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Tag: candidates

  • Youths urge parties to select credible candidates

    Residents of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) under the auspices of Concerned Youths of AMAC have asked political parties in the council to select credible chairmanship candidates for the poll.

    Leader of the youths, Comrade Shekwo Audu made the call at a press briefing, said that future chairmanship candidates should emulate the present leadership of Hon. Micah Jiba for his sterling performance in office, establishing various skills aquisition centres.

    Continuing, Audu said the era of selecting selfish candidates who do not mean well for the people has passed, adding that any candidate selected must be ready to work in the interest of indigenes and residents of AMAC.

    He also praised the Jiba administration for ensuring that communities in the hinterland are provided with basic dividends of democracy like water, electricity and other infrastructural developments.

    He said indigent children in rural communities are getting more educated due to the council’s commitment to education.

    “Very soon,” he said, “political parties will be organising primaries to select their candidates for the forthcoming Area council elections. Many people have been showing interest to contest in different political parties. We are not against anybody, but we are advising the political parties to select credible candidates that would continue with the good work of the present council chairman, Hon. Micah Jiba.

    “We are appealing that people that mean well for the people of AMAC, just like he does should be selected by all political parties, so that during the election, anybody that wins, the people of AMAC will celebrate, because there will be credible persons to continue with the good works of this present administration.

    “We want to also advise residents of AMAC not to allow politicians to buy their conscience with money; rather they should pray and vote in the right people when the election fully commences. The Jiba-led administration is really doing well and we are praying that God will give us somebody that will come and continue with this good works,” he said.

  • 65,000 candidates to sit for Unilorin Post-UTME exam

    65,000 candidates to sit for Unilorin Post-UTME exam

    The University of Ilorin has cleared 65, 000 candidates for the 2015/2016 post UTME screening which begins today.

    The Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs of the institution, Mr Kunle Akogun, who made this known in a statement in Ilorin on Sunday said the weeklong exercise would hold simultaneously in Ilorin and Lagos.

    Akogun said only candidates who scored a minimum of 180 marks in the 2015 UTME and made the University their first choice would take part in the computer-based test (CBT).

    He advised candidates to bring along to their respective centres printed copies of their examination schedules indicating that they were slated to write the examination at a particular date and time.

    Akogun said this became necessary as there were many batches for the examination daily.

    He also advised prospective candidates to bring along with them payment receipts generated from the students’ portal of the University’s website.

    He warned that the accreditation team would insist on the receipt from the varsity’s website to verify candidate’s identity— through pictures that tally with the face of each candidate.

    He said that only registered candidates for the screening exercise would be allowed into the screening premises.

    Akogun cautioned the candidates against indecent dressing and bringing of cell phones or any electronic appliance into the examination hall.

    “Candidates for the pre-admission screening exercise are also advised to be decently dressed, as candidates with indecent dressing will not be allowed into the screening premises.

    “Also, phones and all other forms of mobile communication, electronic devices, bags and luggage are not allowed within the screening premises, he said.

    Seventy three thousand, two hundred and fifty of the over 107,000 candidates that applied for admission into the University this year scored 180 marks and above at the UTME.

    By the close of the portal yesterday, only 65, 000 out of the 73, 250 qualified candidates registered for the post UMTE.

  • ‘JAMB is right to redistribute candidates’

    ‘JAMB is right to redistribute candidates’

    The president of the Association of Proprietors of Innovation and Vocational Institutions (APIVI), Dr. Andrews Jegede, has faulted opponents of the new policy by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, (JAMB), which seeks to redistribute successful candidates in the Unified tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) whose scores are below the requirements of their universities of first choice, to other universities that meet such requirement.

    Jegede, who spoke in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, explained that tertiary institutions in the country have turned post-UTME process into a money-making venture, which now constitute a part of their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) drive. Over the past two weeks, criticisms have continued to trail the new admission policy of the examination body, as students and parents protested at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) about three weeks ago.

    He explained that post-UTME has made the cost of tertiary admission highly exploitative and expensive at the expense of the poor masses.

    He said: “Nigeria is not the only country that has university admission regulatory body; it is all over the world. Then, why should Nigerians interfere in the affairs of the country’s tertiary admission regulatory body saddled with the responsibility to conduct entrance examination for eligible candidates and place them into the university of their choices if such candidate meets the university’s cut off mark?

    Jegede praised JAMB for introducing the computer-based test (CBT), which according to him, had reduced examination malpractices in the system, and rendered Post-UTME unnecessary.

    “Since the establishment of JAMB, there was never a time a decision was taken in isolation of other stakeholders in the system; the vice chancellors, registrars, rectors of polytechnics, provosts of colleges of education and heads of innovation institutions in the country are always carried along. Before this became public, we all met at a roundtable in Abuja to take a decision on this year’s admission process,” Jegede said.

