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Tag: BUHARI

  • 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.

  • We’ll support Buhari on credible polls, says Ortom

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has given assurances of support for steps being taken by President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure free and fair elections.

    The governor however kicked against the President’s directive to the military and police to ruthlessly deal with would-be ballot box snatchers.

    He said obeying such directive could amount to perpetrating extra-judicial killings.

    Obeying such directive, the Governor cautioned, could attract prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

    He urged the military to stick to the rules of engagement during the conduct of the elections.

    Ortom, who spoke to newsmen in Abuja Tuesday, said, while he would not condone election rigging, due process must be followed in dealing with those that may be found breaking the law.

    The governor said: “It is unfortunate that Nigeria is gradually drifting to a banana republic where the rule of law is not respected and observed.

    “A government that was elected democratically is gradually turning into a dictatorship. It is unfortunate for our own President to come out and disregard the provisions of the laws of the land and give orders for extra-judicial killings in the state and torture against innocent Nigerians.

    “Let me say unequivocally that I am completely against the rigging of any form by any political party. It is wrong and we do not need that.

    “For me, I did not rig election to become governor. But the truth of the matter is that we have laws. And I expect that Mr. President who is the chief custodian of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, should protect our constitution and the laws of the land. It is unfortunate that Mr President gave that order.

    “I was just reading from the social media the reaction of the military that they are going to obey the directives of Mr President to the letter. It is unfortunate. This cannot stand, this cannot hold.”

    He added: “I want to advise those who are in the military, police and the other security agencies that they should know that they are also Nigerians.

    “Today, they are serving the public; tomorrow they will not be there. Maybe some of them will become politicians like some of us are.

    “It has happened in the past and it will happen again. And I also want to remind them that the day of reckoning will definitely come when they will be alone to give account of their stewardship.

    “So, I want to advise them to respect the rules of engagement based on the laws of the land. No matter the directives of Mr President. The police, army, DSS and all other security agencies should be professional rather than taking arbitrary directives. This is not correct. In a democratic set up, things must be done rightly”.

  • Food vendors declare support for Buhari/Osinbajo

    No fewer than three thousand food vendors in Oyo state under the Federal Government Home Grown School Feeding Programme embarked on a peaceful work around Ibadan, the Oyo state capital city to declare their support for the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    The said the peaceful walk became imperative to show solidarity for the president on the heels of the postponement of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The food vendors who prepares meal for the school children from across the 33 local governments areas of the state said the school feeding initiative has not only helped them for means of livelihood as parents, it has also helped improve school attendance by school-age children in the state.

    The vendors, mostly women also commended the All Progressive Congress (APC) led initiative as time-saving for farmers across the various sectors as the feeding programme has been helping to mop up farm produce that used to be in excess and discouragement to farmers.

    Speaking at Oke-Ado were the vendors converge before hitting the street, the Oyo state coordinator, Mrs Ajobo Toyosi said they decided to endorse and declare support for Muhammadu Buhari because of the impact the Home Grown School Feeding Programme is having on their lives as well as on the children in promoting good education.

    She also thanked the Oyo state governor, Abiola Ajimobi for agreeing to let the state be used as a pilot for the scheme.

    Ajobo said, “We want to thank President Muhammadu Buhari that we are so grateful and we wish him good health. We the food vendors in Oyo state are so grateful for his kind gestures.

    “As parents, we got the job to take care of our families and it is also good for our children from Primary 1 to 3, the school children numbers are increasing and they all happy staying in school as they eat free food.

    “With all these, we are sure that President Muhammadu Buhari wants to increase and progress for all Nigerians. With this food, children come to school early and even stay in school and we are grateful, as parents and as the ones preparing the food for them.

    “We the food vendors in Oyo state decided to use this rally to declare our support for PMB for his second term bid because we believed in him.

    “We have over 3,000 vendors who are participating in the rally so that the whole world will know that we are solidly behind this government and President Buhari who has helped us to stabilize our lives.

    “Agriculture is improving. Before now, when farmers in the farm make their product the excess that they don’t sell ends up as waste which often discourages them from farming. But when the FG started the initiative, farming has gone to another level and all farm produce are now in abundance and selling fast.

    “We patronize the farmers and poultry producers who are always happy for creating the market to help mop up their farm produce. We are grateful to PMB for the efforts. We also want to thank Governor Abiola Ajimobi for allowing the state to be part of the first batch to accept the programme. We are really grateful because we are better for it.

