PDP Loses Woefully At Fayose's Polling Unit, Ward

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lost woefully in Afao Ekiti, Irepodun Ifelodun Local Government Area, the ward of Ayodele Fayose, immediate past Governor of Ekiti State.

At Fayose’s polling unit at St David’s Primary School, Alhaji Hakeem Jamiu, APC’s candidate in Irepodun/Ifelodun constituency (2), polled 168 votes against PDP’s Sunday Omosilade, who got a disappointing 26 votes.

PDP lost the ward to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
At Fayose’s polling unit at St David’s Primary School, Alhaji Hakeem Jamiu, APC’s candidate in Irepodun/Ifelodun constituency (2), polled 168 votes against PDP’s Sunday Omosilade, who got a disappointing 26 votes.
Omosilade, who was Fayose’s personal assistant, had notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of his intention to withdraw from the race, citing lack of confidence in the neutrality of the commission to conduct free and fair elections.
However, INEC rejected his letter of withdrawal, stating that he should have withdrawn at least 45 days before the poll, as contained in the provisions of the Electoral Act.
At Units 15 and 003, Igbemo ward, APC polled 171 and 335 votes, respectively, while PDP polled 0 votes in both units.

PDP also lost in Fayose's his Afao/Araromi ward, as APC scored 648 votes against PDP’s 67 votes.

Desmond Elliot re-elects

Elliot emerged winner with 15,357 votes.

Desmond Elliot, Nollywood actor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the Surulere 1 Constituency of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has been declared the winner of the election.

Dr. Bolajoko Dixon-Ogbechi of the University of Lagos, the Returning Officer, made the declaration on Sunday at the Surulere Local Government Collation Centre in Lagos.
A few days to the election, Elliot had been the subject of a controversy on social media after he commissioned a biofil toilet in his area, with numerous Twitter users pillorying him for celebrating a project they considered ordinary.
However Elliot emerged winner with 15,357 votes, while Benjamin Olasunkanmi, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), came second with 3,628 votes.
“That Desmond Olusola Elliot of APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared winner and is returned elected,” Dixon-Ogbechi said.
Shitta-Bey Oluwarotimi of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) came third with 116 votes; Dawodu Oluwaseyi of Accord Party came fourth with 65 votes, while Makanjuola Olaseni of Youth Party came fifth with 59 votes.
Dixon-Ogbechi said the total number of registered voters in the constituency was 134,939, while accredited voters were 20,340.
Valid votes were 19,357, while the total number of rejected votes was 973.

“The total number of votes cast was 20,330 while the results of six units at Igbaja/Stadium with RA number 06 were cancelled due to over voting. So, the total number of votes cancelled in the affected areas were 4,091,” she said.

Makinde beats Adelabu in His Local Govt

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Seyi Makinde, won in the Ibadan South-East Local Government, where his counterpart in the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, hails from. PDP polled 24,556 votes to beat APC to a distant second of 13,277 votes.


The result was declared by the Collation Officer for the local government, Dr Abiodun Olapade, on Sunday at the Independent National Electoral Commission’s office in Ibadan.Elections results were cancelled in Ward 9, Unit 05; Ward 11, Unit 019; Ward 9, Unit 05, Ward 10, Unit 02 and Ward 2 Unit 02 due to disruption of voting and over-voting.

Kano INEC Headquarters floods with Armed soldiers for security purpose

…Collation/ return of statewide results is set to begin

Security has been beefed up around the Kano State Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

This is sequel to preparations towards the commencement of the collation and return of results of Saturday’s governorship elections from the 44 local government areas of the state.

Our correspondent who is currently at the Collation Centre reports that armed soldiers have taken up positions along all major entry and exit points around the INEC headquarters.

READ ALSO: Live Updates: Governorship, houses of assembly elections’ results

Party agents and representatives of the media are already seated waiting for electoral officials to begin the exercise.

The state police command and sister security agencies patrolled the streets of the ancient city in a show of force earlier in the day.

