The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria Decides 2019

  • APC to Nigerians: Don’t go back to era of treasury looters

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) has asked Nigerians to come out on Saturday and either vote for moving forward to the next level as represented by President Buhari or go back to the era of treasury looting.

    In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the party said Nigerians must use their votes to stop treasury looters from hijacking presidential power by all means.

    The statement reads: “As we head towards Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) call on Nigerians to turn out en-masse and use their votes to send a clear message to treasury looters who want to hijack presidential power by hook or crook.

    “The time has come for Nigerians to again reject the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and their discredited candidates. Never again should Nigerians allow them return to power to continue embezzling our resources.

    “We must all remember how, under the PDP’s 16-year watch, our commonwealth was wantonly privatized and used to fund their political activities. The world has been daily assailed by outcomes of investigations showing the humongous funds that past PDP administrations stole and laundered for private use.

    “In the most inhumane manner, counter-insurgency votes where channeled to private pockets while terrorists ravaged communities, the citizenry and seized our territory. Our national economy was pushed to the verge of recession and cleverly papered over with voodoo economics employed by the PDP administrations.

    “Confronted with the realities of a poorly-managed national economy and neglected infrastructure, the APC took over the administration of the country when Nigeria began slipping into recession. Commendably, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration worked prudently to pullout the country from recession.

    “Today, the APC administration has degraded Boko Haram that had under the previous administration annexed and hoisted their flags in at least 28 local government areas in the northeast zone. We have also been surefooted in the fight against corruption, rebuilding our dilapidated infrastructure and diversifying our economy.

    “While the choices that have presented themselves before us in these elections are many; the APC offers the best credible alternative in terms of an incorruptible presidential candidate that can sustain the march towards a national rebirth.

    “We therefore call on our country men and women to choose between moving forward to the Next Level of economic growth, shared prosperity, infrastructural development, and secure future, which the APC and President Buhari offer; or going backward to the era of looting and plundering of our commonwealth by a few elites, which the PDP and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar offer.”

  • INEC begins deployment of sensitive materials in A/Ibom

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has commenced the deployment of sensitive electoral materials to the 31 local governments in Akwa Ibom State.

    Akwa Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Mike Igini, who disclosed this while addressing to party agents, international observers and security agencies said the commission will everything within its power to conduct a hitch-free exercise.

    Read Also: INEC begins deployment of electoral materials in Ekiti

    Igini said: “We have commenced the continuation of what we have been doing in the last few days in preparation of our re-scheduled elections. What you are seeing here is what is left of the materials for the conduct of the rescheduled elections.”

    He regretted that the commission could not move all the materials as at last Friday, February 15.

  • Lagos CP warns ballot box snatchers, others

    .Says no area will be left unpoliced

     

    Lagos State Commissioner Zubairu Muazu on  Thursday issued stern warning to ballot box snatchers and other electoral offenders to have a rethink or face the wrath of the law.

    Muazu gave the warning at his maiden interaction with reporters since assuming duties at the new police boss in the state.

    According to him, the command would stop at nothing to ensure that offenders are prosecuted and convicted, reminding residents that the earlier deployment of 30,000 security personnel for the exercise would be maintained.

    On the preparedness of the command to deal with such issues, Muazu said: “Our men have the ingredients of the Electoral Act. They have been well trained on what is expected of them before, during and after the elections. So when anyone who snatches a ballot box is caught, they will be tried in court and punished according to the law.

    “I want to assure you that the Police in collaboration with other security agencies under the umbrella of Inter-Agency consultative committee on this election is ready come Saturday.

    “A very robust operation order to cover deployment of security personnel for the elections is on ground, so we will ensure there is a safe and secure environment for electorate in Lagos to go and cast their votes without fear and intimidation.”

    He said the command had emplaced an election plan that covers before, during and after the exercise, stating that intelligence arm of security agencies had been deployed to gather evidence in case of prosecution of arrested suspects.

    Confirming recent cult clashes in the state, Muazu assured residents such clashes would not hamper the peace of the polls, adding that arrests have been made and suspects would be prosecuted.

    “In the last two weeks, we have had cases of clashes between rival cult groups in areas like Oworonshoki, Somolu, Bariga and Fadeyi. We are working round the clock to ensure there is peace. We want to assure Lagosians that we will make sure that these few cases we have had will not surface during the election.

    “I want to assure all Lagosians that this year’s elections are going to be well secured and so, they should come out and vote. There will be constant patrols and pin-down patrol points.
    “Arrests have been made in the cases cited and investigations are ongoing. All suspects would be charged to court soon.“

  • Polls: Security agents uncover six flash points in Anambra

    Ahead of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, security agencies in Anambra said they had uncovered six major flash points in the state.

    Mr Rabiu Ladodo, Commissioner of Police in charge of security in the conduct of the general elections in Anambra, disclosed this at a news conference on Thursday in Awka.

    Flanked by heads of other security agencies, Ladodo named the flash points as Ogidi, Obosi, Nnewi, Onitsha, Ajali and Ihiala.

    He said that identification of the black spots were made possible by the cooperation of security agencies with police.

    He, however, announced that adequate security arrangements had been made to ensure that the elections were peaceful in all communities in the state.

    The commissioner called on politicians, especially candidates vying for positions, to play by the rules.

    He also appealed to community leaders to advise their subjects against involvement in any act capable of affecting the exercise negatively.

    ”On our part as security agents, we will be professional in the discharge of our duties”, he said.

    Ladodo also called on the public to massively participate in the elections, adding that enough arrangements had been made by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to make the polls hitch-free.

    ”On my arrival in Awka Thursday, I went straight to Central Bank of Nigeria where the sensitive materials for the elections were distributed to all the local government areas.

