The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Inec

  • I’m under pressure to leave APC – Yari

    *Insists primaries held in Zamfara

    *Says it’s a huge joke to nominate Zamfara Gov candidate from Abuja

     

    Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, on Friday said that he has been under intense pressure to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) with his supporters.

    Yari, who is the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja.

    He also handed over the results of the primaries conducted in the state to the President after the Jumaat prayer.

    He promised that despite the pressure from his people to dump the APC, he will remain with the party and fight against any injustice.

    According to him, his supporters were aggrieved over the turn out of events following the party leadership’s refusal to acknowledge the primaries conducted last week in the state.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had also barred the APC from fielding any candidates for the 2019 poll in Zamfara for not conducting primary elections in the state.

    He explained that the development has caused frustration among his supporters.

    The governor also warned the national leadership of the party not to present any list that did not emanate from the primaries conducted before the expiration of the deadline for the primaries in the state.

    Reacting to reports of his purported romance with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party on the social media, Yari, who was flanked by the Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, said, “I don’t know whether that is a joke or otherwise.

    Read Also: Anambra Flood: IDPs camps record 17 births in three weeks

    “But for me, if you check my history since 1998, APP, and 2002 when Buhari joined ANPP, and 2015 APC, no time that I shifted from one party to another. That is not in my culture. So, the issue of leaving the party is not true.

    “But some other people are sending rumour through the social media. I have seen my picture with the PDP and other parties. Yes, I cannot deny pressure from the people that we should leave APC but what I told them is that what we are looking for is just justice.

    “We conducted election and we want to see what the result is going to look. But I think for any body to come under the national secretariat and say he is going to nominate a candidate, I think, it is a very huge joke.” he said

    The Zamfara State Governor wondered why the INEC could claim that there were no primaries in the state when the government agencies including the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the electoral umpire was at hand to monitor the process in the state.

    He said though there were some hitches in some places in the state that made the committee to postpone primary elections in the affected areas, the process he said was concluded the next day.

    He said, “There were hitches somewhere but we decided to suspend the area there were problems until the following day. So, the following day, we continued and we concluded the election by the people nominated by that committee to conduct election but the committee ran away and refused to collate the results.

    “So, what we did was that we filed the results and kept it under the watch of those people and waited to see what was going to happen. The second committee waited 32 hours to the closing, we thought the committee will hasten and come up with modalities for the election.

    “But committee wasted about 18 hours discussing about how the modalities were going to be. So, when we realised that, we were actually advised by the supervisory agency that is INEC and other agencies there that the best thing to do as the people had voted and since it was 7am was to start counting.

    “When they finished, they released the materials and we adopted the numbers. Already, we had produced our own set of forms for the national Assembly which we have done and then, when we concluded, I didn’t see members of the committee until one and half hours to the time.

    “Then, when they came I asked them what they came for, they said they came for reconciliation and I said which reconciliation? People can not reconcile over a month and you are trying to reconcile in an hour. Then, I realised that there was a game that was being played so that we can run out of time.” he said

    According to him, the national body of APC had other crude ways to produce candidates contrary to section 87 of the Electoral Act that the party must follow a process before producing any candidate.

    “Therefore, the most important is that we conducted election on the 3rd and 4th of October and all agencies, INEC, Civil Defence, Police, and DSS were there and they signed for us and the report was written by the REC that elections were conducted.

    “Unfortunately, for the INEC to say that there was no election, we don’t know where they got their information but we believe they have a report directly from their representative there that election was held in Zamfara state, so, it depends on what they want to do.

    “But, in any way, we were advised when the chairman of the committee came out and said there was no election in Zamfara state, we realised it was going to be a litigation issue. We quickly rushed to court, we filed a case and the case is coming up next week.

    “So, I think that is the only saving grace for the party and INEC for court of competent jurisdiction to give judgement on Zamfara matter that there was election.” he stated.

  • Presidency, lawmakers set to clash over N189.2b approved for INEC

    THE Senate yesterday approved N189.2 billion for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    A sharp disagreement may have broken out between the Presidency and the upper chamber over the source of funding for the INEC budget.

    The Senate refused to approve that the N189.2 billion for INEC should be sourced from the Constituency Intervention Fund to fund the 2019 general elections.

