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Tag: Nigeria Decides 2019

  • DSS didn’t invite any National Commissioner, says INEC

    The Department of State Security ( DSS ) has not invited any National Commissioner or any top electoral official, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Tuesday.

    A section of the media reported on Tuesday morning that the National Commissioner on Logistics, Dr Okechukwu Ibeanu, for questioning.

    But INEC’s National Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakbubu, said there was nothing like that.

    He warned politicians on the need to be cautious in their utterances so as not to heat up the polity.

    Yabuku spoke while giving updates on INEC preparation to stakeholders in Abuja.

    He also declared the commission has successfully deployed all the materials to states across the federation.

    He reiterated its preparedness to conduct credible elections come Saturday and on March 9.

    He also revealed that 95 percent of the Smart Card Readers have been reconfigured ahead of the scheduled time.

    Yakubu further assured the remaining 5 percent will be concluded by Wednesday.

    He also said it was not true that one of the suppliers of the Smart Cars Readers was involved in the configuration process, stressing that the configuration was done entirely by the staff of the commission.

    The INEC boss also said that the commission has not received any complaint of any missing result sheets from any part of the nation.

    He assured that the commission will do all it has to do to ensure that Saturday polls went well and is free, fair and credible.

     

    Update Later…

  • Polls: IGP warns troublemakers

    *Says ballot box snatchers will face grave consequence

     

    The Acting Inspector General of Police ( IGP ), Mohammed Adamu on Tuesday warned politicians and other Nigerians that it is fully prepared to deal with anybody planning to snatch ballot boxes or make trouble during the forthcoming elections.

    He gave the warning while briefing State House correspondents after security meeting Presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting had reviewed security situation in the country, especially towards the general elections.

    Adamu assured that the police is ready to protect every eligible Nigerian to exercise his or her civic responsibility.

    Anybody that tries to disrupt the elections by engaging in ballot boxes snatching, he said, would have himself or herself to blame.

    He also said that any act of thuggery and touting during the polls will be met with grave resistance.

    He said, “Today, members of the security community and intelligence community came and briefed Mr. President on the security situation in the country.

    Read Also: We are ready for Saturday elections, APC boasts

    “We deliberated on the consequences and came up with the resolve to further provide adequate security within the country so that the electorate will come out and cast their votes without any fear of molestation.

    “Every Nigerian is encouraged to come out on the election day and cast his or her vote without any fear of molestation. The security personnel are ready and prepared to protect everybody.

    “Anybody that feels that he can come out and disrupt process should have a rethink because that situation will not be allowed. If you plan and allow yourself to be used as touts, whatever happens to you, you will take it.

    “Ballot snatching, ballot buying, thuggery will never be allowed, anybody that is planning to snatch ballot boxes or planning to be used as a tout, will have his or herself to blame on the Election Day. So you better don’t allow yourself to be used.” he said

  • Poll shit: our support for Buhari intact- Nwosu

    …appeals for calm

     

    The governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), Uche Nwosu, on Tuesday, reassured that the party will deliver President Muhammadu Buhari in the rescheduled Presidential election.

    Nwosu, who briefed journalists in Owerri, noted that the postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly election has not dampened his zeal and that of his supporters, adding that they will come and enmasse to cast their votes for the President.

    According to him, even though the postponement came at a great cost to Nigerians, it would have been more costly if at the end of the day the election was discovered to have been compromised.

    In his words, “we are prepared to deliver President Muhammadu Buhari on February 23, there is no going back on that. We are still committed to our promise to deliver one million votes to President Muhammadu Buhari and not even the shock and disappointment of the postponement can alter our resolve”.

    Read Also: Buhari, govs, service chiefs meet in Aso Rock

    He continued that, “on the day that the election was scheduled to hold, we had already mobilized massively and we were sure of victory for the President before the election was postponed but we are back to the trenches and we are seriously mobilizing our members across the state ahead the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections”.

