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Tag: Inec

  • Sizing Up the Delta Central Senate Race

    This week, many Nigerians will participate in yet another critical election. And for the electorates in Delta Central Senatorial District, the stakes could not be higher as they have to make a massive decision on who to send to the 9th senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Electing a wrong person could have dire consequences for the Urhobo nation that is eager to restore its standing in the affairs of state and country.

    Over the years since the return of democracy in 1999, the Urhobo nation, the fifth largest ethnic group in Nigeria which overwhelmingly populate Delta Central have been losing its standing in national affairs. So as the Urhobos go to the polls on the 16th of February 2019, they will be electing not just a representative to the upper chamber of the National Assembly but a senator who will champion Urhobo cause at the national level and take Urhobo forward.

    Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is hoping to retain his seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC to continue the good work he is already doing to promote and protect Urhobo interest. Challenging him for the right to represent Delta Central Senatorial District in the red chamber are sixteen other candidates. But the contest will be mainly between Omo-Agege and Hon. Evelyn Oboro, a two term member of the House of Representatives who is seeking a promotion to the upper chamber on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

    Omo- Agege won the APC ticket in a landslide, defeating the 2015 APC gubernatorial candidate, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor who made a late challenge for the APC ticket. On the other hand, Oboro defeated Chief Ighoyota Amori, whom many believe would have posed a greater challenge to Omo-Agege’s ambition to return to the senate.

    As we all know when considering an employee for promotion you must make sure that this person is qualified, can take on bigger tasks and is a proper fit.
    Hon. Oboro is constitutionally qualified to aspire to be a senator. She is a Nigerian and she is above the age of 35 and had completed at least secondary school education. We also know that she is sponsored by a political party, has sound mind and no prior criminal conviction nor adjudged to be bankrupt.

    But does she have the skills and knowledge to effectively represent the Urhobo nation in a chamber dominated by ex governors, retired military generals, academia and others who have excelled in other professions before joining politics. What is more, is she the right person to represent Urhobo?

    In contrast to the outsized personalities that have been Urhobo senators – David Dafinone, Fred Brume, Felix Ibru, (Prof) Adego Eferakeya, Puis Akporokena Ewherido, it is clear that Miss Oboro does not belong to that exclusive club of Urhobos.

    And the sad reality is that she wouldn’t do a better job than Omo-Agege, the incumbent senator, primarily because she is a political hack whose intentions are believed to be more aligned with political opportunism than personal conviction, ethics or morals and whose political career so far has been shaped by PDP corrupt political machines. Her history of political opportunism has shown that she is truly a machine politician and a hired gun.

    After two terms in the Federal House of Representatives, Oboro is little known beyond Delta, her home state. And as a ranking member of the House of Representative, the only committee she could secure its leadership is the little known Women in Parliament Committee. Urhobo deserves better. This should be on the radar of Urhobo electorates who are concerned about where the Urhobo is headed right now.

    Take the long view, and Omo-Agege remains the best voice for Urhobo. The Urhobos need someone who is smart, strategic, courageous and has a proven record of performance. And in Omo-Agege, Urhobo has found one man who has all four qualities. Tested and proven, Omo-Agege is regarded as better suited to restore Urhobo Greatness.

    And his story is very compelling.

    In just three years in the senate, everyone knows Omo-Agege because he built a national profile as an unshakable ally of President Muhammadu Buhari. He’s earned credibility by picking big fights long ago that weren’t so popular at the time but have proven to be masterstrokes.

    An outspoken supporter of Mr. President, Omo-Agege, 55, has cultivated the most anti-Saraki record in the senate. He stood up against the senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki who turned the senate against the APC federal government. and against all odds prevailed. He refused to cave into the arm-twisting tactics including promises of committee posts or other prime positions Saraki has perfected to control the senate.

    As a consequence, Urhobo political standing is more robust than what it was four years ago. Urhobo is right on course to greatness, thanks to Omo-Agege. And the Urhobo people are so grateful and proud of his achievements as a fresh senator.

    The Urhobo people know that he is a competitor who will fight for what he believes in and not a political hack who has no principle, beliefs nor reputation. They also know that he takes a back seat to no one when it comes to “doing what’s right for the Urhobo nation. He will always stand up for whatever he wants.

