₦airaland Forum

Bukola Saraki, Senate President, has finally accepted his fate and wished his successor at the Kwara Senatorial election well.

This is after Mr Saraki initially denied conceding defeat to his major challenger, Ibrahim Oloriegbe, who ran on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) while he sought re-election on that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The top lawmaker had lost his bid to return to the red chamber with his opponent leading with 123,808 votes while he trailed behind with 68,994.

In a statement by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki wished all those who won the federal parliamentary elections in the state well.

The APC took over all the federal elections in the state with none left for the PDP.

“I wish the candidates that emerged in the Kwara polls all the best in their attempts to serve our people. It is my prayer that the good people of Kwara State will always have the best from any government both at the state and federal levels,” Saraki said.



“As a product of a family and a political structure that is, from its foundation, devoted to the service and development of our state and its people, it is my wish that our people will always have a good deal at all times.

“The new development will even provide the people the opportunity to compare and contrast. After all, the people who have emerged from last Saturday’s election are not my enemies. They are fellow Kwarans.

“As we prepare for the March 9th, 2019 Governorship and House of Assembly elections, let me reiterate my position that the candidates of the PDP in the election represent the best materials for our dear State, Kwara.

“Therefore, I enjoin our people to come out en masse on Election Day and vote for them. I am going to work with our party leaders to further sell the PDP candidates to the general public.

“I thank all Nigerians for their goodwill and to enjoin all of us that as we patiently await the outcome of the Presidential election, we pray for peace, unity and genuine development in our country.

“It is also my prayer that at all times, the wishes of the people will always prevail in the choice of their leaders and the electorate will always enjoy the benefits of good governance,” the top lawmaker added.

With the results of the election currently in the public domain, two of his colleagues will not be returning to the upper legislative chamber with him.

When they slaughter you again don't come here crying because I will NEVER sympathize with you instead I WILL support those afflicting you.

Former Senate Minority Leader Senator Godswill Akpabio has lost his reelection bid.
Akpabio, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district, secured 67, 487 as against 136, 373 votes for Chris Ekpenyong of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

Details shortly…

Bukola Saraki, the director-general of the Peoples Democratic Party Campaign Organisation (PDPCO) has urged Nigerians not to be discouraged by the postponement of the general election.

The election, initially scheduled to kick off today with that of presidential and national assembly coming first, was rescheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to commence next Saturday.

The electoral body cited logical challenges as the reason for its action but the Senate President is not buying into the idea. Even the president has said he is disappointed by the action of the commission.

The top lawmaker who said the decision taken by the commission is a sad one sympathized with those who were affected by the action.

“Waiting till just a few hours to the commencement of voting before announcing the postponement of elections is extremely sad. Nobody can quantify the difficulty that this will bring to millions of Nigerians across the nation,” Saraki said in a statement.

“I empathize with youth corps members who have been relocated from their places of primary assignment to assist with the conduct of the elections. My thoughts also go out to workers and civil servants who left their bases to go and vote in their hometowns.

“I also sympathize with millions of ordinary Nigerian traders whose businesses were suspended because of the no-movement order. The costs of this postponement are incalculable.

“I want to appeal to Nigerians not to be deterred, discouraged or disappointed. You must all continue to be strong and determined to cast your votes on February 23rd.

“My appeal to you is this: Next Saturday, forget the current setback and troop out en masse to vote. Not voting because of the postponement should not be an option.

“At this point, government and INEC should focus on the way forward in order to ensure that the elections take place as rescheduled. They should move swiftly to smoothen all the rough edges that currently exist.

“INEC must ensure that we do not have a repeat of what happened today. As I have always reiterated, the 2019 elections should be a clear improvement on that of 2015.

“Nigerians are now wiser. They will definitely punish this government that has displayed incompetence, lack of capacity and foresight and vote for the team that will #GetNigeriaWorkingAgain.

