Nigeria Election: Hoodlums attack PDP Senator

Senator Suleiman Adokwe, representing Nasarawa South Senatorial Zone, was attacked by hoodlums on Sunday in Lafia.

Adokwe, the Senate Committee Chairman on Information, said he was attacked at St. Williams Primary School Lafia, the collation Centre for Gayam Ward.

The senator said the incident occurred when he went out to see what was happening following a report from his agents that government officials were seen at the collation centre trying to influence the result of the polls.

He said all through Saturday night, he had also been getting reports of ballot stealing and stuffing across the zone.

“When my agent at the Gayam Ward collation Centre, Lafia, called to intimate me at about 1:00 p.m. of the presence of some state government officials there, I decided to go there and see things for myself.

“On sighting me, some hoodlums around the centre started shouting that I should go away, that I was not from Lafia and as such I did not belong there.

“Before I could understand what was happening, they started rushing at me with clubs, stones, and spear.

“It took divine intervention for me to escape with my life.

“He decried the violent dimension the electoral process was taking in the state and called on the Police to act accordingly,” he said.

Adokwe, however, said he had reported the attempt on his life to the Police.

Commissioner of Police in the state Bola Longe, confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the senator called to inform him of the incident.

Longe promised to investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to justice.

He reiterated the commitment of the Police to providing maximum security to all law abiding citizens of the state.

He said the police was not relenting, especially at this period of elections.

“You can see that our men have been everywhere to ensure security of lives and property.

“I had to personally lead a patrol to various parts of the state till about 2:00 a.m. this morning,” Longe added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adokwe, who is seeking his fourth term at the senate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is being challenged by Gov. Umaru Al-Makura, of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Source:http://dailypost.ng/2019/02/24/nigeria-election-hoodlums-attack-pdp-senator/

Buhari Loses At Governor Ambode’s Ward In Lagos

President Muhammadu Buhari

Presidential Candidate of PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has won the election in Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State ward in Epe, polling 2,511 votes to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari of APC, who got 2,367 votes.

Mr Adelaja Odukoya, the INEC Collation Officer, announced the results at INEC collation centre, Iraye, Epe, on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ambode was able to win his Polling Unit 033, Ogunmodede College in Ajaganabe Area, Ward A5, Epe, where APC polled 131 votes as against PDP who got 116 votes.

Also, the PDP Senatorial Candidate, Abiodun Oyefusi, defeated the APC Candidate, Bayo Oshinowo, by 71 votes, with PDP polling 2,557 votes, while APC had 2,488 votes.

The PDP candidate for the House of Representatives, Oye Ayantuga, got 2,597 votes, while Wale Raji of APC polled 2,438 votes.

At Ward 2, Epe, all the PDP candidates also defeated their APC counterparts.

Announcing the results, INEC Collation Officer, Mr Samsideen Jagbojagbo, said Atiku of PDP polled 1,044 votes, while President Buhari of APC had 824 votes.

The PDP Senatorial Candidate, Abiodun Oyefusi, got 1,087 as against Bayo Oshinowo of APC, who polled 935.

Oye Ayantuga, the PDP Candidate for House of Representatives, polled 1,023 votes while his counterpart, Wale Raji, had 855 votes. (NAN)

Source:https://www.tori.ng/news/116972/buhari-loses-at-governor-ambodes-ward-in-lagos.html

Nigeria Decides: Reno Omokri reacts as Atiku’s campaign spokesman, Buba Galadima is whisked away

Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan has reacted to the whisking away of Buba Galadima, a spokesman for the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation.

DAILY POST had reported that Galadima was reportedly whisked away by masked security operatives on Sunday.

Reacting, Omokri in a post on his Twitter page, accused the All Progressives Congress, APC, of demanding for the arrest of Galadima.

“@OfficialAPCNg demands arrest of Buba Galadima at 1PM. DSS arrests him at 2PM. Nigerians are no fools.

“The voice of satan and the hand of lucifer. DSS should just change their name to Armed Wing of APC.

“How many people will they arrest before seeing the handwriting on the wall?”

