does dis really necessary?.... I thought right to associate is fundamental!

Resolute Abdullahi Muhammad, the former Senior
Special Assistant to Gombe State Governor was quoted
saying;
“IF I HAVE TO PAY THE SUPREME PRICE, FOR MY
PEOPLE TO GAIN SUCCOR, SO BE IT. I DECAMPED TO
APC AND NO GOING BACK. IF HIS EXCELLENCY
FEELS KILLING ME IS WHAT WILL RETURN HIM COME
11TH APRIL, THE MASSES WILL DECIDE HIS FATE
EVEN AFTER MY DEMISE”.
Abdullahi Muhammad was attacked by Hoodlums and
beaten mercilessly after he publicly tore his PDP
membership Card.
I just hope the same thugs have not been mobilized to
go and attack Baba OBJ in Abeokuta?

www.newspunch.org/pdp-thugs-unleach-terror-heavily-on-gov-ssa-for-tearing-pdp-id-card-see-photos/

sincerely I can't see jimmy winning Lagos......its all.most impossible...Lagos has become a dynasty for APC....sori jimi just kidding

kakakibuy:


A very good evening to you Justbright. I don't resell cars for profit. Everyone pays the exact cost of the car, shipping and all plus my service fee which is the commission. The prices I give are the best prices possible for the exact cars in the pictures i upload. These are the 2 reasons why the quote I give may be on the high side:

1. The car I pick is in top condition, well maintained, clean history, low mileage and subsequently a higher value as advertised by the dealer. There are many reasons I don't offer my clients the cheapest car available for sale in the market. Paramount is the fact that the cheapest car is in very terrible condition, hence the low price. I always go for cars which are Buy and Drive, and cars which you the client will not have to spend more money repairing one thing or the other. Once you receive your vehicle, a proper and honest market survey in Nigeria will reveal that the amount you paid for that exact car in its exact mechanical and physical condition was a very very good bargain. Please take time to read through the testimonies of people who have gotten their cars through this platform.

2. Lately, I am also shocked at the final prices I arrive at when giving quotes - But there is a simple explanation - The Naira which normally was at ₦165 - $1 is now at ₦215 - $1 at the parallel markets. Since these vehicles are coming directly from the US and are being paid for at the time the client places the order, the value of the Naira on that day is a huge factor.

I hope you will look at the process of owning a car in its totality. It's not enough just to say for example "Oh, I was offered a pencil light for 800k and Kakaki gave me a quote of ₦1.1" Cars should be looked at in totality. What it costs you now plus what it will cost you down the road plus its resale value when God elevates you and you decide to sell and buy a better car.

You are in good hands with me. Place your order today.

Contact: kakakibuy@hotmail.com

WhatsApp: +36705369050

very explainatory.....I am not disputing Ur point...my point is an average Nigerian still struggling to own a car mite not be able to patronise u......as I speak to u I have a budget of 1.4m for said Toyota corolla 2004,so wen I heard of what Ur clients have been writing I decided to contact u but sincerely I can't afford 1.9m for an 04 corolla..

d car is clean but seem kakaki price is a bit on d high side...imaging giving a quote of 1.87m for 2004 corolla....I tot dey said dey Dnt sell for profit d car is clean but seem kakaki price is a bit on d high side...imaging giving a quote of 1.87m for 2004 corolla....I tot dey said dey Dnt sell for profit

GMB

dream on.......Gej will not have 30% in any of d southwestern states including g ekiti and ondo...mark ma word

The implementation of the 35 per cent import levy on used cars will now begin on June 30, 2015 as the Federal Government has once again shifted the commencement date by two months.

In a move to encourage local assembling of vehicles, the government had in September 2013 raised the import tariff on fully-built cars and used vehicles from 22 per cent to 70 per cent made up of 35 per cent duty and 35 per cent levy.

It also announced a zero per cent tariff on Completely Knocked Down units (vehicles) and five per cent to 10 per cent on Semi Knocked Down units.

The first phase of the policy, involving the payment of the 35 per cent duty came into effect in February 2014.

The Director-General, National Automotive Council, Mr. Aminu Jalal, informed our correspondent through a text message on Monday that a circular had been issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance deferring the implementation of the levy to June 30. He did not give any reason for the postponement.

