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Tag: Independent National Electoral Commission

  • 2019 polls will be hitch-free, says Akeredolu

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has assured that the 2019 General Elections will be credible and peaceful

    The Governor said so far, President Muhammadu Buhari and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have shown their commitments and preparedness for a one man, one vote.

    Akeredolu spoke on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of the Strategic Stakeholders’ Dialogue On Peaceful and Violence free General elections in Nigeria at International Centre for Culture and Event (The Dome), Akure, the state capital.

    The programme was organised for South West States by the United Nations Development Programme and Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Ondo State Government.

    The Governor, represented by the Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, lauded Buhari for the facilitation of the early release of fund to INEC, which he said would enable the commission to exhibit high level of independence, objectivity, transparency and high standard of professionalism in the delivery of its primary mandate.

    He also reassured the gathering that the Buhari’s administration is committed with other tiers of governments and relevant stakeholders in ensuring the peaceful conduct of the coming elections.

    Read Also: Akeredolu restates commitment to Ondo development

    According to him “the President has assured Nigerians and the global community that the processes leading to the general election will be open and devoid of political interference”.

    Akeredolu charged both the foreign and local observers to work with INEC and security personnel and to also ensure they act and be seen to act with impartiality.

    “I implore local and international journalists, media, organizations, social commentators, to be more objective in their reportage and provide equal access to media platforms for all political parties and candidates in order to promote political fairness”, he stated.

    Stakeholders at the event included, representative of Governor of Osun State, Security Chiefs, Political, Traditional and Spiritual leaders, representatives of INEC, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) among others.

  • 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.”

  • Court names Ogara Enugu APC’s governorship candidate

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday declared George Ogara the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Enugu state.

    Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) accept Ogara as the governorship candidate of the APC in Enugu state, having scored the highest valid votes casted in the 270 Wards of the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.

    The judgment was on a suit by Ogara, in which he named Senator Ayogu Eze, APC’s National Chairman, a chieftain of the party, Prof Moses Momoh and INEC as defendants.

    Justice Ekwo ordered INEC to recognize Ogara as the candidate of the APC for the purpose of 2019 governorship election in Enugu state.

    The Judge was of the view that the direct primary election of the party that produced Ogara as the party’s governorship candidate in Enugu was in compliance with the party’s guidelines as well as the Electoral Act.

    He ordered APC and its National Chairman to forward Ogara’s name to INEC as the party’s flagbearer in the 2019 governorship election in Enugu state.

    The Judge also restrained INEC from accepting any other name except that of Ogara, for the purpose of the 2019 governorship election in Enugu state, having scored the highest votes in the primary elections.

    Justice Ekwo declared that the plaintiff, having scored the highest number of votes cast by members of the APC in Enugu State for the Governorship direct primary election conducted on October 4, 2014 at the 260 Wards, is the nominated Candidate of the APC.

    He said the failure of the 2nd to 4th defendants to forward the name of the plaintiff to the 5th defendant (INEC) as the candidate of the 4th defendant (APC) and the refusal of INEC to publish the name of the plaintiff as the candidate of APC for the governorship election, is contrary to the provisions of Section 87 (3) of the Electoral Act. 2010 (as amended) and Article 20 of the APC Constitution.

    The judge further said: “Plaintiff’s name is entitled to be forwarded by the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants to the 5th Defendant as the Candidate of the 2nd and 4th Defendants in the 2019 Enugu State Governorship election.

    “That the direct primary election for Governorship aspirants conducted on 4/10/2018, wherein the plaintiff emerged as the winner on 4/10/2018, having scored the highest number of Votes cast in the said direct primary election for Enugu State Governorship aspirants is consistent with and in compliance with the provisions of Section 87 (3) of the Electoral Act. 2010 (as amended) and Article 20 (iii) of the A11 Progressives Congress Constitution, 2014 (as amended).”

  • You can’t blackmail Nigerians, PDP tells Buhari

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told President Muhammadu Buhari he cannot blackmail Nigerians over his impending defeat in the February 16 presidential election.

