₦airaland Forum

You took the words right out of my mouth

tiniyata: living in bondage

Not all doctors have horrible writing but i think mood and pressure contributes ti a great deal. When i am in a happy mood my handwriting is so legible a baby can read it but the otherway its an apology. Atimes i take a look at casenotes of patients and wonder if i was drunk when writing cos some of the words look extraterrestial. As a rule though i make sure my prescription is legible so i dont stress the pharmacist and i make it a point of duty to explain directions on how to take drugs to the patient

Different strokes for different folks. It all depends on the individuals,as far as expectations are not too high. As for me no qualms with marrying a nairalander if there is a common ground at least two have to agree to become one

ochukoccna:
Don't NLers have flesh and blood?
What if the person is level headed and meets your perspective of a mate?
Are Nairalanders virtual beings now?
What a question!
SMH

infact the question is so damn funny. Nairaland is the platform destined for some individuals to hook up afterall dont we transact business on this platform,at least i have purchased some stuff from nairalanders and the transaction started online

Different strokes for different folks. It all depends on the individuals,as far as expectations are not too high. As for me no qualms with marrying a nairalander if there is a common ground at least two have to agree to become one

I said a Valentine prayer for you
and asked the Lord above
to fill your heart and bless your soul
With the precious gift of love.

I asked Him for sincere love
The kind that’s meant to stay
Just like the generous love
You give to those you touch each day.

I prayed for love from family
And from every cherished friend
Then I asked the Lord to give you
His love that knows no end.

Happy Valentine’s Day

I want to join this network and also please send me the account details,I want to be active in making contributions. If I could also get her address I would love to visit her next time I go to benin to see my folks. This is a worthy cause I expect all nairalanders to wake up to,she is one of our own let's rally around her

Na wa oh

Ogun State governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel, on Saturday, said the possibility of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) working together in the state ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial election could not be ruled out, but disclosed that the PPN’s governorship candidate in the state, Alhaji Gboyega Isiaka, would not withdraw from the race.

The governor stressed that both parties are members of the same family, adding that presently he was supporting PPN and its governorship candidate.

Chief Daniel stated this while addressing newsmen after casting his vote, during the presidential election, at his Isote Ward in Sagamu.

According to him, “As of today, I am supporting PPN and Alhaji Gboyega Nasir Isiaka for the position of next governor of Ogun State. That is my position, which means I am supporting PPN.

“Let me also say that I do not see any possibility of withdrawal by Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, but we can work with any other party if they want to support him.

“It will be quite exciting and the reason is very simple, in all our years we have stood by the truth, probity and equity and there is a minimum ways things must be done.

“I do not think the candidacy of our brother is credible, because he has a lot of baggage. I cannot with all sincerity, as a governor of Ogun State, start campaigning for such a person. I think that that ticket is faulty, even if there is any opportunity for us to take a second look at that ticket, it is still faulty. It is not possible for me at this stage to support that ticket.

I have delivered my responsibility to the president today. I have voted for the president and we pray that he will emerge. From this time on, it is PPN all the way.”

Speaking on the low turnout of voters in some parts of the state for the presidential election, Governor Daniel said, the apathy could be as a result of people thinking they were not directly touched, saying the coming gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections would witness massive turnout of voters.

Also commenting on the issue of voters’ apathy towards the election, the Senator-elect for Ogun East, Chief Gbenga Kaka told Sunday Tribune that the grass roots people might be thinking they were not directly involved.

Some of the polling centres visited by Sunday Tribune at Ago Iwoye and Ijebu Igbo in Ijebu North Local Government Area of the state recorded insignificant number of voters.

A few voters interviewed in the town attributed the unimpressive turnout to poor voter’s education, stressing that politicians in the areas did little or nothing to mobilise voters for the election.

However, voters trooped out en masse in Sagamu, Ijebu Ode, Abeokuta, Ayetoro and other parts of Yewa axis of the state.

http://tribune.com.ng/sun/index.php/news/3688-ogun-governorship-electionppn-ready-to-work-with-any-party-daniel-presidential-election-in-ogun-records-low-turnout

The imperativeness of a change of guard in the House of Representatives is gradually emerging. The crashing out of the Speaker of the House, Dimeji Bankole in the recent national assembly elections in his native Ogun State has made it certain that the lower legislative chamber will be led by a new set of leaders.


Mr Bankole, who ran on the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), lost in his bid to return to the House to a relatively unknown candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

His deputy, Usman Bayero Nafada who had earlier indicated his intention not to return for the third time to the lower legislative chamber, had wanted to contest the gubernatorial elections in that state, but withdrew at the primaries when it became obvious that he wasn't going to secure the ticket.

