The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate has also won the election in the two polling units 021 and 022 inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The total votes scored in the two units showed that APC got 597 votes while PDP garnered 567 votes.
Sorting and counting for the presidential election in the two units is still ongoing.
Counting of ballots and collation of results have commenced following the conclusion of voting in polling stations in the FCT and across the state, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
A correspondent of NAN monitoring the process at the Lugbe Market Polling Unit, reports that vote counting was in progress under the cover of darkness, with mobile phones as the only lighting source.
However, the exercise was being conducted under the watchful eyes of security personnel, party agents and voters, as there was no other alternative.
With accreditation of voters starting at 10.40 a.m., voting stretched up to 7.03 p.m. from 3 p.m. as against the INEC schedule of 5 p.m.
A total of 449 voters were accredited at the unit as against the 1,666 expected, according to party agents.
They blamed the situation on the fact that many eligible voters earlier scheduled to vote at the ACO/Sabon Lugbe units failed to show up, due to the cancellation of the units by INEC.
NAN learnt that the voters were only informed of the merger of the ACO/Sabon Lugbe and Lugbe Market Polling units this morning, a development which angered them.
They decided to disperse to their various homes due to the distance involved, as mobility constituted a challenge.
The 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu State, has organised a workshop for security agencies aimed at facilitating a peaceful atmosphere in the countdown to the election.
The workshop, tagged “Exercise Free Cast,” was to foster cohesion among the agencies by developing the ability of the military to operate in conjunction with the police and other security agencies.
It involved, among other things, security demonstrations.
The Commander, 82 Division Garrison, General Sani Mohammed said he was optimistic that the exercise would prepare all security stakeholders in the state on their expectations before, during and after the forthcoming general elections.
He further disclosed that the exercise would enhance collaboration and esprit de corps among all participants in the aspect of security in the state.
He also expressed gratitude to the General Officer Commanding 82 Division for his unflinching support, guidance and untiring efforts towards ensuring the success of the exercise.
The General Officer Commanding the 82 Division, Major General Shehu Yusuf who also spoke at the occasion, commended the commander of 82 Division Garrison for hosting the exercise, assuring that the division would continue to ensure better working synergy with security agencies within the division’s area of operational responsibility.
General Yusuf, who was represented by the Chief of Staff, 82 Division, Brig Gen Adebola Adefarati, urged participants to use the knowledge they gathered to re-train others who were unable to participate in the exercise.
Also speaking at the end of the exercise which took place at 103 Battalion, Awkunanaw Barracks Enugu, the Commander 337 Base Services Group Nigerian Air force, Air Commodore Sam Okwuokei noted that the exercise was timely.
He stated that the security agencies that participated in the exercise “now know their Dos and Don’ts during and after the general elections.
The Zonal Comptroller, Nigeria Customs Service Enugu Command, Mr Kashim Ajia disclosed that time had gone when security agencies would operate independently, adding that the exercise has created a better understanding and working synergy among security agencies in the state.
The exercise, which was attended by the members of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Airforce, DSS, Nigeria Customs Service, Immigration Service, Nigeria Prison Service, NSCDC, NEMA, NDLEA and FRSC, featured practical demonstrations on how to disperse crowd, cordon and search operations and road blocks demonstrations.
There was heavy security presence at the Edo State headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as sensitive materials were distributed to the 18 local government areas in the state.
Agents of political parties were seen hanging around INEC office to monitor movement of the sensitive materials.
An APC member who pleaded anonymity said they want to ensure that the sensitive materials are no hijacked or diverted.
As at press time, the materials were still being sorted out and distributed to various local government headquarters under heavy security escort.
Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Mike Igini, said the commission was ready for Saturday’s election.
He said steps taken by the commission were to overcome challenges of late arrival of materials.
According to him, “We have received the sensitive materials and these materials will be at the local government today. By Friday, the Supervising Presiding Officer will proceed to Registration Area Centre. This time, it is the polling officers that will be waiting for voters.
“You will see that the ballot papers and result sheets are customized according to local government unlike previous years where you can take one ballot paper from one local government to another. All of them are coded.”
