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Tag: International Conference Centre (ICC)

  • 102 elected senators, 338 Reps get certificates today

    WINNERS in the February 23 National Assembly elections are to get certificates of return (CoR) today by at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.

    According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 102 senators-elect will get their certificates by 10am and 338 would-be House of Representatives members will be issued theirs by 2pm.

    Going by the list of candidates, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has 63 senators, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has 38 and Youth Progressives Party (YFP) has a seat.

    Seven seats have been declared inconclusive and will be contested for during the supplementary election slated for March 23.

    For the lower chamber, the ruling party also has the majority with 211 members.  The PDP has 111 members.

    Other political parties share the remaining 16 seats -APGA (six); African Democratic Congress (ADC), three; Action Alliance (AA) two and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), two. African Democratic Party (ADP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) have one slot each.

    Twenty-two seats are still up for grabs where elections were declared inconclusive. Make-up polls in the affected Federal Constituencies (excluding in Rivers State) have been fixed for March 23.

    Elections were suspended in Rivers State for INEC to review. The process that has been wracked by protests.

    The two major parties – APC and PDP – will be slugging it out in six states where elections were declared inconclusive. They are: Sokoto, Adamawa, Bauchi, Kano, Plateau and Benue.

    SOKOTO

    There are 526,892 votes to be contested for in the six states.  In Sokoto, where Governor Aminu Waziri of the PDP, who scored 489, 588, was leading with 3,413 votes, the two leading parties will battle for 75,493 votes in 136 polling units in 22 local government areas. The APC candidate, Aliyu Sokoto, was trailing with 486, 145 votes before the process was declared inconclusive.

    ADAMAWA

    Before the process was declared inconclusive in Adamawa, the PDP, with 367,471 votes as against APC’s 334,995, was leading by 32,476 votes. The candidates of the two parties have 40,998 votes to fight for. Incumbent Governor Jibrilla of the APC and his challenger PDP Umar Fintiri will be slugging it out on March 23.

    BAUCHI

    In Bauchi, it was too close to call. The PDP candidate Bala Muhammed was leading the APC candidate, Governor Mohammed Abubakar with 4,059. There are 139,240 votes to decide the winner. After the first ballot, the PDP had 469,512 and the APC got 465,453.

    BENUE

    Governor Samuel Ortom of the PDP, who got 410, 576, was ahead in Benue with 81,554 votes. He will be slugging it out with his APC challenger Emmanuel Jime for 121, 011 votes. Jime got 329, 022 at the close of the first ballot.

    PLATEAU

    In Plateau, incumbent Governor Simon Lalong of the APC got 583, 255 to lead Senator Jeremiah Useni of the PDP with 44,929 votes. Useni got 538, 326. The duo will be fighting for the outstanding 49,377 votes.

    KANO

    There are 100, 873 votes to decide who wins the election. The PDP, with 1,014,474 votes, was leading the APC, which got 987, 810, with 26,664 votes.

    As at the time of filing this report, the Commission has not received the report from the investigative panel it raised on the disruption of the electoral process in Rivers State.

    Though the committee, which was given 48 hours to turn in its report, has not been able to do so as a result of many factors, it has, however, met with critical stakeholders in the state, including the governor and other governorship candidates.

    The committee was set up on Sunday to review the situation that led to the disruption of the electoral process. Going by the 48-hour time lag given, the panel ought to have submitted its report on Tuesday.

    It was learnt last night that the panel was “wrapping” up its assignment.

    The commission had suspended collation and announcement of results, citing electoral violence and safety of its workers. It therefore raised a fact-finding committee to assess the situation and report back within 48 hours.

    Responding to an inquiry from our correspondent, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, said the committee may have been bogged down by flight delays and others factors.

    He, however, assured that “immediately the committee turns in its report, the commission will take a decision in respect of Rivers State”.

    Meanwhile, INEC has debriefed all accredited observers on the last polls.

  • Peaceful polls victory for Nigeria, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday told Nigerians to see the peaceful conduct of the February 23  presidential election as a victory for the nation.

    Noting that an election should not be seen as a war, the President said the “victory is enough cause for joy without deriding those in the opposition now that election is over.”

    The President’s message was contained in his remarks at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja, after receiving the Certificate of Return as the president-elect from the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu.

    Buhari’s deputy and running mate Prof Yemi Osinbajo also got the Certificate of Return as vice president-elect.

    Besides, the President urged Nigerians to stand in brotherhood for a bright and fulfilling future, assuring that his administration will be inclusive and open.

    Buhari, whose second term in office will begin on May 29,  also assured Nigerians of seeing the country moving to the “Next Level”.

