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Tag: PDP

  • APC to Atiku, PDP: you are hallucinating on election victory claim

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) said on Wednesday that claims by the Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the recently concluded presidential election, Atiku Abubakar that he won the Presidential election by about 1. Million votes is a clear indication that the former Vice President has started hallucinating and falling into depression.

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja that the constant reference to INEC server by the former Vice President has raised several question and tends to confirm reports before the election the plan to hack the INEC database.

    Onilu said while it is not unaware of the plans by the PDP and its candidate to discredit the electoral process, they should be aware that Nigerians saw through their nefarious plans and decided to put their faith in President Muhammadu Buhari to run the country for another four years.

    The statement reads: “Following the outcome of the Presidential Election, during which a vast majority of Nigerians reaffirmed their unshaken belief in President Muhammadu Buhari to continue to steer the affairs of the country for another four years, we have watched in disbelief and utter amusement how the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, have engaged in series of circus shows to cheer up their crestfallen and disillusioned members.

    “While the APC is not oblivious of the PDP’s antics to discredit the credible presidential electoral process, acknowledged by local and international observers, we sympathise with Atiku for the crushing defeat handed him by President Buhari through the votes of Nigerians.

    “Judging by Atiku and PDP’s recent utterances and actions, it is now clear that they have slipped into severe depression and post-defeat hallucination that have left many Nigerians questioning their current state of mind.

    “After weeks of dilly-dallying, the PDP has woken up to the stark reality of its electoral defeat and decided to follow the constitutional path of filing a petition at the Election Tribunal. However, of all the prayers of Atiku before the Election Tribunal, which are at best hollow, the most ridiculous is his claim that the server of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) indicated he ‘won’ the Presidential Election by 1.6million votes.

    “A few questions would suffice: Is this phantom figure of 1.6million votes Dubai-invented? Was the result sold to Atiku by his numerous marabouts, who we understand, had assured him that the last election was a done deal for him?

    “Most importantly, we note Atiku’s consistent reference to the “INEC server” as if he is the custodian of that platform. Indeed, Atiku’s constant reference to the INEC server should raise concerns as it is becoming apparent that he and the PDP are up for some dastard activities that are targeted at jeopardizing the INEC database and internal storage system.

    “We recall the widespread reported cases of several programmed card readers that were retrieved from some PDP agents and their failed attempt to hack the INEC database in the lead up to the then postponed presidential election.

    “We remind the Atiku and PDP that Nigerians saw through the devious schemes aimed at thwarting their will. Consequently, majority of the voters handed them a harsh verdict — that verdict remains sacrosanct.

    “We call on the INEC and the security agencies to be on red alert to ensure that Atiku and the other desperate characters in the PDP are not able to execute their evil plans.”

  • I’m still in PDP, says Agbaje

    The Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) 2019 governorship candidate Jimi Agbaje has urged the public to disregard his purported dumping of the party.

    In a statement by his spokesperson, Modupe Ogunbayo, she said Agbaje remains a member of the PDP.

    According to her, “In the past 24 hours, Mr. Olujimi Agbaje, the governorship candidate of the PDP) in the recently-concluded 2019 election in Lagos state, has received uncountable calls and messages from numerous friends, teeming political associates within PDP and countless members of his supporters, that he has resigned from the PDP.

    Read Also: Lagos PDP: what next for Agbaje?

    ” Agbaje is still a card-carrying member of the PDP. He remains committed to the broad-based party, which he remains absolutely certain, has the best antidote to the yearnings and aspirations of the Nigerian peoples.

    “It is another chunk from the ongoing propaganda and disinformation machinery of his foes. Agbaje urges all to treat the rumour with the disdain it wisely deserves,” she said.

  • PDP rejects order stopping final collation of Bauchi election result

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected a court order stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from resuming collation of result of Bauchi state governorship election.

    The party stated this in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan on Tuesday in Abuja.

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday barred INEC from resuming collation and announcement of the election result.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo issued the order following an ex parte application filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Gov. Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi state.

    Ologbondiyan described the order as part of the plot by the APC and “some compromised elements” in INEC to escalate crisis and derail the country’s electoral process.

    “The power to collate, suspend collation and or to reverse such decision based on obvious circumstances as the case in Bauchi is clearly within the domain of INEC.

    “Until collation is completed and results declared, no one can question the constitutional powers of the electoral body- INEC, in that regard,” he said.

    Ologbondiyan cautioned that if what it described as desperate underhand measure to halt electoral processes is not checked, the country’s hard-earned democracy would fail.

    “Our party should not be pushed into a situation in which we will have no option than to allow our members to seek similar exparte orders to halt statutory processes at various levels.

    “It is clear that collation of result is part of the electoral process and that INEC cannot act on a purported exparte order to jettison its independence and halt the collation of results, which is a key component of its statutory electoral duty.

    “Section 87 (10) of the Electoral Act is unambiguous in its prescription that “nothing in this section shall empower the courts to stop the holding of primaries or general election or the processes thereof under this Act pending the determination of a suit,” he said.

    Ologbondiyan urged INEC to be properly guided by the law in that regard.

    “Nigerians have elected the PDP in Bauchi state and nothing can change this reality,” he said.

  • Tempers rise as INEC gets set for makeup elections

    Kano APC: hold Kwankwaso responsible for any breach

    Ganduje talks tough

    Benue APC, PDP flex muscles

    Sokoto police commissioner warns troublemakers

    Tempers rose yesterday as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reversed itself on the stalled governorship election in Bauchi State.

    It said the supplementary election, which it cancelled last week, will hold on Saturday in areas not affected by yesterday’s court ruling.

    A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ordered the electoral umpire to pull the brakes on its planned resumption of collation of results for Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has been pushing for the collation and declaration of the results, rejected the decision.

    Besides Bauchi, supplementary elections are holding also in Benue, Adamawa, Kano, Plateau and Sokoto states.

    Amid the anxiety in Kano State, Governor Umar Ganduje warned against any breach of the peace.