    Also, the state financial secretary of the group, Mrs. Bola Ajagbe, expressed happiness that despite not been a politician or card-carrying member of any party, she was shortlisted to be a beneficiary of the scheme.

    She noted that the transparent and non-partisan nature of the selection of the vendors makes the initiative a truly national project in the interest of developing the people and the country as a whole.

  • Court fixes March 7 for Buhari, Atiku libel battle

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has fixed March 7 for hearing in a libel suit by the Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO) against Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    Justice Binta Muhammed adjourned after the plaintiff’s counsel, Abdulrazaq Ahmed, sought time to reply to fresh processes served on him by Atiku’s lawyer, Ms Deborah Iniye Warrie.

    The plaintiff claimed that Atiku defamed President Muhammadu Buhari and his family when he (Atiku) allegedly stated that the President and his family own substantial shares in 9mobile and Keystone Bank.

    Before Justice Mohammed adjourned the case, Ahmed told the court that the defendants’ lawyer just served him with statement of defence, counter claim and a motion, seeking to strike out the suit on the grounds that the president’s support group is not a juristic person, having not been registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

    Ahmed said: “In line with Order 18, Rules 1 & 2 of the High Court, BCO is entitled to seven days within which to reply the defendants’ counter claims.”

    Warrie did not object to Ahmed’s request, following which the judge adjourned for hearing.

    The plaintiff, in its witness statement on oath made by its Director of Communication and Strategic Planning, Mallam Gidado Ibrahim, stated that, in a statement issued in Abuja last month by Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, it was alleged that the first family had acquired shares in Keystone Bank with total assets of $1.916 billion (equivalent to N307.5 billion) as well as buying about three billion worth of shares in the new Pakistani Islamic Bank.

    It argued that Atiku and his media aide allegedly engaged in smear campaign of calumny against the President and his family “by wilfully allowing and sponsoring the said purported defamatory and image-damaging statements made by the first defendant (Shaibu) to be published by some newspapers to members of the public”.

    The plaintiff wants the court to order Atiku and his party to pay N40million damages for alleged libel.

    It also wants the court to declare that “the first defendant (Phrank Shaibu) on behalf and for the 2nd defendant (Atiku) neglectfully, unlawfully and recklessly permitted and caused to be published in newspapers defamatory and damaging statements against the 1st plaintiff (President Buhari).”

    Atiku, in a18-paragraph statement of defence, argued that the suit is not properly constituted. He contended that what his aide said was in no way defamatory against Buhari, since it was a matter of public interest.

    Atiku, in a 53-paragraph counter-claim signed by his lawyers, led by Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume (SAN), is claiming N200 billion damages for killings that have occurred across the country, alleged caused by insurgents, high tension, democratic instability and lopsided appointments allegedly made by the President.

     

     

  • Buhari, Atiku: who will Nigerians choose?

    As Nigerians go to poll on Saturday, it appears the choice is between the presidential candidates of the two dominant parties, President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). LEKE SALAUDEEN look at the antecedents of the two candidates.

    Nigerians with Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will file out on Saturday to elect a new president, who will direct the affairs of the country for another four years. Although 71 candidates are jostling for the highest office in the land, the race has been narrowed down to two main contenders. They are President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar , the standard flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDPP).  Both of them represent the two dominant parties in the country.

    What is unique about the two candidates is that both of them are from the north. They are Fulanis and Muslims. Buhari is a retired military officer while Atiku also retired from Nigeria Customs Service.

    During his military career, Buhari had been Governor of the old North East which had been   broken into Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Taraba and Gombe States. He was also a minister for petroleum. In 1983, Buhari and the late Major General Tunde Idiagbon were selected to lead the country by middle and high- ranking military officers after a successful military coup that overthrew the civilian administration headed by Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

    There was no religious crisis during his tenure. Despite the fact that people have often regarded him as a religious fanatic, he has proved not to be one. For instance, he exempted Christian military personnel from performing duties on Sundays. When he was asked to exempt Muslims from duties on Fridays, he replied saying the Bible says Christians should rest on the seventh day and asked Muslims to show him where the Qur’an says they should rest on Fridays.

    Buhari, as military Head of State, fought against corruption relentlessly by initiating a campaign called War Against Indiscipline. He sentenced all corrupt governors and ministers under the Shagari administration to jail. This, however, affected some innocent ones who found their names linked with corruption, but were later discharged and acquitted by the court. The most significant part was that Shagari and his vice Alex Ekwueme were locked up while they were been investigated.