    The ICC, which was being used as the Collation Office for the presidential election, also hosted governors, ministers, members of the private sector and supporters of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    The President also reached out to his opponents at the poll, urging them to join him to build the country that will be a pride to all.

    He said: “I am grateful to God for sparing our lives to witness another milestone in Nigeria’s democratic development,  namely conclusion of the presidential election in an overwhelmingly peaceful manner.

    “I wish, Mr Chairman, to congratulate all the presidential candidates and their teams on a hard-fought campaign. We may have had different views during the campaign, but the one thing most of us have in common is love of our country and our desire to improve conditions for Nigerians.

    “From the comments of several observers both local and foreign, it is obvious that the elections were both free and fair.

    “Now that the elections are over, and a winner declared, we must all see it as a victory for Nigeria, our dear country. That was why I encouraged my teeming supporters, in a speech I read earlier today, not to gloat.

    “Our God-given victory is enough cause for joy, without deriding those who were in the opposition.  All Nigerians, going forward, must stand in brotherhood, for a bright and fulfilling future.

    “I, therefore, want to assure that we will continue to engage all parties that have the best interest of Nigerians at heart. Our government will remain inclusive and our doors will remain open.

    “That is the way to build the country of our dream; safe, secure, prosperous and free of impunity and primitive accumulation by those entrusted with public offices.

    “The hard work to deliver a better Nigeria continues, building on the foundations of peace, rule of law and opportunities for all. We will roll up our sleeves afresh, and give it our all. We have no other motive than to serve Nigeria with our hearts and might, and build a nation which we and generations to come can be proud of.

    “I am very grateful to the over 15 million citizens who voted for me, those who contributed in many ways in the running of our successful campaign, and those at home and abroad who expressed confidence in me and the APC government. I thank you all.

    “I can assure that you will see a country moving to the Next Level, as we consolidate on our fundamental areas of securing the country, reviving the economy, and fighting corruption. Many other focal areas, as stated in our campaign manual, will be added, to the good things we plan for our country.

    “Let me pay tribute here to those who lost their lives either through accidents or mindless violence during the course of these elections. My heart and thoughts are with the families of the victims. May God comfort and give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

    “Election is not war, and should never be seen as a do or die affair. I pray that we all accept this democratic approach to elections, however contentious.”

    Buhari and Osinbajo were declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at exactly 4.39am yesterday, having scored the highest number of votes, 15,191,847.

    They defeated their closest rivals – former Vice President Abubakar Atiku and his running mate, former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, who polled 11,262,978.

    The PDP and its candidate have resolved to contest the results at the tribunal.

    Buhari and Osinbajo arrived at the ICC in the company of their spouses, Hajia Aisha and Dolapo at 2:11pm.

    They got the Certificates of Return from the INEC boss at about 2:20pm.

    In a short remark, Prof Yakubu described the presentation of the certificates as a statutory requirement based on the Electoral Act which requires winners of elections to be given their certificate of return within seven days.

    The vice president, decked in a white native attire, was all smiles as praise singers sang “Oke Oke la oma lo” (meaning we will always make progress).

    The praise singers changed the tune to Sai Baba when it was the turn of the president to receive his certificate.

  • Elections begin by 8am, INEC assures

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians and the international community that it has concluded arrangements to commence elections by 8am on Saturday.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, gave the assurance on Friday in Abuja while addressing a press conference on the commissions preparations for the presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Yakubu said that the commission has concluded the deployment of sensitive and non-sensitive materials to the 774 local government areas across the country.

    “We engaged 825,543 ad hoc staff ranging from presiding officers to collation and returning officers. We have mobilized 80,000 commercial vehicles and about 996 boats for the deployment of personnel and materials.

    “The materials include 707,892 ballot boxes and voting cubicles, and we are mobilizing these to various locations by land and sea.

    “We have accredited 120 domestic and 36 international observer groups, deploying accumulative number of 73,000 observers.

    “We have concluded the movement of personnel, materials to the 774 local and 8809 RACs nationwide.

    “All arrangements are now in place to facilitate opening of polls at 8 a.m. on Saturday,” he said.

    He said that measures were also in place to combat vote buying and other electoral malpractice.

    He said that the national situation room would open at 6 p.m. on Friday, while the national collation centre would also be opened at 6 p.m. on Sunday, both situated at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.

    The chairman advised eligible voters to visit gotomypu.ng to obtain location to their polling units, saying in the last 10 days about 190,000 persons had utilised the commission’s various social media platforms to geolacate their Polling Units.

    He said that the election would be by simultaneous accreditation and voting system, and that only registered voters with Permanent Voter Cards would be allowed to vote.

    “As we go to poll tomorrow, I appeal to voters to be peaceful and orderly before, during and after the elections.

