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Tag: Nigeria Decides 2019

  • Buhari, Atiku, others sign second 2019 National Peace Accord

    *Buhari: Let’s pray for our country

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari and the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar on Wednesday joined other candidates to sign the second 2019 National Peace Accord in Abuja.

    The Presidential election comes up on Saturday 16th of February, 2019.

    Buhari and Atiku called for free, fair and non-violent elections.

    While stressing that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies have given their words in readiness to conduct free and fair elections, he urged the youths not to allow themselves to be used for violence.

    Noting that there is fear towards the election just like any other elections, he urged Nigerians to pray for Nigeria as it goes into the elections.

    The President also said that the only real party is Nigeria and that elections are only important to the extent to which they make Nigeria strong.

    Atiku again appealed to INEC and the security agencies to ensure free, fair elections.

    He recalled the words of former President Goodluck Jonathan where he said that his ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian.

    Atiku said that the Nigerian democracy should emerge stronger than the 2015 general elections that was adjudged the freest and fairest in the country.

    The former Vice President specifically appealed to President Buhari for everyone who casts his or her vote to have confidence that the votes will count.

    “We must abide by the will of the people,” he stated.

  • Polls: Police to deploy gunboats to riverine communities

    Ahead of Saturday’s elections, the police have allayed fears of possible attacks by militants and miscreants in riverine communities in Lagos, assuring residents of maximum security.

    Concerns have been raised by residents of Ijedodo, Ijegun, Ishawo, Epe and other Lagos riverine communities plagued by activities of militants, and miscreants who usually capitalised on the inaccessibility of the areas to operate.

    But Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu Wednesday assured the residents of their safety and security before, during and after the elections, noting that gunboats would be deployed for constant waterway patrols.

    Read Also: 2019: Police warn against discouraging Nigerians from voting

    Reacting to a text message from our Correspondent on how the command intended to cover voters in riverine areas, Muazu said they have been captured in the operation order.

    He said the areas would be properly manned and patrolled by operatives the Marine Police.

    “Our operation order covers the riverine areas to be properly manned and patrolled by the Marine Police. We have serviceable gunboats for this purpose,” he said.

  • Tinubu: I’m not leaving APC

    National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has said he has no plans to leave the party for any other.

    He said he would remain solidly behind the APC contrary to insinuations by some that he was leaving the party.

    A video where Tinubu, at the APC Presidential Campaign rally in Abeokuta, Ogun State, was seen throwing the party’s flag to National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, to give to the party’s governorship candidate in the state, Prince Dapo Abiodun, had been framed by opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)to mean he was throwing away the party’s flag.

    But in a statement on Tuesday by his Special Adviser, Media, Tunde Rahman, the APC leader denied throwing away the party’s flag as being insinuated by PDP.

    “If you want to fault Asiwaju for anything in this matter, your critique can only be limited to the accuracy of his toss. Any attempt to enlarge the episode beyond this is fiction and mischief writ large,” he clarified in the statement.

    Agreeing that an incident did occur at the Ogun State APC rally, he said it was not the one PDP concocted.

    “The true incident that should be reported and condemned is that people who furtively oppose the party and the president, tried to infiltrate and disrupt this rally.

    “The attack by these operatives was disrespectful of the office of the President and could have potentially harmed the person of the President.

    “With but a few precious days until the election and with its chance of victory running out even faster than the time, the PDP now grasps at the most nonsensical and desperate tactics to salvage its falling enterprise.

    “However, a drowning man cannot toss himself a lifeline. Nor can the PDP succeed in turning the innocuous attempted exchange of a flag between the National Leader and National Chairman into a rift in the APC’s successful campaign.

    “Such antics have no place in our political discourse. The author of these misdeeds should desist before real harm is done.”

    The statement added: “Now to the crux of the opposition’s latest antics. If the issue of the flag has become the hotspot of the PDP campaign, then they are in serious trouble.

    “During that portion of the Ogun rally, the National Chairman and others were looking for a party flag. Asiwaju Tinubu spotted one within his reach.

    “He picked it up and attempted to toss it to chairman Oshiomhole so that the chairman could present it to the party’s gubernatorial candidate Prince Dapo Abiodun.

