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Tag: Kano

  • Buhari’s camp upbeat over Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Ekiti, Adamawa, Ogun

    CONFIDENCE. That was the general feeling in the All Progressives Congress (APC) last night as results of the Presidential and National Assembly elections began trickling in from across the nation.

    Leaders of the party  were particularly upbeat  at the strong showing of President Muhammadu Buhari  and the party’s national assembly candidates in Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Kwara, Ekiti, Kano, Borno and Adamawa among others.

    But the party warned its supporters to be vigilant, saying the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had hatched a plan to unleash violence during collation of results of the elections.

    The PDP said it was the APC that masterminded the killings in some states.

    Early returns from the Southeast and much of Southsouth looked good for the PDP and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    Buhari and Atiku said, moment after casting their votes yesterday, that they were optimistic of winning.

    Buhari, asked by reporters in his home town, Daura, whether he would congratulate the winner in the event that he (President) lost, he said:  “I’m going to congratulate myself, because am going to win.”

    Responding to a question on his expectation in Yola, Atiku said: “I look forward to a successful transition.”

    But it was Buhari who appeared to be coasting home to victory last night on account of yet to be confirmed results.

    Some of the key backers of Atiku who were expected to deliver  votes for him failed in show of their  electoral worth.

    They include former President Olusegun Obasanjo who could only muster 18 votes for Atiku in his Abeokuta polling unit against the 87 for Buhari.

    Buhari himself floored Atiku at the former vice president’s polling unit in Yola with 186 votes to 157.

    Former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba delivered 147 votes for Buhari at his Abeokuta polling Unit while Atiku received 81.

    Another former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel who is the Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council, Southwest, delivered 137 votes for Atiku while Buhari got 88 votes.

    The governorship candidate of the party in the State and Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial district, Senator Buruji Kashamu also delivered his Sopen unit 26 in Ijebu Igbo to the PDP Presidential candidate.

    While Atiku polled 138 votes, Buhari polled 110 votes

    As we projected in our assessment of the chances of the two candidates a few weeks back, Buhari is doing very well in Akwa Ibom State where the former  Governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio delivered 1,553 votes for him  in his Ukana West 2, unit 9, Essien Udim Local Government Area. Atiku got only 11 votes there.

    Buhari also defeated Atiku 84 -80 votes in the Apapa, Lagos polling unit of the PDP governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje while it was the other way round in the Ikoyi polling unit of the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    Atiku attracted 52 votes in the unit while Buhari got 48.

    Atiku got 219 votes as against Buhari’s 68 at   the Agbaji polling unit, Ilorin of Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    In another unit at Agbaji, Ilorin, Saraki’s younger sister, Gbemi got 275 votes for Buhari while Atiku received 71.

    It was also Buhari all the way in most of the units in Ekiti, Kano, Borno, Adamawa States.

    But it seemed to be a close race in Edo State although APC national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole  made it 770  0  in favour of Buhari while Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu gave it all to Buhari in his Mpu units in Enugu State.

    Atiku also got 84 votes, nine more than Buhari at one of the polling units at Aso Rock Villa, and 207 votes at the Kaduna polling unit of former Vice President Namadi Sambo.

    Buhari got only  34 votes there but made up for it at Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State’s  polling unit with 453 votes to Atiku’s 80.

    Other results that came in last night are as follows:

    Owan West Unit six Ward one (Edo State)

    APC  — 124

    PDP — 90

    Kabiyesi: Ona-Ara unit (Essa B ward) (Kwara)

    APC – 290

    PDP – 64

    Kabiyesi: PU Ilesha Primary School, Ilesha Baruba  (Kwara)

    PDP=39, APC=190

    Idi Agba Polling unit 004  Ilorin (Kwara)

    APC 397

    PDP  57.

    0de imam 005 (Kwara)

    APC=195

    PDP=231

    Ward 06 (Orokere), Unit 001 (Kogi)

    APC   90

    PDP 100

    Ward 06, Unit 002 (Orokere, Kogi).