    ”The brief I got from the INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner showed that all the 21 local governments have received their materials, and with the support of security personnel we hope to have smooth elections,” he said.

  • ‘No thumb printed ballot papers found in my house’

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun state, Otunba Babatunde Onakoya, on Thursday declared that there were no thumb printed ballot papers found in his house in Ijebu – Ode area of the state.

    Onakoya added that neither him nor his son who is the Chairman of Leguru Local Council Development Area, in Ijebu, Ololade Onakoya, is being investigated by security agencies in connection with the 2019 general elections or any other matter.

    The Federal Board member of Benin/Owena River Basin Authority, who made this known to reporters while reacting to news making the round that he and his son were involved in thumb printed ballot papers, also said the Chairman, Odogbolu Local Government, Wale Shittu, was not under any investigation for anything or over thumb printed ballot papers.

    Onakoya described the allegation as baseless, fake and unfounded rumour being purveyed by those threatened by his avid support for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He also dismissed the allegation as “tissues of lies and a good example of fake news concocted by enemies of democracy.”

    He said: “I have never engaged in any acts of brigandage in the name of politics and will never do.

    “I strongly suspect that this is handiwork of those who are feeling threatened with our total commitment to ensure that President Buhari coast home to victory on Saturday.

    “We are pushing for this within the ambit of the law and we shall not be intimidated by anybody or group of people that want to return us to era of waste and stinking corruption.”

    Onakoya said his attention was drawn to the malicious information on Thursday morning and was surprised to discover that people could resort to destruction of his hard-earned reputation and dignity of his family just because of his unrepentant commitment to actualization of President Buhari’s second term ambition this Saturday.

  • Polls: Police deploy 4,000 personnel in Bayelsa

    The Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State command, Aminu Saleh Thursday said over 4000 policemen will be providing security for the rescheduled elections on Saturday.

    Saleh, who spoke to the Nation, boasted that the police were fully ready for the elections and warned troublemakers to stay away from the process.

    He said the police in partnership with other security agencies played crucial roles in the distribution of electoral materials.

    On securing the waterways and creeks, Saleh said the command had enough marine equipment, gunboats and marine policemen to ensure hitch-free elections.

    He warned policemen to be professional and adhere strictly to the rules of engagements throughout the process.

    He said: “We are fully ready for the elections with deployment and everything. We have been involved in the escort of necessary materials. We are working closely with other security agencies to do that.

    Read Also: Police reiterate readiness for rescheduled polls

    “We will soon commence deployment to the polling units. Some of them had been deployed within the areas of their operation. We have over 4000 policemen for this exercise. We also have adequate marine equipment and personnel to secure the waterways.

    “We further have adequate gunboats. The policemen should discharge their duties by the rules. We have been trained on electoral law and they know what to do during the electoral process. We are adequately aware and informed.

    “We expect that no thugs should come near to snatch any ballot box. We are working very hard in partnership with other security agencies, parties and their candidates, in fact, everybody in Bayelsa to ensure peace”.

  • Just in: Katsina, Taraba, Kebbi, Zamfara lead in PVCs collection

    Katsina, Taraba, Kebbi and Zamfara states have the most number of collected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    The PVCs will be used for voting in the 2019 general elections.

    Katsina, according to INEC data, records 98 percent collection of PVCs followed closely by Taraba state with 97 percent.

    Kebbi has 95 percent while Kebbi and Zamfara boast of 94 percent collection rate.

    Also, Yobe recorded 92 percent collection.

    Details shortly…

  • Breaking: 12 presidential candidates back Buhari

    Twelve presidential candidates in Saturday’s election on Thursday expressed their support for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of the candidates’ closed door meeting with Buhari.

    Read Also: ‘Why Buhari gave directive on ballot box snatching’

    According to him, the candidates have directed their supporters to vote for President Buhari on Saturday.

    Details shortly…

  • I have no plans to resign, says Yakubu

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has declared he is not contemplating resigning from his position.

    “I see no reason why I should resign,” he stated.

    He was reacting to calls for his resignation following postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections last Saturday.

    Yakubu stressed the idea of resigning has not in any way crossed his mind.

    Ahead of the Saturday polls, he said over 72 million Permanent Voters Cards(PVCs) have been collected so far.

    There are over 84 million registered voters in the country.

    Read Also: INEC begins distribution of sensitive materials in Edo

    Updating the media and observers ahead of Saturday’s polls, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu also said 19 states have fully deployed electoral materials to all their Local Government Areas.

    Yakubu also assured that before the end of Thursday, all the states would have done the same except Bayelsa state, which will deploy on Friday.

    He assured that there will be no more postponement of elections, saying last Saturday’s incident would never happen again.

    On participation of Rivers and Zamfara All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the polls, he said INEC stands by its earlier position on their disqualification for not emerging from primaries within the stipulated time.

    He stressed that the commission as a law abiding institution will always obey court orders.

    Details shortly…

  • Polls: Buhari raises alarm over influx of foreign currency

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed astonishment at the huge amount of foreign currency flooding the country intended to influence the general elections beginning on Saturday.

    He spoke during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, issued on Thursday, accused some politicians of flouting money laundering regulations in their desperate bid to capture political power.

    President Buhari, however, commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for successfully tracking the money in “millions of United States dollars.”

    Read Also: ‘Why Buhari gave directive on ballot box snatching’

    “The EFCC success followed the presidential directive to investigative agencies to probe a number of high profile cases.”

    Reassuring the nation of his administration’s determination to wage a relentless war against money laundering and terrorist financing, the President again appealed to Nigerians, especially politicians to place the interest of the country above all others, as they troop out to cast their votes in the coming elections.