TheNewsGuru

Tag: 2019 Elections

  • Southern Kaduna elders’ forum endorses Hadiza Balarabe

    Southern Kaduna elders’ forum endorses Hadiza Balarabe

    The Southern Kaduna Elders Forum (SOKEFO) has endorsed the choice of Dr. Hadiza Balarabe as Kaduna State Deputy Governorship candidate for the 2019 elections.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the elders’ forum made the endorsement in a statement signed by Rev. Musa Kokwain.

    The statement reads: “We the elders of Southern Kaduna Forum wish to call on all our people from this Zone to exercise restraint and caution especially after the announcement of Dr. Hadiza Balarabe as the running mate of the Kaduna State Governor for the 2019 elections.

    “We have observed some divisive statements emanating from some quarters since the news broke out and reiterate the fact that all hands must be on deck to desist from this religious dichotomy that is being propagated in Southern Kaduna.

    “It is unfortunate and depressing when some of us stood up and formed this group in 1995 to advance and advocate for Gurara State (Southern Kaduna) with different memoranda at the National Constitution Conference during the Sani Abacha Military administration.

    “We were a group of passionate indigenous people of Southern Kaduna. We had in us Christians and Muslims from Southern Kaduna, we had the Bajjus, the Kajes, Numana’s, Kataf, Chonga’s etc, all united for the common good of our vision of a Gurara State.

    “It will be very selfish of us if we persecute Dr. Hadiza to alienate her from her ancestral home of Southern Kaduna of denying her this opportunity particularly because of her faith.

    “When we pushed for this onerous cause of a united prosperous Gurara State in 1995, we had the least of worries that we will be confronted with this petty level of divisiveness, non-tolerance.

    “If we had gotten Gurara State, will we drive the Muslims and traditionalist out of Gurara State?

    “We must emulate our brothers from the Southwest in our political engagement and direction if we truly wish to advance as a people.

    “Dr. Hadiza Balarabe is a bonafide Southern Kaduna indigene from Sanga and we will not deny her the opportunity to serve in whatever capacity the Governor deems fit.

    “As a medical doctor how many of us ask her what her religion is before meeting her in the hospital?

    “If we didn’t play politics or religion with our health why shouldn’t she be a Deputy Governor if elected?

    “That will be hypocritical.

    “We the Southern Kaduna Elders Forum after careful deliberations hereby endorse the Deputy Governorship candidacy of our daughter Dr. Hadiza Balarabe for the 2019 elections.

     

  • 2019: Politicians using religion to divide Nigerians

    2019: Politicians using religion to divide Nigerians

    The Senior Pastor, Father’s Touch Ministry Church, Nyanya, Abuja, Pastor Evans Idoko, has accused some politicians of using religion and ethnicity to divide Nigerians ahead of the 2019 election.

    Idoko made the allegation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Abuja.

    “It’s regrettable that the unity of Nigerian is strengthened during sporting activities and otherwise becomes the case during electioneering activities.

    “It is an indication that politicians have taken pleasure in using religion to divide Nigerians against themselves for political or selfish reasons. It must stop forthwith! Nigerians must resist it because it will take us nowhere,” he said.

    He recalled with nostalgia how Muslims and Christians lived together peacefully some years back irrespective of religious or ethnic differences.

    He said such divisions have been responsible for the obvious hatred among Nigerians, which, he said, has slowed down socio-economic and political development in the country.

    “As 2019 political activities gather momentum, we appeal to politicians seeking elective offices to eschew hatred and bitterness, and promote courses that will promote peace and unity among Nigerians,” he said.

    Idoko advised that the church should take the front row in moblising Nigerians to participate in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

    “It doesn’t come by words alone. We have to take a step further to empower people educationally, financially and otherwise so they could have voice and knowledge to take their rightful place in Nigerian political and economic discussions,” he said.

    He explained that the church could partner with the Social Exchange Market, to disburse financial grant to citizens not minding their religion or ethnicity.

    “We are all one body in Christ Jesus,” he said.