    The main opposition party lamented what it described as the administration’s incessant blackmail and threats against the opposition and law -abiding Nigerians.

    In a statement Tuesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said Nigerians will not buckle under the jackboots.

    It also alleged efforts by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to heat up the polity, inject crisis, undermine the general elections, then carry its heinous plots to use mercenaries from Niger Republic to unleash mayhem on the nation and blame it on the opposition.

    This plot, the PDP alleged, is because the APC have realised that there is no way Buhari can win in a peaceful, free and fair election.

    The party also drew the attention of the international community to what it described as land mines being set on the way of credible elections by the APC.

    It cited the clamp down on opposition, foisting of President Buhari’s relation, Amina Zakari, as head of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) collation centre.

    Read Also: PDP ‘ll fix economy — Peter Obi

    The PDP also cited the refusal by President Buhari to sign the amendment to the Electoral Act, the creation of illegal geo-spatial centers and polling units for allocation of “fictitious” votes for the APC, listing of APC supporters as election officials and the opening of borders to “mercenaries” to participate in the electoral process as some of the danger signals.

    The party said: “It is now clear to all that the target of the APC is to demonize and cow the opposition, instill fear in Nigerians, undermine our democratic institutions, attempt to subjugate the citizenry and pave the way for the actualization of a self-succession plan for President Buhari.

    “The PDP, as a political party with the highest demography of members and supporters, in their millions, across our nation, therefore states in unequivocal terms, that Nigerians will never allow themselves to be blackmailed, intimidated or cowed by the APC into relinquishing their constitutionally guaranteed rights, to freely choose their leaders, no matter the threats.

    “The PDP stands with Nigerians, across the board, in demanding for a free, fair, transparent and credible general election.

    “This position must be respected, as the citizens of our country will spare no thoughts in vehemently confronting and squarely resisting, head to head, any attempt by anybody, whosoever he may be, to subvert our electoral process.”

  • El-Rufai desperate to rig elections, CUPP alleges

    Coalition of United Political Parties, (CUPP) on Tuesday alleged that, Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is desperate to use his state sponsored security operatives to manipulate and rig the forthcoming elections.

    The coalition made the allegation at a press briefing in Kaduna, noting that Governor El-Rufai in his desperation to manipulate the elections recently inaugurated a new security operatives in the guise of ‘Kaduna State Local Government Safety and Emergency Management Volunteers,’ which he intended to use as Polling Unit Guards.

    The state Chairman of CUPP, Hon. Umar Ibrahim Mairakumi while addressing pressman hinted that the governor is working hard to obtain approval from INEC and to influence the Kaduna State Police Command to accept his state sponsored Kaduna Vigilante Services popularly known as “Kato da Gora,” as part of the election security team.

    Noting that any attempt to manipulate the forthcoming elections will be resisted,  Mairakumi however  called on all security agencies and Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to ensure that the process and conduct of the 2019 general election is not only free and fair but credible and in line with international best practices.

    In another development, Governor El-Rufai, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Hon. Isa Ashiru Kudan, and other governorship candidates had earlier signed a Peace Accord to ensure a conduct of free, fair and credible elections and a peaceful transition of political power.

    Read Also: Corruption: ‘Buhari is on the right track’

    The gubernatorial candidates signed the peace deal at the Kaduna State Police Command Headquarters

    The state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmad Abdulrahman whom in his remarks assured that the security agents will be firm and fair while discharging their duties, told the politicians at the gathering that winning election into public office should not be a desperate task.

    The CP who called on all and sundry to partner with the security agencies in ensuring a hitch-free campaign and violence-free elections added that: “violence free election is a fundamental means to sustainable peace and development.”

    He said: “the Peace Accord signifies our respective commitment to peace and symbolizes respect for the rule of law.

    “I want to suggest that, candidates and supporters must accept the outcome as announced by the constituted authorities, rather than make trouble because the results are not in one’s favour.

