The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria Decides 2019

  • PDP queries non-use of Card Readers in some states

    ….Dispute results from Bauchi, Borno, Yobe

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has queried the non-use of the Smart Card Readers in the conduct of the last Saturday presidential election in some part of the country.

    The party therefore asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to project what the Smart Cars Readers captured as accreditation figure before the Collation continues.

    The protest, INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu however said should be channeled to the commission’s headquarters.

    Speaking Tuesday at the ongoing Collation of result of presidential election in Abuja, PDP agent, Mr. Osita Chidoka queried why the card readers should be made compulsory in some part of the country whereas, it is not in other part.

    Chidoka who was categorical about results from Bauchi, Borno and Yobe said the party has documented its observations as an official petition to the commission.

    He said: “The issue before us, Mr. Chairman is that we feel strongly about and the chairman of the PDP has written you a petition. We are worried that the promise you made, the commitment you made and INEC made that as we are doing this collation of results, you will give us the details of accreditation captured by the card reader in the country.

    “Yesterday (Monday) my colleague raised the issue and we thought that when we come back this morning as we are listening to the states, we will be seeing the accreditation by the states by the card reader.

    “This Mr. Chairman, I like it to be on record that we want to see the accreditation for Bauchi state, for Borno state and Yobe in particular and of course, for the rest of the country because the number as we are seeing, it seems to me that we live in two countries.

    “Why people in the south have issues with the SCR, why complaints were all over the place, we seem to have quiet and peaceful elections in places where the people have complained of severe cases of insecurity and harassments by the military and bandits.

    “So, we would like you Mr. Chairman and I forward this letter to you to say that we will appeal that if it is possible Mr. Chairman that before we proceed to the next state you should please, project to us what the card reader has captured as the accreditation in these states.

    “We are supposed to read from the card reader, the electronic collation as against the manual information that we are getting to process information here. While it isn’t yet signed into law in your guidelines it was made clear that no voting should take place where there are no card readers. So, Mr. Chairman, we must appeal to you that we would like you to project these accreditation as done by the card reader.

    “Please, if any of your staff is available he can please, take a copy of this letter from the chairman of the PDP saying that what we are doing here will require us to have the accreditation as done by the electronic card reader.”

    However, in his response INEC boss urged the protesting party to submit its letter to the commission’s headquarters.

    He assured PDP that the commission will surely look into the petition and respond accordingly.

    “Thank you Mr. Chidoka. But there is a procedure for submitting correspondence to the Commission.

    “We haven’t shut down our office. This is the International Conference Centre where we are using as collation centre. Kindly submit your letter to the office, it will be acknowledged. Your letter will now be studied and we will respond, accordingly. I believe that there are details in the letter that we need to study,” Yakubu said.

  • Uduaghan demands cancellation of Delta South poll

    Former Delta state governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Delta South Senatorial District election, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has called for cancellation of the presidential and National Assembly elections in district.

    Uduaghan, in a statement by his Media Assistant, Mr. Monoyo Edon, alleged the conduct of elections in five could areas of the senatorial district, namely Patani, Burutu, Bomadi, Warri North and Isoko North, was fraught with massive electoral malpractices and other irregularities, including ballot box stuffing and violence.

    The statement further said that the former governor had already addressed a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the unwholesome developments that attended the elections in his senatorial district on Election Day and after.

    The statement reads: “His Excellency, Dr, Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan wishes to state that the above election was fraught with a lot of electoral malpractices, irregularities, ballot stuffing and further crippled with electoral violence in some parts of Burutu, Bomadi, Patani, Warri North and Isoko North LGAs.

    “His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan had already petitioned INEC in respect to paragraph two above during collation of results and the final announcement at the Senatorial Collation Centre in Oleh, Isoko South LGA.

    “His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan in the petition called for the cancellation of the Presidential/National Assembly election held in Delta South. His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan calls on his supporters and the good people of Delta South to remain calm and peaceful as further directives would be communicated.”

  • APC’s Odebiyi wins Ogun West

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer for the Ogun West Senatorial district, Prof. Taofeek Shittu, has declared the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Tolu Odebiyi, winner of the Saturday Senatorial election in the district.

    Shittu, who announced Odebiyi winner on Tuesday at the collation centre in Oronna hall, Ilaro, added the APC candidate polled the highest votes of 58,452.

    Odebiyi’s closest rival was Engr. Olusegun Gbeleyi of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), who scored 48,611 votes while Hon. Leye Odunjo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came third with 43,454 votes.