Source:http://dailypost.ng/2019/02/24/nigeria-decides-reno-omokri-reacts-atikus-campaign-spokesman-buba-galadima-whisked-away/

Collation underway as INEC ad hoc staff killed, another arrested

ABUJA- The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has said it would this evening commence the announcement of results of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, saying in Ekiti, the process had since been concluded and the State Collation Officer was being expected in Abuja.

INEC boss, Mahmood Yakubu

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this Sunday in Abuja while giving an update on the conduct of the elections.

“Meanwhile, collation of results from yesterday’s elections continue nationwide. Almost all the states have concluded RA Collation and are now collating results at the LGA level. Some have commenced state level collation. We expect the state collation officers for the Presidential elections to start arriving at the National Collation Centre later today and early morning tomorrow. Accordingly, the National Collation Centre will be officially declared open today at 6pm. Collation will commence as soon as the results arrive from the states. On this note, I wish to state that Ekiti state has already concluded the process. The state collation officer for the Presidential election is, as we speak, on his way to Abuja with the result of the Presidential election for Ekiti”, he said.

READ ALSO: Nigerians to know their President latest Wednesday – INEC

According to him, the collation officer has also made returns in the National Assembly elections in Ekiti state.

He said though the commission was generally satisfied with the way Nigerians conducted themselves during the exercise, it was disheartening to note the killing of one of its ad hoc staff in Rivers by political thugs.

“While in all these attacks, electoral staff sustained injuries, we have unfortunately recorded the first fatality in Rivers state. An ad hoc staff, Mrs Ibiseki Amachree was hit by a bullet while returning from election duty in Degema. May her soul rest in peace. We condemn this attack and have lodged a comprehensive report with security agencies for expeditious investigation and prosecution of those involved”, he said.

This was as the INEC boss said the commission has also handed over one of its Electoral Officers in Imo to the Police for election duty infractions.

” All election duty personnel have sworn to an oath of neutrality. We have reports of possible dereliction of duty by some electoral officials. They refused to activate or deploy the smart card readers. The failure to fully account for materials for the elections, absconding from duty and a host of other infractions. In Imo state, one of our Electoral Officers had already been handed over to the Police. We will not tolerate violations against, or by our own officials”, he warned.

He spoke of how INEC staff and policemen were held hostage in a place in Rivers, saying he had to immediately initiate their rescue process by calling on the heads of security agencies.

Source:

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/02/collation-underway-as-inec-ad-hoc-staff-killed-another-arrested/

Election Violence: Over 70 Youths Arrested In Abonnema, Says Annkio Briggs

Niger Delta activist and an indigene of Abonnema, Rivers State, Annkio Briggs, says over 70 youths have been arrested following the violence that took place in Abonema, Rivers State on Saturday.

The youths were said to have been arrested by the army who claimed they were thugs.

Beyond the arrests, Briggs said several people were killed on Saturday after the town was invaded by political thugs as well as the Nigerian Army.

This, according to her, prevented residents from exercising their civic responsibility.

“By this action, my people were disenfranchised from voting and my people were killed.

“Yesterday night, through till this afternoon, Abonema has been under lockdown.

“Over 70 youths have been arrested from Abonnema”, she said in an interview with Channels Television.

Speaking further, she alleged that people were prevented from worshipping as they were “pulled out of churches” on Sunday morning and sent home.

“This is an act of violence, an abuse of human rights against my people, for merely wanting to exercise their civic duties.

“Abonema is not at war with the Nigerian Government,” Briggs said.
Source:https://www.channelstv.com/2019/02/24/election-violence-over-70-youths-arrested-in-abonema-says-annkio-briggs/

Ambode delivers Epe LG to Buhari, APC

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has successfully delivered Epe Local Government to the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari and the party’s candidates for the National Assembly.

Edo speaker loses bid to claim House of Representatives ticket

In the final results collated and announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Sunday the APC polled 17,710 votes across the 19 wards in the local government, while the PDP got 13, 305 votes.

The breakdown shows that the APC showed its strength, winning in 17 of the 19 wards in Epe local government.

Ambode votesAmbode successful won his Polling Unit 033, Ogunmodede College in Ajaganabe Area, Ward A5, Epe, where APC polled 131 votes as against PDP who got 116 votes in the presidential election.