    The upper chamber resolved that the fund should be sourced from the Special Intervention Programme, as provided in the Service Wide Votes of the 2018 Appropriation Act.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, in a letter addressed to the Senate President in July, requested the Senate to vire over N242 billion from the N500 billion the National Assembly inserted into the 2018 budget as its Constituency Intervention Funds.

    The fund, Buhari said, was to enable the INEC and security agencies to conduct the 2019 general elections.

    But, the Senate failed to approve the request due to its annual break in July.

    The joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters, held a series of meetings with INEC officials to address some grey areas in the INEC request.

    Chairman of the committee Senator Suleiman Nazif said members resolved to ask the Presidency to find other sources of funding for the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    The lawmakers refused to approve the reduction of funds meant for their constituency projects to fund the 2019 general elections.

    In another letter addressed to the Senate President, which was read on Wednesday, the President was silent on the source of funding for INEC election budget for 2018 elections.

    It was, however, believed that Buhari still wanted the fund to be sourced from the Constituency Intervention Funds.

    The Senate Committee on Appropriations, which met on Wednesday to conclude work on the president’s request, submitted its report yesterday.

    The appropriation committee adopted the position of the INEC and Electoral Matters Committee that the fund should be sourced from the Service Wide Vote.

    The report of Appropriations Committee, adopted by the Senate, said N144.746 billion should be vired from the Special Intervention Programme (Recurrent).

    It vired another N44.260 billion from Special Intervention Programme (Capital) – a total of N189.2 billion as requested by INEC.

    Chairman of the committee, Mohammed Danjuma Goje, while presenting the report, said: “The sum of N189.2 billion requested for the funding of the 2019 general elections should be vired from both recurrent and capital components of Special Intervention Programme captured in the Service Wide Votes of the 2018 Appropriation Act and be added to the sum of N45.5 billion provided for INEC in the statutory transfers.

    “This will bring the total budget of INEC in the 2018 budget to N234,507 billion.”

  • INEC projects 80m registered voters ahead of 2019 elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) said on Thursday that more than 80 million registered Nigerians were expected to vote during the 2019 general elections in the country.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this in a paper he presented at the 14th All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) holding in Asaba, Delta capital.

    Yakubu, represented by Mike Igini, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Akwa Ibom, said that the figure was made up of 67 million existing registered voters and 14 million fresh registrants.

    He said 91 political parties had been registered ahead of the 2019 elections, adding that there was a total of 120,000 polling units across the country.

    The INEC chairman also said that the commission had so far conducted about 190 elections that had not been upturned by any law court.

    He further disclosed that the commission had 16,000 staff across the nation, but added that the number was insignificant in managing elections effectively.

    Yakubu urged Nigerians to take ownership of the election process by participating actively in it.

    The INEC chairman appealed to politicians to shun “vote-buying” which he said the commission was currently working hard to curb.

    “Vote-buying is bad and if we don’t deal with the problem of vote-buying, it will destroy the electoral process,” he said.

    He further tasked the media to maintain neutrality in all its activities during and after elections, noting that the media had assisted tremendously in sustaining voters’ enlightenment.

    Yakubu said that the gathering of editors provided an opportunity for INEC to update those who determined the content of news for the Nigerian people on the extent of its preparations for the elections.

    Read Also: Midnight Raids: Reps ask Customs to return seized Rice

    “No other body in the country has a better reach than the media in disseminating the goals, intensions and efforts of the commission,” he said.

    He noted that credible elections underscored the idea of election integrity and the notion of inclusiveness, transparency and accountability.

    According to him, it requires that the Election Management Bodies (EMBs) who manage elections should live above board.

    Mahmood advised the EMBs to act in a non-partisan and independent manner by ensuring that established rules governing the conduct of elections were enforced fully and impartially.

  • 2019 elections: Fresh controversy trails INEC budget

    —As Senate committee approves N189.2bn

    NSA, DG DSS, IGP, others to defend budget Thursday

     

    Fresh controversy appears to be trailing President Muhammadu Buhari’s request of the approval of the sum of N189,207,544,893.13 for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of 2019 elections.

    This is coming as the Senate Committee on Appropriation on Wednesday resolved to give nod to the sum of N189.207 bn for the conduct of the elections as requested by the President.

    President Buhari in a letter dated 19th September, 2018 requested for the holistic consideration and approval of INEC and security agencies budget for the 2019 elections.

    The source of funding of the INEC’s 2019 election budget appears to be breeding discomfort among National Assembly members.