    INEC had on Sunday declared Governor Ibikunle Amosun who contested on the platform of the APC winner of the Ogun Central Senatorial polls while the senatorial election in Ogun East has been declared inconclusive.

    Odebiyi, who is the former Chief of Staff to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, has dedicated his victory to “all those who have endured indignities but remained principled on behalf of the people of Ogun – West.”

    Odebiyi expressed gratitude to the people of the area for the opportunity extended to him to serve.

    He said: “It is with a humble heart and gratitude to God Almighty that I accept the result of my election to represent the good people of Ogun West Senatorial District in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “First, I wish to express my undying gratitude to the people of Ogun West for their practical demonstration of love as we campaigned for this election and for their indubitable and preferential choice for me being validated here today. I am very grateful.

    “May I also thank all the officials who conducted this election on behalf of the INEC and commend you all for your dedication and patriotism in the face of unprecedented inducements and temptations challenging a free and fair outcome.

    “This victory is dedicated to all those who have endured indignities but remained principled on behalf of the people of Ogun West.

    “Please be assured that I will continue to stand with you shoulder to shoulder in raising higher the flag of progress and prosperity for the people of Ogun West.“

  • PDP’s Albert re-elected in Akwa-Ibom

    Senator Bassey Albert of the People Democratic party has won the Akwa Ibom North East (Uyo) senatorial district

    He polled a total of 174,731 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bassey Etim, who scored a total of 60,930 votes

    Bassey Albert, who is the Senate Committee chairman on Gas, is going for a second term.

  • INEC disenfranchised 8m South east voters, Obi alleges

    Vice presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mr. Peter Obi on Tuesday said the results declared by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from Anambra state was unacceptable to the party.

    He accused the electoral umpire of disenfranchising over 8 million registered voters in the South East in Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Addressing newsmen in his Onitsha residence, Obi lamented that the elections were systematically planned to ensure the zone did not participate fully in the exercise.

    He argued only 20 percent were able to cast their votes out of 10 million registered voters in the region.

    According to him: “You will recall that on the Election Day, I said that the process was clumsy and we also had major problem of card readers and most people could not vote.

    “When over 400,000 Card Readers got burnt, it became clear that something was wrong somewhere and INEC could not save the situation and they will not allow people to vote manually.

    “But in some other parts of the country people were allowed to vote manually and it was accepted by the electoral body.

    “Now how can you tell me that a state like Yobe and Borno produced the number of voters that is higher than Anambra and Ebony states put together?

    “The two states are areas that have been at war and I wonder how they got Card Readers that are working so well despite the war situation that they found themselves.”

    Obi regretted the retrogressive disposition the country was tilting towards, noting instead of building on achievements of the 2015 general elections, the nation was on a reverse

    He added: “The impressive turn out of voters was discouraged by the performance of the electoral body last Saturday.”

    Obi further decried the harassment and attacks members of his party suffered in the hands of security agencies targeted at intimidating them.

    He however stated it was not in his powers to announce any demand for the cancellation of the election, saying, “It is left for the party to make its position clear on the matter.”

  • Polls: PDP rejects outcome, threatens court action in Sokoto

    The Sokoto state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party on Tuesday vehemently rejected in totality the conduct and outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly elections results with a threat to go to court.

    The party described the entire process as one marred by fraudulent actions with the aid of INEC and the police.

    It also called for the outright cancellation as well sought for a reschedule of the exercise where it was rigged as well where elections did not hold.

    Addressing a press conference, the state party Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma said the elections were marred by rigging and unwarranted arrest of its agents, members and supporters across the state.

    According to Milgoma who accused the police, INEC officials and APC for conspiring to deny PDP supporters and leaders to exercise the franchise in accordance with the provisions of the law.

    Read Also: Atiku wins Taraba with 374,743 votes

    “Many of our leaders, supporters and party agents were intimidated, arrested and detained to pave way for APC to have a field day for election rigging.

    “We are aware and have seen police personnel deployed from Abuja to come and carryout the unlawful task of denying voters their rights,” he stressed.

    The party chairman further alleged that evidences of vote buying by APC and nobody, was arrested except members of the PDP.

    ” There were so many other cases of arrest on our agents in Wurno, Kebbe, Tambuwal, Dange Shuni, Shagari, Sokoto North and South”, he enumerated while citing the arrests of Sokoto North local government chairman, Aminu Ibrahim a.k.a ” No delay” and one Alhaji Muhammadu who was allegedly charged for causing injuries and attempted murder.