    Nwosu, however, enjoined members of the party, as well as all his supporters across party lines to remain calm and rise above the pains and disappointment of the election postponement and focus on the job at hand, “we should not despair, we should remain resolute in our support for President Muhammadu Buhari and make that we come out and vote on the new date”.

  • Polls:INEC allays fears of insecurity in Adamawa

    Mr Kassim Gaidam, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa, on Tuesday, allayed the fears of the people over insecurity, stressing that the forthcoming elections in the state would be peaceful.

    He described as false, the notion in some quarters that the elections could be hampered by insecurity.

    Gaidam, who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Yola, said that Adamawa had been calm and peaceful in recent times.

    The REC said, “We have been holding regular meeting with relevant security agencies ahead of the Feb. 23 and March 9 polls.

    “The state is calm, we do not have bombing here again and we only hope the situation remains so.

    “Security situation in Adamawa is peaceful; the few cases of attempt to cause violence in the Northern region of the state have been nipped in the bud by security operatives.

    “The people always support security operatives; their vigilance in alerting the security agencies makes it impossible for miscreants to hatch their plans to disrupt electoral process.

    “There is also high level of cooperation among security agencies in Adamawa. Their collaboration is encouraging and we hope it continues before and after the general election.”

    He described the traditional and religious institutions, youths and women groups, in the state, as indispensable partners in the maintenance of peace, adding that they had been contributing to peaceful atmosphere, so far.

    The REC solicited the continued support and cooperate of the institutions concerned with the commission to build confidence and promote people’s participation in electoral processes.

  • Breaking: INEC okays resumption of political campaigns

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (lNEC) has okayed resumption of political campaign

    The commission, at the end of its management meeting on Monday evening, said all campaigns for the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly elections end on Thursday.

    Details shortly…

  • 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.

  • Police parade 63 suspects over pre-electoral violence in A’Ibom

    …..recovers stolen PVCs

     

    The Akwa Ibom State Police Command on Monday paraded 63 suspected political thugs.

    Also paraded were suspects arrested in connection with the pre-election violence in Obot-Akara local Government area where two persons were killed and thirteen vehicles burnt on Saturday.

    The suspects were allegedly hired from Bayelsa, Delta and Ondo States, it was learnt.

    Recovered from the suspects are one locally-made short gun, 25 live cartridges, two machetes, charms of different types, a knife, phones and human hairs and two axes, PCVs were some of the items recovered from the suspects.

    State police commissioner, Bashir Makama while parading the suspects at the state police command, Uyo, said a total of 41 of them who claimed to be observers on monitoring mission for the election were
    arrested on Friday, February 15th at Angellyne hotel in Uyo, without INEC identification number and could not give proper identity of themselves.

    Makama who was represented at the briefing by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon, said 20 other suspects were arrested on the same day, February 15th at Ukanafun Local Government Area.

    Read Also: Political thugs set 30 buildings on fire in Ebonyi

    The CP said the suspects were allegedly brought in from Port Harcourt, Rivers State by one Uduak Dick, on the pretext of attending the burial ceremony of a Lance Corporal in the Nigerian Army, one Udo Essien.

    Makama said some suspects on February 13th set ablaze INEC office at Eastern Obolo Local Government Area but the timely intervention by the police saved the office and all the materials meant for the election.

    The Commissioner added that one Anietie Peters who hails from Mkpat-Enin Local Government Area was arrested on Friday in possession of 34 Permanent Voter Cards while one Ayaya Bassey and Asequo Ebio, arrested from Ikot-Ekpene Local government Area had confessed to bepolitical thugs hired by a politician from Cross River state.

    He said the Command on February 12th also killed two suspected killersof one Anthony Ikechuwu, a pharmacist who was shot dead by thehoodlums at St. Michael Primary School Abak, Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

    Makama who said the victim’s Lexus Jeep with registration number, AKD 850 has been recovered, adding that the suspects were traced to their hideout in Aba, Abia state. They were killed in a gunduel with members of SARS from Akwa Ibom State, while a locally made revolver pistol with four live cartridges were recovered from the suspects.

    Makama used the occasion to warn politicians in the state to play by the rules and advised their supporters to conduct themselves or risk arrest by the police.

