TheNewsGuru

Tag: BVAS

  • Kogi: INEC cancels 11 polling units results over thuggery, BVAS

    Kogi: INEC cancels 11 polling units results over thuggery, BVAS

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cancelled the results of 11 polling units in Kogi on Saturday, over thuggery and failure of a Presiding Officer (PO) to operate the BVAS correctly.

    The results of 10 polling units were cancelled in Ofu Local Government Area (LGA) due to activities of political thugs, and a polling unit in Yagba East LGA due to the ineptness of a PO.

    Dr Alhassan Abdulrahaman, the Collation Officer for Yagba LGA, on Sunday disclosed cancellation in his area, while presenting the results to the State Collation Officer, Prof. Wahab Egbewale (SAN), Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin.

    Abdulrahaman had barely finished his presentation, when Egbewale asked him whether any result was cancelled in the area and he answered in the affirmative.

    “Yes Sir, we do have cause to cancel some results in Yagba East Local Government during last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    “At Unit 006 of Ward 10, we have no option than to cancel the results of that particular unit on a simple reason that the PO didn’t know how to operate the BVAS issued to her for the exercise.

    “It looks as if she wasn’t trained for the job, because we tried to help her but she couldn’t pick up. We were so amazed.

    “At that point we had no option than to cancel the result of that very unit,” Abdulrahaman explained.

    Prof. Abdullahi Musa-Yusuf, Collation Officer (CO) for Ofu LGA of Kogi, while presenting his results, said results of 10 units had to be cancelled due to activities of political thugs.

    Musa-Yusuf said the political thugs invaded the affected units in Itobe and Ayaji wards and packed away the election materials, a situation he said disrupted the election in those units.

    He disclosed that more than 6, 600 votes in those units had to be cancelled.

    NAN reports that results of a total of 14 out of 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi were received by the Prof Egbewale led team at the Kogi Situation Room/Collation Centre, including, Bassa, Idah, Igalamela-Odolu, Umala, Okehi and Olama-Boro.

    Dekina, Adavi and Ibaji LGAs, whose results could not tally were asked to go and tidy up and return on Monday to represent theirs.

    Egbewale, thereafter, thanked all stakeholders including patties’ agents, security operatives, observers, journalists and INEC officials adjourned the collation to 11. am on Monday, Feb. 27 for continuation.

  • Varsity lecturer impersonates INEC official, found with 17 BVAS machines

    Varsity lecturer impersonates INEC official, found with 17 BVAS machines

    A middle-aged man, Mr. Gabriel Agabi, was on Sunday arrested by the Police over impersonation and being in possession of 17 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) not programmed for the ward where he was arrested.

    Agabi, who wore an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reflective jacket, was arrested at the collation center in Okpoma, Yala Local Government Area of Cross River by the security operatives.

    He was later taken to Ogoja INEC’s office, where he confessed to have impersonated Abakedi.

    After a confessional statement, he was whisked away by the police to the Ogoja Area Command for further investigation by the CID unit.

    The alleged impostor claimed to be a lecturer in philosophy department of the University of Calabar and hails from Ugoro Community in Bekwarra Local Government Area of the state.

    He impersonated the INEC collation officer for Yache ward in Yala Local Government Area of the state, Dr Dominic Abakedi.

    One of the BVAS found in his possession had the following details: “BVAS No: 09/18/10/012 with 216 accredited voters and 250 votes cast.”

    The impersonator, who was alleged to have been playing the script of a party, had with collaboration with others, locked up all the agents of other parties in that ward.

    He was also alleged to have disappeared since the close of voting around 6 p.m. on Saturday and only resurfaced at the senatorial district collation center in Ogoja at past 5 p.m. on Sunday.

    A senior police officer at the scene, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the development.

    Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in charge of elections in the district, Zannah Shettima, declined comment on the matter, stressing that he was yet to be briefed.

    He said, “I don’t have the details and so I can’t speak on it.”

    Agabi claimed to be a lecturer in philosophy department and hails from Ugoro Community in Bekwarra Local Government Area of the state.

    Collation of Cross North Senatorial results was ongoing at the time of filing this report.

