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Tag: poll

  • ‘How I escaped govt’s manipulation during poll’

    •INEC swears in seven RECs

    Ex-Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Mr. Segun Agbaje has recalled how he escaped the government’s alleged manipulation during the presidential election.

    He was among the seven RECs sworn in yesterday by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. Others are Yahaya Bello, Baba Abba Yusuf, Emmanuel Alex Hart, Uthman Abdulraham Ajidagba, Mohammed Magaji Ibrahim and Cyril Omorogbe.

    Yusuf and Agbaje are returning for the second term. Their postings will be announced later.

    Agbaje, who was advising his colleagues on how to end well, said he received a call from the governor about 1:30am to meet him at the Government House for a discussion, which he turned down.

    Not satisfied, he said the governor offered to meet him at his home (Agbaje’s), which he also said was not possible, as it was an ungodly hour.

    Agbaje said if he had honoured the invitation, he could have been blackmailed to do the bidding of the government.

    The REC said he was shocked the next day when he received a call from Abuja trying to confirm a report that he collected N50 million from the governor at the supposed meeting, which was not held.

    Thanking the INEC chairman for the confidence reposed in them, he said they would not disappoint the commission and the country.

    Yakubu urged the RECs to maintain openness and be firm in the performance of their duties.

    He told them that the commission would conduct four by-elections and two governorship elections before the 2019 general election.

    The INEC chairman said the elections are to fill positions in Takum State Constituency in Taraba State, Lokoja/Koton-Karfe Federal Constituency in Kogi State, Bauchi South Senatorial District and Katsina North Senatorial District.

    He added that governorship polls would hold in Ekiti and Osun states.

     

  • Omisore’s men dump PDP ahead of poll

    •Yet to decide alternative platform

    A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to ex-Osun State Deputy Governor Senator Iyiola Omisore yesterday resolved to dump the party for another platform.

    Members had gathered at their secretariat on Gbongan Road, Osogbo, to chart the way after leaving the congress of March 25, where Soji Adagunodo became chairman.

    Dr. Bayo Faforiji, who led members to burn PDP flags and tear their cards at the party secretariat, said they were yet to decide which party to join.

    The Nation learnt that the group is consulting on the alternative platform for its leader, Omisore, to contest the governorship election.

    It was gathered that leaders of the group met in Gbongan, headquarters of Ayedade Local Government, last weekend, where they considered Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    Omisore group was not happy that the national secretariat of PDP abandoned it in favour of the Adagunodo group during the congress.

    Faforiji said: “…it is clear to everybody that the national secretariat has pitched its tent with the Adagunodo group, hence the need for us to move on and mobilise our people for the election slated for September 22.

    “Omisore is a household name in the political landscape of Osun. He is not a greenhorn in the power play. He understands the terrain better than anyone. As it is, we are consulting to find a better and credible platform to achieve our leader’s governorship ambition.”

    A leader in the Adagunodo group, Bamidele Salam, regretted the move by the Omisore group to dump PDP, saying the party had assisted the senator to achieve so much lately.

    He hoped PDP leaders would move to convince Omisore and his loyalists not to dump the party.

  • ‘I don’t believe in do-or-die poll’

    Former Senate Deputy Minority Whip Gbenga Aluko,has urged All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants in Ekiti State not to see the primary election as a “do-or-die affair.”

    He said: “Developing the attitude of sportsmanship at the primary will allow the party to form a united front to defeat Governor Ayo Fayose and his preferred candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.”

    Aluko, who is one of the aspirants, said he will make sacrifices to ensure that his party wins the promosed governorship and presidential polls.

    He said Ekiti will be motivated to prepare for the presidentila elections, if the APC wins the July 14 governorship election.

    Aluko spoke in Ode Ekiti, headquarters of Gbonyin Local Government Area, during a meeting with eligible delegates.

    He warned against triviliasing the zoning of governorship ticket to the South Senatorial District, describing it as a big issue in Ekiti politics  .