Igini stated that 1,247,191 PVCs have been distributed and expressed optimism that the figure might increased after Thursdday’s distribution.
Meanwhile, a total of 11,040 security personnel would be deployed for Saturday’s election by the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigerian Police Force.
Comptroller of Immigration in the state, Alana Olusegun, said the command would deploy 240 personnel across the 18 local governments to detect and stop aliens from voting.
Alana said no foreigner has been arrested with PVC in the state apparently because they were forewarned to stay way from the electoral process.
Public Relation of NSCDC in the state, Ogbebor Efosa, said 3000 NSCDC officials including armed squad would be deployed for the elections.
He said armed squad of the command would not be at the polling unit but would patrol to prevent break down of law and order.
Edo Police spokesman, DSP Joseph Edogiawerie, warned politicians against engaging thugs during the election.
He said 7800 police personnel would be deployed.
As the general election draws near, the Federal Road Safety Corps has deployed 20,000 personnel and 413 patrol vehicles, ambulances and tow trucks along designated routes of the highways in the country.
This move is expected to collaborate with other security agencies to ensure sanity on the nation’s highway throughout the duration of the elections.
A statement issued in Abuja Thursday by the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi said the Corps has drawn a road map towards effective patrolling of designated routes of the highways in addition to prompt rescue services and public enlightenment campaigns, as part of measures to engender best road safety practices among road users.
He said this is in addition to the Corps’ 24 emergency ambulance response centres located at designated routes across the country in the FCT, Kaduna, Gombe, Jigawa, Taraba, Niger, Kogi, Ondo, Edo, Osun, Nasarawa, Plateau and Kwara states.
He urged motorists to ensure proper planning and management of trips through maintenance of their vehicles and compliance with traffic rules and regulations.
“Motorists and other categories of road users are strictly warned to desist from all road vices such as overloading, speed limit violation, non-use of seat belt, route violation (driving against traffic), making/receiving calls while driving and night trips,” he said
As Nigerians gear up for another round of electing their leaders into various offices in the country, including the most coveted position of the Executive President of the nation, the Good Governance Group (3G) hereby commends the resilience, maturity and equanimity of purpose so far displayed by the people.
As we march towards the fifth attempt at choosing our leaders through the ballot in this dispensation, it behooves on us, irrespective of our preference for any of the political parties or their candidate/s to remain focused on those things that unite us more as a people co-existing under the same national umbrella rather than those divisive factors as ethnicity, religion/creed.
Against this backdrop of not allowing the labour of our heroes past at fostering and nurturing true democratic ethos that provide life for our people and provide it abundantly to be in vain, and considering the pivotal role of a regional power and hope of the black race, providence has placed on our shoulders as a people.
The Good Governance Group would remind compatriots of the critical role elections have played in the annals of this country right from the 1965-66 experience leading to the ‘wetie’ imbroglio in the Southwest which snowballed into military incursion into power and eventually degenerated into a civil war, the NPN Landslide electoral heist that led to the termination of that Republic by Buhari-Idiagbon regime, not to talk of the ill-fated 3rd Republic of June 12, 1993, that resulted in loss of many innocent lives and ultimate sacrifice of the symbol of that struggle, late Chief MKO Abiola.
Consequently, we call on our political class to, like Caesar’s wife; be above board by eschewing all forms of violence and unnecessary beating of war drums, subsume their individual ambition within a larger context of what is good and expedient for the nation’s growth and survival.
The group implores our law enforcement officers, be it the Police or the Army, never to condescend to what could desecrate their hallowed institutions or erode their respect at the international level in our global village and remain vigilant and patriotic by upholding the doctrine of impartiality in discharging their lawful duty of maintaining law and order during and after elections in an atmosphere that is devoid of intimidation and undue harassment of fellow countrymen/women.
In a context of this nature, winners would certainly emerge while others are bound to lose the contest. For the overall good, we expect the winners to be magnanimous in victory by extending an olive branch to the loser/s while the losers should equally be gallant in accepting the result since we cannot always win in every contest but the people could be the ultimate win if truly we aspire to serve them in all honesty.
