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Tag: supplementary elections

  • Re-run election: Journalists escape lynching in Kano

    Some journalists covering the Supplementary Governorship election in Kano State on Saturday escaped lynching by some suspected thugs at Suntulma Primary School in Gama ward of Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state.

    NAN reports that the journalists who were in the area to monitor the poll, were chased out of the place by the hoodlums.

    Trouble began when some of the newsmen tried to interview some voters who were denied access into the classrooms where some of the polling units were stationed.

    While trying to flee the troubled area, some of the journalists fell on ground and one of them (Name withheld), had to take refuge in a nearby Mosque in order to save his life.

    NAN also reports that some of the reporters had their clothes torn by the thugs.

    Speaking to newsmen, some voters alleged that they were not allowed to exercise their franchise as they were chased out of the area.

    One of them, Comrade Aminu Tijjani, said he went to the primary school to cast his vote at his polling unit but had to return to escape the hoodlums’ attack.

    “The situation is very bad and this is not how to conduct an election where people or voters are denied the opportunity to vote,” Tijjani said.

    Read Also: Sokoto rerun: Party agents, supporters exchange blows

    Another voter, Sani Abdullahi, said he came to vote as early as 8 a.m. but was scared away by the suspected thugs numbering about 10.

    Meanwhile, voting has commenced in other affected polling units across the 28 local government areas of the state.

    NAN reports that the re-run election is being conducted to decide the winner between two candidates – Abba Kabir-Yusuf of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 1,014,477 votes, and incumbent Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who got 987,810 votes in the first poll conducted on March 9.

    The margin between the candidates stood at 26,655 votes in favour of Kabir-Yusuf.

  • Buhari to electorate: Don’t get tired of voting

    President Muhammadu Buhari has called on Nigerians not to get tired of voting in today’s supplementary elections.

    The polls, according to him “are no less important than others before them,” he said yesterday ahead of the makeup elections.

    President Buhari, who thanked voters for re-electing him for a second term in office, said he would never forget their sacrifices in defying harsh weather conditions to vote for him.

    ”I was deeply overwhelmed by your show of incredible confidence in me, and I will never let you down. Thank you for your sincere show of support for me,” his  Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, quote him as saying, in a statement yesterday.

    Buhari, therefore, appealed to voters to come out en masse and participate in the supplementary elections in  17 states.

    He asked  voters to vote for the candidates they believe will deliver on promises because it is their “constitutionally guaranteed democratic rights.”

    Buhari also dismissed rumours and insinuations that he was forcing voters to elect candidates other than those they preferred.

    Describing the rumours as baseless, the President said at no time did he give instructions that the electorate should vote particular candidates.

    ”I believe in the will of the people, and I cannot, therefore, put pressure on voters to elect leaders they don’t like,” he said.

    President Buhari also called on INEC and security agencies to ensure that the supplementary elections are conducted peacefully and in accordance with the law and constitution.

    The President assured Nigerians that he is ready to work with elected representatives of the people regardless of party platforms on which they are elected.

    President Buhari said he will work in the best interest of the country and democracy.

  • Buhari to voters: Keep up enthusiasm during supplementary elections

    President Muhammadu Buhari has called on Nigerians to come out en masse and participate in the supplementary elections scheduled for 17 states on Saturday, March 23, 2019.

    President Buhari, who thanked voters for re-electing him for a second term in office, said he would never forget their sacrifices in defying harsh weather conditions to vote for him.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said: ‘‘I was deeply overwhelmed by your show of incredible confidence in me, and I will never let you down. Thank you for your sincere show of support for me.’’

    President Buhari, however, appealed to voters not to get tired of coming out to vote in the supplementary elections, adding ‘‘these elections are no less important than others before them.’’

    Read also: Judgment: Wild jubilation in Adeleke’s home town in Osun

    He appealed to voters to vote for the candidates they believe will deliver on promises because it is their “constitutionally guaranteed democratic rights.’’

