Politics

APC chairman Adamu commends INEC on BVAS, optimistic on Tinubu’s victory

No Comments

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Abdullahi Adamu, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the use Bimodal Verification and Accreditation System (BVAS).

Mr Adamu gave the commendation in an interview in Abuja on Monday.

“Although the system malfunctioned in some places, it is not overwhelming to question the credibility of the election.

“We heard from INEC that some BVAS malfunctioned. We expected it because it is a technology and with the political environment like our own, I am not expecting it to be 100 per cent.

“I must commend INEC that though there were hitches, they were not particularly overwhelming to a point of questioning the credibility of the election.

“I think it has been worth the experiment and it should be used for subsequent elections,” he said.

Mr Adamu said he is optimistic that the APC Presidential Candidate, Bola Tinubu, will win the presidential election.

“If the information we are beginning to receive from various parts of the country is anything to go by, one has every reason to be optimistic that our candidate will win.

“I know Tinubu will win because of his faith in God and we have worked for it and we believe Nigerians have listened to us just as they have listened to others.

“I believe our message has gone deeper and has bigger spread and understanding of what we are,” he said.

On what the party intends to do differently for national development should Mr Tinubu win, Mr Adamu said everything is contained in the manifesto.

He said APC party members were not beginners, adding that they had been “tested” by Nigerians.

According to him, there is no denying the fact that given their expertise, understanding and goodwill their candidate qualify to win.On vote buying, the chairman said he did not believe in it.

He said, “I do not believe in this idea of people claiming to be purists, having holier than thou attitude to life and being pretentious.

“I believe very electoral system and every country has problems that are peculiar to it.

“I want the person that would come out to say from the beginning to the end that there was no money in his or her political activity till the day he or she was declared winner or loser.”

On whether or not the cashless policy affected the conduct of the election, the former governor said “the problems have stayed but we were able to move on.

“If you have a choice then you talk of what to do and what not to do but we do not have a choice for the election to wait for it.

“I think our ability and doggedness to achieve certain feat in the face of difficulties has made us to withstand this,” he said.

Mr Adamu thanked Nigerians for turning out enmass for the election and conducting themselves peacefully.

He said in spite of the few hitches experienced in some places, there had not been any major mishap.

While thanking God for taking control of the election, the chairman said the election was about one of the biggest he had witnessed.

On his ability to manage some crisis the party faced prior to the election, Mr Adamu thanked God for His guidance as well as the leadership and other members of the party for their cooperation.

He further said he was able to manage the crisis because he provided the leadership that represented different interests and a common goal.

Lifestyle, Politics

Port Harcourt thugs attacked us, INEC starved us, lament ad hoc staff

No Comments

At least five ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stationed in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, have complained about poor treatment by the commission, including the non-payment of required allowances and inadequate welfare planning for their security and personal well-being during the ongoing presidential and parliamentary elections.

Speaking to Peoples Gazette at the Obio/Akpor local government collation center, a presiding officer who chose not to disclose his name said he had not received his feeding allowances from Friday up until this morning.

He accused his Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPO) of cornering the funds for himself and his colleagues.

“Our own feeding money that they were supposed to give us, since on Friday nothing, Saturday nothing. Till this Sunday morning, our SPO said she is not owing us anything,” he said.

He added that INEC authorities allowed them to transport sensitive election materials, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and result sheets without any form of protection, leaving them vulnerable to thugs who stopped and harassed them.

His statement aligned with that of another officer who simply identified herself as Grace.

“We have been here for the past three days, no food, no water. They didn’t give us anything,” she said.

“We have serious issues with payment.”

“We did not have money for transport, we have been spending our own money,” she added.

Another presiding officer, Henrietta, said she and her colleagues were held hostage for more than three hours by “area boys” who assaulted several of them repeatedly.

“The bus took us to Rumeme community primary school and we were held hostage in that place for more than three hours.

We tried calling our SPO, INEC officials, none of them answered us,” she said. “In fact, they molested so many of us yesterday evening,” she added.

Politics

LP candidate snatches federal constituency seat from PDP opponent

No Comments

Donatus Mathew of the Labour Party has won the Kaura Federal Constituency seat in the February 25 National Assembly elections in the Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The Returning Officer, Elijah Ella, who declared the result in Kaura on Sunday, said Mr Mathew polled 10,508 votes to defeat his closest opponent, the incumbent, Gideon Gwani of PDP, who garnered 10,297 votes.