Interestingly, the Senate President, David Mark and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, won their elections to return to the federal parliament.

The two positions had been zoned by the PDP, which enjoyed majority in the House, to the South West and North East geo-political zones, respectively.

Now that it is clear that both Messrs Bankole and Nafada are not returning, the House will be getting a new leadership from early June when the seventh session of the National Assembly will be inaugurated.

However, the emergence of the leadership, like that of the Senate, will be determined by a number of factors.

Zoning policy

First is the policy of zoning and rotation of offices adopted by the PDP. Between 1999 and 2003, the party zoned the presidency to the South West and the North East, respectively. It also zoned the Senate President and Speaker of the House to the South East and North West, respectively. The deputy senate president and the deputy speaker were produced by the North Central and South-South.

But in 2007, the North West produced the president while the South-South produced the vice. Similarly, the senate presidency went to the North Central, while the South West produced the speaker while their deputies came from the South East and North East, respectively. Although the PDP went into these elections with the controversy over zoning of the presidency still raging, it is not impossible that the leadership offices of the federal legislature would be rotated among the different zones. At the peak of the zoning controversy, Mr Jonathan alluded to the fact that as spelt out in Section 7.2c of the PDP constitution, after the emergence of the president and the vice president, the other key offices would be zoned.

There is therefore the likelihood that the offices of the presiding officers of the Senate and the House will be re-zoned. In fact, it is almost certain that the South West will not produce the next speaker due to the performance of the PDP in the zone during the last parliamentary polls.

Earlier, the decision by Messrs David Mark, Ike Ekweremadu and Bankole to re-contest had thrown up a debate whether they would retain their positions in the coming dispensation or become ordinary members in both chambers.

Ranking

Closely related to that is the ranking factor. The issue of ranking became a major factor in the emergence of the principal officers of the national assembly in 2003. In that year, lawmakers that served between 1999 and 2003 felt that, as seniors, they should be the only ones to be considered for the leadership positions in both chambers since those just coming in did not have cognate experience.

Although elections are yet to be conducted in 15 senatorial districts and over 40 federal constituencies, it appears many of the serving lawmakers will not be returning. So far, only about five members of the House from South West succeeded in their bid to return. Assuming therefore that the position of speakership is retained in the South West, the returnees likely to jostle for the position are Ajibola Muraina and Adeniyi Busari both of who are from Oyo State.

Those who would have challenged Mr Bankole effectively for that position are not returning. They include Wole Oke (Osun) chairman of defence committee and Dave Salako (Ogun) chairman of communications committee.

If it is zoned to the South East, the incumbent chief whip of the house, Emeka Ihedioha may be a strong contender. Mr Ihedioha, who is coming for the third time represents Ezihinitte/Mbaise federal constituency of Imo State. He may be challenged by his predecessor in that position, Bethel Amadi, also from Imo State. There are also Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, chairman of banking and currency committee and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, chairman of marine transport committee, both from Enugu State.

If the position goes to the North East, Yakubu Dogara, former chairman of the committee on commerce from Bauchi State, will be a strong contender. He may be challenged by Anthony Madwatte, a Christian from Adamawa State. If it is zoned to the North Central, it will be a major fight among the lawmakers from there because the zone is a stronghold of the PDP.

Presidential influence

Yet, the personality of the president may also be a deciding factor on who occupies which office in the National Assembly. In 2007, the PDP had planned that the South East would produce the Speaker while the North Central produce the Senate President. But in the build-up to the inauguration of the legislature, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, demanded that the speakership should not only go to his home zone, South West but should be occupied by Ms Etteh, from Osun State.

In any case, all these calculations and projections will depend on if the PDP is going into any working alliance with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Mr Jonathan who is the candidate of the PDP was reported to have met with leaders of the ACN, including Bola Tinubu recently during which he dangled some carrots, as it were, before him. If both parties have a breakthrough in their talks, analysts say it may result in the South West, the stronghold of the ACN, producing the Senate President akin to the NPN/NPP arrangement in the second republic. But the renewed alliance talks between the ACN and Muhammadu Buhari's Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) ahead of Saturday's presidential poll may endanger that possibility.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5689633-147/story.csp

that was then this is now

Gombe State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Godfery Miri, who was on an inspection tour of the state during the Presidential election held on Saturday, escaped death when he was attacked by a group of irate youths in Bajoga town, in Funakaye Local Government Area of the state.

Miri said that he had stopped over to check the election proceedings when he noticed a large number of underage at a polling centre and in an attempt to investigate the gathering from the party agents and INEC Electoral Officer around, the infuriated teenagers attacked him with clubs, stones and sticks, in the process smashing the windscreen of his official car with registration number FG 636 VOI.