Perhaps more than at any other time in our checkered history as a nation, we live in an uncertain and most trying times, but ironically, these times are used to make history by people of conscience and great mind as the onus falls on President Ebele Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that Nigeria comes out of these elections stronger, better and more united than ever even if the results do not go his way.
As a main custodian of the people’s mandate, freely given in a free and fair contest in the last four years, history beckons on him to demonstrate his genuine love for this nation by matching words for action if the electorate, the real sovereign decides not to re-elect him as their President, come March 28, 2015.
In similar fashion, most Nigerians expect whoever emerges as the next President to have learnt enough lessons in our collective quest at evolving responsive and responsible leadership direction to not only Nigerians but the one that rekindles hope and promise in all Africans.
This is the only benchmark that can herald a new Africa from the rubrics of colonialism and neo-colonialism.
Gambo is the covener Good Governance Group
A physically-challenged man, Alh Wasiu Nurudeen Thursday staged a peaceful support rally in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari and his running mate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo.
Nurudeen who was riding on a wheel chair with Gen Buhair’s posters, started his one man campaign at Agodi secretariat around 7:30am and moved around the state capital to solicit the peoples support for the APC. Presidential candidate on Saturday election.
He stated that he is supporting Buhari and Osinbajo because they have conscience and they are the best candidates for the job, adding that he is not an APC members but he is keen on seeing a positive change in governance.
Nurudeen said he is out to give direction and advice the masses on who to vote for and who should be voted out.
“I am not a politician or a group leader of any society, but I am concerned with what is going on in the country because I am a citizen of this country and I have the right to choose whom I want, and that is Buhari.
“On Saturday, Nigerians will go to the polls to choose their leaders for the next four years. The big question is do we continue with the present leaders of our country or do we change them? My answer is change. We have to change our rulers. I am tired corruption, insecurity, epileptic power supply, bad roads and the lokes. If we want our country to survive and make progress then we need to vote for Buhari/Osibajo.
He said a vote for Buhari and Osinbajo is a vote for sincere and positive change, describing as sincere, hardworking, patriotic and lovers of Nigerians.
Nurudeen said:” I had always believed that somebody that has the kind of Buhari’s character, his integrity and incorruptible nature should be supported to clean up the country irrespective of our ethnic, religious and geographical differences. It is a common knowledge that corruption is a major problem that has held this country down for many years. We all saw how this man tackled indiscipline and corruption in his first coming.”
Former Acting Governor of Kogi State, Chief Clarence Olafemi Thursday declared that the almost 16 years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the helms of affair is nearing its end.
He called on Nigerians to do the needful by voting out President Goodluck Jonathan, saying the country has had enough of PDP misrule.
Addressing journalists in the state capital, Lokoja, Olafemi, a member of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, said the party was at the threshold of setting the nation on the path of
true greatness.
He added: “PDP boasted it will rule Nigeria for the next 60 years but it is clear to Nigerians it cannot even put its own house in order for barely15 years. PDP has failed Nigerians and they will rightly be
voted out of office begining Saturday.
“Goodluck Jonathan is Nigeria’s outgoing President and by the grace of God, General Mohammadu Buhari is our next President. Nigerians expected so much but they were soundly disappointed.
“It is clear to all that another four years of PDP will be disaster for the country and that is why the call for change has taken over everywhere”.
The politician called on Nigerians to come out en-mass to cast their vote for the APC presidential candidate, and stay back to ensure that their votes are counted.
“Nigerians should come out en-mass to vote General Buhari. They should conduct themselves in peaceful manner while they remain to see their votes counted.”