    Aluko said: “I am not seeing the governorship ticket as a do-or-die affair, but I know I am an aspirant to beat anytime. But, we must do President Buhari proud and enhance his second term with this election, that is what I believe in.

    “I am close to the grassroots and I see the delegates as the owners of the party. This is why I have always been treating you with respect. I know there are leaders in the party, but your voices count and can override the power of anybody.

    “I know you are going to vote at the primary, I will support whoever you vote for because you own APC and that is the sacrifice we can make for our party to survive. But I am sure that you will vote for me to the fact that I have the capacity to win for you.”

    He warned against dividion in the chapter, there is life after a political  contest.

    Aluko added: “This election is an opportunity for us to defend our common interest, which is to reclaim power from PDP  and not an opportunity to fight one another.

    “The election is important to APC because it will go a long way in deciding many things. It will help President Buhari’s second term bid and also dispel the allegation from PDP that Nigerians have rejected our party”.

    The Director -General of the Gbenga Aluko Campaign Organization, Hon. Dapo Karounwi, said zoning is sacrosant, describing those canvassing against zoning as selfish individuals.

    He added: “Two or three of the APC aspirants are from my town. They came to me and I told them it is not yet time, because they are from the central.

    “In the spirit of justice , fairplay and oneness, we must all support someone from the south to get the ticket and win for our party and hat person is Senator Aluko.”

  • Enugu poll: Ugwuanyi and his 2019 calculations

    Enugu poll: Ugwuanyi and his 2019 calculations

    As Enugu State prepares for next year’s governorship poll, Uchenna Nwobodo highlights the achievements of Governor Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi, which may qualify him for a second term in office.

    The Gburugburu narration is one that brings smiles to the faces of the of people of Enugu State. His name is Ifeanyichukwu, which translates to “Nothing is insurmountable to God.” Close associates however, said Gburugburu is actually his chieftaincy title, but has now almost subsumed his name. Gburugburu means “Every Where.”

    Indeed, since the quest to serve the people of Enugu state a broader level made him leave the House of Representatives where he gave his federal constituency quality representation for 12 years, to seek election as the state Governor, he has been living out his name and title. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s victory at the 2015 Enugu state governorship contest brought with a new lease of life for the people of the state.

    Essentially, as his first name, Ifeanyichukwu, implies, Governor Ugwuanyi, putting God first, has been able to surmount vagaries of office to wrought uncommon transformation on Enugu state. And as a Gburugburu, the enchanting Ugwuanyi story is a common refrain on the lips of Enugu people. The story of how he turned Enugu around just within two and half years of assumption of office has become a melodious song on the lips of the people.

    Ugwuanyi has solidly stamped his presence everywhere in the state in the mould of signatures projects of his three year old administration.

    The Ugwuanyi phenomena is emotionally and vividly captured here: There is a touching correlation between 1919, the governor and Amuri, a sleepy community in Nkanu West local government area of the state. The British colonial administration had intervened on the Community’s road in 1919 with a signpost to show for it.The signpost still stands till today as a nostalgic reminder of the ‘benevolence’ of the British colonial overlords to Amuri . As narrated by the people, since 1919, successive governments in the state have turned their backs on Amuri and treated them as second citizens as no form of infrastructural development has taken place in their community.

    A hundred years later, Amuri has got a new ‘signpost’ courtesy governor Ugwuayi- a road his administration constructed in the community- and the people are ecstatic. When the governor visited Amuri recently to inspect the road, his presence elicited wild excitement as the people enthusiastically trooped out to welcome him.

    Ugwuanyi’s intervention in Amurri is also true of other parts of the state. His state-wide people oriented socio- economic and infrastructural re-invention of Enugu resonates in all nooks and crannies of the state. Indeed, Ugwuanyi’s wondrous achievements within the two and half years he has been on the saddle speak for him. Avalanche of unsolicited 2019 second term endorsements he has received so far have their locale in his achievements. The people of Enugu are appreciative and want him back in 2019.All they want is Gburugburu and no one else.

