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  • Rivers APC kicks as INEC resumes collation of March 9 elections results

    The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has kicked against alleged plan by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to favour Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Collation of results of the March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections are resuming tomorrow in the Southsouth state.

    Ahead of the resumption, the party’s Publicity Secretary  Chris Finebone, yesterday in Port Harcourt, accused Wike of desperation to be re-elected, thereby depriving the state’s governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Biokpomabo Awara, of his mandate.

    The APC, which was stopped by the Supreme Court from fielding candidates in the state elections following internal dispute over party primaries, is backing the 40-year-old AAC standard bearer.

    INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo states, May Agbamuche-Mbu, a lawyer, stated in Port Harcourt at the weekend during a stakeholders’ meeting that the commission was not taking sides with any political party or candidate.

    Governor Wike and his AAC challenger Awara were among the stakeholders at the meeting.

    Agbamuche-Mbu also insisted that the results of the elections were not tampered with, but kept in INEC’s strong room, calling on Rivers residents to allow peace to reign in the state before, during and after the activities outlined for the conclusion of the controversial elections.

    Rivers APC, however, said: “We condemn in strong terms, the so-called timeline and activities to conclude the March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State, as announced at the stakeholders meeting. It is a mere charade, well-organised and choreographed by INEC, in its bid to work from answer to question.

    “The ultimate result can only be to announce their (INEC’s) preferred partner and collaborator (Wike) as the winner, against the AAC’s governorship candidate (Awara), who was clearly in the lead before collation was aborted (on March 10). Whether INEC will succeed in its machinations will be seen in the days to come.

    “Several actions of INEC had prepared the minds of many that the entire exercise was skewed to favour Wike and the PDP, leaving in the process, several questions without answers.

    “How come that Wike knew about the 17 local government areas, which results had been allegedly collated and had posted same on his (Wike’s) official Twitter handle, long before INEC made the announcement? Answers to this and other questions will continue to hang on the neck of INEC like an albatross.”

    The APC blamed the logjam in the Rivers electoral process on what it called a tripartite collaboration between Wike and the INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Obo Effanga, ably assisted by the Administrative Secretary of the commission in Rivers, Elder Etim Umoh.

    But Wike, through his Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, declared that APC’s accusation against him was meaningless and senseless.

    The Rivers commissioner, who doubles as PDP Campaign Council’s Information and Communications Director, said: “The APC’s accusation that INEC is favouring Governor Wike does not hold water. It is the same old song; empty, meaningless and senseless. Majority of Rivers people do not take the APC in the state seriously.

    “They (APC members in Rivers State) blame everybody, apart from themselves, for every problem. When they had internal problems that cost them their place in the ballot, they blamed others. When their adopted puppet in AAC could not win one unit in the state, because he was unknown and never campaigned, the APC blamed others.”

    Okah also stated that like a bad workman, who would always quarrel with his tools, leaders of the APC in Rivers would attempt to teach INEC, soldiers, police etc., how to do their job, accusing them of resorting to blackmail whenever they meet a brick wall.

    In his remarks at the stakeholders’ meeting on Saturday, the INEC administrative secretary said: “We have the results for these seventeen LGAs: Ahoada East, Akuku-Toru, Andoni, Bonny, Eleme, Emohua, Etche, Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ogu/Bolo, Okrika, Omuma, Opobo/Nkoro, Oyigbo, Port Harcourt and Tai. Their (17 LGAs) collation was at the local government level. Collation was not completed in the remaining six LGAs: Abua/Odual, Ahoada West, Asari-Toru, Degema, Gokana and Khana.

    “In Abua/Odual LGA, the materials and men did not even go out to the field. They were frustrated from going out and elections did not take place there. In Gokana LGA, materials and men went out to the field, but none came back, because there was outright violence and everything was destroyed. So, we do not have any result from there.

    “In Ahoada West LGA, out of about 100 polling units, we have results in only 24 and that is not good enough. Asari-Toru LGA was not concluded, but we have the polling units’ results available, but they were not collated. Degema LGA has 17 registration areas, which we call wards in INEC’s context, and collation took place in ten, remaining seven.

    “The seven wards, their results are in INEC’s strong room. In Khana LGA, there was no collation at the local government level, but we have results from the polling units and the collation from some wards available.”