    APC 54   PDP 112

    Ward 04 (Ileteju Mopa), Unit 004 (Kogi)

    APC   43

    PDP 138

    Yagba Ward 04, Unit 003 (Kogi)

    APC  46

    PDP 131

    Yagba House of Representative:

    APC=30, PDP=76, ADC=69.

    Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School, Kubwa, Abuja, unit 006

    PDP: 953

    APC: 182

     

    APC to supporters: Be vigilant

    The All Progressives Congress Campaign Council last night issued  a security alert that about an alleged plot by the PDP to unleash violence during the collation of the  results of the elections.

    Spokesman for the campaign council, Mr. Festus Keyamo said:

    “It has come to our knowledge from insiders within the PDP Campaign Council who are making last-minute efforts to switch allegiance to President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress that the PDP is currently recruiting armed thugs and miscreants nationwide to attack ward and local government collation centres this evening till the wee hours of tomorrow morning.

    “The purpose is to disrupt the collation process of the elections nationwide in order to cause crises and make this election inconclusive. As we know, most of these collation centres are usually in schools or other places that are poorly protected.

    “This is, therefore, a clarion call to all law enforcement agencies to mobilise extra armed security to protect all collation centres nationwide. We also appeal to Nigerians of goodwill and our supporters to provide standby electricity this night at these collation centres.

    Read Also: EFCC operatives at INEC collation centre in Lagos

    “We also call on all our party agents, supporters and patriotic Nigerians to stick with these election results from the various units up to the State Collation Centres. There is no cause for any political party at this stage to jubilate or be dejected. Nothing has been won and nothing has been lost. Official results have not been declared. Hence we call for eternal vigilance on the part of our agents and supporters.

    “We repeat: NOBODY SHOULD JUBILATE NOW AND ABANDON HIS/HER DUTIES. LET US KEEP OUR FEET FIRMLY ON THE GROUND AND STICK WITH OUR ASSIGNED ROLE(S) UNTIL FINAL RESULTS ARE DECLARED BY INEC.”

     

    APC killing Nigerians, burning ballot boxes, PDP alleges

    The PDP in its reaction to the conduct of the elections accused the APC of killing innocent Nigerians, and snatching and burning ballot boxes during the polls.

    The PDP, in a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the unleashing of violence was the major part of the script by the APC to intimidate Nigerians and disrupt the election, in a bid to enforce President Buhari’s self-succession plot.

    His words: “President Buhari and the APC leadership must know that they are directly responsible for the killings in Rivers state, the violent snatching of ballot box and burning of electoral materials in Lagos and various other states where compromised security agents were used to directly interfere in the electoral process. “In Lagos State, the world watched in amazement as security agents aided APC thugs to invade polling centres, disrupt electoral process, manhandle voters, destroy and burnt electoral materials, including ballot papers and boxes.

    “In Rivers State, voters were shot and killed by agents of the APC in their desperation to manipulate the elections.

    “Our party is compiling a list of all infractions and the killings as well as securing the identities of all individuals who played roles in these the atrocities.

    “The PDP deeply salutes the resilience, courage and sacrifices by Nigerians, across the board, in resisting the Buhari’s anti-democratic forces and insisting that their votes must count, against all odds.

    “Nigerians, across the country are exceptionally upbeat in their resolution to vote out this incompetent, divisive, vengeful, violent prone and corrupt APC administration, despite the machinations of the Buhari Presidency.

    “This election has shown President Buhari and in particular, certain individuals in Lagos state, who thought that they were emperors, that the will of the people is bigger than them. The APC turned the election into a war but Nigerians have shown that nobody can suppress their resilient spirit.

    “The PDP therefore calls on INEC to ensure that all votes count as Nigerians are following all the figures from the polling units.  Having come thus far and after making huge sacrifices, Nigerians will never accept any result that does not reflect the reality of their already expressed wishes and aspiration at the polls.”

    House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara   won his polling unit at Gwarangah in Bogoro, Dass, Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State for Atiku with 285 votes as against 15 for Buhari.

