The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Buhari’s re-election

  • ACPN congratulates Buhari, pushes for government of national unity

    The Allied Congress Party of Nigeria ( ACPN ) wants President Muhammadu Buhari to put in place a government of national unity that will bring on board stakeholders in the Nigerian project especially those who have something positive to offer the nation.

    The party also asked the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to accept defeat in the Presidential election and see the victory of President Buhari as the will of the Nigerian people or channel his grievances to the appropriate quarters without threatening the security of the nation.

    National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ganiyu O. Galadima said in a statement in Abuja that the party believe that the President’s victory was well deserved and commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties and all Nigerians for giving peace a chance before, during and after the announcement of results.

    The ACPN was one of the political parties that adopted President Buhari as its candidate and massively mobilised for his re-election before the exercise took place.

    Galadima said: “President Muhammadu Buhari’s Victory is a well deserved one, considering his popularity, acceptance across board and his performances in the last three and half years. We as a party had expressed our support for him even before the election and we thank God that our support did not go in vain.

    “We, therefore, urge Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the PDP to see Buhari’s victory as the will of the majority of Nigerians. The people have spoken. We expect him as a democrat to concede defeat and move on, bearing in mind that it is God that gives power.

    “We also believe that Alhaji Abubakar and his party have rights to challenge the outcome but we advise that such should be done in a peaceful manner without putting the security of Nigeria and Nigerians at risk.”

    The ACPN asked the President-elect “to do everything possible to unite the country, possibly by forming a government of National Unity which will bring on board all the stakeholders that have something to offer the nation.

    “We believe that President Buhari should do more on the area of insecurity beyond the North-east. Energy should be deployed to ensure that the Nation’s economy is revamped and the Social Safety net should be improved upon to better the lives of Nigerians especially the elderly and the unemployed.”

  • Buhari not bothered by Atiku’s court threat – Presidency

    The Presidency on Wednesday night said that it was not bothered by the decision of the candidate of the opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar to challenge the outcome of the February 23 Presidential election in court.

    Buhari on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was on Wednesday morning declared winner of the presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Speaking to State House correspondent after a dinner hosted by President Buhari for some of the APC members at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha said that the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act have made the provision for any candidate that is dissatisfied with election result to seek redress in court.

    He said “We are not jittery at all because the process was open and transparent. It was a credible election and we will continue to savour in the victory but in the process too, we will extend the hand of friendship for the purpose of nation-building and reconciliation.

    “Our electoral Act and the constitution have both provided a window for whoever is dissatisfied with the process of election to seek redress. That is the path and we will encourage them to go along that path.” he stated

    He also assured Nigerians that President Buhari would do more for them in his second term, especially in the area of infrastructure development.

    He said: “Looking into the future of the country, the President is very clear about what he wants to do. He will stand on the three pivot points that he pushed forward in 2015; securing the nation, diversifying the economy and also fighting corruption with all intensity.

    “There will be inclusiveness all over the place. This is one government that has really invested in social infrastructure by bringing people who are below the poverty level up and out of poverty.

    “There are so many things that we are looking forward to and I am very thrilled and grateful that we had this opportunity to now consolidate on the tenets and gains of our democracy.” he said

  • Photos: Jubilation over Buhari’s victory causes gridlock in Taraba

  • UK, US-backed observer YIAGA validates Buhari’s victory

    UK, US-backed observer YIAGA validates Buhari’s victory

    A civil society organisation, the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) on Wednesday validated the declaration of President Muhammadu Buhari as winner of Saturday’s presidential election.

    It said the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were consistent with the findings of its observers as part of its Watching the Vote (WTV) project.

    YIAGA Africa has as its technical partners the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the US-based National Democratic Institute.

    It deployed the parallel vote tabulation (PVT), described a gold standard citizen observation methodology that employs statistics and information communication technologies.

    Its estimates were based on observations from 3,030 observers deployed in pairs to a random statistical sample of 1,515 polling units.

    YIAGA Africa said INEC’s official results fell within its estimated ranges.

    It, therefore, urged the public, political parties and candidates to have confidence in the ballots cast at the polling units.

    The group said in its post-election statement: “Based on reports from 1,491 or 98.4 per cent of sampled polling units, YIAGA Africa’s findings show that for the presidential election, the All Progressive Congress (APC) should receive between 50.0 per cent and 55.8 per cent of the vote; and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should receive between 41.2 per cent and 47.0 per cent of the vote.

    “These figures are consistent with the official results as announced by INEC. For both APC and PDP the official results fall within the PVT estimated ranges.”