  • 2023: PFN calls for cancelation, repeat of elections in trouble areas across Nig

    2023: PFN calls for cancelation, repeat of elections in trouble areas across Nig

    Wevole Ezin

    The Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, (PFN), Cross River State, Dr Lawrence Ekwok has called for the cancellation and repeat of elections in trouble areas.

    He said such action should be taken in areas where some people were not allowed to vote or where Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), Ballot boxes and other election materials were carted away or destroyed by political thugs.

    The state PFM Chairman made the call yesterday to newsmen in Calabar.

    Dr. Ekwok added, “other areas where elections should be canceled and repeated should include polling units or states where ballot papers did not contain the logo of some of the political parties.

    “Doing this will avoid possible protests from those who feel disenfranchised and will also discourage thuggery of any form.

    “If this is done eventual winner of the election will be confident of having the mandate of the Nigerian people while also discouraging thuggery and impunity in future elections.”

    He however condemned a situation where ordinary Nigerians will openly threaten other citizens and warning them to go home if they will not vote for a certain candidate, adding that “ nobody is more Nigerian than other Nigerians “

    He called on INEC to match action with words by doing everything possible to convince Nigerians that the commission is truly committed to conducting free, fair and credible elections.

    The PFN Chairman called on the people of Cross River , especially members of the PFN to come out in large numbers to vote massively in the governorship and House of Assembly elections in March 11, 2023 elections.

    He also called for a quick upload of election results by INEC to avoid the suspicion of fowl play.

    ##

  • Omo-Agege lauds BVAS functionality in Delta, points out only challenge

    Omo-Agege lauds BVAS functionality in Delta, points out only challenge

    Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, the Delta All Progressives Congress (APC ) governorship candidate, has commended the functionality of the BVAS in Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly election.

    Omo-Agege said this shortly after he cast his vote at Ohromuru Orogun in Ughelli North Local Government Areas of the state.

    “INEC so far has done a good job.

    “It took me less than few seconds to be accredited and I don’t think anybody will have challenge on the functionality of the BVAS.

    “But the challenge we have is insecurity. We do not have enough security manning the various polling units.

    “There are conflicts everywhere, insecurity, attacks on All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates everywhere,” he said.

    Omo-Agege commended the electorate for the large turnout.

    “I am glad that today, we are electing the President, this will determine the kind of Nigeria we will have in the next eight years.

    “We have opportunity to make that decision and it is my hope and expectation that they do the right thing.

    “And as far as the governorship election is concerned, there is a concession that there is the need for change and the people are tired of Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa and everything he represents,” he said.

    He stated that APC was sure of victory at all levels in the election.

    “As far as the Presidential, Senatorial, Governorship, House of Representatives, houses of Assembly elections are concerned, we are very sure we are going to win.

    “I think it is the expectation of everyone in the state come March 11, we will emerge victorious,” he said.

    The deputy senate president was accredited at about 11. 00 a.m.and he voted at 11.08 a.m.

  • Delta: No result sheets, insufficient ballot papers delay election in Elumelu’s ward

    Delta: No result sheets, insufficient ballot papers delay election in Elumelu’s ward

    The absence of result sheets and insufficient ballot papers stalled the voting process in the hometown of Mr. Ndudi Elumelu, Minority Leader, House of Representatives, in Delta.

    Elumelu is the member representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency of Delta and he seeks a return to the House of Representatives in the 2023 general elections.

    Elumelu, disclosed this to newsmen at Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections at Ward 1, units 1 to 6, Kandinma Primary School, Onicha-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta.

    He noted that the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) was working perfectly and the process going on smoothly at the early hours before it was discovered that the ballots were insufficient and there was no result sheets for the ward.

    According to Elumelu, the INEC was contacted and the election process has to stop till all the issues were resolved.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the INEC representative brought the result sheets at about 1.00 p.m. when the voting resumed in the area.

    The situation was, however, not the same at Ward 4, units 5, 6, 7, 8, and 17 at Ugba Primary School,  Onicha-Olona,  also in Aniocha North LGA.

    As at the time of reporting, voters were seen filled out orderly members on queue to cast their votes after been accredited.

    According to Mr Austin Modungwo, voting commenced peacefully and the BVAS working perfectly.

    On his part, Mr Patrick Ochei, a Chieftain of All Progressive Party (APC) lauded the process, adding that Mr President has done the country proud by ensuring an election process that works.