    He continued: “When JAMB released this year’s cut-off point for admission, every university has its in-house admission standard, and that any student whose score does not fall within a particular university pass mark, JAMB has the statutory right to send his particulars to another institution where he or she could be considered, It could be polytechnic, college of education or private institution. So, also the candidate has the right to accept it, or re-apply to another.”

     

  • UNILAG JAMB’s policy meant to help candidates, says Registrar

    UNILAG JAMB’s policy meant to help candidates, says Registrar

    The Registrar/Chief Executive of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Dibu Ojerinde, has reacted to the protest at the University of Lagos by parents and candidates who could not access the university’s admission.

    He explained that the policy introduced by JAMB, for which he has been criticised, “is actually meant to help the candidates not only to get admission but to get it on time.”

    Ojerinde stated that the decision to reallocate candidates who cannot be admitted into their choice institutions because of the high cut-off marks set by the institutions for the various courses to other federal, states and private institutions was actually to help them.

    He said the reallocation was based on the availability of spaces; choice of the course of the candidate; geographical zone of the candidates’ first choice and the performance of the candidates.

    The Registrar pointed out that JAMB had made the situation clear to the institutions during a policy meeting on July 14 with representatives of the federal, state and private universities.

    “By this approach, wastage of high scores will be reduced, the fate of the candidates will be determined on time and yet the interest of their areas of study may be satisfied,” Ojerinde stressed.

    He noted that the decision became imperative because “the big universities are overloaded” while others have spaces that are not filled.

    Expatiating, Ojerinde said:  “Can you imagine 8,000 students seeking admission to study law in a university that will take only 250 candidates for law?

    “The remaining 7,750 candidates will wait endlessly and hopelessly till the end of the admission. Or imagine 7,500 candidates seeking admission to study medicine in a university.

    “Of these 7,500 candidates, 2,000 scored above 250 in the UTME. The university has a carrying capacity of only 150 candidates for medicine.

    “The remaining 7,350 who scored above 200 will be wasted. Particularly, 1,750 candidates who scored above 250 will be wasted while other universities either do not have enough candidates or high scoring candidates.”

    He added that JAMB had discovered that courses like Biological Sciences, Pharmacy, Agricultural Engineering and related courses are, in most cases, without enough candidates in the universities while everyone scampered to study medicine and only a small percentage eventually get admitted.

    Ojerinde indicted some so-called educational consultants, who he accused of having hidden agenda, which are being thwarted by JAMB’s proactive steps.

    He alleged they were behind the protests, declaring “This is a period of change. If they do not change, they will be changed.”

     

  • Candidates shun debate

    CANDIDATES for the state legislative elections in Abia State have abstained from a scheduled debate organised by a television station.

    The debate, organised by Modern Communication Limited (MCL) TV, according to the organizsers, was to provide a platform where candidates of various political parties would sell their manifestos to the electorate.

    It was also meant to help the electorate make informed decisions on whom to vote for during tomorrow’s governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    Candidates of political parties present at the debate were those of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Emmanuel Unegbu Emmanuel who wants to represent Ikwuano, Labour Party (LP) Lucky Akabuike, for Umuahia North and PPA candidate for Umuahia South, Nwigwe Lucky.

    A media consultant to the MCL TV, Dr. Charles Chinekezi, who was visibly angry by what he described as undemocratic and uncivilised attitude of the candidates, bemoaned the attitude of the candidates who, by their actions, have exhibited acts of disrespect to Abia people who they were aspiring to represent and also expecting to get their votes tomorrow.

    According to him, the organisers, after inviting all the political parties and their candidates, also did a follow-up to ensure that they were duly notified, wondering why they boycotted the exercise after the publicity and to appear on the day at no cost to the candidates.

    Chinekezi, who stood in for the chairman of the political debate committee, Chief Ogwo Agu, said it was regrettable that the candidates boycotted an opportunity that would have enabled them to sell their programmes and mandates to the Abia electorate.

    “We extended invitation and reminders to all the state Assembly candidates of the various political parties in Aba zone. A good number of them promised to participate. We don’t know why they boycotted the exercise. The debate is one of our station’s contributions to the development of democracy in the country. It is at no cost to the candidates.

    “We aimed at helping the electorate assess the quality of candidates who seek to represent them at the House of Assembly. At least, this would have helped the electorate to make the right choices. The days of voting in people because of sentiments are over. We don’t want to leave the electorate blind,” Chinekezi said.  He expressed fears that a decline in the quality of Assembly candidates would continue to be counter-productive, allow the legislature be manipulated by the executive and affect the kind of legislation they make for the state as long as the electorate were not allowed to elect the right people into the legislature.

    One of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Assembly candidates, who spoke in confidence, said he could not afford to attend the debate because it came at a time when he and probably other candidates were busy campaigning across his constituencies.