    YIAGA Africa’s WTV chair Dr. Hussaini Abdu added: “YIAGA Africa urges Nigerian voters, political parties, candidates and international stakeholders to have confidence in the just-concluded electoral process and the officially announced results.”

    The civil society group called on INEC to provide clarity around two issues which it said were of pressing concern to the Nigerians although they did not affect the overall outcome of the elections.

    “First, the overall, percentage of cancelled ballots announced by INEC was 3.3 per cent of all registered voters.

    “This figure was four times higher than the rate from 2015 when registered voters in cancelled polling units were less than 1 per cent of all registered votes.

    “Second, YIAGA Africa noted discrepancies between the number of registered voters announced prior to the election and the numbers announced during collation and called on INEC to provide an in-depth explanation, including of whether these differences indicated that collation did not conclude in all parts of the country.

    “However, YIAGA Africa noted that the PVT data, which projected its estimated vote shares on the basis of the numbers announced at the polling units before any cancelation of results could take place, showed that neither of these issues impacted the outcome of the election,” it said.

    The group, in the statement issued by its Communication Officer Moshood Isah, urged all political parties, candidates and Nigerians to show political maturity and maintain peace in the post-election period.

    It pleaded with losing candidates and parties to adhere to legal provisions for filing electoral claims and disputes.

    “YIAGA Africa noted that the challenges experienced during the elections call for a detailed and systematic post-election review to include an inquiry into the cancellation of ballots, an audit of the voter register and a review of the elections operation management systems,” the group said.

    YIAGA Africa is a nonpartisan and independent civil society organisation without affiliation to any political party, candidate or state agency.

    “YIAGA Africa carries out research, capacity development and policy advocacy. YIAGA AFRICA has been involved in election observation since 2007 and it is one of the leading organisations working on elections in Nigeria,” the group said.

  • Wild jubilation in Edo over Buhari’s victory

    Residents of Edo State including traders, artisans and youths on Wednesday joined in a wild jubilation to celebrate the victory of President Mohammadu Buhari in last Saturday’s general elections.

    They danced through major streets of Benin City to also shore up support for the All Progressives Congress(APC) ahead of March 9 House of Assembly election.

    Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, Secretary to the Edo State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie, Edo Youth Leader of the APC, Valentine Asuen joined in the victory dance.

    At the Oba Market, traders came out their shops to cheer the APC victory train.

    Speaking to newsmen, Shaibu said the road show dance was to appreciate Edo people for the improvement at the polls.

    Shaibu assured the March 9 House of Assembly elections would be a smooth sailing for the APC

    Secretary to the Edo APC, Lawrence Okah, said the victory of Buhari has shamed many pastors in the country.

    Okah said Nigerians proved the Pastors wrong that Buhari is not a murderer.

    He stated that Buhari’s integrity was the party’s watchword in the campaign.

    He said Nigerians know the difference between a thief and a sincere person.

  • Osinbajo seeks Hausa community support for Buhari’s re-election

    VICE President Yemi Osinbajo has urged members of the Hausa community to come out in large number on Saturday to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari to continue the good work his administration has embarked on in the past three and a half years.

    Osinbajo, who made the call at a Town Hall meeting held in Ikeja, told members of the community to also vote for All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in all elections.

    He told them that some former leaders had ganged-up against Buhari because of his stance against corruption. “What we are hoping to see on Saturday is an affirmation, a vote for a man, who has proved over the years to be honest and truthful.

    “The problem of our country is not that we don’t have enough money, the problem is that our past leaders had stolen the money meant for the provision of infrastructure.

    “The Buhari administration is able to do more than what its predecessors did despite the excess earning from crude export by the previous administration. This is possible because Buhari is not a thief. Even, his worst enemies know that he is a man of truth. They know he will never steal public fund.”

    The Vice President regretted that the country is where people who found themselves in power believed the public fund belonged to them and their cronies.

    Chairman, Arewa Community in Lagos State, Alhaji Ahmed Kabiru, hailed Osinbajo for recognising the community. He assured the vice president of the community’s support for APC. We are going to vote for APC from Presidency to the lowest position,” he added.

     

  • Artistes donate N.5m for Buhari’s re-election

    The Theatre Arts and Motion Picture Producers Association of Nigeria, (TAMPPAN) yesterday donated N500,000 for the  re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    At the event held in Surulere, Lagos, the President of TAMPPAN, Mr Bolaji Amusan, popularly known as Mr Latin, lauded the performance of the Buhari administration.

    He said the donation is a contribution to the President Buhari’s campaign organisation.