    “I must say that I am very proud to have from a country where we can go out and see our votes count.

    “From what I have seen today, it is fantastic, I think Mr. President had delivered on his mandate of promising free, fair, and credible elections in Nigeria and that has happens before everybody’s presence.

    ”The BVAS worked fantastically, and unlike before, their is no voters apathy, even people defiled the rains to vote.

    He, however, said that the chance of APC was high, adding that the party will emerge victorious, particularly the presidential election.

    On his part, the Director for Labour Party (LP) Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, Mr. Emeka Okolo, lauded the process of election at Onicha-Olana.

    He also expressed hope that his party would emerge victorious in the elections.

  • BVAS failed to recognise, accredit ex-Ogun gov, Osoba

    BVAS failed to recognise, accredit ex-Ogun gov, Osoba

    A former Governor of Ogun, Chief Olusegun Osoba, has expressed disappointment over his inability to vote on Saturday during the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

    Osoba’s inability to vote followed the repeated failures of the BVAS machine to recognise and accredit him for voting.

    He spoke with journalists at Ward 14, Polling Unit 15, Ibara Government Reserved Area(GRA) in Abeokuta South Local Government Area.

    “I have been here twice today and the BVAS failed to recognise my face and finger marks in spite of the fact that my name and picture are on the voter register of this polling centre.

    “It is the same card that I used to vote in 2019 in this same polling centre that I presented now; yet, it is unsuccessful.

    “I don’t want to vote unaccredited because I don’t want my vote to cause cancellation of other votes in this centre,” Osoba said.

    The former governor said he was, however, encouraged by the large turnout of voters, including the aged who came out to exercise their civic responsibilities.

    “I feel very sad, but I was encouraged with the huge turnout, particularly, many elders in their 70s and 80s, who turned out out for the exercise.

    “I have confidence in INEC. It was just a technological failure. Only two or three of us could not vote in this unit.

    “Definitely, we will do everything possible to make sure that the technical team of INEC address the situation,” he said.

    Osoba, commending the security arrangement across the state, appealed to INEC to extend voting in areas where voting started late.

    “In terms of peaceful conduct of the election and security, one is encouraged.

    “I want to thank our people and congratulate them for their peaceful and orderly manner in which they have conducted themselves, irrespective of whichever political party they are voting for,” he said.

  • 2023 elections: INEC loses 8 BVAS to thugs, recovers 3

    2023 elections: INEC loses 8 BVAS to thugs, recovers 3

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says eight of its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) were snatched by thugs in Delta and Katsina States in the ongoing presidential and National Assembly elections.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the ongoing general elections on Saturday in Abuja.

    He, however said that the snatched BVAS were immediately replaced for the election to continue, while three were later recovered by security agencies.

    “Based on the reports we have received from our offices, there have been some challenges in the process.

    “One of the challenges is the inability of the commission in some locations to open the polling units at 8:30 am.

    “Some of the reasons for this include the perennial problem of logistics in spite of our best efforts.

    “Generally speaking, we have delivered hundreds of ballot papers and result sheets that we were supposed to deliver.

    “For instance, we couldn’t deploy early in Alawa in Shiroro LGA of Niger State because bandits launched an attack, not necessarily on INEC officials, within the area.

    “So, on the advice of security agencies we tarried awhile and I’m happy to say that we are able to deploy, and voting in that location is ongoing as we speak.“

    Yakubu said that similarly in Oshimili local government area of Delta, thugs attacked polling units during which two BVAS machines were lost.

    “Again, determined that election must continue, we were able to replace the stolen machines, restore security and voting continued in that location.

    “Similarly, in Safana LG area of Katsina state, thugs attacked one voting location and snatched six of our BVAS machines.

    “But again, we were able to use the spare BVAS machines and restore security for voting to continue.

    “The security agencies have recovered three BVAS machines, but three are still held by the thugs.

    “In these locations, the target of attacks were the BVAS machines. It is no longer the ballot boxes,” Yakubu siad.

    On the functionality of BVAS, the INEC chairman said that the device has been performing optimally.

    “So far so good; generally speaking, the BVAS deployed nationwide for the first time has been functioning optimally in most parts of the country.

    “We are hearing less complaints about the functionality of the BVAS.”