    “If you want to fault Asiwaju for anything in this matter, your critique can only be limited to the accuracy of his toss. Any attempt to enlarge the episode beyond this is fiction and mischief writ large.

    “As the National Leader, Asiwaju Tinubu is thoroughly faithful and committed to the APC. It is unthinkable that he would leave the party.

    Read Also: Why Lagosians should not vote for Atiku, by Tinubu

    “Moreover, there is no reason for him to do so. He has been hard at work for the victory of the APC and all of its candidates in the upcoming election.

    “Asiwaju understands the bigger picture. He knows what is at stake in this election. Either the nation moves forward along the progressive path of the APC or it will be forced to retreat into the ills of the past created by the PDP.

    “With the nation’s future hanging in the balance, Asiwaju will not allow himself to be deterred by petty mischief”.

    The statement advised those spinning the matter to make better use of their imaginations.

    It emphasised: “Asiwaju is not going anywhere. He remains gidigba (solid) in APC.

    “And after the election, he will be there celebrating the APC’s and this nation’s victory over those who would prevent us our rightful future”.

  • Auchi monarch to PDP: we’ll support party that fixed Auchi gully

    Edo North senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) Engr. Abubakar Momoh got the shock of his life at the palace of the Otaru of Auchi, HRH Alhaji Aliru Ikelebe III on Tuesday.

    The monarch told the candidate Auchi people would vote for the party that fixed the gully erosion problem that ravaged the community for many years.

    It was former Governor Adams Oshiomhole that solved the gully erosion problem.

    Momoh was at the Otaru’s palace to seek endorsement of the monarch for Saturday’s polls.

    The Otaru reportedly told Momoh that he would only give his support to the party and people that rescued the community from total collapse when it was ravaged by erosion.

    The Daniyan of Auchi Kingdom, Alhaji Usman Abudah, who confirmed the development, told newsmen that the Otaru of Auchi also advised all political office seekers to desist from the “unacceptable efforts to involve the palace of the Otaru of Auchi with their misgiving political pursuits.”

    His words: “Specifically Hon Abubakar Momoh who has on numerous occasions been seeking for political positions at the wrong time in wrong places visited the palace of the Otaru of Auchi and on each occasion, HRH Otaru of Auchi explicitly advised him to find a way to fall into line of the realities of the moment.

    “The Otaru said he will never while alive not to be appreciative of any government that came to the aid of the community during the problematic erosion problem which Oshiomhole government in collaboration with the World Bank solved for the community.

    “Otaru will never in his life mislead his people he has spoken and will continue to speak the truth to the people of his domain.”

  • Polls: Avoid all forms of intimidation, TUC urges FG

    The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria ( TUC ) has asked the federal government to avoid all forms of intimidations during the 2019 general elections and be transparent in the conduct of the Elections.

    Rising from its National Executive Council meeting, the Congress asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be as impartial as possible during the election, having the interest of all Nigerians at heart.

    In a communique signed by the President, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama and Secretary General, Comrade Musa Lawal M. Ozigi, TUC also calls on the police, the military and other security agents to be professional in discharging their duties since no position is worth the blood of innocent civilians.

    They commended the House of Representatives for approving N30, 000.00 as minimum wage in the country and call on the Upper Chamber, the Senate to do the same without any further delay.

    The Congress said that the law establishing National Law Advisory Council (NLAC) should be reviewed to include major Stakeholders, like TUC and warned that TUC will no longer tolerate the violation of the trade union rights of its members to representation, collective bargaining and be consulted on labour matters in the country.

    On the state of Insecurity in the Country, the Congress call on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to make sure that killing; kidnapping and insurgency in the country are totally wiped out and save the country from total collapse.

    It also frowns at the proposed increase of international passport and driver’s license by the Federal Government. It therefore calls on the Federal Government to maintain the status quo and formulate policies that will be more beneficial to the masses.

    On the Anti-Corruption crusade, the Congress commended the Federal Government for the fight against corruption in the Country and call on the Federal Government to respect the rule of law when doing so.

  • FG uncovers fresh plans by PDP to scuttle poll

    … PDP plots to orchestrate crisis, FG alleges

     

    Barely few days to the general elections, the Federal Government on Tuesday alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is planning to orchestrate a crisis and trigger a sense of panic among the populace.