Similarly, members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Gombe State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, as well as the AIT crew and The Guardian reporters, were also attacked when they mistakenly ran into the crisis on their way from Nafada. The rear windscreen of their bus was smashed while they fled the town.

When the Correspondent met with the INEC REC, he confirmed that he was attacked for daring to stop under-age voting in two polling units, which is against the 2011 Electoral Act and the Constitution of Nigeria.

http://tribune.com.ng/sun/index.php/news/3692-gombe-rec-escapes-death

The vice-presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Pastor Tunde Bakare, has revealed the untold story of why the alliance talks between his party and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) failed.

Bakare, who spoke with Sunday Tribune on the telephone at the weekend, debunked media reports that it was his refusal to accede to the ACN request that he (Bakare) should step down as a vice-presidential candidate of the CPC for an ACN nominee to occupy that position that brought a dead end to the alliance talks.

He said he was not a party to a meeting where such request was made.

What he said “transpired in the secret” was that at a meeting where representatives of both parties met, the condition placed before them by the ACN, to enter into an alliance agreement with the CPC, was that he should sign a post-dated letter, that after his swearing-in as a vice-president on May 29, he would resign on June 1 for an ACN nominee to come in, a condition he said was never in their plan ab initio.

“To move this nation forward, we have agreed that we will not touch the office of the president and the vice-president because it is illegal to do so now. But they asked me to sign a post-dated letter that when I’m sworn-in on the 29th of May, I will step down on the 1st of June. I have copies with me.

“I can’t sign such letters in secret. How do I face millions of people within and outside the country that I went in secret to sign a letter that I will be sworn-in on the 29th of May and step down on the 1st of June? What kind of negotiation is that?

“That is not a sacrifice, that is compromise and compromise always brings about captivity.

“The same people held on to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to demand that they would appoint ministers and attorney-general. You are fighting the PDP at the centre and you want to go and form a government with them. They didn’t hold on to the CPC, they’ve also gone to the PDP.

“What is going on is horse-trading and prostitution and I’m not a party to that. A destructive means cannot bring a constructive end. It is not about me; it is the secrecy of me signing a letter that is post-dated. They just wanted to take a chance. With or without alliance, we are winning the election,” Bakare said.

When asked to confirm the validity of a report that it was former head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida, who hosted the purported meeting, Bakare said he could not confirm if it was true because he was not at the meeting.

According to him, “I’m not in a position to confirm that because I wasn’t there.

But when asked if he too was fed with such information, Bakare said, “you know information these days; people say different kinds of things. But I know that part of those who brokered the meeting of the Northern consensus candidacy were there, maybe. I didn’t see him. I was not at any meeting with anybody.”

On the insinuation that the role played by former Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State in the alliance talk and his status in the party might not go down well with Buhari’s philosophies and that this might have contributed to the failure of the alliance talks, Bakare said he did not know.

“General Muhammadu Buhari is ready to work with anybody to move this nation forward. He said it at the last press conference we had in Abuja to round off our campaign for 2011,” he stated.




http://tribune.com.ng/sun/index.php/front-page-articles/3667-acncpc-alliance-breakdown-the-untold-story-by-tunde-bakare

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan leads the pack of other presidential aspirants in yesterday’s presidential election in the South-East, South-South and South West, especially Lagos State. Reports from the states in the zones indicate that the presidents may be coasting home to a landslide victory in the zones. He is also reported to be doing well in some states in the north central. His closest, Muhammadu Buhari is seriously ahead in the North-West, Niger, Bauchi and Gombe states.

For instance, at Otuabala Ward 13, unit 39, Otuoke where he voted, President Jonathan cleared all the 413 available votes at the polling unit.scored 413 votes. Registered voters were 908 while 480 were accredited for the exercise.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won at the two polling stations just outside the Presidential Villa which were reportedly won by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) during the National Assembly election.

The results declared at the end of polling in unit 021 on Saturday showed that PDP scored 630, CPC (322), ACN (4), ANPP (3), PMP (3), NCP (2), PDC (5) and UNPP-1.

In Unit 022, PDP had 602, CPC (370), ANPP (1), ACN (10), PMP (2) and PPP (2).

In Jikwoyi phase 2 polling stationed monitored by Sunday Tribune, CAN got 4, ANPP (1), CPC (43) and PDP- 670 while in Jikwoyi Phase 3, the results declared showed that ACN got 4, ANPP (0), CPC (54) and PDP (941).