    Ugwuanyi is unassuming and has no airs around him. And unlike some of his brother-governors; the Enugu state helmsman does not dance to the gallery. And  is not a slave to media propaganda in terms of showing off his achievements. As a Public Relations guru, the governor knows that publics deserve undiluted truth rather than pernicious propagandas, instead of trumpeting, hyping his government’s projects that dot the state’s landscape in the media or listing non existing projects as his, he delivers visible, verifiable projects and allow the people to do the trumpeting, cheering and clapping themselves. This has earned him unprecedented goodwill no governor of the state has ever enjoyed in the history of Enugu state.

    Primate of the Methodist Church in Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr.Kanu Uche , normally not one to heap effusive praises on politicians, says Ugwuanyi is exceptional and deserves a 2019 come back. To the Methodist Church leader, Ugwuanyi is a poster boy of good and purposeful governance. His words: “Any governor or politician who wants to be re-elected in 2019 must perform as that is the best campaign to give to the people the dividend of democracy.”

    Then, the clincher: “Governor Ugwuanyi has done very well…even those in graves, if they are allowed to vote will vote for you, the performing governor of Enugu state. This man is using the resources given to him very well to develop the state”.

    Like former President Goodluck Jonathan who in one of his famous speeches had declared ‘I have no enemies to fight’, Ugwuanyi, evidently has no enemies to fight in Enugu politics. The state has in the past been the hotbed of octane political wrangling.

    In terms of peaceful political atmosphere and tolerance, Ugwuanyi’s Enugu is a clean break from the Enugu of his two immediate predecessors during whose tenures the state witnessed debilitating political fisticuffs and endless feuds among its political actors. However, the bi-partisan approach to politics which Ugwuanyi brought to bear on his relationship with politicians across parties in the state is largely responsibility for the prevailing tranquility in Enugu’s political turf.

    Senator Gilbert Nnaji representing Enugu East describes Dovish Ugwuanyi in the following flowery terms: ‘The prevailing peace, political tolerance and bi-partisan disposition that defines his government rekindle hope that of a truth there can be dividends of democracy without necessarily deploying state resources to suppress dissenting voices. He has unified the leaders and elders of the state such that political parties in the state today merely exist in the books even as access to better life is no longer determined by political consideration or other illogical sentiments. His commitment to things that benefits the masses as against personal interests of the privileged few as it is unprecedented.”

    Evidence of his harmonious relationship with the main opposition All Progressives Congress, APC in the state can be gleaned from praises often heaped on him by leaders of the party.APC National Vice Chairman, South east, Emma Eneukwu eulogies Ugwuanyi thus: “Governor Ugwuanyi has created a peaceful atmosphere that has made it possible for everybody to be one when it comes to issues concerning the state”.

    Other APC leaders, including Second Republic governor of the old Anambra State, Jim Nwobodo, former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Director-General of Voice of Nigeria,Osita Okechukwu and Foreign Minister, Geoffrey Onyema, have kind words for Ugwuanyi.

    Ugwuanyi’s shrewd management of financial resources of Enugu state in the face of debilitating economic challenges is one of the hallmarks of his administration. His judicious use of the Paris Club refund recently earned him commendation from Senator Abdullahi Gumel, Chairman of the Senate Committee on State and local government administration who acknowledged the Governor’s transparency and accountability in the application of the fund. Senator Gumel: “We have gone through the books and as far as the bailout funds are concerned, everything is in order .In fact, Enugu state has even gone further because we haven’t seen this in any other state”.

    It confounds many that Ugwuanyi executed the transformative projects without borrowing a dime unlike many of his counterparts. However, being an Accountant and manager of money, Ugwuanyi knows the benefits of financial discipline and prudency.