It was learnt that the patrol was meant to send a note of warning to would-be trouble makers of the readiness of security officials to deal with situations as they arise.

INEC receives results of Lagos Gov polls from 10 LGAs

Results of Saturday’s governorship election from 10 out of the 20 local government areas of Lagos have arrived at the state collation centre of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Yaba as at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday.
Prof. Eyintope Ogunbodede, Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University and State Returning Officer for Lagos governorship election, said that results of each local government would be presented by local government collation officers in company of INEC council electoral officers.
He promised to be transparent, describing the process as very crucial and assured that all should be satisfied at the end.
The 10 LGAs whose results have arrived at the state collation centre were: Lagos Island, Somolu, Agege, Kosofe, Epe, Apapa, Ikeja, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos Mainland and Amuwo-Odofin.

Journalists, security officials and observers are among other stakeholders waiting for the commencement of the collation.

INEC Stranded As Ad Hoc Staff Fail To Turn Up In Ibadan For Fear Of Attack

"Many of the ad hoc staff that we used during the presidential and national assembly elections have all refused to show up," an INEC official said.

No certificate of return for candidates declared winner under duress – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission has said it will not issue Certificates of Return to candidates in places where its officials are held hostage or forced to declare winners under duress in the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections on Saturday (tomorrow).

The commission also threatened to record zero vote and cancel the results of polling units where its personnel deliberately failed to deploy the Smart Card Readers.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this on Thursday during the meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security held at the commission’s Conference Room in Abuja.

Yakubu said, “The commission is concerned that many of our materials, including ballot boxes, voting cubicles, voter registers and Smart Card Readers were lost to acts of hooliganism and thuggery in the elections held two weeks ago. Most worrisome is the attack on electoral officials.

“Some of our staff were abducted and taken hostage in an attempt to disrupt elections or influence the outcome. In fact, some of the supplementary elections were caused by such acts of thuggery.

“I am confident that working together with the security agencies, we will consolidate the largely peaceful conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly elections while also taking decisive steps to deal with the minority of violators’ intent on disrupting the conduct of peaceful elections.

“However, the commission will not tolerate the act of holding our officials hostage and forcing them to declare winners under duress. Where such occurs, the commission will not reward bad behaviour by issuing them Certificates of Return.

“We have once again reconfigured the Smart Card Readers for the elections on Saturday. The use of the card readers is mandatory and there will be no exemption to their deployment for accreditation of voters.

“Under our regulations and guidelines, there are clear penalties for the deliberate failure to deploy them on the part of our members of staff. Where such happens with the connivance of communities, the result of election in the polling unit(s) will be cancelled and zero vote will be recorded.”

According to him, governorship election would be conducted in 29 states, state assembly poll will elect 991 members of Houses of Assembly in all the states of the Federation, six Chairmen as well as 62 councillors for the Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory.

The INEC chairman said that in addition to elections into 1,082 constituencies nationwide, the commission would conduct supplementary elections in 14 states of the federation covering seven Senatorial Districts and 24 federal constituencies.

The supplementary elections, he said, were necessitated by electoral fraud, violence and thuggery perpetrated by political thugs and politicians in the February 23 elections.

The INEC chairman also stated that materials for the polls on Saturday had been delivered to all states and the FCT.

With this arrangement, Yakubu said the commission was confident that all polling units would open at 8am nationwide.

INEC also hinted that Cs of R for governors and deputy-governors-elect, members of state Houses of Assembly-elect and chairmen and councillors for the FCT “shall be presented in each state of the federation by the Supervising National Commissioners and the Resident Electoral Commissioners on a date to be announced next week.

For Senatorial Districts and Federal Constituencies in which winners have already emerged, Yakubu said the commission would issue their Certificates of return  next week.

He said, “On behalf of the commission, I extend our deepest condolence to the families of those who lost their lives, including personnel of the security agencies. We are glad that the police have made several arrests and investigation is ongoing.