    The cleric said that such empowerment initiative should be borne out of utmost desire of the church to rekindle the hope of Nigerians.

    He, however, encouraged churches, corporate organisations and individuals with financial ability, to assist to lift the poor off poverty so they could confidently participate in political and economic activities.

     

  • 2019: NYSC DG admonishes corps members

    2019: NYSC DG admonishes corps members

    Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, Director General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has admonished corps members that would take part in the 2019 general election to display high sense of integrity.

    Kazuare gave the warning on Saturday while addressing 2018 Batch ‘C’ Stream 1 corps members at the Oyo State NYSC Orientation Camp in Iseyin.

    A statement by Mrs Christy Olatoye, Assistant Director, Public Relations, NYSC Oyo State on Sunday, quotes the DG as reminding the corps members that the NYSC is a non partisan organisation.

    Kazaure was represented by the Director Planning, Research and Statistics, Mrs Victoria Okakwu.

    “When you are called upon, with discipline and steadfastness, ensure that you put in your best and at the end your name will be written in the sand of time,” he said.

    According to him, the content of the NYSC scheme is now bigger, better and stronger, which must be celebrated following her numerous achievements over the years.

    “As corps members, who are part of the Big Family (NYSC), you should be celebrated having graduated from the various institutions which qualifies you to be mobilised for the one year mandatory service to the fatherland.

    “I want you to be happy being a part of this great family which from inception had not relented on its efforts in building and incorporating young vibrant graduates into the plan of nation building.

    “The Management celebrates you our dear corps members, we see in you the future great Dangotes and Otedolas.

    “You are advised to embrace hard work and good virtues that will elevate you to the top,” he said.

    The NYSC boss, also enjoined the corps members to embrace the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED ) programme by acquiring skills that would turn them to employers of labour and wealth creators.

    “I urge you to key into SAED programme which will add value to your lives and make you self reliant, ” Kazaure said.

    Earlier in her address, the State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs Eniola Ambekemo, informed the DG that a total of 2265 corps members were registered for the 2018 Batch C (stream 1) orientation course.

    Ambekemo enumerated some of the challenges encountered in course of the orientation programme to include lack of lecture auditorium and hostel accommodation.

    Highlights of the DG’s visit was inspection of camp facilities, during which he expressed delight at the quality of food being served to corps members as well as the level of sanitation at the Orientation camp.

     

  • 2019: Bayagbon cautions youths against old ways

    2019: Bayagbon cautions youths against old ways

    Eweka Palmer Bayagbon, President of Advancement for Youth Development (AYD), has cautioned youths to be weary of old ways of politicians, especially as the 2019 general elections rapidly draw near.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Bayagbon stated this in a chat on Sunday, urging youths to shun acts of vote-selling/vote-buying, and acts tantamount to disrupting the electoral process, while also stressing that youths have distinctive interests and are more inclined to change the old ways.

    “A well-established democracy is founded on the premise associated with continuity, as a fundamental political value, in order to maintain a democratic political system that creates stability in the place of chronic instability.

    “However, to create this stability, young people should be at the forefront as they can be seen as having distinctive interest and more inclined to change the old ways, more idealistic and focused in their goals and less loyal to the old established tradition,” he stated.

    The AYD president further stated that when youths are empowered, they can be key agents for global innovation and development within their various constituent assemblies.

    He, however, lamented that presently young people are experiencing a political crisis, which includes the constant manipulation of the political process by a significant faction of the professional political class that marginalizes youth participation in the political process.

    He also stated that there is a cult of ignorance in our society which has always been the true reflection of anti-intellectualism that has threaded through our political and cultural life.

    “Therefore, the time is now for young people to stand and speak for themselves and cultivate self-belief in their abilities to fully exploit every opportunity at proposing various measures aimed at stabilizing our commitment towards democratic process in 2019, and beyond.

    “Subsequently, our survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenges that will surely come from the privileged few couple with their watchdogs that are empowered with fee to air political mechanized tools such as euphemism, lies and possibly using all available forces to deceive, subdue and forcefully make us to accept their old ways and or even pushing hard to make us demand our own enslavement,” he stated.

