₦airaland Forum

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Maurice Iwu, has been reportedly arrested by security operatives.

According to Sun, family sources said Iwu was arrested in Owerri, the Imo State capital on Sunday.

According to the family sources, the former INEC boss was whisked away to Lagos.

The newspaper added that the security operatives came from Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital and linked up with the Imo State Commissioner of Police who invited him to Owerri.

According to the report, when Iwu came for the meeting, he was whisked away by security operatives and taken to the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos.

It was gathered that in Lagos, Prof Iwu was interrogated, release and asked to report back today.

There are also reports on Monday that at the EFCC office in Lagos, Iwu was taken into custody.

It was reported that his phones were impounded and switched off. He is yet to be released.

However, the spokesman of the EFCC, Tony Orilade, who spoke with the newspaper, denied the story.

http://dailypost.ng/2019/02/25/former-inec-chairman-maurice-iwu-arrested/

Why are these people raising unnecessary alarm when INEC has not declared all the results

The Oyo State governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo South Senatorial District in last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, Abiola Ajimobi, has congratulated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Kola Balogun, on his victory.

In a statement on Monday, Governor Ajimobi said there was nothing to feel sad about because his party won two out of the three Senatorial seats and nine out of 14 federal constituency seats.

“I hereby accept the result as announced. Although there were a number of grievous infractions and established electoral malpractices, I have decided to let go in the interest of peace. I, therefore, congratulate the declared winner, Hon. Kola Balogun and our APC Senators-elect, Abdulfatai Buhari and Teslim Folarin,” the governor said.

While expressing appreciation to the people of the state for their peaceful conduct and large turnout during the elections, the governor said that the people of the state had shown their love for the APC by voting massively for President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC candidates.

The governor added, “The victory has shown the unassailable leadership of the APC in Oyo State. It has also shown that our people are appreciative of the developmental strides of the APC in the state and the country at large.

“We have taken Oyo State to an unprecedented level in terms of massive infrastructural renewal. Most importantly, we have ensured peace in the state.”

On the loss of Oyo South Senatorial seat to the PDP, Governor Ajimobi said that would not deter him from his firm resolve and that of the APC to work hard for the party’s victory in the governorship election.


https://www.channelstv.com/2019/02/25/ajimobi-congratulates-pdps-balogun-on-his-victory/

Boko Haram terrorists have prevented the Yobe state Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam from voting.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Director-General for Press Affairs to the governor, Abdullahi Bego.

He said the governor’s decision followed reports of attacks on two communities in the early hours of Saturday.

” It was because of the incident in Gaidam town early in the day, which has already been brought under control and voting is now underway there, the security agencies would naturally seek to reinforce and increase security around the governor for him to travel to cast his vote.

“That increased security around the governor will mean that vital security resources that are needed elsewhere in the state would have to be diverted and allocated to the governor”.

The first attack occurred in Gaidam town while the second attack occurred at Bunu Yadi area of the state.

Mr. Bego, explained that Governor Gaidam did not travel to his Bukarti ward near Gaidam town – and 230 kilometres away from the state capital – to cast his vote.

“We reckoned that that is more appropriate at this particular time than devoting a large security contingent just to escort the governor to cast his vote.

“As things stand now, voting is going on successfully across the state and His Excellency Governor Gaidam is pleased and grateful to the people for the large turnout at polling units throughout the state”.

The Yobe government commended the security agencies for their commendable and continuing effort to ensure a peaceful and successful election across the state.

https://www.channelstv.com/2019/02/23/breaking-boko-haram-stops-yobe-governor-gaidam-from-voting/

Google Currency is currently showing that one dollar is going for N184, but this is just a glitch in its software, TheCable can report.

The Central Bank of Nigeria sold the greenback to bureau de change (BDC) operators at N357 per dollar on Friday.

Musa Ibrahim, a BDC operator, who spoke to TheCable from Lagos Island, said he bought $20,000 from the CBN at 357 per dollar.

“We collected from CBN today at the rate of N357, and each BDC operator is entitled to $20, 000,” he said.

Two members of staff at Google, who spoke off the record, confirmed to TheCable that this was just a bug, that is currently being fixed by the search giant.

According to Bloomberg currency rate, the dollar is currently trading at N361.8, with the local currency gaining N1.75 against the greenback.


A mail from TheCable to Google Press office is yet to be replied — but an automatic response was received, stating that all queries will be addressed shortly.

Nigeria goes to the poll in less than 12 hours after this glitch, driving speculations and jokes on social media on how the incumbent may want to turn the economy around overnight.

While some fear that their stacked dollars may have lost tremendous value, others are celebrating a rise in the value of the naira, but many are aware this is just a temporary glitch.

Whatever the case is, TheCable understands that the dollar is still trading at 358 to 360 at the foreign exchange market.

https://www.thecable.ng/just-in-calm-down-one-dollar-is-not-n184-as-google-suggests/

Stanley Osifo, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), with a promise to move his support base of "10 to 15million Nigerians" along.

He made his decision known at a press conference held at Virtual Hub, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday.

Osifo said his defect was triggered by the way he was treated during the PDP presidential primary, noting that there was no form of settlement by his former party.

Speaking on his choice of APC, he said: “My structure base is across the 36 states in Nigeria, and we are very sure and optimistic that not less than 10 to 15 million Nigerians, particularly those within the strata of young people, are going to move to APC."

