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Tag: Guber election

  • Air Force deploys helicopter for election in Anambra

    Ahead of Saturday’s House of Assembly and National Assembly supplementary elections in Anambra state, the Nigerian Air Force, has deployed helicopters for aerial surveillance in the state.

    As a result, the state government has asked residents not to panic as it is part of the measures by security operatives to checkmate electoral troubles in the state.

    The State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C-Don Adinuba, said this on Friday in Awka in a statement made available to reporters

    Adinuba said ,”As part of the effort to ensure a free and fair election on Saturday, March 9, the Nigerian Air Force will deploy some of its helicopters to conduct surveillance across the country. The helicopters will fly at low altitudes most of the time”

    “The Anambra State Government is, therefore, advising the people not to panic at the aerial surveillance especially when they see the helicopters flying at low levels in different parts of the state”

    ” The aircraft will fly at low levels to enable the Nigerian Air Force personnel to have a bird’s eye view of the situation on the ground”

    ” A number of innocent Nigerians, including security officers, lost their lives or were maimed during the February 23 presidential and National Assembly elections”

    “The Government does not want a repeat of any such tragic occurrence in any part of the Federation”

    “The Anambra State Government calls upon all our people, particularly youths who are used by unconscionable politicians to snatch ballot boxes and foment trouble generally during elections, to resist the temptation to run foul of the law or contravene any electoral regulation” the statement read.

  • INEC, security chiefs meet ahead of polls

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) and the security agencies involved in the conduct of the general elections met on to concretise security arrangements ahead of Saturday polls.

    On Saturday 9th March 2019, Nigerians are expected to elect Governors in 29 States, as well as members of Houses of Assembly in all the States of the Federation.

    There will also be elections into FCT council areas as well as supplementary National Assembly polls in some part of the country where elections did not hold on the 23rd of February.

    Welcoming the security chiefs, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stressed the importance of the meeting as it is coming two days before the last sets of the general elections.

    He said, “this is a very important meeting indeed. It is also the last consultative meeting before the second phase of voting in the 2019 general elections. ”

     

    Details shortly…

  • Court wades into Ondo APC primary crisis

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) lawmaker representing Akoko Southeast/West in the House of Representatives, Kolawole Babatunde has dragged the candidate of the party in the area, Ade Adeogun to the Federal High Court sitting in Akure.

    Babatunde is challenging the inclusion of his name on the result sheet of the party’s primary election held late last year.

    Other defendants are APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, Ondo state Chairman, Ade Adetimehin and INEC.

    Counsel to the plaintiff, John Adanike maintained that there was no reason for his client’s name to be included in the list, alleging that APC held no primary election for the House of Representatives aspirants across the state.

    Speaking with reporters, Babatunde said he was challenging the list to safeguard his reputation and future political career, noting that the score allotted to him in the list was forged.

    Kolawole wondered where the figure emanated from, and described the attempt as a way of rubbishing his name and his future political career.

    Counsels to the defendants, Henry Akingbesote, and Oluwafemi Kuku prayed the court to step down the notice of motion, pointing out that pre-election matter must be raised within only fourteen days.

    In his ruling, the Presiding Judge, Justice Abdul Dogo said objection could be raised based on ‘ statue barred’ as provided by sub-section eight of Nigeria constitution.

    Justice Dogo thereafter adjourned the case to March 14 for ruling and other considerations for the applications.

  • Guber election: INEC assures uniform timing nationwide

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given assurance that there would be uniform timing in the commencement of Saturday’s Governorship and State Assembly elections nationwide.

    The INEC National Commissioner in-charge of Enugu/Anambra/Benue States, Mr Gestus Okoye gave the assurance in Enugu.

    Okoye, who was interacting with reporters on the preparedness of the commission for the polls, also said that there would be full deployment of the smart card readers nationwide.

    He said that the commission was ready to conduct free, fair and credible elections, adding that it had fine-tuned all the loose-ends encountered during the Presidential and National Assembly polls.

    He said: “This time around, we want to ensure that each polling unit in the federation starts the process at 8 a.m. dot on the day of the elections.

    “So we want to make sure that all our ad-hoc staff and materials got to the polling units before 7.30 a.m.

    “And the usage of the smart card readers will be universal in all the polling units.

    “Any polling unit where the people or political thugs did not allow the presiding officer to use the smart card reader will get zero votes.”

    Read Also: INEC: 63 card readers missing in Bayelsa

    Okoye advised presiding officers to remain calm in the face of any threats from any quarters at the polling units but score that polling unit zero vote at the collation centre.

    He warned that the commission would no longer tolerate the killing, maiming or injuring of its ad hoc staff, who might be corps members serving their fatherland.

    “We have discussed with the Inspector-General of Police “to ensure that all our staff members, including the ad-hoc staff, are given adequate protection from violent attacks during the polls.

    “The commission will protect its own with every passion and means it can muster.”

    He appealed to Nigerians to come out en mass to exercise their civic duty on March 9.