    Appreciative of the their governor’s solid stamps on sands of time, outpouring of supports and endorsements for Ugwuanyi’s yet to be declared second term has been overwhelming. , For example traders in the state recently shut markets and poured into the famous Michael Okpara Square for a rally in support of his re-election in 2019. The traders are enamored by Ugwuanyi’s innovative human development and empowerment programme which ensures that 100 of them (traders) win #50,000 every month to help expand their businesses.

    Commercial Tricycle riders, motorcyclists among many other groups and associations in the state have also organized  huge rallies thanking Ugwuanyi for his magical strides and endorsing his return in 2019.

    Apart from his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP which has since expressly given its nod for Ugwuanyi’s second term, various political parties in the state under the aegis of Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC has also endorsed him for second term. Many prominent chieftains of the main opposition in the state, APC agree Ugwuanyi is a good product that must be kept hence they are massively working for his re-election albeit secretly for the fear of being accused of anti-party activities by their party.

    Senator Nnaji wants fellow PDP members in the state nursing the ambition of jostling for the party’s 2019 guber ticket with Ugwuanyi to bury the idea because “in keeping faith with his electoral promises, he has radically changed the narratives and conspicuously raised the bar of good governance and service delivery .His people –oriented, all inclusive and responsive leadership has indeed entrenched a new order where everyone and every part truly belong”

    Workers in the state’s civil service say they have never had it so good as they applaud Governor Ugwuanyi for paying them 13th month salary last December. Enugu retirees are also singing the governor’s adulation for not owing them pensions. The Nigerian Labour Unions say Enugu under Ugwuanyi comes tops in the areas of minimum wage implementation.

    Apart from Primate Kanu, prominent clergymen in Enugu are equally bearing witnesses to the governor’s sterling performance. These include two fiery priests, the Anglican Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, Emmanuel Chukwuma and Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Ministry (AMEN) fame.

    While Enugu indigenes and other Nigerians who are awed by Ugwuanyi’s massive re-engineering of Enugu stridently endorse him for second term, others are already carving a role for him beyond 2019 and seeing him through the prism of 2023.One of such persons is Ebere Wabara, a columnist and social commentator. Said Wabara in a piece recently: “I have the conviction that, at the opportune time, Governor Ugwuanyi would be thinking of Igbo presidency and his robust prospects. He should begin to luxuriate on that presently since his re-election is a foregone matter on the ground of his leadership quintessence and currency exponential endorsements”

    With the massive state-wide goodwill he enjoys on the account of his trail blazing performance, 2019 governorship contest in Enugu looks good to be one duel between Gburugburu and Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi. For, as it is said in Nigeria’s local political parlance, there is no vacancy in Enugu State Government House!

    • Nwobodo writes from Nike, Enugu.
  •  Oyo APC holds primaries Monday, douses tension over council poll

     Oyo APC holds primaries Monday, douses tension over council poll

    In preparation for the local government councils election slated for May 12, 2018, the All Progressives Congress (APC)  in Oyo State has slated party primaries for Monday February 19, 2018 to enable delegates pick candidates for all the chairmanship and councillorship seats across the state.

    The fixing of primaries will douse the tension hanging on the planned council poll in the state.

    The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) had shifted the deadline of February 14 given to participating political parties to conclude their primaries by a week ostensibly to pave the way for the inclusion of the new wards recently created in the much-awaited poll.

    Addressing reporters at the party’s state headquarters, Oke-Ado, Ibadan yesterday, the State Chairman, Chief Akin Oke,  said the Monday intra-party electoral process would be carried out in strict compliance with the provisions of the constitution of the party as it assured of a high level transparency and a hitch-free exercise.

    “For the councillorship primaries, all registered party members would gather at their ward headquarters to carry out the process of nominating one out of the available number of aspirants and this is expected to take place between 8am and 12noon. It is expected that aspirants and their supporters would play game according to the rule and ensure that peace reigned all through.

  • Buhari welcomes Anambra, Taraba, FCT polls results

    The Presidency on Sunday said that the outcome of the INEC-organized elections at the weekend, in which three different political parties won, is a manifestation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s deep commitment to free and fair elections.