“I urge you all: remain resolute and come out en masse next Saturday to vote for the PDP. The Atiku-Obi ticket have the momentum on its side. This postponement will not slow us down,” the lawmaker said.

POLITICS TIMES recalls that this is not the first time the electoral body has postponed election in the country.

The presidential election which produced President Muhammadu Buhari was rescheduled on security ground but this did not stop him from defeating the incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan.

After the presidency hinted of how disappointed President Muhammadu Buhari was over the rescheduling of the general election, the Nigerian leader has addressed Nigerians

Below is the press release from the president.

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT BUHARI ON THE POSTPONEMENT OF GENERAL ELECTIONS BY INEC

I am deeply disappointed that despite the long notice given and our preparations both locally and internationally, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the Presidential and National Assembly elections within hours of its commencement.

Many Nigerians have traveled to various locations to exercise their right to vote, and international observers are gathered.

INEC themselves have given assurances, day after day and almost hour after hour that they are in complete readiness for the elections. We and all our citizens believed them.

This administration has ensured that we do not interfere in any way with the work of INEC except to ensure that all funds were released to the commission.

We now urge INEC to ensure not only that materials already distributed are safe and do not get into wrong hands, but that everything is done to avoid the lapses that resulted in this unfortunate postponement, and ensure a free and fair election on the rescheduled dates.

While I reaffirm my strong commitment to the independence, neutrality of the electoral umpire and the sanctity of the electoral process and ballot, I urge all political stakeholders and Nigerians to continue to rally round INEC at this trying national moment in our democratic journey.

I, therefore, appeal to all Nigerians to refrain from all civil disorder and remain peaceful, patriotic and united to ensure that no force or conspiracy derail our democratic development.

I have decided to move back to Abuja to ensure that the 14.00 hrs meeting called by INEC with all stakeholders is successful.

Muhammadu Buhari

Daura, February 16, 2019

The presidency has reacted to the rescheduling of the general election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the rescheduling of the election early Saturday morning citing logistical challenges in some states as reason for its action.

The action has generated reactions from Nigerians with most of them condemning and alleging of plans to rig the election by the Mahmood Yakubu led INEC who was recently seen donning the campaign cap of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) when he is expected to be apolitical.

Although this is not the first time a general election has been shifted in the country, the latest happened the same day the citizens were expected to decide who leads them in the next four years.

The 2015 presidential election which produced President Muhammadu Buhari was postponed five weeks from the initial date. POLITICS TIMES recalls that the same excuse INEC gave while postponing this year’s election was what it tendered when it rescheduled the 2011 general election seven days before the scheduled day.

For the president, he is disappointed at the development.

“President Buhari has cooperated fully with INEC by ensuring everything it demanded to conduct free and fair elections were promptly made available to it,” Bashir Ahmed, the media aide to the president said in a tweet Saturday morning.

“He personally took his campaign to 36 states and Abuja, he travelled to Daura to vote, and then postponement, so disappointed!” he added.

Already, the campaign councils of the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are blaming themselves for the postponement.

Nigerians have reacted to the rescheduling of the 2019 presidential election.

A hashtag criticising the action is also currently trending on Twitter.

The hashtag #CoupAgainstNigeria was started by Reno Omokri, ex-presidential aide late Friday evening when reports of the postponement emerged.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the rescheduling of the election early Saturday morning.

The electoral body cited logistics challenges in some states as reason for its action and this has generated reactions from Nigerians with most of them condemning the action and alleging of plans to rig the election. Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of INEC was recently seen donning the campaign cap of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) when he is expected to be apolitical.

Although this is not the first time a general election has been shifted in the country, the latest happened the same day the citizens were expected to decide who leads them in the next four years.

The 2015 presidential election which produced President Muhammadu Buhari was postponed five weeks from the initial date. POLITICS TIMES recalls that the same excuse INEC gave while postponing this year's election was what it tendered when it rescheduled the 2011 general election seven days before the scheduled day.

Reacting to the development, a legal practitioner, Inibehe Effiong, said the action of the electoral body signifies incompetence on its part.