Ondo State
Odigbo Local Government
Ward 8, Unit 25: PDP (77), ACN (22), CPC (11)
Ward 8, Unit 16: PDP (42), ACN (24), CPC (0)
Ward 8, Unit 22: PDP (41), ACN (14), CPC (1)
Ward 8, Unit 24: PDP (76), ACN (9), CPC (0)
Ward 8, Unit 4: PDP (70), ACN (16), CPC (0)
Ward 8, Unit 10: PDP (125), ACN (12), CPC (120)
Ward 8, Unit 26: PDP (36), ACN (18), CPC (9)

Aso Villa
PDP (602), CPC (374)

Tinubu Polling Unit
PDP (140), ACN (166), ADC (3), Fresh (4), NCP (1)

Edo State
Odigie Oyegun’s Polling Unit
PDP (146), ANPP (11)
Jikwoyi Phase I FCT
PDP (670), ACN (4), ANPP (1), CPC (43)

Kofar Baba Katagum, Bauchi
PU05/02/03/019 ACN (4), CPC (550), PDP (6)

Makama Jahun/Opp Sen. Abubakar Maikafi's Residence Bauchi
ANPP (1), ACN (2) BNNP-2 PDP-9 CPC-850

Niger State
PU 26/06/09/016 ACN (98), CPC (299), PDP (77)

Oyo State
IB North Ward5, Unit 11
ACN (39), ANPP (3), CPC (67), Fresh (1), HDP (1), NCP (1), PDP (177), PNP (4), Void (4), Total (298)

Plateau State
Moh'd wada PU001, Jos, Plateau State
PDP (123), ACN (1), CPC (236), DPP (3), FRESH (1) Void (4)

Abuja
PU 37/06/01/017, Area 8
ACN (7), BNPP (1), CPC (237), FRESH (1), HDP (1), NCP (1), PDC (1), PDP (458), SDMP (1) Void (12), Voters (784)

Katsina
T/wada 2 Daura LGA
ADC 1, ANPP 2, BNPP 1, CPC 484, PDP 11, Invalid 3

Lagos
PU:24/11/02/029 Omole Phase 1
PDP (879), CPC (309), ACN (205), ANPP (10), FRESH (17)
PU 24/11/02/010
PDP (259), ACN (95), CPC (40) ANPP (5)
PU: 24/08/06/016
PDC (92), ANPP (1), PPP (1), CPC (24), Void (5), ACN (124), PDP (302 ), Total Votes (459 ), Total accredited (512)

Ekiti
PU 13/11/09/003
ACN (75), PDP (52)
PU 13/11/09/005
ACN (42), PDP (930)
PU 13/11/09/008
ACN-63 PDP24
PU 13/04/02/020
ACN (21), PDP (37)
PU 13/04/02/004
ACN (15), PDP (77), CPC (1), Void (
PU 25/08/09/011
NCP (1), PPP (1), ADC (1), HDP (1), ACN (16), CPC (67), PDP (115), Void (2), Total (204)
PU 13/11/09/003
ACN (75), PDP (52)
PU 13/11/09/005
ACN (42), PDP (30)
PU 13/11/09/008
ACN (63), PDP (924)
PU 13/04/02/020
ACN (21), PDP (37)
PU 13/04/02/004
ACN (15), PDP (77) CPC (1), Void (
PU13/01/090/21
ACN (118), PDP (175), CPC (7)
PU13/01/09/020
ACN (103), PDP (172), CPC (9)
PU13/04/02/022
ACN (2), PDP (16)
PU13/04/02/023
ACN (86) PDP (86)
PU13/04/02/018
ACN (3), PDP (15)
PU13/04/02/019
ACN (17), PDP (84)
PU13/04/02/020
ACN-21 PDP-37
PU13/04/02/021
ACN (41), PDP (41)
PU13/04/02/014
ACN (85), PDP (30)
PU13/04/02/015
ACN (49), PDP (22)
PU13/04/02/016
ACN (46), PDP (11)
PU13/04/02/017
ACN (80), PDP (41)
PU13/04/02/010
ACN (9), PDP (27)
PU13/04/02/011
ACN (9), PDP (32)
PU13/04/02/012
ACN (40), PDP (68)
PU13/04/02/013
ACN (22), PDP (27)
PU13/02/05/009
ACN (16), PDP (50)
PU13/02/05/010
ACN (16), PDP (35)
PU13/02/05/011
ACN (21), PDP (42)
PU13/02/05/012
ACN (4), PDP (11)
PU13/02/05/005
ACN (29), PDP 942)
PU13/02/05/006
ACN (29), PDP (16)
PU13/02/05/007
ACN (53) PDP (6)
PU13/02/05/008
ACN (36), PDP (34)
PU 13/02/05/001
ACN (, PDP (0)
PU13/02/05/002
ACN 961), PDP (29)
PU13/02/05/003
ACN (7), PDP (14)
PU13/02/05/004
ACN (20), PDP (37)
PU 13/01/04/007
ACN (34), PDP (66)
PU 13/04/02/003
ACN (12), PDP (40)
PU 13/04/02/005
ACN (45), PDP (21)
PU 13/13/10/003
ACN (27), PDP (32)
PU 13/01/10/018
ACN (40), ANPP (5), APS (1), CPC (4), PDC (2), PDP (142), PPP (1), Void-2