  • INEC got N3b to rig, say candidates

    Two House of Assembly candidates on the platform of the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA) have accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abia State of receiving N3 billion to rig Saturday’s  elections in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The candidates, Chidi Ufomadu, who is vying for the Umuahia Central seat and Obioma Oburuoga, for Umuahia North seat alleged that the money was given before the arrival of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Selina Oko.

    Addressing reporters in Umuahia, Oburuoga alleged that the money INEC officials received from the government made them to rig the March 28 elections in favour of the PDP.

    He said the rigging started with INEC officials hiding the original result sheets, which where customised, while they brought out fake ones.

    Oburuoga urged security agencies to ensure that parties abide by the peace accord.

    “They should provide a level-playing field for candidates during the election.”

    He advised the REC to call the workers, including ad hoc officials, to order.

     

  • Oyo candidates flex muscle over governorship poll

    Major governorship candidates in Oyo State yesterday boasted about winning the election.

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi is flying the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC), his predecessor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, is the Labour Party (LP) candidate.

    Rashidi Ladoja is contesting on the platform of Accord and Teslim Folarin is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) standard bearer.

    Speaking in Ibadan, the state capital yesterday, the candidates expressed unusual confidence of coming tops in the election.

    Though the APC defeated other parties with a wide margin in the presidential and National Assembly elections on March 28, candidates of the defeated parties insisted that they were only beaten  not defeated.

    APC won the three senatorial seats and 12 of the 14 House of Representatives seats.

    The party also controls the House of Assembly with 18 out of 32 members.

    Opposition parties also believe that the governorship election would not go the way of the March 28 elections because, according to them, voters were carried away by the popularity of the APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.

    In separate chats, Ajimobi, who spoke through the party’s State Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, said Oyo people have always chosen light by aligning with the progressives, adding that they also reconfirmed it by their massive votes for the APC in the March 28 elections.

    He said voters will, once again, show their preference for the transformation, reformation and the repositioning of the state being undertaken by his administration by voting for him and all APC candidates in the House of Assembly election.

    Ladoja, who spoke through the Director General of his campaign organisation, Adeolu Adeleke, said Accord remained undaunted, despite the result of the last election.

    He said: “We remain undaunted and psychologically stable with optimism to win the election.”

    Alao-Akala, who spoke through his spokesman, Oludare Ogunlana, said what the party suffered in the last election would be regained on Saturday.

    “Whatever we suffered, people are ready to respond with their votes on Saturday.

    “The way Gen. Buhari was voted for across the country is the way Alao-Akala would gain people’s votes across Oyo State on Saturday,” he said.

    The PDP State Publicity Secretary, Kehinde Salawu, was also optimistic that his party would win the elections.

    He said  the party had embarked on educating its  supporters on how to vote for only the PDP.

  • Why we stepped down, by 10 candidates

    Ten governorship candidates, who stepped down for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, have said they took the decision to ensure the continuity of development in the Centre of Excellence.

    Their spokesman, Akinola Obadia, of the Independent Democrat (ID) told reporters in Lagos that the state has witnessed tremendous change in the last 16 years under former Governor Bola Tinubu and his successor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.

    He hailed Fashola for building on the solid foundation laid by Tinubu, urging Lagosians to vote for Ambode in the spirit of continuity.

    The politician said the 10 candidates have decided to team up with Ambode to give Lagos a deserving government.

    Obadia said: “Fashola is a model governor. Lagos State is number one in terms of infrastructural development, internally generated revenue and good governance.

    “Variety is the beauty of democracy. Multiplicity of choice adds value to life. All of us cannot be in the same party. But, we can have the opportunity to contribute our quota to the development of our state.

    “But, we cannot drag back the wheel of progress in Lagos State. We will be knocking our heads on the  wall if we stupidly fight against an obvious winning team.

    “We must rise against primordial sentiment and selfish ambition. We, as a coalition of 10 governorship candidates of different parties, have unanimously and collectively decided that our ambition should not be greater than our collective course of progress and we have decided that our ambition should therefore, be shelved in the interest of 21 million Lagosians.”

    Other candidates under the umbrella of ‘Coalition of Gubernatorial Candidates in Lagos State’ include Ishola Aregbesola (Action Alliance), Sesan Olatunde (New Nigeria Peoples Party), Adegbe Ojochide (Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA), Adeshina Olayokun (All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Victor Adeniji (Kowa), Adeshina Buruji (Accord), Abiodun Oyegunle (All Progressives Alliance (APA) and Slyvester Eze.

    Obadia described Ambode as the consolidator, who will continue to pursue the progress of Lagos in the post-Fashola era, adding that he has the record of excellent public service.

    He added: “Ambode as the accountant-general helped in saving Lagos from trouble in the time of serious economic hardship when former President Olusegun Obasanjo withheld allocations to the state.

