The Nation Newspaper

Tag: General elections

  • INEC working for PDP, says Oshiomhole

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomhole yesterday accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of working for the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of the general elections.

    Oshiomhole was, however, quick to add that the governing party would not decent to the level of bringing down state institutions because the party believes that state institutions should be allowed to perform their functions.

    Responding to questions about an alleged collusion between the INEC and President Muhammadu Buhari, Oshiomhole alleged that at the moment, two Resident Electoral Commissioners in the Southsouth have been going about campaigning with the PDP.

    Oshiomhole, who asked Nigerians not to return the PDP to power, said the pledge by the PDP candidate to float the naira was a recipe for economic woes, adding that Atiku has always been part of problem facing the nation.

    He also dismissed PDP’s allegations that the APC was responsible for burning some INEC offices that have recently been engulfed in flame, stressing that he could easily allude to the fact that the PDP burnt the INEC offices because they are afraid of losing elections in those places.

    He said: “If anything, this INEC has been very unfair to the APC. But we just discovered that we have a responsibility. The fact that we are a governing party imposes on us a certain level of code that you can’t be seen to rubbish every institution, because if we rubbish everything, it would mean that we don’t want election. INEC believed everything the PDP says.

    “As we speak, there are two Resident Electoral Commissioners, who are virtually campaigning line by line with the PDP in the Southsouth. INEC, without giving us any explanation and without any concrete evidence, went ahead to say we can’t field candidates in Zamfara.

    “Is that the way your friends behave if they are your friends? INEC is working more for the PDP based on evidence I  can show. How can they explain that a court of competent jurisdiction gave orders in Zamfara to say this candidate is eligible to contest election and another high court in Abuja also gave a verdict saying APC did not conclude its primaries, but did not give order to INEC?

    “There is no order issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja. The Court of Appeal made a pronouncement on this matter today that there was no order from the court in Abuja, but that there was a concrete order from a Zamfara High Court, which upheld the primaries that was conducted in Zamfara.

    “The INEC Chairman has said that when there are two court orders, they will adopt the last judgment. In Zamfara State, the Abuja judgment came first and the Zamfara judgment came last, even though it is the same day.

    “More as INEC has said they will always obey the last judgment, when it came to the Zamfara issue, they changed the goal post. As  media practitioners, you have to be careful. When you say people alleged there were meetings and can’t even cite any, it is a disservice. We have been at the receiving end of abuse.

    “There is a candidate in Kano, whose nomination we forwarded to INEC, but they changed the nomination and as we speak, we are in court over that. We showed our evidence. When I saw Atiku talking about rigging today, I laughed.

    “Do you remember the confession of the former Deputy Senate President who, on national television and not social media where anything is possible, narrated how President Olusegun Obasanjo used him and Atiku to rig election, how they wrote results and how they collude with INEC. This same Atiku was in office when Mantu was doing those things.”

    “So, if PDP functionaries have enumerated how they use to rig election, how can in all fairness point to President Muhammadu Buhari, who has been victim of election rigging three times such that in our legal history, it is part of precedent that the Supreme Court was persuaded to accept that election, where ballot papers had no serial number was OK and not a major infraction.”

  • Use general elections to elect credible leaders, Aare Adams urges Nigerians

    The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, on Wednesday urged Nigerians to use the forthcoming general elections to elect Godfearing and credible leaders for the country.

    Adams also urged all politicians contesting the elections to go to the polls with civility, saying that Nigerians’ attitudes matter in ensuring a peaceful election.

    He, however, expressed the believe that restructuring would be the best option for Nigeria as a nation.

    “We are in the crucial week as election is few days away. Elections will come and go, but the future of Nigeria is very important to us as a people.

    “One of the mistakes we do make as Nigerians is that we place much premium on who becomes the President without setting strong agenda for the future.

    “There should be agenda setting for the Nigerian future, and that is why this election is the key.

    “It is the duty of all eligible Nigerians to vote, and in doing that, I am appealing to everyone to bear in mind the overall interest of the country,” Adams said.