Iloro-Ekiti in Ijero LGA
PU 13/09/09/005
ACN (66), PDP (55)

Ilogbe Ward, Ifaki in Ido/Osi LGA
PDP (210), ACN (11)

Ado LG
PDP (18,601), ACN (10,217)

Ward 8, Ado LGA
PDP (1055), ACN (566)

Okemesi Ward 09 unit 4, Ekiti West LGA
PDP (34), ACN (24)

Ogun
PU 27/16/07/14
ACN (140), CPC (44), ANPP (2), PDC (2), PDP (200), PPP (2)

Ogun
PU 27/02/07/016
ACN (59), CPC (16), PDP (141)

Lagos
PU 24/13/02/014
ACN (30), ANPP (2), BNPP (1), CPC (95), Fresh (1), PDC (1), PDC (1), PDP (165), Void (
PU 24/13/02/013
ACN (43), ADC (2), ANPP (2), CPC (67), PDC (1), Fresh (2), NCP (1), PDC (1), PPP (3), PDP (173), PNPP (1), Void-36
PU 24/O8/04/029
ACN (38), ANPP (3), CPC (42), LDPN (2), NCP (1), PDC (1), PDP (245), PPP (3), Void (4)
PU 24/10/03/030
PDP (212), ACN (38), CPC (16), Void (14), ANPP (1), ADC (2), Fresh 91) PPP (1), BNPP (1)
Polling Unit where Tinubu voted
PU 24/11/03/047
ACN (166), ADC (3), CPC (27), FRESH (4), NCP (1), PDP (140)
PU 24/09/11/021
ACN (28), ADC (3), ANPP (3), APS (4), CPC (78), PDC (1), PDP (152), PNP (1), PPP (1), Invalid (15), Total number of votes (268)
PU 24/13/05/049
ACN (47) , APS (1), CPC (16), NCP (2), PDP (130) PPP (1)
Abule-Egba
ACN (57), ANPP (3), CPC (48), PNP (1), PDP (174), PPP (3), Invalid (15)
PU 24/09/11/021
ACN (28), ADC (3), ANPP (3), APS (4), CPC (78), PDC (1), PNP (1), PDP (152), PPP (1), Invalid (15), Total number of votes: 268
PU 24/13/05/049
ACN (47), APS (1), CPC (16), NCP (2), PDP (130), PPP (1)
PU 24/08/08/012
ACN (30), ADC (1), ANPP (3), BNPP (1), CPC (47), NCP (1), PDC (1), PDP (239), PPP (2), Void (9)
PU 24/11/105/023
ACN 921), ADC (1), CPC (85), NCP (1), PDP (94), Total Votes (209), Void (7), Accredited (271)

Lagos
PU-24/08/01/009
ACN (13), CPC 953), PDP (71)

PU 040 Surulere Lagos
BNPP (1), NTP (1), PPP (1), NMDP (2), ACN (29), CPC (27), PDP (101), Invalid (11)
PU 24/11/06/011
ACN (26), CPC (80), FRESH (1), PDP (137), Void (4)
GRA, Ikeja/Police Barracks Ward LA01/11/09/025
ACN (41), CPC (29), PDC (1), PDP (73), PPP (1), Invalid (12), Total votes (168)

Ayangburen road, Ward 007, Ikorodu, Lagos.
ACN (61), ANPP (1), CPC (10), MPPP (1), NCP (1), PDC (1), PDP (85)
PU/24/08/09/011
ADC (1), ACN (16), CPC (67) HDP (1) NCP (1), PDP (115), PPP (1), Void (2), Total (204)
PU 24/11/06/004
ACN (39), ANPP (1), CPC (50), NCP (1), PDP (111)
PU24/19/01/014
ACN (80) ADC (1), CPC (9), PDP (54), PPP (1), Invalid (5)

Nasarawa State
PU 25/08/09/011
NCP (1), PPP (1), ADC (1), HDP (1), ACN (16), CPC (67), PDP (115), Void-2 Total-204.