He also spoke on the postponement of the elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“Actually from INEC you’ll see that not everybody was happy with what happened. I want to believe INEC will perform well because they have assured us of 100 per cent credibility,” he said.

http://saharareporters.com/2019/02/22/former-pdp-presidential-aspirant-defects-apc-promises-buhari-10-15-million-votes

Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja

A spokesman for the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation, Buba Galadima, says he is still a member of the All Progressives Congress.

Galadima, who was a guest on Channels TV’s ‘The Verdict’, said he remained a member of the All Progressives Congress and was still leading a faction of the party known as the Reformed APC.

He made the clarification when the anchor, Seun Okinbaloye, introduced Galadima as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“I am still in the APC,” he corrected the programme anchor.

The former National Secretary of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, added, “I am a spokesman for the PDP presidential candidate.”

Galadima, who is a former associate of President Muhammadu Buhari, added that he was sure that Atiku would defeat the President in Saturday’s elections.

He said the Peoples Democratic Party had ruled almost all northern states in the past and it would be naive to rule out the party.

Galadima said the huge turnout of supporters for Atiku in Kano and other areas of the North showed that Buhari was not as popular as he was in 2015.


He alleged that the APC in Kano had to hire persons from Niger Republic to boost the number of their supporters at its rally.

“Atiku Abubakar is the next President of Nigeria, Insha Allah.

“Nigerians are for us, irrespective of religion and tribe.

“If the elections are fair, Atiku will emerge the winner on February 23,” he said.

https://punchng.com/im-apc-member-though-im-atikus-spokesman-galadima/

Twelve presidential candidates in Saturday’s election on Thursday expressed their support for President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of the candidates’ closed door meeting with Buhari.

According to him, the candidates have directed their supporters to vote for President Buhari on Saturday.

Details shortly…

http://thenationonlineng.net/twelve-presidential-candidates-back-buhari/

Afeez Hanafi, Ibadan

There was a mild drama on Wednesday at the Central Bank of Nigeria branch in Dugbe, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, after the Form EC8B of the Independent National Electoral Commission meant for Kano State was found in the election material deliveries meant for Oyo.

The form, which is one of the sensitive election materials, is the result sheet for a particular ward within a state.

While our correspondent was moving round the CBN premises around 5.30pm to monitor the sorting of the materials, a group of INEC officials, including ad hoc ones, suddenly raised an alarm.

“Eh! For Kano… Noted,” they exclaimed, as a woman raised up the form.

One of them subsequently took the form to a superior INEC official, who documented it in a register.

Our correspondent met with a senior official of the Commission supervising the sorting to ask how the discovery would be handled.

“We will give it to the CBN to return it to Kano State as soon as possible,” the official, who did not disclose his name, said.

Asked if there were other discoveries of such, he said, “For now, that is the only one we have found.”

The official added that the sensitive materials would be dispatched to different local government areas of the state as soon as the sorting ends.

Efforts to get the comment of the INEC Head of Publicity in the state, Mr. Olayiwola Arowolo, on the development proved abortive as calls made to his line were not answered.

The Resident Electoral Commission in the state, Mr. Mutiu Agboke, had also yet to reply to a text message sent to his line as of the time of filing this report.

https://punchng.com/breaking-sensitive-electoral-material-belonging-to-kano-lands-in-oyo/

THE Federal Executive Council (FEC) has given its backing to President Muhammadu Buhari’s order to the military to deal ruthlessly with ballot box snatchers during the coming elections.

The president had disclosed the order at a meeting of the National Caucus of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Abuja on Monday, saying that whoever engages in the act will pay with his life.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, told State House correspondents at the end of the council meeting presided over by President Buhari in Abuja that the FEC agreed with his position.

When asked if the council supported the order to the military, he said: “Absolutely. I mean if you want to intimidate voters to steal the mandate of the people, you should be able to face the wrath of the law.”

The minister also spoke on measures to lessen the problems of Nigerians who will be travelling back to various places to vote, revealing that the government has authorised the immediate payment of February salary to its workers.

He also spoke of the offers by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and some airlines to reduce their prices as a way of ameliorating commuters’ plight.

The minister said: “The Independent Petroleum organisation of Nigeria, (IPMAN), with over 50,000 members and who control almost 80 per cent of our distribution network, met a couple days ago met on how to cushion the effect of postponement, announced the reduction of the price of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) from N145 per liter to N140 per liter. This discount reflects the alignment of IPMAN with government and the discount is valid between the 21st of February and the 25th, this year to allow those who want to go back home to vote.

“Also, the National Union of Road Transport Workers, which has about 2 million members and who operate motor parks in all 774 local government areas of the country, an affiliate of Nigeria Labour Congress with members cutting across drivers, busboys, motor parks operators etc, have offered to provide discounts to travelers using their motor parks and members who are looking to travel to their respective voting points. This discount is also to encourage voters who would have normally been disenfranchised as a result of INEC’s postponement. This discount is also valid between the 21st of February and the 25th of February.

“Arik and Aero airlines have also thrown in their own incentives. Aero contractors have offered a 50 per cent discount to all travellers who present their the permanent Voters card (PVC) at the purchasing point. Arik will be selling their one-way ticket at N16,000 to any destination across the country. This is to support Nigerians looking to travel to cast their vote. The discount is valid between the 18th of February and the 11th of March.