It was also victory songs for the APC in the Senate and House of Representatives elections, as the APC candidate for the House of Representatives, Hon Wale Raji will be returning to the Green Chambers, as he polled a total of 18,326 votes to beat the PDP candidate, Oye Ayantuga, who got a total of 13,250 votes.

The result also showed that the APC Senatorial candidate, Bayo Oshinowo scored 18,728 votes to defeat the PDP candidate, Abiodun Oyefusi who polled 13,134 votes.

Governor Ambode had vigorously campaigned for President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid, saying that it would help to sustain the infrastructural and economic gains that the nation has witnessed in the last four years under the APC-led Federal Government.

The Governor, who joined the campaign train of the President in most of the States across the Federation, had on several occasions insisted that the anti-corruption war, economic policies and agricultural revolution under Buhari’s administration has placed Nigeria on a sustainable path of growth, adding that a second term in office will move the country to the next level.

Source:https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/02/ambode-delivers-epe-lg-to-buhari-apc/

Atiku floors Buhari in Obi’s LGA

Anaocha (Anambra) – The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has won the presidential election in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra, where Mr Peter Obi, the party’s vice presidential candidate hails from.

Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi shut Enugu, EbonyiPDP polled 30,655 out of the vote cast while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) got 1,922 and the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 1,055.

Prof. Christopher Ihueze, INEC Collation Officer for the Presidential Election in Anaocha, announced the result on Sunday at Neni, the headquarters of the local government.

Ihueze said the exercise was generally peaceful in the area as there was no report of violence.

Mr. Chris Chikwelu, PDP agent for Anaocha told NAN that the party was impressed with the turnout of voters in the area.

“We are happy that our people came in large numbers to vote for our son and Atiku Abubakar.

“We are very hopeful and prayerful that result of Anaocha will be a reflection of the results in other parts of the country,’’ he said

NAN, however, reports that agent of APGA and APC declined to react when they were approached. (NAN)

Source:https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/02/atiku-floors-buhari-in-obis-lga/

Elections : Any politician responsible for killings will face wrath of God — Eneche

Abuja – The Senior Pastor of Dunamis Iqnternational Gospel Centre, Dr Paul Eneche says any politician responsible for the death of any Nigerian in a bid to win elections shall face the wrath of God.

Area Boys fight over the alleged distribution of money for votes at a polling unit in Alagomeji-Yaba in Lagos on February 23, 2019. – Nigerians voted for a new president after a week-long delay that has raised political tempers, sparked conspiracy claims and stoked fears of violence. Some 120,000 polling stations opened from 0700 GMT, although there were delays in the delivery of some materials and deployment of staff. (Photo  AFP)Enenche made the pronouncement during Sunday Service at the church’s auditorium in Abuja.

The pastor, who was angry with the reports of killings in some parts of the country during Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, said that bloodshed should not be part of elections.

According to him, whoever is responsible for the shedding of the blood of an innocent Nigerian shall not escape bloodshed.

“It is not by force to lead people because leadership ends when no one is following you and if people don’t like you, let them be.

“Any of you that sponsors killing in the name of delivering your constituency shall not escape being killed by others.

“Jehovah shall deal with all of you who are responsible for the killing that took place all over the country during the elections,” he said.

Delta APC governorship candidate hopeful of party victory

Enenche warned youths against allowing themselves to be used as political thugs for the selfish gains of their sponsors

He also cautioned security agencies and electoral officers against subverting the will of the people.

According to him, the will of God shall prevail in the country throughout the elections. (NAN)

Source:https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/02/elections-any-politician-responsible-for-killings-will-face-wrath-of-god-eneche/

INEC Chairman Calls On Security Agencies To Investigate Election Violence

 

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu has urged security agencies to investigate violent incidents that sought to mar the elections on Saturday. 

Professor Mahmood made this call in his address on Sunday, February 24.

Mahmood said that the Commission has taken an in-depth analysis of the situation of things around the nation, with a major focus at the hitches encountered during the conduct of elections.

He stated that voting took place nationwide on Saturday, stressing that the Commission is happy with the generally peaceful conduct of citizens as they went to the polls to elect their next President and National Assembly members.

He, however, noted that there were cases of election violence that sought to mar the conduct of the elections, one of which led to the death of an ad-hoc staff in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The INEC boss said the staff, Amakiri Ibisaki, female, was hit by a “stray bullet,” on her way back from electoral duties.

