The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria Decides 2019

  • APC to INEC: You must earn the confidence of Nigerians again

    …says asking Yakubu to resign not the solution

     

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) Presidential Campaign Council said on Wednesday that asking the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to resign is of the solution to delivering a credible election this weekend, saying the commission must work to earn the confidence of Nigerians again that they can deliver a credible poll.

    Director, Election monitoring and Planning, Babatunde Raji Fashola who spoke at a news conference in Abuja said many Nigerians have sacrificed so much for Nigerian democracy, pointing out that their sacrifice must not be allowed to waste, pointing out that any party asking the INEC Chairman to resign does not understand the workings of government

    He said “Election and lack of elections have consequences. Many people have fought hard for this democracy, it has delivered uncomfortable results in the past as well as results we can live with and every effort to continue to improve it is an opportunity we must not turn our back on. Every party is disappointed, every well-meaning Nigerian is disappointed, but that is no reason to throw the baby away with the bath water.

    “So, it is for the INEC Chairman and his team to reclaim the confidence of the people and show us that they can deliver on what they have been asked to do. If you ask him to resign, will that give us an election?

    “If he resigns, will that give us an election? If the person who has been there for four years is having challenges now, who is prepared that will replace him and do what he has not been able to do in three and half years. The party that is thinking that way does not even know how government works. The solution is for all Nigerians to rally round INEC to get it right and that is what we intend to do.”

    Fashola who is also the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, said Nigerians must not allow the action of anti-democratic agents dampen our enthusiasm. Although a week looked like eternity, it has trickled down and is getting closer to the reversed date.

    He said “lots of Nigerians have sacrificed greatly and sometimes supremely with their lives to give us this democracy. We must covert the disappointment 16th February 2019 to an all-time determination on the 23rd of February 2019 that others have made. It is democracy that will preserve our freedom and the vigilance, particularly those appointed to serve as agents of our party must be all time high. The vigilance of those appointed to serve as agents of our party must be all time high.

    Read Also: I remain APC candidate in Enugu east senatorial zone- Ezeh

    “Our agents must know what their rights are and notice the public of our commitment to a free election. The agents have a right to be admitted to polling centres and collation centre in the area where the party is contesting election.

    “They have a right to take notes and statistics in a manner to undermine or impugn the integrity of the electoral process. They have a right to object to a prospective voter if he is suspected to be an impostor or if he has voted earlier and the record shows that if he does not belong to that polling unit. These are steps taken to ensure free and fair election. They also have a right to ask for a recount of the ballot only once at his polling unit after his presiding officer might have counted it in his presence.”

  • Ohanaeze cannot influence Igbo voters -Moghalu

    Chief Kingsley Moghalu, presidential candidate of the Young People’s Party (YPP), says the endorsement of a particular candidate by Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo is in vain.

    Moghalu disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, on Wednesday in Awka.

    He said youths in South East are now wise to know who to vote for and not for Ohanaeze to compel them on what to do.

    “We in the South East now know that our elders in Ohanaeze have been economical with the truth, they tell us what they want us to believe for reasons best known to them.

    “This time around the youth in the region have decided to vote for candidates that appeal to them in terms of development plans for the country,” he said.

    Moghalu said he has done much for Nigerians to deserve their votes in Feb. 23, poll.

    Read Also: Moghalu storms Lagos for presidential campaign

    “I did so much for the country while serving as the deputy governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    “I introduced POS services; the ATM card was also my initiative as well as Bank Verification Number (BVN) for identification of accounts.

    “I did all these to make the economy vibrant, it is also my contribution towards making ease of doing business possible.

    “If given the chance, I will do more for the country to enable it join the league of developed countries where youths will be proud to stay and earn their living,” he said.

  • Breaking: We’re good to go for Saturday’s polls- INEC

    ..Deployment of material to end on Thursday

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has said that the deployment of voting materials to the 774 Local Government Areas of the country will be completed on Thursday.

    INEC also said that it has completed 100% the configuration of the Smart Card Readers (SCRs) which will be used for the accreditation of voters on the 23rd February and 9th March 2019.

    Updating the media and observers on the preparedness of the commission on Wednesday, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Commission said deployment commenced on Wednesday in ten(10) states. This he said will be completed on Thursday.

    Read Also: INEC supporting Emmanuel, says Akpabio

    He also acknowledged that there are reports of missing materials in some states.

    The commission he assured has made good progress in the area of logistics and is good to go.

    He also said that only accredited diplomats will be allowed to move about as there is restriction on movement.

    Details shortly…

  • Group alleges presence of 3000 ‘fake’ soldiers in Taraba

    The Taraba Volunteer Group (TVG) Wednesday alleged that some three thousand soldiers were deployed to Taraba state for the purpose of rigging the elections on February 23 and March 9 in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The APC has however denied the allegation.

    TVG State Coordinator, Joseph Terence, in his briefing in Jalingo, noted that Taraba is among the 10 (PDP) states the APC-led government has earmarked to “forcefully” wrestle power from, irrespective of the damages and costs involved.