    Many senators asked consistently that the source of funding of the INEC budget should be clarified.

    While President Buhari said that the N189.207 billion should be sourced from the N500 billion the National Assembly inserted into the 2018 budget, the joint National Assembly committee on INEC recommended that the money should be pulled from the over N900 billion Service Wide Vote in the 2018 budget.

    A memo entitled “Submission of harmonised report of INEC 2019 general election supplementary budget estimates submitted to the Appropriation commission by Chairman, Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Suleiman Nazif and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Hon. Aishatu Jibril Dukku said:

    “INEC was allocated the sum of N143,512,529,455 only as recommended by Mr. President for its 2019 general elections and indicated as amount needed for 2018.

    “The balance of N45,695,015,438 billion was requested for appropriation under 2019 budget.

    “However, the INEC presented the entire sum of N189,207,544,893.13 for the committee’s consideration.

    “The committee after wide consultation with INEC decided on a budgetary allocation of the sum of N143,312,256,955.13 only.”

    Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje proposed at the meeting on Wednesday that the two letters by President Buhari should be combined “so that we give Mr. President what he wants.”

    The proposal was unanimously carried.

    Before the committee went into closed session to consider the seemingly knotty issue of the source of funding of the INEC budget, Goje announced that the committee resolved that N189,207,544, 893.13 as requested should be approved for INEC for the conduct of the 2019 elections.

    On security budget for the election, Goje said that the committee also resolved to invite the National Security Adviser, Director General Department of State Services, Commandant Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Inspector General of Police, Comptroller General Nigeria Immigration Service and heads of other security agencies connected with the 2019 elections to appear before the committee to defend their budgets.

    Goje emphasized that the N78,340,530535.00 for security agencies would be approved after the appearance of the heads of the agencies.

    President Buhari in the letter entitled Re: Request for virement/supplementary budget said: “You recall that in my letter dated 11th July, 2018, I requested for the kind consideration of the National Assembly for a virement under the 2018 Appropriation Act.

    “Part of this request was for the funding of the request made by the INEC and security agencies for the 2019 general elections.

    “In that letter, I indicated that INEC and the security agencies had indicated that their total funding requirement for the 2019 elections would amount to N242,445,322,600.00.

    “Of that amount, I have requested that N164,104,792,065,00 be accommodated in the 2018 budget, by way of virement within the 2018 Appropriation Act, whilst the balance of N78,340, 530,535.00, should be considered by the National Assembly as part of the 2019 budget.

    “When the Hon. Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, appeared before the Joint Committee of the National Assembly, set up to consider my request, he was informed that the National Assembly would be willing to consider accommodating the total amount required for the funding of the 2019 elections as part of the virement of the 2018 Appropriation Act, provided there was a specific request made by me.

    Read Also: Buhari, APC governors meet in Aso Rock

    “In the light of the current realities, and in order to ensure that the 2019 general elections are not affected by any delays in the passage into law of the 2019 budget, I accept this kind suggestion.

    “I therefore wish to formally request that the total amount of N242,445,322,600.00 requested by INEC and the security agencies be considered for inclusion in my virement request under the 2018 Appropriation Act.

    ”I look forward to your urgent consideration of this request to ensure that the 2019 general elections are properly conducted.”

    The implication of what Senate Appropriation committee did yesterday was that the entire INEC budget request would be accommodated as demanded by President Buhari.

    The only hiccup may be the source of funding of the budget.

  • INEC bars Buhari, Atiku, others from campaigning till Nov. 18

    There should be no public campaigning by presidential candidates until November 18, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said yesterday.

    This is in line with the timelines given by the agency and the provisions of the Electoral Act, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said.

    He advised parties and their candidates to adhere to the electoral timetable during a workshop for election professionals from the Commonwealth Africa Region.

    Yakubu reminded political parties and candidates that the end of primaries did not mean the immediate commencement of campaigns.

    “Section 99(1) prohibits campaigns by political parties earlier than 90 days before polling day.

    “Therefore, going by the provisions of the Electoral Act and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities issued by the Commission, campaign for Presidential and National Assembly elections will commence on Nov. 18.

    “Campaign for Governorship and State Assembly elections begins on Dec. 1.

    “I call upon political parties and candidates to strictly adhere to these dates,’’ he said.

    Yakubu said that with the conclusion of primaries by political parties yesterday, the next activity was the nomination of candidates to the commission.