    He linked the inability to commence election at 8.30am in some polling units to perennial problem of logistics and insecurity.

    Yakubu, however, assured Nigerians that no voter would be disenfranchised because of that.

    “Based on the reports that are received from the various states of the federation and our office in the Federal Capital Territory, some challenges were identified.

    “One of which is the inability of the commission in a number of places to open the poll units at the appointment of 8:30am.

    “Some of the polling units opened late, but in line with our policy any Nigerian on the queue will have the opportunity to vote no matter how long it takes, until the last on the queue before 2.30pm votes, no matter how long it takes.”

    Yakubu added that the perennial problem of logistics and security challenges also led to late commencement of voting in some places

    He said that the security challenges include thugs attack in Delta and Katsina states and banditry in Niger.

    He said there were also unfolding situations in Abia and Imo states.

    “In Abia, the deployment is taking place late to the polling units.

    “The commission is aware and we are assuring voters in Abia that no matter how late we deploy to the polling units, if voters are on the queue before 2:30pm, they will vote no matter how long it takes.

    “We are also aware of the situation in Imo, in respect of four LGAs — Okigwe, Oguta, Osu, and Olu.

    “There were issues in all 11 wards in the whole of Osu. In the whole of Orlu, six wards out of 11. In the case of Okigwe, five wards out of 11. In the case of Oguta, it is more widespread,” Yakubu added.

    Yakubu said that he had a discussion with the Inspector-General of Police and the military to escort INEC officials to all four locations.

    “I take it that voting would have commenced in some of these difficult places.

    “But if it doesn’t, I will assure voters in those locations that elections will hold and they will not be disenfranchised.”

    Yakubu said that INEC have been observing and receiving reports on the election nationwide and was determined to ensure that the elections held are credible.

    He said that the commission would continue to brief Nigerians on the elections, until the collation of results commenced.

  • 2023 Elections: Osun Governor, Adeleke votes, commends INEC on BVAS

    2023 Elections: Osun Governor, Adeleke votes, commends INEC on BVAS

    Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun has cast his vote in the ongoing Presidential and the National Assembly elections.

    Adeleke cast his vote at Unit 009 , Ward 2, Abogunde /Sagba, in Ede North Local Government area.

    The governor who arrived at his polling unit exactly 8:42a.m with his entourage, was accredited and voted at 8:44am.

    The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the governor, after casting his vote, commended INEC for the use of Bimodal Voters Accreditation System(BVAS) for the exercise, noting that the machine was working well in his unit.

    “The BVAS is here to stay and I commend INEC for the peaceful conduct of the election”, Adeleke said.

    “I believe in the electoral system and I know my party will win in all the contesting positions in the state and across the nation .

    According to him, report from other parts of the state shows that the election is going smoothly without any form of distraction.

    Meanwhile, a 95-year-old woman, Mrs Rebecca Amusan, said she came out early to cast her vote because of her passion for a new Nigeria.

    Amusan, while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Polling Unit 9, Ward 2, CAC Primary School, Edun-Abon, in Ife North Local Government, said she came out as early as 6:00am to vote.

    The nonagenarian said her desire to choose a better leader, who will bring peace and development to the country, gave her the needed strength to come out early.

    Amusan, who was the first to be accredited, however, said she was not happy that the BVAS machine could not recognise her face and finger at first.

    The nonagenarian, who later voted at 9:21am, said she was happy that her time and energy was not wasted.

    “I came out early to vote because of my desire for a new Nigeria.

    “I was here as early as 6:00am to vote, but I was not happy at first, when the BVAS could not recognise my face and finger, but I am happy that it went at the second attempt”, she said.

    The Presiding Officer at the polling unit, Funsho Abdullahi, said voting started at 9:00am and attributed the delay to logistic reason.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was large turnout of voters and presence security personnel at the polling unit.

    Speaking at the polling unit, Mr Tunde Olatunji, the Chief Whip of Osun House of Assembly, expressed hope that the election will be free, peaceful and fair.

    Olatunji, who noted that people were eager to exercise their rights, said he was optimistic that the APC Presidential candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu, will emerge victorious.

    “The electorate have decided who to vote for and I believe their vote will speak loud”, he said.