He noted that the Commission condemns the killing and will furnish security agencies with comprehensive reports to enable proper investigations.

“We condemn this attack and will forward a comprehensive report to security agencies for expeditious investigations and prosecution of those involved.”

READ ALSO: INEC Office Attacked, Electoral Materials Burnt [Photos]

INEC Chairman, Prof Yakubu Mahmood addresses stakeholders on the situation of things as regards the presidential and NASS elections on Saturday, February 23. Credit: Sodiq Adelakun

Speaking about the general conduct of the elections, the chief electoral officer noted that on Saturday night, the Commission met and reviewed the processes and challenges arising from the electoral exercise, based on the information obtained from its state offices nationwide as well as the information harvested from various citizens contact platforms.

He noted that there were some hiccups in getting some of the ad-hoc staff and materials to the polling centres, thereby leading to the late commencement in certain units, a situation which he said was put to check by extension of the voting duration.

Prof Mahmood also said that the INEC is not unaware of the violence that stifled the conduct of elections in certain areas, noting that re-conduction of the polls have been considered and to this effect, smart card readers were reconfigured to enable elections to take place in those units.

According to the INEC chairman, the Commission’s report suggests that many citizens who would have otherwise been disenfranchised were able to cast their ballots.

He, however, noted that in spite of the INEC’s best efforts, to enhance the functionality of the smart card readers, the commission encountered technical glitches in some locations.

“Through the deployment of 8,809 registration area technical support that we engaged as ad-hoc staff, many of these glitches were rectified, which enabled voting to take place seamlessly in some of the affected areas”.

He, however, noted that despite the interventions there were places where voting could not be conducted due to the failures of the smart card readers and other issues but assured that the situation has been placed under control.
Source:https://www.channelstv.com/2019/02/24/live-inec-chairman-prof-yakubu-mahmood-briefs-stakeholders/

Election: INEC shuts down server to pave way for APC to alter election results in northern states – PDP alleges

The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Sunday raised an alarm, saying the server of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has been shut down.

It also claimed the development was a ploy to create an opportunity for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to alter some election results in the northern states in favour of President Muhammadu Buhari.

PDP Spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said this in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja where PDP also demanded that INEC should declare Atiku winner of the presidential election.

In his words, “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) charges the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately announce results as delivered from the polling units and declare the people’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, the winner of the February 23 Presidential election

“Our position is predicated on clear and verifiable results across the nation, showing that Atiku Abubakar is in clear lead both in spread and total number of votes cast.

“Intelligence available to us is that INEC is delaying the announcement of results following directives by the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC), which are bent on altering the figures from the polling centers and allocate fictitious figures for President Muhammadu Buhari, particularly in northern states.

“Curiously, INEC server is now shut down, results are no more being transmitted and the reason is to enable the APC to inflate figures from six designated states.

“We call on international observers and election monitors to insist on a transparent process of transmission of results and the monitoring thereof.

“We already have reports of how APC governors in the northern states have been making desperate effort to tamper with the results of the elections in their respective states with the view to award conjured votes to President Buhari.

“In Kogi state, Governor Yahaya Bello has been making frantic moves to change results to suit APC’s intent and purposes as against the wishes of the people, expressly delivered at the polls”.

“Nigerians already know how the Minister of Transportation and the Director-General of the Buhari Campaign, Rotimi Amaechi, used the military to hold an INEC official in River state, Mrs. Mary Efeturi, hostage and insisted that she will not be released until she alters the results in favour of President Buhari

“The PDP calls on INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to note that in this age of Information Communication Technology, Nigerians already have the results as delivered at the polling centers and any attempt to alter any figure will be faced with vehement resistance.

“In delaying the announcement of the results, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu is allowing the APC to turn him into a villain and directly pitching him against the people.

“He should therefore extricate himself from the rejected APC and be on the side of the people, by immediately announcing the results as already delivered at the polling units and declare, the people’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, the winner.

“Anything short of this is not acceptable to Nigerians, who had already expressed their wishes and aspiration at the polls”.

Source:http://dailypost.ng/2019/02/24/election-inec-shuts-server-pave-way-apc-alter-election-results-northern-states-pdp-alleges/