    His warning came as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) advised security agents and residents to hold former Governor Musa Kwanwaso responsible for any violence.

    The police in Sokoto were warning criminals to stay away.

    In Benue, the APC and the PDP renewed their war of words over the supplementary polls.

    INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, said the Commission, will work towards the expeditious resolution of the collation in the local government.

    He said: “The commission has complied with the order of the Federal High Court Abuja. The Commission has suspended the collation of the governorship election result for Tafawa Balewa Local Government.

    “The commission will proceed and complete the Collation of the result of the State Assembly Election for Tafawa Balewa Local Government and make a return.

    “The Commission will proceed with supplementary elections on Saturday in relation to areas that are not affected by the court order.

    “The commission has a history of obedience to court orders. The commission will continue to comply with court orders and will take steps to vacate orders where it feels strongly that the court that gave the order has no jurisdiction.

    “The Commission will work towards the expeditious resolution of the collation process in Tafawa Balewa Local Government.”

    In a bench ruling yesterday, Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo ordered parties in a suit by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the incumbent Governor Muhammed Abubakar to maintain the status quo.

    The judge ordered “that parties shall maintain status quo ante, pending the determination of the substantive matter of this case”.

    The judge adjourned the hearing till today.

    Justice Ekwo judge gave the order following INEC’s failure to comply with the earlier order he made on Monday for it to appear yesterday and show cause why the reliefs being sought by the plaintiffs in their motion ex-parte should not be granted.

    The APC and Abubakar had, in their motion ex-parte, prayed the court for two main reliefs:

    • An order of interim injunction restraining the defendant/respondent whether by Itself or acting through its agents, privies or any person on its behalf, howsoever described, from resuming, concluding and/or announcing the collation of the results of the Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchl State in respect of election to the office of the Governor of Bauchl State held on 9th” March, 2019, pending the hearing and determination of the the plaintiff/applicant’s motion on notice.
    • An order of accelerated hearing and abridgement of time to two days within which the defendant/respondent is to enter appearance and file its response in defence of the suit.

    Rather than granting the reliefs ex-parte, the court, on Monday, ordered INEC, listed as the sole defendant in the suit, to show cause why the plaintiffs’ reliefs should not be granted.

    The judge said: “The defendant is hereby ordered to appear in court on 19th March 2019 to show cause why the orders prayed on the motion ex-parte ought not to be granted.”

    When parties got to the court yesterday, INEC, represented by Tanimu Inuwa (SAN), told the court that the electoral body had filed a counter-affidavit to the plaintiffs’ originating summons.

    He also made an oral application, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the motion filed by the ruling party and its candidate, which, he argued, could only be entertained by an election tribunal.

    Raji objected to Inuwa’s position, insisting that INEC was yet to comply with the court’s order for it to show cause why the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs should not be granted.

    The Judge upheld Raji’s contention that INEC was yet to comply with the court’s order for it to show why the chiefs should not be granted.

    He said while INEC could not challenge the court’s jurisdiction by oral application, the counter-affidavit did not qualify as an affidavit showing cause.

    Justice Ekwo consequently ordered the parties to maintain the status quo (as things were) before the court’s proceedings and adjourned till tomorrow for the hearing.

    INEC, in its counter-affidavit, deposed to by Hassan Adamu, an officer of INEC, queried the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case brought by APC and Abubakar.

    It stated that contrary to paragraph 22 of the affidavit in support of originating summons, “I state that the decision by the defendant to conclude collation for Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State was made based on the figures contained in the duplicates of results of the election”.

    “Contrary to paragraph 29 of the affidavit in support of originating summons, I state that: Only Election Petition Tribunal has the jurisdiction to review the decision of the commission.

    “The decision of the Returning Officer referred to is in respect of declaration of scores and return of candidate, which is the exclusive preserve of the Election Petition Tribunal.

    “The defendant having rescinded its earlier decision based on facts that emerged later and made a return, any grievance arising therefrom now rests with the Election Petition Tribunal.

    “The availability of polling units’ results made the defendant to rescind its decision to conduct supplementary election.

    “Contrary to paragraph 30 of affidavit in support of originating summons, I state that the plaintiffs’ right to fair election (if any) will not be affected in any way.

    “Contrary to paragraph 31 of affidavit in support of originating summons, I state that none of the voting populace of Bauchi State will be disenfranchised, elections having been concluded.

    “Contrary to paragraph 32 of affidavit in support of originating summons, I state that the instant action is targeted at stopping the performance of a constitutional duty.

    “Contrary to paragraph 33 of affidavit in support of originating summons, I state that the plaintiffs do not have any threatened right capable of being protected.

    “Contrary to paragraph 34 of affidavit in support of originating summons, I state that the issues raised in this application are not triable by this honourable comt, same bordering on return at an election.

    “Contrary to paragraph 35 of affidavit in support of originating summons, I state that all eligible voters have cast their votes, leading to a return and once that is the case, this honourable court is divested of the jurisdiction to entertain this case.”

    Read also: Improved healthcare is priority for Buhari’s administration — Udoma

    KANO

    Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje yesterday warned that his government would not tolerate any breach of the peace under whatever guise.

    He said the state government would not fold its arms and watch “some desperate politicians instigate instability” and plunge the state into crisis.

    “As governor of Kano State and the Chief Security Officer of the state, I cannot sleep if any drop of blood is wasted. Brandishing of harmful objects is also abhorred by my administration,” Ganduje said.

    He made the assertions when an amalgamation of over 300 associations, under the platform of Kano Peace Ambassadors, visited him, assuring him of their resolve to promote peaceful coexistence before, during and after next Saturday’s supplementary governorship election.

    The groups marched from the Emir’s Palace through the streets to the Government House, where the governor received them.

    A letter was given to Ganduje, explaining their resolve to always see that peace thrives in the state.

    The Kano State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), led by Kabiru Ado Lakwaya and the National Association of Kano State Students Association (NAKSS) led its National President Aliyu Maikasuwa Rano, were among the organisations that visited the Government House.