Osun
Osogbo Ward 4, Unit 13
ACN (113), PDP (84), CPC (2), ANPP (2), Accord (1)

Ila: Eyinti Ward 7, Unit 3
ACN (86), PDP (107)

Ilesa, Ifofin, Ward 8, Unit 1
ACN (211), PDP (5), ADC (3), ANPP (2)

Oyinlola’s Ward
PDP (1,149), ACN (385)

http://tribune.com.ng/sun/index.php/front-page-articles/3668-jonathan-leads-in-lagos-swest-ssouth-seast-kwara-abuja-says-i-dont-pray-for-run-off

NO fewer than 16 people including a retired soldier and Independent National Electoral Commission INEC) ad-hoc staff were arrested on Saturday during the presidential election in Ibadan, Oyo State by military personnel monitoring the election in the state.

The suspects were handed over to the state police command head-quarters, Eleyele, for investigation.

The suspects who were later taken to the police headquarters were taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, for further investigation.

The state Deputy Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Lawan who confirmed the arrest of the suspects, said they were arrested for alleged electoral malpractices.

He disclosed that nine of the suspects were arrested at Foko, Asaka area of the state capital allegedly causing problem at the polling centres.

He said that the suspects did not possess voter cards and they had no business going to polling centers.

According to him, only one of the suspects, who claimed to have retired from the Nigerian Army as a corporal has a voter card while others have no voter cards that would enable them to participate in the election.

He said that four people were arrested at Liberty road, Ibadan, for allegedly causing problem, adding that two of the suspects were arrested for publicly assaulting a policeman in uniform.

The police boss said that three INEC ad-hoc staff were intercepted by policemen on Ibadan-Oyo road at the Institute of International Tropical Agriculture (IITA) with 31 voter cards and manual registers for Idiose Ward 5 in Akinyele Local Government Area of the state.

He said the INEC ad-hoc staff were intercepted in a commercial Toyota Hiace bus with registration number 932 GNN.

He, however, said that the INEC ad-hoc staff were later arrested after being identified by the Returning Officer.

Some of the suspects arrested at polling centers who spoke with Sunday Tribune claimed that they were not near the polling center while others claimed that they were just coming from their houses when the military personnel swooped on them.

Ladoja refuses to vote
The governorship candidate of the Accord Party in Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja did not vote in the presidential election on Saturday.

The former governor who registered at the Ward 5, Unit 7, Ondo Street, Bodija, Ibadan North Local Government Area of the state, was not available for accreditation and the voting proper.

Journalists who besieged the centre to see the former governor performing his civic responsibility were disappointed when they were told that the Accord Party governorship candidate would not be voting.

When contacted, one of his aides who claimed that he had not spoken with his boss, told newsmen that his boss was not around, while another said he was attending a meeting.

One of the newsmen who went in to find out the position of things, though he did not see him (Ladoja), said the former governor was attending a meeting.

He said that emissaries sent to the meeting had told him that the Accord Party candidate was not likely coming out to vote.

It will be recalled that Senator Ladoja was at the same polling center to cast his vote in the first election into the National Assembly.

Sunday Tribune learnt that the refusal of the former governor to vote might be connected with the fact that his party did not have a presidential candidate for the election.

The Oyo state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Ayo Adakeja, had, while addressing stakeholders, disclosed that parties without presidential candidates would not be allowed to present agents during the poll.

However, the presidential election was peaceful in many areas visited by the Sunday Tribune, though with low turn out of voters.

Also, some of the short comings noticed during the NASS election were still there as some of the voters were disenfranchised as their names were not in the voter register.

INEC officials and voting materials were at various polling centers while security operatives were at strategic locations to monitor both human and vehicular movements and to ensure security.

Ibadan North, Ibadan South West and Ibadan South East Local government areas of the state witnessed low turn out of voters.

Peaceful turnout in Ibadan
The Presidential election in Ibadan on Saturday was generally peaceful and there was a heavy presence of military personnel.

The election, compared with that of the National Assembly, did not witness the challenges of missing names of registered voters and non-availability of ballot papers in polling units.

Many of the electoral officers arrived their duty posts on time and accreditation exercise commenced as early as 8.00 a.m.

The Minister of Sports, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, after casting his vote at his Igbona Compound, Popoyemoja, in Ibadan South West Local Government, described the election as very peaceful.

According to him, “the election has been peaceful and the turnout encouraging.” He opined that the people who came out to vote were well mobilised and wanted to be a part of the new transformation President Goodluck Jonathan represented.

A consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr. Tony Marinho, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for organising a credible election, adding that the turnout was better than that of last week at Ward 10, Unit 13 in Osuntokun, Old Bodija.

The Sarkin Hausa of Ibadanland, Alhaji Ahmed Zungeru, also described the election as smooth, peaceful and orderly, adding that the electoral officers came on time and that the turnout was quite impressive.
Others who spoke in the same light included Oyo State governorship candidate for the Labour Party, Dr. Azeez Adedutan, Commissioner for Education, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, the Director of Youths Mobilization for Goodluck/Sambo for President, Mr. Dare Adeleke, Vice Chairman of the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Baord, Alhaji Audu Marafa among others.