    In 2015 the Urhobo people made the right choice in Omo-Agege and right now, barring an almost unthinkable upset, Omo-Agege looks set to make history as the first Urhobo senator to win reelection as he is expected to easily defeat Oboro who has proved undeserving of promotion to the upper chamber of the national assembly to represent a senatorial district where PDP is very unpopular.

    Make no mistake, Omo-Agege is beloved in Delta Central as a smart, courageous and personable lawmaker, whom they believe can take Urhobo out of political marginalization to greatness. He has captured the hearts of the Urhobo people and they recognize that if Urhobo must continue to make progress in its determination to regain lost glory, Omo-Agege should be supported to return back to the senate to continue his good work on behalf of the Urhobo people and they are nearly unanimous in rallying to his side across party lines. Even in Uvwie Local Government Area, the local government of Oboro, Omo-Agege is well positioned to win.

    Former 1st Deputy President General of Urhobo Progress Union UPU and an indigene of Uvwie,
    Chief Tuesday Onoge, praised Omo-Agege, saying he had “served our nation and Urhobo people well and honorably” and should be reelected.

    The General Secretary of the Forum of Urhobo Kingdoms President Generals who is also the acting Chairman, Chief Kenneth Iwhewhe, described Sen. Omo-Agege as a dogged fighter and courageous child that is deserving of being sent on an errand to the senate again.

    “Go and deliver. Nobody knew that you are a dogged fighter, but with your antecedents in the past three years, you have shown that you are a man to be remembered.”, Iwhewhe said.
    The Urhobo kings are also not left out in the overwhelming endorsement of Omo-Agege. Speaking when Omo-Agege presented his stewardship report to the Ivies, the Chairman of the council, His Royal Majesty, Ogoni Oghoro I, the Ohworode of Olomu kingdom, said “Omo-Agege has not only represented the interest of the Urhobo nation adequately but also that of the generality of Nigerians”, adding that they have no doubt that Omo-Agege will do more for the Urhobo nation if he is given the opportunity to go back for his second term and assured him of his second term bid at the national assembly.

    However, history favors Oboro, as no senator has won reelection in Delta Central since Delta State was created. But against an incumbent, with unquestionable qualifications and grit, with impressive patriotic bona fides and a track record of fighting for what he believes in, rule of law which had earned him nationwide popularity, the chances of her actually prevailing are virtually nil, which is the conclusion, of course, that she has come to realize recently when she started to make false allegations about threat to her life and fear mongering.

  • Elections postponement: Delta stakeholders react

    Various reactions have continued to trail the postponement of this year’s elections, most of which have been a disapproval of the decision of the electoral umpire.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had in the early hours of Saturday, the day for both the presidential and National Assembly elections, announced the postponement of the elections, citing inadequate preparations.

    In separate statements and chats with the Nation on Sunday, the former governor of Delta state, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan; 2015 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Olorogun O’tega Emerhor; legal luminary, Chief Albert Akpomudje (SAN); and Urhobo youth leader, Hon Morris Idiovwa, all condemned the postponement of the elections.

    Dr Uduaghan, who is also the APC candidate for the Delta South Senatorial District election, the development met his as a shock, noting that Nigerians from various economic and social backgrounds, especially those from the Niger Delta where the terrains are most difficult, had expended huge resources to access their various communities to be part of the elections.

    “I received with utmost discontentment and displeasure at about 3 a.m. today the 16th of February, 2019 amidst teeming supporters who kept wake with me the “breaking news” by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its resolution to shift the Presidential/National Assembly Elections to Saturday, 23rd February, 2019.

    “My party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) has already come out with a statement.

    “However, I wish to use this opportunity to thank my teeming supporters in Delta South Senatorial District who despite the difficult terrain mobilized to vote me as the senator representing Delta South in the red chambers. To you my brothers and sisters who left all their personal schedule, spent their personal money, time, resources, travelled long distance just to vote for me and my party, I truly appreciate your kind gesture.

    “We shall continue to be focused on the legislative issues that will bring permanent peace, faster and more robust infrastructure and human capital development in Delta South and by extension the Niger Delta. Like we have stated severally, this will include. I wish to appeal and plead with my teeming supporters to be calm, patient, keep hope alive and be more resolute to vote the APC come Saturday, 23rd February, 2019”, he said.

