TheNewsGuru

Tag: election

  • Election: Voters protest incomplete ballot boxes at polling unit

    Election: Voters protest incomplete ballot boxes at polling unit

    Voting was delayed on Saturday at the Plateau Hotel polling unit in Jos as the voters protested the non-availability of a third box at their polling unit.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that as at 9:43 a.m., the officials were still awaiting the INEC officials to bring a third box to the polling unit.

    Some voters who spoke to NAN said that they were not happy about the delay and the incomplete ballot boxes.

    Mr Silas Ndam, a voter at the polling unit, said that the presidential box was missing and they were told to go on with the voting.

    “I saw the president voting on television this morning, and there were three boxes before him so why will they bring only two to our units,’’ said Ndam.

    Another voter, Mrs Hanatu Gimba, said that they were aware of their electoral rights and would not condone any disorganisation.

    “By reason of electoral education, we all know we are supposed to have three boxes and not two, and we made it clear to the officials that the presidential box was missing and demanded for it,’’ said Gimba.

    Deborah Isah, a voter, who said that she was at the polling unit as early as 4:00 a.m., said the delay was disheartening and uncalled for.

    Rachael Sale said that she was at the polling unit at 5:00 a.m. and had yet to see them start up the process.

    “In most polling units, they were only given two boxes and they are accepted by the voters but here we know our rights and the fact that the green box was missing,’’ said Sale.

    Yahaya Kwande, an elder statesman in Plateau, described the exercise as highly impressive and hopeful.

    Kwande said that Nigerians were now enlightened about the electoral process and enthusiastic about voting.

    “They had an issue at the polling unit but we were able to sort it out without violence and that is a huge progress,’’ said Kwande.

    NAN reports that the green box was later brought in at about 10:00 a.m. and the people queued up orderly to vote for their candidates.

  • Election: I’ll accept people’s verdict — Tinubu

    A national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Bola Tinubu, has said that he would accept the result of the presidential election even if it did not go the way of the party.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tinubu spoke with journalists after voting at Polling Unit 047, Ward 3, Ikeja at 11:20am.

    He said that the will of the electorate must be respected, adding that as a true democrat, free and fair elections must be protected.

    Tinubu was, however, upbeat about his party’s chances of winning the elections.

    “If my party is voted out in this election, I will accept it because it is the people’s verdict, that is their decision. Any democrat that cannot accept a result from a free and fair election is not worthy of that name.

    “As a true democrat, you must be able to accept the results of a free and fair election.

    “My hope and determination of my party is that we are winning this election because we have the support of the masses and if you look at our rallies, it is an indication of our party’s popularity that we are the populace.

    “We are not talking about the elites or those that are rich, but the poor masses, farmers, traders, artisans and the common man who seek for continuity,” he said.

    Tinubu, however, rated the conduct of the elections as successful so far, adding that though elections were expensive, yet it remained the best way of choosing leaders.

    “The election has been successful so far, so good. It has demonstrated the resilience of the people and like the President has said; we have chosen the best way in a difficult way.

    “Democracy is the toughest way of selecting a leader but the best system. With resilience of the people and strong determination we are getting there,” Tinubu said.

  • Femi Otedola,DJ Cuppy head to polling unit

    Business mogul, Femi Otedola and daughter, DJ Cuppy have taken to their social media platforms to encourage others to vote.

    The pair were filled with excitement and enthusiasm as they perform their civic duties.

     

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BuOCJIdDUsW/

    In the clip shared on their Instagram profiles, the DJ prompted her billionaire dad for a comment as she tried to transfer the excitement to her followers. In his response, he encouraged voters to visit a polling unit close to them to prepare Nigeria for a better future.

    “Good morning everybody. Today is the day that Nigeria decides. My dad and I are walking over to our voting units. We are very excited,”

     

    Femi Otedola added, “Go and vote and let’s shape the future of Nigeria.”

     

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BuOCqMBnVHg/

    TheNewsGuru reports that some polling units in Lagos have experienced a sluggish voting process as a result of the lateness in the arrival of the voting materials.

     

  • 2019 Election: INEC Polling unit with only 5 registered voters

    AS the 2019 presidential and National Assembly elections commenced this morning, a polling unit located in Kubwa of Bwari Area Council had only 5 registered voters.

    Polling Unit 012D in Christmas Street off Gado Nasko Street opposite a mosque had just 5 registered voters.