    He also urged political leaders and candidates, irrespective of their political parties and affiliations, to put Nigeria first before their personal ambitions.

    “For instance, in the build-up to the 2015 general elections, former President Goodluck Jonathan meant well for the nation.

    “When he said his personal ambition is not worth the blood of a Nigerian. As the president, he spearheaded an election, and eventually lost to the incumbent and heaven did not fall,” he said.

    Adams, however, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), not to disappoint Nigerians, saying that there should be enough security at the polling units.

    “There should be adequate election materials for Nigerians to vote, ” Adams said in a statement in Lagos. (NAN)

  • Armed fake soldiers held escorting ‘politician’ in Imo

    Ahead of the February 16 Presidential election, four fake soldiers escorting an unnamed politician have been arrested in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

    Parading the suspects, who were fully dressed in Military fatigue, during a Peace Parley for candidates, the Commander 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Brigadier General H. I Bature, disclosed that fake soldiers have infiltrated the state to cause chaos during the general elections.

    He stated that desperate politicians have equipped hoodlums with Army Uniforms and weapons to perpetrate violence in the state, warning that all those involved in the ignoble act will be fished out and dealt with.

    According to him, “two of these fake soldiers were arrested escorting a politician. You will marvel at the kind of ammunition that was in their possession. But no matter how much they disguise, we have a way of finding out the fake soldiers.

    Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, Dasuki and Galadanchi, urged the politicians to play by the rules and jettison all forms of violence.

    According to him, the State has witnessed relative peace when compared to other states in the Federation, as a result of the “cooperation and support of the people of the state”.

    He said, “you will agree with me that this hard-earned peace and tranquillity we enjoy and experience in Imo State should be guarded jealously, thus, we have no other option than to ensure this endures before, during and after the elections”

  • I’m not in Anambra to support any candidate – New CP

    The New Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, Mustapha Dandaura, on Monday pledged his preparedness to ensure a safe environment towards hitch-free general elections in the state.

    He assured politicians or political parties participating in the exercise of fair and equal treatment, insisting he had no favourite candidate in the election.

    Addressing newsmen at the police headquarters in Amawbia, Dandaura, the 27th CP in the state, however, warned those intending to foment trouble during the exercise to steer clear or be dealt with accordingly.

    He said, “I’m not in Anambra to support any candidate or political party. The Nigerian police in the state will remain neutral and focused.

    “No political thug will be allowed access to the venue of the election. I warn all politicians that the Election Day is not a rally or campaign day.

    “I want to assure the people of the state that we are going to oversee a free, fair and credible poll. Those who want to disrupt the exercise will be decisively dealt with.

    Read Also: Police confirm seven dead in Anambra petrol tanker fire

    “I also assure you that in my tenure, the state will be one of the safest states in the country.”

    Identifying cultism and extortion as major crimes in the state, the commissioner pledged his readiness to fight the menace to a halt.

    He warned officers involved in extortion or bribery to turn a new leaf or be ready to face the wrath of the law.

    “By the briefing I received from my senior officers, the level of cultism is gradually increasing and we’re going to face it squarely.

    “Robbery and other heinous crimes have subsided. With the support of the state government, the police have achieved success in crime and criminality.“

  • Buhari expresses hope in resolving Zamfara APC crisis

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed hope that the crisis threatening the inclusion All Progressive Congress (APC) candidates in Zamfara in the coming general elections will soon be over.

    The President said this in Gusau during his campaign rally in the state on Sunday.

    “I took an oath as the president of this country to preserve and respect the sanctity of the judiciary and I will maintain this so that the right thing can be done.

    “Our party decided to go for either direct primaries, indirect primaries or consensus during the last party primaries ahead of the up coming general elections but we experienced challenges in eight states including Zamfara.

    “However, since the matter is in the court now, l hope and pray that before next Saturday, the court will resolve the issue so that candidates from our party can participate in all the elections,” he said.

    The president maintained that he could not hand out the party’s flag to the candidates in the state during his campaign rally as a sign of respect to the rule of law.