“I wish to assure Nigerians that the commission will work closely with the police to ensure the diligent prosecution of all violators of our electoral laws. Citizens are asking for effective but non-intrusive protection before, during and immediately after the elections in which their rights are respected and their choices safeguarded.”

Campaigns end, 29 states to elect governors on Saturday

Meanwhile, campaigns for Saturday’s polls ended officially on Thursday.

 According to the timetable released by INEC, the campaigns which started on December 1, 2018, would have ended on February 28 but for the postponement of the election from March 2 to March 9.

Seven states whose governors have yet to serve out their terms will not take part in the exercise.

The states are Anambra, Bayelsa, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Edo and Kogi.

But elections into the various seats in state Houses of Assembly will hold in the 36 states of the federation.

In all, 1,158 governorship candidates will contest the governorship positions in the 29 states, while 14, 643 candidates will contest 991 posts in the various state Houses of Assembly.

Although almost all registered political parties are taking part in the elections at the state level, the contest is a straight fight between the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.

The states to look out for, however, include Ogun where the state governor, Ibikunle Amosun of the APC, is supporting the governorship candidate of the Allied People’s Movement, Adekunle Akinlade.

Akinlade will be slugging it out with the APC governorship candidate, Dapo Abiodun.

The PDP is in crisis in the state. While INEC recognises Buruji Kashamu as the party’s candidate based on court order, the national leadership of the party is backing Ladi Adebutu.

Similar scenario is playing out in Imo State where Governor Rochas Okorocha, though of the APC, is supporting the governorship candidate of Action Alliance, Uche Nwosu.

It is a straight contest among Nwosu; the candidate of the APC, Hope Uzodinma; and that of the PDP, Emeka Ihedioha.

Although the APC in the state had adopted the governorship candidate of Africa Action Congress, Awara Biokpomabo, for the election, it is yet to be seen if that can pose any serious challenge to Wike.

In Lagos State, the APC candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and PDP’s Jimi Agbaje, are the leading contestants.

In Oyo State, APC’s candidate, Adebayo Adelabu, has Seyi Makinde of the PDP as his main challenger.

Group Supports Atiku's opinion to challenge presidential election’s result

Abuja –

Mr Dickson Iroegbu, the spokesperson of a political pressure group, the Better Nigeria Group (BNG), says the group supports the decision of Atiku Abubakar, the defeated PDP presidential candidate, to challenge the outcome of the Feb. 23 presidential election in court.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar Iroegbu disclosed this while addressing newsmen on Monday in Abuja. He said the group’s support was taken following hours of deliberation and consultation with stakeholders and sampling of opinions of Nigerians on the election.
Iroegbu said that the decision of Abubakar to go to court was not just about him but for Nigerians who voted for him in the election. He said that the alleged irregularities, if allowed to stand unchallenged, would affect the country’s democracy. “We therefore wish to support the candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, to immediately resort to approach the court for redress as this will strengthen our democracy.
“This is in a bid to claim the mandate which the people overwhelmingly gave to him through the ballot box. Promasidor supports families of children with disabilities “We frown seriously at the perceived contemplation that going to court means reneging on the peace accord.
“We understand that the courts are a part of a democratic process and reaching out to them for perceived grievances does not in any way mean war. “It is important that the PDP candidate realises and consistently keeps in his memory that it is not about him, but those who have given him the mandate.
“While we understand that he may be under tremendous pressure not to approach the court, we want to remind him that anything short of that shall be tantamount to abandonment of the people’s mandate and shall be a huge disappointment.
“There really could not be true peace in the face of so much injustice.
To ask for justice so that there may be peace, was only a short term measure. “This could be likened to dressing a dirty wound. It will never heal.
“The possible long term impact of allowing this to stay unchallenged, is so huge that the country may never recover from its impact,” he said.
Iroegbu called on the judiciary to consider the case on its merit, by the time it would be eventually filed, saying the people shall be watching keenly as the events unfold. He said that the destiny and future of Nigeria were now in the hands of the judiciary.
Iruegbu condemned the death of innocent citizens on the election day in the course of performing their basic civic responsibility.
“We call on all stakeholders of project Nigeria to keep faith and rise to the occasion to defend our democracy and the processes that sustain it.”