    As a politician, Buhari unsuccessfully ran for the office of the President in 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections. He had lost hope of winning election. But, luck smiled on him when the APC gave him the presidential ticket in 2015. He won the election by more than 2.5million votes. The incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat before the results from all 36 states had been announced. The election marked the first time an incumbent president was defeated in Nigeria.

    While serving as Chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), Buhari refused to collect allowance. His reason was that his inner mind couldn’t let him as he is already drawing pension from the government. He remains a “folk hero “ to some for his vocal opposition to corruption

    He supervised the establishment of the existing refineries. He built and operated two petrochemical refinery during his short stay in power.

    Born on December 17, 1942 in Daura, Katsina State, Buhari was raised by his mother following the death of his father when he was only four years. He began his military bjourney at the age of 19 when joined the Nigerian Military Training College (NMTC) which was later renamed the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).

    Atiku came into political lime light in 1998 when he was elected Governor of Adamawa State. While still Governor-Elect, he was selected by former President Olusegun Obasanjo as his running mate. The duo won the election in February 1999 and Atiku was sworn- in as Nigeria’s second democratically elected vice president on May 29, 1999.

    His second term as Vice President was marked by a stormy relationship with President Obasanjo. His bid to succeed his principal was rebuffed. It took a judgment of the Supreme Court  to allow Atiku to contest in 2007 after he was initially disqualified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the grounds that he had been indicted for financial misconduct by an investigation panel set up at Obasnjo’s behest.

    The Supreme Court ordered INEC to  restore Atiku’s name onto the presidential ballot. He ran on the platform of the Action Congress Of Nigeria (ACN), having quit the PDP on account of his disagreement with Obasanjo. He lost the election placing third after Umaru Yar’Adua and Buhari.

    Atiku was banned from travelling to the United States for  corruption. He was implicated in an international bribery scandal along with William Jefferson and one of Atiku’s wives, Jennifer. In January 2017, the U.S. government in a statement said it would need the consent of Atiku before it can disclose the true state of his immigration status to the U.S.  Atiku had always claim that his visa was still being processed. However, in recent times,  Atiku in company of Senate President Bukola Saraki visited the U.S . with the aid of Brian Ballard.

    Atiku’s first foray into politics was in the early 1980s, when he worked behind the scenes on the governorship campaign of Bamanga Tukur, who at that time was the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority. He canvassed for votes on behalf of Tukur, and also donated  to the campaign.

    Towards the end of his Customs career, he met the late Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua who was second in command when Obasanjo was military Head of State. He was drawn by Yar’Adua into the political meetings that were held regularly in Yar’Adua’s Lagos home. In 1989, Atiku was elected National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Front of Nigeria (PFN), Yar’Adua’s political association. The PFN was denied registration by the Ibrahim Babangida administration. Atiku joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) one of the two parties decreed into existence by the regime.

    He had his first presidential run in 1992 when he contested for the SDP presidential ticket. Atiku came third in the primary won by M.K.O. Abiola of blessed memory.

    He won a seat to represent his constituency at the 1989 Constituent Assembly set up to decide a new Constitution for Nigeria.

    In 2006, Atiku was involved in a bitter tussle with his boss, Obasanjo, who wanted to amend certain provision of the Constitution to pave way for his third term in office. He said Obasanjo in an attempt to justify his third term bid told him that “I left power 20 years ago, I left Mubarak of Egypt in office; I left Mugabe in office; I left Eyadema in office; I left Umar Bongo and Paul Biya and I came back and they are still in power, and I just did eight years and you are asking me to go, why?” Atiku said he told Obasanjo that Nigeria is not Libya, Egypt, Cameroun and Togo. I said you must leave; even if it means both of us lose out , but you can’t stay.

  • PDP alleges plots by Buhari, APC to truncate democracy

    The People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ) has alleged plots by President Muhammadu Buhari and the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) to trigger widespread political crisis, aimed at derailing the democratic process and plunge the nation into anarchy.

    The opposition party particularly faulted the President’s directive to the security agencies to deal ruthlessly with any ballot box snatchers and others that may act in ways that could threaten the electoral process.

    A statement Monday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP viewed President Buhari’s directive as “threat to the lives of Nigerians”.

    The President had, during the APC caucus meeting held in Abuja Monday, said anyone caught snatching ballot boxes should consider the offence the very last they would ever commit.

