The Nation Newspaper

Tag: polls

  • PDP, Presidency’s Plan To Use Osun Tribunal To Scuttle February Polls Exposed

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in connivance with the Presidency, has concluded plans to use the Osun Election Petition Tribunal to scuttle the next month general elections in the country.

    It was gathered that the party, with the collaboration of the Presidency, is desperate in installing Senator Iyiola Omisore as governor of the state before the February 14 polls in the country.

    OSUN DEFENDER’s investigation revealed that the desperation of the Presidency is such that it would do anything to remove Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who, the presidency has identified as a stumbling block to its ambition in the South-West.

    It was gathered that the presidency is hell-bent on forcing the tribunal to declare Omisore as winner of the August 9, 2014 governorship poll in the state to destabilise the APC and cause upheaval in the geo-political zone, which may spread across the country and eventually lead to the eventual postponement of the general elections and allow the PDP to re-strategise for the polls.

    The medium further gathered that the party has felt defeated with the outcome of the governorship poll in the state, considering its importance to the general elections and would do anything to undo its perceived mistake.

    According to a source, the Presidency is desperate about the February 14 poll and has seen Governor Aregbesola as a problem in the South-West and getting him out of the way by hook or crook means would serve its purpose, especially as the courts are currently on strike and the governor would not be able to proceed to the appellate court, while Omisore would have been sworn in as governor during the poll, believing it could help the PDP’s chance in the zone.

    “As you know that the chances of the president returning to office fades everyday and would do anything to get back to the office, including tramping on the judiciary.

    “The Presidency does not give a damn about the facts before the tribunal, but is ready to force a decision on the members of the panel to favour the PDP and presidency.

    “You should know that no judge can overlook the chances of becoming a Chief Judge of a state and the party is ready to lure the chairperson of the panel with the chance of becoming a CJ in her state.”

    Findings showed that the recent celebration galore embarked upon by members of the PDP in Osogbo, the state capital, after the adoption of written addresses by both parties, was part of the script by the party to hoodwink the public into believing they succeeded in proving their case before the court ahead of the final script of the party.

    Meanwhile, the APC in the state is said to be aware of the plan by the PDP and is taking steps towards ensuring justice is done in the matter, irrespective of interest from high quarters.

    Some loyalists of the party are said to be threatening to make the state ungovernable should the tribunal be lured into declaring Omisore, as they are living witnesses to the election and there was no unit the result was manipulated.

     

  • Polls will make Nigeria stronger, says Meduoye

    Regardless of the tension and permutations to the contrary, Nigeria will not disintegrate on the account of the forthcoming general elections.

    The general overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Rev. Felix Meduoye, gave the assurance during a parley with reporters ahead of the 60th anniversary of the church in Lagos.

    He said: “We have a firm belief that God’s hand is involved in the affairs of this nation. We make bold to say that contrary to every prediction of doom, Nigeria will come out stronger and better in the years ahead.

    “Our confidence comes from the fact that our God answers prayers and we have prayed as a nation for the peace of this nation.”

    Meduoye allayed fears of disintegration, saying the nation will rather wax stronger after the polls.

    He challenged Nigerians to participate in the process by obtaining their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and electing only candidates with credible pedigrees.

    While promising that the church will pray for peaceful polls and sensitise Nigerians on their civil rights and obligations, Meduoye said: “The unity of Nigeria is not negotiable and we counsel all political parties to run their campaigns based on the value they intend to add to the lives of the people.”

    He expressed delight over the rapid expansion of the church in the last 60 years, saying it the “Foursquare’s flag is in the 36 states of the federation while we have also extended the gospel to neigbouring countries.”

    Meduoye also said the church has planted parishes in the United States of America from where the gospel was bought to the country in 1955 by Rev & Mrs. Harold Curtis.

    He said over 3,200 parishes of the church exist in all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria while several outreaches have ongoing to impact lives and empower people

  • 360,000 security agents for polls

    360,000 security agents for polls

    Security agencies have unveiled plan to deploy over 360,000 operatives in the conduct of next month’s general election.

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, said about 300,000 of his men have been trained for the elections in partnership with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and development partners.

    Also, Commandant General (CG), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Prof. Ade Abolurin said 60,000 of his officers would secure lives and property during the elections.

    Abolurin added that NSCDC has completed plans to import 25 sniffer dogs from the United States (U.S.) to detect explosives during the electoral period.