    Ganduje said he was not speaking as a candidate, but as the governor of Kano State and the chief security officer of the state, that “anybody wishing to disrupt the peace and stability of the state will not go scot-free. Kano is a very peaceful state and must remain peaceful.”

    He told his audience the peace accord he and other candidates in the state signed before the presidential and National Assembly elections, was still in force.

    A similar accord was signed, according to him, before the governorship and state assembly elections.

    He said: “After the signing of the Accord, I invited all the contestants for a group photograph, which they all joined at the venue of the signing event.

    “After the signing ceremony, I also invited all of them to the Government House for a special dinner. All the contestants were there with the exception of only one. I am just trying to prove to you how peaceful our government is”

    Abubakar Muhammad Janaral, who co-led the groups, commended Ganduje for making statements that promote peaceful co-existent.

    Janaral said: “Your Excellency, we are monitoring speeches that are being made by political leaders in the state, we found out that, many out there are only triggers to instability.

    “We are indeed commending your political statements that prove to be in line with peaceful engagements. Anyone you see here, Your Excellency, is a Peace Ambassador.

    “Sir, as the chief security officer, we urge you to continue promoting peace and stability in the state. And we are living witnesses that your speeches then and now are all drivers to peace and stability.”

    Also yesterday, the ruling APC urged security agencies and Kano residents to hold Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso responsible should there be any breach of the peace before, during and after the March 23 supplementary governorship poll in the state.

    In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Youth & Culture, Malam Muhammad Garba, the APC leadership in Kano expressed worry over inciting comments credited to the former governor.

    Garba, who doubles as the Chairman, Publicity Committee, Kano APC Campaign Organisation, wondered why the senator has not been called to order by security agencies in the state, particularly, the police.

    SOKOTO

    The Sokoto State Police Command yesterday warned potential crime perpetrators to steer clear during and after the supplementary election in the state.

    Commissioner of Police Aminu Koji Kwabe said the command would not tolerate any breach of the law, especially in the 136 polling units across 22 local government areas, where the extra poll will be conducted.

    The police commissioner spoke while parading no fewer than 12 suspected criminals apprehended in possession of dangerous weapons and hard drugs.

    The criminal hideout raided by the police included:  Gidan Igwai; Old Garage; Central Moto Park; Gangare Gidan Dankure and Mana Area – all within the Sokoto metropolis.

    Also recovered from the suspects were 140 wraps of Indian hemp; 549 pieces of hard drugs, including pieces of exol and six sachets of Diazepom, among others.

    Kwabe, represented by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Sadeeq, said the command will not relent on its effort to rid the state of criminals.

    He urged drug abusers, thugs and other potential criminals to change their ways as the police would neither tolerate, nor relent their efforts in combating crime and criminals planning to foment trouble during the rescheduled election.

    Kwabe urged the maintenance of peace during the process and after the announcement of the results, warning that the police in the state would not allow the collapse of law and order in the state.

    “Law and order must be maintained in Sokoto. The command will not hesitate to deal with any one tempting its strength by causing mayhem during and after the elections. We will also ensure we bring perpetrators of violence to book to face justice”, he said.

    BENUE

    The Benue chapters of the APC and PDP engaged in muscle-flexing yesterday.

    Both parties are confident of winning the supplementary election billed for Saturday.

    Sam Ode, who is the running mate to the APC governorship candidate, said the electorate would on Saturday cast their ballot for his party’s flagbearer, Emmanuel Jime.

    He said the people were desirous for a change to better their living conditions.

    Speaking in an telephone chat with The Nation, Ode, a former Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, maintained that for civil servants and pensioners to enjoy their benefits on regular basis, the PDP government must be voted out on Saturday.

    He stated: “Just like the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has been paying federal workers promptly, the APC in Benue will give priority to welfare of workers and pensioners who are senior citizens of the state.

    “It takes wisdom for any Benue governor to know that the economy of the state revolved around public workers’ salaries and the APC had already put in measures to give adequate attention to Benue workers and called on voters to come out and vote APC on Saturday.”

    The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties, Abraham Kwaghngu told our correspondent that Benue people were already at home with Governor Samuel Ortom and would vote him again in the rescheduled election.

    He noted that never in the history of the state has a governor staked his neck for the people and defended them as done by Ortom.

    Kwaghngu said: “The good thing about Benue supplementary election is Governor Ortom is ahead of his opponent with 81,000 votes wide margin and no magic would save the APC.”

    He called on PDP supporters to turn out and vote Ortom once and for all so that he can settle down to business.

    Kwaghngu noted: “All the polling units in contention are PDP strongholds and therefore, there is nothing to worry about.”

     

  • Saraki, PDP plotting to hijack 9th NASS leadership, Nabena alleges

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yekini Nabena has revealed plots by Senate President Bukola Saraki and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders to hijack leadership of the 9th session of the National Assembly.

    Nabena, in a statement in Abuja, said the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) must move fast to nip such moves in the bud by coming out with a zoning formula for the emergence of leaders of the legislature.

    Nabena, who is also the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, said the Senate President is working in tandem with what he called “Otta farm”.

    He warned the APC must move quickly and urgently roll out the zoning arrangements to avoid a repeat of what happened in 2015.

    Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara emerged Senate President and Speaker against the party’s wish in the outgoing 8th National Assembly.

    Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, Nabena said the outgoing Senate President and his party (PDP) have devised plans to ensure that there loyalists take control of the legislative arm of government.

    READ ALSO: End of Saraki hegemony

    He said: “The outgoing Senate President and the PDP caucus have begun surreptitious move to lure some new APC lawmakers with juicy committee position in return for their support for the PDP choice for the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives.

    “Already, Saraki’s henchman, Dino Melaye and some other returning PDP federal lawmakers have scheduled meetings with some APC lawmakers from Wednesday to Sunday in a yet-to-be announced venue.”

