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Tag: rigging

  • The art of election rigging

    The art of election rigging

    Moniker Williams, an election observer, who monitored the recent governorship poll Akwa Ibom State, examines the danger of election rigging to democracy.

    From the governorship elections that took place on April 11, 2015, it was obvious there was a systemic ploy to ensure incredible results were achieved. With a massive win of 996,071 votes out of 1,122, 836 votes cast(representing a 90% win) one can only admire such phenomenal results. When such great strides are achieved, it is important to study the model used and adopt key lessons in the interest of national development.

    10 key rigging strategies:

    1. Make sure people can’t vote–

    It’s so simple, but it really is pure genius. Across the 31 LGA’s, there were records of missing election materials, especially the result sheets.  As eager citizens arrive, you can either stop them from getting accredited by making sure no PVC card reader arrives at the polling unit or in some cases allow them to get accredited but no stamp to thumb print the election sheet. Better still,you can have the ad hoc staff show that result sheets are missing to really discourage citizens. This will make people feel thatwaking up early to exercise their fundamental human right is a complete waste of time as a lack of result sheet shows how their votes will definitelyNOT count.

     

    2. Compromise the Resident Electoral Officer(REC) –

    This falls in line with best practice of the top-down approach in a system where decision-making is highly centralized. This provides an overall and clear direction for all tiers of the electoral hierarchy from the Electoral Officers to the Ad-hoc Staff to ensure a seamless execution of the plan for a successful election.

     

    3. Abduct over-zealous ad-hoc staff–

    This is for those who will insist on doing their duty or due to a gap in communication from the Supervising Presiding Officer (SPO) may not have received the order of the day. So, to avert any confusion, simply abduct the young ad-hoc staff before they arrive at their assigned polling units. It saves from the drama of snatching ballot boxes in front of crowds as you can intervene just in time while you leave citizens waiting aimlessly at the polling unit. Also, it’s just a few hours, as they will be released just in time to submit their election materials in tact at the collation center while they wait to receive their appreciation envelope for the night. It is very important that both the top-down and bottom-up approach is deployed for optimal performance and best results delivered. Using the top-down approach provides focus, direction and performance conditions, but if used in isolation can be ineffective. Such a system with several moving parts must provide some level of independent thinking to allow for quick responses when things don’t go as planned. For instance, we observed a level of ingenuity, such as the few places where election results sheets where not missing, fake result sheets were made available. This shows the creativity some electoral officials displayed. This also creates a medley of problems, which makes election reportage of actual events overwhelming and implausible.

     

    4. Use violence where necessary–

    The use of violence in one area can have a ripple effect that will reverberate across the entireState, thanks to the use of mobile phones and social media. This is great as one does not have to use a huge amount of force as seen in prior elections but just enough to remind people of how being democratic can land you in the gutter with dismembered body parts. In this election we saw a more organized approach using white buses with decent looking thugs who came to cart awayballot boxes. They shot in the air using guns several times to disperse the crowd of eager citizens willing to vote. Unfortunately the violence did result in a few people being killed but it is important to note it appeared it was used more as a deterrent than a direct use of force against the Akwa Ibom people.  In a country ridden with insecurity from a terrorist group in the North, 8 people getting killed and over 30 cases of severely injured people will definitely not get any media attention.

     

    5. Control the media–

    To achieve absolute success you cannot afford for the media to be let loose in the State, they tend to have a mind of their own, desirous of reporting real happenings in real time. Ensure this freelance approach to the media is not condoned. They must be told to stay away and for those in the State they must be controlled. In a case where the brown appreciative envelope does not suffice, you have touse coercion by threatening to burn down their houses with their family in it. Of course, that should temper down any bright ideas on election reportage and ensure they are where the main actors of the State are to cover a seamless process of accreditation and voting in the 30% of the State that seemed to vote. This will of course be a stark difference from what International observers and some local observers will report but fortunately no one has a wide reach like the local media.  Those observer reports are really just for those academics that aspire to be a resource for election monitoring in developing countries.

     

    6. Compromise some observers–

    Again maintaining balance is key. It would be a shame to have such a flawless plan of robbing people of their right to vote by leaving observers to wander around freely reporting a very different reality you have worked so hard to create. In this case, invite them to your house for lunch, welcome them very warmly to the State House and ensure you have discussions of how greatly you have performed and how ecstatic the Akwa Ibom people are to vote 100% for continuity. Do let them know that you are a product of democracy and you will continue to ensure these dividends flow even after you’re gone as governor. Again thank them for their good works and don’t forget the brown appreciative envelope, this time dollars must be the currency usedas some observers are sophisticated. This ensures they have a great time in Akwa Ibom and for some male observers they can now afford to experience the ‘ladies of the night’ in their hotel rooms as they return with a fist of full of dollars. As they report, you’ll be pleased to see them use the buzzwords such as ‘peaceful’ and ‘perfect’ to describe the successful election.

