The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria Decides

  • APC, PDP in tight race in Edo

    The All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party are neck to neck in the Presidential and national assembly Elections in Edo State.

    No official results have been announced as collation of results was still going on at each Ward.

    Former Governor Adams Oshiomhole and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress thrashed  the PDP at his polling unit at Iyamho and Governor Godwin Obaseki won at his polling unit at Emokpae primary school.

    Elections were generally peaceful across Edo State except in some polling units at Egor where ballot boxes were set ablaze.

    Those that spoke hailed the conduct of the elections.

    In some areas, there were initial malfunction of the card readers but they were later rectified.

    In Edo South where Senator Matthew Urhoghide and Patrick Obahiagbon are in the race, unofficial results showed there were no clear winner yet.

    For the House of Representatives seat on Ovia Constituency, Dennis Idahosa of the All Progressives Congress maintained a lead in his stronghold while Barr. Omosede Igbinedion held on to Okada, her hometown.

    Hon Ehiozuwa Agbonnayima took the lead in Ikpoba-Okha while his opponent, Jude Ise-Idehen, is said to win in some wards in Egor.

    Edo State Commissioner of Police, in charge of elections, Dan-Malam Mohammed, who visited several polling units in company of the lnter-Agencies Consultative Committee on Elections warned policemen not to allow anybody enter INEC office.

    Read Also: Ogboru votes, says Buhari’ll be president till 2023

    His words: “Make sure you work with the names on your list. You know lNEC office is very vital during collation of results, make sure it is properly secure.”

    A visit to the Edo College, in Ward 8, in Oredo Local Government in units 27 to 30,  the security agencies made up of Army, DSS, Custom, NCSDC, lmmigration and others to verify the situation on ground, the PDP and APC agents complain about shortage of sensitive materials like ballot papers and other logistic plights to the police.

    ln Udo, Ovia South West, ballot boxes were snatched and a suspect was arrested with arms and ammunition.

    Police spokesman, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor confirmed the arrest.

  • Smartcard reader rejects Dogara’s finger-print

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, was on Saturday rejected by the Smart Card Reader at his Gwaranga primary school polling unit of Gwaranga town in Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

    A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent reports that Dogara arrived the polling unit at about 9:44 a.m., but the Card Reader failed to authenticate his finger-print, as a result of which he had to use the authentication form to vote.

    His wife, Mrs Gimbiya Dogara, however voted smoothly without any hitch.

    Read Also: Dogara is a sinking man, says Bauchi gov

    Speaking after casting his vote, the Speaker commended the orderly conduct of the elections at his polling unit.

    He said that he was not aware of how the exercise was going on in other places, but added that if the situation were the same in other units, then INEC had done a good job.

    Dogara expressed optimism about his chances of winning a re-election to the House of Reps.

  • Elections: We are tired of violence – FCT community

    Gishiri residents in the FCT at Unit 024B, Estate 11 Gishiri village, who voted peacefully at the Presidential and National Assembly elections, said they heeded advice to vote in spite of challenges because they were tired of violence.

    The challenges range from absence of INEC staff to some people with voter cards not finding their names on the register.

    Mr Umaru Ibrahim, a voter, said he was told to go to Gwarimpa or Jabi, few kilometres, to check his name.

    “There’s no movement so how can I go to Gwarimpa or Jabi? I voted here in 2015 how come the name disappeared today,” he queried?

    Elizabeth Joseph had the same story to tell.

    “How can they say my name is not on their register when I voted in this same place in 2015?

    “No INEC staff is here to talk to but only NYSC ad-hoc staff who can not help us. If they say we should not vote we will peacefully go home and rest.”

    When NAN spoke with the ad-hoc staff, they said that they did not receive any response from all their calls to INEC.

    They said that they were instructed not to allow anyone whose name was not found on the register to vote.

    The residents who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that they endured the long queue and the scorching sun, simply to vote for candidates of their choice.

    Two party agents from the PDP and APC who pleaded anonymity, said they encouraged their party faithful to remain calm even in the face of the challenges.

