Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday declined to comment on President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory at the presidential poll held on February 23, 2019, saying it would be subjudice.

The former president spoke at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre Abuja, during the launch of a book: “Election in Nigeria: The Long Road to Democracy,” written by Prof. Abdullahi Shehu.

The event attracted very important personalities, including a former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd); human right activist, Mr. Femi Falana SAN, and a former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, among others.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/speaking-on-buharis-victory-subjudice-says-obasanjo

The Coalition of United Political Parties has alleged that are plans to depose the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II. The allegation was contained in a statement on Tuesday by the spokesman of the CUPP, Imo Ugochinyere.

The statement said some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress in Sokoto and Kano States were behind the move.
It said the decision to depose the traditional rulers was taken because of their decision not to take sides in the supplementary elections holding in the states on Saturday.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/apc-planning-to-depose-sultan-of-sokoto-emir-of-kano-cupp

Former United States (U.S.) Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, has described Nigeria’s 2019 presidential election as bad news for democracy, adding that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is unlikely to win his suit in court.

This is contrary to reports by some international bodies that the election was free and fair. Campbell, in his election post-mortem for the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington DC obtained yesterday, said the election was marred by historically low turnout and credible allegations of rigging.

He noted that the election was a step-back from that of 2015, adding that actions should be taken to identify what had gone wrong and what could be corrected.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/john-campbell-nigerias-presidential-election-bad-news-for-democracy

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, to desist from deploying soldiers for elections, saying the action is already causing an uncontrolled crime against the Nigerian people..

The National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement Thursday, said that the deployment of soldiers for the 2019 general elections, despite the extant ruling of the Supreme Court against such, was part of the grand plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to use the military to suppress opposition, instill fear in the citizenry and forcefully rig the elections.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/stop-pitching-military-against-nigerians-pdp-tells-buratai

The Court of Appeal, Yola Division has granted a stay of execution on the order of the Federal High Court, Jalingo disqualifying the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State, Alhaji Sani Abubakar Danladi, from contesting Saturday’s election.

The court, presided by Justice Chidi Uwa, also ordered all the parties involved in the case to maintain the status quo ante pending the determination of the motion on notice filed before it by Danladi.

Danladi and the APC are the appellants in the suit, while Usman Udi, Joshua Paaku, George Geoffrey, Tanko Muslim Munkaila and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are the first, second, third, fourth and fifth respondents respectively.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/appeal-court-sets-aside-taraba-apc-guber-candidates-disqualification

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Wednesday granted former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) permission to inspect and obtain Certified True Copy (CTC) of election materials used in the conduct of the February 23 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The tribunal also ordered INEC to make available all documents and electoral materials used for the election for the purpose of the inspection.

However, a request by Atiku and the PDP to carry out forensic audit on materials and polling documents was declined by the tribunal.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/atiku-gets-tribunals-order-to-inspect-electoral-materials

The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, has said the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization did not direct Igbos living in Lagos State to vote for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Saturday’s governorship election, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Vanguard newspaper is reporting.

Nwodo thus faulted the position credited to the group’s President in Lagos, Solomon Ogbonna, that the Igbos in Lagos should vote for Sanwo-Olu.
According to Vanguard, Nwodo’s position was contained in a video it obtained from Ohanaeze Ndigbo on the issue and others in Nigeria’s political landscape.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/ohanaeze-did-not-direct-igbos-in-lagos-to-vote-for-sanwo-olu-nwodo

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23 presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and his party yesterday in Abuja, commenced legal processes, challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the poll.

Atiku filed an ex-parte motion at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, venue of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, in which, along with the PDP, he prayed for an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow them inspect the voter register and other vital documents used in the conduct of the election.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/atiku-at-petition-tribunal-seeks-order-to-inspect-election-materials

Babalele Abdullahi, an associate of Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been released by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Abdullahi is Atiku’s son in-law and Finance Director of companies owned by the Wazirin Adamawa.

Segun Sowunmi, Atiku’s spokesman, confirmed the development Tuesday morning on Twitter.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/atiku-abubakars-son-in-law-released-by-efcc

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has assured Nigerians that under no circumstance will he mortgage the mandate they freely expressed on February 23, 2019 during the presidential and National Assembly elections.

This assurance comes against the backdrop of the invasion of the house and arrest of Alhaji Babalele Abdullahi, his son-in-law and Director of Finance of his group of companies, in Abuja on Saturday.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at about 8:30am on Saturday invaded the Maitama residence of Babalele.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/efcc-arrests-atiku-abubakars-finance-director

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed media reports indicating that its candidate in the February 23 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar has been making some demands on President Muhammadu Buhari.

Describing the reports as fabrication being peddled by the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC), the PDP urged the public to disregard such reports, describing them as absolute falsehood and outright lies.

