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Tag: polls shift

  • Oshiomhole, Obaseki meet APC leaders in Edo

    Less than 48 hours to the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly elections slated for February 23, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Thursday met with leaders of the APC from the 18 local government councils in the state.

    Speaking to journalists after the closed-door meeting at Government House in Benin City, Governor Obaseki said his administration has recorded huge successes within a short time owing to support from President Buhari.

    He said: “Edo is an APC state and there is no doubt about it. President Buhari led-administration has been supportive to us. He has granted all our requests. He has also assured to do more for us.”

    Read Also: Obaseki orders payment of February salary to Edo workers

    The governor expressed confidence that the state would deliver one million votes for the re-election of President Buhari.

    Oshiomhole assured that the party would not allow thuggery and ballot box snatching during conduct of the elections on Saturday, February 23, across the country.

    He noted: “We had a special meeting today. We met as APC family to reaffirm our commitment in ensuring we do what is expected of us as leaders to mobilise Edo people to vote en masse for President Muhammadu Buhari and other APC candidates in the election.

    “In Edo, we are used to one man, one vote. So, we will not allow thuggery and ballot box snatching,” he said.

    According to Oshiomhole, President Buhari has demonstrated that he is a trusted and honest leader, who deserves re-election to complete his developmental agenda across the country.

    He said: “We have resolved to give Buhari a second term and based on the track records of the APC governments in Edo State, I believe President Buhari will win.“

  • Poll’s shift: Fed Govt orders payment of February salary

    The Federal Government yesterday ordered the immediate payment of February salaries to enable workers wishing to travel to vote in the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly election on Saturday.

    Information, Culture & Tourism Minister Lai Mohammed broke the news to reporters after yesterday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to him, the payment of February salaries to federal workers began on Tuesday.

    The early payment, he said is “to ease the burden off civil servants planning to travel for the elections”.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the election billed for last Saturday by a week.

    Many, who travelled to their voting destinations, were forced to return to their bases and there is fear among the populace that many will not return.

    The minister, who said the FEC discussed the issue, said that it also reviewed some of the palliatives put in place to help people return to cast their votes.

    He said the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), with a membership of about 50,000 and “who controls 80 per cent of petroleum sector distribution has agreed to cushion the effect of the postponement by reducing the price of pump price of petrol from N145 to 140 from February 21st to 25th”.

    Read also: Army Chief: ballot box snatchers’ll be dealt with

    The minister said the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), who has about two million members and operates motor parks in all the 774 local government areas across the country, has offered to provide discount to travellers using their motor parks.

    He said: “All these are aimed at encouraging voters who might have been disenfranchised by the postponement.”

    The minister also said that as part of the incentives, two airlines – Aero Contractors and Arik Air – are offering discounted fares to passengers.

    Aero, Mohammed said, is offering a 50 per cent discount to all travellers who present their Permanent Voters Card (PVC), at the point of purchase. Arik has slashed the price of their tickets to N16, 000 to all destinations across the country from February 18 to 11 March 11.

    Asked if FEC backed President’s directives to security agencies to shoot ballot box snatchers, he said “Absolutely. I mean if you want to intimidate voters to steal the mandate of the people, you should be able to face the wrath of the law.”

    Budget & National Planning Minister Udoma Udo Udoma disclosed that the Council was briefed about the fourth quarter report of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), describing the report as encouraging.

  • Poll shift: FG orders immediate payment of February salary

    The Federal Government on Wednesday ordered the immediate payment of February salaries to assist workers wishing to travel to vote during Saturday’s rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to him, the payment of February salaries to federal workers commenced on Tuesday.

    The early payment, he said is “to ease the burden off civil servants planning to travel for the elections”.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the elections to this Saturday.

    Many who travelled to their voting destinations were forced to return to their bases and there is fear among the populace that many will not return.

    The Minister, who said FEC on Wednesday discussed the issue, said that it also reviewed some of the palliatives put in place to help people return to cast their votes.

    He said the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), with a membership of about 50,000 and “who controls 80% of petroleum sector distribution has agreed to cushion the effect of the postponement by reducing the price of pump price of petrol from N145 to 140 from February 21st to 25th”.

    The Minister said the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) with about 2 million members and operates motor parks in all the 774 local government areas across the country has offered to provide discount to travellers using their motor parks.

    “All these is aimed at encouraging voters who might have been disenfranchised by the postponement,” he said

    He also said as part of the incentives, two airlines, Aero contractors and Arik Air are offering discounted fares to passengers.

    He said while Aero is offering a 50 percent discount to all travellers who present their Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) at point of purchase, Arik has slashed the price of their tickets to N16,000 to all destinations across the country from February 18 to 11 March 11, 2019.