    NAN reports that the turn out of voters was massive, with heavily armed police presence.

    The INEC ad hoc staff arrived at 8.02am and accreditation and voting started 9 at a.m. for the 1698 accredited voters with PDP winning at the two units.

    At unit 024B for the Presidential result, PDP had 217 while APC got 42.
    For Senate:
    PDP 228
    APC 43 while for the House of Representatives, PDP got 219 against APC’s 47 at Unit 024D
    For President, PDP got 392 while APC had 51

  • PDP leads Gwarimpa, Life camp polling units

    The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) on Saturday led in the Presidential and National Assembly elections at the LEA Primary School, Galadima, polling unit, Gwarimpa and Life Camp polling unit.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that voting ended in the units at 3.p.m., while that of the Model City Gate, Gwarimpa Polling Unit ended at 4:30p.m.

    At LEA Primary School, only the Presidential results were ready with PDP having 707, and APC got 194, out of a total votes of 879, while invalid votes were 112.

    However, the Presiding Officer, Auwal Kundi said that the results for the Senate and Legislature were not ready, adding that they would be concluded on Sunday morning.

    Kundi complained that provisions were not made for food and drink since they came to the unit in the early hours of the burning.

    “Can you imagine that up till now, we have not taken anything,’’ he said.

    Similarly, PDP led the Presidential election in Gwarimpa Model School Polling unit 024 with total votes of 673, with APC having 272, other parties had 30 votes and 45 invalid votes were recorded.

    PDP also won the Senatorial and House of Representative with 645 votes and 621, while APC got 273 for Senatorial seat and 276 votes for House of Representative.

    Similarly, at Gwarimpa Model Gate Polling Unit 013B, the results were – Pesidential, APC- 215, PDP- 973; Senate, APC-233, PDP- 923, House of Representative; APC-227, while PDP got 887 votes,’’ he said.
    At Efab Estate Lifecamp Unit 017, PDP won the senatorial seat with 844 votes ,while APC got 267 votes and for the seat of House of Representatives, PDP got 798 and APC got 270 votes.

    PDP won the Presidential position with total votes of 833 votes while APC got 258 votes, according to the Presiding Officer, Mr Bede Nwankwo.

    Meanwhile, a voter, Mr Anthony Asonaya, at the LEA Primary School, Galadima, Gwarimpa polling unit donated a generator for INEC complete the collation of results, which extended to as late as 9 p.m.

    Asonaya said he had been providing generator in that unit for the past three elections since 2011 to support the process.

    He said that his motivation was to ensure that the process was transparent and went smoothly.

    “Above all, my love for the country has made me to help INEC in the exercise,’’ he said.

  • PDP to Buhari: Stop whining, accept the people’s will

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to stop whining over their “rejection” in the presidential election and quietly accept the will of the people.

    The party said the APC and agents of the Buhari Presidency, were bewildered by defeat and thus plotting to discredit the votes which the opposition party sad Nigerians freely delivered to its candidate, Atiku Abubakar at their polling units.

    A statement last night by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said part of alleged plot is to trigger mayhem and burn down Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices in order to destroy all evidence of poll results.

    The statement said, “The PDP reminds President Buhari and the APC that the polling unit is the foundation of the election and all our agents and supporters already have the results in all the polling centers and voting points across the country.

    “As such, our party is holding strongly to our results as already delivered by the people at the polling units and such cannot be altered.

    “The PDP, therefore, counsels President Buhari and his APC to respect the will of the people and accept the verdict of the election. It is not for President Buhari to direct his campaign spokesperson to tell Nigerians that no party should rejoice.

    “For us in the PDP, we already have the figures and we are aware that Nigerians in their resolve and consensus have settled their votes in favour of the people’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as the next President of our country.

    “President Buhari should be prepared to take his defeat in good faith. After all, he will not be the first sitting President to lose in an election”.

  • Police arrest four with eight PVCs in Kano

    Kano State Police Command on Saturday arrested four persons in possession of eight PVCs during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Haruna Abdullahi, confirmed the arrest while addressing newsmen in Kano on Saturday.