When the implementation of the second phase was first moved from July 1, 2014 to January 1, 2015, the government had said that it was to enable local vehicle assembly plants to ramp up production in order to meet the nation’s demand for brand new vehicles.

When it was last month deferred again to April 30, 2015, the Federal Government said through NAC, an agency of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, that the postponement was due to the delay in establishing a vehicle finance scheme.

Jalal had said, “The arrangement for the establishment of the affordable vehicle finance scheme suffered a delay of about four months due to the Ebola Virus Disease. The staff of the collaborating bank, Wesbank of South Africa, delayed their planned trip to Nigeria to set up operations from September 2014 to January 2015.

“Hence, the new date for the start of operations of the financing scheme is April 2014. Accordingly, the Minister of Finance has been asked to extend the levy deferment on used cars to April 30, 2015.”

Nigeria imports about 400,000 units of vehicles annually, with about 300,000 being second-hand. As a result of the devaluation of the naira and the subsequent rise in the cost of buying used vehicles and clearing them at the nation’s seaports, auto dealers at the Berger Yard Auto Market in Lagos have reduced the volume of importation by over 50 per cent.

Port and Terminal Multi Services Limited, the largest terminal for vehicle imports, has recorded a 61 per cent drop in the volume of imported vehicles. The terminal had in January 2014 handled 16,000 units of vehicles, while only 6,200 passed through it last month.

Efforts to get a response from the Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance on Media, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, proved abortive as he neither picked his calls nor respond to a text message sent to his mobile telephone

Teeworld13:
Please who has past questions for GST 807, BUS 840, Bus 838, please send to treasureenkay@gmail.com

pls I house I am a graduate of microbiology.. pls can I apply
for MBA at noun wtout any PGD?...I have a go of 3.3
which is second class lower....
also I will like yo known the cost implications for d program
and d duration....all Ur contributions are welcome...thanks

PDP ship is sinking deeper by d day...watching in 3d

seunadeolu:
yes i will be willing to negotiate with you

so what is Ur last price ...am not in town right now BT can pick up by proxy

no wonder dis indigbo are d slaves of all other tribes in naija and if care is not taking they will continue to be in d sate of political redundance till they can do d right thing.....how can a sane man come out to say election should not hold even after postponement?.....south easterners are political parasite and will never taste power in dis country unless dey change this their shameless and scanvenger-like behaviour

is it HD display...if yes am ready to offer between 35-38k....08036253428

pls I house I am a graduate of microbiology.. pls can I apply for MBA at noun wtout any PGD?...I have a go of 3.3 which is second class lower....
also I will like yo known the cost implications for d program and d duration....all Ur contributions are welcome...thanks

I have a feeling if jega does not sense his effort on d card readers could be sabotage today den he's a learner...PDP WL do everything to make him look stupid at d plenary today...he should be wise

I laff in Swahili....
.hahahahahahajajeeeeeeeeeekkihhhgookkpigfcvbjjhahahahahahajajeeeeeeeeeekkihhhgookkpigfcvbjj

Source pls......I just can't believe disbis happening

Sir pls tell d oooo

dey are welcome...as long as dey know DAT its not gonna be "business as usual"...

sai Buhari

"surely they shall gather together,but not for Nigeria's sake,they shall speak the word but it shall not stand ,for d Lord is with Nigeria"......
let dem keep planning evil but d Lord will scatter dem

its a tough decision but I think its worth it...inec can use d time to perfect all other necessary electioneering process....
BT pls Gej should not try to sack jega or ask him to go on terminal leave...DAT could be suicidal...
God bless nigeria

I just hope sacking jega or a asking him to go on terminal leave is not parrrt of gej plan to plunger dis nation into political crisis

The Presidency on Friday listed some of the reasons it feels that going ahead with the February dates for the general elections as scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission can “throw the country into turmoil and confusion.”

It however said President Goodluck Jonathan would not engage in any form of subterfuge to pressurise INEC to change the dates of the elections.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, stated these in Abuja at a press conference called to clarify the outcome of the Council of State meeting held on Thursday.

Okupe said there was no time during the meeting held inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja, when the chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, insisted on the February dates as quoted by some media reports.

