TheNewsGuru

Tag: Elections

  • Why I declared early for 2019 elections – Buhari

    Why I declared early for 2019 elections – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja said he made his intention to contest the 2019 Presidential Elections known early in order to douse rising speculations and give the party, All Progressives Congress (APC) enough time to prepare.

    Buhari, who received members of the Buhari Support Group Centre (BSGC) at the State House, said he noticed that speculations were already constituting distraction to governance and stirring tensions, so he had to declare during the National Executive Committee meeting of the party.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President said “I had to announce before the National Executive Committee of our party about my intention to ask for the party’s nomination for next year’s election so that we can save a lot of time and cool tempers.

    “A lot people were trying to make it a habit of being a nuisance to themselves and many Nigerians, so when I came out I said those who are serious let them come out.

    “And I tried to make sure that the party is organized and consolidated so that we start from the bottom to the top, and that Nigerians will be involved in a way that each constituency will pick those that are going to represent them at various levels, whether as Local Government chairmen, in the State Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate and finally the president,’’ he said.

    The President said early declaration guaranteed more participation and inclusivity within the party, and further strengthened the bond with supporters and Nigerians.

    “Some of the people thought to be uneducated and unsophisticated are very educated and sophisticated during elections; for those who have money to give they say bring the money we will still do what we want to do,’’ he added.

    President Buhari noted that God’s divine intervention and the use of technology during the 2015 elections exposed the weakness of previous processes where a privileged few sat and allocated figures to constituencies during elections.

    “They just sit and look at a constituency and they award the numbers, then they say anybody who disagrees should go to court; now for somebody who is looking for the next meal where does he get money to pay Senior Advocates of Nigeria?

    “Thank God for technology, with the PVC you know where you registered and it can be shown whether you voted or not,’’ the President said.

    He advised Nigerians to get their voters card for the 2019 elections, and ensure that they vote to please their conscience with pride as citizens.

    The President commended the BSGC for all the sacrifice and steadfastness in championing his candidacy.

    “I thank you very much for the sacrifice you have been making. I am happy to use this opportunity to meet you and thank you for the sacrifices and steadfastness. I don’t think I can thank you enough because by identifying yourself as a group for all these years and getting nothing for it visibly I think its worthy of commendation,’’ he said.

    In his remarks, the Coordinator of the BSGC, Umaru Dembo, said “through thick and thin, rain or sun shine, hot or cold we are here to assure Mr President that since 2014 we have been working, expanding and helping to explain the new life that your government has ushered in for the good people of Nigeria.’’

    He said the BSGC had initiated the documentation of the President’s achievements in a book authored by Dr Sani Muktar Bichi and himself.

    Dembo assured the President of a bottom-up process of mobilising more supporters for the administration, while appreciating him for reversing the trend of impunity, corruption and lawlessness that reigned before 2015.

    Dembo said the BSGC was an umbrella organisation encompassing “Women for Buhari and Osinbajo’’, “A Kasaa Tsare’’, “Northern Youth Assembly,” “Buhari Renewal mandate’’ and others in support of good governance in Nigeria.

  • ADEBOYE WARNS: No election, No Nigeria next year if killings persist [Audio]

    ADEBOYE WARNS: No election, No Nigeria next year if killings persist [Audio]

    The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye on Friday warned Nigerian government to curb the incessant killings of Christians, while stressing that Nigeria may cease to exist as a country if the deadly act continues.

    Adeboye who made the declaration at the ongoing Holy Ghost service for the month of May, 2018 tagged: Greater Than Your Enemies [5]– with sub theme, ‘Habitation of the Almighty’, also warned that no country survives a religious crisis.

    While delivering the sermon during the service which was attended by TheNewsGuru.com, Adeboye called on the Buhari led government to urgently end the killings before it dovetails into a religious war.

    His words: ” A Bishop asked me sometimes ago that ‘Daddy, has God told you who will win the next year election, I replied him saying there will be no elections in Nigeria next year.