    Umoh also disclosed that the collation, scheduled for between April 2 and 5, would hold at the INEC’s office on Aba Road, Port Harcourt.

    The Rivers Commissioner of Police, Usman Belel, also assured during the stakeholders’ meeting that there would be adequate security of lives and property of residents of the state before, during and after the collation of results.

    Belel, who is also the Chairman of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in the state, expressed optimism that the collation would be hitch-free, in view of the stakeholders’ synergy.

    The Police chief said: “As it is usual in every contest, winners and losers must emerge, but the maturity with which the contest’s results is accepted, determines how peaceful the society can be.

    “I wish to appeal to all stakeholders to give peace a chance (in Rivers State) and be magnanimous, either in victory or in defeat, as there will still be Rivers State beyond these elections.”

  • We’re ready for PDP in court , says Ganduje

    Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said yesterday he is ever ready to face the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which vowed to challenge his victory at the just concluded governorship election in court.

    He spoke at Ganduje town in Dawakin Tofa Local Government, when he was  receiving thousands of supporters who trooped to congratulate him over his reelection.

    The governor said: “Before the rerun election, which we emerged victorious, they were deep-neck in ballot stuffing and other electoral offences, a ploy that was later uncovered.”

    Ganduje said it was after that ballot stuffing scenario that a genuine election was conducted at the supplementary election “in which a genuine result emerged in a free, fair and credible election”.

    “My thinking about these people is that they are about to kick-start what would later consume them. What they did in other elections of the state legislators in some places will be looked at, with the view to ascertaining authenticity of such votes they claimed to have gotten,” Ganduje said.

    Assuring that his second term in office would build on the good work he has done, he said: “Whoever comes to Kano will attest to the fact that Kano is fast growing and developing. We will improve on this and will, at the same time, consolidate the feats achieved.”

    The governor hailed those that trooped to congratulate him and his government over the victory and assured them that, his regime would continue to make Kano one of the safest states in the country.

    “We are thanking those who voted for us, those who didn’t vote for us and those who didn’t even vote at all,” he said.

    Ganduje, in a statement, has assured that he would not betray the people of the state who have once again entrusted him with the enormous responsibility of governing their affairs.

    He also assured that no one would be harassed or intimidated in the course of governing the state.

    The statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Youth and Culture, Malam Muhammad Garba, quoted the governor as saying that his administration has no intention of labeling anybody in the public or private domain.

    “We have no intention whatsoever to intimidate anybody be it civil servant or private citizen. Elections are associated with heated debate on political differences, but they are over and we have a big task of working together because Kano belongs to all of us,” the statement said.

    He said the governor’s victory at the polls belongs to all the people regardless of political differences and therefore, “together we work to move the state forward”.

  • APC kicks as INEC resumes collation of Rivers gov poll

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has kicked against plans by top officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to favour Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during tomorrow’s resumption of collation of results of March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    Its Rivers Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, also accused Wike of desperation to be re-elected.

    The party said: “We condemn in strong terms, the so-called timeline and activities to conclude the March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State, as announced at the stakeholders meeting.

    “It is a mere charade, well-organised and choreographed by INEC, in its bid to work from answer to question.

    “The ultimate result can only be to announce their (INEC’s) preferred partner and collaborator (Wike) as the winner against the AAC’s governorship candidate (Awara), who was clearly in the lead before collation was aborted (on March 10).

    “Whether INEC will succeed in its machinations will be seen in the days to come.

    Read also: APC leaders adopt Obaseki as sole candidate for 2020 Edo election

    “Several actions of INEC had prepared the minds of many that the entire exercise was skewed to favour Wike and the PDP, leaving in the process, several questions without answers.

    “How come that Wike knew about the 17 local government areas, which results had been allegedly collated and had posted same on his (Wike’s) official Twitter handle, long before INEC made the announcement?

    “Answers to this and other questions will continue to hang on the neck of INEC like an albatross.”

    The main opposition APC also stated that what was happening in Rivers state was in complete fulfilment of the tripartite collaboration between Wike, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Obo Effanga and Administrative Secretary, Elder Etim Umoh.

    But Wike dismissed the allegations as senseless and meaningless.

    Speaking through Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, the governor said: “The APC’s accusation that INEC is favouring Governor Wike does not hold water.

    “It is the same old song; empty, meaningless and senseless. Majority of Rivers people do not take the APC in the state seriously.