Election bells are ringing hardest and loudest in Nigeria’s polls history. By Saturday, we would be done with the presidential poll and begin to prepare for the election of governors to elect state and federal lawmakers. Thereafter we would come down the leader over the next three or four Saturdays. This has been a testy time for all, politicians and their followers alike. I am neither a politician nor a follower of politicians. Always, I seek the good of society from them, and sympathise with manifestos of trusted politicians which promise public good. Many people say we have a choice between two evils or the choice is between the devil and deep sea. My prayer is that we all make the right decision. Whether we do or don’t, we will not escape from the recurring decimal in which ever decision we take. That recurring decimal is that “a people will get the government it deserves” that means either a good government or bad one. The event of the next few days will rattle our health in no small measures. I remember 1979 and 1983. I was too young in 1964 to appreciate the impact of that year’s election on health. In 1979, I suffered mild depression when my preferred candidate, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, was rigged out of the polls by the forces of the State. By 1983, I had become aware that democracy was not the ideal way of choosing the leaders of one men. In ideal situations, leaders of men are anointed and prepared for their mission well beyond the earth, sent to this earth at the right time, guided through events and experiences that will fire their interest in the right direction so that, when the time of fulfillment of their task arrives, they would be recognized by people they are to lead, and followed like the herd without much ado.
Last Saturday when I witnessed the march of troops through Agege area of Lagos, led by armored tank, the point was driven home to me that these are not normal times. The days before had been stuffed with political rallies in which the followers of politicians crambled for either #2,000 in envelopes, DVDs or electric fans or refrigerators. One semi Literate woman who roasts plantain by the roadside, said of the unprecedented traffic jam which accompanied the soldiers march through Agege. “Na soldiers dey do dem own rally”. For the more politically conscious and educated, the message is clear. And, so, as we prepare for Saturday’s presidential election and the aftermath, I would like to suggest that we do not forget our health. Election upsets may raise or aggravate blood pressure, cause heart palpitation, worsen argina pains, induce digestive disorders, insomnia, restlessness and other health challenges. So, this week, I am reminded not only of new health promoting products in the market, and also of many health enquires from some readers of this column. It is like our CLINIC DAY of old. I hope you find it useful.
Question 1
I was placed on a drug at 25mg twice daily for high blood pressure. But at a point, the BP started going down so much. So, I was placed on 25mg ER. That is extended release. But after taking it in the morning, the blood pressure would rise to 160/101 before evening.
Answer
From the point of view of alternative medicine, it is better not to suppress symptoms but to understand their root cause(s) and remove them. Elevated blood pressure has many possible causes. These may include,
•Cellular dehydration
•Potassium deficiency and sodium elevation in the blood/potassium/sodium ratio.
•Elevated cholesterol level.
•Blood vessel damage by cholesterol, homocystane or other substances.
•Blockage and hardening of some organs, such as the liver, kidneys, pancreas which is often overlooked in the treatment of hypertension. These organs may have been blocked by toxins which the body may have crystallized and hidden in the intercellular spaces. Thus, when the heart pumps blood, and these congested organs resist blood flow, the heart tries to pump blood with more force. This new pressure may be alright for these blocked organs but may be excessive for others. This may be why these other organs become damaged by hypertension. Thus, to normalize blood pressure, the root cause(s) of it has to be determined. Most Alternative Medicine practitioners, therefore, begin the therapy with a detoxification programme which cleans these organs up inside out, unblock the blood vessels, heal any damage in them, reduce or reverse enlargement of the heart, improve mechanical pump action of the heart without stressing it, energize the heart and feed it with the nutrients it requires to do its work well.
Traditionally, Co Enzyme Q10 is given to heart and hypertension patients to improve energy level in the heart cells. CoQ10 (Co enzyme Q10) helps to increase the number of mythochondria in cells. Mythochondria are energy producing centres in cells. So, the more the CoQ10 available in the heart, the more its energy yields. There are two types of CoQ10… ubiquinone and ubiquinol. The latter is the preferred CoQ10 because it is more bio available. Ubiquinone has to be converted to ubiquinol before the body can use it well. In that process, some materials are lost.
Hawthorn berries is another heart herb. It strengthens the muscles of the heart, dialates blood vessels of the heart and decreases blood pressure.
In many studies, Calcium and Magnesium have been found to lower blood pressure. Magnesium relaxes the nerves and the muscles and promotes sleeps.
Thick blood may be thinned and blockages in blood vessels dissolved with a number of natural products which do this job and promotes blood circulation without side effects. Some of these include Cayenne, Kyolic aged garlic, Serrapeptase, Bromelain, Nattokinese and Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) among others in an inexhaustible list.
We cannot forget omega 3 fish oil which studies have also shown reduces blood pressure when taken for some time at say, 3,000mg daily.