“On the part of the federal government also, we decided that to make it easy for those who will want to go back to vote, salary payment started yesterday (Tuesday) as opposed to the normal 25th of every month. This is just to ease the burden of people who want to go back and cast their vote.”

https://www.tribuneonlineng.com/191940/

Although President Muhammadu Buhari has given the Military and the Police the power to be ruthless as ballot box snatchers because they commit the offence “at risk to their own lives”, Professor Mahmood Yakubu has expressed the belief that ballot box snatchers should be punished only in accordance with the electoral law.

Speaking in Abuja on Monday at a meeting of the national caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the President had said those who influence ballot box snatching may find out it is their "last unlawful action".

"Anybody who decides to snatch ballot boxes or lead thugs to disturb, it may be that [this will be] the last unlawful action you will take," Buhari had said.

"I rarely give the military and the police [the power] to be ruthless. We are not going be blamed but we won’t rig election. I want Nigerians to be respected; let them vote whoever they want across the parties. I'm not afraid of it.

"The whole 36 states in Nigeria, I went round. I think I have got enough support across the country to look after me. So I'm going to warn anybody who thinks he has enough influence in his locality to lead a body of thugs to snatch boxes or to disturb the voting system, he will do it at the expense of his own life."

When these comments were brought to the INEC Chairman on Tuesday as he addressed the media on the preparedness of his commission for the rescheduled polls, Yakubu said: “The position of the commission is that all violators of the Electoral Act should be punished according to the provisions of the Electoral Act."

Yakubu also denied reports that Okechukwu Ibeanu, the National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in charge of logistics, was invited by the Department of State Services (DSS).

“No commissioner of the commission was picked up by any security agency no house of any commissioner of INEC was raided; no any commissioner of INEC has been picked by the security agency,” he said.

“The particular commissioner you are referring to, whose name was mentioned on social media, is as we speak currently in his office in the commission. Similarly, no six directors were picked up by any security agency. All decisions on the administration of the commission are taken by the commission as an independent, constitutional body. We will continue to protect and jealously guard our independence.”

http://saharareporters.com/2019/02/19/breaking-inec-chairman-differs-buhari-punishment-ballot-box-snatchers

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has directed its members nationwide to reduce petroleum pump price from N145 per litre to N140.

Chinedu Okworonkwo, national president of the association, made this known in a statement released on Sunday.

According to the statement, which was signed by Bashir Dan-Malam, chairman of the association’s Kano chapter, the price slash will be effective between February 20 and February 25.

“IPMAN was prompted to slash N5 from the N145 per litre official Petroleum pump price in a bid to motivate Nigerians to return to vote again on February 23,” the statement read.

“We urge all our members across Nigeria to immediately reduce the fuel pump price from N145 per litre to N140 per litre.

“This is because of the political situation that hit the country after INEC suddenly announced the postponement of presidential and National Assembly elections after Nigerians were fully prepared.

“We are all aware how Nigerians travelled to different parts of the country in order to exercise their civic duty; unfortunately, they heard a sad news of postponement of the polls.

“This made us deem it fit to reduce the pump price in order to ease their suffering, and to also motivate them to travel again to exercise their franchise on February 23.”

http://petrobarometer.thecable.ng/2019/02/18/hurray-petrol-sell-n140-per-litre-from-wednesday/

By Omeiza Ajayi

The ruling All Progressives Congress APC has issued six queries to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC following the postponement of the general elections by the electoral umpire.


This was as the party denied allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party PDP that it was pressuring the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC into staggering the general elections.

The position of the party was disclosed during a news conference addressed by its Director of Election Planning and Monitoring, Babatunde Raji Fashola and that of Contact and Mobilization, Hadiza Bala-Usman Sunday evening in Abuja

Both directorates had met at the Buhari Campaign Council headquarters to fine-tune its strategies in the face of the postponement of the polls by INEC.

Addressing the media, Fashola threw several posers at the electoral umpire.

“As a result of the common pain shared by us all, we, the Directorate of Election Planning and Monitoring, and Contact and Mobilization on behalf of APC Campaign Council, demand greater openness and transparency in the Commission’s preparations ahead of Saturday 23rdFebruary 2019.

“We believe that members of the public should know what steps INEC have taken with CBN to assess, take inventory of materials and brief the public about what their condition is;

“The status of INEC’s plans to procure and provide materials for election and in particular let Nigerians know if all materials required are in country and if not what plans the commission has to ensure that they are.

“INEC’s plans to re-deploy and distribute materials ahead of Saturday 23rd 2019.

“The specific problems INEC encountered in the failed attempt of Saturday 16thFebruary 2019 and measures it has taken to overcome them?

“What transport logistics and further materials INEC require in terms of vehicles, boats, trucks, airplanes, helicopters, manpower and funding INEC requires to execute the elections of February 23rd and March 9th.

“Confirmation that the configuration of the card readers will be completed in readiness of Saturday 23rd 2019.

“In addition to all of these, we believe that INEC should brief Nigerians daily on an ongoing basis until this process is concluded. This is one way to elicit the buy-in of Nigerians that INEC is serious and this will replace disappointment with enthusiasm”, he stated.

