TheNewsGuru

Tag: Elections

  • JUST IN: Top INEC officials meet to review 2019 presidential, NASS elections

    JUST IN: Top INEC officials meet to review 2019 presidential, NASS elections

    The management team of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) are locked in a meeting to review last Saturday presidential and National Assembly polls.

    In his opening remarks, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said that the processes and procedures deployed will be reviewed in a bit to make amends where necessary.

    He also noted that the meeting will help to finalise arrangements for the forthcoming governorship elections in 29 states of the federation and the council election in FCT.

    Details shortly….

  • It’s obvious INEC conducted ‘free and fair’ elections – Buhari

    …says election not war

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday said reports from local and international observers proved that the presidential and national assembly elections conducted by the Independent National Assembly Elections (INEC) on Saturday was ‘free and fair.’

    Recall that the INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu declared President Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the presidential election. defeated Mr Abubakar of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Saturday’s presidential election.

    The president scored 15,191,847 to defeat former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 11,262,978.

    However, Atiku and his party rejected the outcome of the election and said they will seek legal redress.

    But speaking shortly after receiving his certificate of return from the INEC chairman, Wednesday, Buhari called on his opponent to accept defeat.

    “Election is not war, and should never be seen as a do or die affair. I pray that we all accept this democratic approach to elections, however contentious,” he said.

    The president said now that the elections are over, and a winner declared, “we must all see it as a victory for Nigeria, our dear country”.

    “That was why I encouraged my teeming supporters, in a speech I read earlier today, not to gloat. Our God-given victory is enough cause for joy, without deriding those who were in the opposition. All Nigerians, going forward, must stand in brotherhood, for a bright and fulfilling future.

    “ I, therefore, want to assure that we will continue to engage all parties that have the best interest of Nigerians at heart,” he said.

    Buhari said his government will remain inclusive and that all doors will remain open. That, he said, “is the way to build the country of our dream; safe, secure, prosperous, and free of impunity and primitive accumulation by those entrusted with public offices”.

    The president congratulated all the presidential candidates and their teams on a hard-fought campaign.

    “We may have had different views during the campaign, but the one thing most of us have in common is love of our country and our desire to improve conditions for Nigerians”.

    He also said, “from the comments of several observers both local and foreign, it is obvious that the elections were both free and fair”.

    Mr Buhari said for him and the government he runs, the hard work to deliver a better Nigeria continues, building on the foundations of peace, rule of law and opportunities for all.

    “We will roll up our sleeves afresh, and give it our all. We have no other motive than to serve Nigeria with our hearts and might, and build a nation which we and generations to come can be proud of,” he said.

    Buhari thanked the over 15 million citizens who voted for him. He also thanked those who contributed to the running of his successful campaign.

    “I can assure that you will see a country moving to the Next Level, as we consolidate on our fundamental areas of securing the country, reviving the economy, and fighting corruption.

    “Many other focal areas, as stated in our campaign manual, will be added, to the good things we plan for our country,” he said.

    Buhari also paid tribute to those who lost their lives either through accidents or mindless violence during the course of the elections.

    “My heart and thoughts are with the families of the victims. May God comfort and give them the fortitude to bear the loss,” he said.

  • UPDATED: Why we may reject 2019 presidential election results – PDP chairman

    UPDATED: Why we may reject 2019 presidential election results – PDP chairman

    The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has rejected the results of just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections being announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

    The PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus who is currently addressing a press conference in Abuja, described the figures being announced by INEC as incorrect and totally unacceptable.

    In the statement titled, ‘Our Democracy is Under Threat’ PDP appealed to the leadership of INEC to remain impartial and not become willing agents to disenfranchise our people and derail our democracy.

    Read the full statement:

    Protocols:

    1. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is forced to take a stand and make the following pronouncements at this crucial point because our democracy is under threat of derailment.