Atiku, with more than 11 million votes, suffered a crushing defeat in the hands of APC Presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari who polled more than 15 million votes on Feb. 23 nationwide.

Billionaire Kidnapper Evans Case Is Far Better Than The Satanic Crimes INEC Has Committed Says HURIWA On Presidential Election

HURIWA accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of manipulating the outcomes of the presidential and National Assembly's polls in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and as such committed “more egregious and satanic crimes than the alleged billionaire kidnapper, Mr. Evans”.

he Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), a pro-democracy and non-governmental body, has described the just-concluded presidential and National Assembly election is a “charade and a monumental travesty of justice”.
The group has also encouraged Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to explore the legal option that he has alraedy said he would.
HURIWA accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of manipulating the outcomes of the presidential and National Assembly's polls in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and as such committed “more egregious and satanic crimes than the alleged billionaire kidnapper, Mr. Evans”.
According to the group, "the double standards show that Nigeria is an unjust community of individuals that support travesty of justice committed by the elite but would very rapidly carry out mob justice on petty criminals".
The group cited instances in which they accused the President of tampering with the rule of law, such as the “unconstitutional suspension of Justice Walter Onnoghen over nebulous charges and his (Buhari's) persistent disobedience of several court orders in the cases of erstwhile National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, and the leader of Shiites Islamic Movement, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky”.
HURIWA also accused Buhari of deploying the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) to “intimidate and sow fear” in the minds of judicial officers.
A media statement by the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, and the head of legal, Barrister Sylvia Nneka Okonkwo, referred to the presidential election as “the most predatory and roguish political enterprise that has ever happened in the twenty century world".
The statement read: “The election was anything but peaceful, transparent, free and fair, just as the collation of results at the national level was choreographed to appear like a scenario whereby a robbery gang took their time to allocate the looted fund to themselves whereas the victims are left to agonise and pass through trauma. The European and so-called observers from ECOWAS, AU and Commonwealth were bribed to endorse the sham elections by INEC.
“The election witnessed the most brazen acts of deprivation of the right to vote technically and systematically implemented by INEC against the southern voters and most especially, voters bearing Christian names because of the widespread perception that Christians would normally not vote for a government that did nothing to stop the genocide against them by armed Fulani herdsmen.
“HURIWA condemned the electoral violence that trailed the polls in Kogi, Rivers, Bayelsa, Lagos and the deliberate disenfranchisement of Igbo voters in Lagos and Sabon Gari, Kano by the political godfathers of those states in collusion with INEC. HURIWA stated that the pains of the manipulation of the election may take years to heal but the group has called on like-minded ideological citizens to organize themselves and champion the cause of achieving total electoral reforms to make the electoral body truly independent.
“HURIWA has therefore called on the police to arrest and prosecute all those who disrupted the polls as captured by the vigilant cameras of patriotic Nigerians which are circulating on verified accounts of several credible statesmen and women of truth.

“Sweeping the organized crimes that happened during the elections behind the carpets of impunity is no longer an option. We condemn all those who are gloating and celebrating over the results of the election which, in all honesty is worse, than the crimes ascribed to the Evans, the billionaire kidnapper.”

Muhammadu Buhari extends lead

President Muhammadu Buhari has extended his lead as votes are being counted in Nigeria's general election, amid allegations of manipulation.

Mr Buhari has won 13 of Nigeria's 36 states, while his rival Atiku Abubakar has taken 11 states and the capital, Abuja.

APC supporters have been celebrating the early results

As results came in, Mr Abubakar's People's Democratic Party (PDP) alleged that there have been irregularities.
Party chair Uche Secondus called the count "incorrect and unacceptable".
He said there had been an "attempt by the government and other agencies to manipulate the result", but did not give any evidence.
After the results from 24 states and the capital had been declared, Mr Buhari had a 1.5 million-vote lead, but the results from the states in the south-east, the PDP heartland, had not yet been announced.