     

    7. Strategic use of security forces–

    Ensure you have heavy security presence in your opponents strong areas. As much as 22 policemen were present in one polling unit in EniongOffot and none were present in other “less” threatening areas where violence erupted. This anomaly will secure the plan inareas easily controlled. While on the other hand, keep any opposition and their thugs from running amuck as they witness their grand plans to vote or cause their own brand of trouble thwarted before their very eyes. Also you’ll need to ensure the security forces across all levels are on your side. This is for post-election purposes when annoying citizens who actually get upset about their inability to vote, gather to peacefully protest the announced results. You must ensure that none of such revolutionary activities are tolerated. For the few bold citizens that are undeterred by the violence they heard or witnessed during the election process you must make sure as soon they gather, you disperse them. Release fire trucks, helicopter and army tankers to display an unrelenting show of force for those who will try to prove a point about their right to vote.

     

    8. Compromise heads of security forces–

    Again, it is not enough to use the top down approach only with the electoral staff, it must be used for the security forces as well in combination with the bottom-up approach. Remember it is the combination of both that delivers effective results. You must positively influence the commissioner of police so that every time he gets on the news to discuss the elections he uses buzz words such as  ‘peaceful’ and ‘perfect’ to describe the elections. When asked how about the pockets of violence being reported, he’ll react in a super confident way to play down such reports and make lackluster statements such as ‘there’s no violence, but I’ll look into it’. He’ll stick to the narrative of perfect elections like white on rice. This will null informal news from miscreants on social media as the main security agent has spoken and his word is bond.

     

    9. Announce results as fast as you can–

    In this case; you have to seek balance again because it’s a bit tricky. You can’t afford to announce too early, as it will cause eyebrows to be raised so make sure you are not the first or second State to announce results but ensure you are top seven. At least a good 12 hours after elections is usually a good time to announce the pre-written results. Since you have achieved rule number one by stopping 70% of the citizens from voting, you can skip the arduous task of actually collating results from Ward level to LGA level to State level. There is no need for the manual labour of counting and deciding how many votes will be rendered invalid to guarantee the pre-determined winner. The pre-generated computer results is what you’ll have the REC write on the result sheet to be announced by the Returning Officer usually a Professor assigned from INEC who also plays his role of announcing results ‘as is’ without any questions.

     

    10. Media appearances–

    It is important to select key state actors from Government House, House of Assembly, former and current National Assembly Members and NGO organizations (heavily linked to these state actors)as media emissaries. You’ll need to ensure all media emissaries sing the same song of how the state has always voted one way and will always vote that way forever and ever. You also need to make sure all emissaries use the same buzzwords ‘peaceful’ and ‘perfect’ election. They cannot deviate from the script or attempt to sound realistic by admitting to any reports of slight violence or election fraud. They must not generalize or relate to the fact that Nigerian elections are far from perfect. They must keep their realism to themselves. Finally, these media emissaries need to dismiss anycounter narrative from the public as the agents of the opposition parties. It is befitting to label the opposition parties as sore losers who failed miserably in their collective bid to even garner 10% of the votes in the State. Remember to thank the Akwa Ibom people for their steadfastness in delivering incredible election results giving the winner a landslide victory that is enviable by national and global standards. When pictures of protest emerge, tell the audience that those images are imaginary and the real march was a victory march around the State celebrating this glorious win.

    The above steps are how to win an election Akwa-Ibom Style, real democracy from the great doctrine of Akpabiosm. Hope this serves as a useful guide in winning elections and nation building.

  • Brazen thuggery, violence and rigging everywhere

    Brazen thuggery, violence and rigging everywhere

    Gboyega Alaka highlights some of the incidents of violence that characterised last week’s presidential elections

    It might have been a cartoon, but it tells a whole lot of story about the futility of electoral violence, the wickedness of the perpetrators and the foolishness of those who willingly make themselves tools in the hands of the politicians.

    The cartoon published in The Nation a day after last week’s presidential election shows an agitated aged mother screaming at her bare-chested, machete-wielding, hemp-smoking thug of a son, who obviously is on his way out and ready for the KILL.

    “Son, they nicknamed you ‘Death Warrant’ and you are happy, ehn?… where are your party leaders’ children?”

    Of course. He has no answer, as the mother’s punchy question seems to hit him hard.

    But a rambunctious fowl in the yard provides the thought-provoking answer: “…Safely in Europe and America, of course!”

    Without doubt, the message here should not be lost on all the young men and women, including the irresponsible adults, who turn themselves into political thugs during election seasons and fight, maim, kill and vandalise properties, all in the name of fighting for perpetrating evil for their principals, the politicians. Except if they want to pretend.

    In most cases, children and relatives of these desperate politicians, are in some fancy schools, undergoing the best of training, and preparing for prosperous careers or immediate take-over of political offices and appointments, just in case their parents have decided to step down.

    Even when they are not in schools, the politicians never forget to herd their children safely into exile; just so that whatever violence that might erupt due to their actions and campaigns, never get to them.