The defeated PDP lawmaker is taking a shot at the seat for the fifth time.

The Returning Officer said Benjamin Gugong of the All Progressive Congress came third with 9,919 votes, while Simon Na’Allah of the New Nigeria Peoples Party came fourth with 5,354 votes.

He explained that 36,983 voters were accredited out of the 101,624 registered voters in the LGA.

He added that of the 36,983 accredited voters, 36,133 cast their votes.

“Mr Donatus Mathew of the Labour Party, having satisfied the requirements of the law by scoring the highest votes, is hereby declared the winner,” he said.

Politics

Late Alao-Akala’s son wins Ogbomoso Federal Constituency

No Comments

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Olamijuwonlo Akala, son of late former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, the winner of the Ogbomoso Federal Constituency election.

Mr Akala, a former chairman of Ogbomoso North Local Government, polled 33,268 votes to beat his close rival, Olufemi Onireti of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 27,126.

Hakeem Salami, Returning Officer for Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South/Orire Federal Constituency, announced that the APC candidate scored 33,268 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Olufemi Onireti, scored 27,126 votes.

“I declare Olamijuwonlo Akala winner of Ogbomoso/North/South/Oriire Federal Constituency, having polled the total number of 33, 268 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Olufemi Onireti, polled 27,126 votes,” Mr Salami said.

In his reactions shortly after being declared winner, Mr Akala said, “I’m so excited.”

Mr Akala’s father governed Oyo State from 2007 to 2011 under PDP.

Also, Najeem Oyedeji, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), won the Federal Constituency seat election for Iseyin/ Itesiwaju/Iwajowa/Kajola.

Announcing the winner, the Returning Officer, Adeolu Adeleke, said Mr Oyedeji scored total votes of 30, 372, while Soliu Gbadamosi, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), scored 28,821 votes.

Politics

INEC officials refusing to upload results in Lagos, Delta – Labour Party cries out

No Comments

Labour Party, LP has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC of refusing to upload results of the presidential elections collated in various polling units in Lagos and Delta states to the Central Server.

In a statement released this evening, February 25, the National Chairman of the party, Barrister Julius Abure, said INEC officials in connivance with the security agencies, are claiming that the BVAS have suddenly developed a fault and therefore cannot function.

He stated that information from the party’s field men has it that in places like Agege, Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Surulere, and Ibeju Lekki, amongst others where results show that Labour Party won convincingly, the INEC officials claim that the BVAS suddenly developed a fault when it concerns uploading results of the presidential election.

“Information reaching me has it that in Lagos, they have refused to upload the results for the presidential election, they have uploaded that of the Senate and House of Representatives but for the presidential, they have refused.

And they are using the police to drive our agents and supporters out of the place. And they said that they have firm instruction from INEC headquarters not to upload.

For example, in Kosofe, they put the collation centre in a Local Government Area Headquarters.

The place is sorrounded by APC and people are afraid of their life. They are not uploading, they said that they have been giving instruction to insist that the BVAS is faulty. And most of the places we won, but they have refused to upload.

As I speak, APC officials are in Yaba office of INEC negotiating with the officials. What I have said now is happening in Agege, Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Surulere, we have this situation all over. In Ibeju Lekki, our local government chairman who attempted to stop them was arrested by the police.”

Abure said that similar situation is playing out across the collation centres in Delta state.

The Labour Party chairman, however, called on INEC to ensure that only genuine and verifiable results generated from the various polling units should uploaded.

Politics

Gunmen attack polling units, burn ballot papers in Lagos

No Comments

Some unknown gunmen, on Saturday, attacked and disrupted the presidential and National Assembly elections at some cluster units in Mafoluku, Oshodi area of Lagos.

It was gathered that about six gunmen came on motorcycles to the area and started shooting to scare away the voters.

The gunmen attacked Owoseni, Ijaye, Branco, Owolabi, and Fadeyi streets, among others that formed the cluster units, collected some of the ballot boxes containing papers already thumb printed and set them on fire.

“The unknown gunmen came in around noon and started shooting. They collected some of the thumb-printed ballot papers and set them on fire.

“The hoodlums ran away when armed police and soldiers arrived at the place,” Mr Jonah Obisanya, an electorate said.