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The EU, US and African Union have all expressed concern about delays and logistical problems with voting on Saturday, but no independent observers have suggested fraud.
Mr Buhari, a member of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) party, is seeking re-election but faces a strong challenge from Mr Abubakar.
Each party says the other is working with the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) to influence the vote, which was initially scheduled for 16 February but delayed at the last minute.
Mr Buhari has promised to build on his accomplishments in office so far, while Mr Abubakar, a business tycoon, has accused the president of wasting his term.
Whoever wins in Africa's most populous nation and largest economy faces a range of problems including power shortages, corruption, security threats, and an economic slowdown.

INEC suspends announcement of results in Akpabio’s senatorial district

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the announcement of results in Akwa Ibom North-West District, where Godswill Akpabio contested for re-election.
An INEC official in the state told PREMIUM TIMES, Sunday night, that Mr Akpabio’s challenger, Chris Ekpenyong of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was leading in the results announced so far before the commission took a decision to suspend further announcement.
“We are having some issues with the election in Essien Udim Local Government Area,” said the official who did not want his name mentioned in this report because he was not authorised to speak on the matter.
“If we accept the results from the local government area, Akpabio’s votes will overshoot that of Chris Ekpenyong.
“There are issues in the results which we are yet to be resolved,” the official said.
Messrs Akpabio and Ekpenyong are yet to speak on the development.

Essien Udim, where Mr Akpabio comes from, is said to be one of the local government areas with a large voter’s population in the state.
The senator in a result released on Saturday by INEC in his own polling unit, Ukana West Ward 2, scored 1, 533 votes, while Mr Ekpenyong, a former deputy governor of the state, scored just four votes.
Mr Akpabio’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), before the commencement of the elections, had accused the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom, Mike Igini, of being partisan in favour of the PDP.
The APC had called for Mr Igini’s re-deployment from the state.
The PDP responded by saying the APC was agitated because the REC refused to be “compromised” by the party.
Mr Igini has a reputation in Nigeria as being an incorruptible electoral officer.
If Mr Akpabio fails to win re-election, it would be a major political upset in the country.

Buhari defeats Atiku in Kwankwanso’s local govt

Announcing the result on Sunday, the INEC collation officer for the presidenital election in the local government, Sani Umar, said the local government has 84,067 registered voters with 40,764 

accredited voters.

The All Progressive Congress (APC) has won the three elections held on Saturday in the Madobi Local Government Area of Kano State.
A former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, is from the local government.
Mr Kwankwaso is the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano and one of the principal officers of the PDP presidential campaign organisation.
He said APC presidential candidate scored 26,110 while that of PDP got 13,113.
The collation officer for the National Assembly elections, Mansur Bindaw, also announced the Senate result.
In the Senate election, APC scored 22,731 while PDP got 15,913.

According to PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how Mr Kwankwaso’s polling unit was won by PDP. Atiku Abubakar of the PDP scored 278 while President Muhammad Buhari of APC got 215 votes in the polling unit.

APC records zero votes at Ekweremadu’s polling unit

The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has convincingly delivered his polling unit to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with the All Progressives Congress (APC) recording zero votes in the presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives elections.

Mr Ekweremadu, who voted at polling unit 003 at Amachala Primary School, Mpu Ward, Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, polled 490 votes while his main challenger, Juliet Ibekaku-Nwaugwu of the APC, scored zero.
The polling unit, which has a total of 1,287 registered voters, was divided by INEC into polling units 003A and 003B.
At the polling unit 003A where Mr Ekweremadu voted, he scored 265 votes and recorded 225 votes at the polling unit 003B, totalling 490.
In the presidential poll, while Mr Muhammadu Buhari of the APC scored zero, the candidate of the AAC and publisher of Sahara Reporters newspaper, Mr Omoyele Sowore, scored one vote.
PDP’s candidate for the House of Representatives in the constituency, Toby Okechukwu, scored more votes than other candidates at the polling unit including Mr Ekweremadu. Mr Okechukwu scored 492, two votes ahead of the senator.