    In his response, Olorogun Emerhor, who is also the leader of the Mainstream APC in the state, said though the postponement was disappointing, there must be a genuine reason for it, expressing hope that the INEC would ensure a tidier preparation for the elections on the rescheduled dates.

    “We are all disappointed, but anything worth doing is worth doing well. I’m trusting that INEC has a genuine reason for the postponement. There have been accusations up and down but we hope that the postponement allows for a fair and credible elections. I also hope that they are putting things in place to ensure that materials that are distributed are protected and don’t fall into wrong hands”, he said.

    Legal luminary, Chief Akpomudje (SAN) said the development had cast doubts on the readiness and capability of the INEC to conduct the polls, describing the shift in the election dates as national disgrace.

    “Am sad and confused with the news this morning of the postponement of the election. There is the provision in the constitution for postponement of election, but the timing just few hours to the voting is worrisome. My fear is that is INEC ready for the election? If the answer is negative what becomes the faith of Nigerians. This is a national disgrace”, Akpomudje said.

    Also speaking, an Urhobo youth leader, Hon Morris Idiovwa, described the development as disappointing and cowardly, warning that any attempt to rig the election in favour of the ruling party would be resisted.

    “The development is highly disappointing and suspect, to say the least. Where are we to start counting the losses and the bad faith of the government behind this from? People have invested their resources and risked their lives by traveling and closing their businesses in anticipation of this election and the chairman of the INEC was so cowardly he waited till the morning of the election before announcing the postponement. I think will have to add my voice to those who have called for his resignation or sack.

    “We want a free, fair and credible election and we want it done, fitting into what is obtainable in any civilised nation. We have learnt that this postponement may have something to do with giving the ruling party an undue advantage over the opposition parties, we will reject any untoward and manipulated outcome of all the elections this year”, Idiovwa said.

  • Olawepo-Hashim writes INEC, seeks further shift of polls date

    Third Force Presidential candidate running on the People’s Trust (PT) platform, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has written the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu requesting a further extension of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The Presidential hopeful argued that, the one week extension was rather too short to conclude the stated enormous logistics requirement for the polls.

    Olawepo-Hashim who lately led the online polls of most preferred candidate amongst the third force, argued in a letter to the INEC chairman that another extension was reasonable in view of the logistics burden on the contestants and the parties.

    According to him, the candidates and the parties would now have to repeat logistics preparations that have hitherto been deployed to achieve the level of mobilization at the February 16 scheduled election.

    He stressed that, “It is my considered opinion that in the haste to stick to a quickly announced date for the election, the Commission may not have paid adequate attention to the attendant voter apathy that may result if adequate confidence building measures are not implemented to win back ‘would-be’ voters for the next date of polling.

    “As a result and because a potential voter’s apathy in some section of the country or all of the country may substantially affect the results of the election, a new date of election should be between three to four weeks from February 16 not one week from February 16 as previously announced. This is more so for self-funded candidates and political parties who do not have the possibilities or intentions of falling quickly on the State treasuries to refinance another logistic deployment.” He argued

    The candidate equally opined that, campaigs should also resume undoubtedly in consonance with extant legislation that allow campaign to continue up till 24 hours before elections, in order to achieve the same level of mobilization of voters as before February 16th.

    In his letter copied to the United Nations representatives, Observer and Civil Society Groups, the diplomatic community and the media Olawepo-Hashim also urged that, “the Commission should liase with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), who should use their national networks to ensure mobilization of communities, social and interest groups to reach potential voters in order to avoid voter apathy at the next date of election.”

  • We may not obey INEC’s directive on campaign – APC

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has given indications that the party will not obey directives by INEC not to reopen campaign, saying the directive was against the laws of the land.

    Oshiomhole said that the electoral management body does not have the power of making laws and cannot on its own amend the law by asking parties not to campaign after shifting the election.

    Read Also: Elections: APC UK wants INEC reviewed, reformed

    He said the APC and its members nationwide will continue in their campaign till Thursday this week as provides for by the Electoral Act and will be prepared to meet the commission in court.

    He also accused the commission of failing to take concrete action against some of its officials accused of taking side with certain political parties.

    Details shortly…

  • Elections: APC UK wants INEC reviewed, reformed

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in the United Kingdom has called for review of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) operational model with a view to reforming it.

