The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria Decides

  • 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…

  • 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.

  • Umahi alleges plot to bomb Ebonyi lNEC offices

    Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi on Thursday alleged plans by some desperate politicians to import thugs to bomb some local government offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Umahi disclosed this during a live security situation briefing to the people of the state.

    He said: “I have been told that there are plans to bomb lNEC local government offices.”

    He said security agencies have been informed and have beefed up security in all INEC facilities in the state

    The governor frowned at the outbreak of violence, characterised by burning houses and killings at Mkpuma Akpatakpa in Abaja community of Izzi local government area, promising that perpetrators would be fished out and brought to book.

    He further condemned the attack on Ikwo local government area Vice Chairman, Mrs. Regina Iteshi who was attacked by hoodlums.

    According to the governor, the thugs inserted objects into her private part and cut the tendons of some of the people with her.

    He promised that the perpetrators must be punished.

    “My major concern is that we have free and a fair election on Saturday. There were few things we noticed on 15th February that were not in the character of Ebonyi people.

    “Inserting objects in the private parts of the vice chairman of Ikwo. Justice may be delayed but the law must take its full course.

    “Yesterday, I visited Izzi and saw the faces of defenseless father and mother whose son was killed and their houses burnt down.

    “All those who participated in the killing of the young man and burning of houses will never go scot-free.

    “Politicians are behind the killings and burning down of houses. My promise to all the victims, the young man that was killed and six others injured, all those behind it must be brought to book.

    “I appeal that there should be no reprisal attack. I have ordered that anybody that wants to kill our people should be shot at sight.

    “People must be allowed to exercise their right and vote for whom they want to vote for. I promised that if there is no reprisal attack, after the election, I will start the process of building the burnt houses.

    “Lives of Ebonyians are very important to us than positions and election. And anyone that takes the lives of others such will follow them to their fifth generation. Ebonyians must be alert and demobilize anybody that is parading thugs with police escort.

    The governor also had some warnings for INEC officers in the state.

    “Let me also warn INEC. I learnt that certain political party wants to cancel election. That they will go from polling booth to another killing people.

    “If you are INEC worker, discharge your duty according to the electoral law. I have asked the youths and Ebonyians to resist any INEC officials that wants to compromise. I learnt that collation officers are meeting, saying they nominated this and that.”

  • ‘Why Buhari gave directive on ballot box snatching’

    National Chairman of the Door-to-Door Campaign group of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign, Bola Ilori, has explained why President Muhammadu Buhari ordered security operatives to prosecute ballot box snatchers during the Saturday’s election.

    He said the directive was to guard against manipulations during the polls, stressing the pronouncement would curtail killings and maiming during elections and prevent electoral stealing.

    Ilori, who spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital, while leading canvassers to different parts of the state in furtherance of the door-to-door and market -to-market mobilisation strategy of the Field Operations of the Directorate of APC Presidential Campaign Council.

    The former Osun state commissioner for Regional Integration said the APC was prepared for a free and fair election on Saturday.

    According to him, the achievements of the Buhari- led administration cut across the various sectors of the nation’s economy, assuring he would be re-elected.

    Ilori said Buhari’s administration has achieved in the areas of rural development, social investment programmes and far reaching reforms in other areas of the economy.

    He appealed to voters to choose Buhari and other APC candidates from Saturday.

    He assured the people that if President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are reelected on Saturday, Nigerians would enjoy more of the numerous social investment programmes their administration has embarked upon since inception.

    Ilori said: “God used Moses to take the Israelites from Egypt as He first led them into the wilderness, not five star hotel.

    “Some people complained about hardships in the wilderness and made another god to lead them back to Egypt, thereby unwittingly turned a journey of 40 days to 40yrs.

    “Eventually Moses led them out of the wilderness and handed them over to a Joshua that led them to the Promise land.

    “It is clear that Nigeria has left PDP’s Egypt through Moses Buhari, but currently in a wilderness Moses is laying a solid foundation for a Joshua to get Nigerians to the promise land.

