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Tag: National Assembly elections

  • Ogun polls: True reflection of people’s will, says APC

    THE Ogun State All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday appraised the March 9 governorship elections in the state and declared that the outcome was a true reflection of the will of the people.

    The party  said it was “heart-warming, that despite the harassment, intimidation and sponsored violence from known quarters”, Ogun people spoke with their votes on who they preferred to govern them for the next four years.

    In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Tunde Oladunjoye, in Abeokuta,  the party observed that the election recorded over 158,000 voters more than the National Assembly elections.

    He described it as a demonstration that Ogun people were really determined to choose who becomes their governor.

    The statement reads: “It is beyond reasonable doubt that our candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun, won fair and square as confirmed by all other candidates in the governorship election, except the sore loser and his paymaster.

    Read also: APC: why we picked Lawan for Senate President

    “Our people showed more concern in the  governorship election. While the total votes for the Senate were 549, 909, the  House of Representatives were 552, 223, and Presidential elections had 605, 738 voters;  a total of 708, 807 voters participated in the governorship elections.”

    It added: “Furthermore, never in the annals of governorship elections in Ogun State, had the winner received such outpouring of  congratulatory messages, encouragement, promised support and visitations by his co-contestants. Prince Buruji Kashamu, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, Otunba Rotimi Paseda, Chief Tope Tokoya, Mr. Adewale Omoniyi, and about other 10 political parties and candidates have either sent goodwill messages or visited the winner or  placed congratulatory adverts in the newspapers, in a commendable demonstration of good spirit of sportsmanship.

    “Having submitted itself to the authority of Election Petition Tribunal, we urged the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) to stop its campaign of calumny against our candidate, and its seeming patronage of the tribunal with its amateur simulation in the media. We see this as deliberate and desperate campaign after elections. APM should allow the law to take  its course.”

    The party added that over 90 per cent of those arrested on election day by security and anti-corruption agencies for perpetrating election-related crimes on March 9, 2019  in Ogun State were well-known agents of the APM and top government officials in the outgoing regime.

    “We, therefore, call on the relevant agencies to do the needful going forward. The APM is actually crying for being unable to execute its rigging plans.

    “The APM, with a sitting governor as  its chief promoter and  despite the enormous state resources deployed and poured into the process,  which could not muster a convincing win in one-third of the 20 local government areas in Ogun State, should bury its head in shame and stop campaigning after elections.

    “If the governorship election in Ogun State is to be held several times again, the margin for our candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun, can only increase,” the APC said.

  • Ekiti PDP to contest outcome of polls at tribunal

    THE Ekiti State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed readiness to challenge the outcome of State and National Assembly elections for alleged irregularities.

    It described the general elections conducted in the state as a charade, which negates acceptable democratic standard.

    PDP State Chairman Chief Gboyega Oguntuwase said the presidential, National Assembly and House of Assembly elections in the state were marred by violence, ballot-snatching, ballot stuffing, vote buying allegedly perpetrated by All Progressives Congress (APC) members “to win all available legislative seats in the state”.

    Oguntuwase, who spoke in Ado Ekiti yesterday while reviewing the elections, said the party had “resolved not to allow the rape of democracy go unchallenged and hence our resolve to approach the judiciary as the only democratic process available”.

    He said: “We have given all our candidates in the National Assembly elections the go-ahead to pursue the cases against the elections at the tribunal because, if the broad daylight robbery against democratic principles goes unchallenged, it is going to consume the nation and our democratic norms and process.

    “The general elections in Ekiti State were bedeviled by violence, ballot snatching, threat to lives, threat to properties and the entire state was riddled with uncivilised attitude to politics.”

    The PDP chairman, who hinged the resolve to challenge the National Assembly elections on the party’s “commitment to purifying the system”, however, did not state the team of lawyers being lined up by the party for the legal battle “for tactical reasons”.

    But the APC State Publicity Secretary, Ade Ajayi, dismissed the allegations, saying: “It is an afterthought. The elections in Ekiti were held under peaceful atmosphere. Ekiti people went to the polls without rancour or violence.”

    Ajayi, who said the PDP resort to the tribunal was commendable as the opposition party did not toe the line of violence, said: “We will meet them there. They are free to go to court. They have the constitutional backing. I commend them for not resorting to violence. When we get to the courts, we will defeat them again because the truth will always prevail.

