who could not wait for the arrival of a replacement result sheet, and decided to collate the result on an available RA result sheet instead of the replacement LGA result sheet.

    The Returning Officer, Mohammed Kyari, had  rejected the regenerated result because it was on a wrong result sheet during her presentation at the State Governorship Collation Centre which led to the declaration of the election as inconclusive.

  • INEC resumes collation of Bauchi guber election results

    The Independent National Electoral Commission has decided to resume from Tuesday, the collation of the governorship election result in Bauchi State and may declare the winner of the poll, hitherto ruled as inconclusive.

    The commission announced the decision in a press statement on Friday night after resolving some issues around the result of Tafawa Balewa local government and some polling units in Ningi local government.

    INEC did not state whether by the decision, the scheduled supplementary election on 23 March has been cancelled.

    According to INEC, the number of cancelled votes in four polling units in Ningi Local Government was 2,533 and not 25,330 as recorded.

    On Tafawa Balewa Local Government election result, where collation was disrupted by armed gangs, affecting 7 out of 11 registration areas for governorship and 6 out of 11 for state assembly elections, INEC said a committee set up, has found that the results in polling units and registration areas are “available and in safe custody”.

    INEC thus decided to resume the resumption and conclusion of the collation of results of the council area for both the governorship and state assembly elections

    A new collation and returning officer for Tafawa Balewa has been appointed “to continue and conclude the collation process in place of the original collation officer, who withdrew from the exercise citing threats to her life and those of her family members”. The threatened collation officer was Dominion Anosike.

    The governorship election in Bauchi state is a straight fight between incumbent Mohammed Abubakar of the All Progressives Congress and former minister, Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    Bala was said to have won the Tafawa Balewa Local government election, putting him in an overall lead of his APC counterpart, but the INEC returning officer, Professor Mohammed Kyari, declared the election inconclusive.

    In declaring the election inconclusive, Kyari, gave the scores of incumbent governor as 465,453 votes and Bala Mohammed of PDP as 469,512 votes.

    “The margin between the winner and opponent is less than the total number of votes cancelled in some polling units.By law, since the margin of winner is less than the total number of votes cancelled and registered voters in the areas where the votes have been cancelled, this elections is hereby declared inconclusive,” he said.

    He said his decision was in line with section 26 part 53 of the Electoral Act.

    NAN

  • APC, PDP take INEC to task

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday alleged moves to tamper with the results of last weekend’s governorship election in Bauchi State and warned of dire consequences if the ‘plan’ is not halted.

    The State Police imposed a ban on political rallies in the state as tension heightened over the outcome of the elections.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) plans to hold supplementary elections next Saturday in parts of Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Plateau and Sokoto States to complete the governorship election process in the states.

    Representatives of the two parties in some of the affected states are claiming victory and want INEC to declare their candidates as winners, immediately.

    The PDP in a statement in Abuja alleged that INEC officials were making attempts to tamper with and further cancel already tallied and declared results in 14 more local governments in the Bauchi Governorship election.

    It said the plan was to  “widen the scope of result cancellation beyond Tafawa Balewa to 14 more Local Government Areas and hike the number of canceled votes from 70,000 to 184, 555.” It added:”to achieve this, INEC has been instructed by the APC to cancel already declared results in 230 polling units in 15 LGAs in the state, cause confusion and pave the way for the APC to manipulate the March 23 Supplementary elections.

    “Seeing that our party, the PDP, and our candidate, Senator Bala Mohammed, are inevitably coasting to victory, being that Tafawa Balewa is home to the PDP, the APC is instructing INEC to cancel elections in more local governments where it plans to manipulate the processes and allocate fictitious results for the APC at the March 23 polls.

    “The PDP therefore urges the INEC fact-finding committee headed by a National Commissioner to be guided by the extant rules as established in court rulings that the polling units is a base of our elections and that once declaration has been made at the polling units and return of votes established, INEC no longer has powers to influence the results from such polling units.”

    Police ban rallies in Bauchi

    The Bauchi State Police command said yesterday that it decided to ban political rallies because of the violence that broke out in parts of the metropolis during a protest over the planned supplementary election.

    It said: “Sequel to the declaration of Bauchi State Gubernatorial Election held on 09/03/2019 as inconclusive by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and subsequent scheduling of rerun election on 23/03/2019 in some parts of the State,the Bauchi State Police Command calls on the good people of the State to remain calm and avoid any act capable of causing breakdown of law and order at this critical time.