    Read Also: ‘We have confidence in INEC to conduct polls’

    “The police working with other security agencies have assured us of adequate security for voters, electoral officers, observers and the media.

    “May I also appeal to all to ensure compliance with the usual restriction of movement for those who are not observers or on essential dut,” the chairman said.

    Yakubu also urged members of the public to desist from issuing any results of the elections, saying only INEC was empowered by law to declare results.

    “The commission will work assiduously to ensure that collation and declaration of results are done at the various levels expeditiously.

    On his part, the acting Inspector General of Police (I-G), Mohammed Adamu, reiterated that maximum security would be provided before, during and after the election.

    Adamu said that the security personnel at the polling units would not be armed and there would be no need for apprehension while the election is going on.

    “We have some group of people who might want to disrupt the election we have put in place strategy to stop that.

    “We have tactical units of our personnel and other services that will be patrolling everywhere to ensure that the process is not disrupted.

    “The patrolling personnel will be armed and will deal with anybody who wants to disrupt the process in the course of the election,

    “If any electoral offence is committed, we will work with the INEC officials to apprehend the culprit and set up investigative team headed by Commissioner of Police in charge of legal Unit to investigate the cases and prosecute them.

    “Be it vote buying, ballot box snatching, be it thuggery, if you commit that, you will be arrested and prosecuted.

    “After the voting, movement of electoral materials to the collation centre will be protected. Armed security personnel will be posted to the ward collation centres.

    “Even when the results are announced, those people who are planning to disrupt the process, we have put strategies in place to prevent that,” he said.

    The IG said what was required from all Nigerians was to go out peacefully, cast their vote and wait for the announcement of the results.

    “If you have no business on the Election Day if you are not an accredited official, please don’t come out.

    “All the accredited officials whether domestic or foreign observers must carry their tags. You can move freely and be protected.

    “If you identify anybody that wants to infiltrate you and claim to be an observer for a group, we will appreciate you exposing such a person for us to remove him or her from your group,” Adamu said.

    The national election will hold in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Voting will take place in 176,973 locations, made up of 119,973 polling units and 57, 023 voting points.

    The elections will be to elect a president from the 73 presidential candidates, 109 senators from 1,820 senatorial candidates and 360 House of Representatives members from the 4,631 candidates contesting in the election.

    NAN

  • Why I dedicated my book to my predecessor-Sullivan

    Former Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime says he dedicated the book on his eight year stewardship to his predecessor, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani for giving him the opportunity to serve.

    Chime told newsmen in Enugu on Wednesday during a pre-book launch briefing that Nnamani was the one who made it possible for him to serve the state as the governor.

    “I would not have had the opportunity to serve if he did not bring me into his government.”

    He made it clear that he did not fall out with the former governor as insinuated in some quarters rather Nnamani decided to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined another one.

    “He saw way back what I saw in 2015 and left the party. So, I have no issues with him,” he said.

    Chime said that the book entitled `An Honour to Serve: Enugu State in the Sullivan Years’, would be unveiled on Friday, Nov. 23 by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    The former governor explained that the book was all about his experiences from inception to the handing over.

    According to him, it is a report of my stewardship to the electorate, whom he described, as his employers.

    “The book is an account of my stewardship for eight years to my employers.

    Read Also: Sullivan Chime’s daughter set for the altar

    “It is a compendium of what we did in the governance of Enugu,” he said, adding that as compendium, it was not possible to cover all aspects.

    “It is not possible to cover all we did in eight years. It is only a summary of what we did in Enugu State.”

    He said that when he assumed office, “we promised a four-point agenda and we kept all the promises”.

    Chime pointed out that the greatest challenge when he assumed office in the state was insecurity, adding that people were then scared to come to the old regional capital.

    “We tackled the situation and today Enugu is one of the safest states in the country,” the former governor said.

    He cleared the rumour of strained relationship with incumbent governor, Mr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, saying that he did not have issues with him.

    On why he did not complete some abandoned projects by his predecessor, Chime said that he did not believe in personalising projects.

    “You do not personalise projects. You come into government and look for projects that will benefit the people.

    “I developed Park Lane Hospital and ESUT which Nnamani started. We improved on it. Also Loma Linda or Maryland Estate which he did not complete, I concluded the project and made it viable.

    “Once you do not personalize projects, you won’t have issues as a leader.

    “You see, there is a difference between politics and governance. After politics, you engage people who can help you deliver or govern,” he said.

    Chime explained that he could not complete the International Conference Centre (ICC) because he could not get the design to complete it.

    “I could not get a copy of the design from the contractor. There is no record in the Ministry of Works or any related government office about the project. The contractor disappeared with it,”.

    The former governor said his greatest regret was that he did not have enough money to develop the state the way he wanted.