    “INEC was proactive enough to release the results as early as possible. Ekiti people felt the impacts of good governance within four months of Fayemi’s administration and they then realised the PDP deceived them for four years.

    “And they in turn reciprocate the good deeds of APC with massive votes. That was what the general elections in the state reflected,” Ajayi said.

  • Okota violence on Feb. 23 upsets me — Tinubu

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has said that the violence that erupted during the Feb. 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections upset him.

    Tinubu made the assertion during an interactive session with the media after he cast his vote at his polling unit Ward 3, Unit 047, Ikeja Lagos.

    The APC chieftain, who came to the polling station around 12 noon, accompanied by some aides proceeded to cast his vote by 12:15 p.m.

    Tinubu said that against the backdrop of painting the election as violent, it should rather be classified as peaceful, adding that the overall conduct of the election was fair.

    “I take exception to what happened in Okota two weeks ago. I am very upset about that incidence placing Lagos as if we are violence-prone.

    “We have about 1,325 polling units in Lagos State and only five units were affected in Okota. That should not mean that the election was a failure in the state.

    “If we should rate it, the election should be about 97 per cent rate of success if right mentally. An incident in Okota should not be used to generalise the whole election in Lagos State.

    “The success rate should have been the story not the ugly incident that should be the story,” he said.

    Tinubu, however, cautioned the media against the hype given to negative stories saying that such attributes would not bring the necessary progress.

    Read also: One killed at APC gov candidate’s home

    “For the media, how can five units out of 1,325 units constitute a violent election and were given hype that Lagos is violent; we cannot do justice to that.

    “How can we have development to the economy and the medium of information? In terms of security, Lagos has always been ready to celebrate democracy and is violence-free.

    “The security officials are doing well and the INEC has started well too with the logistics well managed.

    “The voters came out en masse,” he said.

    Tinubu said that the state would always continue to be home for all irrespective of wherever they came from.

    “We will continue to welcome everybody to Lagos State. We cannot stop people from coming to the state. If Lagos is not good enough, they won’t come.

    “If the state is plagued with disease or insecurity or unemployment, people won’t come. Those leaving their states to come to Lagos are welcomed, they are not a threat,” he said. (NAN)

  • Nigerians return to polls to elect 29 governors, 991 state legislators

    Nigerians today return to the polls to elect their state governors and legislators as well councilors for the six Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils.

    The electorate will vote for 1,082 candidates for the various positions, two weeks after the Feb. 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The positions include Governors in 29 States and 991 members of state Houses of Assembly as well as the six Chairmen and 62 Councilors for the Area Councils in the FCT.

    The governorship election is taking place in 29 states as the elections in remaining seven other states of Edo, Kogi, Ondo, Ekiti, Anambra, Osun and Bayelsa were staggered and already conducted off season by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    For the governorship election, no fewer than 1,063 candidates are contesting for the available 29 governorship seats.

    FINAL-LIST-OF-GOVERNORSHIP-CANDIDATES-1-1

    These include 64 governorship candidates in Rivers, 44 in Plateau, Kaduna 38, Adamawa 29, Jigawa 18, Delta 50, Cross Rivers 26, Kebbi 31 and Ogun 41 candidates.

    For instance, in Lagos State 45 governorship candidates are vying for the governorship seat, while 640 candidates of various parties are eying the 40 seats in the state House of Assembly in the election, also in Sokoto State 51 political parties are contesting for governorship and 462 state House of Assembly candidates are participating in the state election.

    The electorate in Adamawa will be voting for 313 candidates for governorship and state House of Assembly from the 29 political parties participating in the exercise.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa, Mr Kashim Gaidam, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that 29 candidates would be contesting for governorship, while 284 candidates from various political parties are vying for the 25 state House of Assembly seats.

    Among the 29 contestants for governorship seat are four women; Lami Musa of People’s Party of Nigeria (PPN), Na’ama Bulama of Progressive People Alliance (PPA), Rukayya Audu of Action People’s Party (APP) and Elizabeth Isa of Change Advocacy Party (CAP).

    Also 25 women are among the 284 candidates for the legislative poll.

    In Katsina State 334 candidates, comprising 18 for governorship and 316 candidates contesting for the 34 state House of Assembly seats, while in Abia 32 candidates are contesting the governorship and 353 candidates vying for the state 24-member legislature.