    “Let us prepare our minds to accept the results for the sake of our dear nation. While those who will emerge as winners must not allow themselves and their supporters when jubilating, to tease and provoke the other sides.”

    In an interview with journalists shortly after the peace deal, the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Isa Ashiru called on INEC to provide a level playing ground for all political parties during the elections, adding that “they (INEC) should play the role of unbiased umpire and they should be free and fair to all.”

    When asked on how the party will ensure that it supporters are law abiding, he said, “our supporters have been law abiding and we have had series of visits across the state.”

  • NLC vows to resist sale of NNPC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday that it will resist any attempt to sell the nation’s refineries or privatize the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    It asked the government to immediately invoke the relevant sections of the law and revoke the Privatisation of the power sector.

    The Congress also said it will mobilize Nigerian workers to demand the composition of governing board for the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund and other agencies of government whose boards are yet to be inaugurated and are being run by the Ministers as sole administrators.

    President of Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba who spoke at the 12th delegates conference of the NLC in Abuja said evidence abound across the country that Privatization has not done the nation any good as majority of government owned enterprises privatized are now comatose.

    Wabba said what has happened in the past the enterprises are under prices and sold to friends and associates who strip them of the assets, leaving them comatose and unproductive.

    He emphasized that “since the privatization of electricity distribution, Nigerians are yet to see the fulfilment of promises of efficient service delivery. Instead, the electricity situation has gone worse with chronic failures by DISCOs to supply prepaid meters, exploitation of Nigerians through estimated billings and reluctance to attend to basic complaints.

    “Even with N39 billion bailout funds from government, the supposed private entrepreneurs have failed to turn anything around except maybe their pockets, unfortunately, at the expense of Nigerians. This must stop. We call on government to reverse the power sector privatisation because it has failed.

    “Privatization of public utilities has not generally proven to be the correct thing to do in most countries even developed ones. According to a study released by Public Services International.

    Read Also: NLC insists on N30, 000 minimum wage

    “Why Public Private Partnerships don’t work; the many advantages of public alternative authored by David Hall privatizing public utilities has been a wreck in most countries. Example form Spain, France, India, South Korea, UK, Australia among others show how public/state guarantees and loans to private sector for the utilities sector have resulted in failures on delivery of services as well as repayment in most cases”.

    On the promise by one of the Presidential candidates to privatize the NNPC, Wabba said the Congress will not accept any attempt to sell National assets under any guise and will do everything possible and within legal means to stop such an attempt.

    He said that “the crisis of industrialization and manufacturing in Nigeria is best exemplified by the chaos in our downstream petroleum industry where we have been unable to manage our vast natural carbon resources for national development and the prosperity of our people. Our four national refineries are almost under lock and key as we depend on the importation of refined petroleum products for our energy needs.”

    He condemned the non-inauguration of the boards of some government agencies especially those within the Labour circle, saying such action had made the process of collective bargaining difficult, adding that the Congress has decided to take up the issue and would soon engage the relevant authorities over the issue.

    He said “as we gather in this Conference, almost four years down the line the following critical labour market institution boards are yet to be inaugurated. They are the NSITF, Michael Imoudu Labour Institute and PENCOM. This is not only a violation of the Act establishing these bodies but a denial of the critical role of social partners in the management of these boards.

    “Also, the National Labour Advisory Council has not been constituted thereby denying any avenue for tripartite consultation. No reason is good enough for this unhealthy development.”

    Speaking on the 2019 elections, Wabba said “As we approach the 2019 general election, we call on the election management body – Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) – and in deed all stakeholders to ensure that we have a peaceful, free, fair and credible elections in February and March, 2019.

    “Congress will continue to hold both the players and the referee in this very important election to account on their words and conduct. Nigerians must rise above partisan interests and become the winners of this election – not political parties and their candidates.

    “The truth is that we do not have any other country other than Nigeria to call our own and we must therefore stop the politicians from using the elections as a pretext to throw the country into crisis.

