TheNewsGuru

Tag: 2019 Elections

  • INEC confirms electoral materials hijack in 4 Cross River councils

    INEC confirms electoral materials hijack in 4 Cross River councils

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Cross River has confirmed the hijack of electoral materials in four local government areas of the state.

    The local government areas are Abi, Bakassi, Obubra and Etung.

    The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr Frankland Briyai, confirmed the development shortly after monitoring the voting process at some polling units in Calabar Municipality and Calabar South.

    He said that report of hijack at Yakurr Local Government Area of the state was yet to be confirmed, noting that the commission would record zero scores in all areas where materials were hijacked.

    “We have had cases of hijack of materials today. I got a call on hijack of materials in Abi, Bakassi, Obubra and Etung Local Government Areas.

    “In Yakurr Local Government Area, I got a call concerning hijack of materials but I am yet to confirm that.

    “I have said it before, if they deliberately refuse to make use of the card reader by hijacking electoral materials, the affected areas will score zero.

    “Every Crossriverian and politician is aware of this.’’

    He, however, expressed satisfaction with high turnout of voters in some areas and applauded voters for their peaceful conduct during accreditation and voting.

    “The security agents were doing their work accordingly in all the areas we visited and I must commend them for that,’’ he said.

     

  • Oshiomhole expresses concern over disruption of polls in Edo

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Adams Oshiomhole has expressed concern over alleged invasion of some polling units by suspected thugs in Edo.

    The polling units, according to him are at Uluoke and Ogbido both in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.

    Oshiomhole disclosed this shorty after casting his vote at about 2:20pm in his polling Unit 1, Ward 10 in Iyamoh in Etsako West Local Government Area on Saturday.

    He alledged that leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) brought thugs to distrupt the voting process in the area, adding that security officers had to restore normalcy before voting could continue.

    “we have some few reported incidents. you know last week it was clear that the whole of this area was 99 per cent APC.

    “So I believe PDP leaders sent thugs to cause distruption in the next vilage where we got 99 per cent during last elections.

    “They brought thugs and they started shooting to distrupt the process, unfortunately, the people are determined to vote, and I understand that voting has resumed.

    “PDP leaders led the thugs to distrupt election at Uluoke and Ogbido with the same partern trying to cart away election materials again.

    “But the youths in the area stopped them, I understand that the situation is under control in those locations, ” he said.

    The national chairman said there was need for the military to be involved in election monitoring due to frequent snatching of ballot boxes and disruption of election processes by political thugs.

    “That is why when some people are talking against or disputing the idea of deploying the military for elections, only enemies of democracy and enemies of peace will support that kind of campaign.

    “Imagine when just two police men not armed in a polling unit, what can they do when thugs invade the polling centres with sophisticated weapons, they will watch helplessly.

    “If not that we have the army that are on patrol, things would have gotten out of hands.

    He, however, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a peaceful process, adding that the commission did a perfect arrangement in ensuring that the was hitch-free.

     

  • Delta guber poll: Who wins?

    Delta guber poll: Who wins?

    President Muhammadu Buhari comment during a recent stakeholders meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State has placed focus on especially the governorship election in the State.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Buhari, represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the meeting had said “What happened at the Presidential and National Assembly elections was a great victory, but the completion of the victory will come on Saturday when Great Ogboru will become the governor of Delta.

    “Delta cannot be the same again. Delta was our focus of attention, we wanted to see what will happen.

    “Delta has proved a very important point that it is ready for a change to the next level”.

    However, while casting his vote during the election on Saturday at Omi Primary School, Owa-Alero, Agbor, the State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election, expressed confidence that he will emerge victorious.

    “By the grace of God, I will emerge victorious; I have partnered with Deltans, I have worked with them, and by God’s grace, a lot of them will vote for me.

    “The only thing we are doing is to ensure that those who planned to use thugs to disrupt the elections will be handled by the security agencies because, aside plans to disrupt the elections, it would be a no contest situation.

    Meanwhile, Great Ogboru, who is the candidate of the APC, the major opposition party in the State, had also expressed hope of victory.

    Ogboru who spoke to journalists immediately after casting his vote in ward 8, unit 1 at Abraka Grammar School, Abraka, said he was in the gubernatorial race to win.

    “We have gone into the contest because we believe we will win and we will win,” Ogboru said.