    He recalled that he had kept his 2015 campaign promises to Nigerians all the three areas of provision of security, improvement of economy and fight against corruption, noting that all recovered stolen money would be used for infrastructure development.

    While calling on the people to come out en-mass and vote for all the party’s candidates in the coming elections, the president urged them to be law abiding throughout the exercise.

    Earlier, the state governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari told the gathering that the party in the state had followed its case through the courts of law and pleaded with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to respect the court’s ruling and allow the party’s candidates to participate in the election.

    Yari thanked the president over the visit and assured that the party would win all the seats in the coming general elections.

    In his remarks, the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole also urged the leaders, members and supporters of the party to be law abiding assuring that the party would be victorious in the coming general elections.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at the presidential campaign were Ministers of Defence, Mansur Danali and that of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau as well as former governors of Zamfara, Borno and Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmed Yarima, Alhaji Ali Modu and Aliyu Wammako among others. (NAN)

  • Obaseki mobilises teachers to vote for APC candidates

    Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has urged teachers in the state to support candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming general elections, which will enable his administration sustain ongoing reforms in transforming the state’s basic education sector.

    The governor made the appeal while speaking at a forum organised by the Association of Primary School Heads of Nigeria (AOPSHON), Oredo Local Government Chapter, to honour the governor for the successes recorded in transforming the basic education sector.

    Obaseki, who was represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, said to sustain the transformation and developmental strides by his administration, stakeholders in the education sector should come out en masse to vote for candidates of the APC in the forthcoming general elections.

    “The success recorded by my administration in the education sector was due to the support received from the legislative arm of government. In order to sustain the tempo and even do more, there is a need to elect those whose aspirations will be in consonance with that of our government,” he explained.

    He said he has made verifiable progress in transforming various sectors of the state as a result of the support from members of the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), urging teachers to join hands in voting in candidates that will ensure formidable representation in Abuja, to fast-track development in the state.

    Chairman, Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic Education, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, expressed appreciation to governor Obaseki for the tremendous support and transformation in the education sector.

    She urged teachers to reciprocate the gesture of the governor by supporting the candidates of the APC to ensure victory for the party across all levels in the 2019 general elections.

    Chairman, Oredo LGA Chapter of AOPSHON, Comrade Imafidon Sunday, whose speech was delivered by the Secretary of the association, Enogie Noragbon, thanked governor Obaseki for the developmental strides in the education sector and for impacting on the lives of teachers in the state.

    “You introduced Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EDOBEST) programme through which over 7,000 teachers have been trained. Teaching methods have also been migrated from analogue to digital. We appreciate your prompt payment of teachers’ salaries, allowances, gratuities, and pensions.”

    Imafidon also applauded the governor for the ongoing renovation of 230 primary schools across the state.

  • Constituent seeks disqualification of Reps Minority Leader Ogor over alleged forgery

    The Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, has been approached for a perpetual injunction to disqualify the member of the House of Representatives, representing Isoko Federal Constituency, Hon Leo Ogor, contesting the general elections.

    In a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/10/2019 and filed by one Peter Enaruke against the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Ogor as the first, second and third defendants respectively, the court was asked to disqualify Ogor, who is the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, for alleged falsification and forgery of documents.

    The court papers also sought to restrain both the PDP and the INEC from fielding Ogor as a candidate and entering his name to be on the ballot when the election for the House of Representatives comes up on the 16 of this month.

    The plaintiff claimed that the dates of working experience filled in the 2018 INEC form C.F. 001 and the educational qualification with dates in the 2014 INEC form C.F. 001 and certificates submitted by Ogor, the 3rd defendant for the 2019 general elections were false information and forged certificates.

    “A declaration that by the virtue of the mandatory, constitutional and statutory provision of section 6(6), 36, 106(c) and 107(I)(h) of the 1999 constitution (As Amended), the 3rd defendant, who swore on oath vide his 2014 INEC form C.F. 001-affidavit in support of personal particular of persons seeking election to the House of Representatives, Isoko North/South Federal Constituency of Delta state, that he allegedly obtained his primary school leaving certificate from 1969-1974 (as against his later affidavit in his 2018 INEC form C.F. 001 wherein he stated that he obtained his primary school leaving certificates, at least as respect his educational qualification with dates in the said 2014 INEC form C.F. 001.