    But the PDP said President Buhari’s statement was a direct call for jungle justice and attempt to divert public attention from details of APC’s caucus meeting where the President issued the warning.

    The statement said, “We do hope that this call by President Buhari is not a camouflage for the fake soldiers mobilized by the APC to shoot at innocent Nigerians, snatch ballot boxes and execute their rigging plans on the election day. It is indeed a license to kill, which should not come from any leader of any civilized nation.

    “The underlining fact to the above is that President Buhari and APC leaders, upon getting to their voting constituencies last Saturday, realized that there is a nationwide rejection of Buhari’s re-election bid, and this has thrown them into a panic mode.

    “President Buhari must however bear in mind that his resort to threats and scaremongering will not deter Nigerians from coming out en-masse to vote him out of office on February 23.

    “We are aware that President Buhari, who had earlier boasted that nobody can ‘unseat’ him, is bent on using every dictatorial and tyrannical act to truncate the process of a free, fair and credible election”.

    The party also said intelligence available to it showed that the Buhari Presidency has directed the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reshuffle the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

    According to the PDP, the alleged deployment was to eagle INEC deploy “compromised” officials to manipulate the electoral process in President favour, adding, as they did with the police shortly before February 16.

    The said it’s also aware of the pressure allegedly being mounted by the Buhari Presidency on INEC to cancel elections in some states and make others inconclusive so as to achieve the President’s objectives of a staggered election not minding the crisis such will trigger across the federation.

    “We want Nigerians and the international community to hold President Buhari personally responsible for any electoral crisis, otherwise he will as usual, claim that he was not aware of the plots and transfer the blame to Adams Oshiomhole and Rotimi Amaechi.

    “It is already known that President Buhari has been unrelenting in his attempts to subdue our democracy by trying to subjugate the legislature, emasculate the judiciary and seize control of the electoral umpire.

    “Nevertheless, the PDP wants to assure President Buhari that our nation is bigger than him and that Nigerians will never allow him and the APC to rig this election.

    “Nigerians have reach an irreversible democratic consensus to vote Buhari out and elect the Peoples Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who is ready to rescue our nation from the hardship, anguish, agony and bloodletting which the Buhari administration has plunged us,” the statement added

  • Buhari didn’t order Nigerians to be shot summarily – Tinubu

    The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday said President Muhammadu Buhari never ordered security agencies to shoot Nigerians summarily.

    Speaking with journalists in Abuja at the end of the APC caucus meeting, he said the President was misinterpreted.

    He said that the President at the meeting only reinforced that those involved in ballot box snatching will be doing it at the risk of their lives.

    According to him: “I was in that meeting; the president was just reinforcing the fact that if you are out there snatching ballot boxes and causing destruction, you are at risk of your own life.

    “Whatever happens to you; No President will give an order that his own citizens should be shot summarily, No! No, its okay, emotions are running high these days. Any individual including myself can be misinterpreted.

    “These are not his words; he is a law abiding person and he understands categorically and clearly what rule of law is and the lives of individual citizens that he is in that office to protect.

    “Now, let me run this; he has been fighting Boko Haram, kidnappers and all these before this election. Did you hear him asking them to be shot and executed summarily?”

    On the resumption of campaigns by political parties, the former Lagos governor said: “By law we should continue to energise our people; it depends on our resources.

    “Because the Electoral Act allows us to do that and ask led us to stop campaigning only 24 hours before the actual election. And once you changed the date to Feb. 23, you have given us the opening to campaign and energise.

    “If you a garden and you don’t nourish with water, the grass will remain dormant; we don’t want our party to remain dormant.

    “This is ability of leadership to convert adversity to opportunity and prosperity and that’s it; that’s what we must do.”

    Asked if the postponement has cast doubt on the credibility of INEC, he said: “It depends on how it is handled and the process. How the process is managed; you can convert a crisis–a situation of adversity to an opportunity and progress.

    “The INEC, under the law, they are empowered to postpone, cancel and do whatever is necessary to ensure free and fair election. No party other the anger, the disappointment, no party can reverse that. So, we are ready for Feb. 23.”

  • Elections: APC UK wants INEC reviewed, reformed

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in the United Kingdom has called for review of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) operational model with a view to reforming it.

    The chapter made the call following INEC’s postponement of the general elections on Saturday.