    He reminded political parties that the dates for the submission of lists of candidates (Form CFOO2) and their personal particulars (Forms C1001) for presidential and National Assembly elections are from Oct 10 to Oct.18.

    The date for the governorship and State Assembly elections is Oct. 22 and Nov. 2.

    “The commission will receive the submission from political parties at Aso Hall of the International Conference Centre, Abuja, from 9.a.m to 4.p.m. daily.

    “Although we have communicated these dates to all political parties, let me reiterate that there will be no extension of time.

    “Similarly, in making submissions to the commission, the covering letters as well as the list of candidates must be duly signed by the National Chairmen and National Secretaries of political patties in line with the commission’s guidelines.’’

    Yakubu described the workshop and its theme, “Strengthening Electoral Democracy in the Commonwealth African Region” as topical and relevant.

    He said that all the countries of the Commonwealth, Africa region, needed to further consolidate on election process so that elections were not merely periodic but also peaceful and credible.

    “Bringing election managers together to share experiences and build capacities is a critical step to the consolidation of electoral democracy,” Yakubu said.

    Yakubu said that participants would be taken through five interrelated sub-themes, ranging from the promotion of sustainable electoral democracy, strategic planning, gender and elections, electoral technology to elections and new media.

  • Imo APGA: 14 guber aspirants opt for consensus candidate

    Mr Frank Nneji, the Chief Executive Officer, ABC transport and 13 other governorship aspirants in Imo on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance ( APGA) , have agreed to adopt a consensus candidate.

    Other aspirants are: Dr Ikedi Ohakim, a former governor of the state and Mr Uche Onyeagocha, former member, House of Representatives, Ike Ibe, Humphrey Anumudu and Steve Nwoga, Sam Amadi.

    Charley Onyeagbako, Chike Nsofor, Ziggy Azike, Philip Ibekwe, Nick Opara-Ndudu, Bright Nwanne and Obi Njoku.

    The aspirants made the agreement in a statement they issued in Owerri on Monday.

    They, however, expressed concern that the party leadership in the state could not to meet the Oct. 7 deadline of INEC for submission of names of the candidates of the party for all elective positions.

    Read Also: FG set to announce new Minimum Wage – Labour

    They also condemned the failure of the party leadership to conduct a credible primary election.

    The aspirants assured supporters of their unflinching determination to continue to resist imposition of a candidate on the party.

    “The failure of the leadership of the party to guarantee credible primaries for Imo APGA is a terrible disappointment.The plot to impose a candidate on Imo APGA will continue to be resisted.

    “We have resolved to present a consensus candidate from amongst the aspirants after due process and consultation between all APGA governorship aspirants and party leaders,” they read.

  • Boroffice emerges APC candidate for Ondo North Senatorial District

    Sen. Ajayi Boroffice, representing Ondo North Senatorial District on Thursday won the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the candidate of the party for the 2019 general election.

    Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), monitored the primary election in Ondo North Senatorial District.

    Boroffice, who was the sole aspirant for the primary, got 64,300 votes out of the 66,200 votes accredited for the exercise from the 72 wards in the senatorial district.

    Mr Abuh Andrew, the Chairman of APC Primary Election Committee in Ondo State, declared, “this is to certify that Robert Ajayi Boroffice, having scored the highest number of votes cast is hereby declared winner.”

    Read Also: Ribadu, Modi reject Adamawa APC governorship primary

    Boroffice called for peace within APC’s family in the state.

    Speaking with newsmen in his home town, Oka-Akoko, Boroffice appealed to political stakeholders in the area to unite to build APC for the betterment of all and sundry.

    According to him, the disruption of peace within the ruling party in the state will be counter-productive.

    Boroffice, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology, expressed his continued loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari and other national leaders of the party.

    NAN

  • Edo APC holds reschedule primaries Saturday

    Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress is in the race to beat the October 7 deadline of the Independent National Electoral Commission for the conduct of party primaries.

    It has fixed Saturday for a repeat of the State and National Assembly primaries that was earlier held on Thursday.

    The primaries was cancelled following complaints by some aspirants that the primaries were skewed in favour of some anointed candidates now known as ‘Establishment Candidates’.

    Chairmman of the APC National Working Committee panel for the Edo primaries, Hajia Farida Suleiman, announced this on Friday night after a meeting with all aspirants.

