Senate President Bukola Saraki may lose his seat in the Senate, investigation by our correspondent reveals.

Sources close to Saraki’s camp confided in our correspondent that the Senate President is ‘struggling’ to control the loyalty of his constituents.

According to the sources, many voters have expressed several agitations that could not be resolved within a short period of time.

“We never knew that things have got this worst. We were confident to the extent of allowing the Senate President go and campaign freely for Atiku. The few weeks that we stayed at home fully for campaign made us realise that a lot happened behind us,” one of his aides said.

Another source told our correspondent Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed was trusted with the “responsibility of keeping the home for Oloye (Saraki)” but failed to do so.

“We are doing everything possible to salvage the situation. We are hopeful that we will win even if it will be with a small margin,” the source said.

Our correspondent gathered that Saraki’s structure in Kwara State was weakened by grassroots mobilisers for two groups sponsored by Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President of Nigeria.

The groups – All Progressives Youth Forum and Kwarans Act Now – were said to have been in active operation two months after Saraki emerged as the Senate President against the will of his then party, APC.

It was also gathered that the defeat of Saraki is one of the major mandates given to Lai Mohammed, the leader of the party in the state.

On the eve of election, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) deployed one security helicopter to Kwara for air surveillance operation during the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled to hold on Saturday.

The Commander of the 203 Airforce Headquarters in Ilorin, Air Commodore Patrick Obeya, disclosed this at a press conference in Ilorin on Friday.

He explained that the helicopter would be patrolling the airspace to provide security for residents of the state.

Obeya urged residents not to panic, saying that the helicopter would particularly hover around some flash points.

“ We shall communicate information to our sister security agencies for necessary action.

“We, therefore, urge residents of the state to be rest assured of our maximum readiness for the exercise,” he added.


We are ready for Saturday’s general elections in Kwara — REC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kwara assured the people of the state that the commission is set for the Presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Malam Garba Attahiru-Madami, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) disclosed this on Friday after a review of the deployment of sensitive materials like Ballot Papers, Smart Card Readers, and Form EC8 series (Result Sheets), called on voters to come out en masse to cast their votes for candidates of their choice at the elections.

According to him, a total of 1, 149, 969 which is about 82 per cent of the total registered voters of 1, 406, 457 will be allowed to vote in the elections, having collected their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).

The commissioner said that 256, 488 uncollected PVCs were packaged according to local governments and returned to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for safekeeping, in the presence of political parties, security agencies, international observers and journalists.

Attahiru-Madami said that batching of the materials into the Registration Areas had since commenced in the various local government area offices.

He said the Smart Card Readers had been appropriately reconfigured and delivered with backup batteries and charging materials.

The REC said activities at the Registration Area Centres (RACs) commenced from 9:00 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 22, adding that refresher training of the ad-hoc staff would be carried out on the same day.

“The re-visited list of ad hoc staff has also been delivered and pasted at our respective Area Offices. This is to allow prospective ad hoc staff to cross check the details of their records and proceed to immediately submit their account details to their supervisors,” he added.

The REC added that he had directed that the Registration Area Centres must be properly activated with all the required facilities put in place to make ad hoc staff comfortable.

He warned that any ad hoc staff caught in any untoward activity would be made to face the music.

“As far as the Independent National Electoral Commission, Kwara State, is concerned, I can say we are good to go.

“INEC Kwara will conduct free, fair, transparent and credible elections, which will be accepted by all stakeholders and applauded by the International Community.

“All Political Parties will be given a level playing field and all votes must count because our Card Readers are 100 per cent functional and no one will be disenfranchised,” he said.


Kwara police warn residents against carrying weapons during elections

The Kwara Police Command has warned residents of the state against carrying weapons during Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The state Commissioner of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, gave the warning on Friday while briefing newsmen in Ilorin.

According to him, anybody found with weapons would be treated as a hoodlum.

“We are ready for those that are prepared for violence. We have been equipped to protect the lives and property of residents,’’ he said.

He said the police were partnering with sister agencies to ensure that the elections were conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.

The commissioner implored members of the public not to panic, saying that everyone would be protected.

On the arrest of a PDP senatorial candidate in the state, Sen. Rafiu Ibrahim, the police boss said he was linked with Tuesday’s attack on the APC senatorial candidate, Lola Ashiru, in Ojoku.

NAN also recalls that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo’s convoy was attacked on Friday at Isale Aluko area of Ilorin.

Egbetokun said one person died and eight people were injured in the two incidents.

“We are determined to bring all the perpetrators to justice while eight suspects have been arrested so far,’’ he said.

Islie:






https://www.independent.ng/situation-reports-show-saraki-may-lose-saturdays-election/amp/


Lalasticlala

Clerverly:
From Daily independent? Ipob newspaper? That is very serious..

successmatters:
Saraki has the structure, has the credibility and the support of most Kwarans. He is surely going to win.

APC has failed nationwide, kwarans had rejected them.

olagbola45:


M a investigative journalist

Saraki will lose

9jahotblog:
lol so na emirates that will reject their son waziri of ilorin Hmmm. you are just joking here. you will see the results tomorrow.

olagbola45:


Not now dat d real omo ilorin is contesting,forget it d guy have lost it

M serious about dis

Clerverly:
From Daily independent? Ipob newspaper? That is very serious..

modath:


Miss, The matter pass critical, he's doing vigil now praying for MIRACLE, cos ordinary eye cannot help him anynore.....

First time with no FEDERAL MIGHT, e nor funny.

olagbola45:


M a investigative journalist

Saraki will lose

successmatters:
Saraki has the structure, has the credibility and the support of most Kwarans. He is surely going to win.

APC has failed nationwide, kwarans had rejected them.

9jahotblog:
lol so na emirates that will reject their son waziri of ilorin Hmmm. you are just joking here. you will see the results tomorrow.

successmatters:
Saraki has the structure, has the credibility and the support of most Kwarans. He is surely going to win.

APC has failed nationwide, kwarans had rejected them.

successmatters:
Saraki has the structure, has the credibility and the support of most Kwarans. He is surely going to win.

APC has failed nationwide, kwarans had rejected them.

OdiEma:


Investigative journalist.... Using a with a Vowel

successmatters:
Saraki has the structure, has the credibility and the support of most Kwarans. He is surely going to win.

APC has failed nationwide, kwarans had rejected them.

9jahotblog:
false reports, Omo babaoloye dey on ground for this election. Na tomorrow that you will see the whole show.

olagbola45:


Not now dat d real omo ilorin is contesting,forget it d guy have lost it

M serious about dis

BuhariAdvocate:
the most funniest part of the matter ,saraki supporters aren't from kwara they are not eligible to vote him very sad.

imam07:
sit down inside your cave in the East and be saying what u dont know. Apu don block all your eyes and ears.