    “With regards to some reported cases of attacks on innocent members of the public by suspected Sara-Suka thugs which most times emanated from political rallies in Bauchi metropolis, the Command wishes to assure the members of the public that, it is on top of the situation and is  taking necessary measures to deal with the menace once and for all”

    “Consequently, for the interest of peace and harmony, the Command has placed a total ban on all forms of rallies and procession in the State without its approval”

    “It is done in the best interest of peace loving people of the State and to ensure that, the relative peace and security in the State is sustained” it assures.

    The re-run will be held in 20 polling units spread across nine local government areas of Plateau State.

    But the state publicity secretary of PDP, Mr. John Akans said the party has already  “set up a committee to work out modalities for our victory. We have strong hope we will come up victorious no matter the desperation of the ruling APC and their federal might.”

    The state Commissioner for Information and Communication Yakubu Dati disputed Akans claim.

    He said: “Governor Simon Bako Lalong  (who is seeking re-election on the platform of the APC) should have been declared winner of the election having polled the highest number of votes in the elections and having met the constitutional requirement of scoring 2/3rd in 2/3rd of the 17  local government areas of the state. But the INEC had to play by the rules.

    “The March 23 supplementary election is needless because unlike other states where elections were declared inconclusive, in the case of Plateau, a winner had already emerged and he is no other person than the incumbent governor, Simon Bako Lalong. Governor Lalong, who is the APC candidate scored 583, 255 votes in the election while the PDP candidate, Jeremiah Useni polled 538, 326 votes. This places the margin of votes between the two leading candidates at 44, 929. The number of voters in the areas affected, however, stand at 49, 377.

    “INEC in its explanation said it acted on the basis that the total margin of votes between the APC and PDP candidates is lower than the 49,000 registered voters in the affected areas hence cannot make a conclusive pronouncement.

    But even a casual observer would see why conducting supplementary election is outrightly unnecessary.

    “As it is, Governor Lalong is in clear lead. He is leading unlike in other states with few number of votes,  he is leading with a clear 44, 929 votes.

    “In saner climes, the ability of the candidate to exert such a significant lead ahead of his opponent would be saluted and the opponent  would long have conceded victory, but even with the reality staring the populace in the face, a guise of a contest is being scheduled.”

    PDP, APC boast over Kano

    The PDP chairman in Kano State, Alhaji Rabi’u Suleiman Bichi said the party was ” always ever prepared to win “the election.

    “We are more than ready, especially as we have won the election conducted on the 9th of March. We are happy that the security agents have ensured security of lives and property of everybody by protecting the electorate,” he told The Nation.”

    “We have already won the election. The only thing left for us now is to consolidate on the areas where the rerun will be held. We have no fear as we are battle ready for the rerun.”

    The state Commissioner of Information, Youth and Culture, who doubles as the Chairman, Publicity Committee of the Kano APC Campaign Organization, Malam Muhammad Garba dismissed PDP’s position as wishful thinking.

    He said: “we are very confident of victory because the local government areas where the rerun will take place remains an APC stronghold and the electorate in these areas have made up their mind to vote massively for the Governor they trust.

    “I believe that from what is happening, we are very much prepared this time around; and as such, there is no cause for alarm because we have been able to identify some grey areas in the conduct of the inconclusive election, and we have taken cogent measures to ensure that by God’s grace, we will win the election.”

     

    Declare Jime winner now APC elders call on INEC

    The Elders Council of the APC in Benue state asked INEC  to declare the party’s governorship candidate,Mr. Emmanuel Jime as winner of last weekend’s election.

    The elders council said it had been informed of plans by anti APC elements   to disrupt  the supplementary election  in  the party’s  strongholds.

    Addressing reporters  in Makurdi, spokesman for the  APC Elders Council, Chief Terlumun Akputu, asked INEC  to cancel votes in  in Guma , Buruku and Logo areas of the state where,according to him,card readers were not used on March 9.

    He added: “There is nowhere in Nigeria where the APC recorded zero votes except in Guma Local Area Government area despite having candidates and agents who he said were chased out of the polling units.”