He listed the level of preparedness of the electoral body and security situation in some parts of the country as some of the reasons why it will be wise to revisit the February dates.

On preparation, Okupe said in all INEC’s submissions at the meeting, the only process that was 100% concluded was the preparation and availability of the voters register.

He claimed that all other processes including provision, distribution and collection of PVCs, printing of ballot papers, distribution of verification machines and other non –sensitive materials, recruitment and training of ad hoc staff are all “work in progress.”

He added that Jega himself admitted that given a little more time, INEC would be in a better position to perfect the processes and its readiness for the elections.

He said, “Also in his presentations to the Council, the INEC Chairman, stated clearly that for the electoral process to be free, fair, and credible,  there are other matters which were not under the control of INEC, principal among which is the issue of provision and guarantee of security of lives and properties.

“The Security Chiefs were unanimous in their advice to the Council that it will be impossible for now for them to guarantee security of electoral materials, INEC Staff, and the voting population in the areas currently engulfed by the war against insurgency.”

Okupe said while some opinions were proffered that elections could be allowed to hold on February 14 in 32 states not affected by insurgency, Jonathan made it clear that he would not allow an election where some people will be excluded for no fault of theirs.

He quoted the President as further saying that endorsing such would tend to confirm the falsehood already being propagated in some parts of the country that he was encouraging the war in the North East to ensure that voters in the APC states were not allowed to vote in the 2015 elections.

He added, “For the avoidance of doubt, Nigerians are hereby re-assured that there has never been, and never shall be any plan to cancel the 2015 elections, for any reasons whatsoever. It will not happen, and the May 29th date for the swearing-in is sacrosanct. All talks about interim government arrangement is pure fiction.

“The consideration behind the possibility of change of date is to allow those who may be disfranchised from voting on the 14th February to have an opportunity to exercise their lawful rights to vote and participate in the general elections.

“The new wave of successes being recorded by the Military in the War against insurgency, especially with the arrival of new effective combatant equipment and machinery, plus the newly revamped cross border co-operation with Niger, Chad and Cameroonian Military, offer a very genuine hope that in a very short while, the situation in the affected states will be brought under such reasonable control that will guarantee safety of the electoral process and electorate in the war front region of the North–East at a no distant future.

“We repeat that the only set of people who stand to benefit from a shift in election dates are Nigerians who desire to vote and have not been able to collect their Permanent Voters Cards and other innocent citizens living in the war zone who may not be able to vote on the 14th February.

“We also wish to recollect that in 2003, 2007, and 2011 the elections were held in April, and the hand over date was not affected.

“We therefore challenge the opposition to tell Nigerians in clear terms, what dangers the change of date from February 14th portends to the electoral process or to the Nigerian electorate. It will also be good if the opposition tells us who stands to benefit or be disadvantaged from any shifting of date and how.”

Okupe, while saying that INEC was not fully ready for the elections, dared the commission to direct its Resident Electoral Commissioners to swear to an affidavit to prove their readiness for the polls.

“It will be very re-assuring if the INEC can get its RECs to attach their state of readiness to a sworn affidavit and show it to Nigerians.

“The interest of this government is to ensure that we do not have a rancorous and poorly conducted general elections that will throw the country into turmoil and confusion with the likelihood of an unnecessary internal and external rejection and condemnation,” he said.

Okupe claimed that in Sokoto State, nine local government areas are yet to receive PVC for the continuous voters registration, barely nine days to the election.

He also claimed that the majority of the 960,000 ad hoc staff needed by the commission are yet to be recruited and trained especially on the operations of card readers that are yet to be made available.