    When TNG visited the unit as at 11am only one voter had voted out of the five registered voters.

    Three NYSC ad-hoc staff manning the unit told TNG that ” we actually have only five voters registered here and only one has voted so far.

    “In other polling units around us in Kubwa they have more than 500, we are just waiting for the remaining 4 to come so that we can close for the day.

    In other polling units visited in other units located in Bwari had a massive turn out of voters.

    At 11C polling unit more than 100 voters were already on queue to vote after accreditation as at 10.30am.

    Also at Unit 10 Usuma 009 polling centre more than 120 voters were already casting their votes in an orderly manner.

    At Unit 062 Usama1 polling station as early as 8.30am more than 1000 voters had besieged the centre but voting commenced late at about 10am.

  • [Special Report] Election deferral: Lagos residents lament loss

    Many Nigerians were shocked last Saturday when they woke up to the news that the general elections had been postponed.

    TheNewGuru recalls that the Independent National Electoral in the early hours of the day when the presidential, Senate and House of Representatives membership elections were to hold, announced the postponement of the exercise by one week – a postponement from February 16 to February 23.

    An array of Lagos residents told TheNewsGuru on Wednesday that the election postponement had destabilized them because it has clashed with their earlier schedules and made them lose money.

    A photographer and digital media expert, Odunola Abayomi said she was supposed to have a couple of photo shoots, but the botched election affected the shoots, adding that it has also affected her income.

    “I was supposed to have a couple of photo shoots on the 26th of February but had to postpone some to the next Saturday because of the election. Now with the election postponement, those photo shoots will be affected; it has inadvertently affected my anticipated financial gains for these couple of weeks. We hope and pray that there won’t be a re-occurrence”.

    Lamenting also, Mr Wale Sarumi, a sound engineer said it affected him immensely. He added that he was supposed to render his service at a wedding ceremony but the unexpected postponement affected his pay.

    “It affected me because I was meant to render my service at a wedding ceremony. I had already budgeted how I intended to spend the money. We were also meant to have a job on the 23rd of February now the election postponement has affected it. It has also affected a loan I am meant to pay. It’s a sad situation”, he told TheNewsGuru.

     

    On her part, Chichi Amadi Moses, a boutique owner lamented the disruption and it’s effect on her business and her customers.

    “Most of my customers travelled with the intention to go and vote. They couldn’t stay in Lagos to patronize us. It affected my sales drastically. INEC ought to have informed us few days before the election. The decision was just too sudden”.

    Also, Mr Abiodun Oyetunji of AGS 247 Logistics said the postponement affected the goods that were meant to be transported to other states across Nigeria.

    “It affected our logistics business in the sense that the goods that were meant to be transported to other states across Nigeria on Saturday had to be postponed for Monday. The postponement disrupted our plans, shipment days disrupted, customer’s goods not arriving early etc. It’s an avoidable postponement. We hope such won’t repeat itself come next Saturday”.

    TheNewsGuru reports that in 2011, INEC postponed the general elections by two days due to the late arrival of electoral materials in some parts of the country.

    On April 2, 2011, voting had started in some areas before the then Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, announced cancellation and postponement of the exercise citing non-availability of materials to conduct the polls in some places.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Saturday election: Nigerians’ opportunity to remove Buhari from office – Atiku

    Saturday election: Nigerians’ opportunity to remove Buhari from office – Atiku

    Former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar has charged Nigerians to come out massively on Saturday to cast their votes in order to remove the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari from office.

    Atiku, in a Facebook and twitter video on Thursday said Nigerians did it in 2015 when they came out to remove former President Goodluck Jonathan from office, saying that they had the opportunity to do so again on Saturday.

    “This Saturday, we have our presidential and national assembly election, the reason we have election is to allow our voices heard on how we have been governed for the last four year and who will govern us for the next four years. On March 28, 2015, we the people of Nigeria went out to our polling unit and we were able to remove an incumbent president from office.

    “That made me very proud to be a Nigerian and a democrat. This Saturday, we will have the opportunity to do so again. My message to you is simple, please come out and vote as this election is about your future and the future of your nation.

    “On election day, we are all equal. Your single vote is more important than any other and if you do not vote, you will be accepting that the next four years will be like the last. The power to get Nigeria working again is in your PVC. I will be voting with mine on Saturday, join me irrespective of who you want to vote for,” he said.

  • FG approves Visa fee waiver for accredited election observers

    The Federal Government has approved visa fee waiver for accredited observers and monitors of the nation’s upcoming general elections.