    “They (APC members in Rivers State) blame everybody, apart from themselves, for every problem. When they had internal problems that cost them their place in the ballot, they blamed others.

    “When their adopted puppet in AAC could not win one unit in the state, because he was unknown and never campaigned, the APC blamed others.”

  • PDP will win the speakership seat, Rep boasts

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will install Speaker of the incoming 9th Assembly, Timothy Golu (PDP plateau) has declared.

    He boasted that the party has all it takes to win the speakership slot having done it so well in the past.

    He dismissed the majority strength of the All Progressives Party (APC), saying it won’t count during the election.

    Golu, who spoke with reporters in the National Assembly Complex on Sunday, said: “When Jonathan wanted Mulikat, the members voted for Tambuwal; when Buhari wanted Femi Gbajabiamila, the same thing.

    “So, this time around, they are going to do the same thing to shoot the candidate of the presidency out.

    “They would have kept quiet. Coming out to do this thing was even the worst of strategy for the APC.

    “They have exposed themselves. In fact, to me now the way I see it, the candidacy of Ahmed Lawal and Femi Gbajabiamila are dead on arrival.”

    He faulted APC chieftains for endorsing candidates for NASS leadership, saying imposition will not work where lawmakers are concerned.

    “None of them is a member of parliament and when the election will take place none of them will be there.

    “They are only talking to impress so that the president will say this man is loyal. They are just playing to the gallery.

    “As far as I am concerned, Oshiomhole is playing to the gallery. He doesn’t know what happens in here. They don’t feel forms to do this election.

    “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is not involved where he can manipulate. It is the members themselves; nobody filled form. So, somebody can wake up that day and contest.”

    He added: “So, it is not possible because apart from the presiding officers, that are the Senate President, the Deputy Senate President, the Speaker and his deputy, which can go to any political party, there are offices reserved constitutionally for all parties; majority party and the minority party.

    Read also: I’m ready to face PDP in court, says Ganduje

    “But for the presiding officers, anybody can be. That is why today you have Ekweremadu as deputy senate president.

    “We had wanted to make Leo Ogor as the Deputy Speaker of the House that time but we didn’t want to breach the friendship agreement we initially initiated.

    “If not, the same people who voted for Dogara; the same number, were ready to vote for Leo Ogor and so we would have had the

    same situation we have in the Senate.”

    He argued majority will not help APC to win the NASS leadership, stating: “when Dogara came out, how many APC people voted for him?

    “Only about 40 and he became Speaker. That is why they refer to him as PDP Speaker.

    “Bukola Saraki, how many APC people voted for him? Only about 15 and that is why they say he is PDP Senate President.

    “So, this time around they will see the PDP person in his own real colour because the way they are going about it, they are trying to intimidate – they are doing it to harass.

    “Meanwhile, PDP has about 42 Senators, they only need an APC man who will bring 15 Senator and that is all.

    “And if you are in their shoes would you subscribe to an Ahmed Lawan that is being imposed by the presidency over a party to come and become your Senate President?

    “No! People like Goje and the rest of them can go into the race, just get 10 or 15. PDP is ready to go one block.

    “This is not Federal Executive Council (FEC) where they have their chamber there. This is the National Assembly where we have gallery.

    “Everybody sits down there and then watch what will happen. It is not FEC where they ask everybody to go out and then they take a decision and it is final.”

    He said the APC is at a disadvantage because it cannot penalize lawmakers for voting against its directives.

    Golu explained: “There is no decision that can be taken here. No APC man or party can sack an elected APC Senator.

    “People know these things. After their elections, it is the party that will start begging them.

    “It is the presidency that will start begging them. They don’t know how they won the election. It is just under the party.”

    Golu said what APC is saying outside is to cow. “You can’t cow anybody at this level.”

    He added: “I am telling you. Except the National Assembly is not inaugurated and what the president only has to do is that the National Assembly is going to be inaugurated on this day.

    “He would not be there! He doesn’t have a vote! The Vice President doesn’t have a vote. No minister has a vote. Oshiomhole cannot come close. So why saying this type of thing?

    “You people will be there. You will see how it goes. How are you going to announce that nobody should contest?

    “You cannot block anybody from coming here, that it is meant for Femi Gbajabiamila, that it is meant for Lawan. This is child’s play. I don’t know why they take national issues as childish as that. It is not!”