Potassium – rich foods, such as oranges, vegetable juices, banana, Avocado pear, water melon and the likes of them have proven helpful in the treatment of primary hypertension.
Ditto Vitamin C at about 1,000 to 3,000mg daily.
Detoxification is crucial as explained earlier. Diatom is now one of my favourite detox products. It moderates blood sugar, lowers high blood cholesterol, improves digestion, especially protein digestion, removes heavy metals, toxins and micro-organisms from the system. So does Zeolyte, formed from the reaction of volcanic lava with the sodium of sea water centuries ago. Wheatgrass alkalizes. chickweed detoxifies the liver. Bitters are good also. A change of the diet which eliminates bread, milk, sugar, fried foods and makes salads, fruits and vegetable juices, the heart of nutrition should help this condition.
Question 2
I am 50, and have taken many sugar-reducing drugs. The sugar level is now alright after I stopped alcohol intake. Now, my problem is from December 2014. I started having weakness and outright pain from my waist to my toes. I have refused to buy the evil attack options. The pains are basically muscular.
Answer
ometimes, pains from the waist may be due to colon congestion or inflammation of the sciatic nerve. There may be poor blood circulation and toxin build up in the affected areas. I suggest you detoxify your intestine, especially the colon, and, after that, repopulate the friendly bacteria flora in them. You may need to also improve your posture, as a wrong posture may affect muscles and nerves in this region. Additionally, it shouldn’t be out of place if you have your doctor check your backbone for possible arthritis, herniated or disc slip. Herniated disc is one which has broken and spilled its contents on surrounding tissue. The disc is pressure packed, to serve as a shock absorber. It does not make us feel the impact of running, jumping, falling etc, just as the shock absorber in a car do not make the passengers feel the impact of the car when it drives over bumps. Herniation of a disc may bring pressure on a nerve root and this may set up pains in the region described. If the problem is in your colon, as is often the case with many people, you may try calamus root, diatom, cayenne, a colon cleansing formula and probiotic. Some people do not easily tolerate Calamus root. They may vomit if they take it on empty stomach. Some people say they tolerate it if taken with yoghurt or pap. Some people do not experience adverse reactions. Calamus root is one of the best herbs for cleaning congested colon and healing damage to this part of the intestinal tract, including ulcerative colitis which may present a breeding ground for colon cancer.
If osteoarthritis is the cause, help may be found in a product called Oesteocalm, especially if taken with Diatom which has been found to support calcium absorbtion, a problem for some ageing people and cause of their arthritis or eosteoporosis.
Question 3
My mother-in-law has stroke of the right side about eight weeks ago, what can I do?
Answer
I have heard of case stories in which Jobelyn, in high dosages, reversed fresh cases of strokes. Generally speaking, strokes can be treated early by normalizing blood pressure, cleaning blood clots, healing injury in the brain and helping nerve revival.
The suggestions made for hypertension apply. To these may be added an oxygen capsule, such as CLEAR AIRE, for Oxygenation, Lion’s Mane, to help the brain produce more Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and, of course, GUARDIAN ANGEL, a hand held acupressure device which the patient holds in his or her hands to improve nerve function. The devise may also be used by a therapist or a relation of the patient to massage acupressure points on the body related to the parts affected by the stroke.
Question 4
I am 51 and always experience premature ejaculation. Anytime I see my wife, I release within seconds. Please what do I do to enjoy sex with my wife?
Answer
Premature ejaculation has been attributed to incordination of the pubocoxugeal muscles and nerves. When they are well co-ordinated, we make urine when we defeacate, to slow a relationship between two regions of our body at work simultaneously. Some doctors believe fear or psychological pressures cause it. Dr. Kegel developed the DR. KEGELIS EXERCISE, information about which is available free on the internet. Some other doctors and researchers link this condition to Magnesium deficiency. This deficiency may cause nerve spasms which are also experienced in palpitation of the heart or in urinary incontinence, when urine drops before we arrive in the rest room to discharge it. I was approached some time last year by a degree research student who wished to know what natural agent she could use to stop premature ejaculation in rats induced with chemicals. Having experienced spasms of my blood vessels just before then which made it somewhat difficult for laboratory officers to take my blood samples, and having overcome this condition with magnesium supplementation in my diet, I did not hesitate to suggest magnesium to her. And it worked. Above all, the nerves need strengthening and Guardian Angel are available for this.
