The Nation Newspaper

Tag: polls shift

  • Unity schools not affected by shift of polls – FG

    The Federal Government Monday stated that the 104 unity schools are not affected by the shift in the dates of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The government explained that students of the schools are expected to resume from their midterm break Tuesday.

    Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono, made the clarification in a telephone interview with our reporter in Abuja on Monday.

    Students of the unity colleges embarked on their midterm break on the 15th of this month.

    There were reports that the pupils may be affected by the shift in the dates of the general elections by INEC.

    But Echono said all the unity colleges are expected to resume their normal programmes Tuesday

    He said: “Unity schools are not closing. We only did our midterm because it was coinciding with the previous date.

    “The postponement of the election has nothing to do with our midterm break.

    “Our schools are resuming tomorrow and they are running our normal programmes. Our midterm break is over.

    “They are resuming after the midterm and they will be in school.”

  • Polls shift: NANS suspends protest in Ogun

    The National Association of Nigerian Students ( NANS ) has disclosed that it has suspended its protest earlier scheduled to take place in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Monday, following intelligence gathering that politicians have hijacked it.

    NANS also accused some of their members, especially from the umbrella body, of collecting money from politicians, ostensibly to keep them divided and mute over the postponed general elections in the country.

    The National Public Relations Officer of NANS, Com. Azeez Adeyemi, who made this known while addressing reporters in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, advised the affected colleagues to urgently return the money to the donor – politicians.

    Adeyemi lamented that politicians have infiltrated the NANS’ ranks and also sponsored human rights group to hijack their protest, but assured that all bad elements within NANS will be reported to the law enforcement authorities for questioning and prosecution if necessary.

    The NANS Image maker, however, issued 48 hours ultimatum to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to address the nation and assure Nigerians of “Free, Fair and Credible” election.

    He noted that the student body is yet to recover from the shock of the postponement but urged Nigerians to remain calm and focus.

    Adeyemi also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to give INEC the necessary support to ensure free, peaceful and credible general elections.

  • Poll’s shift: Buhari campaign group tackles PDP over comment

    Brickbats are still flying over the postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its main challenger Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were yesterday trading blames on what triggered the shift, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) attributed its 11th hour postponement to logistics problems.

    According to the Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO), INEC’s decision to postpone the  elections scuttled “a massive rigging plot” by the opposition.

    But the PDP accused the APC and the Presidency of sabotaging the INEC in an alleged orchestrated plot to engineer a staggered presidential election.

    The PDP said that President Muhammadu Buhari and APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole merely played to the gallery by their open condemnation of INEC by shifting the poll early Saturday.

    BCO was reacting to claims made by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) of an alleged plan by President Buhari to suspend INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu and replace him with Amina Zakari as acting chairman under the guise of the commission’s inability to conduct the national elections.

    But, in a statement yesterday by its Director of Communications and Strategic Planning, Mallam Gidado Ibrahim, the BCO said the reverse was the case, as INEC deliberately shifted the polls to thwart the opposition’s plan to rig the elections.

    The group noted that the alarm raised by the CUPP over the INEC chairman was a perfect plan to cover up for the massive rigging plotted by the PDP, which left the electoral body with no other option than to take the step it took.

    Ibrahim said: “The attention of the BCO has been drawn to a statement by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) in which it accused President Muhammadu Buhari of trying to sack INEC chairman. This came few hours after the Presidency had issued a statement expressing the president’s disappointment with the postponement of the elections.

    “The basis for the claims made by CUPP is that President Buhari, like every other Nigerian, expressed misgivings about the election shift. The truth, however, is that the opposition, with its shrill voice, is merely diverting attention from the revelation that they had perfected plans to rig the polls, using huge sums of money, which they distributed on the eve of the postponed elections.

    “Based on intelligence report that money had been shared by the opposition on the eve of the polls to buy voters, INEC decided to shift the elections to save the country from the sinister plot by the opposition to wheel the country back to the dark days of rigging and manipulation of the electoral process to rob Nigerians of their right to decide who becomes their leader.”

    The BCO urged Nigerians to be patient with INEC, adding that the commission’s decision to shift the elections was taken to save democracy from the fangs of corrupt politicians in the opposition who think elections in Nigeria can never be free, fair and credible.

    Ibrahim added: “We also urge Nigerians to be steadfast and watch out against corrupt political elements in the opposition who are bent on manipulating the electoral process in a desperate bid to return to power at all cost to continue their looting spree.

    “INEC took the decision of shifting the polls in good faith and we in the BCO are solidly behind the electoral body. President Buhari has assured severally that he will ensure the same free and fair process that brought him to power, and this he will surely do.”