    In Yobe, 163 candidates from different political parties made up of 13 participating in governorship while the rest 157 would feature in the state House of Assembly poll.

    Also in Anambra, 23 political parties are contesting for the governorship seat and 518 candidates battling for the 30 assembly positions in the state.

    In Kano State, 52 candidates are gunning for governorship and 769 candidates for the state assembly election; and in Enugu State 42 candidates are in the governorship race, while 310 candidates would be vying for the 24 legislature.

    Also in Niger State, 31 candidates are battling for the governorship poll and 395 for the state House of Assembly election, while in Imo 67 candidates are jostling for the governorship slot and 981 are slugging for the 27 seats in the state House of Assembly.

    Also in Ogun, 41 candidates are contesting for the seat of governor while, 582 candidates are jostling for the 26 state constituencies.

    For the FCT Area Council election, a total of 105 candidates are contesting for the six chairmanship positions while 701 candidates seek to occupy the 62 councillorship seats.

    Similarly, 40 females are in the race for the chairmanship positions, while 88 females are seeking to be elected as councilors.

    FINAL-LIST-OF-STATE-HOUSE-OF-ASSEMBLY-CANDIDATES-1 (1)

    In addition to the state elections into 1,082 constituencies nationwide, INEC is also conducting supplementary elections in 14 States covering seven Senatorial Districts and 24 Federal Constituencies, alongside the Governorship and State Assembly elections.

    NAN recalls that the elections in the affected areas were disrupted mainly by acts of violence including ballot box snatching, abduction of INEC officials, over voting and failure to adhere to regulations and guidelines in the national elections conducted on Feb. 23.

    While cancelling the affected polls, the electoral ombudsman noted that number of registered voters in some polling units involved in each constituency was more than the votes received by some candidates with the highest number of votes, hence the need for supplementary elections to determine the actual winners.

    The election will hold at 119,973 polling units across the country, while collation of results will take place in 8,809 Registration Areas or Wards, 774 Local Government Areas, 36 States and the FCT.

    The polling units are expected to open by 8 a.m. and close by 2 p.m. with the last person on the line allowed to vote.

    INEC maintains that the use of Smart Card Readers and Permanent Voter Cards were compulsory for the elections.

    The commission says the total number of registered voters in the country is 84,004,084, with 44,405,439 (52.86 per cent) as male and 39,598,645 (47.14 per cent) as female.

    It also said that 72,775,502 or 86.63 per cent of registered voters have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has expressed confidence that all polling units would open at 8 a.m. nationwide.

    Yakubu said that the commission had effectively tackled the challenge of logistics as materials for the election have been earlier delivered to all States and the FCT.

    Meanwhile, INEC has postponed the House of Assembly Election for the Nasarawa/Binyeri State Constituency of Mayo Belwa Local Government Area in Adamawa following the death of a member of the assembly, Mr Adamu Kwanate, who was candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election.

    Until his death on Wednesday, Kwanate was the member representing the affected state constituency. (NAN)

  • Polls: Military won’t engage in reprisal attack —DHQ

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday assured Nigerians that no reprisal attack would be carried out by the military following the attack on its personnel in Rivers State during the presidential and National Assembly elections two weeks ago.

    The Acting Director of Defence Information, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, however, advised politicians to ensure that there is absolute peace in their domains in tomorrow’s elections.

    An officer and three soldiers were killed during the last elections

    Nwachukwu, who spoke at a media briefing in Abuja yesterday, said the occasion was necessitated by the need to re-emphasise the directive of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, who said that military personnel should carry out their right of voting the candidates of their choice within the ambit of the law.

    He said: “I wish to welcome members of the press to this media briefing on the forthcoming gubernatorial, state House of Assembly and the FCT area council elections.

    “The Defence Headquarters wishes to use the opportunity provided by this press briefing to reiterate that the role of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) in the ongoing elections is to support the Nigeria Police in ensuring that Nigerians are able to perform their civic obligations in a peaceful and secured environment.

    “Let me also add that this role is enshrined in Section 217 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, which stipulates that the AFN could be deployed to assist the Nigeria Police in maintenance of law and order during elections.

    “In carrying out this onerous task, the AFN is guided by the Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement (ROE) that have been provided for military personnel deployed to maintain security during elections.

    “It is crucial to re-emphasise the directive of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, that while military personnel have the right to perform their civic duty of voting as provided in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, they must approach their polling units in civilian clothing, devoid of any military accoutrements.