    “He stuck his neck out using his financial wizardry to pull Lagos State out of the doldrums. He was able to midwife the increment of the state’s internally generated revenue.”

    Urging Lagosians to vote for the APC, Obadia said: “We are saying in clear terms that the 10 of us have shelved our individual ambitions and aspirations as we give our unwavering solidarity to Ambode on Saturday.

    “We urge our supporters across the state to vote for the dynamic candidate of the APC because he will take Lagos to the next level.”

  • Group interacts with candidates

    Group interacts with candidates

    The traditional ruler of Okahia in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State HRM Eze Okey Ananaba has praised the state police command for initiating a peace accord signed in Umuahia, the state capital, by party candidates.

    The peace pact was to ensure a hitch-free election in the state, the state Police Commissioner, Habila Joshak said.

    It was unclear whether the peace deal was inspired by a similar agreement reached earlier by presidential candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr Goodluck Jonathan and his counterpart in the foremost opposition party, the All Progressives Congress Party (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari.

    Speaking at his palace when the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Alex Otti visited him, Eze Ananaba said the accord would have no meaning except it was enforced.

    The revered monarch admonished politicians to shun violence, urging them to play politics with the spirit of sportsmanship.

    He said, “What is of paramount importance to the traditional rulers is the peaceful conduct of the elections,” adding, there would be no meaningful development in an atmosphere of violence and rancour.

    The monarch also called on registered voters in the state to endeavour to collect their permanent voter cards or PVCs in order to vote the candidates of their choice, urging them “to cast their votes according to their conscience on the day of the elections.”

    Otti promised to run an all-inclusive and people-oriented government if elected into office.

    He assured that his administration would ensure even development of the state, promising not to discriminate against any section of the state.

    “I will give everybody a sense of belonging and there will be even development across the different parts of the state,” he said. “I will not discriminate against any person or section of the state, whether they voted for me or not.”

    The former Diamond Bank MD beckoned on the monarch to sensitize his subjects on the need to get their PVCs and feel free to vote for the candidates of their choice.

    “People should collect their PVCs and vote according to their conscience, he said, adding that they should not allow themselves to be intimidated by anybody.

    Otti said that he joined the governorship race in order to redeem the people.

  • Police, candidates sign peace accord

    The Abia State police command in conjunction with security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have convened a meeting where all the political parties in the state and their governorship candidates as well as senatorial and House of Representatives contestants have signed a peace accord ahead of the general elections.

    Speaking at the meeting, the AIG Zone 9, Gwuari Akila who chaired the occasion, said that this type of situation had earlier taken place in other states across the country and that this is the turn of Abia state.

    Akila said that the day is a great one for the command with the peace accord which all the political parties and their candidates in the state have come to signed to ensure peace before, during and after the forthcoming general elections.

    The AIG said that the meeting was called to appeal to the parties and their candidates to ensure that the political terrain in the state is not over heated, especially during their political campaigns.

    He urged the political stakeholders to conduct themselves, while their political activities should be conducted according to the laws of the country to usher in the next democratic dispensation.

    Akila said, “This meeting has been called to remind them to conduct themselves before, during and immediately after the general election to avoid any political motivated violence.

    “The politicians and the political stakeholders in the state are being reminded to avoid going astray and I’m happy with the number of political stakeholders in the state that attended this meeting. This shows that all of you want peace in the state.”

    Responding the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Chineye Nyerere Anyim, thanked the security agencies in the state for organising the meeting, adding that his party is against any violence and assured that they will abide by the accord.

    Anyim said that they need a level playing ground for all political parties in the state irrespective of those in power and those that want to take over power and decried the ban by the state government on other parties from using state property for their campaigns.

    He urged security agencies in the state especially the police not to be bias and not to allow themselves to be used by the party in power to subvert the will of the people during the elections.

    In his contribution, the senatorial candidate of the APC for Abia Central senatorial seat, Hon Acho Obioma said that there is need of the security agencies in the state to be up and doing and not to be seen favouring any particular party.

    Obioma said that all political parties should be given equal opportunity in terms of security coverage before, during and after the general election, even as he pledged to go home and educate his supporters and urged other candidates to do same if the accord is to stand the test of time.

    In his response, the state chairman of the PDP, Senator Emma Nwaka said that his party will abide by the peace accord to the letter, adding that all they knocks his party has received from other party candidates is a normal one for a party in power.

    In his speech the deputy governor of the state, Sir Emeka Ananaba commended the police for organising the peace meeting and urged the political parties to go beyond the accord by educating their supporters to avoid violence during the elections.

    The partieswhich attended the meeting were APC, PDP, ACPN, APGA and the PPA, with the governorship candidates and their national assembly candidates, some of them like PDP and APGA governorship candidates were represented by their running mates.