    However, the PDP accused the governing party of planning to sell a staggered presidential election idea to the INEC, saying that “this was contrary to the simulated stance by the Presidency and the national chairman of the APC, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, in condemning the postponement of the February 16 elections.”

    In a statement yesterday by its spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP recalled what it described as its ceaseless protests against the continued retention of Mrs. Amina Zakari at a strategic post in INEC.

    The opposition party reiterated its position that Mrs. Zakari is a relation of President Muhammadu Buhari who is seeking re-election on the platform of the APC.

    The statement reads: “We have been reliably informed that the same Amina Zakari and another high-ranking INEC commissioner played a pivotal role in assisting the APC and Buhari Presidency in sabotaging the operations of INEC and scuttling the February 16 elections.

    “The reason for this is that President Buhari is determined to have a staggered election where he can use security agencies to subvert the will of the people at the polls.

    “These APC elements in INEC engineered actions that affected the distribution and delivery of INEC sensitive materials to designated locations, thereby frustrating the electoral process.

    “We also have details of how a hired team of data hackers corrupted the voters register, with a view to causing mass confusion and voters suppression on Election Day.

    “Nigerians would have been shocked that many registered voters in possession of their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) would have arrived at their polling centres on election day, only to discover to their amazement that their names had disappeared from the register in their units.”

    According to the PDP, intelligence report at its disposal further detailed how agents of the Buhari Presidency allegedly infiltrated the distribution system and ensured that sensitive election materials did not arrive at the designated locations; with the view to stalling elections in several states and paving the way for a staggered election.

    Ologbodiyan alleged: “This is in addition to deliberate swapping of sensitive election materials between different states and local governments so as to muddle up the process and stall election in affected areas. In some of the states like Edo, sensitive election materials did not arrive at their designated points on APC interruption.”

    He said the opposition party had a pact to stand with Nigerians.

    INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu explained to stakeholders’ at a meeting what informed the shifting of the election.

    At the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja, venue of the meeting, Prof Yakubu said that he took responsibility for the postponement.

    Many of the stakeholders, including former Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka, who stood in for the PDP National Chairman, commented on the INEC explanation.

  • Polls shift: ‘INEC acted to stop rigging’

    The Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO) has alleged that the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the 2019 elections saved the country from massive rigging plotted by the opposition.

    The president’s support group stated this in reaction to claims made on Saturday by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) of an alleged plan by President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend INEC chairman, Prof.  Mahmood Yakubu and replace him with Amina Zakari as acting chairman under the guise of the commission’s inability to conduct the presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Its Director of Communications and Strategic Planning, Mallam Gidado Ibrahim, said the INEC deliberately shifted the polls to thwart the plan by the opposition to rig the elections.

    The group noted that the alarm raised by CUPP over plans to remove INEC chairman was a perfect plan to cover up for the massive rigging plotted by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which left the electoral body with no other option than to postpone the elections.

    Ibrahim said: “The attention of the BCO has been drawn to a statement by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) in which it accused President Muhammadu Buhari of trying to sack INEC chairman. This came few hours after the Presidency had issued a stament expressing the president’s disappointment with the postponement of the elections.

    “The basis for the claims made by CUPP is that President Buhari, like every other Nigerian, expressed misgivings about the election shift. The truth, however, is that the opposition, with its shrill voice, is merely diverting attention from the revelation that they had perfected plans to rig the polls using huge sums of money, which they distributed on the eve of the postponed elections.

    “Based on intelligence report that money had been shared by the opposition on the eve of the polls to buy voters, INEC decided to shift the elections to save the country from the sinister plot by the opposition to wield the country back to the dark days of rigging and manipulation of the electoral process to rob Nigerians of their right to decide who becomes their leader”.

    The BCO further appealed to Nigerians to be patient with INEC, saying the commission’s decision to shift the elections was taken to save democracy from the fangs of corrupt politicians in the opposition who think elections in Nigeria can never be free,  fair and credible.

    “We also urge Nigerians to be steadfast and watch out against corrupt political elements in the opposition who are bent on manipulating the electoral process in a desperate bid to return to power at all cost to continue their looting spree. INEC took the decision of shifting the polls in good faith and we in the BCO are solidly behind the electoral body. President Buhari has assured severally that he will ensure the same free and fair process that brought him to power, and this he will surely do,” Ibrahim added.

  • Nigerians count losses from polls shift

    • We’ll lose billions of naira, say NACCIMA, others • Lagos, Aba markets record low patronage

    How much could Nigeria have lost to the unexpected postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections?

    Although, we may never have an accurate figure, the millions of Nigerian traders, artisans, farmers and motorists who had to stay at home yesterday doing nothing are already counting their losses on account of the polls shift.