    He stressed: “It is important that the APC leadership meet and urgently rollout a fair zoning arrangement to ensure that we produce our preferred candidates for all leadership positions in the incoming National Assembly.

    “Since Saraki lost his bid to return to the Senate and control of his home state, Kwara, he has devised a plan to ensure that he influences the choice of the incoming National Assembly Leadership. This is Saraki’s last-ditch effort to remain politically relevant.”

  • Presidential election: PDP, Atiku file petition a day to deadline

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the February 23, 2019 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, said they have filed their petition at the tribunal, challenging the validity of the election in which President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was returned for a second term.

    PDP’s National Legal Adviser, Emmanuel Enoidem and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome said the party and Atiku filed a joint petition yesterday at the secretarial of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) in Abuja.

    Enoidem and Ozekhome spoke while exiting the tribunal’s secretariat situated at the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal on Monday evening.

    Both lawyers gave insights to the content of the petition and their expectations at the tribunal.

    Enoidem said: “We are here to present our joint petition for our party, the PDP and candidate our candidate. The last day for the petition is actually tomorrow, but we decided to file today.

    “We asked that our candidate, who won the election massively across the country, be declared the winner of that election.

    “In the alternative, we also asked that the election be set aside on the grounds of irregularities, which were very apparent across the country.

    “We have a pool of 20 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), who are tested in election petition matters and other senior lawyers, who are also working with them.

    “So, we are very ready for the petition. The petition is well packaged. The depositions are well put together.

    “More than 400 witnesses are going to testify in this petition. Nigerians are at home with what happened on February 23 in this country in relation to the sham they called election.

    “Of course, we are going to re-present the facts to Nigerians, as the facts are already in the domain of Nigerians. We are not going to manufacture facts.

    Ozekhome, who came out of the tribunal’s secretariat later, said he is a member of the petitioners’ legal team and that the petit on is “strong, solid and unassailable.”

    He noted that, with only one day to the deadline for filing of the petition, the late filing was because the Independent National Electoral Commission failed to cooperate in terms of providing easy access to the electoral materials.

    Ozekhome added: “We have up till tomorrow (Tuesday), to file but we have been having been having some challenges from the INEC itself in terms of assessing materials used during the elections. But I believe we will get there.

    “Our petition is quite solid, strong unassailable and we believe that by the grace of God, the true keeper and owner of the mandate will have his mandate given to him.”

  • Senate leadership: Minority leader slot tears PDP senators apart

    All appears not to be settled in the camp of Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) sitting Senators and Senators-elect.

    Feelers indicate as All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators are plotting for position of the Senate President, PDP Senators have launched intense scheming for the slot of Senate minority leader.

    It is gathered the intrigue and scheming for leadership positions in the Senate clearly manifested during the issuance of certificate of returns to Senator and members of the House of Representatives on Thursday.

    The PDP is expected to produce the minority leader in the ninth Senate with its 42 senators. APC boasts of 65 and YPP has one.

    A competent source in the National Assembly told our reporter on Monday the calculation is the South East geo-political zone with its 13 senators, still counting, would produce the Senate minority leader.

    He noted the South South geo-political zone is already out of the race for Senate minority leader because the zone occupies the exalted position of PDP Chairman in the person of Prince Uche Secondus.

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and South East caucus leader in the upper chamber, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, are said to be highly favoured to clinch the Senate minority leader.

    The source, who said he is aware the PDP leadership would soon come out to declare its position, said: “On who gets what in the Senate and House of Representatives” noted that “the position of Senate minority leader is not elective position.”

    He said: “Senate minority leader position is a party affair. The PDP leadership will soon declare its stand about who should occupy the position.

    “PDP wants to get it right in order not to make the mistake of Senator Godswill Akpabio who abandoned the position to defect to APC in the build up to the general elections.

    “It is incumbent on the party to decide. The position is purely a party affair. It is not elective. Especially now that the momentum seems to be on the side of the PDP with expected more states to its fold, it is for the party to sustain the tempo by installing effective opposition leader.

    “The Senator Godswill Akpabio scenario must not be allowed to play out again.”

    The source also said that the PDP planned to install “a cohesive opposition leader that would articulate the position of the party in the Senate.”

    Asked who is likely to get the slot between Ekweremadu and Abaribe, he hesitated and said: “PDP leaders are weighing options but what I can deduct from the body language of some party leaders is that perhaps they would want Ekweremadu to now play a father-figure role in the Senate which former Senate President, Senator David Mark, effectively played in the Eight Senate.

    ‘It is on record that Ekweremadu, having served as Deputy Senate President for three consecutive times with active support of the PDP and its Senators, nobody challenged him, it is widely expected that he should now play a father-figure role in the Senate. Senator David Mark, a former Senate President, did it to the admiration of party members. Nobody should be desperate about anything.”

    He assured that “PDP will put its house in order and come up with a suitable name.”

  • APC, PDP claim victory in Benue, Kano, Bauchi, others

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership has spoken on the governorship and Houses of Assembly elections, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)of working with the opposition Peoples Democratic party (PDP) to deny it its victory in some states.

    The party rejected the commission’s decision on the results from Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, alleging that its agents were not invited to witness the investigations conducted by the commission.

    In a swift reaction, the PDP said the APC was playing the victim.

    Although APC’s candidate did not participate in the governorship election in Rivers State, its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said it was clear that Governor Nyesom Wike was losing before INEC halted the process. The results are being doctored to favour him, the party claimed.

    The APC said the process was fraudulently suspended in Rivers, adding that its reports of vote buying by the PDP and thuggery were ignored by the electoral management body.

    Besides, attempts are being made to blackmail the government into withdrawing security agents from the state, the party said.

    The statement reads: “After the March 9 governorship elections across the country, the polls in six states – Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Plateau and Sokoto – were declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The electoral process was also suspended in Rivers State in a very fraudulent circumstance.

    “Post election, Nigerians will recall that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had severally raised alarm over the plot by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to use violence, vote-buying and other election malpractices to subvert the will of the electorate and steal their mandate.