  • Ganduje blames Kwankwaso for Kano killings

    Kano state Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has described as unfortunate the attack on a group of All Progressive Congress (APC) supporters by members of the Kwankwasiyya group of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) while on campaign in Bebeji/Kiru Local Government Area on Thursday.

    He called on security agents to fish out perpetrators of the attack, which left at least five persons dead and other seriously wounded.

    According to him: “The Kwankwassiyya group has continued to brazenly attack members and supporters of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    “The latest just happened on Thursday when they attacked our members while on a special prayer session in Bebeji local government area which was organised for peaceful conduct of the forthcoming general elections in the country, leaving some party members dead and others with injuries.”

    In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Youth and Culture, Malam Muhammad Garba, Ganduje accused the Kwankwasiyya PDP thugs of being behind the attack.

    Read Also: Kwankwaso presents staff of office to emir of Kano

    According to him: “They attacked our peaceful supporters under the watchful eyes of their leader, Rabi’u Kwankwaso, who was on a campaign rally in the area, brandishing all sorts of deadly weapons, attacked the prayer session, which is being organised by member representing Kiru/Bebeji constituency, Hon. Abdulmumini Jibrin Kofa for meanness free polls.”

    The attack, the statement, he lamented: “is the latest in series by the Kwankwasiyya ruffians in an apparent attempt to put a clog in the wheel of progress toward ensuring free and peaceful election in the state.”

    The Governor lamented: “The group is superficially venting its anger on members and supporters of the APC, having gotten a sign of defeat at the polls, as part of a calculated attempt to scamper peaceful 2019 elections.”

    He prayed for the departed souls and condoled with the bereaved families, just as he also prayed for the quick recovery of those injured during the heinous attack.

    Ganduje also directed security agencies “to fish out perpetrators of the monstrous blitzkrieg with a view to ensuring that they are dealt with accordingly.”

  • Police intercept two trucks of illicit drugs in Kano

    …arrest 1200 political thugs

     

    Determined to curb drug abuse and thuggery ahead of the general elections, police in Kano on Thursday intercepted two-truck-load of tramadol and other illicit drugs, while over 1200 suspected political thugs have also been arrested.

    According to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wakili Mohammed who briefed reporters at the Police headquarters on Thursday, “the Command had carried out series of raids at black spots and criminal hideouts and arrested several suspected armed robbers, thugs, dealers of hard drugs and recovered large quantity of intoxicants, a pistol and other dangerous locally made weapons.”

    Wakili further stated that, “an Iveco truck with registration No. FGE 522 XA fully loaded with counterfeit substandard and hard drugs was intercepted along Murtala Mohammed Way, Kano.

    Read Also: Kano poll: Why Ganduje will win

    “Some of the counterfeit drugs recovered without NAFDAC registration numbers include five cartons of liquid glucose, one carton of Diabetes control tea, 128 cartons of cold caplets, 10 fake topping sauce, 10 buckets of Margarine, one carton of Supreme flour, 31 bags of Devataa flour, 24 bags of Augmentin tablets, two bags of Amplicox capsules, packages of anti-Malaria seals, 50 cartons of cool refrigerants, 50 jerricans and six drums of hydro chloride acid among others.”

    CP Wakili added that, “a suspect, Ibrahim Datti, 45, of Rimaye Village, Ungogo LGA was arrested with six drums of Methylene Choloride (suck and die) valued at N558, 000 while enroute to distribution point. Investigations is in progress to arrest all his accomplice.

    “A syndicate of suspected armed robbers that are constantly striking and dispossessing residents of Sheka, Zoo Road, Tudun Maliki, Tukuntawa and Maidile quarters, Kano, was busted.”

    He also stated that, “a syndicate of suspected car thieves that snatched a Toyota Hilux vehicle was busted. The suspects, Ibrahim Bashir and Yahuza Bilyaminu all of Ladanai quarters Kano we’re arrested with the said vehicle.”