    “Additionally, any military personnel who is not on election security duty found in military uniform on Election Day will be arrested and sanctioned in accordance with the military justice system.

    “Likewise, all military commanders have been tasked to ensure that sanity prevails in their respective Areas of Responsibility.

    “These assigned tasks include arrest of anyone in military uniform who is not on election security duty on the Election Day.

    “Likewise, any civilian caught in military uniform will be treated as an impostor.”

    Nwachukwu commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives during the last Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    He said: “It is imperative to state that no one deserves to lose his or her life during elections, be it personnel of security agencies, civilians, electoral officials or observers, both local and international.

     

  • Polls: INEC to issue certificate of returns next week

    •Says material ‘ll be at RACs today •Complete deployment to LGAs

    Winners in the last National Assembly elections will be issued with certificate of returns Thursday next week, the Independent National Electoral Commission has said.

    This is as the commission said it has fully deployed voting materials to all the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the country.

    Disclosing this at a meeting with security chiefs, the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu also said the Commission has effectively tackled the challenge of logistics.

    He posited that Materials for the election have been delivered to all States and the FCT.

    He further added that movement of materials to the Local Government Areas will be completed yesterday (Thursday ), while all materials and relevant personnel will arrive at the Registration Area Centres (RACs) today . Yakubu who was beaming with confidence also assured that going by the arrangement on ground, all polling units will open at 8.00 am nationwide.

    He said: On Saturday 9thMarch 2019, Nigerians are once again going to the polls to elect Governors in 29 States, 991 members of Houses of Assembly in all the States of the Federation, 6 Chairmen as well as 62 Councillors for the Area Councils in the FCT. A total of 1,082 candidates will be elected by citizens across the country. “Learning from the experience of the Presidential and National Assembly elections held two weeks ago, the Commission has effectively tackled the challenge of logistics.

    “Materials for the election have been delivered to all States and the FCT. Movement to the Local Government Areas will be completed today. By tomorrow, all materials and relevant personnel will arrive at the Registration Area Centres (RACs). With this arrangement, we are confident that all polling units will open at 8.00 am nationwide.

    “In addition to elections into 1,082 constituencies nationwide, the Commission will conduct supplementary elections in 14 States of the Federation covering 7 Senatorial Districts and 24 Federal Constituencies. Elections in the affected areas were disrupted mainly by acts of violence involving ballot box snatching, abduction of INEC officials, over voting and the failure to adhere to regulations and guidelines. The number of registered voters in the polling units involved in each constituency is more than the votes received by the candidate with the highest number of votes. Supplementary elections must therefore be conducted to determine the winners. “Consequently, the Commission decided to conduct the supplementary National Assembly polls on Saturday alongside the Governorship and State Assembly elections. Full details of the constituencies involved have been communicated to stakeholders in the affected States and will also be available on our website for public information later today. Similarly, the list of candidates that emerged winners in the Senatorial and House of Representatives’ elections held on Saturday 23rdFebruary 2019 will be available on our website later today. “

    On collection of certificate of returns, he said “For Senatorial Districts and Federal Constituencies in which winners have already emerged, the Commission will issue their Certificates of Return next week. “

    Explaining reason for the delay in issuing their certificate Yakubu said most of them were involved in preparation for tomorrow elections.

    According to him “Preparations for the elections holding this weekend into 1,082 constituencies require the full attention of the entire Commission. We reckoned that the elected candidates are also busy campaigning in their constituencies for the remaining elections. The Certificates of Return shall be presented at the International Conference Centre, Abuja “

    According to the arrangement, the Senators elect will have theirs in the morning at 10am while members of the House of Representatives elect will have their in the afternoon , precisely 2pm.

    INEC boss also noted that Certificates of Return for Governors and Deputy-Governors-elect, Members of State Houses of Assembly-elect and Chairmen and Councillors for the FCT shall be presented in each State of the Federation by the Supervising National Commissioners and the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on a date to be announced next week.

     

     

  • We will not tolerate act of holding our officials hostage – INEC Chairman

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it would no longer tolerate any attempt by politicians to hold its officials hostage and force them to declare winners of elections under duress.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu gave the warning at the meeting of Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) ahead of Saturday elections, held at the commission’s headquarters on Thursday in Abuja.