    The Vice President, National Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, (NACCIMA), Mr. Tony Ejinkeonye, says Nigeria will lose billions of naira.

    Ejinkeonye, who is also the Director, Business Development for Africa, Esilknet Africa Network Ltd., told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja that the postponement would affect the economy adversely.

    “It is quite unfortunate that the election was postponed. Economically, billions of naira have been lost and will be lost in the coming weeks. Industries, businesses, including airlines, were affected by the movement restriction.

    “We expect also the same thing happening in the coming weeks. Most important effect is the perception of the international financial community.

    “Situations like this will create panic with massive withdrawal and stoppage of funds inflow to Nigeria. I dread the effects in the stock market on Monday,” he said.

    Ejinkeonye, who said that it would be difficult to determine the actual figure of the loss but would be in billions of naira, said however that the real cost would be the loss of investor confidence.

    Also speaking, the President, National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTs), Mr. Ken Ukaoha,  said the country would  lose more than N140 billion due to the postponement.

    Ukaoha noted that the postponement would affect the economy adversely in terms of money that the government, political parties and ordinary Nigerians had already expended on logistics and otherwise.

    He described the election postponement as appalling and unfortunate which could make the nation become a laughing stock among the comity of nations.

    “The loss is monumental; if you look at the economic consequences, essentially if you look at trading; Nigeria depends so much on daily turning of fund through distribution and redistribution of goods and commodity.

    “I am telling you that with this calculation I have just done here, we are losing nothing less than 140 billion naira, because we all got this information so late

    “If you go round now, you will see that the shops are closed, so we are losing a lot  of money just for this incident.

    “We are not talking about the manufacturers and the industrialists because they have all sent their workers away to go and perform their civic duty.

    “Farmers did not go to their farms because they want to exercise their franchise. If you do the computation, your guess is as good as mine in terms of what the nation is losing, we should learn.”

    An economist, Mr. Chijioke Ekechukwu, believes the  postponement of the elections will affect credit rating and already threatened portfolio investments in the country.

    Ekechukwu noted that the investments would likely flow out in large value.

    According to him, beginning from Feb. 16, the stock market will go bearish due to the postponement.

    “What will the international observers who already had their return tickets for Monday or Tuesday do after the failed election.

    “They will indeed fly back and not come back as they didn’t budget for any extra cost and extra stay.

    “What will happen to school children who are at home presently because of the election.’’

    Ekechukwu expressed worry that Nigerians would be made to bear the losses.

    A Lagos businessman, Damilare Akinseye, said INEC completely destabilised him by the postponement announcement.

    He said: “They have thwarted all my plans. Things I was supposed to have done on Friday, I had to shelve them so that I could be around for the elections. Now, they want me to incur losses again next week?

    “It continues to baffle me why a country that has spent so much preparing for this election will at the last minute cancel it. Considering all the monumental sums that have been given to INEC, what is the issue of logistics here?

    A tomato seller at Mile 12 market lamented low patronage, stating that most of their customers had either travelled for the polls or were scared to  come out.

    She said: “You can see how everywhere is still empty. A lot of people travelled to their villages to vote. They should have made this announcement some days back so that people would not travel. Now, they have made us to lose money and next Saturday we will not sell. They should be considering the sufferings of ordinary Nigerians before taking such decisions,” she said.

    Island Club Manager, Olubunmi Fasan, said: “ a lot of economic gains that would have accrued if today had not been chosen earlier could not be achieved.

    “A lot of people had their occasions cancelled, students came back from school, foreign delegates who travelled to Nigeria to monitor the conduct of the election are now forced to stay back or go back to their base to come back next week for the same exercise.”

    Edo food vendors lament

    Food vendors in Edo State were hard hit by the postponement.

    Some of them had already arrived polling centres as early as 6 a.m. with cooked food to sell only to be told that the elections had been shifted by a week.

    One Mrs. Theresa Igbinosa, a food vendor at Western Boys High School in Ikpoba-Okha ward 2, said she spent about N50,000 to prepare the food.

    “I am not only sad but very angry. I spent so much money and woke up as early as 2 a.m. to prepare this food. I have not even slept at all,” she said.

    “My problem now is what to do with the food because nobody is here to sell to and I am so confused right now. I even borrowed the money from my neighbour with a promise to pay back after sales.

    “INEC is not fair to us at all. Why did they have to wait till this morning to cancel the elections?”

    Osifo Lucky, another food vendor, said, “there is no hope for the poor in the country. Nobody puts you into consideration before taking any decision. They just wake up and do whatever that pleases them.

    “As you can see for yourself, I am looking at my food and the food is looking at me too. No buyer; the school is empty.”