    “The postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections on February 16 exposed the plot. 3000 fake soldiers were deployed to the state.

    “All the road check points, that were hitherto dismantled, came back alive with strange-looking, unprofessional men in military uniforms taking charge. They were fake soldiers but heavily armed.

    Read Also: Buhari sends SGF, others to console families of 8 dead Taraba supporters

    “The same contingent of fake soldiers is on their way back to their duty posts in Taraba for the election starting on February 23.

    “Their brief is to pave the way for fake electoral materials to have smooth sail in their destinations, and to cause confusion in PDP strongholds. This is to create opportunity for the APC to manipulate the poll,” Terence said.

    The group said the arrangement for rigging is in fulfillment of the request by the Taraba State flag bearer, Sani Abubakar Danladi, that President Muhammadu Buhari should provide him and the APC “adequate security men” to enable him take over Taraba State.

    APC spokesman, Aaron Artimas, denied planning to rig the election in Taraba state, saying the PDP was only jittery of the election.

    He added he is not aware of fake soldiers’ presence in Taraba state.

    “But I am aware that the federal government was deploying military personnel to flash points in the country, of which Taraba is one of them.”

  • ‘Dickson’s airport ‘ll attract votes to Bayelsa PDP’

    A stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Reuben Okoya, on Wednesday expressed optimism that projects embarked upon by Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson especially the airport project would attract votes to the party in the state.

    Okoya, a frontline PDP governorship aspirant in 2015, insisted that PDP had done very well in the state over the years and deserved victory in the forthcoming elections.

    Speaking in Yenagoa, the state capital, Okoya said he was particularly happy that the governor made it possible for the first airplane to land in the state describing it as one of the greatest achievements of the PDP government.

    He said: “I am proud of the work that the governor had done to ensure that we get an airport in Bayelsa state, so we must commend him and the PDP for that achievement.

    Read Also: Polls: No life, property would be lost in C/River, Ayade assures

    “Generally, airports are federal projects but the state government led by Governor Dickson decided to take it upon himself to ensure that we have an airport.

    “The benefits of airports are immeasurable; some are intangible you can not feel them. Driving to Port Harcourt everyday you want to fly, is a tough thing to do.

    “So, those of us who fly to Abuja, Lagos consistently will be able to drive 30 to 20 minutes to our airport and fly. Let us commend the PDP. If for no other reason Bayelsa should vote for PDP just for this airport accomplishment”.

    Okoya said he went round the state to campaign for the candidates of the PDP and appealed to voters not to experiment with a new party in the coming elections.

    “PDP has done very well for Bayelsa state, so PDP needs to keep ruling and running Bayelsa state. The success of the party needs to be rewarded by people coming out to vote for PDP en masse.

    “The record of achievement is all over the state. You can see it everywhere, I don’t want to go into details. But I want to employ the people to please vote for PDP for continuity, for success.

    “Let’s not experiment the new parties because we don’t know them very well. Let’s take what we have and try to make it better because there is no family that is perfect. There are always issues, debates, disagreement but ultimately when family sit down together we can always come together and make progress and success”.

  • Poll shift: FG orders immediate payment of February salary

    The Federal Government on Wednesday ordered the immediate payment of February salaries to assist workers wishing to travel to vote during Saturday’s rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to him, the payment of February salaries to federal workers commenced on Tuesday.

    The early payment, he said is “to ease the burden off civil servants planning to travel for the elections”.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the elections to this Saturday.

    Many who travelled to their voting destinations were forced to return to their bases and there is fear among the populace that many will not return.

    The Minister, who said FEC on Wednesday discussed the issue, said that it also reviewed some of the palliatives put in place to help people return to cast their votes.

    He said the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), with a membership of about 50,000 and “who controls 80% of petroleum sector distribution has agreed to cushion the effect of the postponement by reducing the price of pump price of petrol from N145 to 140 from February 21st to 25th”.

    The Minister said the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) with about 2 million members and operates motor parks in all the 774 local government areas across the country has offered to provide discount to travellers using their motor parks.

    “All these is aimed at encouraging voters who might have been disenfranchised by the postponement,” he said

    He also said as part of the incentives, two airlines, Aero contractors and Arik Air are offering discounted fares to passengers.

    He said while Aero is offering a 50 percent discount to all travellers who present their Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) at point of purchase, Arik has slashed the price of their tickets to N16,000 to all destinations across the country from February 18 to 11 March 11, 2019.

  • Polls shift: Group urges agents to beef up security

    A South African based election observer body, Pan African Women’s Project, has urged the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency beef up its security apparatus, ahead of the rescheduled February 23 March 9, general election, so as to avert a planned bomb attack by political Thugs worshippers in the country.

    The Publicity Secretary of the body, Madam Mphoentle Keitseng,who spoke to reporters on arrival with her team from Abuja last night at Bristol Hotel,said,”following some classified information that reached us,a planned attack/Bomb explosion at some sensitive locations in some areas is targeted at general Mosque and popular market, as well as Churches.