PREMIUM TIMES reported on Saturday Mr Ekweremadu’s complaints about an alleged shortfall of ballot papers and result sheets in some of the polling units in about two local government areas in the district.
Mr. Ekweremadu, who is seeking re-election into the Senate for the fifth time, had said in spite of the one week extension, lapses were identified in some of the units in his Enugu West Senatorial District.
Shortly, after voting, Mr Ekweremadu told reporters that his contacts across some wards confirmed the lapses, but said he had complained to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He said; “Specifically, I made contacts with Udi Local Government Area and I was told the ballot papers for Senate at Amaupe Ward is yet to arrive and in Uduma Ward 1 and 2, the result sheets are not available. Also in Umuabi ward, they are still looking for result sheets.
“Also in Nnewe Ward 1 and Achunu Ward 3 ballot papers are not complete. But in places where they have started such as this place where I voted it, though they have challenges of card readers initially, you can see now it is very orderly and they have been able to move seamlessly.
“I also learnt that the security situation is still fine and we can only hope that as we move forward it can be sustained,” he added.

Atiku speaks on election results

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has said that with the results collated so far, he is sure of winning the presidential election.

Mr Abubakar stated this on Sunday morning in a statement by his campaign spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu.

“With strong shares of vote in SS, SE as well as an increased share in SW and NC we are very pleased with the progress the PDP has made. We look forward to sharing some exciting news in other parts of the country very soon, which will confound all the armchair pundits,” Mr Shaibu said.

Mr Abubakar is the main challenger to President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress.

See full statement below.

Presidential candidate of the People Democratic Party and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has thanked Nigerians for turning out to vote for him in their millions and confirmed that the initial indications from the PDPs Simultaneous Vote Count show a PDP victory is assured.

Atiku in a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Assistant On Public Communication,Mr. Phrank Shaibu said “I would like to sincerely thank the millions of people who, despite having to bear the additional burden of a postponed election, came out yesterday to vote for me and the other PDP candidates standing in this election.”

The statement said with the PDP’s high tech, cloud-based SVC system – which is able to collate in real-time the results from the 176,000 voting points across the nation – the Presidential candidate could boldly assure his supporters that victory was at hand.

“With strong shares of vote in SS, SE as well as an increased share in SW and NC we are very pleased with the progress the PDP has made. We look forward to sharing some exciting news in other parts of the country very soon, which will confound all the armchair pundits.

The people of Nigeria can take solace that very soon the living Nightmare of the last four years will come to an end so that together we will get Nigeria working again.”

The PDP Presidential candidate urged Nigerians on the need to maximise their eternal vigilance in the next 48 hours to prevent the majority votes recorded at the polling units being disrupted by force by the APC at the collation centres.

“I am familiar with how brazen and the complete lack of shame the APC can exhibit, but even I was shocked to witness just how low they went last night by accusing the PDP of ‘recruiting armed thugs’ to do just that. Why would we want to do that when we are winning?”

“Furthermore I would like to say how proud I was of PDP supporters who conducted themselves so peacefully despite the significant provocations and threats of violence, removal and burning of ballot boxes and the likes.”

The statement also thanked the security forces and election officials who in the main conducted their duties with exemplary professionalism but tasked General Buhari on his promise of a free and fair election.

“General Buhari you have promised our people and the world that you would conduct ‘free, fair and credible elections’ so please call off the wilder elements within your party and deliver on your promise.”