     

  • APC worse than PDP, 2019 will shock politicians – Anglican Bishop

    APC worse than PDP, 2019 will shock politicians – Anglican Bishop

    Rt. Revd. Philip Adeyemo, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Omu-Aran, Kwara state, has said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is worse than the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Bishop Adeyemo stated this at the third session of the third synod of the Diocese held at Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Omu-Aran.
    While lamenting that the APC, with claims of ‘anti-corruption war’, is worse than its predecessor in office, the PDP, the Bishop noted that no political party is qualified yet to fight corruption in the country.
    He warned that politicians should be ready for surprises in the 2019 general elections.
    “The ruling party came to power on the platform of the promise to fight corruption. By my own assessment, the ruling party is even worse than the other party before them who we crucified.
    “Nigerians should not be carried away by campaign promises of politicians but look for and vote for those with integrity and who are ready to serve the nation in 2019.
    “Our politicians in Nigeria are greedy, selfish and not interested in the lives of the people they govern. Proverbs 29: 7 Says ‘The righteous considereth the cause of the poor but the wicked regardeth not to know it’.
    “Task Masters have been fooling us, those who oppress and enslave us. I have not seen anyone among our politicians that are qualified to fight corruption, they are birds of the same feather flocking together.
    “There will be surprises in 2019 election. Ecclesiastes 9:11 says ‘I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not for the swift nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bred to the wise, nor yet riches to the men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill, but time and chance happeneth to them all’.
    “God has purposed to take over the helm of affairs of Nigeria, there will be a shaking and disappointments among our politicians,” he stated.
     

  • 2019: How to check your voter status on INEC e-voter platform

    2019: How to check your voter status on INEC e-voter platform

    Voting is a crucial part of any democracy in the world, and Nigeria is no exception to that.
    With the general elections of 2019 fast approaching, it is always better to check if your voter status on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) voters database.
    If you want to vote in the State House of Assembly, Governorship, National Assembly or the Presidential elections of 2019, you need to have a voter identity card issued by the INEC and your name should be on the voters register.
    Just having a voter ID is not enough for you to cast your vote. That’s why it is very important to check your voter status well in advance of the elections.

    How to check your voter status on INEC e-voter platform

    Follow these steps to check your voter status.

    Check status using VIN

    If you have your VIN, go through these steps to check your voter status:

    Check status using DoB

    In case you do not have your voter identity card with you and thereby do not have your VIN, these steps should help you check your voter status:

    If your voter information is found, the search query will return with details of your full names, your VIN, gender, occupation at the time of registration, time of registration, state, local government, registration area (ward), polling unit and polling unit code.
    The polling unit returned by the search query is the only place you can vote in the country
    If your voter information is not found, the search query will return with the message: “Your name and VIN combination was not found in the register”.
    This means you won’t be able to take part in the 2019 elections, or any elections in the country.
    However, if you registered during the continuous voters registration (CVR) exercise, you can check back later as INEC is still working to update the voters register.
    Otherwise, check that you chose the right state, and your VIN and Last Name are spelt correctly and try again.
    Identity cards in Nigeria do not always have correct spellings of people’s names, or sometimes, correct details of their date of birth.
    We know several people whose names have been misspelt on their voter ID cards, and others who have been given different birth dates.
    There are chances that search may not yield the desired results because the spelling of the name or details of date of birth do not match what is on the Commission’s database.
    INEC has, however, provided Citizens Contact Centre numbers you can call to rectify any issues you might have: 0700-2255-4632, 08180958715, 08180958717, 09050858675.
    Also, the Commission let you check your voter status via SMS. To do this, send an SMS with your State, Last name, VIN to 081-7164-6879.

    • Format: State, Last name, VIN
    • Example: Lagos, Ediri, 12345

    You should receive a response within 15 minutes.
    Note that text messages are charged at the local network rates.
    It is only 112 days, from today, to the 2019 general elections, beginning Saturday, 16 February 2019.
     