    Comptroller-General Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr Muhammad Babandede, announced this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

    He said that the waiver was sequel to the re-scheduling of the general elections to Saturday for Presidential and National Assembly, from Feb. 16, and March 9 for Governorship and House of Assembly, from March 2.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) gave logistics and operational problems as reasons for postponing the polls.

    Babandede said that waiver was in consideration of the plight of accredited observers and monitors who were caught-up by the re-scheduled elections.

    He urged all affected individuals and organisations wishing to extend their stay or travel back to their countries and return for the next elections to visit NIS Visa Desk at INEC Headquarters.

    “The desk officers will attend to those requiring extension of their visas issued Gratis (No Fee Charge).

    “This provision became necessary to afford those affected, the opportunity to travel out or return without violating the immigration provisions that relates to entry and exit with valid visa and document.”

  • PDP not planning to win the election through legitimate votes – Oshiomhole

    Mr Adams Oshiomhole, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not ready to win elections through legitimate votes, but through illegally procured votes and thuggery.

    He stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at a news conference while reacting to a critical statement made by Atiku Abubakar, the PDP Presidential Candidate on President Muhammadu Buhari’s riot act to thugs and ballot box snatchers.

    President Buhari at the APC expanded National Caucus meeting on Monday, warned that any politician that sponsored thugs or ballot box snatchers, would be dealt with by security operatives.

    The President said that security operatives have been instructed to deal with such persons.

    Oshiomhole said no responsible candidate or individual should find fault in the President’s directive, adding that it is only candidates who rely on thuggery that would fault it.

    “Atiku has called on the President to retract his instruction to security agencies regarding violence, ballot box thieves, and other electoral malpractices.

    “The question is how such instruction disturbs anyone that is truly interested in free, fair and credible elections,” Oshiomhole said and described PDP and Atiku’s reactions as shameful.

    Oshiomhole said the APC was not surprised because PDP has marshalled plans to get to power by all means possible.

    The APC national chairman said that the option of one man one vote is not on PDP’s table.

    He said Atiku by his statement has admitted that he is not popular by recently claiming that he had two geopolitical zones while the APC has four other geopolitical zones.

    Oshiomhole stressed that Atiku and the PDP should prepare for the shock of their lives on the election day.

    “The South South and South East are not oblivious of the unprecedented developmental achievements recorded in the zones under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration,”he said.

    This contrasts with PDP’s wasted years in government.

    He maintained that the good people of the South-South, South-East and all the geopolitical zones would speak through their legitimate votes, not the procured ballots planned by the PDP.

    Oshiomhole noted that in the aftermath of the configured card readers recently recovered from PDP agents in some states, its presidential candidate, Atiku, had gone to town with face-saving conspiracies that the APC had imported slow-working card readers from China.

    He said Atiku claimed that the card readers would be deployed to the South-South and South-East which Atiku considers his stronghold.

    Oshiomhole wondered how Atiku got to know where the card readers were made, if he does not have informants in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He debunked allegations by Atiku that the APC planned to shut down communication network on election days.

    Oshiomhole said it was illogical that a party that was in a contest with clear superior numerical support would shut down communication on election day, as this would not only affect the PDP.

    He recalled that the APC had earlier reported the PDP’s plot before last Saturday’s postponed elections by the INEC national chairman.

    “The recent arrest of several armed PDP political thugs and recovery of INEC card readers and arms from PDP agents in some states point directly to the PDP’s plan as revealed by the security reports,” Oshiomhole said.

    PDP’s illegal plot requires improved surveillance by security agencies, particularly the Department of State Services (DSS), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and allied agencies, Oshiomhole suggested.

    He urged the agencies to check illicit financial flows and movement in the PDP camp in the run-up to the general elections.

    Oshiomhole also said that following the postponement of the elections, there was need for INEC to identify and change its officers who have now, beyond doubt, become partisan and are actively working for partisan interest.

  • Rivers PDP alleges plots by APC to disrupt elections

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers has alleged plots by the All Progressives Congress (APC ) to destabilise the general elections in the state.

    Mr Desmond Akawo, Director-General, Rivers PDP Campaign Council, made the allegation at a news conference on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.

    Akawo said that it became necessary to draw the attention of Nigerians and the international community to the plot and determination of the APC to prevent the elections from holding on Feb. 23 and March 9 in the state.