A statement Saturday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said Atiku Abubakar had not, and will never make or accept any condition from President Buhari regarding the February 23 presidential election, which the PDP insisted Atiku won.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/pdp-atiku-made-no-demand-on-buhari

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned that the palpable tension currently mounting in Plateau State could give rise to sporadic violence thereby messing up the fragile peace on the state, adding that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Governor Simon Lalong should be held responsible for any such untoward happening.

Addressing a press conference in Jos, the state capital, the Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Damishi Sango lamented that INEC has refused to announce the results of the three senatorial elections in the state clearly won by the PDP because it is doing everything to give the victory to the candidates of the APC, a development he said may end up in serious violence.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/declare-authentic-senatorial-results-now-plateau-pdp-tells-inec

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari, urging him to run an inclusive government.

It also urged Buhari’s main challenger in the presidential race, Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to concede defeat and congratulate the president-elect.

Also yesterday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) asked all those who lost in the just concluded presidential and National Assembly elections, especially former Vice President Abubakar, to put the interest of the nation first and accept defeat in good fate.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/acf-nlc-urge-atiku-to-concede-defeat

The People’s Democratic Party in Rivers State has accused the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of elections in the state, DIG Lakanu, of mounting undue pressure on the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Obo Efanga, to re-inject earlier rejected results from two local governments of the state.

A Senior Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Barr Oraye St. Franklyn, said the move was intended to heighten tension in the state.

“The pressure being mounted by the INEC chairman is a complete travesty of democracy which is capable of undermining the credibility of the entire election.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/rivers-pdp-accuses-inec-police-of-injecting-rejected-results

The Peoples Democratic Party has charged President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress to stop whining over their rejection in the presidential election and quietly accept the will of the people.

The PDP said this in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Saturday.

It said the APC and agents of the Buhari Presidency, being bewildered by defeat, are now plotting to discredit the votes which Nigerians freely delivered to the people’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, at their polling units.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/pdp-to-buhari-apc-stop-whining-accept-peoples-will

Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), on Thursday described the controversy trailing President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement that anyone attempts to snatch ballot boxes during the general elections will pay with his life as unnecessary.

It will be recalled that The President who spoke during the opening session of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caucus meeting at the APC National Secretariat said such action would be the last unlawful act the person will engage in.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/itse-sagay-president-buharis-order-on-ballot-snatching-benevolent-advice

President Muhammadu Buhari has counselled Nigerians to ignore rumours of violence and unrest surrounding the conduct of the 2019 general elections as rescheduled.

He assured the nation that security agencies had worked diligently to ensure that adequate security measures are in place throughout the election period.

The President spoke to Nigerians in a national television and radio broadcast on Friday.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/president-buhari-urges-nigerians-not-be-afraid-of-rumours-of-violence-and-unrest

A head of tomorrow’s rescheduled presidential and National Assembly elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday said it would not conduct elections in volatile areas where security agencies said the safety of their officials could not be guaranteed, especially in some parts of the North East where Boko Haram insurgents had displaced thousands.

It would be recalled that in 2015, the presidential election was shifted from February 14 to March 28, 2015 while the governorship and Assembly elections scheduled for February 28 were shifted to April 11 because of security issues.

Also, the convoy of Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, was last week attacked by the Boko Haram splinter group loyal to the Islamic State, West Africa Province, in Gamboru area of the state while the governor was on election campaign.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/inec-why-elections-may-not-hold-in-some-areas

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has urged voters across the country not to be scared by what the party described as a shoot-at-sight directive against would-be ballot box snatchers.

President Muhammadu Buhari had, during the week, ordered the military and other security agencies to deal ruthlessly with anyone caught snatching ballot boxes during Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus urged Nigerians to be focused and refuse to be intimidated as they go out to cast their votes.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/pdp-to-voters-dont-be-scared-by-shoot-at-sight-order

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says President Muhammadu Buhari’s comment on dealing summarily with ballot snatchers or arsonists in upcoming elections is not a license to kill.

President of the Congress, Mr Ayuba Wabba, stated this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

According to Wabba, the president’s comment to deal summarily with ballot snatchers or arsonists is not a license to kill. It is intended to deter trouble makers.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/ballot-snatching-buharis-comment-not-license-to-kill-nlc

The Akwa-Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mike Igini, has described as “misrepresentation, lies and innuendos” allegations which had been on for three weeks that he and other officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), have been compromised.

According to him, he had never stepped into the home of any resident of the state and so could not have held private meetings with people that he does not know.

He was reacting to accusations of alleged compromised leveled against him by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa-Ibom State and national chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/akwa-ibom-rec-i-cant-be-compromised

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has reported plans by President Muhammadu Buhari to ‘use’ the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the forthcoming elections in Borno, Adamawa and Kaduna states.

Abubakar in a statement signed by a spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, on Tuesday, alleged that the plot was hatched at a closed-door meeting between the federal government and the three state governors in Abuja.

He warned that the move to hold staggered elections would not be accepted.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/atiku-abubakar-alleges-plans-to-postpone-elections-in-three-northern-states

Festus Keyamo, Director, Strategic Communications of All Progressives Congress, APC, Campaign Council has backed President Muhammadu Buhari’s death threats to ballot box snatchers ahead of the 2019 presidential election.