    “Let me use this opportunity to call on politicians to play the game based on the rules. Let me assure you that the non-partisan nature of the police in Akwa Ibom State will not change, we will remain
    apolitical, neutral and committed to free, fair and credible elections. We will at all times act professionally based on International best practices” Makama said.

    One of the forty-one arrested suspects, Okoroda Ken from Bayelsa state said they were arrested in Angellyne hotel by 3am on Friday, 15th February, 2019 where they lounged, adding that they were yet to reach their coordinator who booked the hotel for them.

    He said, “We all submitted our passport to Society for Advancement for Credible Leadership and Observation. This organisation is registered and credited by INEC. Since we submitted our passport, we were told our names were submitted to INEC and that we will likely monitor the election in Uyo.

    “We came on Thursday to confirm whether our names were there or not. We were in the Angellyne hotel booked for us by the Coordinator of the group, Berefa Bedfon. When we were arrested, all our phones were taken from us and we have not been able to contact anyone. INEC can prove if our names have been registered with them”.

  • PDP alleges plots by Buhari, APC to truncate democracy

    The People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ) has alleged plots by President Muhammadu Buhari and the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) to trigger widespread political crisis, aimed at derailing the democratic process and plunge the nation into anarchy.

    The opposition party particularly faulted the President’s directive to the security agencies to deal ruthlessly with any ballot box snatchers and others that may act in ways that could threaten the electoral process.

    A statement Monday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP viewed President Buhari’s directive as “threat to the lives of Nigerians”.

    The President had, during the APC caucus meeting held in Abuja Monday, said anyone caught snatching ballot boxes should consider the offence the very last they would ever commit.

    But the PDP said President Buhari’s statement was a direct call for jungle justice and attempt to divert public attention from details of APC’s caucus meeting where the President issued the warning.

    The statement said, “We do hope that this call by President Buhari is not a camouflage for the fake soldiers mobilized by the APC to shoot at innocent Nigerians, snatch ballot boxes and execute their rigging plans on the election day. It is indeed a license to kill, which should not come from any leader of any civilized nation.

    “The underlining fact to the above is that President Buhari and APC leaders, upon getting to their voting constituencies last Saturday, realized that there is a nationwide rejection of Buhari’s re-election bid, and this has thrown them into a panic mode.

    “President Buhari must however bear in mind that his resort to threats and scaremongering will not deter Nigerians from coming out en-masse to vote him out of office on February 23.

    “We are aware that President Buhari, who had earlier boasted that nobody can ‘unseat’ him, is bent on using every dictatorial and tyrannical act to truncate the process of a free, fair and credible election”.

    The party also said intelligence available to it showed that the Buhari Presidency has directed the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reshuffle the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

    According to the PDP, the alleged deployment was to eagle INEC deploy “compromised” officials to manipulate the electoral process in President favour, adding, as they did with the police shortly before February 16.

    The said it’s also aware of the pressure allegedly being mounted by the Buhari Presidency on INEC to cancel elections in some states and make others inconclusive so as to achieve the President’s objectives of a staggered election not minding the crisis such will trigger across the federation.

    “We want Nigerians and the international community to hold President Buhari personally responsible for any electoral crisis, otherwise he will as usual, claim that he was not aware of the plots and transfer the blame to Adams Oshiomhole and Rotimi Amaechi.

    “It is already known that President Buhari has been unrelenting in his attempts to subdue our democracy by trying to subjugate the legislature, emasculate the judiciary and seize control of the electoral umpire.

    “Nevertheless, the PDP wants to assure President Buhari that our nation is bigger than him and that Nigerians will never allow him and the APC to rig this election.

    “Nigerians have reach an irreversible democratic consensus to vote Buhari out and elect the Peoples Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who is ready to rescue our nation from the hardship, anguish, agony and bloodletting which the Buhari administration has plunged us,” the statement added

  • Buhari didn’t order Nigerians to be shot summarily – Tinubu

    The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday said President Muhammadu Buhari never ordered security agencies to shoot Nigerians summarily.