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Idowu Owohunwa, who visited the area at about 1:07 p.m., evacuated 25 ad-hoc INEC officials from the units attacked and took them to the police command headquarters.

The officials were later taken to Oshodi Local Government Council with electoral materials.Mr Owohunwa said some suspects had been arrested in different parts of the state for electoral offences.

He, however, did not mention the number of arrests made, stressing that a vast number of people arrested will be made known to the public.

The police boss said that the exercise has been peaceful in most parts of the state despite pockets of violence in some areas.

He said that some of the violence observed in some areas were expected, stressing that special squads were put in place to immediately check them.

The police boss said no one died in the crisis so far, pointing out that security had been beefed up in the areas concerned.

Some of the ad hoc staff that sustained injuries were treated by the police medical unit at the state command.

Lifestyle, Politics

Five injured as Boko Haram attacks Borno voters

No Comments

The police command in Borno has confirmed that five persons sustained injuries in an attack coordinated by Boko Haram insurgents in the Gwoza Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner of Police (CP) in the state, Abdu Umar, confirmed the incident in an interview on Saturday in Maiduguri, the state capital.

He said the terrorists fired several gunshots targeting voters from the top of Mandara Mountains, adding that five persons sustained injuries in the attack.

Mr Umar said the victims comprised two females and three males.

“Efforts of the military within the area of responsibility helped in chasing the terrorists, forcing them to flee due to the superior firepower,” he said.

The CP said that normalcy has since been restored as the voting exercise continued while the victims were referred to the hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, the Network of Civil Society Organisations in Borno (NECSOB) has expressed optimism about the turnout of voters in the presidential and National Assembly elections.

The group chairman, Bulama Abiso, who led a team of observers for the election, described the turnout as “encouraging”.

Politics

#NigeriaElections2023: Voters in Onitsha stranded as INEC officials yet to arrive

No Comments

Voters in many polling units in Onitsha and Nkpor cities of Anambra State are currently stranded as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission have yet to arrive in the area.

When the correspondent visited Ward 6, polling unit 024 at Bridge Head, Onitsha around 11:25 am, the voters were seen expressing disappointment at the non-arrival of the INEC officials as they were running out of patient.

Also, at the 064 Borehole Polling Unit located at the Sisters’ Convent, Nkpor, voters were seen waiting impatiently for the arrival of the INEC officials and their materials as of 11:25am.

One of the aggrieved sisters, Mary Amanda Nwagbo, told newsmen that they had been waiting since 9 a.m. to no avail.

They frowned on the attitude of the electoral umpire to their community while accusing them of trying to disenfranchise them in the election.

“It is almost 12noon and no INEC official around on this polling unit. What do you call that if not an attempt to frustrate us and stop us from voting our candidate,” one of the voters lamented.

Politics

#NigeriaElections2023: ICPC arrests man with N2m old, new notes in Bauchi

No Comments

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission has arrested a man with N2 million old and new naira notes in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The suspect, Hassan Ahmad, was arrested on Friday with the cash piled in a ‘Ghana Must Go’ bag while driving in a tinted Hilux vehicle.

He was on his way to Gombe from Bauchi State when he was arrested. The money was allegedly being taken to a politician.

The anti-graft agency disclosed this in a thread of tweets on its Twitter handle, @icpcnigeria, titled: “ICPC Takes Custody Of N2m Being Ferried To A Politician.”

It said that the suspect was intercepted by troops of the 33 Artillery Brigade code named: Operation Safe Conduct deployed to Alkaleri LGAin Bauchi, and was handed over to the ICPC.

According to the Commission, the suspect was in possession of N900,000 new notes and N1.1 million old notes. The agency did not, however, disclose the identity of the politician.

It said;

“The Bauchi State Office of ICPC has taken into custody one Hassan Ahmad in possession of the sum of two million naira cash in both old and new currencies amidst the cash crunch being witnessed in the country.

“The suspect was arrested on Friday by the Troops of 33 Artillery Brigade Operation Safe Conduct deployed to Alkaleri in Bauchi State and handed over to the Bauchi State Office of the anti-graft agency.

“Ahmad was in possession of N900,000 cash in new naira notes and N1.1 million in old naira notes and the funds were being conveyed in a tinted black Hilux vehicle with registration number JMA 85 AZ.

