TheNewsGuru

Tag: Election Riggers

  • Edo 2020: Election riggers will ‘receive’ COVID-19, Melaye prays at Obaseki’s campaign rally

    Edo 2020: Election riggers will ‘receive’ COVID-19, Melaye prays at Obaseki’s campaign rally

    Former Kogi-West senator Dino Melaye stole the show Saturday at the start of the re-election campaign of Governor Godwin Obaseki in Benin.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Nyesom Wike, Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Edo State Governorship Election National Campaign Council and Governor of Rivers State, and Prince Uche Secondus, National Chairman of the PDP were also present at the flag-off of Obaseki’s campaign for re-election in the September 19 poll.

    Called to address the physically distanced crowd at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Melaye warned all those who plan on rigging the September election to shelve the idea.

    To the surprise of his audience, he said anyone contemplating such plan will ‘Receive COVID-19.”

    He chanted the curse, like a prayer warrior, repeatedly: “Receive COVID, Receive COVID, Receive COVID”.

    He directed his curse at Governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello and Kano governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, who he referenced by innuendo as ‘those who put dollars in pocket’.

    The Obaseki campaign has reportedly mounted billboards in Benin, attacking the Kano governor.

    Obaseki is campaigning for a second term in office on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, after he defected from his original platform, the All Progressives Congress.

    “When I was thrown out in the rain, and the political storm, you gave me the umbrella to shield me,” the governor said at the campaign while thanking the PDP.

    He also urged supporters to shun all forms of misconduct during the election, slated for September 19.

    “We do not want bloodshed,” he said.

  • 2019 elections: US, UK pledges neutrality, say election riggers risk visa restriction, ban

    2019 elections: US, UK pledges neutrality, say election riggers risk visa restriction, ban

    As preparations for the nation’s general elections enter top gear, both the United States of America and the United Kingdom have pledged neutrality and support to ensure free, fair and credible elections.

    The countries also unanimously threatened to punish anyone found guilty of either instigating violence or plotting to rig the elections.

    In separate statements issued on Thursday by the Embassy of the United States and the British High Commission in Abuja, the two countries pledged their commitment to ensuring free and fair elections in the country, saying the 2019 elections “is important not only for Nigeria, but for the African continent.”

    According to the statements, which were released through the communications unit of the U.S. embassy, the two countries commended the political parties for signing the peace accord and urged the candidates to conduct themselves within the laws governing the elections.

    The U.S. statement reads in part; “The United States government does not support any specific candidate or party in Nigeria’s upcoming elections. The United States supports the Nigerian democratic process itself. We support a genuinely free, fair, transparent, and peaceful electoral process.

    “We, and other democratic nations, will be paying close attention to actions of individuals who interfere in the democratic process or instigate violence against the civilian population before, during, or after the elections. We will not hesitate to consider consequences – including visa restrictions – for those found to be responsible for election-related violence or undermining the democratic process. Under U.S. immigration law, certain violations may also lead to restrictions on family members.”

    On her part, the United Kingdom promised continued support for Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) towards making the electoral process credible and peaceful.

    The statement reads in part; “We continue to provide significant support to Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission and to Nigerian civil society to help them deliver credible elections. We also regularly engage with actors across the political spectrum to encourage them to respect electoral rules and maintain an atmosphere of peace and calm. We will be deploying an extensive observation mission for the forthcoming elections, including coordinating with the EU’s Election Observation Mission.

    “Our monitors will in particular be looking out for any attempts to encourage or use violence to influence the elections, including on social media. We would like to remind all Nigerians that where the UK is aware of such attempts, this may have consequences for individuals. These could include their eligibility to travel to the UK, their ability to access UK based funds or lead to prosecution under international law.”