    The chapter made the call following INEC’s postponement of the general elections on Saturday.

    In a statement copied to the News Agency of Nigeria in Uyo on Monday, the Chairman of the APC in the United Kingdom, Dr Philip Idaewor, said that the postponement indicated a systemic exhaustion within INEC and necessitated review of its operational model and enabling laws.

    “This is with a view to radically reforming it and making it fit for purpose. This is because well organised free, fair and credible elections are important to the enthronement and sustenance of democracy.

    “The announcement by INEC to postpone the 2019 General Elections has come as a huge shock to us, especially given the timing of the announcement, when political parties had already deployed huge resources to the field for the elections.

    “We have carefully listened to all the explanations given by INEC as well as the reactions of our party’s leadership, our presidential campaign council, President Muhammadu Buhari and international observers.

    “We align ourselves with the position of our party leadership, our presidential campaign council and Mr President.

    Read Also: Buhari, Osinbajo, Tinubu, others meet in Abuja

    “We are saddened that INEC leadership did not deem it necessary to brief Nigerians on a regular basis when it realised the difficulties it listed as reasons for this postponement.

    “We note that the decision by INEC falls well below the expectations for a seamless performance, given that INEC has conducted similar elections since 1999 when this fourth republic started, with opportunities for extensive field experiences and organisational discipline that would have ensured operational options even in unforeseen circumstances.

    “Moreover, INEC leadership presented the needed budget for this elections, with evidence showing that all of INEC’s requests were fully met to ensure successful implementation of this election cycle,” he said.

    Ideawor said that INEC should tell Nigerians why elections could not hold in states which did not have the logistics problems it listed.

    “Why postpone the elections in the entire country? What happens now to those ballot papers and other election materials already distributed to local government areas around the country?

    “What is the cost of this postponement to our national purse? Where will money for another deployment come from? Who takes responsibility for this, and what is the consequence?” he asked.

    He, however, urged Nigerians to refrain from spreading messages capable of heating up the polity.

    “Nigeria needs peace to continue on the path of national reclamation started by the APC government led by President Muhammadu Buhari.”

  • Election postponement: NLC demand public holiday

    … warn Workers against voter apathy

     

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked government to declare a two or three-day public holiday to enable workers travel to perform their civic responsibility in the face of imminent voter apathy as a result of the shift in the date of the general elections.

    The Congress also asked Nigerians especially workers not to be disillusioned with the postponement of the elections, but the go all out and cast their vote, saying the postponement of the election was a better evil than disenfranchising several millions of Nigerians.

    President of the Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said in a statement that from evidence available, many people would have been able to cast their vote as a result of logistics problems if the election had been allowed to go ahead.

    Wabba said: “We at the Nigerian Labour Congress join other Nigerians in expressing our shock at the last minute postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 16, 2019.

    “We share in the pains of those who in an uncommon show of patriotism, had to travel long distances to perform their civic duty. We similarly understand the outrage of those who had incurred huge and unquantifiable logistic costs. No explanation will be good enough given INEC’s repeated assurances and the zeal of Nigerians to cast their vote.

    “However, given the fact that had the election taken place, a huge number of Nigerians would have been disenfranchised on account of gross and wide-spread logistic deficit, the postponement, as painful as it is, is a lesser evil of the two.

    “In light of this, we enjoin all Nigerians to quickly put behind them this ugly incident and brace up for the rescheduled election next weekend. In spite of the huge costs to them, we call on all Nigerians to self-mobilise on the same scale that they did the previous weekend.

    “Let them not be disillusioned or react to this postponement in a manner that will create voter-apathy. This will certainly be counterproductive and will in the long run work against the interests of the electorate.

    “We call on institutions to be flexible with their staff to enable them travel in good time to perform this important civic duty even if it means government declaring a day or two public holiday to achieve this.

    “As for INEC, we do hope they have learnt their lesson. On no account ever again, should they allow this to happen. All effort and expertise must be deployed by INEC to guarantee free, fair and credible elections. We appeal to all Nigerians to put this incident behind them and go out en mass to vote next weekend.”

  • APC demands daily briefing from INEC

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be more open to Nigerians ahead of the rescheduled general elections.

    It urged INEC to brief the nation daily on their challenges and steps being taken to address them.