  • Updated: 5 feared dead as Kwankwaso, Kofa supporters clash

    At least five persons were feared killed on Thursday at Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano state when supporters of former Governor of Kano state, Senator Rabi’u Kwankwaso and former House Committee chairman on Appropriation, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Jibrin Kofa engaged in a bloody clash.

    According to eyewitness account, trouble started when Senator Kwankwaso’s convoy, while returning from a campaign rally, passed through an open space where Kofa and his supporters were praying for the peaceful conduct of the general elections.

    It was gathered that Kwankwaso’s convoy disrupted the ongoing prayer session, which resulted in the bloody clash that reportedly led to the death of five people, while many others from both sides were injured.

    According to an eyewitness account who pleaded anonymity, “the long convoy of Senator Kwankwaso which disrupted the prayers was actually the cause of the problem.

    “It was, indeed, a bloody sight. The Kwankwaso people had provoked Kofa’s supporters who were conducting a peaceful prayer session for the peaceful conduct of the elections.

    “I counted five dead bodies which were moved away on a police Hilux Van. Many vehicles were set ablaze; and buildings around the Kofa Neighbourhood were also burnt.”

    Confirming the incident, Kofa told our correspondent on telephone that Senator KwanKwaso’s supporters attacked him and the group on their way back from Bebeji and Kiru local Government.

    According to him, over 60 vehicles were burnt aside from his residence.

    He alleged the mobile Police attached to Senator Kwankwaso shot sporadically for more than one hour, which resulted to death of many.

    But the spokesman of the PDP governorship candidate, Mallam Sanusi Tofa, accused Kofa’s supporters of launching attack on Kwankwaso’s convoy.

  • Fire guts cash, property in Kano

    A fire outbreak on Tuesday engulfed No. 2 Warri/Court Road, Sabon Gari, Kano destroying property worth millions at the third-floor of the storey building.

    According to an eyewitness account, the fire which started at about 3:30 pm razed down five flats in the third-floor and could have caused more havoc but for the timely intervention of men of the State Fire Service.

    A resident of the compound, who refused to give her name, said the fire broke out as a result of the carelessness of a banker occupant at flat 23 who did not put off the stove before leaving for work.

    She said: “The house girl confirmed to us that they forgot to put off the stove after preparing breakfast this morning. The stove was very close to the gas Cooker.

    Read Also: Kano poll: Why Ganduje will win

    “The fire from the stove ignited the gas cylinder which eventually exploded and caused the inferno.

    “As you can see, we have lost everything to the fire. Not even a pin was picked from the apartments.

    “We lost money, documents and properties. As I speak to you now, we are left with nothing, and only God knows where we are going to put our heads tonight.”

    However, residents hailed the Fire Service men for their prompt response to the distress calls and their commitment in putting of the fire, which would have ravaged the entire building.

    As at the time of filling in this report, our reporter, who visited the scene of the incident, saw a huge crowd discussing the incident in hush tones.

    Police and fire servicemen were busy putting the situation under control.

  • Police prosecute 600 electoral offenders in Kano

    Over 600 hoodlums have been prosecuted in Kano electoral- related crimes, Commissioner of Police Mohammed Wakil has stated.

    Wakili, who spoke during an interactive session with reporters at the Command headquarters, added his men arrested over 780 suspects in connection to alleged electoral violence and political thuggery in the state.

    According to him, the command is determined to ensure the conduct of peaceful rescheduled elections.

    He said the rate at which youths were turned into political thugs was very alarming, especially at this moment of electioneering.

    He stated: “we have arrested over 780 youths and suspected bandits who are being used as political thugs.

    “These criminal elements also engage in pick-pockets, harassment of innocent citizens who they waylay and snatch their phones and other personal belongings.’’

    Wakili noted over 600 out of the suspects have been prosecuted, adding that arrangements have been concluded to arraign others.

    “We are serious on this mission to stamp out thuggery from Kano politics.