Fashola added that APC’s “disappointment is doubled due to the fact that unlike some who were apparently privy to this postponement in advance, we found out alongside the public a few hours before the polls opened.

“To the stranded youth corpers we empathise with you. To the voters and volunteers who have travelled at great cost to cast their votes, we empathise with you. To party agents and our party faithful we empathise with you.

“Our sympathies go to all those people and we urge them not to despair. However, we Nigerians are a determined and resilient people and we will not let the shortcomings of INEC deter us from exercising our franchise”.

Tackles PDP

On allegations that the APC was coercing INEC to stagger the elections, Fashola said; “I think that is not a responsible and credible allegation to make. APC does not conduct elections. We go by the rules as set by the electoral umpire”.

On his part, Chief Press Secretary to the National Chairman of APC, Simon Egbebulem said the ruling party would wait to punish the PDP at the polls.

“That is the height of irresponsibility and desperation on the part of the PDP to make such stupid allegation. The entire world was at the venue where the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole expressed his disappointment very sincerely before the chairman of the INEC over the postponement of the election. President Muhammadu Buhari did the same.

But we will not dissipate energy in responding to the PDP allegation because we await them at the polls. We all were in this country when under the PDP government the then President ordered the Chairman of the INEC to postpone the election. But in this case we saw a situation where the INEC decided to postpone election on their own based on the excuses they enumerated.

APC can never be like the fraudulent PDP which is the root of the problems which the APC led administration is cleaning up”, he said.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/02/apc-issues-6-queries-to-inec-denies-calling-for-staggered-elections/

Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been captured on audio saying President Muhammadu Buhari doesn't have the kind of money he can steal.

The former Lagos Governor said this in an audio recording of an event that seemed to have taken place on February 14, 2019, during which he addressed a crowd of supporters and told them whoever could mobilise votes would be adequately compensated for their efforts.

He made reference to President Muhammadu Buhari, stating that the latter did not have the kind of money required for “mobilisation” of voters.

He also made reference to the elections in Osun, noting that his efforts on it paid off.

Speaking in Yoruba, he said: “Today is Valentine’s Day, the day of love. Today is for the women. They said I must put on this cap and I had to because of you, the women. This is the cap of the children of our mother, the children of Okoro, (and he greets the crowd ‘Igbo kwenu!)

“Let’s make things snappy because I still have to attend another meeting before I go to Abuja. Those of you that say you come to Bourdillon for mobilisation, it’s mobilisation we’re doing here. Or don’t you understand?

"Definitely, if you know people in your neighbourhood, who are our members, you should be able to call them out. If you’re a registered member, go out and vote. Vote and let it be much, and when I see the result, that’s when I’ll bring out money that is worthwhile for you. Even if your footwear is worn-out, as long as you can deliver on votes, I guarantee that I’ll pay you money that will surprise you. May we not lack!

“They said I used my mouth to speak anyhow. However, that rough-handedness paid off in Osun. They claimed that we brought candidates from Lagos to become governors in Osun; people like Aregbesola and Oyetola. If we train your children, and they become experts in their fields, won’t we ask them to come home to make things better? How much is your money that I’ll embezzle? You can’t match my pocket. I told them so, and their traditional rulers were seated. They were even recording the incident and published it. Let me not say something like that again today. However, Buhari doesn’t have the kind of money I can steal, neither does he have the money I can collect. He doesn’t even have the money for Lagos votes. So, whatever I promise, it’s for real and is coming from my pocket. It’s not until I go to Alausa before I get money to give you.”

http://saharareporters.com/2019/02/17/audio-buhari-doesn’t-have-kind-money-i-can-steal-says-tinubu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has debunked reports that the body was planning to postpone Saturday’s elections.

Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled to hold in few hours.

National Commissioner for Voter Education and Publicity at INEC, Mr. Festus Okoye, told DAILY POST Friday night that Nigerians should ignore the rumours.

His words: “If stories are flying about, allow the stories to fly. What they are reporting is not true.”

Asked to respond to information that INEC commissioners were in a meeting, Okoye said: “Yes we are in a meeting but we have not taken such decision.

“This is election period and as commissioners, we meet every time”.

Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, said his camp had foiled a plan to rig the polls in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari.

However, the recent development of INEC offices being set ablaze in Abia, Anambra, and Plateau states by ‘mysterious fire’, where thousands of electoral materials were burnt, could be major threat to the election.

Also, earlier on Friday, the commission in Niger State announced that elections for the senatorial positions of Niger East and Niger North may not hold on Saturday as the ballot papers meant for the zone were missing.


http://dailypost.ng/2019/02/15/breaking-inec-speaks-postponement-saturdays-presidential-national-assembly-elections/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Niger State on Friday said that elections for the senatorial positions of Niger East and Niger North may not hold on Saturday as the ballot papers meant for the zone were missing.

NAN reports that Prof. Samuel Egwu, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, made the declaration while interacting with newsmen in Minna.

“The issue has been reported to the INEC’s Headquarters in Abuja for urgent attention.

“The officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria saddled with the responsibility of securing the electoral sensitive materials have gone to Abuja for the last batch of the sensitive materials for Saturday’s elections in the state, so we are waiting,’’ he said.