    The party’s Director of Election Planning and Monitoring and Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Raji Fashola told a news conference that INEC should have had a better logistics arrangement ahead of the elections, adding that Nigeria have abundant logistics personnel that the commission could tap from with the right mobilisation.

    He also said the commission should tell the nation what logistics challenges it had with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that led to the shift in election and what steps they are putting in place to address those challenges.

    According to him, there were indications that some people, especially in the opposition, were privy to the postponement of the elections.

    He said: “Elections and political parties are primarily about people. In this episode, millions of Nigerians have sacrificed their time, resources and convenience to perform this national civic duty only to be disappointed by the postponement.

    “As a party, our disappointment is doubled due to the fact that unlike some, who were apparently privy to this postponement in advance, we found out alongside the public a few hours before the polls opened.

    “To the stranded youth corps members, we empathise with you. To the voters and volunteers, who have travelled at great cost to cast their votes, we empathise with you. To party agents and our party faithful, we empathise with you.

    “Our sympathies go to all those people and we urge them not to despair. However, we Nigerians are a determined and resilient people and we will not let the shortcomings of INEC deter us from exercising our franchise.

    “Therefore, we ask you all to stay calm, stay determined and come out en masse on February 23rd to vote for APC, President Muhammadu Buhari and all APC senators and House of Representative candidates. We urge all Nigerians to convert their disappointment to determination and ensure that their previous sacrifice does not go to waste.

    “As a result of the common pain shared by us all, we, the Directorate of Election Planning and Monitoring, and Contact and Mobilisation, on behalf of APC Campaign Council, demand greater openness and transparency in the commission’s preparations ahead of Saturday February 23, 2019.

    “We believe that members of the public should know what steps INEC have taken with CBN to assess, take inventory of materials and brief the public about what their condition is; status of INEC’s plans to procure and provide materials for election and in particular let Nigerians know if all materials required are in country and if not, what plans the commission has to ensure that they are.

    “INEC’s plans to re-deploy and distribute materials ahead of Saturday February 23, 2019. The specific problems INEC encountered in the failed attempt of Saturday February 16, 2019 and measures it has taken to overcome them?

    “What transport logistics and further materials INEC require in terms of vehicles, boats, trucks, airplanes, helicopters, manpower and funding INEC requires to execute the elections of February 23rd and March 9th.

    “Confirmation that the configuration of the card readers will be completed in readiness of Saturday 23rd 2019. In addition to all of these, we believe that INEC should brief Nigerians daily on an ongoing basis until this process is concluded. This is one way to elicit the buy-in of Nigerians that INEC is serious and this will replace disappointment with enthusiasm.

    “As President Buhari has urged that ‘Nigerians should continue to rally round INEC at this trying national moment’, INEC has the duty to now make its processes open, believable and inspiring. This is what Nigerians can and will rally round. This is the road to free and fair elections, which is a victory for Nigeria and not for any party.”

    Responding to questions, Fashola dismissed allegations that the party was planning for staggered elections and therefore engineered the postponement, adding that such an allegation was irresponsible as the party was not interested in any staggered elections.

    He said: “That APC is preparing for staggered elections is not a responsible and credible allegation to make. APC does not conduct elections. We go by the rules as set by the umpire and they have not announced staggered elections and so, we are prepared for one election and that is the Presidential and National Assembly elections and the governorship and state assembly elections.”

    He said he will not be drawn into saying what the party will do if the elections fail to hold again on Saturday saying “I won’t predict what I will do until that eventuality comes. We think that INEC is peopled by responsible people. The leadership of INEC has said that they need one week and I will take them by their words and that is why I am saying that if they want to be taken seriously, they should up their process.”

    He said it was clear from social media reports that the PDP was privy to the postponement of the election, even before it was announced.

  • INEC to decide on resumption of campaign

    THE door for political campaign may not have been  closed after all, it was learnt yesterday, following a decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reconsider its position.

    It was learnt that the electoral umpire will today meet to decide if parties can resume canvassing for votes openly.

    INEC postponed last Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly polls for a week. The elections will now hold next Saturday, 23rd February 2019. The governorship, state Assembly and FCT council polls earlier scheduled for March 2 have been shifted by a week.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has threatened to resume its camapigns.

    The parties are eager to resume political campaign, given the current situation the country has found itself.

    Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, stipulates that political campaign must end 24 hours to an elecrion.

    For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.

    Section 2 of the Act stipulated a fine of N500, 000.00 punishment for any party which through any person acting on its behalf during the 24 hours prior to that day.

    However, the law did not envisage a postponmnet whic explained its silence in the face of the present predicament the parties and the electoral body is currently confronted with.

    But with the postponement of the election by a week, parties felt it will be wrong to stay mute for a week, as it may affect voter turnout for the rescheduled general elections.

    INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on Saturday during the interactive session with stakeholders on the postponement of the polls said that political campaigns were over.

    He, however, doubted the possibility of politicians to remain silent for a week without reaching out to voters.

    The mounting pressure from political parties, may have necessitated the commission’s decision to meet to discuss the issue so as to decide on the possibility of resumption of political campaign or not.

    Confirming the meeting, the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of the commission, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi stated: “On campaigns, the Commission will meet tomorrow and take a decision.”

  • Polls shift: ‘INEC acted to stop rigging’

    The Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO) has alleged that the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the 2019 elections saved the country from massive rigging plotted by the opposition.

    The president’s support group stated this in reaction to claims made on Saturday by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) of an alleged plan by President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend INEC chairman, Prof.  Mahmood Yakubu and replace him with Amina Zakari as acting chairman under the guise of the commission’s inability to conduct the presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Its Director of Communications and Strategic Planning, Mallam Gidado Ibrahim, said the INEC deliberately shifted the polls to thwart the plan by the opposition to rig the elections.

    The group noted that the alarm raised by CUPP over plans to remove INEC chairman was a perfect plan to cover up for the massive rigging plotted by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which left the electoral body with no other option than to postpone the elections.

    Ibrahim said: “The attention of the BCO has been drawn to a statement by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) in which it accused President Muhammadu Buhari of trying to sack INEC chairman. This came few hours after the Presidency had issued a stament expressing the president’s disappointment with the postponement of the elections.

    “The basis for the claims made by CUPP is that President Buhari, like every other Nigerian, expressed misgivings about the election shift. The truth, however, is that the opposition, with its shrill voice, is merely diverting attention from the revelation that they had perfected plans to rig the polls using huge sums of money, which they distributed on the eve of the postponed elections.

    “Based on intelligence report that money had been shared by the opposition on the eve of the polls to buy voters, INEC decided to shift the elections to save the country from the sinister plot by the opposition to wield the country back to the dark days of rigging and manipulation of the electoral process to rob Nigerians of their right to decide who becomes their leader”.

    The BCO further appealed to Nigerians to be patient with INEC, saying the commission’s decision to shift the elections was taken to save democracy from the fangs of corrupt politicians in the opposition who think elections in Nigeria can never be free,  fair and credible.

    “We also urge Nigerians to be steadfast and watch out against corrupt political elements in the opposition who are bent on manipulating the electoral process in a desperate bid to return to power at all cost to continue their looting spree. INEC took the decision of shifting the polls in good faith and we in the BCO are solidly behind the electoral body. President Buhari has assured severally that he will ensure the same free and fair process that brought him to power, and this he will surely do,” Ibrahim added.

  • CDHR asks INEC to apologise to Nigerians, others

    REACTIONS continued yesterday to trail last Saturday’s postponement of the elections as the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to apology to Nigerians and representatives of international communities observing the country’s elections.

    In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday and signed by its President, Malachy Ugwummadu, the CDHR demanded for a thorough inquiry by an independent panel to ascertain what happened that led to the postponement.

    It also demanded for a clear explanation from INEC as to the circumstance and exact reason why the election was postponed, appropriate sanction to relevant persons, who failed in their responsibility.

    The rights group said this would serve as a deterrent, adding that consideration for decentralisation and unbundling of INEC along the multifaceted responsibilities of that commission have now become imperative.

    Ugwummadu blamed INEC for allowing itself to be caught in the interplay of power when the National Assembly foot-dragged on the consideration and approval of INEC budgetary allocation, leaving them with serious time constraints in sourcing and procuring election materials.

    He noted with disappointment the postponement of the general elections on account of general poor logistics, saying that this development, few hours before the elections, raises so many questions as to the capacity of INEC to conveniently discharge on its mandate.