    “In defending and promoting the cause of Nigerian workers, our focus is to build workers’ power through organizing. We have worked tirelessly to promote causes that can enhance the quality of life and improve the income cum other working conditions of workers. We have paid close attention to workers’ education through our increasingly improved education programmes especially the Rain and Harmattan Schools.”

    On the economy, Wabba said “Our national economy given its vast potentials, amidst diverse challenges, showed some promises in recent times. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 1.81% (year-on-year) in real terms in the third quarter of 2018.

    “This is slightly better than the growth of 1.17% achieved in the third quarter of 2017. The recent GDP growth and increase in internally generated revenue are signs of the steady recovery of our economy from recession.

    “Despite these results, our economy remains largely import driven and dependent. The growth in the size of our economy – the biggest in Africa – is still non-inclusive as the gap between the rich and poor continues to widen. Though described as mixed, our economy is essentially rent seeking and still suffers from systemic distortions.

    “The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report for the third quota of 2018 indicates that the general number of persons unemployed in the country has increased by 3.3 million. The report further indicates that the combined rate of unemployment and under-employment rose from 40.0% in the 2017 third quarter to 43.3% in the third quarter of 2018.”

    He said Nigerians and the government should be worried that the increased pool of graduates, skilled and unskilled youth in the unemployment market especially rural unemployment is a time bomb, adding that attempt to sack workers under any guise as it happened in Kaduna State will complicate the situation.”

    He stressed that the over dependence of our economy on crude oil revenue and the mismanagement of our vast oil wealth through corruption perpetrated by successive governments continue to expose the nation to severe shocks from price fluctuation in the international crude oil market, saying “this was how we landed in the last recession.

    “While we commend the efforts of the current government on economic diversification particularly through agriculture, we are not unmindful of serious structural issues that undermine the progress being made, deeply limit inclusive growth and impact negatively on sustainable development. We will therefore continue to call on government to pay serious attention to these issues.

    Wabba informed the delegates that efforts were being made to reposition the Labour Party and make it a truly Democratic party that all workers will be proud of.

    He said “Your mandate to us to recover and reposition the Labour Party has been met with significant commitment and efforts. We have been able to secure a High Court order that has recognized the NLC as the custodian of the Labour Party. This success has made the task of recovering and repositioning the Labour party a lot easier.

    “Consequent upon the reconciliatory moves by this leadership and other stakeholders, we have agreed to hold an all-inclusive national convention of the Labour Party in order to elect genuine leaders that will translate into reality our shared aspirations to reposition the Labour Party as the numero uno political party in Nigeria.

    “We will intensify current initiatives to settle all the differences within the rank and file of the Labour Party and reconcile the warring factions. We will keep our focus on ensuring that the proposed all-inclusive National Convention of the Labour Party takes place sooner than later.”

  • Cleric to INEC, politicians: ensure free, credible elections

    REVEREND Wamtunghun Mureng of the Church of Christ In Nations (COCIN) has called on Independent National Electoral Commission  (INEC) and politicians to refrain from all forms of electoral malpractice.

    He said any position attained through twisting, bribing and without approval of God is in vain and destined to end in regrets “in this world and the hereafter”.

    Mureng gave the advice on Sunday at the inauguration of the Local Church Council (LCC), Kabayi, Nasarawa State.

    Read also: PDP alleges INEC plans to rig

    The cleric also called on INEC to play its part with the fear of God, making sure that the process was conducted in a free and fair manner.

    Urging Christians to vote for candidates of their choice, he said that the Church had no right to tell members whom to vote for in the elections.

     

  • PDP gives INEC 24 hours to publish list of ad hoc staff

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to within 24 hours publish the list of all officials and ad hoc staff that would play any form of role in the forthcoming general elections at all levels.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, who made the call at a press conference on Monday in Abuja said that the list should be published for verification by stakeholders.