Egwu said that 85 per cent of the needed facilities for the conduct of free and fare elections in the state had been provided with the non sensitive materials already moved to various destinations across the 25 local government areas of the state.

He said that the commission trained 23,000 ad hoc staff for the elections in the state.

The REC also said that 2,181,400 eligible voters would participate during the general elections in the state.

http://dailypost.ng/2019/02/15/nigeria-decides-ballot-papers-niger-east-north-missing-inec/

President Muhammadu Buhari will today broadcast to the nation at 7pm, ahead of the 16 February presidential and National Assembly elections.

A repeat of the broadcast will be made at 9pm, according to media adviser Femi Adesina.

“All television, radio stations and other electronic media outlets are enjoined to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority and Radio Nigeria for the broadcast”, Adesina said.

President Buhari, of the All Progressives Congressis contesting for re-election on Saturday and is being challenged by more than five dozen candidates.

Originally, 73 candidates were listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, but some have dropped out to endorse either Buhari or his main challenger, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Buhari goes to Katsina, his home state for the final rally. He will then move to his home town of Daura, where he will vote on Saturday.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/02/just-in-buhari-to-make-special-broadcast-today/

Prof. Monday Igbafen, the Chairman of Ambrose Alli University (AAU) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has been suspended by university authorities over allegations of sexual assault.

Igbafen, an Associate Professor of the Department of Philosophy, was suspended after his appearance before a disciplinary committee on allegations of sexual misconduct.

This was made public in a statement signed by Edward Aihevba, the university’s spokesman, on Wednesday in Benin, Edo State capital.

The statement noted that Igbafen had been arraigned before the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee (SSDC) on allegations of gross misconduct bordering on sexual harassment and threatening students to have sex with him in exchange for marks.

According to the statement, Igbafen was found culpable by the university’s investigative panel.

A relative of one of the victims had threatened to take the institution to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ICPC if Igbafen wasn’t prosecuted.

http://dailypost.ng/2019/02/13/ASUU-chairman-caught-sex-marks-scandal/

By Dapo Akinrefon

LAGOS—NATIONAL Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has said, contrary to the insinuations being peddled in some quarters, that he remains in the party and has no plans to leave it for any other.


A video where Asiwaju Tinubu, at the APC Presidential Campaign rally in Abeokuta, Ogun State, was seen throwing the party’s flag to National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole to give to the party’s governorship candidate in the state, Prince Dapo Abiodun, was being framed by opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to mean that he was throwing away the party’s flag.

In a statement by his Special Adviser, Media, Tunde Rahman, the APC leader denied throwing away the party’s flag as being insinuated by PDP.

The statement reads: “If you want to fault Asiwaju for anything in this matter, your critique can only be limited to the accuracy of his toss. Any attempt to enlarge the episode beyond this is fiction and mischief writ large.

“The true incident that should be reported and condemned is that people who furtively oppose the party and the president tried to infiltrate and disrupt this rally. The attack by these operatives was disrespectful of the office of the president and could have potentially harmed the person of the president.

“With, but a few precious days until the election and with its chance of victory running out even faster than the time, the Peoples Democratic Party now grasps at the most nonsensical and desperate tactics to salvage its falling enterprise. However, a drowning man cannot toss himself a lifeline. Nor can the PDP succeed in turning the innocuous attempted exchange of a flag between the National Leader and National Chairman into a rift in the APC’s successful campaign.

“An incident did actually occur at the Ogun State APC rally but it is not the one PDP has concocted. The true incident that should be reported and condemned is that people, who furtively oppose the party and the president, tried to infiltrate and disrupt this rally. The attack by these operatives was disrespectful of the office of the president and could have potentially harmed the person of the president.

“Such antics have no place in our political discourse. The author of these misdeeds should desist before real harm is done. Now, to the crux of the opposition’s latest antics. If the issue of the flag has become the hotspot of the PDP campaign, then they are in serious trouble.

“During that portion of the Ogun rally, the National Chairman and others were looking for a party flag. Asiwaju Tinubu spotted one within his reach. He picked it up and attempted to toss it to Chairman Oshiomhole so that the Chairman could present it to the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun. If you want to fault Asiwaju for anything in this matter, your critique can only be limited to the accuracy of his toss. Any attempt to enlarge the episode beyond this is fiction and mischief writ large.

“As the National Leader, Asiwaju Tinubu is thoroughly faithful and committed to the APC, It is unthinkable that he would leave the party.

“Moreover, there is no reason for him to do so. He has been hard at work for the victory of the APC and all of its candidates in the upcoming election.

“Asiwaju understands the bigger picture. He knows what is at stake in this election. Either the nation moves forward along the progressive path of the APC or it will be forced to retreat into the ills of the past created by the PDP. With the nation’s future hanging in the balance, Asiwaju will not allow himself to be deterred by petty mischief.

“Those spinning this matter should make better use of their imaginations. Asiwaju is not going anywhere. He remains gidigba (solid) in APC. And after the election, he will be there celebrating the APC’s and this nation’s victory over those who would prevent us of our rightful future.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/02/defection-i-remain-in-apc-tinubu/

Former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana’s faction of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Monday unanimously endorsed presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar as its consensus candidate for Saturday’s poll.

The endorsement came barely four days after another faction of the party led by Professor Tunde Adeniran endorsed the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari.