    “The shocking events leading to the last-minute postponement of the presidential election provided clear evidence with PDP agents caught in different parts of the country with programmed card readers, sensitive election materials and large cache of weapons and security paraphernalia.

    “Undeterred, the PDP executed its rigging plot through its agents across the country by unleashing violence, vote-buying and hijacking election materials to rig and falsify elections results. The result was violent disruption in many polling areas and over-voting which led to many cancelled votes and ultimately the supplementary elections and suspended exercise in some states.”

    Using a state by state analysis, the APC said “INEC declared the governorship election in Benue State inconclusive, citing an insufficient margin in votes obtained by the APC candidate, Emmanuel Jime, and the PDP candidate, Governor Samuel Ortom.

    “Even though the PDP claims a bogus lead of over 81,000 votes, reports strongly establish that this dodgy figure is an aggregate of ‘votes’ obtained by subterfuge, not from the numbers recorded by the card reader. There were cases in Logo, Gwer-West, Vandeikya, Guma, Buruku and Gboko local governments where the card reader was not used.

    “In Guma, a local government predominated by the APC, zero votes were allocated to our candidate by thugs loyal to the governor of the State, as agents of the party were chased away and election material diverted and ballot papers thumb-printed for the governorship candidate of the PDP.

    “In Logo, security reports indicated that the ballot papers were massively thumb-printed the night before the election day, while a brazen case of under-age voting supervised by state government compromised security personnel, was prevalent on the actual day of voting. INEC also reported that 41 polling units in Vandeikya did not use the card reader, as it was the case in many in Gwer-West, Gwer-East, Gboko and other places.

    “A coalition of election observers in Benue has since called on INEC to declare the candidate of the APC, Barr. Emmanuel Jime, the winner of the governorship poll, in line with the Electoral Act and we align with the position of these observers. There is no doubt that our candidate obtained the highest number of legitimate votes with the usage of the card reader.”

    On Rivers State, the party condemned what it described as “this horrid dance in Rivers”, alleging an “unholy alliance between Governor Nyesom Wike, PDP and INEC is to prevent Rivers people from electing a candidate of their choice by imposing Wike, the PDP candidate on them.”

    The ruling party said “It was glaring that Wike was losing until INEC stepped in to halt the process apparently to save Wike from impending defeat. INEC must put a halt to this madness and brazen illegality.

    “The desperation of the PDP governorship candidate, Governor Nyesom Wike to remain in office even if it means destroying the State and killing its people, is throwing the State into turmoil and crisis.

    “With regard to the governorship election in Rivers State, APC has observed with dismay the macabre dance between Wike and INEC in Rivers State. It is on record that Wike through the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Obo Effanga engaged PDP card-carrying members as Local Government Area (LGA) Collation Officers to skew the elections in favour of Wike and the PDP.

    “We call on the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to immediately redeploy Mr. Effanga from Rivers State in order to avoid crisis that may follow the organised crime being executed by Wike and Obo Effanga to rig and alter the result of the 2019 governorship polls in Rivers State in favour of Wike.

    “Since the suspension of the electoral process in Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike and the State REC Obo Effanga have been re-writing and doctoring unit results in Rivers State Government House to favour Wike.

    “We are dismayed that some sponsored stakeholders including those who witnessed the killing of over 40 persons on the 2015 governorship election day alone due to someone’s quest to become governor by all means, appear to be hoodwinked by the very same character to believe that security agents especially the Army should have stayed away to allow a repetition of what happened in 2015.

    “As a party that was solely at the receiving end of the killings in Rivers State, the APC believes that the proactive steps taken by security agents to checkmate a repeat of the 2015 killings and destructions, is commendable and should be applauded by all peace-loving people.

    “We call on Nigerians and the international community not to be hoodwinked into believing that Nigerian security agencies interfered in the electoral process in Rivers State. It is a misleading narrative being planted in the media to particularly blackmail the military and the federal government into pulling out security agents from the state, thereby returning the State to the killing field many of us witnessed before, during and after the 2015 elections.

    “It is now clear to all that INEC has become deaf and blind to the fact that Governor Nyesom Wike invaded the Obio/Akpor Collation Centre with over 200 armed thugs and ordered his security men to shoot an Army Captain and another soldier providing perimeter security to the Collation Centre. Wike’s thugs carted away the electoral materials including both original copies of unit result sheets and ward collation sheets that were being used for the collation of results and took them to the Rivers State Government House where they were filled out with rigged and inflated figures.

    “We report that in most of the LGAs in the State, voting had concluded, results declared at the polling units and collation had begun before the abrupt suspension of the process. INEC does not have the power under our Electoral Act to suspend elections that has already been concluded. We suspect that INEC might be working to surreptitiously bring in cooked up results credited to Obio/Akpor LGA to skew the election in favour of Wike. We vehemently reject this anti-democratic move.”

    The party asked its members in Plateau state to remain focussed as its lead in the state was unassailable, expressing confidence that its candidate, Simon Lalong will eventually carry the day.

    The APC is also confidence that it will eventually carry the day in Kano state, saying “the opposition PDP camp in its self-deceit has continued to delude itself on its nonexistent electoral chance in Nasarawa local government area. The Kano electorate are not deceived.

    “Considering what happened in the inconclusive election widely characterized by PDP vote buying and voter intimidation, relevant agencies must ensure that such antidemocratic practice is not repeated.”

    It accused the Kano State Police Commissioner of actively assisting the opposition PDP to rig inside Kano city with the deployment of police security for Rabiu Kwankwaso loyalists while state commissioner’s orderlies were withdrawn.

    Kano, it said “remains an APC state. With the massive votes garnered by our presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari; the entire incoming 9th National Assembly positions – 3 Senators and 24 House of Representatives – won by the APC in Kano State; 27 State House of Assembly seats won by the APC out of 39 and governorship election victories in all local governments outside Kano metropolitan, there is no doubt that Kano State is a stronghold and key support base of the APC.