Question 5
I have uterine fibroids, and appear to be about five months pregnant. Please help me.
Answer
There are about 20 possible causes of this condition, going by many research findings this column has featured many of these possibilities, singly or jointly. Some of them are
•Back up menstruation i.e. incomplete menstruation which is retained in the uterus.
•Poor blood circulation in the uterus which cause blood retention over a long period of time, This causes deoxygenation and these blackened clots or clumps of blood found in the menstrual flow.
•Hormonal imbalance in which estrogen exceeds its ratio in the estrogen/progesterone ratio.
•Free radical damage which goes with antioxidant deficiency.
•Microbial activity, as viruses, bacteria, and candida in particular have been found in uterine fibroid tissue.
•Deficiency of potassium, a factor which leads to growths
•Vitamin E deficiency.
•Longing for an unfulfilled “fruit of the womb” which is compensated for by a fibroid pregnancy.
•Energy loss in the chakra.
This is an eastern medicine belief. The third chakra is in the region where the uterus is. It is believed that people who seek to control and manipulate other people but cannot do this and feel so bad about it that they nurse pathological hatred for these people they cannot subjugate suffer energy loss and diseases in this region.
As stated, there are many possible causes of uterine fibroids. It requires an understanding of them and a willful reversal of the inputs to achieve a fibroid-free uterus. For even when surgeries had been carried out to extract them, but the root causes were unattended to, these fibroids regrew.
Question 6
I need your help. How do I use wonder herbs to take care of hepatitis and rheumatism?
Answer
do not know what precisely you mean by wonder herbs. There are many herbs so named, depending on the fascination of the people who have done extensive research on them or who use them therapheutically. Lately, this column has so referred to herbs such as ELIPTA ALBA and BELLACO CAPSI. They are good for hepatitis. This condition is caused by a viral infection. To address it, liver protective herbs such as milk thistle are used along with Liver clearance herbs such as Carqueja and Liver balance and anti viral herbs such as Zeolyte AV, Amazon AV, Chanka Piedra and a host of them.
Question 7
My wife is 56, has ringing in her ears.
Answer
Ringing in the ear may be caused by poor blood circulation or an infection. The Russians instill garlic oil into such an ear with cotton wool or a diopper. To improve blood circulation, not only to the ear but all parts of the body, ginkgo biloba or cayenne may be used. If an infection is confirmed, Echinacea and Golden seal root, as tincture or capsule is advised. When garlic oil is dropped into the ear, it must be certain that the eardrum is not perforated or that fluid is not draining out of the ear. Maria Treben suggests the Swedish bitters herb drops be used. The formula she prescribes is that given her by a 103-year-old man just before he died after falling off a horse. It is the Maria Treben Bitters sold world-wide, including Nigeria. I look forward to the end of the elections, so we all can have some peace and free ourselves of nauseating comments on public matters by illiterate and commentators and tribal jingoists who are leading us to back to pre-civil war years.
Some part of Nigeria are preserved remnants of that great atlantean civilisation which was destroyed in the age of asralasia when the moon was lowered closest to earth to destroy. Falsehood in this preserved part today is an anchorage for those forces of life which ultimately will annihilate falsehood. Falsehood is anything that is wrong. Even when we pretend about it all of us can feel to our fingertips anything that is wrong. Who does not know that corruption is the cancer in Nigeria blood stream.
Behind the shield of ethinicity and religion, the thieves have hidden from the votes and swords of the adrout and upright. If there are more thieves in Nigeria than are clean hearts. Do not blink an eye if they sweep the states. It would simply mean the time for the crash of falsehood and the onset of upbuilding has not come. Who can hurry time.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega Wednesday assured that his commission has made all the necessary preparation for transparent elections this Saturday and on April 11.