  • I’m ready to face PDP in court, says Ganduje

    Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Monday in Kano said he is ever ready to face the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which vowed to challenge his victory at the just- concluded Kano supplementary poll in court.

    He said: “Before the re-run election, which we emerged victorious, they were deep-neck in ballot stuffing and other electoral offences, a ploy that was later uncovered.”

    The governor spoke in Ganduje town of Dawakin Tofa local government when he was receiving thousands of supporters who trooped to congratulate him over his re-election.

    Ganduje said it was after that ballot stuffing scenario that genuine election was conducted at the supplementary election, which he described as fair and credible.

    “My thinking about these people is they are about to kick-start what would later consume them unawares.

    “What they did in other elections of the state legislators in some places, will be looked at, with the view to ascertaining authenticity of such votes they claimed to have gotten,” Ganduje further stated.

    While assuring his second term in office would build on the good work he has done to the state, he boasted: “Whoever comes to Kano will attest to the fact that Kano is fast growing and developing.

    Read also: No plans to quiz outgoing governors, says EFCC

    “We will improve on this and will, at the same time, consolidate the feats achieved.”

    The governor commended those that trooped to congratulate him and his government over the victory and assured them his administration would continue to make Kano one of the safest states in the country.

    “We are thanking those who voted for us, those who didn’t vote for us and those who didn’t even vote at all,” he stated.

  • A’Ibom APC: INEC tampering with materials

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom has claimed it has concrete evidence the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state has started doctoring election materials.

    The party claimed that it is in custody of a text message sent by the INEC’s state administrative secretary, one Mr. Patta, summoning staff of the commission to duty on Sunday to ‘work’ on election materials.

    A statement by the state publicity secretary of APC, Mr. Nkereuwem Enyonekere, alleged: “A text message sent to some staff this Sunday morning by the Secretary Admin, Mr. Patta, says: ‘Good morning Sir. Please kindly come to the office now as some people are expected to work on election materials. Thanks, Secretary Admin’’.

    The party alleged the INEC Resident National Electoral Commission (REC), Mike Igini, is tampering with the governorship/State House of Assembly election materials of  March 9, 2019 to frustrate the petition filed by its governorship candidate, Obong Nsima Ekere.

    The statement reads: “The Independent National Electoral Commission office in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State has summoned its staff to work on Sunday, March 31 ‘to work on election materials’.

    Read also: Emmanuel mocks pastors who predicted he won’t be reelected

    “We believe that INEC officials are being summoned to the office by Mr. Patta to tamper with or destroy evidence related to the 2019 general election.

    “This is obviously prompted by the filling of a petition last week at the Akwa Ibom Election Petition Tribunal by Mr. Nsima Ekere, the APC governorship candidate in the March 9 election, challenging the fraudulent announcement of Udom Emmanuel as the winner. Other APC candidates have also filed their petitions”.

    The APC recalled it had months leading up to the elections joined voices with notable Akwa Ibom people and had written to the INEC chairman, Prof Mahmud Yakubu, requesting the redeployment of Igini.

    According to the party, the REC was a deeply compromised electoral officer, who through his actions and statements gave him away as being sympathetic and partial to Governor. Udom Emmanuel, and the PDP.

    It regretted that the request was not granted.

    “The bias of Mr Igini in favour of the PDP showed through his conduct of the election as evidenced in the collusion and connivance of INEC staff and ad hoc staff with the PDP”.

    Responding, Igini denied authorising the doctoring of election materials, saying all materials used in the conduct of the March 9 elections are safe.

    Igini, who spoke through the state publicity officer of INEC, Mr. Don Etukudoh, said all political parties are free to inspect election

    materials to confirm if they have been destroyed or doctored.

    “The APC in the state has been consistent in their accusations against the commission so we are not surprised.

    “The commission in the state under Mr. Igini has a lot of integrity and would not succumb to blackmail,” he said.

  • Obi hails Tinubu’s advice on VAT

    The vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23 presidential election, Mr Peter Obi has commended the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on his position on Value Added Tax (VAT).

    Tinubu had, in Abuja on Thursday, advised the Federal Government against increasing VAT rate, as being canvassed by the Minister of National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma and the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr. Babatunde Fowler.

    In a statement Sunday by his media office, Obi described Asiwaju Tinubu’s advice as gratifying and made a lot of economic sense given the situation in the country.