    The security chiefs spoke at the end of a two-day conference titled: “Nigeria 2015 Elections and Beyond: Roles of State and Non-State Actors in Mitigating Violence in Elections”.

    The event was organised by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD) and Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), at the weekend in Abuja.

  • February polls: Performance not platitudes

    SIR: Kindly help whisper to President Goodluck Jonathan that he has spent eight years at the presidency: two years as Vice President, and six as president.

    My point? It worries me to hear him still talk of planning on what he will do for Nigerians if re-elected. While first term bids, the world over, are won on account of impressive manifestos, second term bids are basically secured on the altar of scorecards.

    Rather than ride on the high horse of performance, the President is seen touring churches, currying electoral favour from church leaders and founders who ordinarily should know better, but are obviously, copiously blinded by bigotry and fanaticism.

    Why wait till weeks to elections before visiting these churches? No doubt, such eleventh hour visits and entreaties are but desperate, foul moves and stink of corruption. Leaderships of such churches may deny, but selfish benefits rule such visitations. For how long shall religion be allowed to divide us,  used to defraud us, used to defame us, used to disenfranchise us and of course, used to dehumanise us?

    In all known literature, religions promote harmony, peace and unity. I must make haste to say, rather than religion, our common enemies are the evil men and women in our midst, hence, religion should be separated from the state and national concerns- a good case in point is the February general elections.

     

    • Omale Suraj,

     GRA, Ankpa, Kogi State.

  • North: polls must hold

    North: polls must hold

    Proponents of new dates for the general elections got yesterday a reply from the North  – no.

    There have been arguments that the February 14 and 28 elections be shifted because of the worsening insecurity in some parts of the country.

    But, to the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), postponing the elections will give a resounding victory to Boko Haram – the fundamentalist sect whose violence has killed thousands, including Christians and Moslems.

    The forum re-affirmed its endorsement of All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate General Muhammadu Buhari, insisting that he has better credentials to lead Nigeria out of its challenges than President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

    Also yesterday, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) — the voice of the North— endorsed Gen. buhari’s candidature.

    The NEF was addressing a press conference in Kaduna.

    Any designs to prevent the expression of popular will next month under whatever guise or excuse will be rejected and resisted by all Nigerians, it said.

    Addressing the press in company of key members of NEF, the Secretary of the forum, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, said: “The forum is aware of sentiments being canvassed by anti-democratic forces that an unconstitutional Interim National Government or a similar illegal arrangement should be put in place to stop the forthcoming elections. We want to warn in the strongest terms possible that any designs to prevent the expression of popular will in February 2015 under whatever guise or excuse will be rejected and resisted by all Nigerians.

    “We fully support the on-going efforts to eliminate all kinds of threats, including the Boko Haram insurgency. The Forum wishes to remind the nation that any effort to postpone the elections, limit its scope or truncate the democratic process will be a resounding victory for Boko Haram. Only enemies of Nigerian people, worse than Boko Haram insurgents, will wish this on our people.

    “The February elections must hold under the most secure and peaceful conditions possible, and we have no doubt that the administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is in a position to guarantee this, if it wishes. We, therefore, urge President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to rise to the occasion and prove to Nigerians and the world that he can provide the necessary and enabling environment to conduct credible elections. We expect the President to openly and unequivocally condemn any sentiments or efforts to truncate the political and electoral process.

    “The Forum is concerned that violence in many forms is becoming one of the defining characteristics of the campaigns and the preparations towards the February elections. We are concerned that the insurgency, which terrorises some parts of the Northeast, may escalate its affacks as we move nearer to the elections. This must be resisted by our military, so that every Nigerian who wants to vote will do so in safety.

    The NEF spoke also on pre-election violence, believing that the ultterance of many leaders seem to encourage the violence.

    “We are concerned that candidates’ campaigns at all levels are being attacked, and utterances of many leaders appear to encourage such attacks. We are concerned that some parties are being prevented from campaigning openly and freely in some parts of the country. We are alarmed at the disposition of many young Nigerians towards the use of violence in support of candidates or parties. These tendencies are frightening most Nigerians who just want to exercise their choices over who governs them from February, in peace.”

    It called on President Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari – the two main candidates – to publicly and jointly initiate activities that will send strong signals that they abhor violence. “We urge them as well as other presidential, gubernatorial and national and state assembly candidates to sign statements urging disciplined, responsible and peaceful campaigning.