He added that Lagos State is yet to receive a balance of about 12,000 card readers for elections


Presidency lists grouse with February polls date
Via Top 20 News Websites.
http://www.punchng.com/news/presidency-lists-grouse-with-february-po

its a victory for democracy

The meeting was Mr. Jonathan’s final open effort to rescue
an election that seems to have got away from him very
quickly.
Under the Nigerian constitution, the Council advises executive
branch, and is chaired by the President. Other members are
the Vice-President, who is the Deputy Chairman; all former
Presidents of the Federation and all former Heads of the
Government of the Federation; all former Chief Justices;
the President of the Senate; the Speaker of the House of
Representatives; all State Governors; and the Attorney-
General of the Federation.
Also at Thursday’s meeting was the chairman of the
Independent National Election Commission (INEC).
President Jonathan cited security concerns and lack of
preparedness by INEC as his reasons for seeking
postponement of the elections.
Our presidency sources at the meeting said that
all the former Heads of State spoke in favor of holding the
general elections on February 14th and February 28th 2015,
as scheduled by the electoral commission. Muhammadu Buhari,
the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress,
also spoke calmly but firmly against the proposal.
However, when it was Jega’s time to speak, he shocked the
meeting by disclosing that just before he entered the Council
chambers, the president’s National Security Advisor,
Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd), had handed him a report saying
that the security services could not guarantee security
during the elections. Dasuki, he stated, emphasized that 14
Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the North East would be
compromised.
Presidency sources inside the meeting
tell SaharaReporters that Jega responded the security question
stating “We are better off [more secure] than in 2011”
elections. He also argued that the security situation in 14
LGAs should not interfere with acountry of over 700 such
councils.
Professor Jega also said that all Permanent Voting Cards
(PVCs) were ready for voters and that their
availability should no longer be considered an issue. Our
sources say that when Jega finishing giving his presentation,
the majority of the room clapped in support and respect.
One source disclosed to SaharaReporters that
after Jega’s presentation, aides to President Jonathan sent
a signal to Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark, Alex Ekwueme and
Senator Okunrounmu to release a “dossier” that
was in the possession of the group against Jega. That group
then quickly organized a press conference in Abuja to
demand Jega’s removal from INEC and get himarrested and
tried for “treason”.
Contrary to Jega’s positive reception at the Council of
State, the group, in a fall-back strategy the president
seemed to have approved of in advance, claimed that the
INEC boss had colluded with some Northern “leaders” to
cheat the South of the presidency.
After today’s meeting the Council of State decided that
INEC and the security agencies must hold meetings leading
to the elections in order to harmonize and coordinate their
activities to ensure that all elections are free and
fair starting this month.
The meeting then nominated Governor Olusegun Mimiko of
Ondo State to brief the press about its decisions.
Governor Rochas Okorocha strategically joined Mimiko at
that event to ensure that nothing was added to, or taken
away from what Nigerians needed to know.


http://saharareporters.com/2015/02/05/how-council-state-rejected-president-jonathan’s-proposal-postpone-general-elections

postponing d election will cause chaos and anarchy...Gej should thread wit caution.....some bad eggs will hide under this excuse to forming trouble

no more story...
let d election beging

Attahiru Jega, chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC), has told his aides that he plans
to inform tomorrow’s meeting of the Council of State that
his commission is fully prepared for the February 14, 2015
elections. According to INEC sources who spoke to
SaharaReporters, Mr. Jega indicated that he also intended to
brief the council on a few outstanding minor logistical issues
which he said INEC would be able to take care of in the next
week.
The chair of the electoral commission however expressed
concern that the Nigerian armed forces, despite openly
claiming to be fully prepared for the elections, had refused
to meet with INEC to discuss specific roles that each of
would play in order to help safeguard electoral materials and
distribute them across the nation.
One source said that some INEC officials believe that the
military’s uncooperative attitude arose from a scheme by
President Goodluck Jonathan and his supporters to frustrate
the elections. As far back as October 2014, SaharaReporters
had disclosed that Mr. Jonathan was less interested in the
elections than in the elongation of his tenure.
Mr. Jonathan called a meeting of the Council of State to
hold in Abuja tomorrow, February 5. Our sources said the
president’s major agenda was to persuade former Nigerian
leaders, some state governors and opposition figures to
agree to the idea of postponing the elections for at least
two months. The president’s main argument, according to
those familiar with the scheme, is that INEC was ill-
prepared to hold elections on February 14.
One source told our correspondent that Mr. Jonathan had
secured the full support of former military dictator, Ibrahim
Babangida, for the postponement of the elections. Mr.
Babangida’s political legacy included annulling the June 12,
1993 presidential polls, an action that precipitated a major
political crisis in Nigeria for several years. The election had
been described by local and foreign observers as freest and
fairest.
A source told SaharaReporters that former President
Olusegun Obasanjo plans to boycott tomorrow’s meeting of
the Council of States. As at press time, our correspondence
was unable to find out if Muhammed Buhari, the presidential
candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), plans to
attend the council meeting. An aide of Mr. Buhari’s said the
presidential candidate would lead opposition governors to the
council in order to fight against the extension.
Should Mr. Jonathan succeed in postponing the election by
two months, Mr. Jega would be approximately one month away
from the end of his tenure. , the President will send him on
a terminal leave and bring in his replacement to conduct the
election, but Saharareporters has learnt that the President
doesn’t have any interest in conducting elections instead he
is interested in pushing for a two-year Interim Government
of National Unity to be headed by him. His aides are
supposed to meet with the National Leader of the APC, Bola
Tinubu to offer his a position as the VP slot on the IGNU.