    “A declaration that by the virtue of the mandatory, constitutional and statutory provision of section 6(6), 36, 106(c) and 107(I)(h) of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended), the 3rd defendant, stood automatically disqualified ab initio from contesting the forthcoming 2015 general elections into the House of Representatives, Isoko North/South Federal Constituency of Delta state, held February, 2015 or any other date thereabout on the platform of the 1st defendant or any other political party, the 3rd defendant has perjured and presented false information and forged certificates, at least as respect his working experience with dates in the said 2018 INEC form C.F. 001 and his educational qualification with dates in the said 2014 INEC form C.F. 001”, the papers stated.

    Read Also: Leo Ogor back in the House

    The plaintiff, therefore sought, among other things, an order setting aside or nullifying the nomination of Hon Ogor as the candidate of the PDP.

    “A perpetual injunction restraining the 1st and 2nd defendants either by themselves, agents, privies, surrogates or any other person(s) whosoever from parading, presenting, recognising, projecting, forwarding, accepting, or dealing with the 3rd defendant in any manner however as the candidate of the 1st defendant in contesting the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

    “A perpetual injunction restraining the 3rd defendant either by themselves, agents, privies, surrogates or any other person(s) whosoever from parading, presenting, recognising, projecting, forwarding, accepting or suffering his name to be forwarded to the 2nd defendant or dealing with the 1st and 2nd defendants in any manner however as the candidate of the 1st defendant to represent the 1st defendant in the forthcoming 2019 general elections”, the application demanded.

  • 2019: INEC maintains stance on Rivers APC

    …Says it has no candidates for elections

    Four days after the Appeal Court judgement, the Independent National Electoral Commission  (INEC) has maintained that Rivers state All Progressive Congress (APC) has no candidates for the forthcoming general elections.

    This is as the commission announced that both sensitive and non-sensitive materials for the elections have been dispatched to the states in readiness for the polls.

    INEC had fixed 16th February and 2nd March 2019 for the National and states elections. While the Presidential and National Assembly elections comes up on the 16th f February, the governorship, state assembly and FCT council polls comes up two weeks later.

    An Appeal court sitting in Port-Harcourt, presided over by Justice Ali Gumel, granted a stay on Justice Kolawole Omotoso’s judgment on the fielding of candidates by APC in Rovers. Thus, the party expected the commission to restore the names of its candidates removed as a result of the internal crisis within the party in the state.

    But Barrister Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Voter Education and Publicity said that the commission had taken a position.

    Okoye who spoke yesterday at in Abuja at an interactive meeting with journalists revealed that the position of the commission has not changed in respect of Rivers state All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates for the National Assembly and governorship elections.

    He, however, stressed that if there is a change in the situation of things the commission will meet to review its stand.

    He said “What the commission has done is that the commission has taken a position in relation to the issue of Rivers. If anything changes we will meet as a commission and also take a decision.

    “But we have taken a decision relating to the issue of Rivers and if anything changes before we take our final decision, the commission will meet and also take a decision but we have not taken any other decision and we have not repealed our position on the issue of Rivers.”

    On the preparedness of INEC ahead of the forthcoming general elections, Okoye disclosed that the commission has commenced the deployment of sensitive materials and non-sensitive materials to states ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

    Sensitive materials are the ballot papers, result sheets and the rest. According to INEC, while non-sensitive materials were being delivered to local government offices of the commission, the sensitive materials were lodged in the Central Bank vaults in the states.

    while non-sensitive materials were being delivered to local government offices of the commission, the sensitive materials were lodged in the Central Bank vaults in the states.

    He further stated that some local governments have already received delivery of non-sensitive materials such as mats, mattress, amongst others preparatory to next week’s presidential election.