Nigeria’s presidential election: The main candidates

Nigeria’s presidential election on Saturday may feature more than 70 candidates but it is ultimately expected to be a head-to-head between just two men. – Muhammadu Buhari (All Progressives Congress) –

Buhari, Atiku President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar Buhari’s landmark 2015 election victory over Goodluck Jonathan was the first time in Nigerian history that an opposition candidate defeated a sitting president. But the euphoria, goodwill — and expectations — he enjoyed then inevitably dwindled in the transition from opposition to government. Four years ago, Buhari worked to persuade voters they had nothing to fear from his former life as a no-nonsense army general who headed a military government in the 1980s. The self-styled “converted democrat” used that past to good effect, shaking up the military response to Boko Haram’s Islamist insurgency and starting an anti-corruption drive. The 76-year-old has positioned himself as a proponent of “big government”, promising to create 10 million jobs, build much-needed roads, rail and other transport infrastructure. Overall, he is pushing for another four years to finish what he started. But his pledges on security have come under scrutiny, with an increase in Boko Haram attacks in the northeast setting back initial gains, and new security concerns around the country. High levels of inflation, the cost of living and the effects of recession caused by the slump in global oil prices have led to criticisms about his stewardship of the economy. Buhari has also faced charges of authoritarianism, in particular using the state security apparatus to target political opponents accused of graft and rejection of legal due process. On January 25, he suspended the country’s chief justice after he was charged with non-disclosure of assets, leading to charges of executive meddling in the judiciary. Many critics called that an “attempted coup against the judiciary” — emotive words in a country which has seen six successful military coups since independence in 1960. But uppermost in many people’s minds has been Buhari’s ability to serve another term — and keep his grip on power — after he spent nearly six months undergoing medical treatment abroad. Buhari, from Daura, in the northern state of Katsina, divorced his first wife, Safinatu, with whom he had five children. Aisha, whom he married in 1989, is his second wife. They also have five children. – Atiku Abubakar (Peoples Democratic Party) – Atiku Abubakar is well-known to Nigerian voters, having been vice president under Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007, and is a serial presidential contender. The 72-year-old businessman has outlined a number of free market reforms and is seen by some as the candidate most likely to turn around Nigeria’s economic fortunes. His pledges include privatising the leviathan state-run oil firm, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, floating the naira national currency and abolishing multiple exchange rates. Abubakar has deliberately courted younger voters online, revealing personal details such as his love of Arsenal football club, the music of Fela Kuti and Spiderman. He has repeatedly characterised Buhari as old, infirm and out of touch and championed education initiatives, including his creation of an elite university in his home state. But he has long been dogged by allegations of corruption dating back to his time as head of the customs service and time as Obasanjo’s deputy. Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) has highlighted allegations of electoral malpractices under the Obasanjo/Abubakar regime, and failed privatisation schemes. His campaign team sought to debunk the widespread belief that he could not travel to the United States for fear of arrest because of his alleged links to corruption claims. But his trip to Washington in January only raised more questions, after it emerged he had engaged a lobbyist linked to US President Donald Trump and stayed at a Trump hotel. Those questions are unlikely to go away should he win. Abubakar, from Adamawa in northeast Nigeria, has three wives, more than 20 children and dozens more grandchildren. Second time lucky? Nigeria prepares for rescheduled vote
Nigeria makes a second attempt to hold presidential and parliamentary elections this weekend, after a last-gasp postponement that angered voters and stoked the political temperature. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will on Saturday try again to stage Africa’s biggest vote, at which President Muhammadu Buhari is seeking a second, four-year term. Challenging him in what is expected to be a close race is Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president. INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu has faced calls to resign since he announced the one-week delay just hours before polling was due to begin last Saturday. But he has since tried to calm nerves, insisting the body remains “on course” to overcome the logistical problems that hampered delivery of election materials. “I want to reassure you that elections will hold on Saturday,” he told a news conference in Abuja on Thursday. “There won’t be another postponement.” – Suspicions – All eyes will be on the nearly 120,000 polling stations when they open at 0700 GMT to see if the correct ballot boxes, papers and results sheets have been delivered — and on time. IT specialists have worked round-the-clock to reconfigure some 180,000 machines that are needed to check biometric identity cards, and allow people to vote. Just over 84 million voters have been registered this year, although INEC said 11.2 million (13.7 percent) had failed to pick up their permanent voters’ cards (PVCs). There are more people with cards than at the last election. However, the uncollected cards will likely add to fears about a lower turn-out and do little to alleviate persistent fears of fraud. Many Nigerians travel from commercial centres such as Lagos to their home towns and villages. Fewer people are expected to be able to afford to do so again — or want to. At the last elections in 2015, there were 67.4 million registered voters. Buhari, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), won 15.4 million of the 28.5 million valid votes cast. Repeated delays in the distribution and collection of identity cards this time have led to suspicions of skullduggery and conspiracy between the parties and INEC. Both the APC and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been accused of trying to buy the cards, with a view to rig the result. At governorship elections in southwest Nigeria last year, it was claimed the APC and PDP were offering 3,000 to 5,000 naira ($8-13, 7-12 euros) per card.