  • Polls shift: Group urges agents to beef up security

    A South African based election observer body, Pan African Women’s Project, has urged the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency beef up its security apparatus, ahead of the rescheduled February 23 March 9, general election, so as to avert a planned bomb attack by political Thugs worshippers in the country.

    The Publicity Secretary of the body, Madam Mphoentle Keitseng,who spoke to reporters on arrival with her team from Abuja last night at Bristol Hotel,said,”following some classified information that reached us,a planned attack/Bomb explosion at some sensitive locations in some areas is targeted at general Mosque and popular market, as well as Churches.

    According to the body,”this is a message to Nigeria government,as we used this medium to speak with the Nigeria government to beef up security on all public areas,such as mosque,churches and markets for protection.

    Keitseng,further said,”following our consultation with various stakeholders with regard to the recent postponement Nigeria 2019 general elections,we observed that the Nigeria government did not release the INEC fund on time which resulted in supply not been made to produce materials as expected for elections.

    For instance, many observers groups are yet to receive their accreditations tags,Jackets and caps.

    When asked,how do they come to know about the non release of fund on time,she said that,they got the information from suppliers that the money was released to them last month as deposit,which brought about the delay in the supply of the sensitive and non sensitive materials normally used during elections.

    She,however,urged INEC to ensure that everything are in order for a peaceful,free,fair and credible 2019 general elections.

    She also advised voters to come out en–mass and exercise their franchise without fear or favour.

    Speaking to the Nation,the spokesman of the Kano state Police Command,DSP Abdullahi Haruna said that Police were not aware of planned attack ,adding that,”the group has not contacted us about the information.”

    According to him,we have taken adequate measures to ensure the conduct of a peaceful election in the state.

  • 2019: Over 10m PVCs collected so far – INEC

    Over 10 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have so far been collected, the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has said.

    Over 14 million new registered voters were added onto the voter register since after the 2015 general elections.

    The PVCs are to be used for voting in the general elections which commence on Saturday with the presidential and National Assembly elections, while the governorship State Assembly and FCT council polls comes up on the 9th of March, 2019.

    Read Also: Polls: Again, FG reads riot act to INEC

    The polls were earlier scheduled for 16th February and 2nd March 2019 but was however rescheduled following the inability of the commission to successfully execute its logistics arrangement.

    Full story shortly…

  • Polls: Again, FG reads riot act to INEC

    ..Says no more excuses

     

    The Federal Government has again read out the riot act to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The Federal Governmenton Wednesday said INEC is condemned to conduct election this Saturday; saying nothing less will be acceptable.

    Besides, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mathew Onyeama said the government demands 100% assurance that this Saturday is sacrosanct.

    Details shortly…

  • Breaking: INEC okays resumption of political campaigns

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (lNEC) has okayed resumption of political campaign

    The commission, at the end of its management meeting on Monday evening, said all campaigns for the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly elections end on Thursday.

    Details shortly…

  • Police prosecute 600 electoral offenders in Kano

    Over 600 hoodlums have been prosecuted in Kano electoral- related crimes, Commissioner of Police Mohammed Wakil has stated.

    Wakili, who spoke during an interactive session with reporters at the Command headquarters, added his men arrested over 780 suspects in connection to alleged electoral violence and political thuggery in the state.

    According to him, the command is determined to ensure the conduct of peaceful rescheduled elections.

    He said the rate at which youths were turned into political thugs was very alarming, especially at this moment of electioneering.

    He stated: “we have arrested over 780 youths and suspected bandits who are being used as political thugs.

    “These criminal elements also engage in pick-pockets, harassment of innocent citizens who they waylay and snatch their phones and other personal belongings.’’

    Wakili noted over 600 out of the suspects have been prosecuted, adding that arrangements have been concluded to arraign others.

    “We are serious on this mission to stamp out thuggery from Kano politics.

    Read Also: Police parade 63 suspects over pre-electoral violence in A’Ibom

    “We are leaving no stone unturned to make sure that Kano remains peaceful before, during and after the general elections.

    “I call on parents and political leaders to guide their wards and followers. It is no fun for us arresting these youths, but they should obey the law and become good ambassadors of the society,” he stated.

    He maintained that the Police in the state had embarked on special operations aimed at curtailing the menace of drug abuse in Kano.

    According to him: “We have also declared total war against drug dealers and users because drug abuse is the major catalyst that drives these youths crazy and lead them into committing all sorts of crimes.”

    He urged parents, guardians, community and religious leaders to collaborate with the Police and other security agencies aimed at addressing the challenges of drug abuse in Kano.