    Speaking with journalists in Abuja at the end of the APC caucus meeting, he said the President was misinterpreted.

    He said that the President at the meeting only reinforced that those involved in ballot box snatching will be doing it at the risk of their lives.

    According to him: “I was in that meeting; the president was just reinforcing the fact that if you are out there snatching ballot boxes and causing destruction, you are at risk of your own life.

    “Whatever happens to you; No President will give an order that his own citizens should be shot summarily, No! No, its okay, emotions are running high these days. Any individual including myself can be misinterpreted.

    “These are not his words; he is a law abiding person and he understands categorically and clearly what rule of law is and the lives of individual citizens that he is in that office to protect.

    “Now, let me run this; he has been fighting Boko Haram, kidnappers and all these before this election. Did you hear him asking them to be shot and executed summarily?”

    On the resumption of campaigns by political parties, the former Lagos governor said: “By law we should continue to energise our people; it depends on our resources.

    “Because the Electoral Act allows us to do that and ask led us to stop campaigning only 24 hours before the actual election. And once you changed the date to Feb. 23, you have given us the opening to campaign and energise.

    “If you a garden and you don’t nourish with water, the grass will remain dormant; we don’t want our party to remain dormant.

    “This is ability of leadership to convert adversity to opportunity and prosperity and that’s it; that’s what we must do.”

    Asked if the postponement has cast doubt on the credibility of INEC, he said: “It depends on how it is handled and the process. How the process is managed; you can convert a crisis–a situation of adversity to an opportunity and progress.

    “The INEC, under the law, they are empowered to postpone, cancel and do whatever is necessary to ensure free and fair election. No party other the anger, the disappointment, no party can reverse that. So, we are ready for Feb. 23.”

  • Polls: Police deploy more personnel in CBN

    The Ekiti State police command has intensified the security protection around the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), Ado Ekiti branch where election materials retrieved are deposited.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Saturday retrieved electoral materials deployed for the conduct of the National Assembly and presidential elections scheduled for February 16 across all the 16 local government areas of the state.

    INEC took the decision following the postponement of the elections to February 23 and March 9 citing logistical and operational challenges.

    The Police Commissioner, Mr. Asuquo Amba , who said there is no room for security lapses for the success of the forthcoming elections, added that the deployment of more security men was to safeguard the sensitive materials kept in the bank .

    Read Also: Polls shift: APDA backs INEC for credible election

    Speaking with journalists in Ado Ekiti on Monday, Amba assured all the political parties that the materials are under safe custody and thorough security protection.

    Amba, who spoke through the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, said: “If you visit the CBN office in Ekiti now, you will see more security men around the place. We are cognizance of the fact that security lapses could mar these coming polls and we are guarding against that.

    “As we speak, we have drafted more mobile policemen and our men from the Special Protection Unit(SPU), who are specially trained on how to protect election materials are there.

    “We are working round the clock to block all loopholes criminals can use to truncate the process here in any, so there is no cause for worry .

    “Our people, particularly all parties should be rest assured that we shall ensure that all the materials are delivered to the designated points, no room for diversion”, he said.

    The CP commended the residents for their peaceful and violent free gestures, disclosing that the command has not arrested anyone in connection with any form of violence since electioneering activities begin in the state.

    Speaking on the allegations raised by the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) , Barrister Gboyega Oguntuase that his members were attacked in Igbara Odo and Omuo Ekiti by suspected party thugs, Amba said : “We have not received any formal petition from the party concerning this.

    “This command is apolitical and neutral, so if we have any evidence of attack by any party, we are going to investigate and whoever found guilty shall be arrested and prosecuted accordingly”, he stated.

    He added that the three other Commissioners of police deployed to the State by the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu for the purpose of the election have been directed to return to Abuja temporarily due to the postponement.

    “They have been asked to return to Abuja temporarily and by Thursday, they will return to Ekiti. The essence of their presence in the state was to make sure we have strong security across the three senatorial districts, because each commissioner is to man each of the districts for better performances of our men”, Amba said.