    Farida said the primaries would now hold on Saturday from 10am.

    State Chairman of the Edo APC, Barr. Anslem Ojezua said a five-man committee has been set up in each local government for the conduct of the primaries.

    Ojezua stated that the committee would in turn appoint Returning Officers in every Ward in line with the party’s guidelines.

    He said the party would make use of option A4 to conduct the elections.

    His words, “Fundamental issues were raised as to the legality of the process arising from the absence of the National Working Committee to supervise the process.

    “That can raise a lot of legal issue. In Edo, we lost a seat in the assembly to such things. What we have done is to solve our political problem in a political manner rather than waiting for judicial interpretation.

    “We will try to ensure that everything is done peacefully.”

  • Police teargas Saraki, Dogara, Tambuwal, Lamido, others

    As PDP stages protest over Osun election

     

    The police on Friday in Abuja tear-gassed seven of the 12 presidential aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during a protest over the party’s loss of the September 22 governorship election in Osun State.
    Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, defeated the candidate of the PDP, Senator Ademola Adeleke in the election.
    The presidential aspirants tear-gassed by the police included the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; and former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
    Other aspirants at the protest were former Special Duties Minister, Tanimu Turaki; a former senator, Dr. Datti Baba Ahmed; Gombe Stats Governor, Ibrahim Dankwabo; and former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido.
    Also tear-gassed during the protest were the Ekiti State Governors, Ayo Fayose; Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Sencondus and other members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
    The protesters were tear-gassed at the main entrance to the Force Headquarters, following attempts by controversial senator representing Kogi West senatorial district, Dino Melaye to rail-road the protesters through security barricade.
    The protesters, led by Saraki and joined by a number of key party stakeholders, had earlier stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
    The party chieftains, riding in four open trucks and a convoy of cars, took off from the PDP campaign office, Legacy House, located in the Maitama District.
    Taking turns to speak at the INEC headquarters, the party chieftains demanded the declaration of Adeleke as winner of the Osun governorship election.
    Addressing INEC National Commissioner in charge of legal matters, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu who received them at the premises of the commission, they also restated the party’s rejection of the inconclusive verdict passed on the Osun election by the commission.
    They warned that the PDP would not accept what they described as rigging and manipulation of the electoral process, which they said, characterized the recent Ekiti and Osun States governorship election.
    Addressing the INEC commissioner, Saraki said, “We are here representing millions of Nigerians to speak to you, that INEC has a responsibility by law, by the constitution to do what is right to all Nigerians.
    “Enough is enough of election that are not credible. Enough is enough of impunity. Enough is enough of harassment. INEC, you met a standard, don’t take us back.
    “Nigeria has raised the standard of electoral processes, take us forward, don’t take us backward. The last two elections have been said all over villages, towns, Africa, other continents that it was a sham. INEC, enough is enough.
    “Just last night, the Senate and Congress in the United States issued a statement saying enough is enough. We must have credible elections in Nigeria. You are not a department, or a division of the APC. You represent the entire Nigeria and Nigerians are saying give us free and credible elections.
    “Be courageous and bold to stand for the truth because tomorrow history will judge you. We stand here to say we don’t want favours, just give us free and fair elections.