    The cartoon thus exposes the folly in all those who make themselves willing tools for violence on behalf of politicians, who are not even ready to have the slightest danger whistle past their own children.

    In the same vein, another gentleman recently made a very instructive call into a television talk-show programme centred on election violence, right on the eve of the election. Paraphrasing him, he said: the politicians and political class are one and the same. Anyone who chooses to lose an arm or leg or die for them dies in vane, for their differences only lies in their immediate interests and nothing deeper. To make his message more profound, he cited the recent cross-carpeting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the newly formed opposition the All Progressives Congress (APC), which saw a massive movement of some major PDP bigwigs into the APC. More instructive was his question that: Who would have imagined an Olagunsoye Oyinlola and an Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and a Rafiu Aregbesola in the same party and in warm embraces?

    He also asked, who would have expected that a Segun Oni (former governor of Ekiti State0 and a Kayode Fayemi (who unseated him by court judgment barely four years ago, in the same boat, with both of them paddling towards the same destination, without rancour?

    Today, Segun Oni is even the deputy national chairman of the APC for South-West Nigeria. At the last count, Olagunsoye Oyinlola was also seen

    Despite calls and warnings, by spirited Nigerians and friends from the international community for a peaceful electoral process, desperate politicians, community party leaders and gullible youths still went on rampage, inflicting terror, assaulting, maiming and even killing, all in a bid to disrupt orderly election processes, foster mayhem and manipulate election outcomes.

    Just this Wednesday, as much as four days after the presidential election, a group of thugs in Ekiti, apparently still smarting from the defeat of the PDP went on rampage, attacking the state secretariat and smashing screens of about five vehicles, amongst them a Honda saloon and a Mercedes Benz C240.  The thugs were said to have arrived in three Hilux cars and immediately launched unprovoked attacks, destroying flags and banners of the opposition. One of the smashed cars was also said to belong to the APC Publicity secretary in the state, Taiwo Olatunbosun.

    Thankfully, no death was recorded.

    In Bauchi, a bloodied corpse of a man was caught on camera being stretchered out while a watched in agony. The man was reportedly shot by a soldier Sunday morning at the state INEC Secretariat after he and a group of the locals attempted to fend off soldiers who were trying to gain entry into the INEC office while counting was still going on.

    Another man was said to have been hit by a stray bullet and rushed to a hospital under a very dire condition.

    The residents had kept vigil outside the electoral commission’s office, patiently awaiting the result, when the military showed up and parked the violence.

    Rivers State by far recorded the highest incidences of election malpractice and violence, as scores were said to have been killed. Even before the election proper, the state had always borne the tag of battle-ground, but no one envisaged the level of impunity and violence that finally ensued. It will be recalled that it was in the state that the first semblance of violence in the whole electoral campaign erupted, when some thugs suspected to be of the PDP affiliation shot at APC members on their way to the party’s campaign flag-off venue in the state. This was followed by pockets of other occurrences, until the stalemated APC campaign in Okrika, the home-town of the first lady, where ceaseless sporadic gunshots halted the exercise.

    On Election Day proper, one of the dead, an APC member in Ward 3, Unit 2, Ogale-Eleme, was allegedly killed by a soldier attached to a prominent leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Eleme, Eleme Local Government Area.

    At Opobo/Nkoro, the Local Government Area of Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, the gubernatorial candidate of APC, the house of Opobo/Nkoro Caretaker Committee Chairman, Loveday Jaja, was torched after he escaped to avoid being killed by the PDP hoodlums. Electoral materials meant for the Local Government Area have been diverted to John Africa/Ada Tom Pepple Compound area where they are thumb-printing in favour of PDP. Another person Alafagha Oko-Jaja had his head broken head and he is seriously bleeding. No one is sure if he will survive.

    The police also said two car bombs exploded at polling stations in Enugu, although no one was injured, as the police immediately took charge of the situation. This was aside other incidents of violence, in Anambra state, some of which resulted in death of policemen and civilians. (See box)

    In Ikere Ekiti, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member Jide Owolabi was allegedly shot by security aides attached to the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kolapo Olusola. The incident occurred at Ereja Polling Unit in Odo-Oja quarter of the town when Olusola, who was said to be moving around in a convoy, was stopped by APC members who accused him of violating the electoral law.

    On the eve of the election, a member of the House of Representatives, Oyetunde Ojo, escaped being killed by hooded gunmen who laid siege to his hometown, Erijiyan-Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Government Area.

    The gunmen, according to him, arrived the community at 9.30 pm on Friday and unleashed terror till about 1.00 am on Saturday.

    Ojo, who is son-in-law to the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said the unknown persons pointed to his house after which serious shootings started.

    The federal lawmaker representing Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 2  who is seeking re-election revealed that six houses were attacked in the community while many vehicles were damaged.

    Among the houses destroyed was that of the state APC Chairman, Chief Olajide Awe and that of Ojo’s mother.