Soldiers’ car crushes 5 in Ibadan
“But for providence, I would either have been dead or seriously injured by now. God, I thank you, God, I thank you,” were the shouts of joy coming out of the mouth of a man in his thirties as he knelt down on the ground thanking God.

Too happy to remember his name, the man told the Sunday Tribune crew yesterday that he had just left the scene of an auto crash where an army Jeep ran into some passers-by.

According to the man, who was in shorts and a red top, they went to vote at the polling booth at Texaco filling Station at Challenge, Ibadan, Oyo State.

After the accreditation and voting, while awaiting the result of the election, “we were playing in one of the shops at Elewura, beside the Glo office, when a military Ford Jeep, with registration number MAI 920B05, ran into the road.

“After about 25 minutes, I had the urge to go back to the polling booth to check what was going on there and I had barely got there, when I heard the loud bang. Oh, God, I thank you o,” he said.

Shedding more light on the incident, one of the victims, Mr Abayomi Bakare, at the Ibadan Central Hospital, Ososami, where they were rushed to, told the Sunday Tribune that about 30 minutes after the Ford Jeep had turned into Elewura Street, they saw it coming and by the time they realised that the driver was driving dangerously, at a very top speed, he had rammed into them, seriously injuring them.

Five of the people were seriously injured while several shops were damaged with their goods destroyed. Items like GSM accessories, recharge cards and pairs of black male sandals, littered the floor.

The five people injured, Mrs Toyin Jayesinmi, little Usman Jayesimi, Mr Abayomi Bakare, Mr Ahmed Lawal and Mr Taiwo Hamsat, suffered various degrees of fractures on the legs, arms and other parts of the body. Little Usman Jayesimi was said to have had his two legs broken.

Onlookers told Sunday Tribune that the driver was either drunk or did not know how to drive, probably a learner, while the victims were said to have been rejected at the first hospital they were taken to at Challenge, because of the seriousness of the injuries they sustained.

Mr Stanley White, branch secretary, NURTW, Challenge, Ibadan, was among the people who assisted in evacuating the victims to the hospital and he actually stood by them until their relations started showing up.

http://tribune.com.ng/sun/index.php/news/3693-retired-soldier-inec-ad-hoc-staff-arrested-in-ibadan

Groups observing the conduct of the presidential elections have condemned attempts to shut out its officials in some states of the country saying such will not augur well for the electoral process.

In a preliminary report on the conduct of the presidential polls jointly signed by Dr Jibrin Ibrahim of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and Clement Nwankwo, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), the groups said efforts were made to shut out the observers.

The report said, “although the situation in Plateau State is by far the most worrisome, reports reaching us from other parts of the country indicate that there is a seeming systematic and well-coordinated attempt to jeopardize the credibility of the election by arresting and terrorizing civil society observer groups whose presence is in keeping with both the Electoral Act 2010 and the guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“Although the above irregularities pose great challenges in themselves, we must reiterate that the collation of results should not be carried out under a cloud of secrecy if the election is to be seen to be free, fair and credible. It is for this reason that we call on the Inspector General of Police and the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, to cease these illegal detentions immediately. We also call on the Chair of the INEC to issue a statement denouncing the attacks and reassuring all INEC-accredited observers deployed across the country of their right to continue with their duties within the ambit of the law.”

The groups condemned the arrest of observers during the election saying “we note with dismay, the seemingly systematic and coordinated intimidation and arrest of our election observers deployed to observe the presidential elections. We are particularly disturbed by reports of these attacks in Jos, Plateau State. Although we understand that some of the observers were subsequently released, we have received reports of several other similar cases. In Warri North in Delta State, three observers were detained. Two were later released; one is still being held. Tellingly, this was the same ward where observers were detained for seven hours during the voters’ registration exercise.”

The observers also reported of attempts to rig the elections in some areas saying, “another area of serious concern is that of massive thumb-printing, as was observed in Soku, Akuku Toru LGA in Rivers State. In Benue State, the chairperson of Independent Publishers was caught in a vehicle with previously thumb-printed ballot papers. A related issue is that of ballot box snatching. Again in Benue State, six ballot boxes were snatched at Achia Ikyurav-Ya in Kwande LGA, and an undisclosed number were snatched from Pus in Shough council ward, Gwer East LG by Hon. Christine Alaago.”

http://www.sunday.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6615:groups-condemn-plot-to-shut-out-observers&catid=41:latest-news&Itemid=26

The Sokoto Sultanate Council, has disassociated itself from advertisements by some political groups and organisations in several national newspapers using the picture and statements of the Sultan of Sokoto,Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar,to promote the political ambition of specific candidates in yesterday’s election.