    A Kano resident, Madam Martha Moses was full of pity for one of her friends, who according to her, had to reschedule the marriage of her son from yesterday to Saturday, February 23, the new date picked by INEC for the postponed elections.

    “You can see this kind of situation, where parents have committed a lot of money to prepare for the wedding.

    “Now, the wedding cannot even take place on February 23. This is a shame, as we have lost a lot of money to the inefficiency of INEC leadership to organise this election.”

    Commercial activities in most parts of Lagos were dull for much of yesterday.

    Most markets and petrol stations remained shut until late in the day while vehicular traffic was very low.

    The situation was the same in Aba North and South, Ugwunagbo, Ukwa West, Umuahia North and South as well as Isiala Ngwa North and South in Abia State.

    Patronage at some of the markets in Umuahia and Aba, including Ubani Market, Ariaria, Eziukwu and  Ahia Ohuru  was very low.

    Kano residents count losses

    Mixes feelings trailed the sudden postponement of yesterday’s Presidential and National Assembly Elections in Kano as residents lament the adverse effects of the Independent National Electrical Commission’s decision.

    Apart from engaging in panic purchase of food stuff and unsolicited withdrawal of money through ATM, a number of non-natives resident in the state had travelled to their various home states for fear of the unknown.

    Speaking to our reporter, cross-section of residents condemned the postponement, citing its economic implication on the part of the citizens and the federal government.

    According to Chief John Ikuku, “the postponement of this election is totally unnecessary. How can INEC suddenly wake up from slumber and said it was no longer ready enough to conduct the elections when sensitive materials have already been distributed across the nooks and crannies of the country?

    “Look, my brother, I have never witnessed this kind of scenario and I don’t think it has happened this way anywhere in the world. I have a feeling that this could be a ploy to rig the election.”

    Madam Martha Moses said, “I am disappointed with INEC. I think they are not serious, despite all encouragement and support given to them by the federal government to conduct the election. More so, despite assurances from INEC leadership, they came at this 11th hour with this laughable postponement without recourse to the negative effects and consequences upon the average Nigerian.

    “INEC leadership has totally lost credibility and the chairman should resign in shame because he has failed Nigerians, and I don’t think he can ever get it right.”

    Madam Martha added that, “the most painful aspect of it is that a friend of mine is to wed today, but the wedding was put off and slated for February 23. You can see this kind of situation, where the parents have committed a lot of money to prepare for the wedding.

    “Now, the wedding will not hold next week. As such, this is a shame on the part of INEC as we have lost a lot of money due to the inefficiency of INEC leadership to organise this election.”

    The Nation reports that INEC in Kano has started retrieving sensitive materials conveyed to various Local Government Areas for onward deposit to the Central Bank of Nigeria for safety.

    Kano remains calm and quiet as at the time of filling this report, as everyone is moving about their businesses unhindered.

    Security operatives were however sighted at strategic positions, performing their normal duties.

    Speaking to our reporter, the spokesman of Kano State Police Command, Haruna Abdullahi, said there was no cause for alarm as police is on top of the situation.

    He urged residents to remain law-abiding and go about their normal businesses without fear.

    Sani Bello calls for patience

    Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has described the postponement of the general elections by one week as unfortunate development but appealed to Nigerians to exercise understanding and patience

    He said INEC must have weigh the various options before arriving at the painful conclusion of postponing the election.

    In a statement signed by his Media and Publicity Coordinator, Mr. Jide Orintunsin, the Governor expressed hope that the decision of the electoral body is to ensure a credible election that would be satisfactory to the people.

    “The postponement of these elections are unfortunate but going by the INEC Chairman’s statement the decision to shift the election was necessary for the commission to successfully deliver its mandate of conducting a credible, free and election and for the consolidation of our democracy.

    Bride-to-be laments elections postponement

    The postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections has left a bride-to- be in a dilemma as the Independent National Electoral Commission’s  (INEC) timetable has disrupted her marriage plan for a second time.

    Miss Rita Osawende’s wedding was originally fixed for yesterday but was unexpectedly re-scheduled for Saturday, February 23, the same date she had picked because of the earlier clash of date.

    Osawende told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin that all arrangements for her big day had been concluded for February only for INEC to upset her plan again.

    “INEC please help me revisit this issue,” she said.

    “The original date was fixed for February 16, but as soon as I knew its elections day, it was postponed to February 23rd.

    “What do I do? All arrangements have been made.

    “I have printed and distributed my invitation cards for the wedding. I am so confused,” NAN quoted her as saying.

  • Polls shift: There were attempts to sabotage us, says INEC chairman

    • Dismisses allegations of political influence, incompetence, security lapse • Says campaign, PVC collection remain suspended

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday listed sabotage of its efforts as one of the reasons for the rescheduling of this year’s elections.

    Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the commission, said three fire incidents in a space of two weeks at INEC offices could not have been coincidental.

    Yakubu spoke yesterday in Abuja at a meeting with stakeholders to throw more light on why INEC had to postpone the elections,six hours  to the accreditation of voters for the presidential and national assembly polls.

    He said: “we also faced what may well be attempts to sabotage our preparations.

    “In a space of two week, we had to deal with serious fire  incidents in three of our office in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State, Qu’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State and our Anambra State Office at Awka.

    “In all three cases. serious disruptions were occasioned by the fire, further diverting our attention from regular preparations to recovery from the impact of the incidents.

    “In Isiala Ngwa South, hundreds of PVCs were burnt, necessitating the re-compiling of the affected cards and reprinting in time to ensure that the affected voters are not disenfranchised.

    “I am glad that all the cards were quickly reprinted and made available for collection by their owners.”

    Yakubu who has come under severe criticism from the public,groups and parties,especially the APC and PDP,the two main parties in the country, denied that the commission was being manipulated  from outside.

    He said the decision to postpone was entirely that of INEC management.

    His words:”Our decision is entirely taken by the commission. It has nothing to do with security, it has nothing to do with political influence, nothing to do with availability of sensitive material.

    “We believed that ultimately, this is for the good of our democracy and country. I wish to assure you of our commitment to free, fair and credible elections.”

    On the impact of the fire incidents,he said:” In Qu’an Pan Local Government Area, our entire office was razed, destroying all the materials prepared for the elections, printed register of voters, ballot boxes, voting cubicles and several electricity generating sets.

    “Registration Areas and over I00 polling units were affected by the fire. We recovered quickly and have since replaced everything destroyed. In addition, we secured a suitable building from which to conduct the elections.

    “Perhaps the most serious was the fire incident in our Anambra State Office at Awka, which destroyed over 4,695 Smart Card Readers being prepared for the elections. These Card Readers take at least six months to procure.

    “Despite this setback. we have practically recovered from this by mopping up every available spare SCR across the country and within 24 hours delivered them for elections to hold in Anambra State.

    “All these challenges mean that there have been differences in preparations from one state to another. Our overall assessment is that if the elections went on as planned, polls will not open at 8am in all polling units nationwide.

    “Yet, we are determined that polls must hold at the same time everywhere in the country. In this way, elections will not be staggered. This is very important to public perception of elections as free, fair and credible. We promised Nigerians that we shall be open. transparent and responsive.

    “Faced with these challenges, we initially thought that we only required a maximum of 24 hours to resolve the logistics issues involved and complete our deployment for the election.

    “This would mean shifting the elections to commence on Sunday 17th February 20l9. However, given the restriction of movement during elections, that could affect many votes who worship on Sundays.

    “ While the Commission was considering the following Monday 18th February 2019 as an option, our lCT Department advised us that it would require 5 -6 days to reconfigure about 180,000 Smart Card Readers earlier programmed to work only on election day Saturday 16th February 20l9. It is for this reason that the Commission decided to adjust the election dates to Saturday 23rd  February 2019 for Presidential and National Assembly elections and a consequential adjustment of Governorship, State Assembly and FCT Area Council elections to Saturday 9th March 2019.”

    He allayed fears about the safety of the already  distributed electoral materials,saying they were being  retrieved and taken back to custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    Continuing,Yakubu said:”It is often not appreciated the magnitude of activities that the Commission undertakes during general elections.

    “Not only have we  recruited and trained about one million young people to serve as ad hoc staff, the magnitude of materials mobilized for our elections is enormous.

    “For instance, the Commission has printed 421.7 million ballot papers for six scheduled elections, as well as 13.6 million leaves of result forms for the Presidential election alone. Indeed, managing 91 political parties and 23,316 candidates for whom

  • Outrage over polls shift

    •Buhari rushes back to Abuja, says INEC got all it needed to deliver
    •APC hits INEC, demands apology •Hold ruling party responsible – Atiku

    Anger, frustration and disappointment swept across the country yesterday after voters woke up to learn   that the presidential and national assembly elections they had prepared for would no longer take place as scheduled.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),charged with the responsibility of conducting such elections announced at about 3am, just five hours before the commencement of voters accreditation, that the elections would now take place this week.

    It cited logistical problems.

    The two leading candidates in the presidential election – Muhammadu Buhari, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and AtikuAbubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), quickly departed their home states  of Katsina and Adamawa for Abuja to catch up  on latest development about the elections.

    Both had travelled home last week for the purpose of voting there.