    He said the Police came after the assailants had left which necessitated his request for special security cover.

    Speaking on the conduct of the polls, Ojo said the election was peaceful and the reports received from other communities in the constituency showed that the process was hitch-free.

     

    In Gombe, the story was even worse. Suspected Boko Haram fighters attacked would-be voters, killing ten people in the process, one of them, a serving member of the state House of Assembly and a policeman. Even the governor of the state, Danjuma Goje was said to be a target in a plan orchestrated to foment trouble and scuttle the process.

    According to eye-witnesses, the insurgents were overheard shouting “Didn’t we warn you about staying away from the election?” even as they pulled the triggers.

    Although the atmosphere was tense, Lagos however recorded low violence, with one unconfirmed report of death somewhere in Oworonshoki area of the state. The state had however witnessed its fair share violent incidents in days leading to the election, with February being the most bloody. Three people were said to have been killed in separate incidents in Ajegunle and Lagos Island in the first week of February. The Ajegunle incident took place in Amukoko, claiming one life, simply identified as Raimi, while the Lagos Island incident perpetrated by a cult group, Campos Boys claimed the life of Ahmed Igbagbo and an unidentified man, after argument ensued over political issues. An eye witness said 12 other people were also injured in that Lagos Island fracas.

    A week later, another ugly fracas erupted in Jakande area of Lekki, leaving one dead and several others injured, when supporters of the PDP and APC clashed during one of the campaign rallies.

    Pockets of incidents of gunshots, ballot box snatching were also recorded in Ilaje-ese Odo in Ondo, Sagamu in Ogun State and other places.

    Additional report by Odunayo Ogunmola in Ekiti.

     

  • Enugu PDP denies rigging

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State has described as false, baseless and diversionary, a call by the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the cancellation of last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections’ results in the state.

    APC called for the cancellation on the alleged grounds that “the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and security agents connived with the PDP to rig the elections in favour of the PDP.”

    The Publicity Secretary, Dr. Okey Eze, said in a statement that it was a common knowledge that Enugu had been the home base of the PDP in the Southeast since  1998 and its popularity in the state was formidable and had grown  over the years.

    He noted that the landslide the party recorded in Enugu State was never a surprise to any unbiased political adherent, but a true reflection of its stronghold in the state.

    Eze said the accusation by the state leadership of the APC was not only an attempt to give their masters flimsy excuses for the well-deserved failure, but another senseless move to divert the attention of their masters from the money that was handed over to them to execute the elections, which disintegrated the party rather than unite it, following the reported case of the inability of their leaders to account for the money.

    The PDP spokesman condemned “the brazen act of insensitivity and crass desperation” by the leadership of the APC in the state in spreading false allegations against the PDP, the state leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agents over an election that was transparent, peaceful, free and fair to the satisfaction of  stakeholders.

    He said the failure suffered by the APC was an indication of its  unpopularity in the state, occasioned by the inability of the party to convince the people of a defined and realistic development agenda that could outweigh the laudable policies and people-oriented programmes of the PDP government.

    Eze said no amount of smear campaign, blatant lies and unfounded accusations against the PDP by the opposition APC would affect the swelling popularity and acceptability the party enjoyed in the state and its chances of winning the remaining elections.

    The party urged the electoral umpire and the public to disregard the allegations by the APC, as they were meant to mislead, blackmail and discredit the peaceful exercise in the state.

     

     

  • CAC pastor warns against thuggery, rigging

    CAC pastor warns against thuggery, rigging

    A cleric, Pastor (Dr) John Olushola Ojo, has called on politicians to keep away from thuggery and rigging in the coming general elections.

    Pastor Ojo, who is the chairman of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Odi-Ajaye Zonal Headquarters, Ogba, Lagos, said in an interview yesterday in Lagos that “thuggery and rigging are two major vices which are inimical to the nation’s electoral process.”

    “Both thuggery and rigging are twins. They go together. They give birth to other problems which militate against the rapid advancement of our country.

    “In the light of this, I warn our politicians to eschew thuggery and rigging. They are against divine laws,” he said.

    On the alleged N7billion bribe reportedly given to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to campaign against the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Ojo said: “I do not believe this story. But if it is true, it is a desecration of churches which are homes of hope, comfort, peace and holiness. It is bad. It is against the teachings of Jesus Christ as contained in the Holy Bible.

    “If it is true, those who got the money are inviting the wrath of God. I do not believe the story. People can say anything to destroy as a result of hatred. A true man of God will not involve himself in bribery. It is a sin to give a bribe and it is a sin to accept it.”

    On the postponement of elections, he said: “I know that many people are complaining about the shift of the polls. But I want people to be calm and believe that God is in control. We should pray that elections hold on the new dates.”

    On our youths, Pastor Ojo said: “Our youths deserve special treatment because they are the future leaders. Any government in power after these elections must attach much importance to the welfare of youths. They must be empowered. They need jobs; they need training. They should not be left to waste.”