    It said the plot is in furtherance of their plan to discredit the election and cause a constitutional crisis.

    It, however, urged international community to ignore plot to discredit the Saturday poll before it is conducted.

    The government, which made the claims in a statement in Abuja by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed, said PDP bigwigs, including its presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, his running mate Peter Obi, PDP Governors and others, are planning a world press conference in order to level frivolous and unfounded allegations against the government.

    The statement said: “With just a few days to the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the Federal Government has alerted the nation to the last-minute desperate plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to orchestrate a crisis and trigger a sense of panic among the populace, in furtherance of their plan to discredit the election and cause a constitutional crisis.

    “The plot confirms the alarm raised by the Federal Government on Jan. 21st and Feb. 3rd 2019 that the PDP is planning to scuttle the election and, where that fails, discredit it.

    “In the days ahead, PDP bigwigs, including its presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, his running mate Peter Obi, PDP Governors and others, are planning a world press conference in order to level frivolous and unfounded allegations against the federal government and the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

    Read Also: Buhari vows to recover $16bn squandered on power by PDP

    The statement gave insights into the plot by the opposition including alleged connivance with the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) by the Presidency.

    The statement added: “Part of the false allegations they plan to make is that the Presidency, in connivance with the APC, is planning to force the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to announce presidential election results that are favourable to the government in power, on the basis of the false premise that the APC’s intelligence team is worried that the ruling party would lose the elections.

    “The PDP bigwigs also plan to use their world press conference to further disparage the Buhari Administration as well as the ruling APC, with a view to painting an unfavourable image of both  Nigerians and the international community also to put the government on the defensive in the run-up to the polls.

    The Minister said the “PDP’s last joker is a two-hour live press conference to be addressed by the PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbodiyan, on Feb. 14th, the last day of electioneering campaign, to chronicle all their concocted allegations and lies against the ruling government, cast aspersion on government and ruling party officials and throw innuendos here and there.

    The statement added: ”As electioneering campaign winds down, the PDP has realized that it cannot possibly win free, fair and credible polls. It has thus resorted to engaging in red herring, hauling insults and abuses at Federal Government and ruling party officials and making outlandish allegations with a view to creating a sense of panic and crisis.

    ”The truth is that President Muhammadu Buhari, a man respected globally for his integrity, has continuously assured that the elections will be free, fair, credible and peaceful. He has warmly welcomed observers, both local and foreign., because he has nothing to hide, and because he is sure that the achievements of his Administration will win him re-election.

    Mohammed urged international community to ignore plot to discredit the Saturday poll.

    ”We are therefore calling on all Nigerians and the international community to disregard any attempt to scuttle or discredit the polls.

    “We urge observers to keep an open mind. There is no cause for alarm, except in the warped imagination of the PDP, which has entered the panic mode and is already ruing the loss of another general election even before it has been held,” he said.

  • Jonathan, wife, Mrs. Atiku at Rivers PDP rally

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan and wife Dame Patience Jonathan on Monday graced the presidential campaign rally of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State.

    The Jonathans were at the occasion in the company of wife of the presidential candidate of the PDP Dr. (Mrs.) Jennifer Douglas Abubakar and wife of the President of the Senate, Dr. (Mrs.) Toyin Saraki.

    Addressing the mammoth crowd, wife of the PDP candidate, Mrs. Abubakar, urged women across the state to mobilise their entire household for victory for PDP on Saturday.

    Mrs. Abubakar, who spoke on behalf of women, advised them to protect their votes and ensure they are counted.

    She stressed the need to vote out the ‘incompetent’ government of APC, which according to her, “represents hunger, insecurity, economic hardship” and all manner of vices.

    She assured women that the Atiku administration will not relegate them but will give them a level playing ground to unleash their potential.

    “A vote for Atiku is a vote for a better Nigeria,” she said.

    On his part, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate vowed to uphold the rule of law and protect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Dr Patience Jonathan and Dr Jennifer Douglas Abubakar

    “I assure you that I will protect the constitution, protect separation of powers and will not interfere with the National Assembly and Judiciary because I believe in checks and balances.

    “My administration will uphold rule of law and will never allow the rule of law to be trampled by anybody,” he pledged.