    In a statement copied to the News Agency of Nigeria in Uyo on Monday, the Chairman of the APC in the United Kingdom, Dr Philip Idaewor, said that the postponement indicated a systemic exhaustion within INEC and necessitated review of its operational model and enabling laws.

    “This is with a view to radically reforming it and making it fit for purpose. This is because well organised free, fair and credible elections are important to the enthronement and sustenance of democracy.

    “The announcement by INEC to postpone the 2019 General Elections has come as a huge shock to us, especially given the timing of the announcement, when political parties had already deployed huge resources to the field for the elections.

    “We have carefully listened to all the explanations given by INEC as well as the reactions of our party’s leadership, our presidential campaign council, President Muhammadu Buhari and international observers.

    “We align ourselves with the position of our party leadership, our presidential campaign council and Mr President.

    Read Also: Buhari, Osinbajo, Tinubu, others meet in Abuja

    “We are saddened that INEC leadership did not deem it necessary to brief Nigerians on a regular basis when it realised the difficulties it listed as reasons for this postponement.

    “We note that the decision by INEC falls well below the expectations for a seamless performance, given that INEC has conducted similar elections since 1999 when this fourth republic started, with opportunities for extensive field experiences and organisational discipline that would have ensured operational options even in unforeseen circumstances.

    “Moreover, INEC leadership presented the needed budget for this elections, with evidence showing that all of INEC’s requests were fully met to ensure successful implementation of this election cycle,” he said.

    Ideawor said that INEC should tell Nigerians why elections could not hold in states which did not have the logistics problems it listed.

    “Why postpone the elections in the entire country? What happens now to those ballot papers and other election materials already distributed to local government areas around the country?

    “What is the cost of this postponement to our national purse? Where will money for another deployment come from? Who takes responsibility for this, and what is the consequence?” he asked.

    He, however, urged Nigerians to refrain from spreading messages capable of heating up the polity.

    “Nigeria needs peace to continue on the path of national reclamation started by the APC government led by President Muhammadu Buhari.”

  • Buhari: no plan to remove INEC Chairman Yakubu

    There is no plan to remove Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Mahmood Yakubu over the abrupt postponement of the general elections, the Presidency said yesterday.

    A leading politician has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari was planning to give Yakubu the push over last Saturday’s postponement of the elections.

    “It is not true,” a Presidency source said.

    The denial came amid claims that Prof. Yakubu has taken charge of logistics for the elections.

    Besides, The Nation learnt,  the electoral agency is to release details of the state-by-state collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, debunked the reports that Yakubu was to be removed.

    Shehu said: “Those reports are utterly baseless and false. There is nothing like that.

    “Whoever is saying the President is removing INEC chairman is just displaying his illiteracy. Let him go and read the constitution.

    “You need a resolution by two-thirds majority of the Senate for any such action.”

    The clarification by the Presidency came against the backdrop of the agitation by National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, and the alarm raised by the amorphous Coalition of United  Political Parties( CUPP) that President Muhammadu Buhari was plotting to remove the INEC chairman.”

    Another government source, who spoke in confidence, said: “What PDP National Chairman Secondus wanted was more of electoral anarchy, which this Buhari administration will not oblige him. Resignation or removal of INEC chairman is never contemplated by the President.

    “Buhari’s administration  will not change the rule in the middle of the game. Asking INEC chairman to quit will cause rumpus within INEC management , disrupt all preparations for the poll and create unrest nationwide.

    “The opposition has a hidden agenda, which this government will not buy into. We will also not play into their hands.The INEC chairman will remain in charge of the electoral agency.”

    Secondus said the “shoddy” arrangement for the elections by INEC was “a deliberate agenda” of President Buhari to cling on to power even when it’s obvious to him that Nigerians want him out.

    Secondus called on Yakubu to resign immediately.

    The PDP leader  warned that the party will not accept anything short of a well organised electoral process devoid of manipulation,   harassment and intimidation of voters and the opposition, particularly members of the PDP.

    Having failed in all their nefarious options to enable them cling on to power, the APC and the INEC came up with the idea of shifting  elections, an action that is dangerous to our democracy and unacceptable, Secondus said.

    Sections 157 and 158 of the 1999 Constitution prescribe conditions for the removal of the INEC chairman and National Commissioners as well as board members of nine other agencies.

    Section 157 says: “(1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, a person holding any of the offices to which this section applies may only be removed from that office by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that he be so removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or for misconduct.