    Pastor Ojo, who will soon launch a foundation to take care of widows and orphans, said immoralities in our society could be traced to the lack of honesty.

    “We have challenges here and there because of our failure to embrace honesty in all our dealings with our fellow human beings. And where there is no honesty, God will not be there because He hates dishonesty,” he said.

  • Fayose admits voice in rigging audio clip

    Fayose admits voice in rigging audio clip

    •Urges Fayemi to go to court  

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has admitted that his voice was one of the voices heard in the rigging audio clip.

    An Army officer, Capt Sagir Koli, recorded the voices of Fayose, former Minister of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro, Police Affairs Minister Jelili Adesiyan, Osun State PDP governorship candidate Iyiola Omisore and Brig.-Gen. Aliyu Momoh allegedly strategising on how to use soldiers to manipulate the elelction.

    But Fayose  denied discussing a rigging plot, adding that “he was accusing Gen. Momoh of conniving with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the election”.

    The governor challenged his predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to go to court and prove that the military and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) colluded to rig the June 21, last year, governorship election.

    Fayose also challenged Fayemi to produce the soldiers, who participated in the alleged electoral malfeasance in court and insisted that the soldiers must produce evidence to back up the allegation.

    The governor was reacting to the ex-governor’s explanations on an ADABA 88.9 FM programme, “APC Change Hour,” in which Fayemi said some soldiers were ready to give evidence in court.

    The audio clip, which has gone viral on the Internet, was aired on the programme.  Fayemi said the second part would soon be released.

    But Fayose accused Fayemi of “grandstanding and playing to the gallery”, saying the former governor should go to court to prove his allegation.

    The governor, who itemised the areas he would want the soldiers to prove, said his predecessor was only trying to undermine the election adjudged by local and international observers as free, fair and credible.

    He said: “The soldiers should give evidence and explain where and how they were instructed to rig the election, if they were instructed to thumb print ballot papers, or if they were instructed to snatch ballot boxes. How many of such ballot papers did they thumb print and how many boxes did they snatch?”

    Fayose

    He said: “The problem with my predecessor is the defeat he suffered in the 16 local government areas. He is yet to recover from the shock, and he is fretting over the prospect of going down in political history as the first sitting governor to suffer such defeat.

    “All that Fayemi is trying to do is to undermine the election adjudged best by local and international observers.

    “I respected him before now but events after the election have exposed his character that he is not a democrat

    “In 2011, when my defeat was very glaring, just like what we have now, I did not go about disparaging the winner. Instead, I went back to prepare for the next election.

    “I say again, let him bring his soldiers who will say Fayose told them to rig election but they must show the evidence.”

  • Niger borrows N5b to finance rigging, says APC

    Niger borrows N5b to finance rigging, says APC

    Niger State All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration in the state of taking N5 billion loan to finance the rigging of the March and April general elections.

    APC State Publicity Secretary Jonathan Vatsa, who addressed reporters yesterday in Minna, the state capital, said N3 billion was borrowed by the Ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs while the state government secured N2 billion.

    But the government said the allegation was false.

    The Aliyu administration said the allegations were “lies from the pit of hell”.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Israel Ebije, challenged the opposition to back its claims with documents.

    The opposition wondered why a government that was rounding off would borrow money, if not to use the facility to buy security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials to rig the election in its favour.

    Vatsa alleged that the government recently summoned a meeting with the INEC state electoral officers for an alleged  deal to assist the ruling party in the general elections.

    He said: “At the end of the meeting, each of the officers was given N100,000 with a promise of N3 million to be released when the election commenced.”

  • Fayemi: more Ekiti rigging audio details coming

    Fayemi: more Ekiti rigging audio details coming

    •APC: we’ve been vindicated •Fashola: Obanikoro, Fayose can’t deny their roles.

    More details of how the June 21 , last year, election in Ekiti State was “rigged” are on the way, former Governor Kayode Fayemi  said yesterday.

    An online news portal, Sahara Reporters, released at the weekend an audio recording, which reportedly captured the voices of Governor Ayo Fayose, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and Police Affairs Minister Jelili Adesiyan at a meeting where they ordered military officers to rig the poll for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The former governor spoke at his 50th birthday thanksgiving service at St. Martin’s Catholic Church, Isan-Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area.

    Fayemi said: “The news of the audio clip, which was reported yesterday, was not a surprise to me.

    “Those who denied that they were not the ones will hear the second part of the recording and they will keep quiet.

    “Justice belongs to God. God will vindicate us because we have worked hard for our people.”

    The Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Rev Felix Ajakaye, urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the country.

    The cleric urged Fayemi to continue to exhibit the qualities that marked him as a servant of the people during his four-year term, urging the ex-governor not to relent in offering himself for the service of humanity.

    Rev Ajakaye, who noted that God has not concluded his work in Fayemi’s life, advised the ‘birthday boy’ to always be good to others, regardless of whether or not they will pay him back.