    The PDP candidate also promised to complete the long-abandoned East-West road and complete the dredging of old Port Harcourt and Onne sea ports, ” to create more job opportunities”.

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan who was also in attendance declared that Nigerians are working hard for the election of Atiku Abubakar, because they believe he has the capacity to make Nigeria work again.

     

    NAN

  • 2019: INEC creates 57,023 voting points

    …Lagos, Kano leads with highest voting points

    ..Ekiti, Bayelsa holds record of lowest voting points

     

     

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has created 57,023 voting points across the country ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    There are 119,973 polling units in the country.

    The creation of the voting points, therefore, brings to 176,996 voting designation for the forthcoming elections.

    The voting points INEC argued was for the ease of voting population. The polling unit is the designated voting point conveniently designed for voters and each polling units according to INEC should not exceed 700 voting population.

    The creation of voting points, which is not far from the original polling units, according to INEC was created to accommodate the extra voters within a polling units.

    For the purpose of 2019 general elections, besides the official 119,973 polling units, the commission created 57,023 voting points across the country.

    A total of 84, 004, 084 million people registered to vote in the general polls scheduled for 16th February and 2nd March, 2019.

    Lagos and Kano states have the largest number of designated voting points in the forthcoming general elections.

    Lagos has 8, 462 polling units and 4,976 voting points while Kano has 8,074 polling units and 3,148 voting points.

    Ekiti and Bayelsa have the lowest voting points in the country. Ekiti has 2,195 polling units and 250 voting points; Bayelsa has 1,804 polling units and 440 voting points.

    The breakdown of polling units and voting points for the 2019 general elections made available yesterday by the Commission shows: Abia with 1,932,892 million registered voters has 2,675 polling units and 1,387 voting points. Adamawa, with 1,973,083 has 2,608 polling units and 1,496 voting points.

    Read Also: INEC to domestic, foreign observers: you’re to observe, not monitor

    Akwa Ibom recorded 2,119, 727 million registered voters with 2,980 polling units and 1,373 voting points.

    Anambra has 2,447,996 million registered voters with 4,608 polling units and 1,112 voting points. Bauchi state has 2,462,843 million voting population with 4,074 polling units and 1,348 voting points. Bayelsa state has a voting population of 924,182 with 1,804 polling units and 440 voting points.

    Benue has 2,480,131 million registered voters with 3,688 polling units and 1,414 voting points. Borno with a registered voting population of 2,315,956 million has 3,933 polling units and 1,138 voting points. Cross River registered 1,527,289 million voters for the coming general elections and has 2,283 polling units and 998 voting points. Delta recorded 2,845, 274 million voters and has 3,624 polling units and 2,239 voting points.

    Ebonyi with 1,459,933 million registered voters has 1, 785 polling units and 1,161 voting points.

    Edo recorded 2,210,534 million registered voters and has 2,627 polling units and 1,892 voting points. Ekiti has a voting population of 909,967 with 2,195 polling units and 250 voting points,

    Enugu with a voting population of 1,944,016 million has 2,958 polling units and 1,187 voting points. FCT has registered voter population of 1,344,856 million with 562 polling units and 2,261 voting points.

    Gombe has 1,394,393 million registered voters with 2,218 polling units and 770 voting points. Imo recorded 2,272, 293 million registered voters while polling units is 3,523 and voting points 1,235 voting points.

    Jigawa has 2,111,106 million voting population and has 3,523 polling units and 1,235 voting points.

    Kaduna has a registered voting population of 3,932,492 million with 5,101 polling units and 2,911 voting points. Kano has 5,932,747 million eligible voters with 8,074 polling units and 3,148 voting points. Katsina recorded 3,230,230 million voting population with 4,901 polling units and 1,751 voting points. Kebbi has 1,806,231 million registered voters and 2,398 polling units and 1,345 voting points. Kogi with 1,646,350 million registered voters has 2,548 polling units and 960 voting points. Kwara recorded 1,406,457 million registered voter and has 1,872 polling units and 1,015 voting points. Lagos with a voting population of 6,570,291 million has 8,462 polling units and 4,976 voting points. Nasarawa recorded 1,617,786 million registered voters with 1,495 polling units and 1,783 polling units.