He said although his commission has evolved various electronic measures aimed at limiting fraud in the nation’s elections, it will delay the application till 2019, but will only apply the card reader this time. He said those opposed to the deployment of card reader in this year’s elections were those who feel their fraudulent conduct will be detected.
“To my mind, and to many in INEC, this is one of the many reasons many people are opposing the use of the card reader. Because a clear way that they had used in the past to somehow get away with fraudulent conduct in elections, will now be made difficult, because if they do, it is very likely now to be established.
“The use of the card reader will help us address some of the concerns about the alteration of, particularly accreditation figures in order to fraudulently advantage to a candidate and disadvantage the other candidate.
‘Information about accreditation, which will be saved on the card reader and which will be transmitted to our data base, will be useful in term of addressing irregularities, when the emerge in relation to alteration of accreditation figures,” Jega said.
The INEC Chairman spoke in Abuja Wednesday while inaugurating the Civil Society Organizations’ (CSOs) Situation Room, where CSO representatives, under the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room, will receive and analyze reports of the elections.
He assured that the commission has done “everything possible to ensure that the 2015 general elections are successful, and in particular, we have done everything possible to ensure that we have prepared operationally and logistically for the conduct of the elections, we have worked very closely with security agencies and we have received assurances, through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, and most specifically from the Inspector General of Police (IGP), because the police has a lead role in terms of providing security for the elections.
“These reassurances make us comfortable that all that need to be done has been done to ensure the successful conduct of the elections.
Jega gave a picture of some of the improvements the commission has made since the last election in the movement of material and men to minimize hitches experienced in previous elections and its preparation for this one.
“Beginning from today, we are commencing the rolling out, leading to Saturday, the Election Day. Before now, all the non-sensitive materials had been taken to all the local government offices. Form today, the sensitive materials will be received from the vault of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and taken to our state offices, accompanied by agents of political parties.
“Then, later this evening, till tomorrow morning, these will be distributed various local governments, and will also be accompanied by parties agents. At the state level, we expect that as from tomorrow evening, up until Friday afternoon, all the materials taken to the local governments will also be distributed to the ward levels.
“At each ward level, we have established what we call Registration Area Centre (RAC). We have equipped it reasonably to ensure that both our staff and security agencies spend the few hours of the night there, in readiness to deploy very early in the morning to the various polling units in each of those wards.”
On collation and presentation of results, Jega said the commission will use the same method it applied in previous elections. He said the although the commission had tested the process of electronic transmission of results, having used it in some elections in the past, it will not use it in the 2015 general elections because of the reaction of some people to the introduction of card reader in this elections.
“We will not put that electronic transmission of results to use in the 2015 general elections. We consider the reactions from innovation of using the card reader and we felt that we should just, cope with that rather than create additional challenges about electronic transmission of results. And particularly, the memory of that in the Kenya election is still fresh in the memory of many.
“So, we felt that lets keep piloting it and improving upon it beyond 2015. Hopefully, by 2019 general elections, the commission will get there where it can do full electronic transmission of results. Even though we are not going to do electronic transmission of results, we have tried to address a concern, which was expressed after the 2011 general elections, with regards to the transparency of the collation of the results.
The coordinator of the Situation Room and Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Clement Nwankwo urged INEC to do all within its powers to ensure that it improves on all the lapses experienced in past elections.
He commended INEC for its efforts so far, noting that there was a substantial improvement on its preparation as against the experience in past elections. he urged the military to realize that its role is to give back-up security to the police, whose main duty is to provide security during elections.
He warned the soldiers against intimidating electorates or acting in manners that betrays it sympathy for a particular party or candidates, noting that soldiers are not to be seen close to the polling booths.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba also assured that the police was ready to provide adequate security during the elections.”
IGP, who was represented at the event by the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, said the police is ready for the elections.
“Our men are adequately motivated.
“We are ready to go. Where we do not have sufficient men on the ground, we are working with other security agencies. We are even preparing for the 2019 elections for those who feel the country will not exist after this year’s elections,” he said.
He said unlike previous experience, men to be deployed for electoral duties will be paid their allowances before departure.
He also assured that the police will pay attention to the security of the Youth Corps members and ad-hoc staff to be deployed for the election.