    Buhari also dismissed rumours and insinuations that he was forcing voters to elect candidates other than those they preferred.

    Describing the rumours as baseless, the President said at no time did he give instructions that the electorate should vote particular candidates.

    ‘‘I believe in the will of the people, and I cannot, therefore, put pressure on voters to elect leaders they don’t like,’’ the President said emphatically.

    President Buhari also called on INEC and security agencies to ensure that the supplementary elections are conducted peacefully and in accordance with the law and constitution.

    The President assured Nigerians that he is ready to work with elected representatives of the people regardless of party platforms on which they are elected.

    President Buhari said he will work in the best interest of the country and democracy.

  • Ortom will lose supplementary poll, Akume vows

    Despite loud boasts and expression of confidence, Governor Samuel Ortom and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are bound to lose Saturday’s supplementary election to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator George Akume has declared.

    Speaking with our correspondent, Akume, a former governor of Benue state pointedly asserted his former political associate Ortom has no record of achievement to genuinely woo citizens for votes.

    “Find out from this man: precisely what are your achievements? Sometimes I look at this and laugh because one of the achievements he claims is a private initiative in my village, a privately-owned soya processing factory.

    “Those who go to Benue will weep for that state. This is a state that has all the potentials of feeding the entire West Africa sub region.

    “I know the type of industries i tried to set up, agro -based, cassava processing plant, fertiliser plants, the special project in Makurdi which was expected to produce plastic.

    “But since he (Ortom ) came in, what has happened? Recently I heard that he bought 50 tractors to distribute to farmers and what is 50 tractors?

    “When I went to Government House during President Buhari’s visit, I saw ten tractors and i don’t know whether it is just for show man ship but when Sokoto bought two thousand tractors over two years ago, Kebbi got 1,500.

    “The Benue farmer is very hard working, the Benue man is an intelligent person but they also need an enabling environment to enable them express themselves maximally and efficiently in agricultural sector in particular, but it is not happening.

    Read Also; Ortom edges towards victory in Benue

    “The schools in Benue state, if not because of school feeding, primary schools would have been dead; the teachers go there, they don’t teach because they are not being paid,” Akume said.

    The former governor stated that his former political associates whom he helped to uplift will suffer divine retribution for their betrayals.

    According to him: “As a Christian and God-fearing person, I believe in doing good to people. We are enjoined to forgive. In whatever I do, I lay down every consideration.

    “That is part of my philosophy of life, in the political arena and in Benue state in particular.

    “I know and people know what I have done but today fighting Akume, ganging up against Akume is their way to deconstruct but they know very well, my contribution to their political uplift.”

  • Total restriction of movement in Plateau over supplementary polls

    A Deputy Inspector-General of Police on electoral duty in Plateau, Taiwo Lakanu, has said that there would be total restriction of movement in the state during the supplementary election scheduled to hold on Saturday, March 23.

    Lakunu, who is in the state to supervise the supplementary election, made this known during a lecture for Police personnel ahead of the election in some parts of the state.

    While commending the Police for the success achieved in the last election, the DIG said that no stone would be left unturned toward ensuring adequate peace and security throughout the exercise.

    Read Also: Plateau: Lalong confident of victory in supplementary polls

    He said that adequate preparations had been made to take care of flashpoints, adding that no form of thuggery would be tolerated.

    “We are not going to allow ballot boxes to be snatched; we will not allow card readers to be snatched. We are ready to deal with every electoral misdeed,” he said.

    Commissioner of Police in Plateau, Mr Isaac Akinmoyede, had commended the men of the force for being outstanding during the last election, and called on them to do more during the supplementary polls.

  • We’re ready for supplementary election in Kano, says INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kano said they are set to organize supplementary governorship election in 28 affected Local Government Areas in the state.