    Niger with 2,390,035 registered voters has 1,495 polling units and 1,765 voting points. Ogun has a voting population of 2,375,003 million with 3,213 polling units and 1,846 voting points. Ondo with 1,822,346 million voting population has 3,009 polling units and 923 voting points. Osun state has 1,680,497 million voting population with 3,010 polling units and 753 voting points. Oyo state recorded 2,934,107 million, voting population and has 4,783 polling units and 1,607 voting points.

    Plateau has 2,480, 455 million registered voters and 2631 polling units and 2,358 voting points.

    Rivers has 3,215,273 million registered voters, 4,442 polling units and 2,424 voting points. Sokoto has 1,903, 166 million voting population with 3,035 polling units and 855 voting points. Taraba with 1,777,105 million registered voters has 1,912 voting points and 1,685 voting points. Yobe has 1,365,913 registered voters with 1,714 polling units and 1,109 voting points.

    Zamfara with the voting population of 1,717,128 million has 2,516 polling units and 1,013 voting points.

  • Polls: Air Force begins airlift of election materials

    The Nigerian Air Force said on Tuesday that it has started the airlift of election materials for the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).

    A statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air commodore Ibikunle Daramola said the airlift would be conducted day and night to deliver sensitive and non-sensitive materials to designated places.

    Air Commodore Daramola said: “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on Monday 11 February 2019, commenced the airlift of electoral materials for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across the country for the conduct of the 2019 General Elections.

    “The airlift exercise includes day and night missions, during which both sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials were conveyed in batches, with NAF C-130 Hercules aircraft from the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja to various airports across the country.

    “The materials were duly delivered by the C-130H aircraft crew to teams of INEC and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) officials together with security personnel waiting at the various airports.

    Read Also; Air Force strikes insurgents in Northern Borno

    “It may be recalled that the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, during his meeting with Air Officers Commanding (AOCs) and NAF Field Commanders on 1 February 2019, had expressed the readiness of the NAF to avail INEC its transport aircraft to enable expeditious movement of electoral materials, as done in the past.

    “It is pertinent to state that the transport aircraft are deployed solely to provide airlift support to meet INEC’s logistics requirements, in fulfilment of NAF’s constitutional role of providing Military Aid to Civil Authority. “

  • APC accuses Amosun of sponsoring attack against Buhari, party leaders

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Ogun state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun of sponsoring political thugs to cause violence and embarrass President Muhammadu Buhari and other party leaders during the party’s Presidential campaign rally in Ogun state on Monday.

    Political thugs disrupted the campaign rally at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, throwing stones and sachet water at the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and other party leaders for refusing to bow to the dictate of the governor and have his preferred candidate fly the party flag as governorship candidate.

    The APC governorship candidate in the state, Dapo Abiodun has also been attacked by the same political thugs on two previous occasions while on campaign in the state.

    National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu said in a statement that the party will not condone such act of indiscipline and will take appropriate disciplinary measure against the sponsors of the attack after the elections.

    The statement reads: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) regrets Monday’s premeditated attacks sponsored by Governor Ibikunle Amosun on President Muhammadu Buhari and other senior party leaders at the venue of the presidential campaign rally in Ogun State.

    Read Also: Amosun gloats over Ogun APC rally

    “This is one act of indiscipline too many. The APC will not condone acts of indiscipline, indiscretion and anti-party activities from any party member no matter how highly placed.

    “The party will review this gross misconduct of deliberately positioning thugs to attack and embarrass the President and the party’s leadership. The party will take a decision on this matter immediately after the elections. It must be stated that party supremacy and discipline according to our constitution are not matters of choice but binding principles which must be adhered to by all party members.

    “The APC is a party known for discipline, justice, fairness and equality; hence any plan to destroy what this party stands for would be rejected. No single person will be allowed to put his personal and selfish interests ahead of the wishes of the people of Ogun state and elsewhere.

    “Post primaries, the decision of the National Working Committee to uphold the wishes of party members is unbendable. Therefore, whatever means being presently deployed by persons intending to undermine the wishes of the people for personal gains will not be tolerated.

    “We urge our teeming party supporters and members not to be disturbed by Monday’s condemnable incident. We urge all to continue trooping out enmasse for our remaining campaigns and vote massively for ALL and ONLY APC candidates in the forthcoming general elections.“