    According to the PDP chieftain, Tinubu’s position was clearly at variance with that of his party, saying it goes to underscore the uncoordinated campaign the APC dished out to Nigerians.

    Stating that tax must be relaxed to act as an incentive to local and foreign investors, Obi insisted that the right way to shape up the economy in the face of mass unemployment in the country is to have an attractive economic policy to encourage entrepreneurs and investors.

    REad also: APA Buhari: don’t forget your promise to run inclusive govt

    Obi said the call for increase in VAT or other taxes in the present economic situation amounted to insensitivity on the part of government to the plight of the populace.

    Mr Obi, however, said that Tinubu’s advice on VAT was in tandem with the position of the PDP, stressing that tax reduction was one of the main electioneering campaign messages of the PDP presidential campaign.

    “It’s extremely unrealistic for anybody to think of growing the economy of this country and creating jobs just by increasing tax. It’s too simplistic an approach”, Obi said.

    The former opposition vice presidential candidate enjoined Tinubu to also advise the APC to embrace restructuring, saying it’s the only option left to move the country forward.

    Obi said, “Anybody thinking that this country will work without tinkering with the political and economic structure is deceiving himself because no nation grows on injustice”.

    He described as unfortunate the fact that Nigeria with all her potential, is among the three African countries that Pew Research Center indicated that 45 percent of their adult population are desiring to leave the countries in search of greener pastures.

  • NASS: APC moves against PDP plot to snatch 13 senators-elect

    • Opposition party targets APC men from Borno, Abia, Oyo, Gombe, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Ogun, Kogi, Sokoto, Imo

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has launched an audacious move to win to its side 13 All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators-elect as part of a grand design to hijack the leadership of the 9th Senate.

    But the alleged plot has  leaked to the APC which has launched a counter move of its own to avoid a repeat of the 2015 infiltration of its ranks in the National Assembly by the PDP, highly placed party sources said last night.

    The APC is in talks with all  its state governors and national leaders  to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s choices for the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker of the House who may be named this week.

    The party is determined to ensure that none of its members contests against APC’s official candidates for leadership positions in the Senate and the House of Representatives in June.

    Another option is a likely waive of the Standing Rules of the two chambers to allow open voting during the election of principal officers to monitor the loyalty of the party’s Senators-elect.

    Besides, the APC is discussing with some PDP Senators-elect with a view to giving them the   chairmanship of juicy committees.

    But some PDP leaders are targeting 13 ‘rebellious’ Senators-elect from the APC to produce the next President of the Senate, Deputy President of the Senate and other principal officers.

    If the PDP’s plan sails through it will have on its side about 56 votes for a majority decision leaving APC with 53.

    The PDP targets are Senators-elect from Borno, Oyo, Gombe, Bayelsa, Bauchi and Ogun states.

    The party is insisting that the Standing Rules do not expressly state that presiding officers must come from the ruling party.

    The opposition party said the fact that it has been a convention for the majority party to produce presiding officers does not make it legal or the norm.

    Following the APC’s endorsement of Dr. Ahmed Lawan for the position of Senate President,  the battle for the Deputy President of the Senate is hitting up between Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central ) and  the outgoing  Deputy Chief Whip of the Red Chamber, Senator  Alimikhena Asekhame (Edo North)..

    The outgoing Governor of Ogun State, Mr. Ibikunle Amosun is believed to have joined the race for Deputy Senate President even though it was not zoned to the Southwest.

    Investigation by The Nation  revealed that APC and PDP have been trying to outwit each other on the election of the new Senate President, Speaker and other officers.

    While the APC leadership and Dr. Lawan have been engaging Senators-elect on one-on-one talks, the PDP has been trying to mount pressure on most Senators-elect to resist what it has termed “imposition of principal officers” by the Executive.

    Sources said PDP’s agenda is to share power with the APC in the two chambers.

    A top source in APC, who spoke in confidence, said:  “The race is still open despite the fact that APC has made its position known and released its zoning formula for the Senate. We are expecting the party’s idea of power sharing in the House this week. What we are trying to do is to keep our caucus united in the two chambers.

    “But not all Senators-elect and House members-elect have bought into the party’s zoning formula. This is why we have sought the assistance of APC governors and national leaders to engage the new National Assembly members to avoid a repeat of 2015 episode which was plotted and sealed by the opposition.