  • Ganduje votes, says BVAS ‘ll enhance credibility of electoral process

    Ganduje votes, says BVAS ‘ll enhance credibility of electoral process

    Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State says the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will enhance the credibility of the 2023 general election.

    He said this on Saturday shortly after casting his vote at Cikin-Gari Ward, Unit 008 at Ganduje in Dawakin-Tofa Local Government Area of the state.

    Ganduje noted that the measure was one of the innovations toward achieving sustainable electoral reforms to accelerate national development.

    The governor said that INEC had taken elections to the next level with the introduction of BVAS, adding that he was satisfied with the conduct of the electorate and the exercise by INEC.

    “I am impressed with the prompt commencement of the exercise in the area, as well as the peaceful conduct of voters,” he said.

    Ganduje, however, noted that the accreditation was slow, but expressed optimism that the exercise would pickup before the end of the day.

    He also expressed hope that the peaceful and large turnout of the electorate and adequate security arrangements that characterised the exercise so far would be sustained to ensure that it ended peacefully.

    The governor also urged the electorate to turn out en masse during the March 11 Governorship and State Assembly election.

  • Just before the elections – By Dakuku Peterside

    Just before the elections – By Dakuku Peterside

    It is now a cliché that this election is a make-or-mar election for Nigeria. It is our way of saying this is a consequential election. The importance of this election has dawned on everyone, and unlike every other election before it, it is the first election post military era that the result is difficult to predict. There is a multiplicity of struggles between some simple and binary issues and some multifaceted issues. Some Nigerians are pitching this election as a contest between established orthodoxy since the current democratic dispensation in 1999 and the clamour for a new political order . Some are neither interested in any old nor new political order but want a political order that will solve the challenge of insecurity, poverty, unemployment and underemployment, and improve economic and social well-being .
    This group seems more result-oriented and endlessly analyses the presidential candidates to determine who is more likely to tackle the hydra- headed problems facing Nigeria, irrespective of whether he is of the orthodoxy or the new political order group.

    Unfortunately, because our electorate is still largely illiterate, some are transactional and mercantile about this election. For this group, this election is about buying and selling votes and maximising the total commercial value possible in the voting value chain in Nigeria. Against the background of Naira redesign policy or according to Progressive Governors, “Naira confiscation policy”,the contest of supremacy on this issue has shifted to the public space and Supreme Court . More fundamental is the fact that it is on the background of excruciating economic challenge that Nigerians will be making a choice in less than five days.

    About 74.72 million Nigerians who had collected their Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC), or 80% of 93.4 million registered voters, will on Saturday, 25th February head to the polling booths in what promises to be a pivotal moment for Nigeria. Elections will be held for National Assembly seats and the presidency, but all eyes are on the presidential ballot for good reasons. Whoever emerges victorious would have severe implications for the country’s future and Africa. Many people must have made up their minds about whom to vote for. They must have made this important decision based on numerous factors, some logical and noble, others primordial and sentimental and may be superstitious ignorance. This notwithstanding, performing the civic task of voting is essential to keep our democracy going. Nigerians are quite optimistic that this will be a comparatively free and fair election because of what INEC has put in place . We hope, too, that the best presidential candidate wins the election. However, what should be the priorities of the average voter as we go to the polls to elect the president?

    Nigeria has not had the best leadership, which impacts the country’s fragile state and citizens’ economic life. The Nigerian problem, at best, can be reduced to a leadership problem. The quality of leadership a country gets directly correlates with the quality of leaders it has. Leaders who selflessly serve the interest of their people, leading the country to a clearly defined vision that is tangible, measurable and specific. Nigeria needs a leader that will lay the foundation for harnessing the vast potential of Nigeria and push it to be among the top 10 economies in the world within the next few decades. A leader that stops our sliding into the abyss and reverses the trend to growth and prosperity that will improve the lives of every Nigerian. A leader of the people, voted by the people and is for the people. We need this leader, and we need it now!

    The first priority of the average voter is to identify who among the contending presidential candidates truly represent such a leader. Using their knowledge of each presidential candidate’s antecedents and prior experiences in leadership, voters can judge whom this presidential candidate is and vote for him based on their conscience.