    Amusan pledged the association’s commitment to support to President Buhari’s re-election.

    The group urged the government to carry along their members at all levels of governance.

    Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola received the cheque on behalf of the Buhari’s campaign organisation.

    Fashola urged the creative industry to deploy their talents to project positive values of integrity and dignity, which the President Buhari administration represents in the minds of the people.

    He said it had become imperative for Nigerians to understand that the cardinal issue of contest in the Saturday and March 2 general elections was that of the change ideology.

    He said the Buhari-led administration had continued to pursue this with verifiable indices in the best interest of the larger society rather than a few.

    Fashola also reminded them of showbiz stars in the West, like former US President Roland Reagan and former Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who made mark in political office.

    He said: “It is important you continue to help propagate the message of change. And if you look in other jurisdictions, you will see that not only at election times do artistes and thespians play important roles in shaping the minds and the understanding of people.

    “They also actually get involved and throw their hearts in the ring to serve and I want to suggest that your case here should not be different.

    “So there is room for everybody but we need to get involved. You really need to get involved and there is a lot of work to do. We need every good hand that we can find.”

  • 2019: Ganduje campaigns for Buhari’s re-election

    Overwhelmed by the feats achieved by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state moves his campaign train for Buhari re-election bid, in the forthcoming general election, to the 44 local government areas of the state, revealing to the electorate that Buhari would continue with the good projects and policies he started when given the mandate for the second time.

    Starting from Tudunwada/Doguwa federal constituency, Ganduje, while at the palace of the District Head of Doguwa, where all other village heads including Imams were converged, informed them about the many projects cutting across all the six geo-political zones, executed by the federal government.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari is a leader whose love for Nigeria Superceded any other presidential candidate from all the opposition parties contesting against him in the forthcoming presidential election, ”

    Ganduje urged them to continue praying for the peaceful conduct of the general elections, emphasising that, “It is with your prayers that this government is able to achieve what we are witnessing now. While at the same time we have a leader who is focused and has the political will to deliver.”

    Read Also: Principals laud Ganduje on members’ promotion

    Ganduje continued that, “We are here today to convey the message of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, that, Nigeria is the only place we have on earth. So we must remain resolute to see to the genuine and sustainable development of our fatherland. This can only be possible when we come together and elect those that have the country at heart.”

    As Ganduje’s tour entered its sixth day, he has covered 13 local governments areas, campaigning for Buhari with incessant urge, for the strong reason that Buhari loves Nigeria more than any other presidential candidates.

    Governor’s unprecedented confidence in President Buhari, makes him to take more than half of the time he spends talking to the traditional leaders, when he visits them at their palaces, canvassing for unflinching support for Buhari.

    Even on the podium, he urges people, to first see the reason why Buhari deserves second term, as he speaks with all sense of responsibility and commitment, governor Ganduje repeats the same message in all the local governments that,

    “Our dear President Muhammadu Buhari has directed me to come and convey his message to you that, APC government at all levels brings succour to Nigerians. Our party will continue with the good work it started when given another chance.”

    The tour is designed in such a way that, governor with his campaign train move around local governments under federal constituency arrangements, daily. So far he toured Doguwa/Tudunwada, Kunchi/Tsanyawa, Takai/Sumaila, Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya, Dambatta/Makoda and Karaye/Rogo federal constituencies.

    In all the places he touches he says “Kano state promised to give President Muhammadu Buhari 5 million votes. We should strive and make sure that we give him what we promised when the election comes.”

    “We should also make sure that we elect APC candidates as legislators, that will help him to continue with his developmental projects and programmes. He needs good legislators that will put heads together with him for the overall development of our dear nation,” Ganduje says.

    He challenged that whoever is interested in a peaceful Nigeria with good leadership, that is focused and committed, should vote Buhari for the second term, into office, insisting that, “This people-oriented President is a leader we can all trust.”

    While at the palace of the District Head of Dambatta, who is also the Sarkin Bai of Kano, and the Kingmaker of the Emirate, Alhaji Mukhtari Adnan, after urging all the District Heads and Imams to continue praying for Buhari’s victory in the coming election, Ganduje urged them to work hard and inform all their subjects to go and collect their permanent voters card.

    In his remarks, the Sarkin Bai, commended the governor for developing the state and for the achievements recorded in all the sectors of the society, “We are also aware that, you are doing well in the area of human development. We appreciate what you are doing in the state.”

    For this reason, he added “You deserve another term of four years. We are solidly behind your candidature. And we shall tell people to support you.”