    “Our main target is to assert our right as the party with the majority in the National Assembly to produce the new set of leaders.

    “We have already asked the nominee for Senate Presidency, Dr. Ahmad Lawan and some Senators-elect to meet with all Senators-elect on why APC must forge a common front. To us, delivering democratic dividends is more important than the sentiments being whipped up by the opposition.”

    Asked if the APC could  regain the control of the two chambers, the source added: “We want to speak with one voice this time around; we plan to present common candidates for all offices due to APC without counter-nominations; and we are also negotiating with PDP Senators-elect and House members-elect.

    “We will not underrate the opposition but we won’t let them have their way like the case in 2015. We are hopeful of getting the figures from APC and PDP members before the inauguration of the 9th Senate.

    A ranking Senator in PDP said: “We are really opposed to any plot to foist leaders on the two chambers. Our fears border on a possible rubber-stamp legislature.

    “Our position is that it is not mandatory for the principal officers of the Senate and the House to come from the party with a simple majority in the two chambers. This has been successfully proven in the 7th and 8th National Assembly.

    “And going by Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution, the two chambers can come up with rules and regulations to guide its proceedings. The section says: ‘Subject to the provisions of this constitution. The Senate or the House of Representatives shall have power to regulate its own procedure, including the procedure for summoning and recess of the House.

    “The modes of voting can be by voice vote, signing of register in a division, electronic voting or even by secret ballot if it is the wish of the new members of the National Assembly.

    “So, if a PDP lawmaker will lead the Senate or the House better, let us go for him or her.”

    On the alleged plot by PDP to poach 13 APC Senators-elect in order to influence the election of new principal officers in the Senate, a party source said: “With 13 Senators-elect from APC teaming up with 43 PDP Senators-elect, we can comfortably elect independent-minded Senate President and other principal officers with 56-man strength.

    “We are discussing with some Senators-elect from Borno, Oyo, Gombe, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Ogun states.

    This is our target which we believe is realizable. We will field candidates for all available offices in the two chambers.”

    The race for the Office of the Deputy President of the Senate however took a new turn with the emergence of three contenders.

    The zoning of the position to the Southsouth has made it a close race for Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta) and the outgoing Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Alimikhena Asekhame from the Southsouth.

    But the outgoing Governor of Ogun State, Mr. Ibikunle Amosun was said to have joined the race for the Deputy Senate President even though it was not zoned to the Southwest.

    The outgoing President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, has been silent on whether he will vie for the office for a third term.

    A source said: “So far, three candidates have emerged from the APC but being a deft politician, Ekweremadu can spring a big surprise like he did in 2015. The zoning formula favours Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege(Delta) and  the outgoing  Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Alimikhena Asekhame from the Southsouth but if Amosun goes ahead with his ambition, it can redraw the permutations.

    “The zoning formula put in place by the APC is yet to favour the Southeast and the PDP will not mind reaching some accord which can make Ekweremadu to remain in office.”

  • Sokoto rerun: We”ll reclaim our stolen mandate, APC chairman tells members

    The Turakin Achida and Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Sokoto state chapter,  Alhaji Isa Sadiq Achida, has said the party’s Gubernatorial mandate allegedly stolen by the Peoples Democratic Party  (PDP), under the shameful and physical supervision of Governor Aminu Waziiri Tambuwal would soon be retrieved.

    Achida told supporters while reassuring them of efforts being made by the party in the state to reclaim its mandate.

    He also expressed extreme optimism that, the stolen mandate would be retrieved at the Gubernatorial Election Tribunal expected to commence sitting in Sokoto, soon.

    Achida made the remarked in a statement he issued in Sokoto in reaction to recent claims that the APC bid to use the power of some federal agencies, during the 2019 Governorship polls, against the PDP and himself, had failed.

    According to him ” such deluded and misplaced outcries by Governor Aminu Waziiri Tambuwal, are in-efficacious, just as they are immaterial and ineffectual .

    Read also: APC primaries: Yari has put Zamfara people to shame – Marafa

    ” Nobody had used the powers or prowess of any federal agency , rather , the teaming supporters of the party and the electorate , statewide had cast their votes massively for the APC candidates,  at all levels.

    ” The massive and colossal votes cast for our candidates, at all levels, including President Muhammadu Buhari, showed that , the people love and cherish the APC and it remains the party to beat .