    Assessing the process so far, Ogboru noted that there were pockets of violence in some parts of the state, alleging that elections were conducted overnight in private residents of some opposition leaders.

    “Reports reaching us says that elections were conducted overnight in Burutu and Bomadi local government area of Delta.

    “There are pockets of violence here and there and the security agents are doing their best to calm the situation.

    “In most of the riverine communities the requirement to use the card readers were not adhered to. In any case this is just the beginning, so let’s see how the day ends.

    “However, there is a massive turnout of voters across the state and we pray that everything turns out peacefully.

    “The security situation in some parts of the state is good while in some parts, there is security lapses. We have reported some of these incidences to the police with the hope that they will take appropriate action,” Ogboru said.

    On his part, Okowa said “So far, the electoral process is peaceful, and we pray to God that it remains peaceful; people are coming out in their large numbers to cast their votes, a lot of votes have been cast already despite the fact that it is still very early in the day; we hope that the voting process remains peaceful across the state.

    “I believe the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has done well, everything appears to be working well, but, the day is just starting and of course, we are still perfecting our system but, the best thing is the effectiveness of the response to handle any challenge as they occur by the INEC officials.

    “INEC did well to deploy a lot of youth corpers at each polling unit, that has made the job easy as they assist themselves, we can see that there is a lot of assistance to each other”.

    TNG reports winner of the governorship election in the State would be determined by INEC after counting of votes and collation of results.

     

  • Guber polls: Ayade votes, expresses confidence of victory

    Guber polls: Ayade votes, expresses confidence of victory

    Cross River State governor, Prof Ben Ayade, Saturday, at his Kakum, Obudu Local Government Area country home, said he was confident of victory in the March 9, governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    Ayade who arrived the Kakum Town hall polling unit 004 with his wife, Lynda, at exactly 10:55am went through the accreditation process and cast his votes at about 10:59am.

    The governor who spoke to newsmen shortly after casting his votes said: “I am very optimistic, let my three years plus in office be a validation of this election and my victory today.”

    On the turnout of voters, Ayade disclosed that “the attendance is much more today, very massive and in high spirits and full of enthusiasm.

    “This is my primary place of birth and apparently, every son and daughter is here in their large numbers. Some have come from Lagos and Abuja to cast their votes and I am very happy to I see this massive turnout.”

    Commenting on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s preparedness, the governor remarked: “I am perfectly happy with the arrangement on ground, well organised and voting is going on peacefully.”

    Continuing, Ayade said: “Election is getting more prepared and better prepared and that is why we get this pass mark,” adding that “I saw somebody who came to visit me by 9am and had already voted.

    To the electorate, the governor said: “Your power is in your vote, so vote wisely.”

    Wife of the governor, Dr. Lynda Ayade also applauded the turnout of voters, their calm attitude as well as the clement weather, pointing out that “women are getting more participatory and that is a good sign for us.”

    She further added: “this shows that women liberation is gaining ground.”

     

  • Guber poll: Outlook of elections in Asaba as voting starts

    Accreditation and voting commenced early in some polling units in Asaba, Delta capital in the Saturday Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    Accreditation and voting commenced in all the seven polling units at Uzoigwe Primary School, Ward 9 at 8: 25am and the Presiding Officer, Mr Udoka Orughi said all the card readers were functioning well.

    The exercise commenced at 8:15am at the Federal College of Education Ward 10 where the Presiding Officer, Margret Udo, said everything was going on fine.

    At St. John Bosco Ward 8, Unit 7, accreditation and voting commenced at 8: 21am and a voter, Mr Chris Uwa, said he had voted and was happy the exercise was peaceful and smooth.

    The Presiding Officer at AGGS Ward 7, Ode Simon, said however, that the officials and election materials arrived at the polling station at 7:30am but the exercise had yet to commence.

    He said there were very few voters and the officials were waiting for more voters to come before voting would commence.

    The Presiding Officer at Ward 11, Isioma Okonji, however, said that the smart card readers in ward had not been reconfigured and an INEC technician was reconfiguring them.

    She said that the exercise would commence in the 16 polling units immediately the cards were fixed, expressing worries that about an hour had already been lost.

    There was low turnout of voters in the polling stations visited while the atmosphere was peaceful.