    According to the body,”this is a message to Nigeria government,as we used this medium to speak with the Nigeria government to beef up security on all public areas,such as mosque,churches and markets for protection.

    Keitseng,further said,”following our consultation with various stakeholders with regard to the recent postponement Nigeria 2019 general elections,we observed that the Nigeria government did not release the INEC fund on time which resulted in supply not been made to produce materials as expected for elections.

    For instance, many observers groups are yet to receive their accreditations tags,Jackets and caps.

    When asked,how do they come to know about the non release of fund on time,she said that,they got the information from suppliers that the money was released to them last month as deposit,which brought about the delay in the supply of the sensitive and non sensitive materials normally used during elections.

    She,however,urged INEC to ensure that everything are in order for a peaceful,free,fair and credible 2019 general elections.

    She also advised voters to come out en–mass and exercise their franchise without fear or favour.

    Speaking to the Nation,the spokesman of the Kano state Police Command,DSP Abdullahi Haruna said that Police were not aware of planned attack ,adding that,”the group has not contacted us about the information.”

    According to him,we have taken adequate measures to ensure the conduct of a peaceful election in the state.

  • 2019: Over 10m PVCs collected so far – INEC

    Over 10 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have so far been collected, the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has said.

    Over 14 million new registered voters were added onto the voter register since after the 2015 general elections.

    The PVCs are to be used for voting in the general elections which commence on Saturday with the presidential and National Assembly elections, while the governorship State Assembly and FCT council polls comes up on the 9th of March, 2019.

    Read Also: Polls: Again, FG reads riot act to INEC

    The polls were earlier scheduled for 16th February and 2nd March 2019 but was however rescheduled following the inability of the commission to successfully execute its logistics arrangement.

    Full story shortly…

  • Polls: Again, FG reads riot act to INEC

    ..Says no more excuses

     

    The Federal Government has again read out the riot act to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The Federal Governmenton Wednesday said INEC is condemned to conduct election this Saturday; saying nothing less will be acceptable.

    Besides, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mathew Onyeama said the government demands 100% assurance that this Saturday is sacrosanct.

    Details shortly…

  • INEC officials colluding with Gov Emmanuel, Akpabio alleges

    Former Akwa Ibom Governor Senator Godswill Akpabio has alleged some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were colluding with Governor Udom Emmanuel to compromise the forthcoming elections.

    He accused some of the INEC officials of being not completely independent, alleging they have been compromised by Governor Emmanuel.

    Akpabio told newsmen in Abuja the governor has deployed huge sums to entice voters and electoral officials.

    The former governor alleged Emmanuel has no single project to show and has consistently told the people that there is no money in the state, even after collecting refunds spent to construct federal roads by his government.

    He, however, expressed confidence President Muhammadu Buhari will emerge victorious in Saturday’s rescheduled presidential elections.

    The former Senate Minority Leader said: “You know that INEC is an Independent body but some of its officials are not totally Independent.

    “In some states, we have noticed some unholy alliances with the government in power in those states.

    “For example, in a place like Akwa Ibom, we have seen the body language of the government, which clearly shows that they will not be able to conduct free and fair elections, giving all the parties, particularly the APC, a level playing field.

    “This is very easy for you to see and from the body language of people they have recruited to run the affairs, including the ad hoc staff and other support staff for the election.

    “This can be seen from the body language and the kind of things that the trainees are being told. What the National Chairman observes about opposition against APC does exist.”

    He went on: “There are two things happening in my state. One is a lot of fake news coming from the opposition and secondly, is massive deployment of funds to buy people.

    “James Hardley Chase said in one of his books that fear is the key that opens the wallet of the rich.

    “He told the people that there was no money to do project and so, there is nothing on the ground in the state.

    “They have not been able to commission a single project. All the big me that come to my state, they take the churches to pray.

    “When former President Obasanjo came, they took him to church to pray but when they go to other states, they commission projects but nothing to commission in my state.

    “So, now that people are clamouring for change, money is now flowing all over the state. Fear opens the wallet of the rich that is what is happening to the opposition in my state.

    “You can only rig election in a place where you are popular. Today, the APC is all over Akwa Ibom state.

    “80-90 percent of the people are APC. So, when you go to rig election and you don’t succeed, you bring anarchy.”

    On the chances of Buhari, he said: “Nigerians know the difference between apples and oranges. The reality is that this President has done very well considering the fact he took us out of recession.

    “He met many projects on ground and is completing them such as the railway lines. He has invested in massive infrastructure never seen before.

    “I have been a governor and I know that federal budget usually contain 70 and sometimes 80 percent of recurrent expenditure and sometimes, what is left is less than 20 percent for capital projects.

    “But this President has been able to block the loopholes in the system and free more money for developmental purposes.

    “The TSA is a major innovation and as you know, some ministries were operating more than 50 accounts.

    “Today, we have been able to mobilise those funds into one account and over 30 percent of the budget now goes for capital projects. Nigerians are clamouring for infrastructural change and better educational facilities.”