The National Executives Council(NEC) of the SDP faction led by Chief Supo Shonibare, who was at the meeting elected as the party’s new National Chairman, arrived at the decision after its meeting in Abuja.

While announcing the decision contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the NEC meeting, the party’s newly elected National Secretary, Comrade Adakole Ijogi, said the SDP arrived at the decision, having considered all the options available.

He said the executives had observed the impasse occasion by the lingering court claims of its presidential candidates, which prevented any nationwide presidential campaign.

” In view of these challenges the NEC deliberately exhaustively and unanimously resolved to direct the Social Democratic Party supporters Nationwide to mobilise our members and members of the public to support the candidature of the Alh. Atiku Abubakar,” he added.

….. Details shortly

http://thenationonlineng.net/ganas-sdp-endorses-atiku/

An appeal court panel has withdrawn from a case challenging the verdict of a lower court on the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary poll in Zamfara state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the APC in Zamfara will not field candidates because its inability to hold a successful primary election.

But two high courts gave different judgments on the matter.

While the Abuja federal high court upheld INEC’s decision rejecting APC candidates in the state, a high court in Zamfara ordered the electoral commission to accept the candidates of the faction of Abdulaziz Yari, governor of the state.

Kabir Marafa, serving senator and governorship aspirant, had appealed the judgement.

At the court on Monday, Muhammad Nuhu, counsel to Marafa, alleged that the three-man panel had received a bribe of $3 million.

Nuhu said that had made made them lose confidence in the panel. The lawyer asked the appeal court president to constitute a new panel that will entertain the matter.

“My client is not comfortable with them and urge the president of the court of appeal to constitute a new panel to entertain the case,” he said.

Following the allegation made by Marafa’s lawyer, Ahmed Belgori, head of the panel, disqualified himself and his colleagues.

Yari whose preferred candidate is Muktar Idris, finance commissioner, has threatened that election will not hold in the state if APC candidates are not allowed to participate.

Marafa, Mansur Dan-Ali, defence minister; and six other aspirants have asked the National Judicial Council (NJC) to intervene in the appeal of Yari seeking to enforce the judgement of the Zamfara high court.

https://www.thecable.ng/acourt-panel-withdraws-from-zamfara-apc-case-over-3m-bribe-allegation/amp

Some Northern Elders under the aegis of Kungiyar Dattawan Arewa Initiative (KDAI) has endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term.

The group also dissociated itself from the purported endorsement of the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, by the Ango Abdullahi-led Northern Elders Forum.

Convener of the group, Gen. Paul Tarfa (rtd), at a briefing on Saturday morning in Abuja, said the elders decided to endorse President Buhari after a deep reflection into what he stands for in the history, politics, social and moral life of Nigeria at this time.

Details shortly……..

http://thenationonlineng.net/breaking-northern-elders-endorse-president-buhari/

The exodus from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’in Akwa Ibom State continued on Thursday with the defection of thousands of its members to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ibeno and Esit Eket Local Government Areas.

The PDP lost over 1,500 members in Ibeno and over 2,700 members in Esit Eket during the APC’s campaign rallies in the two local government areas.

The Ibeno defectors led by Comrade Maurice Okon, a popular youth leader, included some former APC members who said they were returning after being lured to the PDP with fake promises to support Governor Udom Emmanuel for a second term by a former House of Assembly member from the area.

Receiving the Ibeno defectors, Dr Ita Udosen, the Akwa Ibom State APC Deputy Chairman, assured them of equal rights and privileges with old members of the party.

Mr Ini Okopido, the APC State Chairman, who received the Esit Eket defectors, said it was clear that Esit Eket has turned completely APC, comparing the thousands of defectors from the PDP to the three APC members that left for PDP last week

He noted with delight that the defectors included many PDP ward executives and members of the PDP Grassroots Foundation led by Mr Samuel Edet.

Mr Edet, Prince John Ekpo and Engr Messianic Umana, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, assured the APC state leadership that the PDP had no place in Esit Eket again.

In his remarks, Obong Nsima Ekere, the APC Governorship Candidate in Akwa Ibom State, said he was convinced that Esit Eket people will vote for all APC candidates in the elections and thanked party leaders in the area for working hard to connect Esit Eket to the mainstream of Nigerian politics.

He echoed last week’s call by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s to Akwa Ibom people not to play opposition politics again.

Obong Ekere noted that nearly the entire political class in the state was behind him after abandoning Governor Udom Emmanuel because of his poor performance.

Barr Bassey Dan-Abia, the Esit Eket APC leader, whose nephew and former House of Representatives member for Eket Federal Constituency, Barr Bassey Dan-Abia Jnr, was among the three APC defectors last week, said, contrary to some social media reports, it was the PDP, not the APC, that was suffering mass defection.

“I assure you that despite the propaganda of massive defection in the social media, as at today, not a single executive member of APC has defected to anywhere. Rather, it is PDP ward executive members that are defecting to APC. In some wards, the entire PDP executive has collapsed into APC because of Obong Nsima Ekere,” he said.

Barr Dan-Abia, who finished second in the 2018 APC governorship primary, lauded Obong Ekere for reconciling and carrying along his three fellow contestants after the primary.

He disclosed that there was consensus across party lines in Eket Federal Constituency, where Governor Emmanuel is from, that he should go, having disappointed the people of the four component local government areas of Eket, Esit Eket, Ibeno and Onna.