    “Don’t relent in doing good whether or not you are appreciated. Be good to people whether they will pay you back or not”, the bishop tells the former governor.

    The service was attended by the wife of the celebrator, Bisi; former Governor Adeniyi Adebayo, former Chief of Defence Staff, Lt.-Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd); former Deputy Governor Prof. Modupe Adelabu, husband of the late deputy governor, Mr. Lanre Olayinka, federal and state lawmakers, and other officials, who worked with the governor during his tenure.

    Alluding to the postponement of the general elections in his homily, Ajakaye urged Nigerians, whose enthusiasm has been dampened by the shift of the polls, to put the disappointment behind them and still hope for a brighter future.

    The bishop said: “The journey continues, don’t lose hope about Nigeria. Don’t be discouraged that we want to vote and they are now shifting the goal post. Some people are somewhere now drinking wine and clinking glasses.

    “When we learnt of the plan to postpone the election, we knew it was the hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob.

    “Nobody can play God, the controversy about whether or not we will vote, all I can say about it is that one day is for the thief, one day is for the owner.

    “Failure to tell ourselves the truth is one of the greatest problems of this generation. One of the prayers I have always prayed is that may God shame the shameless.”

    The bishop earlier led a song: “Jesus never fails, the man of the world may let you down but Jesus never fails” to drive home the point that human beings are fond of disappointment when much is expected of them.

    He continued the song: “Your best friend may let you down, your best politician may let you down, INEC may let you down, Jega may let you down but Jesus never fails.”

    The rendition of the song sent everybody in the church reeling in laughter.

    The bishop noted that Fayemi served the people to the best of his ability and  fulfilled the purpose God sent him to accomplish.

    Rev Ajakaye said one of the ways Fayemi demonstrated leadership by example was  discouraging people from addressing him as “Your Excellency”.

    He urged the governor not to be a professional politician but a statesman, saying “statesmen are better than all these professional politicians, most of them are chop-I-chop, ‘moneticians’ and ‘pocketicians’, who are fond of saying they are not allowing me to eat”.

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola said Obanikoro and Fayose could not deny their involvement in the audio clip.

    Fashola, in an interview in Surulere, said the audio clip, which has gone viral on social media, smacks of impunity and clearly explains the PDP’s desperation to win elections at all cost.

    He said:  “Well, I am sure some of those people who spoke in that audio, especially the one who claims that the promotion of security officer is in his hands, and they have drawn the Presidency into it.

    “They said they were acting on behalf of the Presidency. I am sure that fellow, even his grandchild, will know that is his voice; so how he wants to deny it I don’t know.

    “His grandchildren will recognise his voice as many of us have done. This must open the minds of Nigerians to what it takes to win an election.

    “When Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola was celebrating, I know what he went through, because we have been through it, we have been in opposition here, and when we win elections in Lagos as we have always done, we know what it takes to do so, to protect votes that are legitimately cast for us.

    “Those people in that audio are the examples of some of the kind of base desperation for power that you will ever see. So, when ordinary Nigerians are struggling in the sun, trying to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), trying to vote, you see what they are doing at night, you see how seriously that party that they represent takes your vote and your effort and your sacrifice for democracy.

    “I’m sure now that Nigerians are getting wiser, because all of the things that they thought was done in the dark are now in the open.”

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it has been vindicated by its claim that photo chromic ballot papers were used to fix the election.

    In a statement by the Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, the party said it was shocking that principal participants did not hide their evil plot as they spoke freely of an elaborate rigging.

    “It was shocking that one of the participants spoke of how he must deliver on the assignment given to him by the ‘President’. The fellow said: ‘I am not for a tea party but to deliver on the president’s assignment’.

    “Another voice said he had been governor in the last 12 years and should not be toyed with. The voice blamed a major general, who was also heard defending himself, of not cooperating in the assignment.

    The voice said the major general nearly sabotaged him in using the soft copy of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) papers and computers given to him to ease the assignment.”

    Olatubosun said it was  clear that Fayemi could not be defeated by Fayose, considering the love Ekiti people had for him based on his integrity and unprecedented development he brought to Ekiti State.

    He urged Ekiti people to brace up for the challenge ahead to peacefully and legally retrieve Fayemi’s mandate.

     

  • South Africa APC warns against rigging

    South Africa APC warns against rigging

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), South Africa Chapter, has warned against rigging in the general elections.

    It said any bid to alter the people’s mandate will be resisted.

    The chapter said: “We appeal to the entire role players in the 2015 General election at all levels to allow the will of the people to be done.

    “Any attempt to rig the election in favour of any politician, a group of politicians or a political party will be vehemently resisted.

    “Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of justice. A peaceful atmosphere of electioneering will include a free and fair election in which all the candidate will freely allow the will of the people and accept the outcome of the election.

    “The power of incumbency, political thuggery, insensitivity, and all manners of behaviour that may thwart the peaceful conduct of 2015 election must be shelved in the interest of our nation,” it said.