    ” The electorate had since lost confidence in the PDP which had fielded expired and lesser candidates who lacked even the least of support.”

    In the same vein, Achida noted that Governor Aminu Waziiri Tambuwal lacked the moral audacity to continue to euphorically cling to the seat, as he knew he was never elected by the people of the state .

    The statement recalled that the recent governorship elections were marred by myriad of dastardly flaws and electoral offences like vote buying, over voting , ballot box snatching and stuffing, as well as intimidation,  non use of card reader machines , duplication of votes and outright disenfranchisement of thousands of voters across the state ,among others .

    Similarly, the statement stressed that there were many glaring infractions and violations of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended, the nation’s constitution, as well as the Electoral Laws of the Independent National Electoral Commission  (INEC).

    It further pointed out that there were several other acts of pre and post election  violence , intimidation, flagrant misuse of public funds to induce voters, compromise by some electoral officials ,and the various security agencies.

    The party chairman added ”  it is humorous and ironical for a Governor to be purportedly declared as winner of a poll with a vote difference of a paltry 342 votes, against his opponent who had since won the election , but , for the obnoxious infractions and daylight robbery being orchestrated by Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and his dead party , the PDP.”

  • Rivers Polls: Wike, AAC’s Awara clash at stakeholders meeting

    The two men claiming victory in the March 9 inconclusive governorship election in Rivers State met face to face yesterday in Port Harcourt, launching straight into diatribe on who between them should be sworn in on May 29.

    Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who is seeking a second term, and Biokpomabo Awara  of the African Action Congress (AAC), met at a stakeholders meeting convened by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the  planned made-up election to determine the next governor of the state.

    Awara accused Wike and INEC of doctoring results of the bloody governorship and House of Assembly elections of March 9 in the state while the governor countered by saying the AAC candidate and his backers in the All Progressives Congress (APC) were  promoting violence and scaring investors from the state.

    The AAC candidate said he was “surprised that the leaders of political parties involved in the elections were not asked questions by members of INEC’s five-man fact-finding committee.”

    He added: “I doubt the reliability of the doctored result sheets and other electoral materials with INEC in the last three weeks. We have record of some of the results being mutilated, particularly that of Akuku-Toru LGA.

    “REC of INEC in Rivers State has refused to give reasons for changing the four compromised electoral officers of the commission, who lack integrity for being card-carrying members of PDP.

    “If the violence made the March 9 elections not to be credible, according to INEC, where did the commission get results for the 17 LGAs  of Rivers 23 LGAs in the INEC’s possession?

    “At what point did the elections become violence-free, for the commission to now have results for 17 LGAs? Why has INEC refused to release the results of the 17 LGAs it claims to have and the remaining six LGAs it wants to do supplementary election?”

    Wike faulted Awara for suggesting that the state was violent.

    “I do not agree that Rivers is a violent state. Rivers State has never and it will not be a violent State,” he fired back.

    Continuing, he said: “the problem we have in this country, when people start to raise the alarm, over things that may likely happen, most of the things we always say, they are always crying. “Why are they raising too much alarm? What causes violence? Why is there violence each time there is election? The only way to have peaceful elections is when the security agencies refuse to interfere or manipulate any process.

    “How did people die? When INEC would go and collate results and people would resist and when people resist, they will shoot them.

    “Rivers is not a violent state. It is most unfortunate that people would leave their state, come to another state, instead of them to make sure what obtains in their state obtains here, they do not want it, they want to cause problems for us.

    “With all due respect, the Garrison Commander (Brig.-Gen. Adeola Kalejaiye) is here. Throughout my political career of not less than 30 years, I have never experienced the type of roles the army played. We must tell people the simple truth.

    “INEC set up a committee in 2016, during and after the reruns, where it was stated in your report that certain police officer manhandled your electoral official. He even went as far as naming the police officer. What has happened, as INEC? You could have said you did not want that kind of officer again. The same officer was also implicated in your report in these elections. Who are the people causing the violence?

    “Rivers State in not violent when they are drilling crude oil. Why must the violence be during the period of elections? Who are those responsible, in order to tell them? INEC can insist on not requiring the services of the violent security personnel; that is the only way we can have peaceful, free and fair elections in Rivers State. Let the army personnel remove their hands from elections. It is unfortunate that we had some people demonstrating and thanking the Nigerian Army for a job well done. That is Nigeria for us.