    He stated, “The sensitive materials and other non-sensitive materials, sleeping mats, Dunlops and so on. Some of these ones have gone to the various local governments. The generating sets that would be used in the various registration areas have also been delivered to them. The generating sets that will be used at the local governments have been delivered to them and then touch lights that will be used by the presiding officers on election day has also been delivered to the various local governments.

    “Based on that, we have asked the resident electoral commissioners to beef up security at the various Local Government offices because some of these offices have started receiving the non-sensitive materials for the conduct of the elections.

    “Secondly the Central Bank of Nigeria in the various states have started sensitive materials for the conduct of these elections. These sensitive materials includes ballot papers and result sheets. Elections are just some few days away and if we have not started receiving the sensitive materials into the vault of the central bank, that means we are not a serious commission”.

    “So these materials are being delivered on daily basis to the various Central Bank in the various states of the federation. So we are gradually getting ready for the conduct of the elections.”

    Okoye who also spoke on the burnt PVCs in Abia state said the commission would look at the possibility of printing a new ones for those affected.

    Besides, INEC has directed its offices in the states to beef up security.

    He said, “I think the Nigerian people ought to express some level of outrage at what happened in Abia state.

    “As a commission, we thought that the era of burning the Local Governments offices or offices of the commission’s had come to an end. We did not know that some will attempt to go burn local government offices of the INEC.

    “The Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) as I pointed out have been asked to beef up security at their various local government offices to prevent this type of thing from happening again.

    “We have also asked the REC for Abia state to liaise with the various security agencies and bring the perpetrators of this particular act to book. We cannot anybody or any individual or group to intimidate the commission into doing what is not right.

    “We feel this particular act is an act meant to instill some level of fear into the minds of some of the young persons that have been recruited to conduct this particular election.

    “We are not going to be intimidated by this type of act rather we will be emboldened to do what is right. So those who went to burn the office of the INEC wouldn’t have achieved anything because the commission will continue to follow throw with its processes and procedures as we move towards 2019 elections.

    “The REC has been asked to compile the names and list of all the burnt PVCs and forward to the commissions’ headquarters. If it is possible within the available time to reprint those PVCs that were burnt, the commission will reprint those PVCs and find a way of making sure that the people who own these PVCs and who are ready to collect the PVCs do come forward and collect them.

    “We want to reiterate the fact that we are not going to distribute PVCs by proxy. The owners of the PVCs must collect them in person and any individual or group found to be distributing PVCs through proxy will be arrested and prosecuted.

    Okoye who also spoke on the grievances expressed by the Road Transport Employers Association (RTEAN) for being left out in the signing of the memorandum of understanding for the lifting of personnel and materials on election days, said INEC would not sign MoU with a transport union in crisis.

    “What INEC signed with the various transport unions is MOU. The RECs and the various electoral officers in the various states have also entered into a memo of understanding with the local unions and also with the transporters themselves, the owners of these vehicles.

    “The Independent Electoral Commission will not enter into any MoU with any union that is in crisis because we don’t want to inherit crisis in any union.

    “So we are entering to MOU with unions that have no challenges and we also entering into  MoU with the various transporters, those who are going to provide the vehicles on the election day.”

  • INEC releases final list of Gov, Assembly candidates Thursday

    The final list of candidates for Governorship, State Assembly and FCT Area Council elections will be published on Thursday, the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has said.

    Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the list will be published in all the State offices nationwide and the Commission’s website.

    Yakubu spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at the Swearing -in of a new Resident Electoral Commission (REC) Elder Monday Udo Tom from Akwa Ibom State.

    This brings the total number of RECs nationwide to 36 out of 37 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The Commission is awaiting the confirmation and appointment of the nominee for Osun State.

    He also revealed the commission has implemented ten out of the fourteen activities outlined in the commission’s scheduled programs of actives.

    “Your appointment is coming just 16 days to the 2019 General Elections. We have already implemented 10 out of the 14 activities in our timetable and schedule of activities.

    Read Also: INEC worries over conflicting judgments, orders

    “The final list of candidates for Governorship, State Assembly and FCT Area Council elections will be published in all our State offices nationwide and the Commission’s website, tomorrow Thursday 31st January 2019.”