    The forum said: “We particularly appeal to young Nigerians who are desperate for change in their lives, and who look for signs that their future will be brighter, to desist from acts of violence and channel their energies instead to vigorous campaigns. Any acts of violence will simply feed the sentiment being canvassed that an unconstitutional government should be imposed on Nigerians because elections cannot be held under a peaceful and secure environment. Any Nigerian who wants their candidates to win should resist violence, because violence does not win votes.”

    On the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) level of preparedness for the election, the forum shares the concerns that the agency needs to radically improve before the elections, as, according to the NEF, there are serious causes for concern over the coverage of distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    It noted with dismay that the prospects of those who are registered under the continuous registration process to vote are not very bright and called on INEC to constantly apprise the nation of its efforts, informing Nigerians honestly on matters over which it has no power or capacity.

    “Internally Displaced Persons (I.D.Ps) are vulnerable in many respects, but their rights to vote in February must not be denied under any excuse. These fellow citizens should be accorded the highest priority in being empowered to vote. We urge INEC and the federal administration to pay special attention to security and other arrangements in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, so that the elections in them and neighbouring states are not threatened or limited to small numbers of citizens,” the NEF said.

    On the endorsement of Gen. Buhari as its presidential candidate, the forum said it “welcomed the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari as a presidential candidate who has better credentials to lead Nigeria out of its current challenges than President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

    “Our endorsement of General Muhammadu Buhari, in the same manner Nigerians from all parts of the country are supporting his candidature, is based on our belief that he and his running mate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, have the integrity, commitment and experience to resolve our security problems, fight corruption and fix our economy. We welcome the overwhelming nation-wide support they are enjoying, and we appeal to all Nigerians to support them to a victory that will end fear, impunity and destitution in our land.

    “Nigerians are on the verge of demonstrating that our democratic system can work, when an opposition can defeat an incumbent administration. We appeal to the international community to assist INEC and ensure that it prevails on losers in a credible election to accept the result.”

    The forum urge Nigerians to spare a thought for the Chibok girls who were abducted by Boko Haram fighters on April 15, lasy year, citizens in areas where the terrorists hold sway and hundreds of thousands of Internally Displaced Persons.

    “These are our fellow citizens now feeling abandoned and exposed to every threat or abuse,” NEF said, adding:

    “We appeal to fellow citizens to put them in our prayers, and assist those in camps and shelters in every way we can. This election will, among others, be about our fellow citizens under occupation, or living as refugees in their fatherland and the freedoms of those of us who now live in fear that we could be next. Let us use these elections to chart a new course for our nation, and not deepen our desperate situation.”

  • UN expresses concern over threat to peaceful polls

    UN expresses concern over threat to peaceful polls

    United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed concern that insecurity in Northeast may have dire consequences on next month’s elections.

    He said the prevailing attacks by members of the Boko Haram sect pose threat to peaceful conduct of the elections on February 14 and 28.

    The UN secretary said he will continue to rally UN member nations to discuss how to tackle the problem.

    Ki-Moon observed that not only was the activities of sect escalating the insurgents now pose threat to peace in neighbouring countries, particularly Cameroon.

    In a statement at the UN headquarters, New York, but made available by the National Information Officer at the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Oluseyi Soremekun, the UN secretary urged the insurgents to embrace peace in the interest of humanity.

    It reads: “We face another grave test as Nigeria readies for its election next month.  Boko Haram has continued its violence, killing Christians and Muslims, kidnapping even more women and children, and destroying churches and mosques.

    “Mayhem has spread across the region, and is now having a direct impact on Cameroon and other countries.

  • Don’t use corps members for polls, INEC urged

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been advised not to engage National Youths Service Corps (nysc) members as ad hoc staff for general elections next month.

    This advice was given by Dr Ayo Yussuf of the Department of Linguistics African and Asian Studies, University of Lagos.

    Yussuf, who recommended that locals, who know their localities well, be recruited instead, spoke against the backdrop of violence that erupted in some parts of the north shortly after the 2011 presidential elections when some corps members used by INEC were killed.

    He said: “You know we have a government that talks from both sides of the mouth. They (government) will always tell you there is no cause for violence (during elections) or they may want to lure the youth corps with a fat pay. But we know there will always be violence at the end of the day. So my take is that rather than incorporate youth corps as ad hoc staff, INEC should recruit individuals that understand their terrain.