     

  • I have fulfilled my promise to people of A’Ibom, says REC

    The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom, Mr Mike Igini, says he has delivered on his promise on prompt commencement of voting in the governorship and house of assembly elections in Akwa Ibom.

    Igini made the announcement while inspecting polling stations at some wards in the state on Saturday.

    Igini made the pledge against the backdrop of the delayed kick off of voting during the presidential and national assembly elections in the state on Feb. 23.

    “We are happy that our promise to serve the people in the manner we want to serve them is going on smoothly,” he asserted.

    Igini said that polling officials were on ground since 5 a.m., waiting for voters and not voters waiting for polling officials.

    “This is the promise we gave to the people of the state that today’s governorship and state assembly elections will be prompt and that polling officials alongside materials will be waiting for voters.

    “This is what we have done across the state.”

    He pleaded with voters to eschew violence and to behave orderly so that they could cast their votes at polling stations across the state without any problem.

    “Let us shame those who predicted violence in Akwa Ibom State and show them that we can get it right in a peaceful manner,” he said.

    Party officials were orderly and that voters conducted themselves peacefully at most polling stations visited.

     

  • Okowa rates INEC after casting ballot, expresses hope of winning

    Okowa rates INEC after casting ballot, expresses hope of winning

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has expressed confidence that he will emerge victorious in the March 9 governorship polls after casting his vote.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Governor Okowa, adorning white long sleeve shirt, white trouser, white fez cap and black shoes, voted at Omi Primary School, Owa-Alero, Agbor.

    He was accompanied to the voting centre by his wife, Dame Edith and his children who voted in different polling units Ward 2, Omi Primary School, Owa-Alero, Ika North-East local government area of Delta State.

    The governor in a chat with news men shortly after casting his votes at Unit 3 at exactly 8.40 am, stated, “by the grace of God, I will emerge victorious; I have partnered with Deltans, I have worked with them, and by God’s grace, a lot of them will vote for me.

    “The only thing we are doing is to ensure that those who planned to use thugs to disrupt the elections will be handled by the security agencies because, aside plans to disrupt the elections, it would be a no contest situation”.

    He further stated that “So far, the electoral process is peaceful, and we pray to God that it remains peaceful; people are coming out in their large numbers to cast their votes, a lot of votes have been cast already despite the fact that it is still very early in the day; we hope that the voting process remains peaceful across the state.”

    On his assessment of the elections, the governor said, “I believe the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has done well, everything appears to be working well, but, the day is just starting and of course, we are still perfecting our system but, the best thing is the effectiveness of the response to handle any challenge as they occur by the INEC officials.

    “INEC did well to deploy a lot of youth corpers at each polling unit, that has made the job easy as they assist themselves, we can see that there is a lot of assistance to each other”.

     

  • Saturday’s poll: Abe tells supporters not to vote AAC in Rivers

    The Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Magnus Ngei Abe has dissociated himself from the adoption of the candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

    Abe said the APC under the Peter Odike led leadership is neither in alliance with the AAC nor any other political party in the state and urged his supporters to vote for candidates of their choice in Saturday’s Governorship and State House of Assembly general elections in the State.

    He said the APC’s national leadership has not issued any directive to its members in Rivers State to form an alliance with or join any political party in the state ahead of the elections.

    The Senator in a statement, he personally signed expressed regrets that the APC as a political party would not be on the ballot in view of the extant Supreme Court judgment on the Rivers APC, describing the apex court as the final hope of every oppressed Nigerian.

    Abe stated that the Supreme Court had fixed its appeal for hearing on the 14th of March because Amaechi’s group had written a petition against the sitting panel of the Court and there was no time to constitute a fresh panel to hear the case before the elections.

    The statement reads, “Yesterday, I was briefed by our legal team, that the Supreme Court of Nigeria fixed our appeal for hearing on the 14th of March, 2019, because the Amaechi’s group had written a petition against the sitting panel of the Court and there was no time to constitute a fresh panel to hear the case before the elections.

    “Every effort made by our legal team to get a date for hearing before the elections tomorrow was unsuccessful. As a lawyer, I understand the position of the Supreme Court, and I urge all Rivers people who hoped and prayed for a different outcome to respect and honour the position of the Court.

    “The Supreme Court is the final hope of every oppressed Nigerian and the only true rock on which our democracy can rest. With that position of the Court, the APC as a political party will not be on the ballot for tomorrow’s elections for Governorship and the House of Assembly.