  • Court asked to reverse INEC’s ban on campaigns

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has been asked to declare unlawful the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that political parties could no longer campaign despite its postponement of elections.

    The request is contained in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/206/2019, filed by the Action People’s Party (APP).

    The plaintiff argued that by virtue of “the combined effect of the mandatory statutory provisions of Sections 99(1), 100(1) and 101(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as Amended)” INEC could not validly bar campaigns by registered political parties for the 2019 general election before a period earlier than 24 hours prior to the date of the election”.

    It wants the court to determine, “Whether by Sections 99(1), 100(1) and 101(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as Amended) the announcement, directive or order by INEC directing registered political parties, including the APP, to stop or end their campaign for the 2019 General Elections on February 14, 2019 for polls that will hold on February 23, 2019 is not ultra vires its powers, illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever”.

    Read Also: Court insists on Imo APC Exco’s legitimacy

    In the substantive suit, the plaintiff sought among others, “A declaration that INEC cannot issue any directive or make any order stopping, barring or ending campaign by registered political parties, including the APP, for the 2019 General Elections to a period other than 24 hours prior to the date of the elections;

    “A declaration that the announcement, directive or order by INEC directing political parties, including the APP, to stop or end their campaign for the 2019 General Elections on February 14, 2019 for polls that will hold on February 23, 2019 is ultra vires its powers, illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever; and

    “A declaration that in view of the postponement of the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly Elections till February 23, 2019, APP Party and indeed all registered political parties in Nigeria are legally entitled, pursuant to Sections 99(1), 100(1) and 101(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as Amended), to resume forthwith and/or recommence campaign until February 21, 2019 been 24 hours prior the date of the election.”

    In an ex-parte application of urgency filed with the suit, the plaintiff wants an order of injunction restraining the defendant from stopping, ending or in any other manner whatsoever giving effect to the directive or order purported ending or stopping campaign by political parties for the 2019 general elections on February 14, 2019 pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”

    The suit, filed on Monday, is yet to be assigned for hearing.

  • Dickson: Nigeria heading for constitutional crisis if…

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson on Monday warned of a looming major constitutional crisis if the elections failed to hold as rescheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Dickson, who briefed journalists in Government House, Yenagoa, said there was a need for all stakeholders to work collectively to avert the crisis.

    To avert looming succession crisis, Dickson suggested President Muhammadu Buhari should immediately convened an expanded emergency meeting of the National Council of State.

    He said the meeting should have the service chiefs, INEC, political party leaders and their candidates and other major stakeholders in attendance.

    He said the stakeholders in the meeting should resolve on the new date for the postponed elections, adding that INEC was wrong to have unilaterally chosen next Saturday for the rescheduled poll.

    He cautioned leaders against name-calling, appealing to them to work in the interest of the country to avoid plunging Nigeria into avoidable succession crisis.

    He said it was unpatriotic for anyone to be calling for the removal of the INEC chairman, adding the country would be on a crossroad if two critical institutions of INEC and the Supreme Court were undergoing crisis at the same time.

    According to the governor: “This postponement belittled our country. It doesn’t show us as a serious country. Unless all stakeholders drop the habit of name-calling and claiming to be rights, we are moving close to a major constitutional crisis.

    “If anything should go wrong, we will have a full blown crisis; crisis of succession at a time the Supreme Court is also undergoing crisis.

    “We should not call for the removal of the INEC chairman. If INEC is in crisis and the Supreme Court is crisis I don’t know where we are headed.

    “I call on President Muhammadu Buhari as the leader of the country to convene an emergency meeting of the National Council of states to enable service chiefs and the INEC brief stakeholders on their preparations.

    “The meeting should involve the political party chairmen with the presidential candidates to examine the developing scenario which may plung our country into crisis. I believe that if we all sit down and know the circumstances, we should agree on a new date.

    “I disagree with INEC unilateral announcement of Saturday as a new date. I do not believe that all the challenges that INEC has can be resolved within six days.

    “A more sensible approach is needed. Our nation cannot afford another postponement”.

    The governor recalled that few hours to the postponed elections, Bayelsa did not have ballot papers for Presidential elections and stamps to authenticate votes.

    “Even now I am told there are issues of unserialised ballot papers”, he said adding that stakeholders expected customization of electoral materials.

    Read Also: Dickson: APC leaders don’t want me to receive Buhari

    The governor further commended Buhari for calling on security agencies to deal ruthlessly with troublemakers during the election.

    He said by such presidential directive, security agencies should no longer be encumbered from doing their jobs without fear or favour.

    He also disagreed with INEC on suspension of campaigns saying that his party would continue to engage the people in accordance with the established law of the land.