    “The APC’s visible achievements in Kano state under Governor Abdullahi Ganduje are enough to give the party an emphatic victory in the rerun election. Again, the rerun will be mostly in APC-controlled rural areas and Nasarawa local government area where our Deputy Governor, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna is from. Undoubtedly, Kano state remains an APC stronghold and remains in our firm control.”

    Speaking further on the decision of INEC regarding the supplementary polls in Bauchi state, the APC said “We reject INEC’s decision on the governorship election results from Tafawa Balewa local government area in Bauchi State, as signed and announced by the electoral body’s National Commissioner and chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye.

    “While the close relationship between Festus Okoye who chaired the fact-finding committee and Yakubu Dogara of the PDP is well known, hence inappropriate for the fact-finding exercise for Bauchi State, INEC has failed to adhere to the fundamental principle of fair-hearing by not inviting our agents during the hearing to ascertain the circumstances leading to the cancellation of the Tafawa Balewa Local Government election result.

    “INEC’s decision is illegal as the electoral body contravenes the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended. We reiterate that according to Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended) and INEC Guidelines for 2019 General Elections, the electoral body is not empowered to reverse any decision taken at the Collation Centre by the Returning Officer appointed for that purpose. Such decisions can only be reversed by a court of law, especially when INEC cannot approbate and reprobate.”

    The party is also laying claim to Sokoto State, saying “as displayed in the results of the presidential election, Sokoto is a strong APC state. This rubbishes the suspicious and apparently stolen results ascribed to the PDP governorship candidate.”

    APC accused the PDP candidate and Governor Aminu Tambuwal, of using thugs and fake security agents to scare voters in the state. This gave PDP agents a free and field day to rig and manipulate the governorship election. We are also aware of how huge funds were used to buy votes and how complicit INEC officials disenfranchised APC members by purporting that card readers stopped working in APC strongholds,” the party said.

    “The forthcoming supplementary election in Sokoto State gives the APC; our governorship candidate, Aliyu Ahmed and indeed the Sokoto electorate an opportunity to claim our mandate. Sokoto State is ready for the Next Level, we must not allow unpopular elements in the state and their backers in the discredited PDP to steal their mandate and subvert the will of the Sokoto electorate,” it added.

    The APC said it reported cases of over voting in Adamawa State and the use of security personnel to intimidate its agents and supporters, saying: “while we are confident of our party and candidate Governor Jibrilla Bindow’s victory ahead of the supplementary election in the state, we urge all stakeholders to avoid actions that can plunge the state into crisis”.

    “We equally urge INEC and relevant security agencies to ensure the supplementary election is free, peaceful and fair compared to the last inconclusive governorship election in the state which was characterised by many irregularities and voter intimidation. No political ambition is worth the life of any voters.

    “As a party, the APC is very confident of victory in the forthcoming supplementary elections. Our commitment to free and fair elections in the county remains resolute. We urge INEC to ensure that all loopholes that led to rigging, vote buying and intimidation of voters by the PDP is blocked.”

  •  PDP to APC: our party’ll win all supplementary polls

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said yesterday it will win all the supplementary elections scheduled for Saturday.

    The polls are holding in Sokoto, Kano, Adamawa, Benue and Plateau State.

    In statement by its spokesman Kola Ologbodiyan, the electorate will resist the alleged plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to manipulate the elections.

    “It is ludicrous that the APC could seek to play the victim when all material facts have established that the APC militarised, perpetuated violence and unleashed mayhem in the elections so far held,” the statement said.

    The PDP claimed that a United States (U.S.) States Department’s Bureau reports showed that state apparatus of power was used to intimidate and perpetrate electoral violence in favour of the government.

    The statement reads: “The PDP is, however, undeterred in our imminent victory in the March 23 supplementary elections.

    “In Benue, it is clear that the people have rejected the APC as clearly demonstrated even in the Presidential election. Benue state has always been home to the PDP.

    “It is incontestable that our party has the largest genuine followership in all the units, wards and local government areas of the state and as such, does not need any underhand measure to secure victory in any election in the state.

    “Our winning lead of 81, 000 votes were validly delivered at the polling units and that reality will humiliate the APC as it cannot be subverted.

    “Similarly, Rivers State is an impregnable home to the PDP since 1999. The results of all the elections held in Rivers, including the House of Assembly, showed that the PDP is in control of the state. Moreover, in Rivers, the APC is a vicious interloper, which has been perpetuating violence as a means to subvert and truncate the electoral process since it has no candidate in the election.

    “In Kano, the people of the state are known to be incorruptible and had always detested leaders who are corrupt and incompetent. They have always elected governors that are acceptable to the ordinary people.

    “The incompetence of the Ganduje administration is therefore distasteful to the people and that is why they have collectively rejected the APC and rally with the PDP.

    “In Bauchi, the PDP has already been elected and this reality cannot be altered by the APC. INEC had already established that the APC compromised its official to declare Tafawa Balewa LGA as inconclusive and had restored the votes that were stolen by the APC. It   is imperative for APC to accept the fact that its bunch of broom has become famished.

    “In Sokoto, the people have given us the mandate. The constitution provides for simple majority of votes. The declared results show that our candidate clearly won and that is why our candidate has been mandated to go to the court to seek interpretation of the section of the constitution that deals with the declaration of results.

    “In Adamawa State, the APC is merely hallucinating and seeking ways to subvert the process. Its despicable resort to using a person who did not participate in the election to seek to use the courts to ambush the election is disgraceful.

    “However, INEC had since declared that it cannot be stopped from going ahead with the supplementary election where our party is already in good stead to coast to victory.”

  • PDP, APC get set for make-up elections

    Ahead of the supplementary governorship elections in Adamawa and four other states, political parties are trading words, just as Catholic Bishops suggest ways to have flawless polls in future, report Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja.

    Catholic Bishops seek laws for credible elections in future 

    Catholic Bishops have advised President Muhammadu Buhari to enact and implement laws and policies that will ensure free, fair and credible elections.