    “For instance, I have a daughter who is serving in Edo State. No one prays for violence, but let us assume it breaks out, she doesn’t understand either their terrain or language, and that could be dangerous for her.  But insiders know the terrain and people especially those who perpetrate atrocities around them which make the incidence of attacks less likely.”

    Dr Yussuf said recent events of attacks in schools by Boko Haram and the April, last year’s abduction of over 200 girls in Chibok are evidences that the Federal Government is no longer in control of the country’s security.

    Yusuf’s view was corroborated by the former National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)’s  President, Comrade Dauda Muhammed, who said if INEC must recruit corps members, they should work in low-risk regions.

    He urged his contemporaries not to allow themselves to be used as easy tools for violence by unscrupulous politicians in the forthcoming elections, saying that unlike in 2011 elections,  fears of likely violence are heightened. He urged the government to beef up security nationwide.

    “The violence that claimed innocent lives of corps members in some parts of the north during the general election is still fresh in our memories. Every life is as important as the other. Therefore, I do not support that corps members be redeployed to any violence-prone area if at all INEC wants to recruit them,” he said.

    Speaking on the failure of the Federal Government to pay the second tranche of the N220 billion it agreed with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) last year, Yussuf lamented that the government did not keep its promises.  He faulted some universities for not involving ASUU members in implementing the needs assessment projects.

    He said: “It is also obvious that government makes promises and reneges at will.  They always pretend to comply by signing an agreement in order to call off the strike. We knew what ASUU went through before that agreement was signed. But in contrast with the spirit of that agreement, it is unfortunate that today some of these universities are not involving ASUU members in the committee that will oversee how this money is undertaken on projects. Our case today is now like the hunter that suffered in the jungle before he killed the game only for someone else to hijack it from him.”

     

     

    “Though I am not speaking for ASUU, I am not in support of any strike action now so that government does not see ASUU as rocking the democratic boat. All we can do is to continue to pressure government perhaps after the election.”

     

  • We ’ll ensure violence-free 2015 polls, says APC

    We ’ll ensure violence-free 2015 polls, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has assured Nigerians and the international community that it will ensure next year’s general election is violence-free.

    It said the rising apprehension about the polls among the populace was inimical to the conduct of a successful election.

    APC National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed made the pledge in a statement yesterday in Lagos.

    The statement, however, said the party’s efforts should be complemented by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government, which, the APC said, had a propensity for using the security agencies to harass and intimidate the opposition and the citizens.

    It added that the Federal Government should take necessary measures to ensure that the elections are free, fair and credible, stressing that “rigging and other acts of electoral malfeasance constitute the immediate trigger for anger and violence during and after elections.”

    The statement also reads: ‘’We have heard from Nigerians who are so afraid about possible violence during the election that they are even willing to relocate to other countries until after the elections. But, as the biggest opposition party in Nigeria and a major stakeholder in our nation’s democracy, we are assuring, on our part, that there will be no violence.

    ‘’Though our party has no history of violence, we have commenced a nationwide effort to sensitise our members and supporters to the need to eschew rancour and embrace non-violent methods, even in the face of the kind of provocations to which we were subjected during the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, when our members were needlessly

    harassed, arrested and detained by partisan security agencies acting under orders from the Federal Government.

    ‘’If the Federal Government allows a level-playing field for all

    contestants, if the security agencies stop acting as the armed wing of the ruling PDP, if the electoral umpire will carry out its duties without fear, favour or bias and if citizens are allowed to exercise their franchise unmolested, the stage will be set for a non-violent, free, fair and credible polls. In other words, the government has a major role to play in making the forthcoming polls peaceful.

    ‘’On our part, in addition to other efforts aimed at ensuring a peaceful election, we pledge to accept the result of an election that is not only free, fair, credible and transparent, but one that is also seen to be so. We hope other parties will make a similar pledge.”

    The party said it demonstrated during its recent rancour-free and festive national convention in Lagos that elections should be a celebration of democracy, rather than a moment of fear, violence and threat to lives.

    It said far from mere rhetoric, it had taken practical steps, as far

    back as May 2014, to work with the PDP to ensure violence-free polls next year.