    He added that, people like Ganduje who respects people of all ages and social status “…need to be encouraged in their public responsibilities. Because supporting Governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for second term is a project that all should accept.”

    All chairmen of the visiting local governments believe that governor Ganduje is a performing governor, whose vision and interest in the development of the state, takes him to higher level both politically and in governance.

    Projects executed by his administration, ranging from road construction to renovation or upgrading of health facilities, among other things, are some of the many reasons why many people believe that, his (Ganduje) achievements are enough reasons for him to get re-elected even without him going round for campaigns.

    No local government, that he goes without either commissioning completed projects or inspecting ongoing projects. In Makoda local government, the governor commissioned two health facilities. One in Makoda town and the other one in Chidari, that was renovated and fully equipped with modern health care equipment, at over N400 Million.

    In Sumaila local government, it was not only the chairman of the local government, who attested to what the administration of Ganduje was able to do, the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives) Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila, commended the governor for an all-important Gani Bridge, hospital in Rimi town and other projects executed.

    .In all places the governor visited, he urged people to make sure that they collect their permanent voters’ cards (PVCs) for their support to be realistic and meaningful. He then calls electorate to make sure that they vote for the APC at all levels of elective position.

  • Women, youths stage rally in Kwara for Buhari’s re-election

    Scores of All Progressives Congress (APC) women and youths yesterday stage a peaceful rally in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election.

    The rally started around 9.30 a.m near the popular Post Office Roundabout and ended at the campaign office of a former APC governorship aspirant, Isiak Kawu Modibbo, in Sango area.

    The procession affected human and vehicular movements on the popular Murtala Mohammed Way where vehicles were forced to move at snail speed.

    The rally was organised by Making A Different (MAD) for Kwara and Kawu Modibbo Group.

    APC State Chairman Bashir Bolarinwa urged aggrieved party members to forget their grievances and work for the success of the party at the polls.

    Represented by his Vice Chairman Abdullahi Samari, he said: “Don’t sell your permanent voters’ cards (PVCs) to them. Your PVC is your power. If they bring money, collect it. After all, it is our money. But don’t vote them.”

    Bolarinwa urged other aspirants of the party to emulate the gesture of Isiak Kawu Modibbo.

    Speaking on behalf of the groups, Modibo’s wife, Saadat said: “We are here to mobilise youths and women to support what President Muhammadu Buhari is doing. He has been doing a great job in the country and we need to show people what he has been doing.

    “The crowd that accompanied us from Post Office to this place is amazing. It is an assurance that Kwarans are ready for the re-election of President Buhari.

    “We are also using this medium to empower some of our members. Kwara is different from other states. We have been suffering for so long. People need to be empowered; that is why we are giving out some items to some people.”

  • Fayemi’s wife drums up support for Buhari’s re-election bid

    EKITI State Governor’s wife Mrs. Bisi Fayemi at the weekend led other All Progressives Congress (APC) bigwigs to drum support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid.

    She said Nigerians must resist any attempt by “saboteurs” to take over government again.

    Mrs. Fayemi, who said Buhari remains the best choice for Nigeria, urged Ekiti voters to vote en mass for the APC candidates for presidential, National and State Assembly elections.

    She spoke in Igbemo Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government area of Ekiti State during the official flag off of Hakeem Jamiu’s campaign for the State House of Assembly election.

    Jamiu, who hails from the town, was the Senior Special Assistant on Research and Documentation during the first term of Governor Kayode Fayemi.

    Mrs. Fayemi said the constituency has no reason to vote for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), having denied them dividends of good governance by former Governor Ayodele Fayose Administration.

    “Nigeria can’t return to looters again. We can’t go back to a darkest period when our commonwealth was being sabotage by few individuals; that is why President Buhari continuity is a necessity.

    “Governor Fayemi can’t be a governor in Ekiti and begin to go to Abuja to beg before things are done for Ekiti, when he can easily get such easily done with President Buhari occupying the seat of power. So, Ekiti electorate must make the right choice in the presidential and other elections to sustain the pace of development in the state.

    “President Buhari, our senatorial candidate in Ekiti Central Opeyemi Bamidele, the House of Representatives candidate in Ekiti Central Constituency 1, Mr. Sola Fatoba and Alhaji Akeem Jamiu must win, because their past records and achievements are monumental.”

    Addressing the crowd, Jamiu said the entire Igbemo community was cut off from the rest of Ekiti and short-changed from enjoying the benefits of government under Fayose.

    He promised that he would transform his constituency, if given the opportunity to serve as a member of the state assembly, by initiating and sponsoring bills that would improve on the wellbeing of the populace.