    Read Also: Police parade 63 suspects over pre-electoral violence in A’Ibom

    “We are leaving no stone unturned to make sure that Kano remains peaceful before, during and after the general elections.

    “I call on parents and political leaders to guide their wards and followers. It is no fun for us arresting these youths, but they should obey the law and become good ambassadors of the society,” he stated.

    He maintained that the Police in the state had embarked on special operations aimed at curtailing the menace of drug abuse in Kano.

    According to him: “We have also declared total war against drug dealers and users because drug abuse is the major catalyst that drives these youths crazy and lead them into committing all sorts of crimes.”

    He urged parents, guardians, community and religious leaders to collaborate with the Police and other security agencies aimed at addressing the challenges of drug abuse in Kano.

  • Breaking: PDP rejects postponement of election

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has said that shoddy arrangement for this election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is a deliberate predetermined agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari to cling on to power even when it’s obvious to him that Nigerians want him out.

    He was reacting to the postponement of the election by INEC.

    Prince Secondus said that the postponement which is part of a grand design by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to thwart the will of Nigerians at all cost, clearly exposes INEC as a failure and calls on the Chairman of the Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu to resign immediately.

    The PDP leader warns that the party will not accept anything short of a well organized electoral process devoid of manipulation, harassment and intimidation of voters and the opposition particularly members of the PDP.

    “Having failed in all their nefarious options to enable them cling on to power, the APC and the INEC came up with the idea of shifting election an action that is dangerous to our democracy and unacceptable”, he said.

    The National Chairman said that the APC in connivance with the INEC have been trying all options including but not limited to burning down INEC offices in some states and destroying of electoral materials to create artificial problems upon which to stand for their dubious act.

    According to a statement from the National Chairman’s media office signed by Ike Abonyi, Prince Secondus said that the party is privy to all the pressures from the APC and the federal government to arm-twist the INEC, to dance to their new strategy after their earlier ones failed.

    “With several of their rigging options failing, they have to force INEC to agree to a shift in the election or a staggered election with flimsy excuses pre-manufactured for the purpose.

    “For the avoidance of doubt the PDP sees this action as wicked and we are also aware of other dubious designs like the deployment of hooded security operatives who would be ruthless on the people ostensibly to scare them away.

    He said that by the action of the President has further demonstrated his insensitivity costing the huge cost after Nigerians including those who came home from abroad have all mobilized to their various constituencies.

    The National Chairman recalls that the PDP had earlier alerted Nigerians that the APC was coming up with lined up rigging strategies including burning down of INEC offices and engineering crisis in PDP stronghold areas to scare away the people.

    Prince Secondus said that the wicked killing of over 60 persons mostly women and children in Southern Kaduna on the eve of the election is a copious ploy by the APC to frighten the people away from voting knowing too well that they were not going to record any vote from the area.

    “Recall that the Governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir el-rufai had earlier threatened international election observers of going to their country in body bags and with the fatal violence in the state on the eve of  election, it’s clear what the motives are, to frighten the observers from the state so that he can carry out his nefarious acts.

    The National Chairman also drew the attention of all lovers of democracy to the statement of President Buhari on the international media that nobody can unseat him from office as an indication of what he wants to do.

    Prince Secondus also regretted that President Buhari who made a promise at the signing of peace accord that the election will be conducted in a fair and transparent atmosphere  has gone ahead in breach of the peace agreements to send soldiers and other security agencies to arrest, harass and intimidate opponents in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kwara, Kano, Kaduna states.

  • Police arrest 500 suspected miscreants in Kano

    Kano State Police Command said on Thursday it had arrested about 500 suspected miscreants otherwise  known as “Yan’daba”, in continuation of its security strategy aimed at ensuring hitch-free 2019 general elections.

    The Command’s Public Relations Officer,DSP Abdullahi Haruna, made  this known while parading the suspects  at the police headquarters in Kano.

    He noted that the suspects were arrested in hideouts and black spots, saying  the suspects were members of ‘Yan’daba, political thugs, drug dealers and addicts.