Barr Bassey Essien, a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, said they were supporting Obong Ekere because he had long identified with them in Esit Eket unlike Governor Emmanuel who was never part of them.

“Udom is going. He was never part of us. He had no friend in this community. You are one of us. You are a friend we have known for years. We will not disappoint you and we are sure you will not disappoint us. We are awaiting your swearing in on your birthday on May 29, 2019,” he said.

Elder Ibanga Etang, the APC campaign coordinator in Esit Eket, apologized to his people for bringing and selling Governor Emmanuel to them as local government chairman in 2015.

He promised Obong Ekere a clean sweep of Esit Eket’s over 47,000 votes in the 57 units of the area.

Mr Eseme Eyiboh, a former House of Representatives member, and Mr Augustus Nkuseyin, the Esit Eket APC chapter chairman, spoke along the same line.

The rally featured the presentation of flags by the APC State Chairman to Senator Nelson Efiong, Mr Kufre Akpabio and Mr Eyo Inyang-Abia Bassey, the APC Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates, respectively.

http://thenationonlineng.net/mass-defection-hits-akwa-ibom-pdp/

Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Monguno has been razed by fire on Thursday.

Unknown number of children were said to have been burnt in the inferno.

Details Shortly…


http://thenationonlineng.net/children-burnt-as-fire-razes-monguno-idps-camp/

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Thursday adopted President Muhammadu Buhari as its candidate for the 2019 election.

This is part of its resolution at the ongoing NEC meeting in Abuja.

Details shortly…..


http://thenationonlineng.net/presidential-poll-sdp-adopts-buhari-as-candidate/

Walter Onnoghen, suspended chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), has asked Danladi Umar, chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), to hands off his trial.

Onnoghen asked Umar to withdraw from presiding over his trial on the grounds of “real likelihood of bias”.

He described the CCT chairman as the “prosecutor, judge and jury who has constructively convicted” him without either hearing from the defendant or his being formally arraigned before him.

According to The Nation, he made the submission in a motion filed before the CCT through his lawyers, while responding to a directive by the CCT chairman, asking him to appear for trial.


Onnoghen, who is being prosecuted by the federal government on alleged false assets declaration, is yet to appear before the CCT since his trial began in January.

In the motion filed before the CCT on Monday, he argued that since his trial, the chairman of the tribunal has showed acts of partisanship and “demonstrated favourable dispositions towards the respondent.”

He also described Umar as a “tainted arbiter” who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged bribery.

“The honourable tribunal, especially the Chairman, has constituted himself as the prosecutor and accuser of the defendant/applicant and cannot in good and clear conscience continue to be part of the proceedings and trial of the applicant,” the motion read.

“The partiality of the honourable Chairman of the tribunal is not in doubt as there are manifest cases of real likelihood of bias on the part of the Chairman of the tribunal against the applicant by reason inter alia of the disclosures above.

“The applicant has no confidence in the honourable Chairman of the tribunal to do justice fairly between parties in this case as he is a man on a mission to please his masters.”

He urged the tribunal to issue an order “directing the honourable Chairman of the tribunal, Honourable Danladi Umar to disqualify/recuse himself from further participating in the adjudication of this case on the ground of real likelihood of bias.”

https://www.thecable.ng/youre-on-a-mission-to-please-your-masters-onnoghen-asks-cct-chairman-to-hands-off-his-trial

Famous Kannywood actor, Bello Muhammad Bello (BMB) has vowed to cut the hair on his head if President Muhammadu Buhari is re-elected as president.

The actor, while speaking with Daily Trust, said that he refused to shave his hair when he was offered some money, but would do it for free for Buhari the moment he is announced as the winner of the 16th February presidential election.

Bello, also a director and a script-writer, said he had been carrying the hair on his head for a decade.

“A Producer once asked me to cut my hair for N1.5 million to play a lead role in a movie, I refused, now I want to do it for free for Buhari. This is to tell you how deeply I love Buhari.

“I promise to set another record by cutting my hair the moment PMB is announced as the winner of 2019 presidential election. So help me God.”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/kannywood-bello-vows-to-cut-his-hair-if-buhari-is-re-elected.html

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the presence of some governors from Niger Republic ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign rally in Kano state did not violate any Nigerian law.

INEC said this while reacting to comments trailing the visit.

Two governors from the country — Issa Moussa of Zinder and Zakiri Umar of Maradi — were part of those who received the president in Kano.

The visit had triggered criticisms from Nigerians who alleged foreign interference in the electoral process.

Uche Secundus, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asked INEC fo disqualify Buhari from the presidential election over the development.

“They came with monies and mercenaries to influence elections in Nigeria,” Secondus alleged on Thursday.

But in an interview with TheCable, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, INEC director of Voter Education and Publicity, said the governors’ presence in Kano does not violate the law “as far as I am aware”.

He said the law only prohibits foreigners’ direct involvement in the electoral process.

“They are not allowed to participate as either candidates or voters,” Osaze-Uzzi told TheCable on Saturday.

“But they can only observe the process. As far as I am concerned, their presence does not violate the constitution.”

He also said the commission has no powers to disqualify the president, adding that only the courts can.