    2. Firstly, I want to categorically state that our collation centers have all original results from every polling unit, in every ward, in every Local Government Area (LGA) in Nigeria, of which the international community is well aware, implying all results currently being announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is incorrect thus unacceptable to our party and people.

    3. Secondly, officials of both President Buhari’s government and the All Progressive Congress (APC), working with INEC officers, have tried to alter the course of history and disenfranchise our people through the cancellation and manipulation of figures for results already announced at polling units, nationwide, in Local Government Areas (LGAs) where our party, the PDP, had commanding votes; this must now be resisted by every well meaning Nigerian.

    4. Thirdly, the ruling party’s strategy has indeed been murderous, undignified, and disrespectful of the wishes of the electorate, our people and the international community who have been in solidarity with our nation as we attempt to strengthen our democracy and its institutions.

    5. Fourthly, in full view of the watching world, and despite efforts by our great party and its agents to adhere to every laid down provision for the 2019 general elections, the APC in collusion with INEC have taken aggressive steps, mostly through inducements, manipulation and incarcerations, using the elements of state power including the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army in particular, alongside other organizations including the Department of State Security (DSS) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to silence the voices of our long suffering people; this is disheartening, considering the terms of the Peace Accord, which called for impartiality and non-partisanship by members of our security organization with constitutional roles to play during this civic exercise.

    6. Fifthly, as results trickled in on the Sunday, February 24th, 2019, clearly putting the PDP in the lead, the ruling party and President Buhari dispatched high-ranking officials to coercively influence outcomes in different geopolitical zones in the country. For example:

    I. The minister of the interior, was dispatched to the North West of the country
    II. The Secretary of the Government of the Federation was dispatched to the North East of the country; while the
    III. The Attorney General and Minister were dispatched to the South East and South-South regions.

    7. With the INEC IT server hacked by agents of the APC to manipulate results, we can with certainty state that results from the following polling units have, for example, been tampered with, note:

    i. Sarkin Dawaki ward in Doma LGA – Nassarawa state
    ii. Doka ward in Doma LGA – Nassarawa state
    iii. Agyaragin – Tofa ward
    iiii. 10, 000 illegal votes added to already announced results in Wurno LGA in Sokoto state
    v. Additionally, violent and destructive attacks have been meted out to officials while counting at Lafia St. and police barracks polling units.

    8. As if these provocations are not enough, our agents and officials are constantly arrested and in many cases locked-up for complaining that Card Readers were not in use in many Northern states, implying that all results from the Northern part of the country where Card Readers were not used should be voided in accordance with INEC guidelines.

    9. I also believe, the arrest of Eng. Buba Galadima, who has been a great symbol of what is courageous about our people goes to show that one man’s ambition is greater than our collective good, and most probably worth the blood of all Nigerians.

    10. In that context, I call for Buba Galadima’s immediate and unconditional release, as well as that of all officials and agents of the PDP, in the Southwest, who were mostly arrested on the eve of the elections where intimidation became the APCs sole election strategy.

    11. Despite these provocations, intimidation and attempts to hijack our democracy and change the course of history, I must, in fact, convey to our good people the fact that the PDP is on course to victory and the Presidency; therefore, remain resolute and steadfast, because our party shares in your uncertainty and suffering, which must decisively come to a good end for us all.

    12. Finally, and once again, we appeal to the leadership of INEC to remain impartial and not become willing agents to disenfranchise our people and derail our democracy, because the world is watching, and history will indeed pass judgment.

    In addition, to the international community; we welcome your support for our democracy and extend our gratitude with great hope for our democracy.

    Prince Uche Secondus
    Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

  • Elections: I look forward to a successful transition, Atiku says after casting his vote

    Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar on Saturday cast his vote in his home state, Adamawa.

    The former Vice President in company of his wife, Titi voted at EC 30 B of Ajiya ward in Yola North Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa State, on Saturday.

    When asked his expectations regarding the election, he responded, saying: “I look forward to s successful transition.”