    Ologbondiyan said that any delay or refusal by INEC to publish the list within 48 hours would be a clear acceptance that the commission had been compromised by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He accused the INEC leadership of plotting to rig the forthcoming general elections for President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He also called on the international community to place the INEC Chairman, Directors and Commissioners in INEC responsible for this election on its watch list in the conduct of the elections.

    Ologbondiyan however, urged all members of the PDP, and all meaning Nigerians to vote for the party and protect their votes.

    Reacting to the allegations, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that less than two weeks to the general elections, the commission could not afford to be distracted by baseless allegations.

    Oyekanmi said that the Commission was not a political party and would not allow itself to be dragged into unnecessary controversies at a time like this.

    “The INEC has been conducting general elections since the past 20 years.

    “During this time, especially since 2010 and particularly from 2015, the commission has introduced many innovations to improve the electoral system.

    “One of such innovations is to ensure that no member of any political party is engaged to participate in the conduct of elections.

    “I therefore call on any political party or individuals with information on how the Commission plans to or has engaged members of any political party as ad-hoc staff for the upcoming general elections to make such information public and mention specific names.

    “It is not enough to make wild allegations. It is incumbent upon those who make such allegations to also provide the proof,” Oyekanmi said.

    He assured that INEC would conduct free, fair and credible general elections, and for which it needed the support of all Nigerians.(NAN)

  • Rig with IDPs and face the consequences, PDP tells INEC

    The opposition Peoples Democratic Party has dared the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to rig the 2019 general through the use of  the Internally Displaced Persons  (IDPs).

    It said the electoral umpire will face the wrath of Nigerians.

    National chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, who spoke at a campaign rally in Bénin City said the consequence of rigging the elections would be grave as the people will definitely pour out their anger.

    He said Alhaji Atiku, when elected, would rescue the country from poverty, hunger, and mass killings.

    “INEC should not use the IDPs to rig the elections; otherwise there will be wahala (trouble)”

    Presidential candidate one PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who described himself as the bridge between between the younger generation and the elderly told the people to vote for him and all PDP candidates.

    He urged Nigeria youths should strive to  takeover the mantle of leadership of the nation for her growth and survival.

    Alhaji Abubakar appealed to Edo people to guard against all forms of intimidation and manipulations on elections day at all polling units

    Abubakar who promised to turn around the country’s socio-political and economic framework for a better future for all Nigerians said he would tackle hunger, unemployment, killings, insecurity and other social vices.

    The former Vice President said the problems were inflicted on the citizens by the present All Progressives Congress led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Abubakar said he would ensure the country remained a safe investment haven for small, medium and large scale businesses while other economic benefits are to come the way of all sectors of the economy to boost the welfare of the citizens.

    According to him, “I have told Nigerians that I am a bridge between the generation and my generation. Virtually all of you are young Nigerians and my government will ensure that 70 percent of youths are in my government. It means we have to prepare you to take over the reins of power, to take over the leadership of this country so you have your businesses and enterprises so that while you are doing your businesses, you will succeed.

    “I want you to continue on the path of prosperity. If you vote stay there, don’t go until they declare the results. You see how they brought people from Niger. APC has caused hardship, drive them away, send them away. Kick them out. Buhari must go. PDP people I love you, I trust you,” he stated.

    The state chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Osi Orbih assured Alhaji Atiku and his PDP campaign train that members of the party are ready to ensure its victory at the polls come next month.

     

     

     

  • Frontline Senators who won’t be in the 9th assembly

    Following the final list of candidates that will contest the February 16 national assembly elections across the country, the fate of some prominent senators are now sealed as they will definitely not be returning to the upper chamber at the expiration of the 8th assembly next June, writes Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor

    As the date for the February 2019 presidential and national assembly elections draw closer, it is now clear that some prominent members of the red chamber of the national assembly will not be returning back to the senate after the expiration of the current assembly in June. The final confirmation of the end of their stay in the upper chamber came when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released what it call the final list of national assembly candidates for the 2019 general elections.