“INEC has no power to disqualify any candidate,” he said in response to the PDP’s request.


https://www.thecable.ng/just-in-niger-republic-govs-in-kano-did-not-violate-any-law-says-inec

The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to disqualify president Muhammadu Buhari for allegedly bringing in people from outside the country to influence the election in his favour.

Chairman of PDP, Uche Secundus, made the call in Enugu during the PDP rally for election of the presidential candidate of the Party, Atiku Abubakar and other candidates of the party in the 2019 elections.

He accused Buhari of planning to influence the election in his favour and called on INEC to disqualify Buhari over alleged plans to influence the election.

He urged Enugu people to vote for a man (Atiku) that will not sleep on duty, adding that “PDP is Enugu and Enugu is PDP”

In his speech, Atiku urged Ndigbo not to miss the opportunity of producing the vice president, adding that vice president is from the South East.

He, therefore, called on them to vote for him, saying the PDP has never failed the people of the South East.

Present at the rally were Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Governor Ifeanyi Ugsuanyi, Jim Nwobodo, among others.

http://thenationonlineng.net/pdp-asks-inec-disqualify-buhari/

Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka has said that: ‘I Wole Soyinka will not be voting for either the two so called contesting parties. I find both of them worthy of absolute rejection.’

Soyinka made this known in an ongoing interactive session tagged citizen forum 2019.

He said “It is time for a totally new direction, and when an alternative emerges, we will give the candidate our backing,”

“For the avoidance of doubt, let me make my position quite clear because I don’t want any ambiguity; I Wole Soyinka will not be voting for either the two so called contesting parties. I find both of them worthy of absolute rejection,” he said.

“For a number of reasons which I will not go into here, I’m not interested in a comparative assessment. My position is simply that it is time for a totally new direction. And obviously, I’m not the only one, as I’m speaking, there is a coalition having its meeting in Lagos from which they hope to produce a consensus candidate.

“There is another group meeting in Abuja, also at the end would send us their consensus candidate. Things have been going on quietly in the background to try and change the direction of this nation in a very positive way, and to make the public understand that they do not have to be enslaved permanently to the old discredited order. It is my sole business in this election.

“I don’t believe in what is called negative vote which means, for me, throwing your vote in a waste basket, I believe instead in a creative vote, not a protest vote, not a negative vote but a creative vote. And a creative vote means that the will to at least sow a seed through your vote that will germinate eventually. The pace of germination is beyond the control of everyone, but it is never too early to make a beginning. It has happened before in other societies. When a dark horse emerges from nowhere and trumps all the political juggernauts caterpillars and so on with their performers, worthless, their capacity for violence and treachery.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/i-wole-soyinka-will-not-be-voting-for-either-buhari-or-atiku/

Ada Wodu, Calabar

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, has said history will punish former President Olusegun Obasanjo for ceding Bakassi to Cameroon.

He said this while addressing party supporters during the APC’s presidential campaign rally in Calabar on Wednesday. President Muhammadu Buhari was on the occasion.

Oshiomhole said the people of Cross River State should “never forget Obasanjo because he handed over Nigeria to Cameroon because he wanted to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Nigeria can never forgive him. History will punish him if we are too weak to punish him.

“He separated fathers from mothers, brothers from sisters. The Nobel Peace Prize is not given to traitors.”

Buhari said, “Those within and outside the country who have honestly assessed our administration can attest to the fact that our administration has done well. We have also improved security in the North-East and the anti-corruption fight is ongoing.

“Our economy has been improving since 2018. The government has helped farmers with soft loans. We are working hard to make the country better.”

The President presented the party’s flag to the APC governorship candidate in the state Senator John Owan-Enoh.

Owan-Enoh said, “Buhari will win. The revolution that started in 2015 will berth in Cross River in 2019. The hunger for change is very palpable in Cross River. Cross Riverians expect that change.”

The acting chairman of the party in the state John Ochala called on Buhari to caution the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Usani Usani, claiming he was causing distraction for the party in the state.

He also said there was poor governance in the state, with the collapse of the local government system, relocation of investors from the state, phantom projects, plundering of forest resources in the guise of constructing super highway

He added, “Our people are clamouring for change, which the APC governorship candidate Senator John Owan-Enoh and his running mate, Ekpo Okon will provide.”

https://punchng.com/history-will-punish-obasanjo-for-ceding-bakassi-to-cameroon-oshiomhole/

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, who was purportedly suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari last Friday, has debunked the rumour gaining traction online that he has resigned.

Onnoghen debunked the rumour in a terse statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Awassam Bassey.

He described the CJN’s rumoured resignation as “fake news circulated by mischief makers.”

“Mischief makers are still circulating this fake news. Once again, no truth in it whatsoever. The Hon CJN, Hon Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, GCON, has not resigned,” Bassey said.

The embattled CJN has been replaced by President Buhari with the next most senior Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Tanko Mohammed, as Acting CJN.

The resignation rumour came less than 24 hours to the emergency meeting summoned by the National Judicial Council to deliberate on Onnoghen’s suspension and Muhammad’s emergence as the Acting CJN.

The Buhari administration has since Friday, come under scathing and widespread criticism locally and from the international community for being ill-timed, coming in the eve of the imminent general elections.

http://dailypost.ng/2019/01/28/remain-cjn-onnoghen-insists/