  • 14 nabbed for electoral offences in Anambra

    Anambra State Police Commissioner of Police Rabiu Ladodo on Tuesday said fourteen persons were arrested over various forms of electoral offenses during the just- concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

    Ladodo, who disclosed this in a chat with reporters, listed ballot box snatching, disruption of elections, malicious damage and thuggery as among the offences committed by the suspects.

    He said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.

    According to him: “Exhibit recovered includes 2 vehicles, 2 Motorcycles, 3 Ballot Boxes (snatched from Okpoko), electoral materials such as ballot papers destroyed at Obosi and Ojoto Collation Centres.

    “Other exhibits include 2 knives and dry leaves suspected to be Cannabis Sativa

    “I want to commend all “Ndi Anambra” for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner and for coming out to exercise their civic responsibilities on the 23/02/2019.

    “Despite some isolated cases recorded in some parts of the State where the Command responded promptly and prevented breakdown of law and order, the election was generally peaceful without recording any loss of lives or property.

    “This goes to confirm that Anambra State is not only a peaceful in the whole federation, but also the most secured in terms of safety and security.”

    While advising aggrieved parties that lost in the election not to take laws into their hands and foment trouble, the Commissioner urged them to explore legal avenues to seek for redress.

    “The Command will not fold its arms and watch any individual or group no matter how highly placed to disrupt the relative peace in the State which the law enforcement agencies in the State are working assiduously to maintain,” he warned.

  • Buhari wins Kebbi with 581,552

    President Muhammad Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged winner in the last Saturday’s presidential election in Kebbi state.

    Buhari won with a total of 581, 552 votes to defeat his closest rival Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who got 154,282.

  • Buhari sweeps Kebbi 21 LGAs

    President Muhammad Buhari has swept 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kebbi state in the presidential election results so far released by INEC Collation Officers.

    In the results received by the Collation Officer for the Kebbi Presidential Election, Prof. Haruna Bichi, the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Dutsinma, Katsina state, APC scored 17,863 in Aliero Local Government against the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which polled 5,458.

    Similarly, in Kalgo local government, APC scored 19,057 as against PDP’s 3,233, while in Ngaski local government, APC scored 20,641 and PDP polled 6,591.

    In Sakaba local government, APC polled 14,026 as against PDP’s 3,800 votes.

    Also in Suru local government, APC polled 25,483 while PDP scored 10,293 votes.

    Furthermore, in Shanga local government, APC got 19,262 while PDP scored 6,961 and in Bagudo local government, APC scored 29,243 as against PDP’s 8,160 votes.

    In Arewa local government, APC polled 32,582 as against PDP which scored 8,390 votes.

    He also added that APC scored 42,970 in Jega local government as against PDP’s 7,416

    Similarly in koko Besse Local government, APC scored 25,874 as against PDP’s 5,668 votes while in Maiyama local government, APC scored 30,001 as against PDP’s 6,279 votes.

    In Argungu local government, APC polled 42,038 while PDP scored 6,951 and in Birnin Kebbi local government, APC scored 71,510 while PDP polled 12,900.

    Read Also: Buhari wins landslide in Borno

    Also, in Fakai Local government, APC scored 12,200 while PDP scored 4,865 and in Danko Wasagu local government, APC scored 31,818 while PDP polled 8,724 votes.

    Similarly in Yauri local government, APC polled 24,677 while PDP scored 7,108 .

    Furthermore in Zuru local government, APC scored 23,520 while PDP scored 12, 326 and in Bunza local government APC had 20,622 while PDP polled 6,285.

    He added that in Dandi local government APC scored 26,512 while PDP scored 7,442

    The collation officer further said in Gwandu local government, APC polled 26,488 while PDP scored 6,293 and in Augie local government, APC scored 25163 while PDP polled 9020 votes.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC is to resume announcements shortly for official declaration of the winner

  • Atiku wins Taraba with 374,743 votes

    In a closely fought poll, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has won Taraba state.

    He polled 374, 743 votes to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari, the flag bearer of the All progressives Congress (APC) who trailed him closely with 324, 906 votes.

    INEC returning officer for Taraba state, Prof. Shehu Adamu who announced the result, said 1,777, 105 persons registered for the election, of which 756, 111 voters were accredited.

    There were 712, 877 valid votes out of the 741, 564 number of votes cast.

    28, 687 votes were rejected.