    While a little more than 60 senators who made INEC’s list of national assembly contenders have chances of being part of the 9th assembly as they will now slug it out with their opponents on February 16, more than 40 of their colleagues have no hope of ever being part of the next senate as their names are not on the list of those that will be participating in the nationwide elections that will produce members of the 9th assembly.

    The affected senators will not be contesting the 2019 elections for various reasons. While a number of them voluntarily decided to ‘retire’ from the senate and allow others take their place, there are those who opted to seek the governorship tickets of their various parties in their various states. While some succeeded and are now guber candidates, others failed in their bid and will not be competing in the elections altogether.

    There are also some of the senators who lost their seats to the senatorial ambitions of their state governors. As a result of the loss of senators in this categories, seven serving governors now have the possibilities of joining others as senators when the next assembly is inaugurated. Among serving governors now seeking senate seats are Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state and Rochas Okorocha of Imo state.

    Others include Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state, Kashim Shettima of Bornu state, Ibrahim Dankwabo of Gombe, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara state and Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe state. While a few of these governors emerged as the candidates of their respective parties through peaceful consensus arrangements that saw the incumbents stepping down for them, others had to wage fierce political wars against erstwhile political associates to pick the tickets.

    The ‘retirees’

    Among current senators who decided they have had enough of the national assembly is former senate President and the indisputable longest serving senator in the country today, Senator David Mark. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator represents Benue South senatorial district of Benue state in the national assembly. He is currently serving his fifth term as a senator having been first elected in 1999.

    Mark, who was elected Senate President in  and remained in that position till 2015 when his party, the PDP could not win enough seat in the upper chamber to be in the majority and had to cede the seat to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Although he remained a respected member of the chamber, not much was heard of his since the inception of the 8th assembly. Comrade Abba Moro, a former Interior Minister, is the candidate of the PDP in the district for the next election.

    Similarly, Senator Jonah Jang (PDP Plateau North), who is also a former governor of Plateau state, has willingly decided that he will not be returning to the senate after just a term in the chamber. The PDP senator, according to sources close to him, considered running for the presidential ticket of his party but later jettison the idea. He may have decided to retire from gunning for elective positions even.

    Senators Shaaba Lafiagi (PDP Kwara North) and Demola Adeleke (PDP Osun West), are two other legislators who didn’t bother to seek the ticket of their party for re-election into the national assembly. While it was gathered that Lafiagi, a former governor of Kwara state decided to rest on account of old age, Adeleke may have been forced to jettison a return to the senate by an ongoing trial bothering on alleged examination malpractices.

    There are also Senators Ahmed Sani (APC Zamfara East), Bukar Abba Ibrahim (APC Yobe East) and Kaka Gabbai (APC Borno Central), who voluntarily opted out of the race to allow their state governors take their seat at the senate in the 9th assembly. While Governor Abdulazeez Yari is still battling in the courts to get his name into the INEC list, Governors Geidam and Shettima are now slated by INEC to battle other candidates for senate seats.

    Guber hopefuls

    Featuring prominently among senators that will not be returning to the national assembly as members of the 9th senate are those who decided to gun for the governorship seats in their various states. Following the various primary elections of political parties across the country, while some of them are now flying the banners of their parties as guber candidates, others let out in the race.

    Senators Jeremiah Useni (PDP Plateau South ) and Abdulaziz Murtala Nyako (ADC Adamawa Central) are two senators who made it into INEC’s list of governorship candidates. As such, the duo will not be returning to the national assembly in 2019. While Useni is now the gubernatorial candidate of the opposition PDP in Plateau state, Nyako, son of a former governor, is flying the banner of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the Adamawa state governorship race.

    Similarly, Senators Usman Bayero Nafada (PDP Gombe North) and Hope Uzodinma (APC Imo West) were successful in their quest for the governorship tickets of the PDP and APC respectively in their homes states of Gombe and Imo. The duo will not be rerunning to the senate for now. While Nafada emerged as the choice of Governor Dankwambo in Gombe, Uzodinma waged, and is still waging the political battle of his life with Governor Okorocha to clinch the guber ticket.