    Haruna explained that those arrested were in possession of dangerous weapons such as sticks, sword and charms, adding that hard drugs like Diazapam, valium 5, Indian hemp, solution, suck and die were also recovered from them.

    The PPRO said that the suspects would be arraigned on Thursday.

  • Polls: Police deploy 20, 000 security in Kano

    Kano state Police Command is deploying no fewer than 20,000 security personnel to secure the 484 wards in 44 Local Government Areas in Saturday’s presidential and senatorial election in the state.

    The deployment is to ensure a peaceful conduct of the polls as well as protect the lives and property of the citizens of the state.

    Briefing reporters at the Command Headquarters on the preparations on Friday, the commissioner of Police Mr. Wakili Mohammed, said 15,000 specially trained police officers and 5,000 sister organizations would be drafted for the election.

    Wakili, warned that anyone caught with weapons, during the elections, would be arrested and prosecuted according to the provisions of the law.

    According to him, voters should vote for any candidate of their choice, stressing that, the election is not a war, but for the election to be credible.

    He maintained his men are ready to ensure a peaceful conduct of the election, promising that his men will protect all voters, asking as they conduct themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner.

    “We want the voting to start peacefully and end peacefully am calling on the good people of Kano to cooperate with security agencies to ensure peaceful conduct of the election.

    Mohammed also warned that nobody is authorized to come to the polling station, with dangerous weapons, as anybody caught would be dealt with, so as to serve as deterrent t others, whose mission is to cause disorder to scuttle the elections.

    Meanwhile, in a Press Conference held at NUJ Press Centre, the spokesperson of South-African based election observer body, Pan African Women’s Project, Belinda Maduna, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its level of preparedness ahead of the elections.

    Accordingly to her, representatives of the body have been on ground for the last 48 hours, “and we are Impressed. INEC is doing a wonderful job here in Kano. We have seen the staff working round the clock to ensure that all the election materials get to the designated places on time.”

    She further appealed to INEC to ensure smooth conduct of the elections, “our expectations are large. We expect credible, peaceful, free and fair elections.”

    Belinda also appealed to security agencies to remain committed to peaceful conduct of the elections, adding that, “we are appealing to security agencies to be honourable and perform their duties deligently. They should not intimidate voters. They should be friendly to the electorate and ensure their safety during the elections.”

    Belinda also advised politicians to desist from vote-buying and other forms of electoral crime, urging them not to allow their supporters to carry arms or engage in snatching of ballot boxes and other electoral crimes during the elections.

    She, however, advised Kano electorate to troop out en mass and vote candidates of their choice, adding that, “it is the right of every Nigerian eligible voter to go out there tomorrow and vote for candidates of their choice.”

  • Emir of Kano frowns at renewed political violence

    The Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi 11 has expressed dismay over the recent political upheavals and unrest that led to several bloody attacks on innocent residents by hoodlums in the state.

    Addressing reporters at his Palace on Tuesday, Sanusi called on security agencies to live up to their responsibilities in curbing the ugly trend.

    According to him, the resurgence of political thuggery calls for immediate concerns in the state.

    The Emir said the state is not at war, stating: “We should not rise on to each other’s throats in the name of politics.

    “We should avoid shedding the blood of innocent citizens and wanton destructions of lives and properties.”

    The monarch however urged politicians to play the game by its rules to prevent miscreants from taking advantage to wreak havoc on innocent lives.

    “All I want is for the people to live in peace and harmony and to also vote credible leaders that will have the love of the people at the back of their minds.

    “I urged the security agencies in the state to also brace up and discharged their statutory responsibilities without any fear or favour for peace to continue to reign in the state as well as ensure peaceful conduct of the forthcoming general elections in the country,” he stressed.

    The Emir also called on political party leaders in the state to prevail on their supporters on the inherent dangers of taking the law into their hands.

    He appealed to traditional and religious leaders in the state to embark on the massive mobilisation of the teeming youths in their domains to abhor violence and thuggery for the progress and development of the state.