    “The Next Level is not to go back to Egypt but to move to the Promised land and we shall get there.

    He said the President was against ballot box snatching, stressing that order was to check against the perpetration of extra judicial killings during elections.

  • Polls: Police reads riot act to politicians, hoodlums in Imo

    The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of the Southeast for the general elections, Micheal Ogbizi Anthony, has warned politicians and hoodlums not to underrate the resolve of the Police and other security agencies to deal decisively with anyone planning to subvert Saturday’s election.

    He warned that any person or group of persons found to be sponsoring violence or other acts capable of disrupting the election process will not go unpunished.

    The DIG who addressed journalists shortly after a joint meeting of Security Chiefs, said that politicians who procure fake military uniforms and arms for thugs to cause mayhem during and after the election will be fished out and punished.

    According to him, “the essence of this meeting is to underscore the importance of this election, we have a directive to ensure that no one subverts the election process and we will not allow that to happen.”

    He continued that, “we are assuring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the voters of adequate security during and after the election. We urge the people to come out and vote for candidates of their choice without fear of intimidation”.

    Meanwhile the Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Brigadier General Hamza Bature, has warned against the announcing of election results by unauthorised persons or establishments.

    He noted that it is the sole responsibility of INEC to announce election results, adding that announcement of fake results is capable of triggering crisis.

  • Elections: FG closes borders tomorrow

    The Federal Government has announced the closure of all Nigerian land borders with effect from 12:00 noon on Friday, February 22 to 12:00 noon of Sunday, February 24, 2019.

    Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdrahman Dambazau who gave the order said the development is to restrict movements across the borders during the election days.

    Read Also: FG grants visa free waiver for accredited election observers

    According to a statement issued by the Comptroller General (CG) of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede and made available to The Nation: “Further to the Presidential Election taking place on the February, 23, 2019, the Honourable Minister of Interior has directed the closure of all Nigeria Land Borders with effect from 12:00 noon of Friday February 22 to 12:00 noon of Sunday February 24, 2019.

    “This is to restrict movements across the borders during the election days. The public is to take note and ensure compliance.”

  • ‘Buhari’ll win, handover to Igbo President in 2023’

    *Says PDP would lose states in the S’south

     

    A Christian cleric in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, Prophet Udeme Bassey, has predicted victory for President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC) over Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Saturday.

    He also predicted that Buhari would handover to an Igbo president in 2023, after successfully completing his tenure and bowing out as the most celebrated president in the nation’s history.

    Prophet Udeme, who was spot on with his predictions in the 2015 election and Edo state 2016 governorship election, further stated that Buhari’s victory would defy the gang-up by former President Obasanjo and other prominent ex-rulers.

    “PDP kept Nigeria in the current situation that Nigeria is in today. They have killed and buried Nigeria for 15 years, but God is very pleased with President Muhammadu Buhari and even one million OBJs and Atikus cannot unseat him.”

    Bassey claimed that the PDP candidate is only on a mission to buy the remaining national assets that he failed to secure from 1999 – 2007 when he was Vice President.

    Similarly, the cleric who said his prediction followed 31-day fasting and prayers for the 2019 general election, predicted that 70percent of current elected office holders would lose their election.

    Read Also: Tinubu: Buhari didn’t order shoot on sight

    “The APC will take over four of the six South-south states and weaker candidates in weaker parties would be favoured. Seventy percent of current politicians would lose their seats to their opponents in 2019.

    “PMB will appoint more youths, women and Igbo politicians in his cabinet and his second tenure will be more friendly and his governance style will make Nigerians smile again,” he added.

    Meanwhile, Christian cleric has urged Nigerians to be tolerant of others’ political and general views, stressing that his experience had shown that people are not comfortable with unfavourable truth.

    He particularly lamented his predicament in the hands of his erstwhile landlord (names withheld) who allegedly threw him out of his apartment because of accurate prediction of the 2016 Edo state governorship race.

    “I was not owing him rent, but he said that he could not harbour a man who is against his interest in his own house.”