Keyamo defended Buhari, saying the President was 100 percent correct constitutionally, by making the comments and that he would even encourage him to repeat it.

Keyamo, appearing on Channels TV, tackled Dino Melaye over Buhari’s statement, noting that ballot box snatching is treason and therefore punishable by death.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/festus-keyamo-ballot-box-snatching-is-treason

The Department of State Security Services (DSS) has invited six directors of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for questioning.

The top INEC officials invited include the director of Information and Communication Technology, Chidi Nwafor, whose department is in charge of the card readers, his counterpart in charge of procurement and four other directors.

The invited top officials of the commission are billed to be questioned at the DSS headquarters in Abuja.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/dss-invites-six-inec-directors-for-questioning

The Independent National Electoral Commission says the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, never offered the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa State, Kashim Gaidam, $1m or a house in Dubai.

INEC said this in a Facebook post while reacting to social media rumours that Atiku had compromised the Adamawa elections.

A report which trended on social media on Monday read in part, “Breaking News: I rejected Atiku’s $1m bribe plus a house in Dubai- Adamawa REC”.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/atiku-never-offered-adamawa-rec-1m-bribe-inec

Adams Oshiomhole is a terrible electoral umpire and has no moral pedigree to call for the resignation of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a minister has said.

The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, stated this at his home in Ibadan on Monday while addressing journalists.

Shittu sought to be the governor of Oyo State on the platform of the ruling party, APC. He was disqualified from contesting the primaries by an APC screening committee set up by the leadership of the party. Oshiomhole, the APC national chairman, had questioned Shittu’s governorship ambition after the minister was exposed for skipping the mandatory National Youth Service Corps.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/adebayo-shittu-adams-oshiomhole-has-no-moral-right-to-attack-inec-chairman

Security agencies have uncovered how the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has allocated about $3million (N1.8billion) to each state branch of the party, allegedly for inducement of voters, The Nations reports.

The cash was remitted before last Saturday’s postponement elections, but most state chapters were finding it difficult to change the cash to naira because of the surveillance on Bureau De Change operators by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS).

Also, the agencies have intercepted alleged compromise of some officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), policemen and other security agents in some states.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/report-pdp-plans-3-million-per-state-cash-for-vote

The Independent National Electoral Commission will announce the lifting of the ban on political campaigns today.

The Chairman of the commission, Mahmood Yakubu gave the indication at a meeting with an Observation team from the African Union, led by former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hallemariam Desalegn in Abuja today.

Professor Yakubu at a meeting with stakeholders on Saturday had overruled fresh campaigns following the postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly election on Saturday 16 February till 23 February.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/just-in-inec-set-to-lift-ban-on-political-campaigns

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, has revealed how some influential members in the Lagos APC Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) upturned one of his critical decisions not to return his wife, Remi, for a third term in the Senate.

Tinubu explained that the “coup” was hatched prelude to the conduct of the last primary elections across the 245 wards of the 20 local government areas in the state, last year.

He said this while addressing party leaders and members at a stakeholders’ meeting, prior to the postponed Presidential and National Assembly polls, at Police College, Play-ground, Ikeja in Lagos.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/tinubu-why-i-kicked-against-my-wifes-third-term

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, has said that shoddy arrangement for the 2019 election by the Independent National Electoral Commission is a deliberate pre-determined agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari to cling on to power “even when it is obvious to him that Nigerians want him out”.

Secondus said this in a statement in the early hours of Saturday by his Media Aide, Ike Abonyi.

Secondus said the postponement, which is part of a grand design by the All Progressives Congress to thwart the will of Nigerians at all cost, clearly exposes INEC as a failure and called on the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to resign immediately.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/postponement-of-polls-predetermined-agenda-of-president-buhari-pdp

Thousands of protesting members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, from 8 a.m. today, blocked the main entrance of Rivers headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Aba Road in Port Harcourt, insisting that the electoral commission must obey the ruling of Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt and relist the main opposition party in the state (APC) and its candidates.

The aggrieved protesters, who were armed with placards bearing various inscriptions and chanting: “No APC, no elections in Rivers State,” were led by the party’s candidate for Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, Oji Ngofa, who is Nigeria’s Ambassador to The Netherlands.

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/breaking-apc-members-in-rivers-block-inec-headquarters

A United States lobbying firm, Ballard Partners, has disowned a letter purportedly written by the firm, predicting the loss for Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, in the presidential election holding on Saturday.

“My signature has been forged. Ballard Partners has not conducted any survey research on behalf of the People’s Democratic Party of Nigeria,” said Ballard.

“The entire contents of the letter are false, and no individual employed by Ballard Partners has been involved in any of the actions cited in this phony letter.”

Read More at: https://www.thenewsbook.net/election-pdps-us-lobbyist-denies-predicting-president-buharis-victory