    “(2) This section applies to the offices of the Chairman and members of the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Federal Civil Service Commission, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the National Judicial Council, the Federal Judicial Service Commission, the Federal Character Commission, the Nigeria Police Council, the National Population Commission, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission and the Police Service Commission.

    “(3) All members of the National Population Commission shall cease to be members if the President declares a National Census Report as unreliable and the report is rejected in accordance with Section 213 of this Constitution.”

    Section 158 (1) says: “In exercising its power to make appointments or to exercise disciplinary control over persons, the Code of Conduct Bureau, the National Judicial Council, the Federal Civil Service Commission, the Federal Judicial Service Commission, the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission, the Federal Character Commission, and the Independent National Electoral Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other authority or person.”

    A source, who spoke in confidence, told The Nation that “the INEC chairman had told his team of his plan to supervise the logistics for the elections”. He said from Monday, he will shift base to the airport to take stock and monitor the airlift of sensitive materials to all the states,” The source said, adding:

    “He has vowed not to leave any stone unturned. The latest plan is to ensure that all the 36 states and the FCT are ready for the first phase of the elections on or before Thursday. We want everything set in 8,809 Registration Areas, Wards and in 119, 973 Polling Units and 57,023 Voting Points nationwide so that accreditation can take off simultaneously on Saturday.

    “If the Central Bank of Nigeria or the Nigerian Air Force cannot cope with the airlift of materials, INEC has floated a Plan B to engage chartered aircraft. No stone will be left unturned.”

    Meanwhile, the electoral commission may release the statistics on collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards on state by state basis during the week.

    A National Commissioner said: “We will be as transparent as possible. During the week, we will release the statistics of PVCs’ collection per state. Also, each Resident Electoral Commissioner ( REC) will be mandated to make the breakdown of the PVCs available to the public on local government basis.

    “While it is true that over 84million eligible  voters registered, not all of them collected their PVCs. We want to give account of what was collected before the poll.”

    The CUPP on Saturday raised the alarm over an alleged plan by the President to suspend the INEC chair.

    It alleged that President Buhari was planning to replace Yakubu with Amina Zakari as Acting Chairman under the guise of INEC’s inability to conduct the presidential and National Assembly elections.

    According to CUPP, Buhari wanted to sack the INEC chair  for refusing to conduct staggered election.

    In a statement by its National spokesperson, Ikenga Ugochinyere, the CUPP alleged that the Buhari-led APC sabotaged INEC distribution of materials and turned back to condemn the electoral umpire.

    The coalition warned that the move to sack INEC chairman will throw Nigeria into full electoral and constitutional crisis.

    The statement reads: “The Coalition of United Political Parties is alerting the world of plan and decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to announce the suspension of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, from office.

    “The President has also pencilled down Amina Zakari for appointment as the Acting Chairman citing her experience as the oldest and most experienced National Commissioner of the Commission.

    “The President is planning to use the excuse of inability to hold election today (Saturday) as a reason for the imminent suspension.

    “Feigning ignorance of the real reasons behind the shift, the President in his earlier statement did not have just a word for the shameful and despicable actions of security forces and the central Bank staff who in obedience to Presidency directives deliberately sabotaged the distribution of sensitive materials in selected states.

    “We are aware that his hurried return to Abuja today (Saturday) from his home state, Katsina is to sack the INEC boss. But this should be resisted by all well-meaning Nigerians and the international community.

    “The sin of the INEC chairman is that he refused to conduct staggered elections that will allow the President and his men to manipulate the process.

    “The Presidency had mounted pressure on the Commission to conduct election today (Saturday) in states where there were no issues and postpone only the states with materials distribution issues. The INEC Chairman insisted on conducting the election at the same time, hence warranting the postponement of the entire election.

    “We hereby warn President Buhari that the position of the INEC chairman is independent, hence, he cannot be removed from office via suspension. The 1999 Constitution in Section 157(1) states that the Chairman and members of the Commission may only be removed by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate that the person be removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or for misconduct.”

  • Buhari, Osinbajo, others for APC caucus meeting

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) is hold an emergency national caucus meeting at the party’s national secretariat today, The Nation has learnt.

    The meeting is expected to be attended by President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, serving and former governors, members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and others.

    Although the agenda of the meeting scheduled to begin at 11a.m. is not known, it may not be unconnected with the preparations for the general elections.

    It was not immediately known why the caucus meeting, which usually hold at the Villa, was shifted to the National Secretariat.