  • PDP suffers set back in Kaduna as LG exco defects to APC

    …Pastors pass confidence vote on El-Rufai

     

    The membership of Kaduna State chapter of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has further depleted as execute members of Kudan local government area have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) with thousands of supporters Tuesday.

    This was as Pastors under the auspices of Amalgamated Kaduna Pastors passed vote of confidence and endorsed Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai for second term in office.

    The former exco members who are from the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Isa Ashiru’s local government, were received by the Secretary to Kaduna State Government, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal on behalf of Governor Nasir El Rufai.

    Speaking on behalf of the decampees, a former Commissioner of Local Government Affairs, Alhaji Magaji Sadiq Hunkuyi said that they dumped PDP because it has neglected the people of Kudan area council and the internal crisis ravaging the state chapter of the party.

    Hunkuyi who also hails from Kudan local government, promised to deliver the area council to APC in the next Saturday governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    The 28-member former exco include; Malam Tsoho Mohammed, the former Chairman of Hunkuyi Ward, ex-Chairman of Sokoto Ward, Alhaji Salisu Yaro and Alhaji Tafida Karfinka, former Chairman of Kauran Walk Ward.

    Others are; Amba Aliyu, Bilkisu Uba and Dangude Yelwa, former Women Leaders of Hunkuyi, Doka and Taban wards respectively.

    Ex Youth Leader Musa Shittu of Likoro ward, his counterpart in Garu ward Ali Gadanga and Musa Magaji, former Youth Leader of Hunkuyi ward were also amongst those who crossed over to APC.

    It will be recalled that a PDP governorship aspirant, Sani Sidi and his associates across 23 local government of Kaduna state, had earlier defected to APC on Monday, citing lack of consultations and reconciliation by PDP and its gubernatorial candidate since Ashiru emerged the party’s flagbearer.

    Meanwhile, the amalgamated Kaduna Pastors, while endorsing El-Rufai also condemned the statement credited to the chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) disparaging the person of Governor Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai and his administration.

    The Pastors said, the statement credited to the CAN Chairman, Rev. Joseph Hayab was done in bad faith and should be regarded as his personal opinion and should be treated as such.

    In a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of the group, Rev. Nath Omale said the group of Pastors under the umbrella which spread across the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State have passed a vote of confidence on the administration of Governor El-Rufai and will work for his re-election on Saturday.

    They said, “there are many achievements of the present administration in the state which have touched the lives of people positively and therefore we will work for his re-election.”

    The group noted that their endorsement came after a careful and honest assessment of the administration recognition of people from different tribes and religion currently serving in his government.

    According to them, “Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has freed the state from the shackles of godfatherism and enslavement and do not allow religion and tribalism to determine his focus in areas of development across the state.”

    “These among many other achievements in the almost four years of the Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai administration has made us to resolve to support the current administration in the state to continue till 2023,” the Pastors said.

  • INEC omits APC guber candidate in Enugu

    All Progressives Congress (APC) may not field a governorship candidate in Enugu state for the February 9 gubernatorial election.

    A final list for the March 9 governorship election published on the website of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showed that Enugu APC had no candidate.

    The list signed by Rose Oriaran-Anthony, Secretary, INEC, said it was in obedience to court order as the party was yet to submit a fresh name after Ayogu was sacked.

    In the 330-page final list of candidates, Enugu occupied pages 100 to 111, with the APC having candidate.

    A Federal High Court in Abuja, had allegedly sacked Senator Ayogu Eze as the governorship candidate of the party in Enugu State.

    In the judgment delivered by Hon. Justice I. Ekwo of the Federal High Court 5, the court asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognize Barr. George Ogara as the candidate.

    Read Also: Polls: INEC receives sensitive materials in Kwara

    However the APC National Working Committee (NWC), which earlier declared that Ayogu was still the candidate known to the party was yet to obey the order of the court, which had asked that Ogara’s name be submitted to the INEC.

    The Ayogu Eze campaign organization, however could not offer any reaction to the development.

    The spokesman of the campaign organization, Okey Ezerigwe told The Nation that Ayogu Eze was in Abuja to tackle the issue, assuring that “he is making some progress and is due back to Enugu on Tuesday.”

     

     

  • APC’ll complete takeover of Delta on Saturday, Buhari vows

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said Saturday’s election will complete the cycle of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) take-over of the affairs of Delta state.

    This, he said, is going by the achievements of the party in the state during the presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Buhari made the declaration at the PTI Conference Centre, Effurun, Uvwie council area of the state on Monday when he addressed a congregation of the party’s stakeholders and other stakeholders of the state, including traditional rulers.

    The President, who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, also assured the stakeholders the federal government would ensure there is adequate security during next Saturday’s elections to address concerns about rigging and other electoral anomalies.

    “What happened last Saturday is a great victory for us but it is only the beginning because the completion of that victory is going to come by the grace of God on Saturday March 9, 2019 when we vote in our own governor, Great Ogboru, who will by the grace of God be a governor from that very day.