“The funds, which were packed in a ‘Ghana Must Go’ bag, comprise six bundles of one thousand naira new notes of N600,000; six bundles of five hundred naira new notes of N300,000, and old two hundred naira notes of N1.1 million.

“The suspect has confessed that the funds were being moved to Gombe State for a politician.”

Politics

#2023NigeriaElections- Wike unable to vote as BVAS network fails

No Comments

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, was on Saturday, unable to cast vote at his polling unit 7, Ward 9, Wimpey Junction, Rumuepirikom, Port Harcourt, Rivers State as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System network failed.The governor arrived at his polling unit with his entourage.

The PUNCH reports that voters’ accreditation began late at the polling unit as election materials and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission were not seen as of 10 am.

Politics

Lagos Deputy Gov Casts Vote, Addresses Journalists

No Comments

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, speaks with journalists after casting his votes at exactly 10:15 am in Ward A4 Unit 002 Oke Balogun Central Mosque, Epe.

Politics

Voters lament election delay in Ikorodu

No Comments

Some voters at polling unit 019, Ita Aro square, Aga/Ijimu ward in Ikorodu, Lagos Sate, have lamented the delay in the commencement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections at the polling unit.

The voters, who spoke with our correspondent, expressed worries that the election officials, who were already behind schedule, had yet to begin the preliminary processes that would precede the voting exercise.

A voter, who identified himself as Ola Makinde, said the delayed arrival of the election officers was becoming a cause for concern.

Makinde said, “They are supposed to be here by now. All the boxes and other election materials should have been arranged by now.”

As of 9:33 am, there was no INEC official in sight, neither were any security officers seen.

Voters, many of whom were aged, were seen sitting on plastic chairs while hemp-smoking hoodlums paraded the venue of the polls, arguing intermittently as voters continued to anticipate the arrival of INEC officials.

The Deputy Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Funke Akindele, is expected to cast her vote at the polling unit sometime later today.

Politics

#NigeriaElections2023- INEC officials arrive Shettima’s polling unit two hours late

No Comments

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission arrived at polling unit 023, Alhaji Kukawa, Lawan Bukar area of Maiduguri metropolis, at 10:42 am.

The venue is the polling unit of All Progressives Congress vice presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima.

The officials who arrived in a grey Toyota Camry 2015 model and a Mercedes C180, are coming two hours after 08:30 am; the time when voting should have begun as the INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, announced Friday.

It was observed that the officials who came in the company of security against set up the polling booth, as the waiting electorate queued for accreditation and voting.

About an hour earlier, Shettima arrived at the same spot but left soon after discovering that INEC officials were yet to arrive.He is billed to return as voting is now in progress.

Politics

Large turnout of voters in FCT satellite towns as INEC officials, electoral materials yet to arrive

No Comments

Voters in Lugbe, Sauka and Tudun wada, satellite towns in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) turned out en masses early Saturday, awaiting the arrival of INEC officials.

The voters, who were seen in groups, were calm and patient after taking numbers in the order they arrived their polling units.

Security personnel were also seen roving the airport road and most polling units, while few persons were seen at deserted bus stops.

A voter, Friday Okwudili who spoke to NAN, said that he was encouraged by the turnout of voters for the election.

“The anxiety among the electorate is very encouraging; we just pray that our votes will count at the end of the day.

“I have been here as early as 6.30 a.m, and I am eager to cast my vote for candidates of my choice,” he said.

Omolara Thompson said she could not afford to sit at home today because she had to vote for the president of the country.

“I can’t afford to sit at home today, I have to choose a president that will rule the country for another four years,” she said.

Maxwell Ugo said that he had waited for today and could not afford not to come out to perform his civic responsibility.

“As a Nigerian, it is my duty to vote for any candidate of my choice, that is why I am here today,” he said.

Also speaking, Fedelis Okon, said that it was the right of every Nigerian to vote during election to elect a president of their choice.

Vans belonging to security operatives including the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Immigration, Army, were sited around polling units to ensure adequate security.

There is a massive voters turnout, especially youths at most polling units in Nyanya, an FCT satellite town.

Although accreditation is yet to begin at the polling units visited, there is a large presence of young people anxiously waiting to be accredited to exercise their franchise.

During a visit to the polling units it was also observed that electoral officers had taken delivery of election materials.

However, some polling units presiding officers (POs) said that some political party agents were yet to arrive the voting centres.