“The shocking last minute postponement of the 2019 elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is an admission by the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu-led INEC that it is compromised and grossly incompetent,” Mr Effiong said in a statement while calling on the electoral chief to step aside.

“Whatever the outcome of the rescheduled elections may be, the INEC has lost whatever goodwill it had. Prof. Yakubu is incompetent and at a minimum, should tender his resignation,” his statement partly read.

Some of the reactions on the micro-blogging site captured by POLITICS TIMES are reproduced below.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rescheduled the general election initially scheduled to start today.

This was made known at a press conference early Saturday morning by the chairman of the electoral body, Mahmood Yakubu.

While INEC postponed the presidential and national assembly elections to February 23, it fixed that of governorship and state assembly on March 9, citing logistics challenges in some states as reason for its action.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission met on Friday, 15 February 2019 and reviewed its preparation for the 2019 general elections scheduled for Saturday, February 16, and Saturday, March 2,” Mr Yakubu said.

“Following a careful review of the implementation of its logistics and operational plans and its determination to conduct free, fair and credible elections, the commission came to the conclusion that proceeding with the election as scheduled is no longer feasible.

“Consequently, the commission has decided to reschedule the Presidential/National Assembly elections to Saturday, 23rd February 2019. Furthermore, the Governorship/State House of Assembly/Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections are rescheduled to Saturday, 9th March 2019.

“This will afford the Commission the opportunity to address identified challenges in order to maintain the quality of our elections. This was a difficult decision for the commission to take but necessary for the successful delivery of elections and consolidation of our democracy.

“The Commission will meet with key stakeholders to update them on this development at 2 P.M at the Abuja International Conference Centre,” the INEC Chairman said.

Meanwhile, Ayodele Fayose, former Ekiti State governor, Omoyele Sowore, and Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidates of the African Action Congress (AAC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have reacted to the development.

While the former governor and the AAC candidate made their reaction known through their Twitter handles, the PDP candidate reacted through his spokesman, Paul Ibe.

For Mr Fayose, he had earlier predicted the postponement of the election and the action of the commission has vindicated him.

“Two days ago, I told Nigerians that the Presidency cabal were considering postponement of the elections because they knew that they can’t win. Now I’m vindicated. With this, they have only succeeded in making their situation worse. Nigerians will defeat this tyranny ultimately,” the former governor said while attaching a tweet of his earlier claim.

For the PDP flag-bearer the election was postponed because the sitting president, Muhammadu Buhari, already knew he was not going to win a second term in office.

“Shame that Nigerians will wake up only to realise that like a thief in the night, President Buhari’s INEC had postponed the Feb 16 elections they had earnestly looked forward to while they were asleep only because Gen. Buhari was unsure of victory,” he said through his spokesman.

For Sowore, the rescheduled election is the day of punishment for the incumbent administration.

“New date for Nigeria’s Presidential Election is NOW February 23rd 2019…Postponing their day of judgement by one week #TakeItBack,” Sowore tweeted.

Meanwhile, Mr Buhari has vowed that nobody is going to unseat him as president unlike his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan.

Mr Jonathan during his days in office did influenced the postponement of the 2015 general election but this did not stop Buhari from defeating him at the poll.

Bukola Saraki, the director-general of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign organisation has denied asking Nigerians to re-elect President Muhammadu Buhari.

A video clip currently trending on the internet showed Mr Saraki canvassing votes for Mr Buhari in his native country home, Kwara State.

This is coming few days after a fake letter allegedly emanated from a foreign firm to Saraki inundating him that Atiku Abubakar, the PDP candidate for the election will loose to Buhari.

The president who is seeking a second term in office is running for the exalted office on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Saraki, the President of the 8th Senate, who has been campaigning for Mr Abubakar, his party’s presidential candidate, is seen addressing crowds of supporters in his native language in the clip apparently urging them to vote for the APC candidate.