    Addressing newsmen at the Kano INEC headquarters, the Resident Electrical Commissioner (REC) in charge of the state, Prof.Riskuwa Shehu Arabi, said the election will take place in 75 registration areas, involving 207 polling units and 279 voting points.

    According to him, 128, 324 eligible voters will participate in the crucial Kano governorship supplementary election.

    He added that INEC will deploy 207 card readers for the election, adding that enough manpower has also been mobilized, with three RECs from Zamfara, Kebbi and Ogun states to assist so as to have a successful election.

    He said deployment of sensitize and non-sensitive materials to all the affected Local Government Areas will commence by 10 a:m Friday, adding that adequate security arrangements have been made.

    Read Also: INEC to conduct Bauchi supplementary polls in 15 LGAs – REC

    He further stated that sorting and batching of the materials will commence immediately they arrive at their respective Local Government Areas.

    According to him, “we are working to make sure that we don’t have any distraction. We have held a series of meetings with stakeholders to review our strategies.

    “We have also held meeting with leaders of both political parties, and we have made them to understand that the election is not a war.

    “They have also promised to talk to their supporters to conduct themselves in peaceful manner. Securities agencies have assured us of adequate security.

    “I am sure the Commissioner of Police has been talking to different groups of people, particularly, the youths. I am very confident we will have a peaceful election on Saturday.”

  • FG closes borders Friday over supplementary polls

    The Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) has ordered the closure of the land borders of Adamawa, Benue and Sokoto States with effect from 12 noon on Friday March 22 to 12: 00 noon of Sunday, March 24, 2019.

    Dambazau said the development is to restrict movements across the borders of the affected states during the election days.

    A statement in Abuja by the Comptroller General (CG), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, explained: “Further to the re-run of the Governorship Elections taking place on Saturday 22, March 2019, the Honourable Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen (rtd) Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, has directed the closure of Land Borders of Adamawa, Benue and Sokoto states with effect from 12.00 noon of Friday 22, March to 12:00 noon of Sunday 24th March, 2019.

    “This is to restrict movements across the borders of the affected states during the election days. The public is to take note and ensure compliance.”

  • Breaking: INEC to conduct rerun in 36 polling units

    A rerun of the gubernatorial election in Bauchi will hold in 15 local government areas where votes were cancelled, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Bauchi office has said.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ibrahim Abdullahi , disclosed this at a press conference at the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu Conference Hall, INEC Headquarters in Bauchi on Thursday.

    Read Also: Bauchi: INEC to proceed with supplementary elections

    According to him, the rerun election will be held in 36 polling units covering 29 registration areas (wards) in the 15 affected local government areas with 22,759 registered voters.

    Details later…

  • We will not tolerate any breach of peace in Kano – Ganduje‎

    Ahead of the supplementary elections in Kano on Saturday, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state says that his government will not tolerate any breach of peace by any group or person in the state.‎

    ‎Ganduje gave the warning on Tuesday in Kano when an amalgam of 320 associations, called Kano Peace Ambassadors, paid him a solidarity visit.‎
    ‎
    “We will not tolerate breach of peace under whatever guise, and the government will not fold its arms and watch people instigating instability in the state.‎

    “As a governor of Kano state and the Chief Security Officer of the state, I cannot sleep if any drop of blood is wasted.

    Read also: Bauchi: INEC challenges court order stopping collation of results

    ‎”I am not speaking as a gubernatorial candidate, but as the executive governor of Kano state and the chief security officer of the state. Anybody wishing to disrupt the peace of the state will not go scot-free,” he said.‎
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    The Kano Peace Ambassadors assured Ganduje of their resolve to promote peaceful co-existence before, during and after the re-run election.

    Abubakar Muhammad who led the groups commended Ganduje for making statements that were peaceful in all intent and purposes.

    “We are monitoring speeches that are being made by political leaders in the state. We find out that, many out there are only triggering instability.

    “We are indeed commending your political statements, that prove to be in line with peaceful engagements,” he said.(NAN)