    “Who are the security personnel that will be in charge of the collation (between April 2 and 5)? Let us avoid sermon. You do not preach to me what you will not practise. The onus is on the security agencies to help INEC to do the right things, in order to achieve the results the commission wants to achieve. Rivers State is a peaceful state. Nobody should be driving away investors from us. Let the personnel of Nigerian Army remove their hands from electoral process.”

    The National Commissioner of INEC in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo States, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, who chaired the stakeholders’ meeting in the absence of INEC chairman Professor Mahmoud Yakubu urged Rivers residents to allow peace to reign before, during and after the activities outlined for the conclusion of the controversial elections.

    She said that the elections were suspended on March 10, due to the high-level of violence that occurred during the March 9, 2019 polls in Rivers.

    Her words:”We do not have any other state, apart from Rivers State, to call our own. Let us join hands together to make Rivers State even greater. On the part of the commission, I wish to assure you of our commitment to free, fair and credible elections. We intend to keep these promises. May God, in His kindness, grant Rivers State perpetual peace.

    “The results of the March 9 elections in Rivers State are with us (INEC) in our strong room and they have not been tampered with.

    “A five-man fact-finding committee was therefore set up to ascertain the nature and verify the report of obstructive and lawless activities that generally attended the elections at the state collation centre, other collation centres and polling areas, occasioning the suspension. I was a member of the fact-finding committee. So, I know what I am talking about.

    “The main objective of this meeting is to brief you on the schedule of activities and timeline, set by the commission for the conclusion of the governorship and state House of Assembly elections, and to solicit for your maximum cooperation towards the success of this exercise. It is also to generate discussions among the stakeholders, with a view to achieving transparent, peaceful and violence-free conclusion of the elections, within the timeline set by the commission.”

    Also in attendance at yesterday’s meeting ahead of the Tuesday  resumption of collation of results of  the March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections, was the Garrison Commander of 6 Division Garrison, Brig.-Gen. Adeola Kalejaiye who stood in for the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division of the Army, Port Harcourt, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham.

    Others were the State   Commissioner of Police, Usman Belel, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in Rivers, Mr. Obo Effanga, who was represented by the Administrative Secretary in the state, Elder Etim Umoh, the state  Chairman of   PDP, Chief Felix Obuah; Ledum Mitee of Initiative for Credible Elections (ICE), representatives of the Navy, Air Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Customs, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), as well as top politicians and other eminent personalities were also in attendance.

    Effanga said: “In order to ensure credible process, INEC has sent seasoned electoral officers, led by the National Commissioner in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo States, Barr. May Agbamuche-Mbu, who is the chairman of this occasion. Political parties that participated in the March 9 elections should submit the names of their agents. We are not conducting fresh elections. The status quo as at March 9 remains.

    “We have the results for these seventeen LGAs: Ahoada East, Akuku-Toru, Andoni, Bonny, Eleme, Emohua, Etche, Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ogu/Bolo, Okrika, Omuma, Opobo/Nkoro, Oyigbo, Port Harcourt and Tai. Their (17 LGAs) collation was at the local government level. Collation was not completed in the remaining six LGAs: Abua/Odual, Ahoada West, Asari-Toru, Degema, Gokana and Khana.

    “In Abua/Odual LGA, the materials and men did not even go out to the field. They were frustrated from going out and elections did not take place there. In Gokana LGA, materials and men went out to the field, but none came back, because there was outright violence and everything was destroyed. So, we do not have any result from there.

    “In Ahoada West LGA, out of about 100 polling units, we have results in only 24 and that is not good enough. Asari-Toru LGA was not concluded, but we have the polling units’ results available, but they were not collated. Degema LGA has 17 registration areas, which we call wards in INEC’s context, and collation took place in ten, remaining seven. The seven wards, their results are in INEC’s strong room. In Khana LGA, there was no collation at the local government level, but we have results from the polling units and the collation from some wards available.

    “INEC, in its mandate to conduct free, fair and credible elections in Rivers State, decided to come with a timetable (timeline) to let the people know how to ensure the collation and to know the winners.”

    Effanga noted that before the suspension order came from Abuja on March 10, collation had commenced, with INEC now resuming the collation.

    REC of INEC in Rivers disclosed that the collation, scheduled for between April 2 and 5, take place at the INEC’s office on Aba Road, Port Harcourt.