    The Bishops said  the general elections witnessed “crude and reckless use of money to buy votes”.

    They demanded that government should acknowledge the inadequacies that characterised the elections and embark on a course for redress.

    A communique issued at the end of the First Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) held in Abuja and jointly signed by the President, CBCN, Most Rev. Augustine Akubeze and the Secretary, Most Rev. Camillus Umoh, reads: “We affirm that elections are an opportunity for people through the ballot to freely choose those who will serve them. We denounce the unfortunate incident of loss of lives and destruction of property, which is ongoing even now. We however, admonish that elections should not be turned into a battle between warriors fighting to capture power and conquer territory and people at all cost. We observe that many of the challenges that emerged during the electoral process were as a result of inadequate electoral laws, which made implementation problematic and at times offered lacunae for evil minded people to exploit the situation to their own advantage.

    “Even where the rules were clear, they were not always adhered to. One of the reported phenomena during the elections was the crude and reckless use of money to buy votes; showing how desperate politicians and political parties are determined to get political power at all cost. Bad elections do not lead to good governance. We demand that the government acknowledge the inadequacies that characterized the 2019 elections and embark on a course for redress. We urge her to enact, endorse and implement laws and policies that will ensure free, fair and credible elections in the future.

    “We enjoin all Nigerians, leaders and the led, to abide by democratic principles such as respect for human life, human rights and the rule of law. We also encourage the electorate to ensure that those who hold public offices in our country are held accountable. We equally urge all Nigerians to eschew all forms of indiscipline and corruption and be resolute rather than lose hope in our struggle for a better future and nation.”

    The Bishops went on: “The 2019 General Elections have come and gone except in some areas where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled supplementary elections for specified reasons. We commend our people for the patriotism and the maturity displayed, and the electorate who in some places came out en masse especially during the Presidential and National Assembly Elections to exercise their rights and perform their civic duties. We equally note the voter apathy that characterised the subsequent Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections.

    “We believe that this apathy may not have been unconnected with among other things, the violence, malpractice and the unnecessary militarization of the process, all of which contributed to eroding the people’s confidence in the electoral process. We have taken note of those who have been declared winners, and commend the civility of those who rejected the results but have chosen to express their grievances through legitimate means under the law rather than through violence. Whatever the outcome, justice must be seen to have been done. We admonish whoever holds power at the end of the day to remember that power belongs to God and to Him alone. God demands strict accountability for how anyone takes power and uses it, for God cannot be deceived or challenged (Lk 16:2).”

    On the recent killings in Kaduna and other states, the communiqué said: “We have received with deep sorrow, the tragic news of the resurgence of further horrific killings in some parts of Kaduna State, Taraba, Benue, Kogi, Edo, Rivers, Zamfara, Adamawa and other states. Against the backdrop of the violence and bloodshed that characterized the last elections, we are pained that the culture of death is becoming embedded into our daily lives.

    “This persistent devaluation of human life and property poses an existential threat to our personal survival and that of our nation. How can government continue to appear helpless in the face of such shameful tragedy? We strongly appeal to the President, in collaboration with the Governors of Kaduna State and other affected States to seriously take steps to arrest this drift before total anarchy and mayhem consume the entire nation.”

     

    Forum to celebrate Buhari

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Victory Forum has outlined activities to celebrate the party’s success in the 2019 general polls.

    Its national coordinator, Dr. Tom Ohikere, said: “The recent victory of President Muhammadu Buhari at the polls, the APC’s absolute control of the next National Assembly, and the impressive performance at the gubernatorial and state assembly levels is without doubt a referendum on the performance of the APC so far by the Nigerian people.

    “The eventual event will be an all-inclusive two day programme that seeks to project the potential of the party, featuring four main agenda, which will include Pictorial exhibition of APC projects, both at the federal and state levels, National commendation/ awards of key personalities within the APC who have been instrumental in building and facilitating the party into what it is today.

    “There will also be the unveiling of a compendium of all our victorious candidates at the 2019 general election. The fourth agenda is a democracy lecture titled: “APC and the Destiny of the Nigerian Nation,” he said.

     

    APC in UK: Nigerians won’t regret re-electing Buhari

    The United Kingdom Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has assured Nigerians that they will not regret re-electing President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term.

    Mr Ade Omole, the leader of the chapter, gave the assurance in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday.

    He thanked Nigerians for voting for President Buhari and all APC candidates in the just concluded elections, saying they made it happen in spite of the antics of opposition political parties.

    He said Buhari would need the support of well-meaning Nigerians to succeed in his second term in office

    Omole said it only required the support of Nigerians to guarantee the needed peace to enthrone good governance that would bring about the desired development.

    He said peace was critical to take the country to the next level of economic and infrastructure development and make her the envy of other nations.

    Omole said now that the elections were over, politicians should join hands with the President Buhari-led APC administration, irrespective of party affiliations,  to move the country forward in the interest of all.

    He said that Nigerians in the Diaspora felt that whatever pains and suffering the people might be going through at the moment would be for the moment.

    “Whatever it is we are passing through at the moment, is just a phase which would soon be over with President Buhari on the saddle of leadership.

    “All that is required is a bit more sacrifice and support, we are going through refining and like raw gold and we will come out better and shinning,” Omole said.

     

    Adamawa extra election holds in 14 local govts

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says the governorship supplementary election scheduled on March 23, would be conducted in 14 local government areas of the state.

    Mr Kasim Gaidam, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Yola.

    Gaidam said the election would be conducted in 29 Wards (Registration Areas) and 44 Polling Units where over 40,000 votes were earlier cancelled in the recent governorship selection.

    “The Commission had prepared for the Supplementary Governorship election in the state. The election is going to be conducted in 14 LGAs, 29 Wards and 44 Polling Units spread across the state,” Gaidam said.

    He listed the local areas to include Yola South, Fufore, Ganye, Girei, Guyuk and Hong.