     

    Parties busy with strategy meetings

    Ranking members of the two parties in Sokoto State have been holding meetings upon meetings to emerge victorious  next Saturday.

    Stalwarts of the PDP were summoned for one of such  meetings  at the Government House, Sokoto yesterday.

    The State Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma, said: ” We are going by the electoral umpire’s arrangement to participate in the coming supplementary polls across 136 polling centres across 22 local governments.

    “Wwe have no fears whatsoever. Only that certain things are going wrong which is making the atmosphere a bit uncertain. We are hearing that the opposition is mobilising stalwarts from other states.

    “Our concern is that there should be transparency in the conduct of the rerun. I can assure you that the process is credible and transparent, PDP will win. Otherwise, we won’t accept it. Especially where we notice foul play”, Milgoma pointed out.

    His APC counterpart, Alhaji Sadiq Isah Achida, said  his party was equally set for the supplementary election.

    He said:”Those cancelled polling units are our strong holds. We want fresh sets of INEC officials for the rerun. We have the belief and conviction that those that conducted the last elections had been compromised.

    “Kebbe local government is our traditional strong hold where supplementary polls will be conducted in  35 polling units.”

    Achida ,after speaking to The Nation left for Sokoto east where the party expects huge votes from   Gada, Rabah and  Goronyo among others to woo the electorate.

     

    Court injunction threatens Adamawa supplementary election

    The situation in Adamawa State is not all that clear following a court injunction restraining INEC from conducting the supplementary election.

    An Adamawa State  High Court judge, Justice Abdul-Aziz Waziri, gave  the ruling in a suit filed by the governorship candidate of the Movement for Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD), Rev Eric Theman.

    An Adamawa State  High Court judge, Justice Abdul-Aziz Waziri, gave  the ruling in a suit filed by the governorship candidate of the Movement for Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD), Rev Eric Theman.

    The judge said, “The defendant herein, INEC, is restrained … from proceeding with the supplementary election in respect of Adamawa State governorship pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

    While the APC says the court action is in order the PDP is of the view that it is a non- issue.

    The state secretary of the APC, Mr. Wafarninyi Theman, said: “From what I have seen, the complainant has a genuine case, except INEC comes out to tell us that this party was not cleared for the election. But it’s a legitimate party and it had a legitimate candidate to contest in the election. And if they didn’t find the logo of their party on the ballot paper, it means they were deprived of the chance to be voted for. So, I think INEC should have admitted in the first place that they made a mistake. However, we are waiting for the response of INEC.”

    On his part, the state chairman of the PDP, Mr. Tahir Shehu said, “We do know that by the provisions of the Electoral Act, no court of law can stop the process of election. So the purported order is invalid. INEC is not bound to comply with it… The law says no court can stop either primary, general or supplementary election. Notwithstanding, we are taking steps to get that order set aside.”

  • Supplementary poll: Police ban political rallies in Bauchi

    The Bauchi State Police command has banned all forms of rallies and procession following the violence that broke out in some parts of the metropolis during a protest after the governorship election was declared inconclusive.

    The command however stated that any form of political rally must be with its approval.

    It called on residents to remain calm and avoid any act capable of causing breakdown of law and order at this critical time.

    The Command PPRO, DSP Kamal Datti Abubakar, in a statement explained the reported cases of attacks on innocent members of the public by suspected Sara-Suka thugs, which most times emanated from political rallies in Bauchi metropolis, informed the ban.

    According to him: “Sequel to the declaration of Bauchi State Gubernatorial Election held on 09/03/2019 as inconclusive by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and subsequent scheduling of rerun election on 23/03/2019 in some parts of the State.

    Read Also: Police arrest nine suspected political thugs in Bauchi

    “The Bauchi State Police Command calls on the good people of the State to remain calm and avoid any act capable of causing breakdown of law and order at this critical time.

    “Meanwhile, with regards to some reported cases of attacks on innocent members of the public by suspected Sara-Suka thugs which most times emanated from political rallies in Bauchi metropolis, the Command wishes to assure the members of the public that, it is on top of the situation and is taking necessary measures to deal with the menace once and for all”

    “Consequently, for the interest of peace and harmony, the Command has placed a total ban on all forms of rallies and procession in the State without its approval.”

    The Command also assured it is on top of the situation and taking necessary measures to deal with the menace once and for, appealing for cooperation and understanding of the members of the public.