    He said that where such abduction occurs, the commission would not issue Certificates of Return.

    Yakubu said that the commission was worried over the rate of attacks on its personnel and the loss of lives and election materials recorded during the Feb. 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    “The Commission is concerned that many of our materials, including ballot boxes, voting cubicles, voters’ registers and Smart Card Readers were lost to acts of hooliganism and thuggery in the elections held two weeks ago.

    “Most worrisome is the attack on electoral officials. Some of our staff were abducted and taken hostage in an attempt to disrupt elections or influence the outcome.

    “In fact, some of the supplementary elections I referred to earlier were caused by such acts of thuggery.

    “I am confident that working together with the security agencies, we will consolidate on the largely peaceful conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly elections while also taking decisive steps to deal with the minority of violators intent on disrupting the conduct of peaceful elections.

    “However, the Commission will not tolerate the act of holding our officials hostage and forcing them to declare winners under duress.

    “Where such occurs, the Commission will not reward bad behaviour by issuing them Certificates of Return.’’

    Yakubu expressed the Commission’s appreciation to the security agencies for securing the environment during the national elections.

    He noted that in the course of securing the elections, the security agencies, electoral officials and innocent Nigerians suffered needless attacks resulting in casualties including deaths and loss of personal and official properties.

    “On behalf of the Commission, I extend our deepest condolence to the families of those who lost their lives, including personnel of the security agencies. We are glad that the Police has made several arrests and investigation is ongoing.

    “I wish to assure Nigerians that the Commission will work closely with the Police to ensure the diligent prosecution of all violators of our electoral laws.

    “Citizens are asking for effective but non-intrusive protection before, during and immediately after the elections in which their rights are respected and their choices safeguarded.’’

    Yakubu expressed optimism that the Saturdays election would open by 8 am. going by arrangements already put in place by the commission.

    “On Saturday March 9, Nigerians are once again going to the polls to elect Governors in 29 States, 991 members of Houses of Assembly in all the States of the Federation, 6 Chairmen as well as 62 Councillors for the Area Councils in the FCT.

    “A total of 1,082 candidates will be elected by citizens across the country. Learning from the experience of the Presidential and National Assembly elections held two weeks ago, the Commission has effectively tackled the challenge of logistics.

    “Materials for the election have been delivered to all States and the FCT. Movement to the Local Government Areas will be completed today.

    “By tomorrow, all materials and relevant personnel will arrive at the Registration Area Centres (RACs). With this arrangement, we are confident that all polling units will open at 8.00 am nationwide.”

    Yakubu disclosed that INEC had also reconfigured its Smart Card Readers for the elections on Saturday, saying the use of the card readers was mandatory and there will be no exemption to their deployment for accreditation of voters.

    “Under our Regulations and Guidelines, there are clear penalties for the deliberate failure to deploy them on the part of our staff.

    “Where such happens with the connivance of communities, the result of election in the polling unit(s) will be cancelled and zero vote recorded.’’

    Yakubu said that in addition to elections into 1,082 constituencies nationwide, the Commission would conduct supplementary elections in 14 States of the Federation covering 7 Senatorial Districts and 24 Federal Constituencies.

    He said that the list of candidates that emerged winners in the Senatorial and House of Representatives’ elections held on Saturday Feb. 23 would be available on INEC website “later on Thursday.’’

    He said that INEC would still maintain its Situation Room at the International Conference Centre (ICC) to monitor the elections nationwide and respond to issues that may arise.

    Yakubu, however, said that no election results would be collated and no declaration of winners would be done at the ICC.

    “All collation and declaration of results will be done at the various constituency and State declaration centers.’’

    He disclosed that for Senatorial Districts and Federal Constituencies in which winners had already emerged, the Commission would issue their Certificates of Return next week.

    “The Certificates of Return shall be presented at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, on Thursday March 14 starting with Senators-elect at 10 am. and members of the House of Representatives-elect at 2 pm.

    He also disclosed that the Certificates of Return for Governors and Deputy-Governors-elect, Members of State Houses of Assembly-elect and Chairmen and Councillors for the FCT shall be presented in each State on a date to be announced next week.(NAN)

  • INEC to issue certificates of return next week

    Winners in the last National Assembly election will be issued with certificates of return Thursday next week, the Independent National Electoral Commission (IENC) has said.

    This is as the commission said it has fully deployed voting materials to all the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the country.