    “The only moral justification for the Amaechi faction’s petition to block the urgent hearing of our appeal and allow the APC to have candidates in this election is to further justify the narrative that we stopped the candidature of Tonye Cole and others.

    “This narrative is, of course, false to our knowledge and to most Nigerians who followed events in Rivers State objectively.

    “The candidature of Cole and others was deliberately built on a foundation of disobedience to Court orders and orchestrated violence against the courts.

    “These were actions taken by the APC leadership in Rivers State despite our warnings and appeals, that these actions were clear pathways to political disaster.

    “Having successfully blocked our quest for justice and redemption for the APC, the same leadership has gone ahead to form an alliance with another political party the AAC, as I write I have not received or seen any statement from the national headquarters of our party directing our members in Rivers State to join or participate in any alliance with another political party in Rivers State.

    “Indeed the national leadership of the AAC has come out publicly to dissociate itself from the alliance. On a personal note, I cannot participate in the alliance, for the reason that myself and other leaders of the APC in Rivers State considered as not loyal to the minister of transportation were not consulted.

    “I, therefore, support the position of the State Chairman of the party, Prince Peter Odike that there is no alliance with AAC in Rivers State.

    “The alliance is nothing other than another attempt to enforce Amaechi’s right to pick a Governor for Rivers people that is loyal and answerable to him alone.

    “We urge all Rivers people, particularly members of the APC to reject it and vote for candidates of their choice.

    “After all is said and done, the only reason the AAC party candidates is being supported by the Minister today is because he either left or refused to join the APC, if he was a member of our party, the Minister would rather destroy the party than support him.

    “The reason for the fight in the APC is the absolute determination of the Minister of Transportation not to consider any APC member for the Governorship race on the platform of our party.

    “We must all condemn the escalating violence in Rivers State; I appeal to all politicians in Rivers State to conduct themselves in a manner that acknowledges that no Rivers man has a greater claim to Rivers State than another.

    “In the present situation, the safety of voters cannot even be guaranteed; neither will the results of the elections be acceptable to the broad majority of our people if they are not allowed to freely exercise their franchise without the fear violence.

    “I thank the security agencies for their vigorous efforts at ensuring peaceful atmosphere for elections in Rivers State but I must urge them to act at all times in the best interests of our country and its citizens.

    “Finally to my supporters, please keep faith, we started this journey with nothing but our faith in God, if we lose our faith then we are left with absolutely nothing.

    “Our God has been faithful; we have never plotted evil, mobilized violence or betrayed our principles in the quest for power.

    “Every evil plot, every sponsored blackmail against us will not only fail but will fail woefully and the truth will prevail. The God of justice will definitely speak, and every other voice shall be silent,” Senator Abe stated.

     

  • Bayelsa gets police commissioner for Saturday’s election

    The police high command have deployed a Commissioner of Police, Mr Olushola David, for election duty in Bayelsa for Saturday’s house of assembly polls in the state.

    CP David had served in Abia South Senatorial District during the February 23 presidential and National Assembly Elections.

    Speaking with journalists at the Police officers Mess in Yenagoa on Friday, David said his mandate was to create a safe environment that would enable electorate exercise their civic right during the elections.

    “I will ensure that police personnel that would be deployed for Saturday’s election discharge their duties with strict adherence to professionalism,” the CP said.

    He urged residents in the state to steer clear of violence before, during and after the elections.

    Governorship election would hold in Bayelsa later in the year.

     

  • 176 candidates for 24 assembly seats in Edo

    176 candidates for 24 assembly seats in Edo

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says 176 candidates from 24 political parties would contest in Saturday’s state House of Assembly election in Edo.

    Mr Timidi Wariowei, INEC Head of Voter Education and Publicity in the state, disclosed this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria in Benin.

    He said 145 of the candidates are males, while the rest 31 are females.

    Wariowei noted that the state has 2, 219, 778 registered voters, with 2,627 polling units and 1,892 voting points.

    He added that the state has 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs), 192 wards, 24 constituencies and three senatorial districts.

    He said about 2, 219, 778 Permanent Voters’ Cards(PVCs) were received from INEC headquarters adding that,1,735,910 of the number were collected by their owners representing about 78 per cent.

    Edo is one of the states where governorship election will not take place on Saturday.