    Buhari expressed disappointment at the postponement as were Atiku and Senate President BukolaSaraki.

    The ruling APC wondered why INEC waited until the 11th hour to shift the elections.

    It demanded an apology from the commission.

    The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) urged Nigerians to continue to be prayerful, remain calm and restrain themselves from any act of lawlessness capable of jeopardizing  the democratic process of free and fair elections.

    Buhari,in a statement in his hometown Daura before leaving for Abuja, said he was dismayed by the shift of polls after many Nigerians had “traveled to various locations to exercise their right to vote, and international observers are gathered,” and INEC had “given assurances, day after day and almost hour after hour that they are in complete readiness for the elections.”

    He urged the commission to “ensure not only that materials already distributed are safe and do not get into wrong hands, but that everything is done to avoid the lapses that resulted in this unfortunate postponement, and ensure a free and fair election on the rescheduled dates.”

    He affirmed his “strong commitment to the independence, neutrality of the electoral umpire and the sanctity of the electoral process and ballot.”

    Buhari said he had “decided to move back to Abuja to ensure that the 14.00 hrs. meeting called by INEC with all stakeholders is successful.”

    Buhari also apologised to Nigerians for the postponement.

    Speaking to reporters on his return to Abuja from Daura, the president said it was bad enough that the polls shift was announced after many Nigerians had spent their resources in moving from one location to the other to vote.

    He said: “Yes, I am disappointed because INEC got all the time and resources needed and was therefore supposed to work according to their programme.

    “They were given all the resources;they had all the time and they kept on telling us up to the last minute that they were ready.

    “The fact that they are not ready means there is some inefficiency along the line.” he said

    He pleaded for patience and understanding from the generality of Nigerians,saying : “They should be patient,  let them come out a week from today and vote.

    “I apologise for this inefficiency because they will use their own resources to go back to their various polling units at their own expense if they are all that committed.”

    It’s unfair, but prepare to vote on Saturday, Atiku tells Nigerians

    Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, speaking to reporters at his  Dougeri GRA home in Yola  on the development yesterday daubed the postponement as unexpected, a surprise and  unfair.

    But he asked Nigerians to “still come out and vote” on Saturday.

    He added: “They should be patient about the postponement and cast their votes on Saturday.

    However, he asked INEC to ensure that all the sensitive electoral materials already moved to the states are kept safe for the rescheduled poll.

    “As long as the sensitive materials are in the right places and are secured, there is no cause for alarm,” he said.

    He later left for Abuja for a meeting of PDP leaders on the issue.

    Obi calls for more

    sacrifice

    Atiku’s running mate in the election,Mr.Peter Obi, appealed to Nigerians to remain calm and peaceful.

    He told reporters at his Onitsha residence in Anambra State that the waste associated with the postponement was staggering  considering  the fact that many Nigerians  travelled to their states from different parts of the country and abroad to fulfill their civic duties only to get the news of the postponement on the Election Day .

    He encouraged them to remain committed by possibly staying behind as further demonstration of patriotism because, according to him, “no sacrifice to get Nigeria working again is a waste.”

    On the argument that the PDP lacked the moral justification to condemn the postponement, having done the same in 2011 and 2015, Obi said what happened in the past should not be used as an excuse now but as a lesson for improvement.

    PDP urges Nigerians to remain firm

    The PDP blamed the ruling APC for the development.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP,Mr.Kola Ologbondiyan, told reporters in Abuja that the reasons given by INEC for the postponement were untenable.

    Ologbondiyan said: “Our members and supporters, in their millions and generality of Nigerians that are eager to participate in the democratic process had already moved close to their polling units in readiness to vote and to defend their votes.

    “In some cases, Nigerians were already at their polling units in orderly queue in the hope to vote out the incompetent administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Countless of patriotic Nigerians and families had spent huge resources and made exhaustive sacrifices in travelling to their various polling areas to vote for their consensus candidate, AtikuAbubakar, only for INEC to announce this devastating postponement.

    “The public space is replete with how the Buhari Presidency mounted pressure on INEC leadership to postpone the election at the dying minute, so as to place more burdens on voters and frustrate their enthusiasm for the election”.

    The PDP regretted that Nigerians were made to lose trillions of naira, risked their lives on the road and in the air as well as faced other huge losses just because some politicians want to perpetuate themselves in office.

    The spokesman continued:”It is instructive to state that the reasons given for the postponement, including the logistic challenges in the distribution of sensitive election materials, as well as security concerns, were all the machinations of the APC and the Buhari Presidency to create confusion and arrive at a predetermined end, which is to rig the election.