This was contained in a press statement advertorial, Friday, signed by the Secretary to the Sultanate Council, Alhaji Bello Usman Dange, where it said, “The Sokoto Sultanate Council would like to state categorically and unambiguously that these advertisements are published neither with the knowledge of the Sokoto Sultanate Council nor the consent of His Eminence, the Sultan.”

The statement reiterated that it has been the principled stance of the Sokoto Sultanate Council that it shall not and could not dabble in partisan politics, adding that the Sultan, as the foremost Islamic and traditional leader in Nigeria, was a father to all. “He has received in his palace, all the leading presidential candidates vying for the 2011 elections and he has counseled them fairly and equitably to put the fear of Allah in their hearts, to remain conscious of the responsibilities of leadership, to respect one another and to fulfill ,honestly and dutifully, their promises to the electorate.”

It would be recalled that one of such advertisements sponsored by One Nigeria Coalation, on Thursday, quoted the Sultan as saying, “Don’t vote along ethnic, religious lines.”

“No politician can win elections with Muslim or Christian, Northern or Southern votes. Therefore voting on ethnic or sentimental divides cannot help us as a nation. We must vote for the person whom we believe can move the country forward, not based on his religious or ethnic background,” the quote continued.

http://www.sunday.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6628:sultan-of-sokoto-disassociates-self-from-political-adverts&catid=41:latest-news&Itemid=26

A suspected member of the Boko Haram sect yesterday short and killed a police Inspector, Mr Elias Dawa, at about 2pm at a polling centre in Ummarari area of Maiduguri.

Police commissioner Mic Zuokumor who confirmed the attack said the suspect was immediately trailed to his hideout by a detachment of the police from the Ibrahim Taiwo Division which led to serious exchange of gunshots with other gunmen found in the house.

“The inspector was killed when the gunman attacked him at his election duty post and our men were able to arrest him at his hideout even though his colleagues fled with gunshots wounds,” the commissioner said.

Pandemonium broke out at the polling unit of Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo yesterday when supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and those of the Congress for Progressive Party (CPC) engaged themselves in a war of words.

The uproar started when the Vice President arrived at the polling unit situated on Camp Road around 11.50am and his supporters started chanting ‘sai Baba, Daran dam dam’, meaning they are for Namadi.

Soon, the supporters of CPC candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari started chanting Sai Buhari. The voice of Buhari’s supporters beclouded those of the PDP. General Buhari’s supporters who were drafted from across the state turned the polling unit into a campaign ground, as they were carrying his posters and chanting his slogan: ‘’Change! Change! Change! ‘’.

Out of the 1148 persons that registered, only 672 voters were accredited but over 3000 persons were seen hanging around the area. Throughout the commotion, the VP was seen smiling; he left immediately after his accreditation.

Except for the quick intervention of the security men who numbered about 200, the situation would have resulted into a free-for-all. About 40 vehicles belonging to the police, Army, State Security Service (SSS), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) among others were counted by our correspondent around the vicinity.

Deputy Commissioner Mr Nwodibo Ekechukwu led the police while the state Director of the SSS, Mr. Yomi Zamba was also seen dispersing the crowd. The Commandant- General of the NSCDC, Dr. Ade Abolurin was sighted at the polling unit too.

Senator–elect for Kaduna central Senatorial district, Major General Sani Sale of CPC calmed the situation when he addressed his party supporters at the polling unit. He asked them to respect the Vice President, stressing that the tradition forbids disrespect for elders.

Speaking after voting along with his wife, Vice President Sambo he expressed optimism that his party will emerge winner of the presidential election.


http://www.sunday.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6617:confusion-at-vps-polling-unit-as-supporters-of-pdpcpc-disagree&catid=41:latest-news&Itemid=26

Eight ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and some youth corps members were abducted by suspected political thugs at a polling unit in Gwer-East local government area of Benue State during yesterday’s presidential elections.

Among the abductees were NYSC members, polling clerks and other electoral officials, who were kept incommunicado by their abductors for several hours before security operatives eventually rescued them.

Daily Trust learnt that the thugs had approached the INEC staff and made overtures to get them compromise the electoral process in favour of a particular party. This was, however, resisted by the staff following which they were forcefully bundled away.

Public Relations Officer of INEC in Benue State, Barrister Jacob Ayanda, who confirmed this to Sunday Trust, said some electoral materials were carted away by the thugs. One of the abductors was said to have been arrested by the police but when contacted the PPRO, Benue State Police command, Michael Enogela, declined comment.

http://www.sunday.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6619:benue-eight-inec-staff-abducted-&catid=41:latest-news&Itemid=26

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