    For more tutorials, visit TNG’s Tips and Tricks section.
     

  • 2019: ECOWAS charges INEC on credible polls

    2019: ECOWAS charges INEC on credible polls

    Ahead of the 2019 general elections, a delegation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) to conduct credible, free and fair elections in Nigeria.
    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports General Francis Behanzin made the charge when he led an ECOWAS delegation on a courtesy visit to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) headquarters in Abuja.
    Gen. Behanzin said the purpose of the visit was to, among other things, find out about INEC’s preparation for the 2019 general elections and the challenges it was facing, in view of Nigeria’s large voter population of over 80 million.
    He described Nigeria as “a very big country”, pledging financial support for the conduct of the elections, while also expressing gratitude to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu for his contributions to the improvement of the electoral process and sustenance of democracy across the West African sub-region.
    He revealed that ECOWAS would be sending 200 observers to monitor the 2019 general elections set to hold in Nigeria.
    Head of Political Affairs, ECOWAS, Dr. Remi Ajibewa reiterated the need for INEC to carry all stakeholders comprising political parties, the media, civil society organisations and security agencies along as it prepares for the general elections.
    He said INEC should also synergise with the Police to secure the electoral process, and commended the Commission for the conduct of the Osun State Governorship election.
    However, he regretted that while INEC did its best, the International Community and Voters feared that security agents might be used to create problems for the electoral process.
    In his response, Prof. Yakubu thanked Gen. Behanzin for his kind words and seized the opportunity to explain the Commission’s preparations for the 2019 polls.
    He said the Commission had developed, validated and was already implementing its 2017 – 2021 Strategic Plan, the Election Project Plan and had also released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2019 General Elections since January 9th, this year.
    He said the Commission also carried out the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise that allowed citizens who just turned 18 years and other Nigerians who had never registered the opportunity to do so.
    He informed the delegation that over 14.5 million voters were registered during the exercise between April 2017 and August 2018, and that the new figure will be added to the almost 70 million citizens already in the national Voter Register after due processes.
    He said the country might have about 83 million voters after the register had been cleaned up.
    Prof. Yakubu observed that conducting general election in Nigeria could be likened to conducting an election for the whole of ECOWAS.
    He informed the delegation that Nigeria currently has 91 registered political parties out of which 89 will field candidates for various positions in the next year general elections.
    He said the Commission works with security agencies under the aegis of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to secure the electoral environment.
    Since the general elections will take place simultaneously in all states, he said the security meeting would be cascaded to the states.
     