    “The Bishop asked if I was prophesying, but I said ‘No!’ what I said was out of reasoning – There will be no election because nobody will go out to vote if they aren’t sure they will return home safely.

    “I have seen war, I told you before when some people where agitating for war, there is nothing good about war, it is a terrible thing.

    A nation may survive cil war but no nation can survive a religious war. That Nigeria may live these killings must stop. So, All of you who loves Nigeria I want you to rise on your feet and pray that this killings stop so that Nigeria may live.”

    Listen to the audio:

    Recall that Boko Haram, herdsmen have made headlines for murdering and terrorizing Nigerians seemingly unabated.

    Specifically, only recently, some bandits suspected to be herdsmen led an attack that killed two Reverend fathers and 17 Christians in Benue State.

    Just some days ago, President Donald Trump of the United States joined the list of those criticising the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government over its inaction on the killings of Christians in Nigeria.

    The American leader said this while playing host to his Nigerian counterpart at the White House .

    “We have had very serious problems with Christians who are being murdered in Nigeria, we are going to be working on that problem very, very hard because we cannot allow that to happen,” Trump said.

     

     

  • INEC debunks recruiting ad hoc staff for 2019 elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has notified the public to disregard online publications that it is recruiting ad hoc staff ahead of 2019 elections, saying it is untrue.

    In its online publication, the commission said it was aware of some social media publications telling the public that it would recruit 100,000 ad hoc personnel for 2019 general elections.

    It said that information in the publications were false and should be ignored.

    “This information is false. The general public should disregard it because INEC is not recruiting at the moment; don’t be swindled,’’ it stated.

    The commission advised the public to contact it for proper information and guide on any issue concerning the electoral process.

    NAN

  • Data scandal: US lawmakers grill Facebook CEO to no submission

    Facebook founder and chief executive officer, Mark Zuckerberg, foiled attempts by United States Senators to pin him down when he appeared before a joint Congress hearing on activities of Cambridge Analytica illegally mining users data on the social media platform.

    TheNewsGuru reports Zuckerberg appeared before Senate Judiciary and Commerce committees on Tuesday followed by a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing Wednesday.

    Zuckerberg refused to submit to suggestions by Congress members that Facebook users do not have enough control of their data on the social media platform in the wake of the data privacy scandal.

    “Every time that someone chooses to share something on Facebook… there is a control. Right there. Not buried in the settings somewhere but right there,” he told the US House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee.

    Zuckerberg revealed to Congress that his own personal data was included in that of 87 million or so Facebook users that was improperly shared with political consultancy Cambridge Analytica by Cambridge University Professor named Aleksandr Kogan using ‘This Is Your Digital Life’ personality quiz app.

    On Monday, Zuckerberg told Congress that the social media platform is doing a lot to protect users’ private data, but succumbed the network should have done more to prevent itself and its members’ data from being misused.

    “It was my mistake, and I’m sorry. I started Facebook, I run it, and I’m responsible for what happens here. We didn’t take a broad enough view of our responsibility, and that was a big mistake,” he said in remarks released by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee on Monday.

    On Tuesday, Zuckerberg made no further promises to the US lawmakers to support any new legislation or change how the social media network does business.

    During the nearly five hours of questioning by 44 US senators, the Facebook founder repeatedly apologized for the privacy scandal, from a lack of data protection to Russian agents using Facebook to influencing elections around the globe, including Nigeria’s 2015 general elections.

    Lawmakers sought assurances that Facebook can effectively police itself, and few came away from Tuesday’s hearing expressing confidence in the social network.

    “I don’t want to vote to have to regulate Facebook, but by God, I will,” Republican Senator John Kennedy told Zuckerberg on Tuesday, adding: “A lot of that depends on you”.

    Zuckerberg deflected requests to support specific legislation.

    Pressed nonstop by Democratic Senator Ed Markey to endorse a proposed law that would require companies to get people’s permission before sharing personal information, Zuckerberg, however, agreed to further talks.

    “In principle, I think that makes sense, and the details matter, and I look forward to having our team work with you on fleshing that out,” Zuckerberg said.

     

  • Why women should boycott 2019 general elections – Activist

    Why women should boycott 2019 general elections – Activist

    Hajiya Aisha Muhammed, Assistant Secretary, Women Mentoring and Leadership Forum said women in the country should consider boycotting the 2019 elections if not given proper chance to aspire for elective positions.

    Muhammed, a former councillor of Muciya ward, Sabongari Local Government, Kaduna State, said women were being marginalised in the political sphere despite having the largest population of voters in the country.

    The women activist said in an interview with newsmen on Friday in Kaduna that current low level of political participation of women was disturbing and may lead to apathy.

    “This will be a major setback to the country; it will reach a time when women will boycott election if not given equal rights, we will lie in bed and refuse to vote.

    “We were the ones that supported men to be there, why can’t they support us too”, she stressed

    According to her, it is time to reserve some elective positions specifically for women in the country.

    “If for example out of the 24 LGA’s in Kaduna state, four or five LGA’s are saved for only women to contest and win, it will encourage women to participate actively in politics”, she said.

    Muhammed said in spite of the setback, the women should continue to aspire for political positions so as to represent women in governance and decision making in the country.

    ” We are encouraging women to come out and aspire, there is no barrier,what a man can aspire for, a woman can equally do.

    “Women should not relent even if they don’t emerge victorious after elections, they must continue striving till they reach their goal.

    ” We may come out and not be voted for, but let us continue to aspire until we become something and show the impact of women in governance”, Muhammed stressed.

     

  • Rigging confession: We never asked Mantu to rig elections – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the recent confession on national TV by a former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu that he rigged elections was personal and not for the party.

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had after the confession by Mantu called other PDP leaders to follow suit and ‘confess’ their ‘sins’ to Nigerians for possible forgiveness.

    However, the party had in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan on Sunday said Mantu’s reported claims are personal to him and has nothing to do with the PDP.

    He said the party has never directed any of its members to rig election on its behalf at any point since its formation.

    He said even when he did not rig directly, he paid election officials and party agents to do the rigging. The former senator said he decided to confess because he felt embarrassed by the way Nigerians were treated outside the country.

    “The PDP has never directed or had any pact with him (Mr Mantu) to rig election on its behalf. Never,” Mr Ologbondiyan said on Sunday.

    “Individuals run their elections on the platform of political parties once they emerge as candidates. In the PDP, candidates are issued with the party’s Code of Conduct containing the basic rules of electioneering engagements.

    “There is nowhere in the rules of engagement where candidates or party members are directed to rig elections on behalf of the party.

    “If any member’s conduct transgressed these basic rules of engagement, that individual did not act on behalf of the PDP, and as such the party cannot be vicariously held responsible.

    “It will therefore be misplaced for anybody, including the APC to surmise that Senator Mantu, in the said confession of rigging, acted on behalf of the PDP.”

    Making reference to the 2007 senatorial election which Mr Mantu lost, the party questioned his rigging machinery, asking why he didn’t save himself.

    “After all, in 2007, Senator Mantu lost his own senatorial election. What, then, happened to his rigging machinery, if he could not deliver himself.”

    The opposition party urged the APC to manage its “incompetence, lack-lustre and wobbling” governance which, according to the PDP, has grounded the nation’s economy and brought hunger and starvation to Nigerians.

  • Plans ongoing by some groups to disrupt 2019 election – Security chiefs

    Plans ongoing by some groups to disrupt 2019 election – Security chiefs

    Security Chiefs in the country have expressed concerns over alleged attempts by some groups to disrupt the 2019 general election processes.

    This was revealed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Thursday.

    Shehu said the heads of the security agencies expressed the worry during an interactive session they had with some media owners and senior journalists at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.

    The presidential spokesman listed those who addressed the media practitioners to include the Director General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Daura; Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Abubakar; and the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin.

    He quoted them as saying that the aim of the unnamed groups was to create a stalemate in the polity.

    He said, “The security chieftains expressed the particular worry that there are groups in the country with evil designs to disrupt the processes leading to the 2019 general elections in the hope of creating a stalemate.

    “They warned the media against the activities of some unregistered groups that have lately been active in trying to undermine critical institutions such as the law-enforcement agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    “The security heads also called for closer cooperation from the media to prevent terrorists and radical ideologies directed from abroad from undermining the ongoing efforts to restore security in parts of the country facing the challenges of terrorism, economic sabotage, criminality, farmers-herdsmen’s clashes and the spread of illegal weapons.”

    Shehu said in the midst of the debate over the right to freedom of expression and the government’s efforts to ensure that the digital space and the mass media generally did not become a playground for terrorism and destabilisation, the security chiefs gave assurances that they would maintain a balance between openness and national security.

    He said they however called on media owners and journalists to walk the fine balance between openness on one hand and national security on the other.

    According to him, the security chiefs also gave assurances that the security situation in the country was within the control of the government.

    He further quoted them as saying that the situation could be helped where the media reduce sensation from their daily coverage.

    “Our state of national security is not as bad as it is painted by the media,” he quoted them as saying.

    In seeking the support from the media towards the achievement of security for everyone, the heads of the agencies reportedly emphasised that sharing and coordination among security agencies and the media were essential to counter the ever-changing threats faced by the nation.

    Shehu further said the security chiefs also expressed the view that the Nigerian media had a role to play in securing Nigeria’s national interest.

    This expected role of the press, he said, was in tandem with global best practices, particularly on issues that had bearing on national security.

    He said the security chiefs, therefore, invited the media “as partners to continue to be security conscious and exercise restraint in disseminating information that could expose the services to ridicule or harm our national security.

    “Prior consultation with appropriate members of the Intelligence Community is the best way to go.”

    Shehu said the NIA boss recalled what he described as unsavoury developments of the last one year, which had put the agency in a negative limelight.

    He said the security chief however said that such developments were not peculiar to the agency.

     

  • 2019: Buhari assures UN of commitment to conduct free, fair, credible elections

    President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the United Nations of his commitment to conducting a credible, free and fair elections in 2019.

    The President gave the assurance when the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, met him in Abuja, according to a note by the UN issued from New York.

    “On preparations for the 2019 elections and expected support from the United Nations, President Muhammadu Buhari welcomed continuous support from the United Nations.

    “And assured the Deputy Secretary-General of his commitment to ensuring credible, free and fair elections in Nigeria,” the UN said.

    Ms Mohammed undertook a two-day visit to Nigeria from March 23 to 25, during which she met with Mr Buhari in Abuja and interacted with other senior officials and stakeholders in Lagos.

    The UN said the President and the Deputy Secretary-General discussed four main issues: 2019 general elections, deportation of Cameroonian asylum seekers, the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement, and the humanitarian and security challenges in Northeast.

    “On the situation in Cameroon and the status of Cameroonian Refugees in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari and the Deputy Secretary-General agreed on the need to respect international obligations on the rights of refugees and asylum seekers, the Cameroonians in particular.

    “They also called for the respect of the guarantee of fair and humane treatment of those recently arrested and deported to Cameroon,” the UN said.

    “On the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement, President Muhammadu Buhari assured the Deputy Secretary-General of the country’s intention to sign the agreement following national consultations.

    “On the humanitarian and security situation in the North East, President Muhammadu Buhari and the Deputy-Secretary welcomed the speedy return of the recently abducted girls from Dapchi.

    “And highlighted the need for particular attention to be given to securing schools through the accelerated implementation of the Safe School Initiative,” the UN added.

    The Deputy Secretary-General has departed Abuja for Prague on Sunday, according to the UN.

     

  • Russians elect new president today

    Russians elect new president today

    Russians are to vote Sunday in a presidential election expected to result in another six-year term for Vladimir Putin, who has been in a position of leadership in Russia for 18 years.

    He faces seven challengers but no real threats from any of the contenders. Each of the other candidates — a reality TV star and an ultranationalist among them — is expected to draw very few ballots. Putin is expected to bring in more than 50 percent of the vote, but his election team is hoping for 70 percent.

    Sunday’s election will span 11 time zones, starting with the far east and ending with the Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad. Nearly 109 million people are registered to cast ballots. State-owned polling company VCIOM projects a turnout of 71 percent.

    Yet, the Russian nongovernmental research organization Levada Center conducted a survey in December that indicated 58 percent of voters planned to boycott the elections.

    Putin’s closest rival was opposition leader Alexei Navalny, but he was disqualified from running in the election when he was convicted of embezzlement in December. Given a five-year suspended sentence, he said the conviction was politically motivated to keep him out of the race.

    Navalny is leading the boycott effort, while Russian election organizers are hoping for a high voter turnout to legitimize an election long seen to have a foregone conclusion.

    In Crimea, the territory Russia says it has annexed from Ukraine, a few European politicians who are friendly with Putin are acting as election observers. The European Union and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe have refused to send election monitors to Crimea, fearing it would be seen as legitimizing the Russian occupation.

    Opposition leader Navalny told VOA’s Russian service on Thursday that Putin’s observers in Crimea were political cronies, not objective observers. Among them are Andreas Mauere of the German far-left party Die Linke, and Hendrik Weber, founder of a Norwegian public organization called People Diplomacy Norway.

    “All those so-called European observers — they are as much observers as other candidates in these elections are rivals to Putin,” Navalny told VOA. “Of course this is an absolute fake. It’s ridiculous and unpleasant to look at how Putin corrupted and turned into his puppets a significant part of the European establishment.”

    Putin has been in power as either president or prime minister since 1999. He has switched back and forth between the two roles to circumvent a Russian law banning him from serving more than two consecutive terms as president.

    Opinion polls show he has far more support than any of his rivals, who run the gamut from far-right populist to far-left communist. With another Putin win practically guaranteed, Navalny and other experts say, Russian authorities could try to use inflated voter turnout numbers to prove the election was a success.

     

    VOA

  • Voters turn out in their numbers in Sierra Leone elections

    Voters in Sierra Leone turned out in their numbers on Wednesday to elect a new president as incumbent Ernest Koroma bows out.

    A total of 16 candidates – including two women – are vying for the presidency.

    A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent covering the election, reports that there were long queues of registered voters at various poling units visited as early as 5 a.m local time, waiting to cast their vote at the official opening of polls by 7 a.m local time.

    Some of the voters who spoke to NAN said they left their houses early to enable them cast their vote as early as possible and leave.

    The Sierra Leone National Electoral Commission (NEC) officers and election materials could be seen at various poling units visited in the City centre.

    At the cathedral Central District voting station, the NEC official had already set up.

    Also at the Open Field Grass Field Polling Station and the First Baptist Mission Primary School, Accessories Read, Easter Region, the NEC officials could be seen on ground wile voters were already on queue.

    The NEC Poll Manager at Open Field Grass, Mr Abdul Tholley, who spoke with NAN said their was no problem regarding the election materials both sensitive and non sensitive received.

    Also at Annie Wash Primary School, East region, the voters were already waiting in queue as early as 5 .30 a.m local time.

    There was enforcement of vehicular movement restriction as police officers were on strategic road junctions to enforce the restriction order.

    There was also presence of police officers at all the polling units visited.

    Voting is expected to commence by 7 a.m. close by 5 p.m.

    The country has an estimated seven million population and 3.17 million registered voters, who will cast their ballots in 11,122 polling stations nationwide.

    Sierra Leone elections are being contested by 16 presidential candidates, including two women, and more than 700 contenders for the 144-seat unicameral parliament.

    One hundred and thirty-two of the lawmakers will be elected directly, complemented by 12 slots for Paramount Chief Members of Parliament.