    “This is in addition to the compromising of government facilities and agencies to frustrate the distribution of sensitive election materials, including results sheets in various states; the provocative substitution of already trained INEC polling officials with APC members as well as the deployment of security forces to simultaneously arrest PDP leaders and supporters, particularly in Kwara, Akwa-Ibom, Imo, Kano, Kaduna, Rivers, Kogi, Bayelsa among other states in order to create a sense of national insecurity and trigger violent resistance by the people.

    “APC’s new plot is to escalate series of challenges that will eventually paralyze INEC’s operation in some states so as to stagger the election and pave way to isolate certain critical states, after which it will use compromised security agents to muzzle the polls in those states in favour of President Buhari.

    “Our response to INEC and the Buhari Presidency is that they have only succeeded in postponing the evil day for their candidate.”

    Oshiomhole to INEC: ‘Why wait till 2am to announce postponement

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, asked INEC Chairman  why he waited until 2am yesterday to announce the postponement of the polls.

    Speaking at the INEC meeting with stakeholders on the circumstances that warranted its action,Oshiomhole also demanded an apology on behalf of Nigerians from INEC.

    He said:”What you have not explained, with due respect, is why did you have to wait till 2am this morning to realise that you had logistics challenges.

    “Over the weeks, some people raised doubts whether INEC was in a position to proceed with the election, you kept reassuring the country that you were ready.

    “The cost to mobilise party agents to 176,000 polling units across the country; this entails a huge cost and entails huge risk.

    “Just as INEC has huge logistics, every serious presidential candidate also has huge logistics. But unlike INEC that can fall on public treasury, political parties have to look for resources to mobilise their agents to various polling points.

    “Nigerians have been subjected to a rude shock, I think we should be honest, I’m shocked, I’m disappointed, I’m disgusted.

    “If we knew that it would be postponed, we would have saved a lot. For us the real players, it is a huge shock.

    “I ask you, sir:why didn’t you inform us at least 48 hours earlier when you noticed that you had issues with weather, logistics? You didn’t know about all these until 2am this morning?”

    ACF urges prayers, steadfastness by Nigerians

    Also reacting,the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF)   urged Nigerians to continue to be prayerful, remain calm and restrain themselves from any act of lawlessness that would jeopardize the democratic process of free and fair election.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Alhaji Muhammed Ibrahim, said in Kaduna yesterday that :”It is only our collective resolve to respect the tenets of democracy that will strengthen our unity and peaceful coexistence.

    He said: “though ACF is not privy to the nature of the challenges and the time INEC noticed them, the forum thinks the shift should have been done earlier in order to reduce cost and inconveniences for all the parties concerned.”

    It cites the earlier assurances given to Nigerians by INEC that it would deliver on credible, free and fair elections on schedule, saying this heightened the enthusiasm of Nigerians.

    According to the ACF, Nigerians have no option but to accept the reasons advanced by INEC and have faith that it would live up to its promise to hold the rescheduled elections on the 23rd February and 9th March 2019.

    The Forum, however, called on INEC to use this opportunity and ensure that adequate logistic preparations are put in place for a successful election.

    “The Police and other security agencies should also prepare adequately to provide the needed security cover to INEC officials, the electorates, election observers and also to maintain peace and order during and after the elections”, the Forum advised.

    Saraki: It’s a great

    inconvenience

    Senate President Bukola Saraki said the last minute postponement of the elections had caused a great inconvenience to many Nigerians who were  poised to vote for their choice as president and federal legislators.

    Saraki in a statement in Ilorin said:”Waiting till just a few hours to commencement of voting before announcing postponement of elections is extremely sad.

    “Nobody can quantify the difficulty that this will bring to people at every level. I empathize with youth corps members who have been relocated from their places of primary assignment to assist with the conduct of the elections.

    “My thoughts also go to civil servants who left their bases to go and vote in their hometowns. I also sympathize with millions of ordinary Nigerian traders whose businesses were suspended because of the no movement order. Thus, the costs of this postponement are incalculable.

    “However, I want to appeal to Nigerians not to be deterred, discouraged or disappointed. They must continue to be strong and determined to cast their votes for their preferred candidates,” he said.

    “Next Saturday, they should try and forget the current setback and troop out en-masse to vote for their preferred candidates. Not voting because of the postponement is not a good option for Nigerians. My appeal to our people is that we must still go out next Saturday to exercise our franchise.

  • Abdulsalami: I don’t expect another polls shift

    Abdulsalami: I don’t expect another polls shift

    Former military Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar said yesterday that it will be near impossible to postpone the general elections again.

    His reason: President Goodluck Jonathan came out to promise the citizenry that the elections would hold as scheduled and added that May 29 hand-over date remain sacrosanct.