    Other are Lamurde, Numan, Madagali, Michika, Mubi North, Shelleng, Song and Toungo  local government areas.

    Gaidam, however, explained that the election was declared inconclusive as provided by law based only on official registered voters, not Permanent Voters Cards collected or accredited voters.

    He said: “Other figures being circulated should be disregarded as only report released by the Returning Officer should be considered.”

    It could be recalled that the results of the governorship election announced by INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Andrew Haruna shows that the PDP candidate, Ahmadu Fintiri scored  367,472 votes, while a total of 334,995 votes scored by  incumbent governor, Muhammad Bindow, the APC candidate.

    The margin between them was 32,476 votes.

     

    Bauchi APC: INEC committee denied us fair hearing

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Bauchi State chapter has alleged that the fact-finding committee sent by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to probe the irregularities in the governorship election of 9 March denied the party fair hearing.

    Its Chairman, Alhaji Uba Nana, made the allegation at a news conference in Bauchi at the weekend.

    INEC announced on Friday night that a new returning officer will resume the collation of the Bauchi governorship election results on Tuesday. It also amended the result of four polling units in Ningi local government from 25330 to 2533. The decision meant that the commission will announce the winner of the election thereafter.

    “The fact-finding Committee chaired by Festus Okoye, the National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee denied fair hearing to APC as a political party whose agents were not invited during hearing of the facts leading to the cancellation of the results of Tafawa Balewa LGA.

    “Any decision taken in violation of fair hearing is illegal, null and void. The composition of the Committee was also questionable as the Committee Chairman, Festus Okoye is a close ally and former solicitor to Hon. Yakubu Dogara of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP),” he said

    Nana added  that no justice can be done by the Committee Chairman who is interested in the whole issues and the instant circumstances.

    He pointed out that this was proved by the fact that PDP and Yakubu Dogara on Facebook pre-empted the outcome of the Committee’s finding before formal publication by INEC.

    The APC chairman said that the decision of INEC based on the Committee’s Report was already prayed for at the Federal High Court, Bauchi in Suit No. FHC/BAU/CS/18/2019 filed by Bala Mohammed and PDP against INEC.

    “Unfortunately, the extant decision of INEC reversing the cancellation of Tafawa Balewa Results was earlier sought for but refused by the Court in the said suit at interim stage. Now INEC has granted what was refused by the Court of law in the interest of justice,” he said.

    Nana said the Party rejected in totality, the report of the fact-finding Committee on the disruption of collation process at Tafawa Balewa and the subsequent decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reverse its earlier resolution cancelling the entire results of Tafawa Balewa LGA.

    He said the position taken by INEC is illegal, null and void having regards to the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and INEC Guidelines for 2019 General Elections.

     

    ‘I took advantage of ‘Not Too Young to Run’ Act’

    House of Representative member-elect Kayode Akiolu (APC-Lagos), said that he took advantage of the “Not Too Young to Run” act to win the February 23 election.

    Akiolu, in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja, said the Act paved the way for young people to seek political office in the country.

    “In Nigeria today, more than half of our population are younger than 30. So, if we’re old enough to vote, we’re old enough to run for office too.

    “That’s the idea behind the #NotTooYoungToRun. The campaign initially launched in support of Nigeria’s Age Reduction Bill.

    “Signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on May 31, 2018, it has given young Nigerians like me the opportunity to serve my constituency and my Nation,” he said.

    Between 1999 and 2015, the average age of the country’s representatives rose from 43 to 50.5 years.

    “All the while, Nigeria’s population trended younger and younger, until reaching its current median age of 18.”Akiolu, who is 38 years, is the son of the Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu.

    “As one of the first few young Nigerians who have benefited from the movement, I will make sure that the act will not be out of order.

    “Let’s not forget that the absence of youth in decision-making processes in government has created disillusionment among Nigerian youths with regards to Nigeria’s political parties and the ruling class.

    “Presently, Nigeria has a high unemployment rate, most of them youths, but there are lesser policies than those required to halt this problem. If the youths of a country are jobless, then there is bound to be an increase in vices,” he stated.

    Akiolu said that since politics was a way addressing social issues in Africa, priority would be given to such issues when he assumed office.

    He added that the interest of the people that elected him would be uppermost in his agenda.

    “I scored 12,988 votes to defeat the candidate of the PDP, Adamoh Olagbenga, who scored 4,345 votes; the people of my constituency longed for change to get me here and I won’t disappoint them. Being a young person and having confidence in me, their interest will be uppermost,” he explained.

    He stated that his constituents had conferred on him the right to legislate on their behalf and represent their interest at the House of Representatives.

    Akiolu stated that such trust would motivate him to attract developmental projects to his constituency as well as to partner with the State Government in moving the state towards good governance and progress.

    According to him, economic opportunity is the leading domestic issue of the time and the key to reinvigorating the economy is quality education.

    Akiolu said he would work to provide ideas on improving education, training and jobs to close the opportunity gap in his constituency.

    “I have vowed to increase the standard of education of my people and to ensure that more Federal Government presence is attracted to my constituency in terms of projects and social welfare interventions.

    “As a legal practitioner of over a decade, I joined politics to use my experience and the instrumentality of the law to bring about positive legislation that will impact the lives of the people of Lagos Island federal constituency 2, Lagos State and the nation as a whole, ‘’ he said.

    He, however, added that he would be accessible and accountable to his constituents, not forgetting the elderly, the less privileged and the physically challenged.

    The Not Too Young to Run bill was an initiative pushed by about 54 youth’s organisations in the country, calling for more youth inclusion in the nation’s politics and policy-making.

    The initiators requests include reducing the age required to contest for the posts of the president, governors, senators and House of Representative.

    The act now provided for Nigerians to contest for President at the age of 35 and Governor or Senator at the age of 30.

    It is a change from the initial 40 and 35 years limit, which was mandated by the Constitution.

    The bill also stipulates “that 25-year-old people can now legislate in the National and State Assemblies across the country.”