    He said the suspects were arrested in Sabon Gari area, Fagge local government area and had since been taken to Criminal Intelligence Department, CID, for investigation.

    DSP Haruna Abdullahi also said that four other persons were arrested for allegedly destroying election materials and attempt to snatch ballot boxes.

    The Command Spokesman added that the incident occurred at a Polling Unit in Takalmawa village of Gabasawa local government area of the state.

  • APC, PDP in tight race in Edo

    The All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party are neck to neck in the Presidential and National Assembly elections in Edo State.

    No official results have been announced as collation of results was still going on at each Ward.

    Former Governor Adams Oshiomhole and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress thrashed the PDP at his polling unit at Iyamho and Governor Godwin Obaseki won at his polling unit at Emokpae primary school.

    Elections were generally peaceful across Edo State except in some polling units at Egor where ballot boxes were set ablaze.

    Those that spoke hailed the conduct of the elections.

    In some areas, there were initial malfunction of the card readers but they were later rectified.

    In Edo South where Senator Matthew Urhoghide and Patrick Obahiagbon are in the race, unofficial results showed there were clear winner yet.

    For the House of Representatives seat on Ovia Constituency, Dennis Idahosa of the All Progressives Congress maintained a lead in his stronghold while Barr. Omosede Igbinedion held on to Okada, her hometown.

    Hon Ehiozuwa Agbonnayima took the lead in Ikpoba-Okha while his opponent, Jude Ise-Idehen is said to win in some wards in Egor.

    Edo State Commissioner of Police, in charge of elections, Dan-Malam Mohammed who visited several polling in company of the lnter-Agencies Consultatives Committee on Elections warned policemen not to allow anybody enter INEC office.

    His words, “Make sure you work with the names on your list. you know lNEC office is very vital during collation of results, make sure is properly secure.”

    A visit to the Edo college, in Ward 8, in Oredo local government in units 27 to 30, the security agencies made up of Army, DSS, Custom, NCSDC, lmmigration and others to verify the situation on ground, the PDP and APC agents complains about shortage of sensitive materials like ballot papers and othe logistics plights to the police.

    ln Udo, Ovia South West, ballot boxes were snatched and a suspect was arrested with arms and ammunition.

    Police spokesman, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor confirmed the arrest.

  • Abdulrazaq delivers polling unit to Buhari

    Kwara All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has won his Idigba polling unit 004 for all the party’s candidates in the presidential and National Assembly elections.

    President Muhammadu Buhari polled 462 votes at the unit to defeat PDP’s Atiku Abubakar who got 167 votes.

    The APC also won the senatorial poll with 473 votes to beat PDP’s Senator Bukola Saraki who polled 211.

    The APC also defeated the PDP in the House of Representatives election, winning 484 votes as against PDP’s 200.

    AbdulRazaq comes from the same Ilorin West local government of Kwara Central as Saraki.

    The APC candidate had earlier told reporters his party was headed for a landslide victory against the PDP, saying the people of the state were tired of poor governance and corruption which he said the PDP represents in Kwara.

  • Buhari wins Obasanjo’s, Osoba’s polling units

    …loses in Daniel’s, Kashamu’s Polling units

     

    Snippets of result emanating from Presidential and National Assembly elections in Ogun State showed that President Muhammadu Bubari won in former President Olusegun Obasanjo polling unit.

    The result of the election which was counted and announced publicly at Obasanjo’s ward 11, unit 22, Olusomi’s compound in Abeokuta North Local Government, Buhari of the All Progressives Congress(APC) polled 87 votes to defeat his main challenger, Alh. Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polling 18 votes.

    The African Democratic Party, ADP polled 4 votes, Sowore’s party, AAC polled 1 vote while voided and rejected votes stood at three and five respectively.

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun lost to the Senatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Titi Gomez, at the polling unit of the leader of the All Progressives Congress(APC) and ex – governor of the state, Olusegun Osoba.

    Amosun, who is the senatorial candidate of the APC polled 86 votes, Titi, a former Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, garnered 126 votes while Peoples Democratic Party, PDP polled 23 votes.