http://saharareporters.com/2015/02/05/inec-chair-jega-tell-council-state-he-ready-elections-getting-no-cooperation-military

we are waiting for more outburst pls baba

A former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has said he will henceforth maintain silence on the state of the nation until after the forthcoming general elections.

He said this on Wednesday while addressing traditional rulers from Egbaland who were attending a seminar organised by a non-governmental organisation, The Village Network Empowerment Initiative. The seminar held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.

The former president, who had in recent times criticised President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, said it was unfortunate that some people could misconstrue his good intention for the country.

Hence, he said he had chosen to keep mum until after the elections.

Obasanjo, who also flayed the situation in which teachers in some states were being owed salaries for upward of six months, said Nigerians had an opportunity from February 14 to play their own part in enthroning leaders of their choice.

He said, “Where we are now, I have spoken. I have used body language and whoever still does not understand all I have been saying, it would take such a person a long time to understand.

“It is something that is very clear for us all to see. Some people came to visit me from Benue State three days ago and told me teachers in that state had not been paid for six months.

“There are states where teachers have not been paid for four months, three months and two months. That is not good at all. It’s only God that can help us to overcome all these problems.

“All I know is that God has done His own part and it’s now left for us as human beings to do our own bit. Do we, as Nigerians, say that God has not been magnanimous enough to us?

“Is it human or natural resources that we do not have? We are blessed with a lot of fertile land. Shakespeare says the fault is not in our stars but in ourselves that we are underlings.

“God has done his own part and it’s now left for us as human beings to play our own part. That our own part starts from the 14th and it’s now left to you and me. I won’t say more than that. I’ve said I won’t say anything anymore until after the elections.

“You’ll hear from me after the elections. But I’ve said it verbally and through body language and how you understand it all is now left to you. But whatever you still don’t understand about all of these, I will put it in prayers that God should enable you to clearly understand it all better.

“But I won’t say more than this until after the election.”

Delivering a lecture to the traditional rulers on “Waste to Wealth, Health, Biogas productions as an alternative source of energy for sustainable rural development,” the Director of the Zoo Park of the Federal University of Agriculture, Prof. Moses Oyatogun, enumerated the uses of different waste for energy production.

He advised them to take advantage of all manner of waste in their environment.

The initiator of the Village Network Empowerment Initiative Network, Oba Olufemi Ogunleye, said he organised the seminar to enable the traditional rulers to acquire knowledge and exposure towards the development of their communities

http://www.punchng.com/news/no-comment-on-national-issues-until-after-elections-obasanjo

to me inec seem ready....almost 70% PVC distribution......we can't av 100% collection so let inec do d needful

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday said that the ballot papers for this month’s general elections were ready.

The spokesman for the INEC’s National Chairman, Kayode Idowu, made this known to The PUNCH just as feelers indicated that in Abuja that Thursday’s(today) Council of State meeting might be stormy.

The council, which consists of the President, the Vice President, all former Presidents and ex- Heads of State as well as all state governors, is expected to deliberate on the calls for the postponement of the elections.

Other members of the council are all former Chief Justices of Nigeria, the President of the Senate and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

One of the key responsibilities of the body is to advise the President in the exercise of his powers with respect to INEC, including the appointments of members of the commission.

The Presidency is believed to be favourably disposed to the postponement of the elections while the APC insists that the elections must hold as scheduled.