    The second priority of the average voter is to identify and vote for a presidential candidate capable of addressing the most critical challenges confronting Nigeria as a nation. A significant challenge for voters is identifying a leader powered by vision and purpose . Nigeria seems directionless, and every effort made by existing and subsequent governments yielded less-than-expected results at best and negative impacts at worst. We need a leader that will define what kind of future our country will have. A leader that will provide clear direction for the country and galvanise everyone to share and work for that future. The question is who, not which party, can best guarantee the future we deserve.

    Therefore, before casting your vote, you must be sure that the candidate can envision a future for the country, that his vision of the future aligns with yours, and that he can start the country on the road to that great future. The questions every voter must consider are: what kind of future do I want for Nigeria? Does this align with that of the presidential candidate I want to vote for? Does the candidate have the qualities, character, knowledge, skills and experience to fulfil this dream? Your answer to these questions will guide you towards the right choice.

    The third crucial challenge for the presidential candidate is having the capacity to address the problem of disunity and lingering agitations of marginalisation and distrust among the various groups making up Nigeria. The candidate to vote for must be able to promote and strengthen our unity and nationhood. Presently, this election poses the most severe test of the unity of Nigeria. For the first time in this post-1999 democratic experiment, we have three major contenders for the presidency position, representing the three major ethnic groups and two major religious groups in Nigeria.

    Only a free, fair and credible election on Saturday will lay the foundation to douse the emotional sentimentalism that may ensue after the polls. The critical question is, who among the candidates can promote and strengthen our seemingly fragile unity? Who among them is a true Nigerian that will carry everyone along and challenge the pervading feelings of superiority or marginalisation by groups or sections of the country? The answer to this question is vital for voters to choose and vote for the next president.

    The fourth challenge is for the candidate to have the clarity of vision and proven capacity to address intractable insecurity, massive unemployment, fantastical corruption, and devastating multidimensional poverty. These challenges have been the bane of Nigeria since independence, and it seems to be getting worse by the day. A content analysis of the electoral promises of Nigerian leaders from independence until now reveals that these problems have been there all this while. Political leaders in different shades, regimes, and dispensations have promised to eradicate these ills but failed woefully. We need a leader that will surmount these seemingly insurmountable problems.

    Only then shall we make progress. We need a leader who understands the link between economic security and social security – one cannot exist without the other. Therefore, we need a leader who will improve our economy through good infrastructure, sound economic policies, a business-friendly environment, high productivity, and a stable, moral, and ethical social and judicial system that drives national progress. A voter must ask: who among the candidates can tackle, most radically and definitively, the four issues of insecurity, unemployment, corruption, and
    poverty?

    This election is the most technology based in Nigeria’s history. The need to deviate from the electoral malpractices of the past has led Nigeria to adopt the most modern electoral technology used in an election in democracies in the world. This is the first time in a presidential election in Nigeria that the BVAS and online transmission of result technology is adopted, and this has increased people’s hope for a transparent election with the future looking bright for credible elections. This hope has led many voters to believe their votes will count and therefore have power.

    This will likely lead to a high turnout for voting on Saturday. The body language and rhetoric of the president show that he is eager to leave a legacy of electoral transparency before he leaves office. This, too, is fuelling a quest for ownership of PVC and using it to vote in elections. It is noteworthy, too, that the president is championing moves to truncate any chances of buying the presidency and monetising the electoral process through vote buying or financial inducement to the INEC officials. This election, hopefully, will live up to its bidding of being the most accessible and fair election in Nigerian general election history.

    The international community expects a credible, free, and fair election. As one of the biggest democracies in the world, the outcome of Nigerian elections reverberates worldwide. A successful election in Nigeria will strengthen democracy in subsaharan Africa and serve as counterforce to the growing appetite for coups and unconstitutional means of changing government in the region. A crisis in Nigeria would have far reaching migration and refugee implications for the entire continent of Africa. We need credible and peaceful elections more than ever at these perilous times when global politics and alignments are shaky, especially given NATO – Russia, brouhaha .

    As voters perform their civic responsibility on Saturday, it is an opportunity to choose between different options, not only candidates but also what they represent versus what we want. It should not be about religion, region, ethnicity, and party but about the future of our country. The next president must have the capacity and character to change Nigeria for good. Your vote counts! Vote by vote, and election by election, we will rebuild Nigeria into the country of our
    dreams.