    Senator John Enoh (APC Cross River Central) is another member of the national assembly that will not return for the 9th senate. He sought the governorship ticket oft eh APC in his home state of Cross Rivers and made it to the final list of INEC although his candidature is strongly being challenged by another chieftain of the party in the state. Safe for an unfavorable court judgement, Enoh currently looks good to contest the guber polls.

    Defeated

    Not all the senators willingly surrendered their tickets to the contenders who replaced them. Many of them put up fierce resistance even when it was obvious that they forces against their reelection into the senate were formidable. But in spite of their struggle to wade off opposition to their candidacies, a good number of the senators lost at the various primary elections of their parties.

    Good examples are Senators Gbenga Ashafa (APC Lagos East), Lanre Tejuoso (APC Ogun Central), Fatima Raji Rasaki (APC Ekiti Central), Sola Adeyeye (APC Osun Central) and Babajide Omoworare (APC Osun East). Ashafa was trounced by Hon. Bayo Osinowo, a ranking member of the Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) while Rasaki lost the APC ticket to former House of Reps member, Opeyemi Bamidele.

    In Osuns state, both Senators Adeyeye, current chief whip of the senate, and Omoworare, could not convince their constituents to allow them return to the senate for another term. Rather, members of the APC in Osun central and Osun East rejected their re-election bids and instead gave the party’s tickets to  Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Osun State, Dr. Ajibola Basiru and Ajibola Famurewa, director-general of the campaign of Governor Gboyega Oyetola.

    Senators Aliyu Sabi (Niger North) and David Umaru (Niger East) will also not be returning to the senate largely because Governor Sani Bello fought vehemently against their re-election. While the duo gave good account of them in the struggle for the tickets of the ruling APC in the state during the primary elections, the political structure of the governor across the state ensured they both lost at the primaries.

    Others national assembly members who couldn’t suppress oppositions to their re-election during the primary elections and had to surrender their party’s tickets to other people include Senators Gilbert Nnaji (PDP Enugu East), Emmanuel Paulker (PDP Bayelsa Central), Ben Murray Bruce (PDP Bayelsa West), Fosta Ogola (PDP Bayelsa South) and Ahmed Abubakar (APC Adamawa South).

    Locked out

    In a bizarre twist in the race towards the 9th senate, some senators have been locked out of the struggle by INEC due to certain technicalities. And unless something unforeseen happens, all the senators representing Zanfara and Rivers states in the national assembly may remain automatically disqualified from returning to the upper chamber after the general elections.

    In the final list released by the commission, no candidates were listed for the APC in Rivers and Zamfara states. Earlier, INEC had said it would not allow the APC field candidates in Zamfara because the party did not hold primaries within the stipulated time. Infighting and disagreements among leaders of the party in the state led to the inability to hold the primaries within the stipulated time.

    Two separate courts in Abuja and Zamfara recently gave conflicting judgements on INEC’s insistence that the party cannot field candidates in the state. While the court in Abuja said the commission acted right, another one in Gusau ruled that the APC did conduct primaries and INEC should ensure the party presents candidates for the general elections. The electoral commission, after all said and done, chose to abide by the judgement of the Abuja court.

    In Rivers, the same scenario played out among party leaders, leading to the inability of the party to conduct acceptable primary elections to all the factions and the INEC. The party is divided into two factions loyal to the transport minister, Rotimi Amaechi, and Senator Magnus Abe respectively. The commission say based on an high court ruling, it will not recognize any of the two factions.

    Rather than resolve the differences and hold primary elections joint within stipulated time, the infighting continued. What followed is a litany of court cases. Recently, a federal high court recently ruled that the APC disobeyed a high court order on its congresses and so the primaries that produced its candidates were null and void. Thus, the three senators in the state will not be returning to the chamber if the situation remains the same till February 16.