But while the Presidency and the APC were busy strategising on Wednesday evening on how to have an upper hand, Idowu told The PUNCH that INEC still stood by its timetable for the polls.

He said that apart from the ballot papers being ready, 65.5 per cent of the   Permanent Voter Cards had as of Monday been distributed to registered voters across the country.

He   said,   “We have distributed 48,098,000   which represents 65.5 per cent of the PVCs . We have also taken delivery of ballot papers for the elections.”

Asked to be specific on whether the elections would be postponed as being canvassed in some quarters, he replied,   “Has the commission issued any statement reneging on its earlier timetable?

“If we have not done that, that means nothing has changed.”

The PUNCH gathered on Wednesday night that the commission had commenced the movement of materials to states and local government areas ahead of the February 14 presidential and National Assembly elections.

Idowu, had in a statement   on Wednesday, refuted an earlier report by Reuters, claiming that the elections might be postponed if voter cards distribution   was too low.

He said that there was no reason for anyone to suggest that the exercise might be shifted because “the number of PVCs already collected rates highly in comparison to the level of voter turnout historically in Nigerian elections.”

He explained that a National Commissioner of INEC, Amina Zakari, gave a hint that the deadline for PVC collection might be further extended.

The statement read, “I write to refute your story in Reuters attributing National Commissioner of INEC, Zakari, as saying that the 2015 general elections may be delayed if the number of PVCs collected by voters is too low.

“I was at the Situation Room Dialogue with INEC in Abuja this (Wednesday) morning and I know that the commissioner spoke in regard to the February 8 deadline for the collection of PVCs, nothing about the schedule of the general elections.

“You said she spoke to you ‘on the sidelines’ of the event. Well, I have checked with the commissioner and she denied that the issue discussed was the schedule of the 2015 elections.

“You had during the question-and-answer session at the event asked about the notably low level of collection in some states and the implication for voter turnout, which the commission had missed out in her responses.

“Later ‘on the sidelines’ she explained to you that the number of PVCs already collected rates highly in comparison to the level of voter turnout historically in Nigerian elections.

“Still, she added, INEC has not completely foreclosed the possibility of granting a few days of extension in isolated cases of low percentage of collection after February 8.

“The inference you’ve made for the schedule of elections is entirely yours, and misrepresents the conversation that took place at the event this(Wednesday) morning.”

Our correspondents however gathered that former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the APC presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and all the APC governors will attend the Council of State meeting.

Most of the APC governors had not been attending the meeting since the disagreement that led to the factionalisation of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

The last time the council   meeting was held, only Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State attended.

Two APC governors, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the party was mobilising ahead of the   meeting.

One of them said, “We know the importance of the meeting and we have asked our members to attend at all costs.

“Apart from that, our presidential candidate will also be the attending. We don’t want any unpopular decision to be taken on our behalf.”

The other said, “We are not only going to attend the meeting, but also have our caucus meeting before going there. We are meeting tonight (Wednesday) to deliberate on issues and take a common position.

“You know that we (APC governors) have not been attending the meeting for long, but this time round, we would be there.”

The governor added that Obasanjo, who also has an event to attend in Abuja on Thursday (today), had   promised that he would be at the meeting.

“The former President has promised to attend. We are expecting him to be on the side of the democrats and support that the elections must hold as announced by the INEC.”

Earlier on Wednesday, the APC National Chairman,   Chief John Odigie-Oyegun,     warned that the consequences of overheating the polity on account of the grand design to postpone the polls   would be difficult to predict.

Odigie-Oyegun said that   Nigerians had become aware of the build-up to the “dangerous events that are beginning to unfold in the nation.”

He noted that the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), was the first to fly the kite by citing unpreparedness on the part of INEC.

The APC chairman stressed that Dasuki was not speaking for the electoral management body because INEC had told all Nigerians that it was ready for the elections.

He   alleged that as part of the larger plot by the PDP and the Presidency, groups had been sponsored to hold demonstrations to join the calls for postponement.

Odigie-Oyegun said, “We were afflicted with organised protests and a few days ago, we were told that some parties got together – I think about 16 of them and decided that yes, they want the elections postponed.