    Its Protem Chairman, Bola Babarinde, and Protem Secretary, Fasina Oludayo, sais in a statement that the South Africa  APC is unhappy about the decision to disallow Diaspora voting.

    Babarinde said: “As of 2006, a total of 91 countries worldwide allowed voting by emigrants including 21 African nations, 13 North and South American countries, 15 Asian countries, six Pacific countries and 36 European countries.

    “By 2013, the list has lengthened to include at least 113 countries and territories but Nigeria kept lagging further and drag behind in the list of these progressive countries.”

    He added that some countries such as France, Portugal and Italy allow their citizens abroad not only to exercise their franchise, but reserve parliamentary seats for them.

    “The question can therefore, be rightly asked: Given the immense contributions of the diasporan Nigerians, is it not justified that they should be allowed to vote and be voted for?

    “Who is afraid of the vote of the diasporan Nigerians? Is it the politicians who want to continue to play on the ignorance of the local voters and who see the diasporan voters as a potent voting constituency that cannot be bought over by the languid and spineless campaign tactics that currently operate or the government in power who want to maintain power at the centre through the disenfranchisement of foreign-based votes?” the members asked.

    APC South Africa said Nigeria will need to fashion out how voting will be permitted for its citizens that live outside the country.

    “For example, certain countries allowed voting by registered voters through the use of valid passport of the country; others allow only diplomatic and military personnel on foreign mission to vote at the embassies and high commissions; certain countries placed age restrictions while others allowed one to vote only by having attained a certain status in the country of domiciliary.

    “Allowing Nigerians abroad to vote and be voted for in the national, state and local election may bring an interesting bend of diversities to the Nigerian polity and introduce a new dimension and fresh ideas to our political system.

    “E-voting may be a good alternative to cut the cost associated with voting abroad and it is easily auditable and verifiable. It will also allow the national and regional government test the popularity of its policies with the enlightened and socially active communities abroad.

    “The diasporan voters does not constitute a threat to national democracy and these election can be organised much cheaply compared to the home based election as our embassies and foreign mission can easily host these elections,” the APC members added.

    On the need for Nigerians abroad to vote, the communique added: “This can also become a potent means of getting a near accurate register of Nigerians living abroad, a project that has constantly failed to date.

    “The authorities will need to come up with a system that will allow them to register voters from abroad while preventing fraud, and decide on the logistics that will support how these individuals must vote and be voted for.

    “As a matter of reminder, the Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan promised to work towards the implementation of the diasporan election come 2015. Here we are on the path to that same election and the large Nigerian population are still disenfranchise.

    “A Nigerian leader that will facilitate the voting by Nigerians living abroad will have won the hearts of many Nigerians living overseas. The line between Democracy and Xenocracy remains thin.”

    On insurgency, Babarinde said the level of insecurities has currently reached an all time high.

    “While security is an issue that needs the contribution of all and sundry, it needs to be driven by the leadership. We use this medium to appeal to the leadership of Nigeria at all levels to take the issue of security seriously and frontally tackle insurgencies and provide an enabling environment for the citizens of Nigeria.

    “In recent times, the killing of many Nigerians living abroad who visited home on holidays have taken a centre stage among others. We condemn such attack and appeal to the leadership to ensure that both our airport and the roads in Nigeria are safe. The security forces should be empowered to respond promptly to threats to lives and properties,” the communique added.

  • Fear of rigging in Ondo, Kano, Kaduna, others

    Fear of rigging in Ondo, Kano, Kaduna, others

    Six weeks to the general elections, some politicians are buying up Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), raising the fear of a massive manipulation of the exercise.

    The cards are taken from their original owners and later returned to them after some details on them have been extracted, it was learnt yesterday. The fee: N20,000 per card.

    Presidential and National Assembly elections are slated for February 14. Governorship and state assemblies elections will hold on February 28.

    The voter cards are being bought in some parts of the North, such as Adamawa, Kaduna, Borno, Kano, Kebbi, Bauchi, Sokoto, Zamfara and Gombe states.

    Besides, in Ondo State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that PVCs are being bought by the Governor Olusegun Mimiko-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The local PDP is split, with  old members of the party refusing to work with Mimiko, who defected from Labour Party (LP), despite huge reconcilliation efforts.

    There was suspicion last night that the desperate politicians might have been tampering with chips on such cards.

    Some Information Technology (IT) experts said technological manipulation of such cards might lead to their demobilisation which would make the use of card reader machines by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) difficult.

    A source, who pleaded not to be named said: “Kindly help us cry out; there is purchase of voter cards in the north for some sinister motives by some politicians.

    “The practice is to collect these cards at N20, 000 each and after two or three days, they will return them. Being illiterate or semi-literate voters, these innocent eligible voters give out their cards for money. Nobody knows what they had done to the cards.

    “I think it may be  part of anticipatory rigging plan since some politicians and government officials are opposed to the use of PVCs.

    “We also learnt that these politicians copy out the VIN number and other information on the voter cards.”