The polling units visited include 005, 039,038, 024, 026 and 064,008.Our correspondents observed the presence of heavily armed and unarmed security personnel.

The security personnel on ground at the units included Nigeria Army, Nigeria Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Ijokpu Joseph , Presiding Officer for polling unit 039 said he was waiting to login into the INEC portal to begin accreditation by 8:30 a.m.

He also said that every material required for the conduct of the election had arrived at the unit and urged intending voters to be orderly when accreditation and voting begins.

Politics

Don’t accept inducements, NYSC warns corps members

No Comments

The National Youth Service Corps has warned corps members against accepting financial and material inducements during Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

The NYSC Director General, Brigadier General YD Ahmed, gave the warning on Friday while addressing the corps members during sensitisation in Abuja, which was also held concurrently in all states of the federation.

The DG, who urged the corp members to be part of history as good ambassadors of their institutions, families and the NYSC, assured them of adequate security and an improved welfare package.

Ahmed also implored the corps members to abide by the electoral laws, adding that they were not immune from being prosecuted for electoral offenses.

“Never accept to board any vehicle that is not provided by INEC. You must be neutral and be just in whatever assignment is given to you.

You must be in your NYSC uniform with identification cards. Remember that you are not immunned against any wrongdoing.

“Ensure that you don’t move alone in order not to endanger yourself, maintain personal security, and use the NYSC Distress Call number in case of any emergency”, the DG said.

Ahmed also advised the corps members to avoid any political arguments or granting press interviews.

The DG noted that corps members’ involvement in previous elections and other national assignments had attracted tremendous commendation for the scheme.

Politics

NSCDC deploys 4,000 operatives for election in Kaduna

No Comments

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed 4,000 operatives to provide security during Saturday’s presidential and national assembly elections in Kaduna.

This is contained in a statement on Friday by DSC Habeeb Badamasi, spokesman for the NSCDC, Kaduna command.

NSCDC commandant Idris Adah explained that the massive deployment of personnel in the state was to ensure the safety of life and property, said the statement, adding that Mr Adah appealed to residents to come out en mass to exercise their franchise without fear.

Mr Adah mentioned that the command had constituted a monitoring team that would go round the 23 council areas of the state to ensure the security of voters and election officials.

The NSCDC commandant said the team would also track and arrest anyone involved in election malpractice.

“We have deployed the Anti-Vandals Squad to all critical national assets and infrastructure in the state to protect the assets against vandalism by criminal elements before, during and after the elections,” added Mr Adah.

The commandant also revealed that undercover operatives would work in the background to support the team and other security agencies with credible intelligence to tackle any security issue.

Mr Adah advised residents to provide useful information about criminal elements and those involved in election malpractice for appropriate action.

Politics

INEC advised to be punctual on election day

No Comments

An Enugu-based NGO, African Network For Peace And Good Governance (ANPG), has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the early arrival of voting materials and INEC officials at the polling centres on election days.

The group also calls on the commission to develop and adopt workable measures that will ensure the functionality of the Bi-Modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) during the polls.

This is contained in a statement signed by the group’s executive director, Bede Aneke, on Friday.

Mr Aneke noted that repeated reports of the late arrival of INEC officials and materials, malfunctioning of smart card readers, and late accreditation had affected the previous elections, thereby disenfranchising some voters.

He urged the election umpires to ensure that all eligible voters were not prevented from casting their ballots due to the challenges.

The director noted that since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, the country had conducted six general elections, pointing out that there had been reports of the late arrival of INEC officials and voting materials in each of the polls.

He said in the 2015 general elections, the polling process commenced at 8:00 a.m., which entailed authentication of PVCs, fingerprints and verification in the voter register.

“But (the) majority of the polling units commenced the process behind schedule and some even at 10:30 a.m., two hours late,” said Mr Aneke.

He cited an example with the Anambra governorship election. YIAGA Africa, an election observer, noted that 28 per cent of the polling units commenced accreditation as scheduled, and voting began at 10:30 a.m.

According to the group, the late arrival of election officials, materials, accreditation, and voting had denied thousands of voters the right to exercise their civic responsibility.

While commending INEC for the introduction of BVAS, the director tasked the commission to ensure the conduct of free, fair and credible polls.

Close Menu
Exit mobile version

Privacy Policy