    Congratulating the new REC, Yakubu informed him that though he will be posted to a state within his geo-political zone, he can however be posted anywhere in the country.

    He said: “Furthermore, as a REC, you can be posted to any part of the country at any time as the exigencies of service require. For now, you will be posted to a State within your geo-political zone but you will never serve in you State of origin throughout your tenure. In line with this principle, you are hereby deployed to Bayelsa State.”

    The new REC holds a BSc. degree in Biological Science and a Master’s degree in Microbiology.

    He served as lecturer and civil servant in Akwa Ibom State.

  • 2019: INEC accredits 144 observer groups

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has accredited 144 observer groups that will monitor the conduct of the forthcoming general elections in the country.

    The figure, as published on the commission’s official website, www.inecnigeria.org, comprised 116 domestic and 28 international observer groups.

    The commission advised all the accredited observers to abide by its code of conduct for election observers.

    “INEC is pleased to announce the successful applicants to observe the 2019 general elections holding on 16th Feb. 2019 and 2nd March, 2019.

    “All accredited observers shall abide by the code of conduct for election observers, which is available for download on the INEC website (www.inecnigeria.org).

    “INEC reserves the right to cancel and withdraw the accreditation of any organisation if its members or agents breach the code of conduct,’’ the commission said.

    It, therefore, advised the accredited groups to obtain and complete form EC 14A (ii) from its Elections and Party Monitoring Department, at its Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja between 8am to 4pm (Monday to Friday) starting from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1.

    The commission, however, warned that it would hand over to law enforcement agencies any group other than those accredited, found in any state for the elections.

    “Also, accredited field observers found in states other than where they are posted will equally be sanctioned.

    The accredited foreign observer groups are African Bar Association; African Parliament of The Civil Society; African Union; British High Commission; Democrat Union of Africa; ECOWAS; Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) Republic Of Cameroon; and the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa.

    Other accredited foreign observers are Embassy of France; Embassy of Japan; Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt; Embassy of The Republic Of Korea; European Centre For Electoral Support; European Union; German International Agency; High Commission of Canada; and the International Foundation For Electoral System.

    The International Human Rights CommissionI; International Peace Commission; International Republican Institute; the National Democratic Institute; the Network for Solidarity; and the Empowerment and Transformation for All were also accredited to cover the elections.

    Other international obsevers accredited are Nigerians in Diaspora Organization; Pan African Women Projects; Pan African Youth Training and Enlightenment Centre; Queen Zara Foundation for Human Resources Development; The Commonwealth; and the United States Embassy

    On the domestic scene, Action Aid Nigeria; Advocacy for Quality Leadership and Health Awareness Foundation; African Centre For Leadership, Strategy and Development; African Christian Care Trust Organization; Transition Monitoring Group; and YIAGA Africa Initiative are some of the observer groups accredited.

    Read Also: INEC excludes Zakari, other RECs from Collation

    Others are African Initiative for Sustainable and Positive Development; African Youth Leadership Roundtable Initiative; Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society; Alliance for Credible Election; Asabe Shehu Yar’adua Foundation; Centre for Citizens With Disabilities; Centre for Strategic Conflict Management; and the Centre for Transparency Advocacy

    Still on the domestic list are Children and Youth Awareness Development Foundation; Christian Association of Nigeria; Christian Council Of Nigeria; Church Of Nigeria Anglican Communion; Citizens Rights And Leadership Awareness Initiative; and the Citizens Rights For Peace And Good Leadership Initiative.

    The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre; Cleen Foundation; Conscience Women of Africa Initiative; Jama’atu Izalatau Badi’ah Wa Ikamatu Sunnatu; Justice Development And Peace; Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria; and the National Orientation Agency also got the approval to cover the elections.

    The others are the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (Policy And Legal Advocacy Centre); Nigerian Bar Association; Northern Patriotic Front; Northern Youth And Elders Awareness Forum; Police Service Commission; Shehu Musa Yar’adua Foundation; and The Albino Foundation.