    Read Also: APC primary: Policemen at Airport Hotel, Lagos

    “Let me warn you INEC, Nigerians will not take elections that are not credible. Stand with Nigerians because you represent us. Stand and be impartial because you are an independent commission.
    “We are here to demand that you do the right thing, free and fair elections in 2019 for the unity and peace of this country”.
    Also speaking, Secondus said, “The country is sleeping on a keg of gun powder and you know it. If you feel that Nigerians are not aware of the activities of INEC and the police, you are deceiving yourselves.
    “You are pushing Nigerians to the wall and when you push them to the wall there would be resistance. We hope we will not get there, but this will serve as a notice.
    “Therefore we demand that INEC Chairman should resign, Amina  Zakari should resign. She is the manipulator of all elections. Let me address Mr President, Muhammadu Buhari, you cannot continue to give instructions to security agents to carry out your agenda, instead of protecting Nigerians.
    “The hunger in the land is too much, the corruption in the country is too much. You are not fighting corruption, you are fighting your perceived enemies, you are fighting the masses.
    “Nigerians have left you. You cannot change the will of the people by force, take note and stop directing the security agencies and INEC to rig elections. You must come out clean. What we expect from you is to conduct a free and fair elections”.
    On his part, Fayose said, “We want to let INEC know a few things and remind them that the damage done to this country is enough. The damage done to our democracy and by extension the common man is enough.
    “If the people cannot choose their leaders anymore, then we are in trouble. In 2014, APC won election in Osun state by 114,000 votes. But this last election, with all the rigging, APC won by 400 votes, that is a statement enough to say APC is no more in the demand in Nigeria.
    “We are not asking for favours, this country and this INEC belong to Nigerians and Nigerians must be respected by allowing them to make a choice.
    “If Jonathan had behaved this way, we would not have a Buhari in power. We had a Buhari in power because somebody thought the rights of Nigerians must not be trampled upon by INEC and everybody received the present administration with open hands
    “I want to say again on behalf of PDP and the governors of PDP that rigging will not work in 2019. We say no to rigging. We are already contesting against police, security agencies, and the alibi of INEC always is that we are not in charge of security agencies. You cannot be a referee in the pitch, and be giving excuses while thugs took over the field
    “We are saying again to the security agencies that enough is enough. Don’t take away the rights of Nigerians. We want a Nigeria that belongs to Nigerians”.
    Tambuwal said the protest was meant to address the Chairman and members of INEC commission, on behalf of millions of Nigerians.
    He said, “Our demand is simple; we demand for free, fair and credible elections all throughout this country. I believe that the chairman of INEC before this temporary assignment, you have a history and you have a record.
    “Don’t allow anybody, no matter how highly placed, to use you to undermine the will of Nigerians. You cannot suppress us, you can not intimidate us. Elections in Nigeria must be held freely and fairly, and whoever wins should be given the mandate. That is what we want and we shall take nothing less”.
    Responding, the INEC Commissioner on Legal Matters, May Agbamuche- Mbu said, “I want to thank you, and inform you all that Professor Mahmood Yakubu (INEC chair) would have received you all.
    “The commission takes this demonstration very seriously. We are happy that the protest is peaceful and carried out in civilized manner.
    “INEC is up to this job, we are all here in INEC as professionals and not politicians. We are going to do our best come 2019. I must say we are a team and decisions are made by the commission and not by any individual. All your comments have been noted and it will be passed to the chairman and the entire commission”.
    The protest kicked off at 11.45, shortly after a meeting of the party leadership with the presidential aspirants. No communique was issued after the meeting, which was held behind closed doors.
    However, only six of the 12 presidential aspirants attended the meeting, with a former Sokoto State Governor and presidential aspirant, Attahiru Bafarawa leaving the venue shortly before the meeting ended.
    Five of the aspirants, Saraki, Tambuwal, Lamido, Turaki and Baba Ahmed reportedly signed an undertaking to accept the outcome of the convention in good faith.
    They were also reported to have made written commitments to work with the party in projecting the eventual winner as the presidential candidate throughout the electioneering campaign.

  • Boroffice wins Ondo North Senatorial ticket

    The senator representing Ondo North senatorial district, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice on Thursday won the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC)as the candidate of the party for the 2019 general election.

    Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), monitored the primary election in Ondo North senatorial district.

    Out of the 66,200 voters that were accredited for the exercise, Boroffice gathered 64,300 votes from the 72 wards in the senatorial district. Boroffice was the sole contestant in the election.

    In the summary result sheet signed by the Chairman of APC Primary Election Committee in Ondo State, Mr Abuh Andrew, the committee declared, “This is to certify that: Robert Ajayi Boroffice having scored the highest number of votes cast is hereby declared Winner.

    Boroffice called for peace within APC’s family in the state.

    Read Also: Tension in Edo APC over primaries

    At a news conference in his home town,Oka-Akoko,the chairman,Senate Committee on Science&Technology pleaded that stakeholders should come together to build APC for the betterment of all and sundry.

    According to him,the disruption of peace within the ruling party in theme state would be conter-productive.

    He said” the National Working Committee (NWC) set up a screening committee to screen all aspirants to determine their eligibility,stressing that he made himself available for the exercise by purchasing nomination form to seek the senatorial ticket”.

    The Asiwaju of Akoko said he had remain loyal to the party at all times and even turned down a principal office in the senate because of being against zoning policy of the party when the 8th assembly was inaugurated.

    Boroffice expressed his continued loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari and other national leaders if the party.