    ‘’Following up on a meeting of representatives of both parties in Washington, DC, United States, on April 7-8, 2014, under the auspices of the CSIS Nigeria Election Forum, at which it was agreed that a joint meeting of both parties be convened to discuss and agree on the crucial issue of a Code of Conduct for the campaigns and the elections, we wrote a letter to the PDP suggesting a bipartisan meeting to address the

    ‘’The PDP agreed to the proposal and suggested that it should be expanded to include the leadership of other political parties in the country. However, problem with logistics meant that the meeting did not hold.

    ‘’Even with the little time left for the election to hold, we strongly believe that a meeting of the leadership of the two political parties – the APC and the PDP – will send a powerful message to our compatriots and indeed the international community and douse the tension that is building up ahead of the election,’’ APC said.

  • ‘Jega may not conduct credible polls’

    ‘Jega may not conduct credible polls’

    THE Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Lagos State chapter has said that the Chairman, of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, may not conduct  free and fair elections in 2015.

    The group made this known in a press statement signed by its Chairman, Hon. Akionla Obadia, following the assessment of the  Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) distribution in 11 local governments.

    “What borders us is the lacklustre performance of the INEC, knowing well that Lagos is one of the most populous states, based on population registration. Therefore, they ought to have prepared for this important exercise. For the INEC to have come with kids gloves to face the enormous population of Lagos State is a disaster.

    “A visit to Mushin, Ajeromi Ifelodun, Badagry and Ikeja local governments as a text case is a clear manifestation of the INEC’s unpreparedness for a free and fair election in 2015.”

    Obadia lamented that the commission  has been caught in the web, adding that it has to  convince Nigerians that it is not backing  Dr Jonathan’s hidden agenda.

    He added:  “We are confident that 2015 will roll out God’s agenda for Nigeria but INEC should not start complicating issues.

    We, the CNPP in Lagos State therefore, appeal to the management of INEC to retrace their steps now and remember that Nigeria is larger than any minacious agenda.”

  • ‘Lagosians’ll give 2015 polls to APC’

    ‘Lagosians’ll give 2015 polls to APC’

    Owolabi Olateju, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, is seeking to represent the Agege II Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly. In this interview with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, he explains why he is contesting next year’s election. 

    Why are you contesting for the House of Assembly in Lagos?

    I am quite familiar with the political terrain. My family was involved in the struggle to enthrone democracy after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election by the military. Their participation in the movement to actualize the mandate given to Chief MKO Abiola is a pointer to my interest in politics. I have learnt lots of lesson from it. So, what I am doing at the moment is just like a continuation of the work they did then. My intention is to see how we can actually improve on it through lawmaking for the good people of Lagos State. We are aware that there are limited job opportunities in the country. But, I believe that through empowerment, the people of my constituency can actually be gainfully engaged. We need to put them in the right vocations. We need to organise workshops and seminars for graduates seeking employment. For those who do not possess the prerequisites qualification for high profile jobs, they can acquire vocational skills in carpentry, bricklaying and shoe making. They can also be engaged in hair dressing, decoration training etc. These are some of the things we intend to do for our people. And by that act, when we start it in Agege Constituency 11, we would have empowered many youths roaming the streets in search of jobs. We want to see to how we can reduce unemployment, especially in our constituency.  We want to see to how our debate can contribute to power generation, security and prosperity to Nigeria.

    Are you convinced that the people will support your ambition?

    I have lived in Agege for over 20 years. This is the place where I grew up. But, from my own observation, development is not moving at a desired pace, particularly in the nooks and crannies. At least, it has not permeated the nooks and crannies of Agege. Although, the government is trying, I think we need to do better than we are doing at the moment. So, to the best of my knowledge, they will support our efforts; they will subscribe to our plans because they know that we can make things better for them through good representation at the House. We want to encourage youths in politics, particularly those of the female gender. I know the party is already doing that, but we still have to move a step further than that. I am happy that our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), is doing everything within its power to ensure that the female folks are not sidelined. Our party has actually done very well in the Southwest and at the national level, we hope to spring surprises during the general election. It can actually take over the central government because the party is very strong. We have not had an opposition party like this before. The APC will create a positive change and I know we can take the country out of the present state doldrums. There are lots of things to do, to make this country great. I have an NGO which is looking at repositioning the middle class. We have to help all the segment of the society to attain their potential and it can come through making good laws. As a trained management consultant, we are throwing our arms open to assist people who are in need of our services. We will guide you and see how we can support you. The poverty in the land is so much, but something has to be done to ameliorate the debilitating situation.