“But of course, every serious Nigerian knows that this election is between the APC and the PDP whatever else anybody will think. There has been a spate of organised radio programmes following the same trend. Oh this election should be postponed; election that we knew four years ago is going to happen this year.

“Unfortunately in the process, the polity is being overheated to such dangerous levels that the consequences of which will be difficult to predict at this stage.”

The party chairman also said the APC was aware that the Presidency might attempt to drag members of the Council of State into its effort to postpone the elections during Thursday’s (today)   meeting .

Stating that the APC   holds members of the council   in high esteem,” he advised them against taking part in any project that could damage the democratic process.

“It will be necessary at this point to make the point very, clearly that the Council of State is a purely advisory body and ought not to be dragged into trying to provide justification in any form or shape for this very unfortunate direction which the Presidency and the PDP want to plunge this nation,” Odigie- Oyegun said.

A top   Presidency official told one of our correspondents that whether the APC governors attended the meeting or not, the decision on whether or not the elections would be shifted would be based on the submission of the INEC chairman.

He said, “You may say it (the meeting) will be stormy. But I will prefer to say there will be intrigues.

“There is no problem in Amaechi and other APC governors attending. One thing that is sure is that decision will be made based on the presentation that will be made by the INEC chairman.

“If he says the commission needs more time, decision will be based on that. Nobody can force them to go ahead.”

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State is expected to lead the PDP governors to the meeting.

Also in Abuja, the PDP Campaign Organisation has said that only INEC has the power to shift elections.

It said it was wrong for anyone to   insinuate that the Presidency and the PDP   were interfering in the work of the commission.

The Director of Media and Publicity of the   organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, stated this at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said, “We wish to state that our party, the PDP, and our government under President Jonathan, do not superintend over electoral processes and elections in this country.

“There is an independent election body in place – the INEC under the chair of Prof. Attahiru Jega.

“It is within the purview of INEC to make decisions about the holding and/or postponement of elections. It is not within the functions of the PDP or the Federal Government.”

The former Minister of Aviation said that the PDP and the campaign organisation took exception to the fact that the APC had kept on making this allegation.

He said, “When they say that the PDP is controlling INEC they have become nothing but victims of their own delusions and they are obviously suffering from terrible hallucination.

“INEC is completely independent. We have called on INEC to ensure that everybody has the Permanent Voter Cards.

“We have done that public service; but as to whether election is to be postponed or not is INEC’s sole decision.

“Whichever way, we are very well prepared for elections. Let it be clear that the APC leaders and members are the ones who are afraid of elections.”

Fani-Kayode said it was also not true that the PDP was not ready for the elections and that it was plotting for an Interim National Government.

He said that the APC knew it would not win elections and that this could be the reason why it was making the allegations.

He said that Buhari   had   “attended 35 or thereabouts state rallies and in all,   he has spoken for only 57 minutes.

He added, “The longest time he spoke in any single rally was for two minutes and 13 seconds. The shortest is one minute.

“He has used his so-called speeches for nothing but political demagoguery, charging his supporters with a clenched fist and spreading hate speech (with his supporters chanting ‘sai Buhari’) which is symptomatic of a violent character.

“It drives home the point that General Buhari has nothing to say and if he has anything to say, he simply does not know how to say it. That explains why he keeps running from debates even when choice platforms are offered.”

He also denied the allegation that some of those who instituted cases in court were doing so on behalf of the PDP and Jonathan.

Some protesters however   blocked the entrance to the INEC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, demanding that the elections be shifted by two months.

They alleged marginalisation of the Southern part of the country in the distribution of   PVCs in favour of the North.

The protesters, who came under the aegis of the Coalition of Civil Societies and Concerned Nigerians,   claimed that the northern states had received   73 per cent of the PVCs, while the southern states had received only 46 per cent.

Their coordinator,   Amanda Chisom, said their   demand   was in line with section 132, sub-sections 2 of the Electoral Act.

Chisom, who   suggested March or April for the elections,   later told journalists that they were   received by an official of INEC from the Legal Department


INEC: Ballot papers ready, 48 million PVCs distributed
Via Top 20 News Websites.
http://www.punchng.com/news/inec-ballot-papers-ready-48-million-pvcs-distributed/