    “It is very clear to everybody and to the world that Delta State can never be the same again.

    “It’s impossible for Delta State to go back after what happened on Saturday. As the APC chairman said, we all watched to see what will happen in Delta state. Delta state was a focus of all of our attention.”

    He went on: “Just as the chairman has said, we have seen a Delta state where the PDP was unable to recall a vote of 1.2 million and will knew they wrote the result.

    “We wanted to see what way they can be curtailed, but you all proved that ‘you can tell a lie for a thousand years, but one day the truth will catch up’ and the truth caught up with them last Saturday.

    “That truth will manifest itself fully this Saturday when we hold the next election. Delta state has proved a very important point that this state is ready for change to the next level.

    “The other reason why it is so important for us to ensure that Delta State become an APC state has been pointed out. The social investment programme that we put in place, it is only APC governor that can implement such programmes faithfully.

    “We believe that once we are able to have an APC governor such programmes will be implemented.”

    Speaking on reasons why the state should not remain in the opposition to the federal government, Prof Osinbajo pointed at the various development projects that had been kicked off for the economic and social development of the oil-rich Niger Delta region, especially Delta state.

    “I heard talks about Delta Steel Company (DSC), after so many years, the Itakpe-Aladja railway has been completed 35 years after being on the card. It’s this same President that completed it. PDP has been in power all these many years, why didn’t they complete it? They (PDP) are the ones who created this mess.

    “Even the Warri seaport which we are now dredging has been there for years. They didn’t do it. All of these times that PDP has been in power. Sometimes, it surprises me that with the resources that Delta State has had for so many years, where are the fruit of the resources. Look at the Warri Seaport, it could have been seamlessly be done by the state. Here we are, we (APC) are completing the dredging of the channel. Even the East-West raod, this is the first government that has put resources for its completion. We are putting large amount of money into the East-West road. We all will benefit from it.

    “Delta state should not be an opposition state. Why should Delta be an opposition state? Why? There is no reason for it at all. For all the periods that Delta State has had high resources, what we need was a change from a progressive party. The time has come. This is the moment, let us seize that moment. You have shown courage, it is only the courageous that wins”, he said.

    Meanwhile, speaking earlier, various speakers had urged Presiden Buhari to ensure strict security cover for the state to prevent the rigging of next Saturday’s election by the PDP, saying that the party (PDP) would repeat its alleged rigging pattern during the governorship and state House of Assembly election if there is no proper security to deter such.

    The event gathered leaders and stakeholders of the party in the state, including the governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru, the leaders of the party in the state, like the Minister of State of Petroleum Resources, Dr Dr Ibe Kachikwu, former governor of the state, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and others.

  • Guber election: Group backs power shift in Kogi

    Guber election: Group backs power shift in Kogi

    AHEAD of the November 21 governorship election in Kogi State, the recent resolve by key stakeholders from the West and Central senatorial districts of the state to field a common candidate has been endorsed by a group known as Kogi Central Think-tank Forum (KCTF).

    The endorsement followed a recent meeting of stakeholders from the two senatorial districts in Abuja to fashion out ways to wrest the governorship ticket from the Kogi East Senatorial District.

    A statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of KTTF, Alhaji Jafaar Mohammed, described the move as laudable and promised to provide its platform to propagate the message.

    The statement condemned a recent publication in The Nation newspaper credited to one Bello Salami Yunusa, who claimed to be speaking on behalf of the people of Central Senatorial District of Kogi State, kicking against the resolve of the stakeholders.

    It took exception to Yunusa’s claim that the people of Kogi Central would not vote for any governorship candidate of Okun (Kogi West) extraction who might emerge from the ongoing alliance between stakeholders from the West and Central senatorial districts, aimed at ending the years of misrule by the East Senatorial District.

    “As key stakeholders, we make bold to say that the said Bello Salami Yunusa does not exist. The publication is the handiwork of mischief makers, who are increasingly getting worried by the resolve of both Kogi West and Central Senatorial District to speak with one voice,” the statement said.

    It added: “As a body, we have made our investigations and have come to the conclusion that the said publication was intended to cause division in the ranks of the stakeholders of both senatorial districts, who have been sacrificing their time and resources to realise the objective of having power moved to another axis of the state for once after many years of misrule by our kith and kin from Kogi East Senatorial District.

    “The realisation of the dream of having either an Ebira or Okun as governor in the November 21 governorship poll is not a wishful thinking as it is non-negotiable. It is a vision whose time has come.

    “We understand that the coming together of major stakeholders from the West and Central senatorial districts is already giving our brothers from the East Senatorial District high blood pressure, but we do not expect anything less.

    “They can rest-assured that we are not seeking a change to witch-hunt but facilitate the realisation of the vision of the founding fathers of the state towards a united, prosperous and peaceful as well as a more cohesive Kogi State.”