  • 2019 Elections: Voters Turn Out Impressive in Abuja

    Voters turnout at the ongoing Presidential and National Assembly elections at different polling booths and polling stations at Kurudu, Jikwoyi and Karu communities in Abuja Municipal Area Council AMAC was impressive as both the registered voters and electoral officials are seen at various polling booths as early as 8:00 am today.

    Our correspondent who came out as early as 7.00am on this morning to monitor the exercise noted that many eligible voters left their various homes to their various registration centers where they obtained their Permanent Voters Cards PVCs to cast their votes for their candidates for the election.

    He observed a long queue of voters and electoral officials at Karu and Jikwoyi around the area popularly know as Central Bank of Nigeria CBN junction at Abuja Municipal Area Council AMAC.

    The voters turn out was very impressive as the voters were lined up at different polling booths to cast their votes while the electoral officials were busy arranging the ballot papers according to the number of polling booths.

    As at 9.30 am when this reporter filed this report at Karu near the Karu Round About area, the voters were still stationed at the various polling booths willing and ready to cast their votes for their preferred candidates among the 71 Presidential Candidates that have been campaigning for the exalted position of President of Nigeria and other elective positions at the apex legislative institution- the National Assembly.

  • Elections: Again, Buhari addresses Nigerians in nationwide broadcast today

    Elections: Again, Buhari addresses Nigerians in nationwide broadcast today

    President Muhammadu Buhari will on Friday broadcast to the nation at 7 a.m. with a repeat at 9 p.m, Mr Femi Adesina, the president’s spokesperson has disclosed.

    Adesina, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday night, enjoined all television, radio stations and other electronic media outlets to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority and Radio Nigeria for the broadcast.

    President Buhari had on Feb. 14 broadcast to the nation prior to the aborted Feb. 16 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Saturday shifted the conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly elections to Feb. 23.

    The governorship, house of assembly, FCT area council elections were also shifted from March 2 to March 9.

     

  • Elections: U.S. Embassy announces closure of Abuja, Lagos offices

    The U.S Embassy says its Abuja office and Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Friday in recognition of the work-free day declared by the Federal Government.

    The embassy said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja

    The federal government has declared Friday, Feb. 22 as a Work-Free Day to enable Nigerians to prepare for the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly Elections on Saturday, Feb 23.

    “In recognition of this declaration and to encourage all our Nigerian employees to exercise their right to vote, the U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos will be closed.

    “No consular services will be available. If you already have a regular visa or ACS appointment for that date, you will be contacted for rescheduling,” the embassy stated.

     

  • 2019 Elections, fossilized ancestors and riddles – Owei Lakemfa

    By Owei Lakemfa

    By Owei Lakemfa.

    One of the most memorable events for me in our 2019 Elections is the unearthing of one of the fossilized ancestors of military impunity. Some ethno-regional organisations had jointly endorsed the candidacy of Abubakar Atiku of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) organized its own endorsement; Retired General Paul Chabri Tarfa was resurrected to lead a hitherto unknown ethno-regional body, the Kungiyar Dattawan Arewa Initiative (KDAI)

    In the mid-1970s, when a rampaging military claimed to have come to rid the country of corruption and indiscipline, the fear of Paul Tarfa, was the beginning of wisdom. He was Provost Marshall General of the Nigerian Army. You will wonder what that has to do withthe ‘Bloody Civilians’ as the military contemptuously referred to the hapless civil populace. A lot. The military was the law and Tarfa saw himself as Provost Marshall General of all Nigerians; civilian and military. He fully blossomed when the military regime additionally, appointed him head of the Task Force Charged with Reducing Traffic Congestion in Lagos. However, the idea of decongesting traffic was not to tackle its root causes including lack of mass transit especially railways, repairing bad roads or expanding the existing network.