    It will be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had slated Feb. 23, and March 9 for the Presidential/ National Assembly and Governorship/State Assembly elections respectively.

    Akawo said that indications in the state showed that the APC might scuttle the rights of the people of the state to a free and fair electoral process.

    The director-general said that the APC at different fora had threatened that there would be no elections in the state until all pending litigations by the APC got to the apex Court for final decision.

    Akawo said that the PDP was dismayed over continued silence of the Federal Government and the security agencies whom, he alleged, had failed to caution those behind such widely published threats capable of inciting the people of the state.

    “The APC in a viral media publication by one of its chieftains, Mr Tonye Princewill on the Daily Post newspaper of Feb. 7, had said, it will be lawful to be lawless if INEC fails to unlawfully include the APC and its candidates on the ballot paper.”

    “In all of these threats by some APC chieftains, including the one issued during the Rivers Presidential campaign rally by the Transportation Minister, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, who even incited his supporters with a war song, had yet to attract any condemnation by ether the security agencies nor the Federal Government,” he said.

    Akawo also alleged that several undemocratic strategies ranging from threats to even moves to bribe electoral officers and connive with security agencies to tamper with sensitive electoral materials had been employed by Rivers APC to disrupt smooth process.

    In the same vain, Mr Ferdinand Anabraba, Chairman PDP Campaign Council, also alleged that the APC had displayed high level desperation and ready to do anything toward winning elections in the state.

    “Just this morning, I got an information that my property in Abonima had forcefully been occupied by the army and the officers who are stationed there and are being used to cause crises in Abonima and Akuku-Toru Local Government Councils.

    “It is important to note that whatever crises that will arise in Rivers, we will know its coming from the APC and the security agencies,” he alleged.

    Meanwhile efforts by NAN to reach the APC stalwarts to react to the allegations failed before this publication.

  • 2019 polls: Saturday, day of reckoning for opposition – Ajimobi

    2019 polls: Saturday, day of reckoning for opposition – Ajimobi

    Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has described Saturday as a day of reckoning for the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party.

    He said this on Tuesday while addressing a stakeholders’ forum at the Western House in Ibadan.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ajimobi is the Oyo South Senatorial District candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

    NAN reports that the postponed Presidential and National Assembly elections would now hold on Feb. 23.

    Ajimobi urged APC leaders and supporters to remain steadfast and faithful to the course of the party by coming out en masse to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari to consolidate on the gains of the past four years.

    The governor warned against complacency, adding that the “ desperation of the opposition to upset the applecart was unimaginable.’’

    Ajimobi, who attended the APC NEC meeting in Abuja on Monday, said the national leadership of the party had given the state executive committees marching orders to reenergise the party’s campaigns.

    He said that the APC was at peace with itself at the national and state levels judging by the huge turnout at its campaign rallies.

    “ The opposition has adopted all manners of subterfuge and empty rhetoric to mislead the people into supporting them without success.

    “ Our people have refused to buy into their deceits, hence their desperation and provocative statements.

    “I want to appeal to you not to let off your guard for a moment until victory is assured in all the elections.

    “We should not be complacent because the opposition is throwing everything into this election as if the world will end when, mark my word I did not say if, they lose.

    “ This Saturday is a day of reckoning for the PDP for its 16 years of misrule.

    “After ruining our economy and creating many loopholes and leakages that has pauperised the people and enriched their friends, they are now desperate to stage a comeback,” he said.

    Ajimobi said the APC had in the last four years invested in the people at the national level and eight years at our state level, adding abandoned infrastructure and projects had been revived with many at different stages of completion.

    “Saturday is around the corner. All APC leaders and members should go back to their various units and wards to solicit the continued support of the good people of Nigeria. That is the mandate from our meeting on Monday in Abuja.

    “Be proud to be part of history by playing your part in the impending victory of Buhari and all APC candidates in the coming elections.

    “I, once again, also urge you to vote for me on Saturday to represent Oyo South in the Senate,” he said.

    The governor said that he had laboured hard in the past eight years to build a new Oyo State which he said had become a pride of the citizens and the toast of investors and visitors.

    He pledged to attract more developments to the state if reelected as senator, urging
    stakeholders to go back to their communities and reenergise the APC campaign till midnight on Thursday.

    “Apart from ensuring pervading peace across the state, our infrastructural revolution has given every community in the state a sense of belonging and a fair share of the dividends of democracy,’’ he said.