  • 2019: Legal adviser urges Delta APC to carry out constitutional duties

    2019: Legal adviser urges Delta APC to carry out constitutional duties

    Legal Adviser of the Prophet Jones Ode Erue led executive of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, has said the party is at liberty to carry out its constitutional duties.
    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the APC State Legal Adviser, E. V. Onojeghuo Esq, in a statement on Thursday made this known, stressing that there are no legal restraints imposed by the court.
    The statement by the Legal Adviser reads: “The attention of the All Progressives Congress, Delta State has been drawn to the above mentioned subject currently being circulated in various social media platforms and news outlets.
    “This case was instituted by one Chief Cyril Ogodo who participated and lost the congresses to elect a new executive committee. In his claims before the honourable court, he is seeking amongst other things a declaration as the authentic State Chairman of the Party and order restraining defendants from submitting names of candidates to INEC.
    “On 16th October 2018, when the case came up, the defendants informed the Court of their inability to file responses to the Claimants application for injunction. After much argument, the case adjourned to today the 17th of October for hearing.
    “In today’s proceedings, Counsel George Onaho Esq for the 1st and 2nd defendants (APC and the National Chairman) served their Counter affidavit and the Notice of preliminary objection to the jurisdiction of the Court. The counsel for the Claimants O.J. Oghenejakpor asked for a stand down to react to the preliminary objection which was granted.
    “On resumption, counsel to the Claimants served his reply to the preliminary objection on the counsel for the 1st and 2nd defendants whereupon the counsel for the 1st and 2nd defendants applied for an adjournment to file a reply on points of law which was opposed to by O.J. Oghenejakpor who insisted on going on with the motion for interlocutory injunction.
    “At this point, the honourable court informed O.J. Oghenejakpor the counsel to the Claimants that the motion for interlocutory injunction cannot be taken as the prayers in the motion are substantially the same as the main reliefs in the substantive suit. The court thereafter adjourned the matter to 1st and 2nd of November 2018 for accelerated hearing of the substantive case and preliminary objection to be taken together and the parties to maintain status quo.
    “The implications of today’s proceedings are: No Order restraining the defendants was made by the honourable court. The status quo to be maintained simply means that the State Executive Committee under the chairmanship of Prophet Jones Ode Erue remains the authentic structures in the State.
    “It stands logic on the head to assume that the Court has technically restrained the defendants by asking parties to maintain status quo when the honourable court has rightly observed that the motion for interlocutory injunction carries the same reliefs as the substantive suit and even refused to entertain the said motion.
    “The defendants are therefore at liberty to carry out their constitutional duties as there are no legal restraints imposed by the honourable court.
    “In the light of the above, we appeal to all faithful members of our great Party to remain calm and not be sway by social media pranks as the records of the Court are sacrosanct”.
     

  • INEC deadline: Delta APC at risk of missing out in 2019 elections

    It appears the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta state is at risk of missing deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) for the submission of forms CF001 and CF002 for candidates vying for Senate and House of Representatives positions.
    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports INEC form CF001 is affidavit in support of personal particulars of persons seeking election, and form CF002 is form for the submission of names of candidates by a political party.
    INEC had fixed October 18, 2018, for the submission of forms CF001 and CF002 for Presidential and National Assembly and December 1, 2018, for Governorship and State House of Assembly.
    A Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, chaired by Honourable Justice Toyin Adegoke, according to Fred Okpowhoro Olokor, Esq, the legal team lead of the Cyril Ogodo led executive, had given an order on October 17, 2018 barring either factions of the APC in the State from submitting names of candidates to the INEC.
    This follows a suit by Cyril Ogodo and two others brought against National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole and others, that all parties maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
    At the resumed hearing of the case, Counsel to the Plaintiffs (O. J. Oghenejakpor, Esq.) who had filed a Motion on Notice to restrain 1st and 2nd Defendants (i.e APC and Oshiomhole) from submitting any list of candidates from Delta State to INEC other than the list of candidates that emerged from the Cyril Ogodo led executive’s primaries, which was duly served on all the Defendants, urged the Court to hear the Motion on Notice.
    But because the Defendants served counsel to the Plaintiffs their processes which included preliminary objections in court on the 17th of October, 2018 the motion was not moved.
    In a bid to diligently prosecute the case, the plaintiffs’ counsel applied for a stand down for a few hours to respond to the preliminary objections filed by the Defendants and served in court. The stand down was granted.
    And before the resumption of hearing after the stand down, the Plaintiffs’ counsel was able to file his response to the preliminary objections and was ready to argue the said preliminary objections and the substantive application.
    However, the Defendants vehemently argued that they were not ready to respond on points of law orally. They insisted on filing a reply and applied for an adjournment of the case.
    The Plaintiff Counsel thereafter called upon the court to preserve the res in the matter which is to restrain the APC from submitting any list of candidates from Delta State to INEC for the 2019 general elections except candidates that emerged from the Cyril Ogodo anchored primaries.
    TNG reports the court then inquired from the Counsel to the INEC if any list of candidates had been submitted to INEC as at 17th of October, 2018. The INEC counsel confirmed to court that no list of candidates for Delta State have been submitted yet.
    At this point the Honourable Judge ordered that all parties should maintain status quo. The clear meaning and intent of the Status Quo, therefore, is to preserve the res by ensuring that no list of candidates is submitted to INEC until the determination of the substantive matter.
    The judge then ordered for accelerated hearing and fixed November 1st and 2nd 2018 for the hearing and determination of the case.
    Going by this, the Delta APC might miss deadline for the submission of candidates for Senate and House of Representatives in the 2019 elections. The party might also miss out in submitting candidates for Governorship and State House of Assembly if the case is not decided by November 2nd.
    Reacting to the development, the legal team lead of the Cyril Ogodo-led faction, Fred Okpowhoro Olokor, has warned the Prophet Jones-led faction against contempt if they go ahead to flout the court order.
    “It is pedestrian and mischievous for anyone to suggest or argue that the Federal High Court in Asaba did not restrain APC from submitting any list of candidates for Delta State to INEC.
    “The counsel to the 1st and 2nd Defendants (APC and the APC National Chairman) was in court and clearly understood what the order meant.
    “Counsel will thus be unduly exposing his clients to the risk of contempt proceedings if he allows them to be misled by the mischievous interpretation of the Prophet Jones factional Legal Adviser as is being circulated in the media.
    “Let it be known that anyone who violates the clear orders made on the 17th of October, 2018 stands the risk of having contempt proceedings initiated against them,” he stated.
    Meanwhile, Legal Adviser of the Prophet Jones Ode Erue led executive, E. V. Onojeghuo Esq has said the party is at liberty to carry out its constitutional duties.
     