    The military idea was to decongest traffic simply by decree; so General Tarfa poured soldiers into the streets to whip Nigerians into line. Motorists said to be violating traffic rules were not given the benefit of doubt, cautioned or charged to court; the soldiers were the accusers, prosecutors, judge and executing officers. They simply laid the allegedly offending motorists on the road and whipped them. It was not uncommon hearing the wails of adults as they were whipped by lawless soldiers. All these with a crowd watching. In those days, as it is today, there was shortage of public busses, and sometimes passengers hung from the busses. This was considered by the Tarfa boys as gross indiscipline; buses were stooped, and such passengers de-boarded and flogged using horse whips which had become part of the soldier’s uniform.

    Tarfa, then a Lieutenant Colonel must have greatly impressed his generals with his unparalleled level of bestiality as he was appointed Military Governor of Oyo State to replace the far more civil David Jemibewon. Resurrecting Paul Tarfa to convene some elders from the North to endorse Buhari was not a smart move in a civilian dispensation. Perhaps those who did were primarily concerned with his being from the same Adamawa State as Abubakar Atiku. They certainly were not concerned about credibility or the past of Tarfa. If they did, then they must hold Nigerians in contempt.

    The politics of endorsement was not limited to the ethno-regional and religious groups. There is a general feeling that with the verbal attacks on the Buhari administration by his former military bosses, Generals Olusegun Obasanjo and Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, the brigade of old generals including Ibrahim Babangida, are opposed to his second term bid. So on Monday, February 4, a group of retired younger generals led by former Lagos State Military Governor, Buba Marwa went to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa to endorse Buhari. Maybe this will open some window of opportunity for them; surely they could not just have gone for the traditional military ‘welfare’

    Not all endorsements went well; some like those said to have been made by Tompolo, the ‘GOC’ of the former Niger Delta militants, and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) turned out to be fake.

    Paul Tarfa is not the only fossilized ancestor on display, 81-year old Helen Eugenia Sirleaf of Liberia, is another. From 1972 when President William. R. Tolbert.Jr first appointed her a Minister, she was for 46 years, part of the problem with Liberia. She served as a Minister in the Samuel Doe regime which had overthrown and executed President Tolbert. She was one of the founders of the rebel National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPF) led by Charles Taylor which began the quite bloody Liberian Civil War. Sirleaf later fought the Taylor government, and as President of Liberia, betrayed Africa by handing over Taylor to the West years after he had, on the intervention of the African Union, relinquished the Presidency to avert another civil war. As Liberian President from 2006-2018, Sirleaf ran a very corrupt and nepotistic government in which one of her sons was the Governor of the Liberia Central Bank, a second son was the CEO of the National Oil Company of Liberia, while a third son headed the Liberian National Security Agency. She was one of the African leaders used to create a pretext for the West to invade and destroy Libya. One of her last acts as President was an attempt to smuggle monarchical Morocco, a North African country into the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) as a member. Why ECOWAS will appoint unprincipled Sirleaf its Head of Mission to observe the 2019 Nigerian elections, is not clear. Perhaps the regional body was presenting a riddle to Nigeria.

    A riddle I am yet to resolve is the Social Democratic Party (SDP) led by former Secretary to the Federal Government, and runner-up in the 1999 Presidential elections, Chief Olu Falae. In its Presidential primaries, former Cross River Governor, Donald Duke beat Ex-Minister, Jerry Gana by 812 votes to 611. The latter did not dispute the votes but claimed that both party chair, Olu Falae, and Duke are from the Southern part of the country which violates the party’s constitution. The High Court agreed, and replaced Duke with Gana. Then the Appeal court reversed the ruling and restored Duke. Then things took a bizarre turn; the party expelled Gana and suspended Duke for alleged anti-party activities. Having now ensured it has no Presidential candidate of its own, it endorsed the candidacy of President Buhari, while its National Chairman, Olu Falae, endorsed the candidacy of opposition leader, Abubakar Atiku. So what exactly is at play in the SDP; principles, power play or pecuniary interests?