    A top politician in Adamawa state spoke of “an ongoing mass collection of voter cards,” stressing that some people part with their cards for between N15, 000 and N20, 000.

    In a statement in Akure, Ondo State APC Publicity Secretary,Abayomi Adesanya, urged INEC and the police to probe what he described as the unlawful procurement of PVCs.

    The statement said: “We are quite disturbed about the report that the Mimiko-led faction of the PDP in Ondo State has embarked on unlawful purchase and mass procurement of Permanent Voter Cards in a clear attempt to manipulate the 2015 general elections in the state.

    “Apparently, this illegal act is done in bad faith and the evil plan was informed by the desperation of some unscrupulous politicians to shore up the dwindling popularity of Dr Mimiko in Ondo State.

    “We have it on good authority that the co-ordinator (one medical doctor)  of this ‘operation buy PVCs’, resides in Akure and the illegal act, which started in Akure, has been spreading to other parts of the state.

    “Deserving emphasis is the fact that the procurement scheme of PVCs for 10,000 each has been quite successful because the government in power has unrepentantly implemented retrogressive policies that promote poverty and unemployment.

    “It is a sorry tale of reaping from State-induced unemployment and poverty.”

    The party wondered why the PDP embarked on such “shameful act of fraudulently masterminding the foundation of rigging” when Nigerians, and indeed the good people of Ondo State, are clamoring for free, fair and credible elections to elect their representatives and leaders.

    The statement added: “They should tell the world for what purpose(s) these PDP agents are amassing PVCs. We expect INEC to give decisive actions, appropriate sanctions, so as to prove that it is still in charge of the electoral process in Ondo State. The credibility of INEC itself is at stake.

    “As it stands, we hereby register our concerns and fears about credible elections in Ondo State.

    “We appeal to the good people of Ondo State to reject any temptation to sell their PVCs for N10,000 each. The PVC itself is worth more than N100million each because it symbolises personal access to electricity, good road, employment, wealth creation, security and other dividends of democracy. So,   trading with their PVCs amounts to destroying tomorrow and mortgaging the future of their children.”

    But INEC has dismissed the purchase of PVCs as useless because, according to the agency, it cannot assist anybody to manipulate the elections.

  • ‘How we prevented rigging in Osun’

    ‘How we prevented rigging in Osun’

    Osun State Governor  Rauf  Aregbesola has revealed how the deployment of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in monitoring and reporting of events as they unfolded during the August 9 governorship election in the state prevented falsification of results.

    The governor, in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, was quoted as stating this while delivering a keynote address titled: “Broadband: Oxygen for Digital Economy” at the Africa Digital Forum and Award 2014 organised by the ICT Watch Network at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers in Ikeja, Lagos.

    Aregbesola pointed out that ICT was put to use by the various situation rooms set up by the government to monitor, get results and happening across all the units, wards and Local governments in the state helped in no small measure.

    He bemoaned the situation of the country at this jet age, because it lacks the capacity to deploy Internet and other advanced technologies to locate the whereabouts of the Chibok school girls, several months after their abduction by Boko Haram insurgents.

    The governor noted that Nigeria has a new opportunity for economic resurgence in the digital economy age, saying that the nation has the requisite infrastructure both material and human.

    He said: “We have a huge human population (167 million) with equally immense needs. This is a potentially immense market with which we can trade our way from poverty to riches. Added to this is the demography of that population.

    “Our population is predominantly composed of youths who are energetic, enthusiastic, and innovative.”

    Aregbesola noted that the Osun experience in the use of modern technology and the use of Internet could be a model for national ICT development on a non-partisan basis.

    The governor pointed out that the use of ICT will enhance greater deployment and consumption of broadband.

    According to Aregbesola, “In Osun, without being immodest, we can say that ICT has been a major plank of governance. We pioneered e-learning with the invention of Opon Imo. We have also been able to provide card based e-credit for farmers. Of course, we have also deployed e-based payroll and staff ID card on MasterCard platform directly connected to the holder’s account.

    “We have also devised e-ID Card for all pupils in public schools and the card will now serve as payment instrument for our home-grown school feeding and health programme (O’MEALS).

    “We set up the OYESTECH, an institution for training youths in the use, assembly and repair of electronic gadgets from plasma television, computers to mobile phones.”

    Aregbesola maintained that the country has a great potential for enhancing development in this information age through the digital economy.

    He noted that there are still huge potentials in road traffic monitoring and control, CCTV camera, weather monitoring and forecast, national population database among others.

    He said: “What this means is that there is power and potential in numbers. A great number of people mean a potentially great variety of needs to be met.

    “The good thing is that in meeting these needs, a self-reinforcing cycle is created in which people have access to employment, are productively engaged, earn income, create wealth, and spread prosperity with accompanying prospect of material uplift and satisfaction.”

    The governor added that any human mass is a potential source of wealth generation from which positive developments can spring, stressing that what is required therefore is creativity in turning the potential into public good.