    A Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu, who was commenting on the outcome of the polls  said: ‘‘the President is inherently committed to the independence of the electoral commission in his belief that the will of the people shall be the basis of authority of government which is expressed through periodic, free and fair elections. He will do nothing to impede INEC.”

    Congratulating the winners of the elections in Anambra central senatorial district, Ardo Kola state constituency in Taraba and Gwagwalada central constituency in the FCT, on behalf of the President the spokesman reaffirmed that under President Buhari’s watch, Nigeria will record more free, fair and credible elections.

    He reiterated the President’s commitment to strengthening democratic institutions in the country, by ensuring that all relevant institutions in the electoral process maintain a high-level of professionalism and independence throughout the electoral process.

    While commending INEC, security agencies, civil societies, the media and other stakeholders for their roles in the elections, Malam Garba called on parties not satisfied with the outcome of the polls to heed the President’s counsel by seeking legal redress through constitutional means.

  • Early voting: Low voter turnout recorded in Anambra Central re-run poll

    Early voting: Low voter turnout recorded in Anambra Central re-run poll

    Low voter turnout characterised early voting in the Anambra Central Senatorial District re-run election organised by the INEC.

    Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited voting centres in Awka South, Awka North, Dunukofia, Njikoka, Idemili North, Idemili South and Anaocha Local Government Areas report that electoral officials were at the polling units by 8 a.m.

    At Aroma Junction I&II polling units in Awka South, Miss Edith Igoromi, the INEC electoral officer, told NAN that five people have voted as at 8.30 a.m, while at ward eight unit three and four, seven and 10 people had voted.

    NAN reports that at Aaba town Hall polling unit 005 and 006 both in Dunukofia, voting began at 8 a.m with four persons and two respectively voting at both units.

    At Akpu in Ukpo also in Dunukofia, voting started at 8 a.m with the same low number of voters recorded.

    NAN correspondents, who visited polling unit at Obosi Central School in Idemili North, Enugwu-Uku in Njikoka, polling unit eight located in Nri Primary in Anaocha also report that voting commenced at 8 a.m though the turnout was still low.

    NAN reports that in all the polling units visited; only the agents of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) were sighted at the voting centres.

    Mr Okonkwo Jisike, APGA agent, told NAN at Aroma Junction that he was impressed with the peaceful conduct of the exercise, adding “though the turnout is low, the exercise is going on peacefully’’.

    NAN reports that observers were yet to arrive in the voting stations visited while there were impressive presence of security in all the polling units visited. (NAN)

  • Go on with the poll

    • INEC should proceed with Anambra Central senatorial election

    We commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for deciding to go ahead with the Anambra Central Senatorial election, scheduled for Saturday, despite the shenanigans of some political actors in that state, in alleged connivance with judicial officials. For a lay man, the attempt by a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice John Tsoho, to stall the slated election by foisting a senator on the district amounts to judicial rascality.

    But of course, judges are a special breed, and who knows what informed the judgment of the learned judge, even when the ordinary man will consider the judgment as a black market product? The fact bears probability to the doubters of the wisdom in that judgment. According to reports, in December 2015, the Appeal Tribunal for Anambra State affirmed the judgment of the National Assembly Election Tribunal, which had nullified the election of Uche Ekwunife as the senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District.

    The Appeal Tribunal, like the lower tribunal, held that Ekwunife was not validly nominated by her party, and therefore ordered a bye-election within 90 days. A later attempt by Ekwunife to get the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgment of the Appeal Tribunal disqualifying her and her party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from participating in the bye-election was rebuffed. A further attempt for the Supreme Court to intervene was disparaged by the apex court which held that the Appeal Tribunal was the final court in such election matters.