    One other seeming riddle is Ogun State where President Buhari and the ruling APC party leaders were pelted with stones and water sachet. The APC State leader, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, has his own private political party, the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) which was registered along with 23 new parties on August 14, 2018. He also has his own gubernatorial candidate, for APM, Adekunle Akinlade whom he publicly presented to President Buhari in the Presidential Villa. President Buhari in recognizing this alliance, told the Ogun electorate to vote for him in the Presidential elections and for any candidate of their choice in the gubernatorial elections. This I think is consistent with his inaugural speech on May 29, 2015 in which he declared: “ I Belong To Everybody And I Belong To Nobody”

  • Expert calls for e-voting in future elections

    Expert calls for e-voting in future elections

    Mr Tunde Ezichi, an expert in Information Communication Technology (ICT) has called for the establishment of ICT infrastructure in the country to encourage e-voting in future elections.

    Ezichi, Chief Executive Officer of Sigma-Beta-Alpha Ltd, made the call on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

    He noted that a lot would be required in e-voting for a country like Nigeria, especially in the area of infrastructure.

    “The major challenge we have been having is getting to the rural area, voting electronically and to rely on that completely.

    “The infrastructure which is the backbone that will facilitate the electronic voting is not really complete at the present time, so we need the infrastructure to be all over the country,

    “Things like fibre optics should be made available all around the country as this is one of the things that will help facilitate electronic voting, ‘’ he said.

    Ezichi also stressed the need for massive voter education on electronic voting as most of the people who go out to vote are uneducated.

    He, however, said that most of the voters might have access to mobile phones, but there was still need to educate them on how e-voting could be done.

    He said there was also need for the country to study what had happened in countries which had implemented electronic voting.

    “We must thoroughly learn from the experiences and challenges they had before we can implement that in Nigeria, but it is not impossible because you can harness technology to make electronic voting possible.

    Ezichi also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to decentralise the production of election materials.

    According to him, some of the voting materials produced abroad and then transported from there can be produced in Nigeria.

    “Why producing some of these things abroad if they can be produced cheaper and effective here, is it that they can’t trust the printers here?, ” he said.

     

  • 2019 elections: Beware of social media results – INEC

    2019 elections: Beware of social media results – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kebbi state, has urged politicians to be wary of social media posts after voting prior to the official declaration of result by the commission.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Alhaji Ahmad Mahmud, gave the advice during an interactive session with stakeholders in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.

    “Fake news is now a trend and can mar our efforts to ensure free, fair and credible elections.

    “We urge you to be wary of social media posted results before official declaration.

    “Only INEC Returning Officers at wards, local governments and state levels have the statutory authority and power to declare the results,” he said.

    He said that 1,938,171 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were received from INEC headquarters out of which 1,860,239 were distributed, leaving 77,932 PVCs unclaimed.

    “We have all the sensitive materials at CBN custody, so we have no fear for the materials now.

    “I collected the remaining sensitive materials that we had been awaiting for and by Wed, Feb. 20, we are going to start distributing them to remote areas and by Fri. 22.

    “We hope to finish the distribution in all the 21 local government areas of the state.”

    According to him, the state has 225 wards, 1,345 voting points and 2,398 polling units in the 21 local government areas.

    “We still maintain our arrangement as we had earlier told before the postponement that, we are going to use 520 vehicles in the transportation of ad hoc staff and election materials.

    “This is part of our arrangement with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Federal Road Service Corps (FRSC) as well as security agencies on transportation.”

    He assured that INEC was determined to ensure free, transparent and fair elections but urged the people to continue to pray for successful conduct of the exercise.

    The REC said that special arrangements had also been made to take care of physically challenged persons to enable them exercise their franchise without hitches.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the stakeholders at the interactive session were security agencies, representatives of political parties, traditional and religious leaders as well as various NGOs and CSOs.