But denying he made such utterances, the top lawmaker said the clip showing him seeking votes for Buhari has been falsified.

The Senate President stated this in a statement by his media aide, Olu Onemola.

“For the second time in 3 days, the APC has doctored another campaign instrument — simply for the sake of pushing out propaganda,” Mr Onemola said in a series of tweets Friday afternoon.

“In what world would Saraki, the DG of Atiku’s campaign, who has seen first hand the incompetence of Buhari ask people to vote for a failed President?

“The entire tape has been doctored, much in the same way that the APC faked a letter to the Senate President earlier this from Brian Ballard and even went as far as forging his signature.

“The public should disregard the desperate antics of the losing APC. We all want a Better Nigeria, and none of us would encourage even half a person to vote for Buhari,” the spokesman said.

Walter Onnoghen, the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, has finally appeared at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Mr Onnoghen who is accused of non-declaration of assets had initially refused to present himself at the tribunal citing jurisdiction of the court to try him.

But on Friday morning at about 9:30 the top jurist appeared at the Tribunal before the commencement of the trial.

Details later…

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The call by President Muhammadu Buhari for Nigerians to hard work and persevere has generated reactions.

Mr Buhari on Thursday morning called on Nigerians to work hard and live within their means of livelihood.

“It is understandable that we all want to live comfortable lives,” the president said in a tweet.

“It is also important to realize that the most comfortable thing we can all do is to work hard and live within our means,” the Nigerian leader who seeks a second term in office on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) said.

His call did not go down with Nigerians with majority urging him to retire from piloting the affairs of the country.

A twitter user, named Gracious, was quick to ask the president if his son, Yusuf Buhari, is living within his means.

“Is Yusuf Buhari living within his means?” the micro-site user asked the president in response to the latter’s call for hard work.

Mr Yusuf was involved in a bike accident which occurred September last year. He was admitted into the Cedarcrest Hospital, thereafter the president’s son was flown abroad to continue treatment.

He was rumored to have bought the BMW bike he had accident with for $157,000 (N56million), though not verified by POLITICS TIMES.

Some Nigerians were asking where the president’s son who is currently doing his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) got the huge amount to purchase a bike when his father couldn’t muster the financial strength to purchase his party’s presidential form for the 2015 election which cost N27million at that time.

On his call for hard work, POLITICS TIMES brings you some reactions from Nigerians below.

Inibehe Effiong, a Human Rights Activist, has said he made a mistake voting for President Muhammadu Buhari during the 2015 general election.

Mr Effiong, a legal practitioner, was among the arrowheads that kicked against the administration of former president, Goodluck Jonathan, on social media.

POLITICS TIMES recalls that during the reign of Mr Jonathan, a day hardly pass without the lawyer blasting the then administration.

Effiong who wrote hundreds of article criticizing the ousted administration pitched his tent with Buhari during the latter’s days in the then opposing camp of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

At the time, the Akwa Ibomite also lashed out at Godswill Akpabio, his state governor during that time. He led several protests in the state against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led administration.

When Buhari won the 2015 election, Many Nigerians including Effiong were hopeful of better days ahead.

Many who voted for the president including his right hand man, Buba Galadima, has since withdrawn their support as the nation goes to elect it leaders on Saturday.

Apologising to those he must have misled in supporting the president, Effiong said he was scammed though his action then was as a result of patriotism.

“I made a mistake supporting Buhari in 2015 and I deeply regret it,” the lawyer said in a tweet on Thursday.

“I was scammed.

“I thought his emergence was going to usher in a revolutionary leadership.

“I never knew that Buhari was going to entrench nepotism, divisiveness, incompetence & selective “anti-corruption” fight.

“My support was not out of loyalty to Buhari, it was a patriotic decision. It was for the good of the country.

“This is not the change that I supported actively.

“To those that I convinced to vote for Buhari or those who voted or supported him because of me, I am truly sorry,” he said.

The legal practitioner is now supporting Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC).