"I'm a Friend to Any Govt in Power" - Asari Dokubo

Staunch supporter of President Goodluck Jonathan's Asari Dokubo, has accepted

Leader of the now rested Nigeria Delta Volunteer Force, Asari Dokubo has accepted Goodluck Jonathan's defeat in the about to be concluded presidential elections.

Earlier, Dokubo had severally vowed that the nation will boil if Jonathan is defeated.

However hours ago, he took to twitter to disclaim his favorite presidential candidate: "I’m not a creation of Jonathan, before Jonathan, there was Asari, after him there will be Asari. I’m a friend to any government in power," he said.

Fayose Congratulates Buhari, urges Nigerians to accept election results

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has urged Nigerians to accept the outcome of Saturday’s presidential election in good faith, saying; “the election result is the will of God and Nigerians, and all lovers of peace, progress and development of Nigeria must accept it”.

Mr. Fayose, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, hailed the resilience and commitment of President Goodluck Jonathan and Mohammadu Buhari.

The governor said the election results should not been seen as victory or loss for any political party, adding that, “To me, Nigerians and democracy won.”
He praised Nigerians for believing in the democratic process, adding that “by this election, Nigerians have shown that Democracy has come to stay in the country”.

The governor said, “I salute Nigerians, especially the great people of Ekiti State.
“I salute President Jonathan for laying the most solid foundation for democracy in Nigeria. And I salute Major General Buhari for being a resilience and dogged fighter.

“I urge Nigerians, irrespective of their ethic, religious and political affiliation to respect the outcome of the election in the interest of peace, progress and development of the country.
“Nigeria as a country is greater than any individual or group and it is my plea that no one should do anything to rock the boat of peace in the country.”
Premium Times

Muhammadu Buhari wins Nigeria's presidential election

Election commission declares victory for former military ruler, Muhammadu Buhari, over incumbent Goodluck Jonathan

Nigeria's election commission has declared Muhammadu Buhari the winner of the country's bitterly contested presidential election, in a vote marred marred by confusion, arguments and violence.
Al Jazeera's Yvonne Ndege, reporting from the capital Abuja, said the election commission made the announcement after nearly all votes had been tallied.

Nigeria's 2015 elections explained in one minute

The All Progressives Congress (APC) party said their candidate received a phone call from incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan where he immediately conceded defeat and congratulated Buhari on his victory.
"President Jonathan called General Muhammadu Buhari, the winner of the elections, to congratulate him," Lai Mohammed, the spokesman for the APC said.
"There had always been this fear that he might not want to concede, but he will remain a hero for this move. The tension will go down dramatically,
"Anyone who tries to foment trouble on the account that they have lost the election will be doing so purely on his own," he added.
According to the Reuters news agency, Buhari's APC won by 2.1 million votes, with 15.4 million votes versus 13.3 for Jonathan and the PDP.
Victory for former military ruler Buhari marks the first time in Nigeria's history that an opposition party has democratically taken control of the country from the ruling party.

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To win the election, Buhari had needed to win more than 50 percent of the total votes nationally - and take at least 25 percent of the vote in two thirds of the states. 

The 72-year-old built an early lead in northern states dominated by the mainly Muslim, Hausa-Fulani ethnic group of which he is a member.
Incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, whose five years in office have been plagued by corruption scandals and an insurgency by Boko Haram fighters, was trailing by around 500,000 votes before votes in pro-opposition areas were counted.
In the previous election, more than 800 people were killed in protests after Buhari was defeated by Buhari.
There was a brief protest by Jonathan's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before the counting had resumed on Tuesday.

Former Niger Delta minister Godsday Orubebe accused elections chief Attahiru Jega of being "partial" and "selective".

Orubebe claimed Jega had refused to investigate PDP complaints about big wins by Buhari in northern states but had launched a probe into claims by the APC of irregularities in Rivers.
Jega said later: "I don't believe that the allegations are substantial enough to require the cancellation or rescheduling of the elections in Rivers state. We will take the results."
International observers gave broadly positive reactions to the conduct of the vote, despite late delivery of election materials and technical glitches with new voter authentication devices.

Nigeria's Transition Monitoring Group, which had observers across the country, said: "These issues did not systematically disadvantage any candidate or party
Al Jazeera

NIGERIAN PRESIDENT JONATHAN HAS CALLED BUHARI TO CONGRATULATE HIM ON ELECTION VICTORY - APC SPOKESMAN

NIGERIAN PRESIDENT JONATHAN HAS CALLED APC CHALLENGER BUHARI TO CONGRATULATE HIM ON ELECTION VICTORY - APC SPOKESMAN
Reuters

APC loses six reps seats in Lagos

The All Progressives Congress has lost five House of Representatives seats to the Peoples Democratic Party and a seat to the Accord Party in Lagos.

Investigations by our correspondent showed that most of the reps lost in Igbo- dominated local government areas.

 

Sources in the APC said the love the people of the South-East have for President Goodluck Jonathan positively affected the PDP candidates, some of whom had not even been rigorously campaigning.

In Amuwo Odofin local government, which has a very high Igbo population, especially in areas like Kirikiri, Satellite Town and FESTAC, the PDP candidate, Oghene Egboh, who is from the Niger-Delta, defeated Mr. Ganiyu Olukolu of the APC.

 

In Ajeromi/Ifelodun, which is one of the most densely populated areas in Lagos State and is home to Ajegunle (another Igbo dominated area), the PDP candidate, Mrs. Rita Orji, who also hails from the South-East, defeated Taiwo Adenekan of the APC.

The story was the same in the Igbo-dominated Ojo LG, where the PDP candidate, Mr. Tajudeen Obasa, won the seat.

In Surulere federal constituency 2, which is home to Aguda and a few Igbo settlements, Mr. Tunji Soyinka of the PDP defeated Mr. Hakeem Bamgbala of the APC.

It was learnt that apart from the ‘Igbo’ factor, the incumbent rep, Mr. Aliyu Kazeem, had been in court with Bamgbala over the conduct of the primary.

 

It was learnt that the division within the party gave the PDP the opportunity to penetrate the community.

An APC leader in Surulere said, “We are still in shock. Haliyu Kazeem, who is the incumbent, lost the primary in December last year and refused to work with Bamgbala. He took Bamgbala to court and they are still slugging it out.

“If they had put things in order, we would not have lost. Bamgbala is a former chairman of Aguda Local Council Development Area and a good grass roots politician.”

In Mushin federal constituency 2, the APC candidate, Yemi Alli, lost to Dauda Kako-Aare of the Accord Party.

 

Kako-Aare, who is the incumbent, lost at the APC primary last December to Alli and defected to Accord.

In Oshodi/Isolo federal constituency 2, the incumbent, Mr. Akeem Munir, lost to Mr. Tony Nwoolu of the PDP

PUNCH

24 ‘hoodlums’ arrested

Twenty four suspected hoodlums were arrested by the security operatives in Oyo State during the presidential and National Assembly elections.
The Commissioner of Police, Muhammadu Katsina, said this while parading them yesterday at the command headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan.
The suspects, according to the police boss, included members of a cult group, One Million Boys, in Mapo .

They were arrested during the polls with weapons as they assaulted and injured some people, some of who are on admission in some hospitals.
The CP said the pandemonium attracted the attention of the police Special Force, which engaged the hoodlums in a gun battle.
Sixteen members of the gang were arrested and some  weapons recovered.
The suspects include Patrick John, Olunloyo Ibrahim, Oluwafemi Adele, Adikpe Joseph, Olamide Abidemi, Ahmed Mukaila, Ramoni Saka, Ojo Adewale, Rasheed Afeez, Adeleke Shola, Adeleke Ibrahim, Adeleke Tunde, Adedapo Nurudeen, Dele Abu, Monsuru Olalekan and Akeem Monsuru.
The commissioner of police said the command’s pre-election efforts also led to the arrest of eight robbery suspects.

  

The suspects had allegedly snatched a Toyota Camry from Madam Oluwafolakemi Fabodede in Akure, Ondo State.
The ‘robbers’ thereafter proceeded to Oyo State and attacked Joba Pharmacy and a filling station at Iroko on Oyo-Ibadan Road.
They were accosted by the Police Ambush Squad, which overpowered and arrested them.
Investigations revealed that the leaders of the gang- Boluwaji Olawumi, John Isaac and Fagboyegun Wale- were among those who escaped in the Ekiti jailbreak last November 30.
They were reportedly awaiting trial for robbery and murder.
One AK47 rifle snatched from a policeman with other weapons were recovered from the gangsters.
The weapons comprised 10 dane guns, one pump action, one cut-to-size, three single barrel guns as well as cartridges

Perpetrators of poll violence ’ll be held accountable, says EU

As the World waits for the final results of last weekend’s elections, the European Union (EU) has warned that it will hold anybody responsible for electoral violence accountable.
Addressing reporters in Abuja yesterday, members of the European Union Election Observation Mission for the 2015 Nigerian election, led by its Chief Observer Santiago Fisas Ayxelà, cautioned Nigerian politicians against violence as anybody who engages in or prompts violence will be held accountable.

Santiago Fisas Ayxelà and his team also stated that the EU, particularly the European Parliament, “will reject attempts by politicians to gain power through violence”, advising that instead they should go to court and focus on national unity.
The EU ruled out incidences of systemic suppression, stressing that there was “no national evidence of intimidation or systemic subversion of the process but we are watching the process, it is important INEC reevaluates its card readers.”
The EU also stated that “the Rivers state crisis will not affect the integrity of the process but the EU has received credible complaints from Lagos regarding collation of results.”
Fisas described this election as the most competitive in the history of Nigeria and urged Nigerians to accept the outcome and be peaceful.

He said the election was generally peaceful but with some regrettable incident of violence. He noted the problems recorded with card readers and delays in some polling stations.
The EU election observation leader praised security agencies and staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a job well done and expressed confidence in INEC’s work.
The EU team felt the biometric system was not adequately tested before it was deployed for the general election. Besides, the team said there was room for improvement, especially in communication and logistics.

The team Fisas said, “will follow up on petitions and present its final report in two months but that it will be up to the government to accept or reject such report.
The EU team also advocated for a reform of the electoral laws to strengthen democracy, especially in election funding and the right to stand for election.
The team described as implausible claims by INEC that a particular state recorded 92 per cent collection of Permanent Voters Card (PVCs), arguing that there must have been some deaths by some PVC holders between 2010 and 2015. They also lamented that much of the campaign violence was not addressed while some segments of the media received commendation for balanced reportage; others were biased.

U.S., U.K. warn against tampering with polls results

The United States and the United Kingdom yesterday warned against any attempt to undermine the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
A joint statement by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and U.K. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said that “there are disturbing indications that the collation process—where the votes are finally counted—may be subject to deliberate political interference”.

But, the spokesperson of the INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega, Mr Kayode Idowu, said there was no basis to suggest that there was any interference.
The joint statement reads: “Our governments welcome the largely peaceful vote on March 28.  The Nigerian people have shown a commendable determination to register their vote and choose their leaders.

”So far, we have seen no evidence of systemic manipulation of the process.  But there are disturbing indications that the collation process—where the votes are finally counted—may be subject to deliberate political interference.  This would contravene the letter and spirit of the Abuja Accord, to which both major parties committed themselves.
”The Governments of the United States and the United Kingdom would be very concerned by any attempts to undermine the independence of the Electoral Commission (INEC), or its Chairman, Professor Jega; or in any way distort the expressed will of the Nigerian people.”
Idowu, in an interview with the AFP, said “there is absolutely no basis” to talk of interference after a warning from Secretary of State John Kerry and his British counterpart Philip Hammond.
“There is no interference at all. We are about to start the collation process. We have no evidence of political interference,” he said.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) believes INEC officials and agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have interfered with the collation in Akwa Ibom and Rivers states.

  

APC governorship candidate in Rivers State Dr. Dakuku Peterside yesterday urged men of goodwill to rise and save Rivers State from the clutches of evil and an impending doom. In a statement, he described last Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections in the state as a farce and called on Jega to cancel the results.  He said reports from every part of the state showed that voting did not take place.

According to the APC candidate, members of the PDP took result sheets to private homes and entered fake results. He reminded Nigerians that injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere, urging everybody to rise in defence of the disenfranchised, people of Rivers State.
Peterside said: “I did not vote, just like all our members, including Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. I was only accredited and shortly after, hoodlums suspected to be PDP thugs invaded the place. The boys who invaded the centre were about 50 armed youths and the same thing was repeated in the entire Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency and across Rivers State.
“Our people refused to vote because they knew that result sheets were in the hands and homes of PDP members. I led over 40, 000 people to INEC office to register our protest. I am sure our protest against this daylight robbery is receiving attention. Prof. Jega said during a news conference that he has received our protest letter.

“Even our opponents know that there was no election in Rivers State. All we are asking for is that we should be given opportunity to cast our votes like every other country. Let me say that I am very sure Buhari would have done well if elections had held in Rivers State.
“We are pleading with the world because what is happening in our state is most tragic. We have never had this level of violence; it is unprecedented. Over 10 people died, over 50 APC members were arrested. It is clearly the desperation of some people who want to get power by all means, even at the cost of human lives. And if you do a check, you will discover that all those who died or sustained injuries are all members of the APC.

”All we are asking for is inclusion in our country’s electoral process. But we need to have confidence in the election umpires. We don’t have confidence in Mrs Gesila Khan. Sadly, she has not shown that she is a woman of integrity and that is worrisome. But I am optimistic that we will get justice because the world already knows. So, we are looking forward to a new date to cast our votes”.

Senators who will not return

For some Senators, last Saturday’s election signalled an end to their membership of the National Assembly. Assistant Editor Sina Fadare takes a look at those who will be missing when the Red Chamber is inaugurated for legislative business in June.
With the results of the last Saturday’s National Assembly election, some incumbent senators will not be returning to the Upper Legislative Chamber when the lawmakers resume for duty in June. Those who will be missing include:

  

• Smart Adeyemi

Smart Adeyemi is one of the chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State. Before his foray into partisan politics, he was the President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) between 1999- 2006. He worked with the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), where he made his mark as a seasoned reporter and a unionist.
He was elected into the National Assembly in 2003 to represent the Kogi West Senatorial District. Adeyemi was returned to the Senate in 2007 and 2011. The three-time senator, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was defeated in the last Saturday’s election by a former House of Representatives member Dino Melaye of the All Progressives Congress (APC). With this defeat, the Ijumu-born politician will bow out of the Senate at the expiration of the Seventh National Assembly to face his hospitality business.

  

• Chris Ngige

Chris Nwabueze Ngige, a medical-doctor turned politician, began his political sojourn when he joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He served as the party’s National Secretary between 2000 and 2003 and was a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP between 2001 and 2003. He contested the governorship seat of Anambra under the auspices of the ruling party and won in 2003 before he was removed in 2006 through a judicial process.
Dr. Ngige was ejected from the Anambra State Government House by a judicial pronouncement, which arose from an election petition instituted by the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Peter Obi. Against this backdrop, Ngige had a running battle with the PDP which later accused him of anti-party activities. He eventually defected to the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which later teamed up with two other parties and a faction of another to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In April 2011, Ngige contested the Anambra Central Senatorial seat on the platform of the ACN and defeated a former Minister of Information & Communications, the late Prof Dora Akunyili of APGA. He polled 69,765 votes against the late Prof. Akunyili’s 69,292.
Ngige, who is the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Science and Technology, will be taking a bow from the National Assembly on the eve of May 29. He was defeated by a House of Representatives member, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife of the PDP.

  

• Femi Lanlehin

Ibadan, Oyo State-born Femi Lanlehin trained as lawyer. As a legal practitioner, he had made an impact in civil litigation, commercial and land law before venturing into partisan politics. He served as a Commissioner for Special Duties and a Special Adviser to the former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.  He was elected on the APC ticket in 2011 to represent the Oyo South Senatorial District.
Lanlehin is the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning, Economic & Poverty Alleviation.  He later dumped the APC for the Accord Party. But his ambition to return to the Senate on the platform of his new party was truncated at the weekend when he was defeated by the APC candidate, Soji Akanbi. His tenure ends in May.

  

• Hosea Agboola

Ayoola Hosea Agboola has been a grassroots politician since 1999. He was the Supervisory Councilor, Works, Isehin Local Government Area of Oke Ogun, Oyo State. He capped his political feat when he was appointed the Commissioner for Local Government in the Pacesetter State and he served between 2003 and 2010.
The estate management expert, politician was a Senator on the platform of the PDP in 2015. He is the Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Drugs Narcotics & Financial Crime. With the electoral loss he suffered at the weekend, Agboola will not be returning to the Legislative Chamber at the expiration of the Seventh National Assembly.  He lost his seat to his APC challenger Fatai Buhari, who was a Commissioner in the administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

  

• Olubunmi Adetumbi

Olubunmi Adetunmbi, an Agricultural Economist, who veered into politics in his Ifaki Ekiti country home contested and won the Ekiti North Senatorial District seat of Ekiti State in 2011. His election into the Senate was his first public service. He is the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Interior Affairs. With his defeat by a former House of Representatives member, Duro Faseyi of the PDP, Senator Adetunmbi will not be returning to the Senate after serving out his term on May 28.

  

• Ahmed Makarfi

Trained as an accountant, Ahmed Markafi began his career with the Universal Bank where he rose to the position of Assistant General Manager. He was introduced to the public service as the Commissioner of Finance and Economic Planning, Kaduna State in 1994. He later became the governor of the state for two consecutive terms between 1999 and 2007.
He is representing the Kaduna North Senatorial District at the National Assembly for the second term after his election in 2007. He has served as a member of various Senate Committees including; Agriculture & Rural Development, Appropriation, Aviation, Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institution & the Chairman Senate Committee on Finance.
He was trounced at the poll by his APC challenger on Saturday.

• Abdul Ahmed Ningi

Abdul Ahmed Ningi could be given the sobriquet ‘veteran Lawmaker’ after spending about 16 years in the National Assembly. From 1999 to 2011, he was in the House of Representatives. He was the Majority Leader of the Lower Legislative Chamber between 2003 and 2007.
Ningi, a graduate of Sociology had his first public service experience when he was employed as a social welfare officer in the state civil service. He has a brief stint with the First Bank in 1986 before he ventured into private business as the Chairman/ Chief Executive  of NAJ Resources Limited.
His activities in politics has been rich and robust. He has served on  various committees of the House of Representatives during his 12-year sojourn in the Green Chamber. The articulate and veteran lawmaker is the Chairman, Senate Committee on National Population & Identity Card.
Ningi will in May bow out of the National Assembly after 16 unbroken years following his defeat in the last Saturday’s election.

• Anthony Adeniyi

Anthony   Olumuyiwa Adeniyi is a member of the APC, a platform that took him to the National Assembly to represent the Ekiti South Senatorial District. The legal practitioner  ventured into partisan politics as a unionist and human right activist. He was the former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Akure branch between 1990 and 1992.
The Ikere-Ekiti born lawyer was a former Chairman, Omega Bank. He is the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market.
The Tsunami of the PDP that swept through Ekiti State last Saturday, denied Adeniyi the opportunity to return to the National Assembly on the platform of the APC.

  

• Ayo Adeseun

He was elected into the House of Representatives on the platform of the PDP in 2003 and was reelected in 2007 to represent the Ogbomoso Federal Constituency. In 2011, Adeseun dumped the PDP for the ACN and was elected into the Senate to represent the Oyo North Senatorial Zone. He later defected to his former political platform – the PDP but his attempt to return to the National Assembly was scuttled on Saturday, when he was defeated by  Fatai Buhari of the APC. Adeseun will be returning from the National Assembly after 12 years as a lawmaker.

• Adegbenga Kaka

Adegbenga Kaka was deputy  to former Governor Olusegun Osoba between 1999 and 2003 under the AD/ACN platfom. His shot at the Ogun State governorship under the Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) in 2007 failed. He returned to the progressives fold in 2011 and was elected to represent the Ogun East Senatorial District  at the Senate. Kaka, followed Chief Osoba out of the APC to form the Social Democratic Party (SDP), under which he sought reelection into the Senate but he was defeated by the PDP candidate, Prince Buruji Kashamu. Kaka is expected back from the Senate after the expiration of his  tenure in May.

APC’s Gemade wallops Suswam in Benue to win Zone Senatorial A ticket

The current governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been humiliated by his political rival, Barnabas Gemade of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the Benue Zone A Senatorial race.

Gemade, who defected from the PDP prior to the party’s primaries towards the end of 2014, humbled the highly-criticised governor with a total of 26432 votes margin to win the keenly contested election.

With this, Suswam has completely fizzled out of Benue political terrain.

 

The result are as follow:
Katsina-Ala
APC 13, 152, PDP 30, 124.
Vandeikya
APC 25,789, PDP 15,593.
Konshisha
APC 34, 376, PDP 7,171.

Kwande
APC 29001, PDP 16, 379.
Ushongo
APC 18, 956, PDP 13, 414.
Ukum
APC 13, 445, PDP 19, 505.
Logo
APC 6, 016, PDP 16, 687.
Total:
APC 140, 735
PDP 118, 793.

Nigeria’s presidential elections free, fair – ECOWAS

The ECOWAS Observer Mission, EOM, has declared that Saturday’s Presidential election is acceptable and meets the criteria of being free and transparent.
The declaration was made by the mission’s head and former President of Ghana, John Kuffour, in Abuja on Sunday.

Mr. Kuffour expressed satisfaction with the commitment made by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, political parties, security agencies and various entities on the electoral process.
He observed that the turnout of voters was generally high with a laudable participation of women and young people who displayed commendable level of patience and discipline.
“Security agents were present at most of the polling stations and on patrols in and around the cities as peaceful atmosphere prevailed in most parts of the country,’’ he said.
The mission also noted that INEC officials demonstrated good knowledge and compliance with voting procedures.

He also noted that agents of the major political parties, including All Progressives Congress, Labour Party and the People Democratic Party, were in attendance in most polling units.
“The process of counting at the polling stations and the subsequent collations at designated centres were successful and in accordance with the Electoral Act.
“Some of the challenges the mission observed during the exercise included the late arrival of INEC officials in many polling stations and malfunctioning of Card Readers across the country,’’ he said.
Mr. Kuffour further said the elections were still ongoing in some affected polling units were elections had been extended by one day.

He said the mission also observed that there was insufficient and/or non-availability of electoral materials in some polling units which led to delay in accreditation and voting processes.
“Cases of attempt to snatch ballot papers were reported in some polling stations leading to instances of uproar, shootings and sporadic violence in the affected polling stations.
“Despite efforts by the relevant agencies to secure the electoral exercise, explosions were also recorded in some parts of the country,’’ he said.
The EOM is part of the ECOWAS sustained efforts to support the consolidation of democracy and good governance in Nigeria.

The mission is also in line with ECOWAS guidelines on election-monitoring.
(NAN)

INEC not under pressure to declare poll inconclusive, says Jega

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega on Sunday  said the agency  was not under pressure to declare the results of Saturday’s  Presidential and National Assembly elections inconclusive.

He also said the collation and release of the results  of the elections will begin on Monday.
Jega said the results from two states were received Sunday night although reports indicated that the ongoing collation process had reached 80 per cent and 90 per cent in some states.
He however dismissed claims by the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council that the party was leading in 23 states.

Jega, who made the submissions, at a briefing in Abuja on the status of the outcome of Saturday’s elections, said contrary to insinuations, the Card Readers worked in most of the nation’s 150,000 Polling Units.

He said failure of Card Readers was recorded in 374 Polling Units out of 150,000 in the country.
“We are not under any pressure to declare elections inconclusive. I wonder who will be interested in declaring inconclusive election. I want to believe that candidates would have wanted to be declared winners and not to have an election being declared inconclusive. Really, there is no truth whatsoever to that. “

The INEC chairman said the collation and release of results would begin today(Monday).
He said only results of two states were ready as at press time.

Poll: The will of Nigerians must prevail – U.S

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James Eintwistle, on Sunday said the expectation of America in the presidential election is for the will of Nigerians to prevail.
He also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for adopting card readers to protect the integrity of the ballot.

He said the U.S might also learn from Nigeria by using card readers in its future poll.
Eintwistle, who made his views known in a short interactive session with journalists at the National Collation Centre in Abuja, said he was impressed by the turn out of Nigerians for the presidential and National Assembly Elections.

He said: “I was extremely impressed. Yesterday, I went around to a number of places in the FCT. Every place I went, I was impressed by the patience and dedication of the Nigerian voters.
“The fact that they were willing to stand in line for hours and hours, in the heat and in the sun so that they can exercise their democratic rights to vote, personally, I found that inspirational.
“My congratulations to the Nigerian voters. They have reminded us all about what a beautiful thing democracy is.”
Responding to a question, the Ambassador said: “The expectation of my government is that the Nigerian people will win. And by that, I mean they will get what they want which is a transparent, credible and non-violent election.

“And we look forward to working with whatever government emerges from this election.”
On issues raised by the All Progressives Congress on the conduct of the poll, he said:”The APC can speak for itself. I have no comment on any political statement so far.”
Eintwistle, however, singled out the deployment of card readers as a unique high technology which had assisted in protecting the sanctity of the ballot process.

He added: “I was very impressed about the decision by INEC to use technology in this election.
“I will tell you something, the PVCs are very hi-tech. They are more hi-tech than my voter card from the State of Virginia in the U.S.

“My voter card does not have my biometric, it does not have my fingerprint. So I was very impressed by the decision to go hi-tech because hi-tech, I think, gives the process more integrity.
On the failure of card readers in some states, Eintwistle said INEC should look at what went wrong and correct the lapses.

Niger State Gov Muazu Babangida Aliyu lost Senate Seat to APC Candidate

Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) and Niger State governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has  lost his Senate bid as he was defeated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, David Umaru.

He lost in five of the 9 local government areas of the Niger East Senatorial district.
The governor who contested under the platforn of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  was defeated in all the wards of the five local government areas in the zone so far officially declared by the Independent Nationai Electoral Commission.

Gov Aliyu polled 46,459 votes as against 149,443 votes recorded by the APC candidate.
The Returning Officer for the zone, Professor Ali Audu Jiigam said the APC candidate polled 49,519 votes in Chanchaga local government where he resides while the governor polled 17,209 votes.
In Gurara local government, Gov Aliyu recorded 6,520 votes as against the APC candidate’s 18,887 votes while in Shiroro, the Umaru maintained the lead of his council with 27,191 votes to PDP’s 7,519 vote

The APC candidate also defeated Aliyu in Tafa local government with 17,596 votes as against 8151 votes respectively while in Bosso local government, APC had 36,250 votes and PDP 7,060 votes.
David Umaru contested twice for the Governorship position twice under the platform of ANPP and CPC respectively and recently as Senator and also lost only to be given his mandate few days ago through the Appeal Court that sat in Abuja

Akpabio wins Akwa Ibom Senatorial poll

The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, as winner of Saturday Senatorial election in the state’s North West district.

Akpabio polled 422,009 of the 439,449 to defeat Chief Inibehe Okorie of the All Progressive Congress who recorded 15, 152 votes.

Jega, APC fault Fani-Kayode’s 23 states claim

The All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega  have faulted the claim claim by the Spokesman of the Jonathan Campaign Organization, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, that the PDP is winning the presidential election in 23 states and has scored 64 per cent.

The APC in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed referred to the statement by Jega on Fani-Kayode’s claim.
Shortly after Fani-Kayode made his claim, Jega, at a media briefing said he was not aware that results have been collated in 23 states.

”I don’t know the sources of such information (that the PDP is leading in 23 states). The results have not been collated in 23 states. Fairly very few states have actually collated. In fact, only two states have been collated…. There is the need to be careful about the information being put there by people who are clearly partisan,” Jega stated.
“The reports that we are getting from the field is that our candidate is doing very well in the south and north central and that we are making very strong inroads into various states in the core north,” Fani-Kayode said

Osun presidential poll results

Odo Otin LG: APC= 13, 351, PDP= 10, 230
Atakumosa West LG: APC= 6, 639, PDP= 4, 734
Ife East LG: APC = 12, 513, PDP = 15, 532
Ife South LG: APC= 9, 793, PDP = 9,283
Olorunda LG: APC = 26, 342, PDP = 7, 958
Ife North LG: APC= 8, 369, PDP= 7,921
Boripe LG: APC = 12, 152, PDP= 7, 457
Ila LG: APC= 11, 576, PDP= 7, 647
Ifedayo LG: APC= 3, 824, PDP= 3, 786
Boluwaduro LG: APC = 5, 288, PDP= 4, 413.
Isokan LG: APC= 10, 187, PDP= 6, 974.
Atakumosa LG: East APC= 8, 668, PDP= 5, 418.
Orolu LG: APC= 8, 466, PDP= 6, 360.
Ifelodun LG: APC= 17, 040, PDP= 9, 847.
Irepodun LG: APC= 12, 485, PDP= 7, 750
Egbedore LG: APC= 9, 577, PDP= 6, 507.
Ayedaade LG: APC= 30, 560, PDP= 9, 466
Olaoluwa LG: APC =8, 125, PDP= 5, 910.
Ilesa West LG: APC =11,714, PDP=5,145
Ayedire LG: APC = 8, 280, PDP= 6, 323
Obokun LG: APC = 10, 506, PDP= 9, 325.
Oriade LG: APC =12,724, PDP 10,490
Ilesa East LG: APC =13,229, PDP 5,740
Ife Central LG: APC =13,326, PDP =18,072
Iwo LG: APC=21,361, PDP 11,593
Osogbo LG: APC =35,348, PDP=11,567
Ede South LG: APC = 12, 068, PDP =6,899
Ede North LG: APC=16,014, PDP=9,628
Irewole LG:  APC=16,775, PDP 7,566.

Some supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State in southern Nigeria  are protesting against the conduct of Saturday’s election in the state, declaring their dissatisfaction with the process.

   

Protesters in their thousands walked the streets in the State capital, Port Harcourt, on Sunday, causing heavy traffic.

They broke through the security barricade and walked towards the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
No election was held in Rivers State, they said, demanding that the exercise should be cancelled and rescheduled.

The APC supporters said the rules of the election were broken and the election reflected nothing that suggests true democracy.
Eyewitness told Channels Television that the situation in the state was ‘very tense’.
Channels Television correspondent, Emmanuel Ereyi quoted the leader of the group as saying that they had gathered over 50,000 supporters of the APC for the protest.
According to Ereyi, the protest has been peaceful.

“They were harmless. They were not carrying any form of weapon. No bottles, no guns no machetes. Securities forces allowed them to protest because they were harmless,” he said.
At the gate of the INEC office, the protesters led by the governorship candidates of the APC, Dakuku Peterside, demanded access into the premises of the INEC office, but security agents on ground stopped the group from entering the premises.

Boko Haram kills lawmaker, policeman, 10 others in polls attacks

Suspected members of Boko Haram sect yesterday launched separate attacks on voters in Gombe and Yobe states, killing 10 people including an All Progressives Congress (APC) member seeking re-election into the Gombe State House of Assembly, and a policeman.

Alhaji Umar Aminu  and five voters  were  shot dead in his Dukku South constituency by the terrorists who were quoted by eye witnesses as saying : ‘Didn’t we warn you about staying away from (the) election?” as they pulled the triggers.
Three people including the policeman were killed in Birin Bolawa and Birin Fulani villages in Nafada Local government area of the state.

The insurgents had apparently crossed into the state from Yobe after a similar attack in Ngalda where the state police commissioner Danladi Marcus said one person was killed.
There was confusion in the areas as some voters left the polling units but others later returned to be accredited, sources said.
Eye witnesses said the insurgents left on the Dukku-Darazo road after the attack.

  

The Police Public Relations Officer in Gombe State, Fwaje Atajiri, confirmed the report, adding that details of the incident would be given after investigations were completed.
“There was an attack on the outskirts of Nafada in attempt to disrupt the elections,” Mr. Atajiri, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said. “A joint team of military and police officer promptly moved to Dukku and pushed the insurgents to the bush.”
Mr. Atajiri said elections were going on in the area and other areas of the state as the Special Forces were in control of the situation.

Reacting to the death of his colleague, member representing Akko North Constituency at the State House of Assembly, Gidado Lawanti, described his death as unfortunate.

Youth set ablaze PDP leader’s house

Some youth in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State Sunday afternoon set ablaze the home of a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain, Adams Alkali, popularly known as “Dan London.”

The house is located at Angwan Rogo, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State. However, no life was lost in the incident.

Mr. Alkali contested the PDP primaries for House of Representative for Jos North/ Bassa federal constituency, but lost.
Police could not be reached at press time to confirm the incident, but a witness said the resident was razed to ashes.

According to findings, the PDP chieftain made some comments in a live radio programme recently that the youth considered offensive.
Similarly, protesting youth at Kumbi Kwal Ward of Quanpan Local Government Area at Southern Plateau early hours of Sunday reportedly destroyed ballot papers in the locality.
Also, a serving councillor was allegedly caught distributing ballot papers in Ganawuri, Riyom Local Government of Northern Plateau state during the Sunday voting in the state.

Nine local government areas of the state are participating in the rescheduled election holding in some parts of Nigeria.

Buhari wins 100% in his polling unit

Daura: Presidential Candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, General Mohammadu Buhari has trounced President Goodluck Jonathan of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in his polling unit in Sakin Yara “A”, Kofar Baru 3 in Daura local government of Katsina State.

 Out of 501 votes cast in the presidential polls, APC got 499, PDP got nothing while 2 votes were voided.

Similarly, in the National Assembly elections, APC polled 478 for senate, PDP 18, the People’s Democratic Movement, PDM got 3 votes while 3 votes were invalidated.

APC also took the day in the House of Representatives contest as it scored 500 votes while PDP and APGA polled 1 vote each. APC was eventually declared the winner of the electio -

Polling stations re-open after voting extension

Voters unable to cast their ballot because of technical problems in Nigeria’s general election returned to the polls on Sunday, as the main parties traded blows over the use of the technology.

The country’s electoral commission said some 300 of the 150,000 polling stations would be open from 0700 GMT to accredit voters after handheld devices to read biometric identity cards failed.

Nigeria’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called the situation a “huge national embarrassment” after President Goodluck Jonathan was affected by the malfunction as he tried to register on Saturday.

The ruling party said repeatedly throughout the campaign that the technology should not be used as it was untested and there were questions about officials’ ability to use it. The main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) backed the new system as a way of curbing widespread vote-rigging that has hit previous elections. With the election closely fought, both parties looked set to keep the issue alive.

Voters will be accredited throughout the morning either with the devices or if they fail again, by hand. The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, sought to downplay the malfunctions, saying it was limited to “only about 450″ card readers. But he told the private Channels television that provision for a second day of voting was granted because it was a democratic right for citizens. “It (the technical problems and extension) will not affect returns on (the) presidential election,

” he said. On Saturday, many voters camped overnight or arrived early at polling stations to have their credentials checked before returning to vote in the afternoon and long into the night. The final voters cast their ballot in the dark and the count was started at many polling stations by flashlight, with Nigeria hit by regular, daily power cuts. Government spokesman Mike Omeri claimed it was a “record high voter turnout”, without giving figures, adding that it was a “triumph of Nigerian democracy” despite the polling problems.

Gunmen storm Bauchi polling unit, set materials ablaze

Bauchi – Some unidentified gunmen on Saturday stormed a polling unit in Bagurun Primary School of Darazo local government area of Bauchi state, firing gunshots sporadically into the air and forcing voters to scamper for safety.

This is contained in a statement signed by the spokesman of the Bauchi State Police Command, DSP Haruna Mohammed, and made available to newsmen. The statement said the gunmen arrived at the place in six vehicles and thereafter gathered all election materials and set some of them ablaze.

 “The timely intervention of combined security forces, comprising the Police and Army, forced the suspects to abandon their mission and escape to unknown destination, “This enabled the electorate to put off the fire and save both the sensitive and non-sensitive materials. “Normalcy was restored in the area and the electorate continued casting their votes unhindered under tight security,” he said. Mohammed also confirmed the arrest of a 24-year-old man, Abdul Umar, in possession of a locally made pistol, seen loitering around Katako ward of Warji town in the state.

 The statement said Abdullahi Samaila and Nasiru Adamu also found in possession of 29 permanent voter cards at Marga Primary School Polling Unit of Ganjuwa local government area were also arrested. According to the statement, INEC Smart Card Reader machine and some election materials at Jauro Gani Village Polling Unit of Alkaleri local government area of the state were snatched by unknown persons. However, the Community Head of Goro area of Dutse Alhaji in Bwari Area Council of Abuja, Mr Abubakar Bako, said the 2015 elections could turn out to be the country’s best. Bako, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the electorate had shown unparallel zeal to ensure their votes counted. He said the elections had put an end to voter apathy and complacent toward politics by the people.

 “What we are witnessing today in this community is unprecedented and we hope to keep flame burning. “The turnout is so impressive because since I began participating in elections this has been the most participated,’’ he said. Mr Bryan Sims, an international election observer, expressed displeasure on the attitude of some of the electoral officers.

 “In Abuja city, there were incidences of late delivery of INEC materials and these had caused the delay in the process in some areas.’’ He, however, described voters’ calmness to expression of maturity and readiness to nurture the country’s democracy

INEC blames NURTW for election lapses

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) approved  manual accreditation of voters due to the large scale failure of Smart Card Readers (SCRs) to function effectively in many parts of the country in yesterday’s elections.

INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education Committee, Dr. Chris Eyimoga, told a world press conference, yesterday, that the decision to amend the electoral guidelines at such a short notice was due to the large scale.

“INEC has been monitoring field reports since the commencement of the election this morning. While the exercise has gone well in several places, in many others it has encountered some challenges especially with the use of the card readers; consequently accreditation has been slow in many places and has not commenced in others,”Eyimoga said.

“Even though the guidelines for the conduct of the 2015 general elections provide that where card readers fail to work and cannot be replaced, elections in such polling units will be postponed till the following day, the scale of the challenge we have observed today has necessitated a reconsideration of this provision of the guidelines.

“The commission has therefore decided as part of the guidelines for the conduct of the 2015 general elections that in polling units where card readers have so failed to work, the presiding officer shall manually accredit voters by marking the register of voters, upon being satisfied that the person presenting the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) is the legitimate holder of the card.”

Iyimoga revealed that INEC will thoroughly investigate what happened, even as he promised the commission will  deliver free, fair and credible elections despite the the challenges.
According to the national commissioner, the problem of late distribution of materials in Abuja and some other places was due to the problems which he said INEC had with the members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

I am satisfied with polls – Buhari

The presidential  candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC)  in yesterday’s elections, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), expressed satisfaction with the electoral process. Buhari  spoke to journalists after his accreditation for the polls at Sarkinyara Ward A, Kaafar Baaru 0003  Polling Unit, Daura, Katsina State, at about 9.30am.

Main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Mohammadu Buhari casts his ballot at a polling station in the “Gidan Niyam Sakin Yara A ward” at Daura in Katsina State on March 28, 2015.
AFP PHOTO

Clad  in  white babanriga  with a cap to match, he arrived the unit  to a  tumultuous reception.
His  security personnel  had hectic moments controlling the surging crowds as   they made desperate attempt to have a glance of the APC presidential candidate.
“I think I am satisfied with the whole process so  far. Let me use this opportunity to call on my supporters  to remain calm and conduct themselves in the most peaceable manner throughout the elections”, he stated.

Buhari expressed happiness over what he described as  “excellent “‘ arrangement   put in place by INEC  for  the polls. “What I have  seen on ground here indicates the electoral body has really braced the odds, “ he added.
Vanguard

Thugs snatch ballot box at Dankwambo’s polling unit

Thugs suspected to be working for the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe state Saturday snatched one of the ballot boxes at Shehu Manzo 005 polling unit in Gombe metropolis where Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo’s casted his vote following apparent indication of President Jonathan’s failure at the unit.
It was gathered that the thugs were aided by armed policemen men on patrol in the polling unit area after observing from the tune of the counting that the result may not favour PDP’s presidential candidate.

Before then, votes for the Senate and House of representatives were already counted and the All progressive Congress (APC) candidates won both.
Nasiru Shehu Ali Sidi Manzo, an eye witness said they noticed thugs patrolling the area and reported to policemen on patrol that thugs were disrupting the peaceful conduct of voting at the polling unit, but were ignored by the police.

“We are aware of plans to destabilise the smooth conduct of the voting at this polling unit because APC is going to win but we ignored the rumour.
“So, on sighting the thugs carrying all sorts of weapons, voters started running away but that did not deter us. Some people remain and chase them away.
“After the voting when counting started and APC was leading, suddenly the policemen tear-gassed the area and forced the electoral officials into their vehicle,” said Manzo, APC’s agent at the polling unit.

He said APC scored 303 votes, while PDP 88 and three invalid votes were recorded for the Gombe/Funakaye/Kwami constituency Federal House of Representative election.
He said APC recorded 394 votes against PDP’s 92 with 2 invalids were recorded in the Gombe North Senatorial District election.
He said the thugs assisted by the police came when counting of the votes for the presidential election started at the polling unit and snatched the box.
When contacted the police spokesman DSP Fwaje Atajiri, dismissed the allegation saying that it was the work of mischief makers who only wanted to cause trouble.
The Gombe state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Kashim Gaidam said they were investigating the case and will address the press after their investigation.

Polling to Take Place in 300 Polling Units Tomorrow - INEC

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday said  that elections will take place in 300 polling stations across the federation.

An INEC official that spoke to news men said that the commission, from reports made to it by field officers, showed that polling did not take place in about 300 polling units and the commission has directed for a fresh poll in affected units.

 

The INEC official attributed the challenge to battery and inability to activate the sim cards of the card readers and the non-removal of the cellophane ‎ of the card readers.

Kudos to Ayo Fayose

Many will be surprised to know that Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State is not on the list of “Governors from Hell”.

 In an era in which many governors owe huge backlog of salaries, Fayose has been up to date with payments of salaries to civil servants. Fayose pays on the last working day of every month. The ebullient Ekiti State Governor has also paid one of the two-month salary backlog left by his predecessor, Kayode Fayemi. For the first time in many years, Ekiti civil servants are happy again. This is indeed commendable. Fayose has to keep it up.

For the “Governors from Hell” pummeling civil servants, they must change their ways. The governors on this growing infamous list have not paid their workers for months while they go about living big. I am talking about Rochas Okorocha, Jonah Jang, Liyel Imoke, Mallam Isa Yuguda, Abiola Ajimobi and Raufu Aregbesola.

 

Last December, the Osun State governor was all over Lagos gyrating to the music of Wasiu Ayinde and Saheed Osupa while Osun workers soaked their pillows with tears over unpaid salaries

Remi Tinubu wins polling unit

The lawmaker representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, Senator Oluremi Tinubu won her unit 34, ward 9 polling centre. She scored 105. Election results for PU034, ward 9 on Bourdillon road

Reps APC 103 PDP 16

Senate APC 105 PDP 21

Presidential APC 106 PDP 25

Result from Abuja

This is the result of 2 voting points out of the 3 voting point in Government Secondary school, Lugbe, Abuja 1st voting point:
Reps: PDP 60, APC 39, APGA 37, LABOUR 3.
 Senate: APC 47, PDP 77, APGA 17, SDP 1, invalid 3.

 Presidential: APC 47, PDP 91, IDC 1, SDP 1, APGA 4.
2nd voting point: Reps: Labour 5, APC 34, APGA 23, PDP 58, Invalid 2.
 Senate: APC 32, APGA 10, PDP 82.

 Presidency: APC 33, PDP 90,

Bode George loses polling unit to APC

Former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George lost his PU001 Evans Street, in Lagos Island, Lagos State to the All Progressives Congress, APC, by one vote.

The outcome of the presidential polls declared by the Electoral Officer, showed that the PDP scored 108, while the APC pulled 109.

 Presidential polls
PDP –  108
APC – 109
-

INEC restores website

The website of the Independent National Electoral Commission has been restored after it was hacked by Nigerian Cyber Army earlier in the day.

It will be recalled that the website of the Independent National Electoral Commission was hacked by a group that parade itself as Nigerian Cyber Army. The hacking was confirmed by INEC on its Twitter handle,  @inecnigeria

I will not accept polls cancellation – Buhari

Daura: Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, General Mohammadu Buhari on Saturday said it would be unfair for anyone to contemplate the cancellation of the presidential polls following a few recorded hiccups.

Main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Mohammadu Buhari casts his ballot at a polling station in the “Gidan Niyam Sakin Yara A ward” at Daura in Katsina State on March 28, 2015.

Voting began in Nigeria’s general election but delays were reported countrywide because of technical problems in accrediting electors.AFP PHOTO He said that the challenges were minor to have affected the entire country.

Citing instances, the former Head of State said that what had happened in 5 States could not have presumably affected the remaining 31 State and the Federal Capital territory, Abuja. He addressed a press conference in his private residence after he and his wife, Aisha had cast their ballots at Kofar Baru 3 in Sarkin Yara “A” in Daura Local Government Area of Katsina State

INEC orders manual accreditation, extends exercise till Sunday

Prof. Attahiru Jega, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the use of manual accreditation in areas that the Smart Card Readers malfunctioned during the Presidential and National Assembly elections in the country.
He also extended the exercise till Sunday in where the elections were not held, directing all Resident Electoral Commissioners in the country to conduct the election on Sunday in areas where there were hitches.

Here is  a statement from the Independent National Electoral Commission.
INEC has been monitoring field reports on the accreditation process since commencement this morning. Whereas the process has gone well in several places, in some others it has encountered some challenges especially the card readers.
Consequently, accreditation has been slow in many places and has not commenced at all in some others .

 Even though the guidelines for the 2015 general elections provide that where card readers fail to work and cannot be replaced, elections in such PUs will be postponed to the next day.
The scale of the challenge we have observed has necessitated a reconsideration of the provision of the guidelines

The Commission has therefore decided that in PUs where card readers fail to work, the Presiding Officer shall manually accredit voters
The Presiding Officer shall mark the voters register upon being satisfied that the person presenting a PVC is the owner.

Notwithstanding, in PUs where accreditation was suspended to the next day in accordance with the guidelines, arrangements will be made for voters to vote tomorrow, subject to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010
The Commission reassures the public that it will thoroughly investigate what happened while it stays committed to credible elections

#NigeriaDecides: SEE APC Customized Cow Designed To Celebrate Buhari’s Victory

The cow is APC customized one meant to celebrate Maj. General Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC)

Owo robbery: Ondo police confirm six officers’ death

Ondo State Police Command on Friday said six policemen and seven civilians, including a Wema Bank Manager died in Thursday’s bank robbery attack in Owo.

 

Commissioner of Police, Isaac Eke, while briefing journalists and parading one of the suspected robbers arrested, said the robbers numbered 50 and carried out operations in four banks, namely, Wema Bank, Skye Bank, Eco Bank and First Bank.

 

The bodies of the deceased suspects were paraded at the command headquarters in Akure along with one of them alive, who was simply identified as Abdulmojeed, a native of Okene.

Eke said the robbers “had taken over all the police stations (2, A and B Divisions)” before attacking the banks.

 

He said he had dispatched a team of operatives, assisted by men of the Nigerian Army to counter the robbers who began operation at about 4pm until 7pm.

“After intense and protracted exchange of fire with the robbers that lasted into the night, one of the robbers was arrested alive while six others lost their lives from gunshot wounds,” Eke said.

A video camera was recovered from the robbers with which they recorded as they robbed the banks.

On those who died, Eke said, seven civilians, including the Bank Manager of Wema Bank died in the course of the operation.

 

“My operatives are still on the trail of those who managed to escape with bullet wounds towards the boundary of Ondo with Kogi and Edo States,” Eke said.

According to Eke, a total of N9.3m was recovered from the fleeing robbers, as well as 23 assorted riffles, 9,000 rounds of ammunition, 100 magazines and 11 dynamites.

Other items recovered include 10 smoke hand grenades, three steel helmets, three police berets, two pairs of police uniforms, and nine exotic vehicles.

Punch

Presidential Election: Vote According To Your Conscience, CAN Tells Nigerians

As Nigerians prepare to vote again today, Saturday, to define their destiny, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on Nigerians to vote according to their conscience in line with democratic principles and not through coercion.

The president of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor who made this call in his message to Nigerians on the general election, further advised Nigerians to vote and protect their votes, but that they should avoid acts of violence which could threaten a credible electoral exercise.
Oritsejafor also reiterated the need for citizens irrespective of their religious, ethnic and political affiliations to embrace peace and ensure the safety of one another before, during and after the elections, saying that the post-election violence of 2011 is still fresh in their memory and Nigerians cannot afford another one.

Oritsejafor said, “God instructed in the Holy Bible and Qur’an that we should be our brothers’ keepers. While rights of individuals should be respected, CAN believes that Nigerians must be given their rights to vote for whoever they want.

“Nigerians must eschew violence and assist the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure a transparent and credible exercise because democracy does not express itself through violence. If Nigeria must get it right again and replicate the experience of 2011 general elections, we must have confidence in each other.

“Christians and Muslims must resolve to protect each other. We must ensure that Christians are safe in Muslim areas and vice versa. Nobody must be victimised on the basis of religion or ethnicity. Everyone must be able to go out and vote for whoever they want; this commitment
is necessary.”

Oritsejafor further called on security agencies to ensure the protection of the lives and properties of Nigerians, saying that everyday defines who Nigerians are and the future of the country is not tied to a particular date.

“A lot of people have reasoned that the 2015 general election will define the unity and existence of Nigeria. But we say No! Elections will come and go, but Nigeria will remain. Those who believe that Nigeria will break will be disappointed because this is our country.
“We urge the citizenry to take their minds away from the thinking that Nigeria is going to break in 2015. May God strengthen our country though peace and unity! May God bless Nigeria.”
Leadership

What will you do if politicians offer you money for votes?

In the build-up to the 2015 elections, there have been various reports of politicians going about inducing voters with money and gifts to gain votes. Saturday PUNCH went out to ask some Nigerians what they would do if any candidate approached them with money in order to gain their votes

The money would be for my upkeep

Mrs. Olayinka Bakare, unemployed

I have a PVC but I am not ready to go out and vote on election day. The only thing that would make me leave my house on election day is if I am promised a job and if there is assurance that it is not just another promise that would go unfulfilled. I have been jobless since last year and things have really been hard for me. I started a business last year when I lost my job. I was selling meat but the business also folded up later. Now, I don’t even know what to do. Voting is the last thing on my mind. So, if anybody gives me money to vote for him, that money would be for my upkeep, not voting.

I will never collect money to vote

Mrs. Bolaji Tiamiyu, Trader

No matter what anybody pays me, I would not change my mind about who I would vote for. I have realised that politicians are liars. I am not ready to sell my vote. How can I sell my vote when I know that they would end up deceiving me? I have been told that our votes are powerful and I am ready to use it to fight for my right. I will go out and vote but would never collect anybody’s money to change my mind.

It’s an insult to offer me money

Idris Abu, anti-corruption crusader

I would not vote on sentiment and neither would I vote based on pecuniary benefit. I have been carrying my PVC on me since I got it because I know how important it is. I would not change my mind about my candidate for any reason. I am not one of those people who vote without genuine reasons. I have weighed my options and made a choice about who to vote for based on those reasons. It will even be an insult for anybody to offer me money for me to change my mind on who to vote for.

I can’t sell my children’s future

Mrs. Kehinde Adejare, plantain seller

I would not collect money to vote for someone, ever. This election is a destiny vote. I have to ensure that I don’t sell my children’s destiny. I cannot collect peanut just to vote for someone and my children begin to suffer in the future. I would only be destroying their future and I cannot do that. If we all sell our votes, bad people would continue to stay in power and we would continue to be poor. I sell food by the roadside. I want my life to improve and I cannot contribute to my own poverty.

Nobody can bribe me

Abimbola Arike, trader

I am ready to vote and would never sell my vote. I am not hungry to the extent of collecting money so that I can change my mind. Nothing will make me change my mind about who to vote for. I am not contented with where I am but I cannot blame politicians because they do their best. It is my right to vote for whoever I like. This is why nobody would bribe me into voting for them.

I’ll not collect it

Alex O, musician

I think the most important thing is whether I believe in the policies the candidate is selling. If the person’s policies make sense to me, that is the person I would vote for. Some people might take the money and still vote for whoever they want to vote for because nobody would be there when you are voting. It boils down to who you think can give you what you are looking for. I would not collect the money because I would vote based on who I believe would make the country a better place.

My vote not for sale

Wale Adebayo, actor

Basically my vote is meant to be mine and it is not for sale. I am going to vote based on what I believe in and it does not matter if he becomes the wrong person at the end of the day. I would vote for a person I believe can give me what I think I want. My political views have to be in alignment with the person’s own. Whether I collect money from him does not matter as long as I vote based on my ideals and principles. The person would practically be wasting his money, especially if I was not even planning to vote for him to begin with. I thought that we should have gone past using money to induce people to get votes. I will reject the money.

I have always rejected such

Foluke Daramola, actress

I have been offered money several times which I rejected but I will not mention names. I don’t do such because I am voting for my conscience, my future, and I am voting for change. That is what I am voting for and not because of money. At the end of the day, the money will finish. We need a restructuring in our system, our industry and in Nigeria as a whole for the future of our children. I will never compromise my stand or integrity for money.

I will reject it

Fidelis Duker, filmmaker

Personally my vote is not for money. I think we have got to a point in Nigeria where we would decide a leader without being induced by anything. I will not accept money from anybody to vote; I will rather reject it. I want to vote based on my conscience. We have got to a point where the polity is heated up and it is good. It is now obvious to politicians that you cannot take Nigerians for granted. That is the beauty of this election. Whoever wins would know that for the next four years, he has to work hard, if not he would be kicked out by the people. People would vote based on their conscience and look beyond propaganda and lies. People now know better and the best man among them would win. Definitely, I will not subscribe to collecting money.

It is tempting but I won’t take it

Evaezi, actress

If it happens that he is the person that I want to vote for, then it is okay but if it is not the person that I want to vote for, then too bad for the person. I would vote based on my principles and ideologies. I would vote based on who I feel would make the country a better place. As for the money, I would not want to be a hypocrite and say I will not collect the money. It is quite tempting. Even if I collect the money, he would not know that I did not vote for him. Although collecting the money seems very tempting, I doubt I would take it.

I will collect the money but won’t vote for them

Seyi Coker, Businessman

I will collect the money but I won’t vote for the person if he’s not my candidate. If I let the money influence who I vote for, it will be like buying my entire life for filth; it’s nonsense. It’s like selling my right and I can’t sell my right to anyone. My conscience will not be at peace if I go ahead and vote for the person if I’m not convinced that he will perform well in the position.

If the amount is not insulting, I will collect

Uwem Umoh, Businessman

I will collect the money, provided it is not derogatory or insulting. By that I mean if the money is not just a small amount of money. Then, I would still definitely and courageously and convincingly vote my choice of candidate. It doesn’t matter that I collected money or not.

If I don’t collect it, I will lose

Mrs. Florence Thomas, Trader

In Nigeria of today, if anybody gives me money, I will accept it but it doesn’t mean I will vote for him. If I don’t collect the money, then I will be the one who will lose. After all, no one will know who I vote for since no one will be at the polling booth with me when I cast my vote. No candidate has brought anything to my area in Shomolu, Lagos this year but I heard some candidates have been distributing umbrellas around here. During past elections, they shared everything here- rice, money and so on. I collected everything and still voted for the candidate of my choice.

I have my job

Abbas Samuel, Businessman

No, I won’t accept any money from any candidate who wants me to vote for him or her. What if I collect the money and the candidate ends up to be a terrible public servant. We need good leaders who will take us to the promised land. No amount of money will sway me and make me vote against my conscience. So I won’t collect money from anyone since I have a job. If I didn’t have a job, it would be another matter. Any money I collect will only last me for a day or so, so why sell my vote?

It’s corruption

Chinwe Ndu, office assistant

I can’t accept money from any candidate; it’s corruption. No, it is very wrong. It’s like selling my right, so I won’t do it. What we need in this country are people who will do what the people want when they get into offices. I will vote for the candidates that I believe will do the things the masses want, not people who will go there to steal our money.

No matter the amount, I won’t collect

Gozie Irobie, singer

My vote is supposed to speak for me. There is no way I would collect anybody’s money. Collecting money is not even the issue. We just have to vote during this election. I am not going to collect any money; no matter the amount I am paid. I just have to perform my civic responsibilities and that is it.

I will take it because it is our money

Bethel Okorie, Musician

Everybody needs money, so if any candidate offers me money to vote for him, I will collect it and vote for the candidate of my choice. Before I vote, I look at the antecedents, profiles and promises of the candidates before deciding on who to vote for. No one can buy my conscience; the future of my family, my children, generations yet unborn and my own are at stake. I’ve seen politicians promise heaven on earth and then do nothing. Many of them are there for business; they offer people money because of what they know they will get there. Some of them are being sponsored by godfathers who are looking at getting their money back once their candidates win. So if I collect the money, I’m actually collecting our money that they have looted.

Anyone that does that disqualifies himself

Gbenga Bada, Senior Associate, Pulse.ng

Candidates who offer electorate cash in exchange for votes have firstly displayed an act of malpractice and corruption. A credible and confident candidate would lure me to the polls to vote for him or her by giving me convincing plans on how to improve the state of the nation and plans for a better future. Thus, I would reject the cash but vote the candidate I deem fit to lead me and provide a better future.

How can I reject money?

Seun Oloketuyi, CEO, Best of Nollywood

I would definitely collect the money. Lai Lai! How can I reject the money? Is it not our money? But that said, I would still vote who my conscience advises me to vote, I would still vote for the credible person.

I will reject it

Blessing Desmond, businesswoman

I will certainly not accept such money. No matter the reason, I cannot do that. Selling my votes is just the same as selling my future and those of my children. I would reject the money and vote for the right person.

I will collect it but I won’t change my mind

David Unah, businessman

Nobody can induce me with money to vote for them. I would vote for whoever my conscience tells me to vote for and that I know that has good plans for us as a country. But if the person pressures me into collecting the money, I will pocket it and still vote for the candidate of my choice; after all he or she won’t be there at the point of casting the ballot.

I will never collect it

Aniekan Reuben, businessman

Nobody can use money to change my mind. I would vote for the candidate and party I support, no matter how huge the money anybody is trying to offer me. I will never collect it. I am from Akwa Ibom State and I strongly believe in the party I support and all the candidates. So, as far as I am concerned, nobody can use money to change my mind.

Punch