    Gen. Abubakar, who was in Kano to commission the Kano Institute of Information Technology, spoke with reporters briefly at the Senate Building of North-West University.

    He said: “We should give our president a benefit of doubt… President Goodluck Jonathan has spoken to the press in a media chat and he gave his word that the election will hold as scheduled. So, let us give him a benefit of doubt. Being our president, we should accept what he has said.

    “Now, my appeal again to Nigerians and everybody- please, let us give peace a chance before, on election day and after the election. And I do hope that the electoral officials, the politicians will allow a free and fair election.”

    On what transpired during the meeting between him, President Jonathan and former President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki, he simply said: “That is a private matter between me and Mr. President.”

    He praised Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for the projects he executed in Kano.

    “Really, Governor Kwankwaso deserves commendation. From what I have seen, certainly whoever that is going to follow after him has got a precedent to contend with,” he said.

  • Nigerians in Diaspora lament polls shift

    Nigerians in Diaspora lament polls shift

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has continued to receive knocks over the postponement of the general elections from February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 11.

    A group canvassing support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the United States, the Progressives Platform for Change (PPC), said that over 250 of its members who arrived the country because of the presidential poll, were disappointed because of the shift

    The PPC is a platform with over 400 members, which has structures in both Nigeria and the United States.

    Addressing reporters in Akure, the Ondo State capital, its Coordinator, Mrs. Emprss-Omolara Olaleye, said no fewer than 250 members are in the country because of the polls.

    She noted that the PPC, whose members are indigenes from the 36 states, came home to mobilise the people to collect their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs).

    She said despite all their efforts, which include taking off from their places of work and abandoning their businesses in the US to exercise their franchise as Nigerians, INEC at the end postponed the poll for six weeks.

    According to her, “we are disappointed because before leaving the US for Nigeria what we heard was that INEC was fully ready for the polls and we have also read in some online newspapers that the security operatives are fully prepared for the polls.

    “It was this that motivated members of our group to storm our country and to join other Nigerians in electing a credible leader as a president.

    “We still remain firm that every disappointment is a blessing and I am also very sure that Nigerians are fully ready to effect a change. Nigeria wants good leaders like Muhammadu Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osibanjo.

    “We in diaspora, are sick and tired of the level of corruption in the country and we believe that the presidential candidate of the APC has the credibility to cleanse corruption from the country.

    “Pastor Adeboye of Redeemed Christian Church of God(RCCG) has once testified to the capacity of Prof. Osibanjo when he said that when you give him job to do, you can go back to your bed and sleep.

    “The same thing when Buhari was in the military, they will say “Sai Buhari, sai maigaskya”, which means I believe you because your word is your bond. Anything Gen. Buhari says, he stands by it. Any leader that cannot stand by their words, we don’t want them anymore.

    “We want a change and a credible person as leader; we want to return to our country; we are only in US just because our previous and present governments have failed us”.

  • Polls shift: Students protest in Lagos

    Polls shift: Students protest in Lagos

    protest rocked Lagos State on Monday, following the postponement of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The federal and state elections, which were initially scheduled to hold on February 14 and 28, were shifted by the commission to March 28 and April 11, citing security reason.

    This development did not go down well with students in Lagos, who described the poll shift as an attempt by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to scheme the exercise in its favour.

    The students, who gathered from all tertiary institutions in Lagos, led a protest to the office of the Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola to register their displeasure over the election postponement.

    The protesters, led by Jubril Olayinka, a 400-Level Industrial Relations and Personnel Management student of the Lagos State University (LASU), criticised the role played by the military in the affair, warning the Federal Government against compromising the security agencies for selfish end.

    The students’ protest letter to the governor reads: “We decry the unjust shift in election date. We deem it baseless, needless, selfish and an attempt to rig the general election by the ruling party. The agents of darkness are playing pranks on the intelligence of Nigerians. We are protesting to let the whole country know that the development presents a clear danger to our democracy.

    “We consider the election postponement as a failure and a huge embarrassment on the part of INEC, security agencies and the Federal Government. We regard it as an attempt by the presidency to strategise rigging and scheme the process in its favour.”

    Jubril, who is also the Acting Chairman of Lagos axis of Joint Campus Committee (JCC), an arm of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), said students had resolved to do everything to defend their votes and resist further postponement with last drop of their blood.

    He demanded apology from INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, for his failure to conduct the elections this month.

    Jubril also urged students to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), saying the cards are the passport through which they could contribute to the development of the nation.

    The protesters were drawn from tertiary institutions, including LASU, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Adeniran Ogonsanya College of Education (AOCED), Federal College of Education (FCE Technical) Akoka, Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Lagos State School of Health Technology and the Federal College of Fishers and Marine Technology.