    The Polling unit was however delivered to President Muhammadu Buhari of APC as he polled 147 votes to defeat Atiku Abubakar of PDP’s 81.

    In Sagamu, former Gbenga Daniel who is the Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council, Southwest, delivered his polling unit for his party’s Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

    In Daniel’s ward 12, Isote unit in Sagamu Local Government, Atiku polled 137 votes while President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC, polled 88 votes.

    The governorship candidate of the party in the State and Senator representing Ogun East senatorial district, Senator Buruji Kashamu also delivered his Sopen unit 26 in Ijebu Igbo to the PDP Presidential candidate.

    While Atiku polled 138 votes, Buhari of APC polled 110 votes

  • Democrats must accept results of credible polls, says Tinubu

    All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on Saturday said that he was confident of victory for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said the masses were ready to show gratitude for his people-oriented programmes and policies.

    Tinubu told reporters after voting at his O47 Unit, Kaffy Junction, Sunday Adigun Street, Alausa, Ikeja, that the president had promoted the welfare of the masses in the last four years.

    He said: “My hope and my determination for my party is that we are winning because we have the support of the masses.

    “We are popular among ordinary people. We are not talking about the elite, the rich. We are talking about farmers, traders, artisans, common man, parents whose parents are feeding now once per day.”

    The former governor had stormed the voting unit around 11.15 am, accompanied by his media aide, Tunde Rahman, and Southwest APC Woman Leader Chief Kemi Nelson.

    After accreditation and voting, he went to his private house, few metres from the polling booth, to greet relatives and other visitors.

    On entering the house, he was seized by nostalgia, as he told the people that he really missed her illustrious mother, the late Chief Abibat Mogaji, Iyaloja-General of Lagos and Nigeria.

    During periodic elections, the party leader usually storm the house to bring his aged mother out to vote. When the old woman was on wheel chair, Tinubu always wheeled her to the polling booth.

    In a voice laced with emotion, Tinubu said: “Ordinarily, I would have just gone back after casting my vote. My late mother’s card is with me. I miss her. But, I have to come to greet my daughter (Iyaloja of Lagos, Chief Folasade Ojo), and my grandson.”

    After spending few minutes inside the house, he returned to his Bourdilion, Ikoyi residence.

    Tinubu expressed satisfaction with the voting process, saying that Nigerians were determined to make it work.

    He said: ” So far, so good. It is the demonstration of resilience by Nigerians. Election is one of the best and most difficult ways to choose our leaders and representatives. It is the beauty of democracy. It may not be easiest process to manage and maintain.But, with our resilience and determination, we are getting better.”

    Reflecting on last week’s postponement, Tinubu said although it could be frustrating and challenging, it was not deliberately planned by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He recalled that the commission explained the circumstances that warranted their decision to postpone the polls, adding that it was open and ready to take responsibility.

    The former governor said he was satisfied with the performance of INEC so far.

    Noting that the conduct of election is still very challenging, he said it takes time, perseverance, tolerance and consistency to achieve perfection

    In his view, Nigeria will overcome the pains and move to the horizon of progress.

    Tinubu said as a democrat, he is prepared to accept the outcome of a free and fair exercise.

    He stressed: “I will accept the people’s verdict. Any democrat that cannot accept the result of free and fair election is not worthy of being a democrat.

    “We must be able to respect the result of free and fair election.”

    The former governor said if the opposition rejects the outcome of a free, fair and credible process, then, they cannot be described as Democrats.

    Read Also: Senator Remi Tinubu overwhelmed by high turnout

    Tinubu chided the main opposition party for consistently alleging that the APC was planning to rig the elections.

    Berading the opposition leaders for their regression to defense mechanism to rationalise their imminent defeat, he said rigging has been their pastime.

    He denied the allegation that he was wooing people with money, saying that he has never been involved in vote buying.

    Tinubu said although he was fond of assisting people with money in furtherance of philanthropic gestures, he has never taken money from government in the last five years.

    He stressed: “I am not an agency of government. I don’t take contract from the government of Buhari in the last five years. I am on my own.“