  • Breaking: Facebook opens elections war room ahead of 2019

    Ahead of the 2019 general elections in Nigeria, social media giant, Facebook has announced opening its first physical elections war room in Menlo Park, California.
    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Facebook’s goal is to get the right subject-matter experts from across the company in one place so they can address potential problems identified by its technology in real time and respond quickly.
    “The war room has over two dozen experts from across the company – including from our threat intelligence, data science, software engineering, research, community operations and legal teams. These employees represent and are supported by the more than 20,000 people working on safety and security across Facebook.
    “When everyone is in the same place, the teams can make decisions more quickly, reacting immediately to any threats identified by our systems, which can reduce the spread of potentially harmful content.
    “Our dashboards offer real-time monitoring on key elections issues, such as efforts to prevent people from voting, increases in spam, potential foreign interference, or reports of content that violates our policies.
    “The team also monitors news coverage and election-related activity across other social networks and traditional media. These efforts give us a collective view and help track what type of content may go viral.
    “To prepare, our team has also done extensive scenario-planning to game out potential threats – from harassment to voter suppression – and developed systems and procedures in advance to respond effectively,” Facebook said on Thursday.
    The social media giant in a statement by Samidh Chakrabarti, Facebook Director of Product Management, Civic Engagement, said the preparations helped a lot during the first round of Brazil’s presidential elections.
    “The work we are doing in the war room builds on almost two years of hard work and significant investments, in both people and technology, to improve security on Facebook, including during elections.
    “Our machine learning and artificial intelligence technology is now able to block or disable fake accounts more effectively – the root cause of so many issues.
    “We’ve increased transparency and accountability in our advertising. And we continue to make progress in fighting false news and misinformation.
    “That said, security remains an arms race and staying ahead of these adversaries will take continued improvement over time. We’re committed to the challenge.” the Facebook Director stated.
    Speaking further on efforts to prevent people from misusing Facebook during elections, the social media platform said it has also broadened its policies against voter suppression, action that is designed to deter or prevent people from voting.
    “We already prohibit offers to buy or sell votes as well as misrepresentations about the dates, locations, times and qualifications for casting a ballot. We have been removing this type of content since 2016.
    “Last month, we extended this policy further and are expressly banning misrepresentations about how to vote, such as claims that you can vote using an online app, and statements about whether a vote will be counted (e.g. “If you voted in the primary, your vote in the general election won’t count.”).
    “We’ve also recently introduced a new reporting option on Facebook so that people can let us know if they see voting information that may be incorrect, and have set up dedicated reporting channels for state election authorities so that they can do the same,” said Jessica Leinwand, Facebook Public Policy Manager.