    Disclosing this at a meeting with security chiefs, the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu also said the Commission has effectively tackled the challenge of logistics.

    He posited that Materials for the election have been delivered to all States and the FCT.

    He further added that movement of materials to the Local Government Areas will be completed Thursday, while all materials and relevant personnel will arrive at the Registration Area Centres (RACs) Friday.

    Yakubu who was beaming with confidence also assured that going by the arrangement on ground, all polling units will open at 8.00 am nationwide.

    He said: On Saturday 9th March 2019, Nigerians are once again going to the polls to elect Governors in 29 States, 991 members of Houses of Assembly in all the States of the Federation, 6 Chairmen as well as 62 Councillors for the Area Councils in the FCT. A total of 1,082 candidates will be elected by citizens across the country. “Learning from the experience of the Presidential and National Assembly elections held two weeks ago, the Commission has effectively tackled the challenge of logistics.

    “Materials for the election have been delivered to all States and the FCT. Movement to the Local Government Areas will be completed today. By tomorrow, all materials and relevant personnel will arrive at the Registration Area Centres (RACs). With this arrangement, we are confident that all polling units will open at 8.00 am nationwide.

    Read also: Guber poll: MPN candidate steps down for el-Rufai

    “In addition to elections into 1,082 constituencies nationwide, the Commission will conduct supplementary elections in 14 States of the Federation covering 7 Senatorial Districts and 24 Federal Constituencies. Elections in the affected areas were disrupted mainly by acts of violence involving ballot box snatching, abduction of INEC officials, over voting and the failure to adhere to regulations and guidelines. The number of registered voters in the polling units involved in each constituency is more than the votes received by the candidate with the highest number of votes. Supplementary elections must, therefore, be conducted to determine the winners.

    “Consequently, the Commission decided to conduct the supplementary National Assembly polls on Saturday alongside the Governorship and State Assembly elections. Full details of the constituencies involved have been communicated to stakeholders in the affected States and will also be available on our website for public information later today. Similarly, the list of candidates that emerged winners in the Senatorial and House of Representatives’ elections held on Saturday 23rd February 2019 will be available on our website Friday. “

    On collection of certificates of return, he said: “For Senatorial Districts and Federal Constituencies in which winners have already emerged, the Commission will issue their Certificates of Return next week.”

    Explaining reason for the delay in issuing their certificate Yakubu said most of them were involved in preparation for tomorrow elections.  

    According to him “Preparations for the elections holding this weekend into 1,082 constituencies require the full attention of the entire Commission. We reckoned that the elected candidates are also busy campaigning in their constituencies for the remaining elections. The Certificates of Return shall be presented at the International Conference Centre, Abuja”

    According to the arrangement, the Senators-elect will have theirs in the morning at 10am while members of the House of Representatives elect will have their in the afternoon, precisely 2pm.   

    INEC boss also noted that Certificates of Return for Governors and Deputy-Governors-elect, Members of State Houses of Assembly-elect and Chairmen and Councillors for the FCT shall be presented in each State of the Federation by the Supervising National Commissioners and the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on a date to be announced next week.

  • Ambode promises adequate security on Sat.

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has assured voters that security challenges experienced during the residential and National Assembly elections will not repeat itself on Saturday during the Governorship and House of Assembly poll.

    According to him, efforts have been intensified to ensure that every registered voter in the state by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) participate without any security hindrance.

    The governor, who was accompanied by his deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule and other cabinet members, gave the assurance yesterday after the weekly Executive meeting at the State House, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja.

    He stressed that the security challenges experienced after the just concluded election had been dealt with and efforts have been made to prevent a reoccurrence

    The governor said: “We were very much aware of the incidences that occurred after the presidential and National Assembly election in the state. We have taken proper care of that.

    “The peace, harmonious relationship and security that had existed in the state are very paramount to this government. We will ensure that everyone that is eligible to vote perform his civic duties without intimidation.”

    The governor argued that the state government understand that the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos and efforts would be made often to ensure it sustain that status.

    He went: “We will ensure that Saturday election is held without hitches. We want to assure all residents of the state of their safety. Lagos is a cosmopolitan state and it will remain like that even after the election.

    “We encourage every resident that had been registered by INEC to come out and perform their civic duties. The security agencies have assured us that there will be adequate security in the state during and after the poll.”

    The governor, however, noted that giant strides recorded in Lagos could only be sustained when every electorate vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the party’s other candidates.

    “We believe in continuity in this government and that is why we have decided to back every candidate of the party. So, we urged everyone to support and vote every APC candidates in Lagos,” Ambode said.

    Echoing the governor, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Zubairu Muazu, said that his Command has doubled security, especially in areas identified as flashpoints.

    Muazu said that armed security operatives would be stationed at closest locations to polling units to forestall disruption of the voting process as was witnessed during the Presidential/National Assembly election in Okota and other areas.

    Muazu spoke at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja while briefing reporters on the security arrangement for the forthcoming election.

    He denied reports that there was lack of synergy among security agencies and that gave rise to attacks by miscreants, noting that all the services worked in collaboration and were still doing so.

    Already, Muazu said plans have been concluded for the marine police unit and operatives of the Nigerian Navy (NN) to cover the state’s riverine communities.

    Assuring voters of their security on Election Day, Muazu urged them to come out and vote candidates of their choice, noting that miscreants who disrupted elections were being prosecuted.

    He said: “It is also insinuated that certain ethnic nationalities are deliberately denied or prevented from voting for political reasons or to enhance the fortunes of a particular political party.

    “Let me categorically state here that those attacks were planned and orchestrated by miscreants, most of whom have been apprehended and are facing prosecution.

    “Let me re-emphasise that Lagos State is peaceful and Lagosians are peace-loving. There is no ethnic group or community under threat in any part of the state. We have reviewed and redoubled our strategies to ensure a peaceful conduct of the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections come March 9. Our surveillance and patrols are intensified, especially in identified flashpoints.

    “I am using this medium to call on Lagosians to go about their lawful businesses and to continue to support the police by being vigilant and report any suspicious movement or persons throughout emergency numbers so that we can serve them better.

    “I use this medium to warn people who sit in their homes, offices and generate fake news, which they circulate on social media deliberately to fan the ember of hate among the various peace-loving entities in Lagos State. They should desist from this act or be ready to face the wrath of the law.

    “I want to reassure the good people of Lagos State that the police, in collaboration with other security agencies are working round the clock to ensure their safety and security. They should come out en masse to cast their votes to the candidates of their choice as their security is fully guaranteed.”

    Muazu denied claims that the alleged ballot box snatcher in Okota, identified as Demola, escaped from the hospital, insisting that the suspect and nine others held for electoral offences in that axis have been sent to Abuja as directed by the acting Inspector General of Police (IG) Mohammed Adamu.

    “It is untrue that Demola fled from the hospital. While he was being treated, he was granted administrative bail based on doctor’s recommendation that he was not fit enough to stand trial. But he has since returned to us and has been transferred to Abuja with others arrested for electoral offences that day. They are being centrally prosecuted,” said Muazu.

    The police chief also confirmed that 20 suspected cultists were arrested during a raid of flashpoints within the week, adding that such raids would continue to keep off elements that might want to disrupt the process.

  • Elections: IPOB’s statement condemned

    THE Oodua People’s Congress (OPC New Era) has condemned the statement of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) on the presidential and National Assembly elections in Lagos State making the rounds on social media platforms.

    The IPOB’s statement signed by one Emma Powerful was described as “not only offensive and insulting, but ill-advised and portrays the author and the body he claims to represent as lacking in reflections.”

    The OPC expressed its condemnation of the statement in a press release signed by the President of the organization, Rasaq Arogundade.

    The statement reads in part: “Igbo have lived peacefully in Lagos and other parts of the Yoruba land for ages. They carry out their businesses unmolested. Igbo are allowed to own properties and as a matter of fact, own sizeable portions of lands throughout Lagos State.

    “Similarly, the Igbo have been politically assimilated and have been represented at the highest level of governance in Lagos State since 1999 with some elected as members of the Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) and others appointed into the State Executive Council.

    “It is no coincidence that the Yoruba land (South West Nigeria) has been the most peaceful part in Nigeria. The peace is not because of fear, but a deliberate policy of our ancestors who, after fighting many battles and wars, have resolved to make peaceful and communal living the way of life of the Yoruba people.

    “That we are accommodating and friendly should not be misconstrued as a weakness or sign of timidity as the OPC is fully ready to repel any attack on the Yoruba territory from any quarters.”

    The OPC called on all Nigerians to live in peace and attach much importance to the unity of the country.