    While Ekwunife was crisscrossing the courts, the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC), whose candidate in the 2015 elections, Chris Ngige, presently the Minister of Labour and Productivity, had withdrawn from the re-ordered election, sought to nominate fresh candidates against the judgment of the Appeal Tribunal. A challenge of that attempt again resulted in a new suit at the Federal High Court, before Justice Anwuli Chikere, who gave a perpetual injunction restraining INEC from conducting the election without PDP.

    INEC duly appealed the judgment, while the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Umeh, also filed an appeal against that judgment. According to reports, the Court of Appeal, in its judgments on the two appeals, set aside the judgment delivered by Justice Chikere and made a consequential order that INEC should conduct a bye-election within 90 days. In compliance with the judgment of the Court of Appeal, INEC has set Saturday for the conduct of the election.

    Curiously, despite the unambiguous judgment of the Court of Appeal, Justice Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on December 13, following a suit before him, held that one Obiora Okonkwo was the duly nominated candidate of the PDP, at the party primary held on December 7, 2014, and as such, was the person who won the election credited to Ekwunife in 2015. In the strange judgment, the judge directed that Mr Okonkwo should be sworn in as the duly elected senator for Anambra Central, and should be paid all the emoluments due to a senator since 2015.

    If we are not running a constitutional democracy, based on rule of law, or in the least, common sense, we will be tempted to believe that the judge had a peculiar wisdom, which informed his curious judgment. But no! We run a constitutional democracy and section 1(1) of the 1999 constitution says that the constitution is supreme. Considering that under the hierarchy of courts, a judgment of the Court of Appeal is superior to that of the High Court, Nigerians await the National Judicial Council (NJC) to know whether Justice Tsoho was being intransigent against the constitution, by his curious judgment.

    Once again, we welcome the decision of INEC to go ahead with the election. That is the commonsensical thing to do. We urge the commission to ensure fairness in the elections as politicians would want to play games again. The security agents should also be ready to do their job. Anambra  Central deserves a representative in the Senate and this, INEC has a responsibility to bring to fruition. To us, the commission is standing on a good pedestal to conduct the poll.

     

  • Kano poll agency gets secretary

    Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has approved the appointment of Wada Bashir Isiaku as secretary of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC).

    A statement by the Commissioner for Information Garba Muhammad said Isiaku was a former Secretary of the commission from 2003 to 2007.

    Isiaku holds a Master’s degree in Special Education and Bachelor’s in Law from Bayero University, Kano.

    He worked with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as electoral officer in Bagwai, Gezawa, and Ajingi Local Government Areas, and Head of Logistics, state INEC headquarters.

    Isiaku was also a part-time lecturer with the Aminu Kano College of Islamic and Legal Studies, Kano.

    His appointment takes immediate effect.

  • Anambra poll: Group rates security, INEC high

    Anambra poll: Group rates security, INEC high

    The Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group (ISDMG) has hailed the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the conduct of the Anambra State governorship election.

    The group said this while briefing reporters on its preliminary report released in Awka, the state capital. Its Executive Director, Dr Chima Amadi, said the group deployed 100 observers across the 21 local government areas to observe the election and the House of Assembly by-election in Idemili North.

    Amadi said personnel and materials were deployed early in most polling units, with the exception of few places. He said it is a sign that INEC prepared well for the contest and, as a result, voting started early in many polling units. He said Card Readers malfunctioned in a few areas, but were promptly rectified by INEC technical team.

    The Director said: “The practice of simultaneous accreditation and voting contributed immensely in activating voter participation and reduction of tension at voting points. There was improvement in the conduct of personnel — INEC and ad-hoc — which in our view can be attributed to the quality of training, ahead of the Election Day.’’

    He noted with dismay the incidence of “vote buying and selling” openly on election and concluded that such practice had cast a slur on the integrity of the votes. He, however, commended the Federal Government for improving on logistics and welfare of the policemen and other security agencies for the exercise.

    Amadi observed that most polling units in the cities close to Awka, the state capital, had at least four security officers, while in rural areas, they had one or two officers at polling units.