Thousands of PVCs and card readers have been destroyed in three suspicious fires at separate INEC offices in central and southeast Nigeria. Yakubu has said there is “no evidence that the commission has been sabotaged”, despite a whirlwind of accusations that INEC has been compromised that could hit the vote’s credibility. – Security fears – At 76 and 72, Buhari and Abubakar are the oldest of 73 presidential candidates and are standing in what could be the last elections of their long political careers. Both have been fixtures on Nigeria’s political landscape for decades, through the turbulent decades of military rule to the return to civilian rule in 1999. Just over half of all registered voters are aged 18-35, reflecting the country’s increasingly young population. No date has been given for the results, but an announcement is expected from early next week. Buhari, a former military ruler, has again positioned himself as the candidate to tackle multiple security challenges, including Boko Haram Islamists, and endemic corruption. He also wants another four years to complete much-needed road and rail infrastructure projects and expand social mobility schemes, including micro-finance for the poorest. Abubakar, meanwhile, is seen as a pro-business free marketeer, whose main pledges have been to privatise state-run companies and float the embattled naira currency. The past has come back to haunt both candidates, with Abubakar dogged by his alleged links to corruption cases in the United States and Buhari claims of creeping authoritarianism. Earlier this month he suspended Nigeria’s chief justice after he was charged with corruption. But with the Supreme Court he presides over likely to rule on any election petition, many suspected a political motive. Uppermost in many voters’ minds on Saturday will be on safety, with tensions running high that increases the chance of violence, particularly in swing states. Buhari this week said he had ordered the police and the military to be “ruthless” with vote-riggers and ballot-snatchers. The army, which is not responsible for election security, has backed Buhari but Abubakar has said “the era of dictatorship and military rule.”

To enjoy 50% fare slash, travellers must show their PVC, says NURTW

The National Union of Road Transport Workers has said that though it promised a 50 per cent transport fare slash for those who might be travelling for the rescheduled elections, only travellers who have their Permanent Voter Cards to show will enjoy the benefit.
The NURTW Lagos State chairman, Tajudeen Agbede, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday that the directive was to cushion the effects of last weekend’s election postponement.
“Our members have been directed, especially those plying inter-state routes, to give a 50 per cent discount to those travelling out of Lagos for the elections,” Agbede said.

He spoke to NAN after the union’s State Executives Meeting.
However, he stated, “To enjoy the 50 per cent discount, a prospective traveller is expected to show his/her Permanent Voter Card to the driver before he/she would be allowed to enjoy the discount.
“This is the directive from the national headquarters of our union.
“It will be carried out in all inter-state parks in the country which is part of our contribution to the electoral process,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Arik Air has also reduced its flight fare to N16,000 to ensure that eligible voters travel to cast their votes

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INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC) REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES FOR THE CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS

INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC) HAS RELEASED THE REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES FOR THE CONDUCT OF THE FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS.

GRAB A COPY GUIDELINES FROM HERE:
 https://www.goodbooksafrica.com/2019/02/independent-national-electoral.html