₦airaland Forum

See the results for the 12states so far, and know who is winning, and the Margin of winnings.
Kindly check the official result HERE!!!

See the result so far and know who is winning, and the Margin.
You can You can check it HERE!!!

Hmmmm...do u think so

While waiting for Kogi state and Ondo States results to be ready the INEC boss has announced a 30mins break which will resume back 5pm.

https://www.freshreporters.com/2019/02/live-updates-inec-begins-official_25.html

LIVE UPDATES: INEC Begins Official Declaration Of Presidential Election Results

https://www.freshreporters.com/2019/02/live-updates-inec-begins-official_25.html

The Independent National Electoral Commission in Anambra State - INEC on Sunday(February 17) reported that all the kinds of sensitive electoral materials that was earlier brought in for the February 16 presidential and National Assembly elections have been safely returned.

Mr. Leo Nkedife, who is the INEC Head Voter Education and Publicity told our source in Awka-Ibom that the action was necessary so as to secure the election materials.

Source: https://www.freshreporters.com/2019/02/inec-returns-sensitive-electoral_93.html

A man whose name is Adamu Kabir Matazu, an indigene of Kastina - as seen from his Facebook timeline he's a public figure, this man released a suicidal statement on his Facebook page.

Here's what he posted on his facebook page
https://www.freshreporters.com/2019/02/man-threatens-to-kill-himself-before.html

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Source: https://www.freshreporters.com/2018/12/breaking-news-governor-shettima-calls.html

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state has called what was called “an emergency security meeting” to address the increasing attacks by Boko Haram terrorists in the state.

“Governor Kashim Shettima has called for an emergency extraordinary security meeting in Maiduguri to be attended by heads of security establishments, leadership of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), hunters, traditional rulers, elders, three senators, 10 members of House of Representatives and 28 members of the State House of Assembly”, said Malam Isa Gusau, the Special Assistant to the governor on Media and Communication Strategy.

He said the meeting will hold on Monday Dec. 31; at the Government House, Maiduguri.

“Other participants were selected local council chairmen and commissioners from the areas affected by recent attacks; leadership of the University of Maiduguri and selected tertiary institutions, Chairmen of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), National Council of Women Societies and Nigerian Legion”.
Gusau said Shettima wants the meeting as part of multi-dimensional response to the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in parts of the state.

In recent times, Boko Haram terrorists attacked some of Nigeria’s military formations in the state and neighbouring Yobe and had at times staged deadly ambush against Nigeria’s soldiers. The latest was the attack on Wednesday against the 7 Brigade of the Multinational Joint Task Force based in the fishing town of Baga, north of the state.

Gusau said that Monday’s meeting would deliberate and review the recent attacks and come up with sound suggestions and resolutions, to be presented to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Gusau said Governor Shettima has adopted proactive measures to support the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents and address humanitarian needs of people affected by the recent conflict.

Gusau added that the governor sympathises with the victims displaced by the conflict.
He also reiterated the state government’s commitment to complement the federal government’s efforts to end insurgency, restore peace and assuage the sufferings of displaced persons.

It was earlier reported that the Nigerian Army has dismissed reports that Boko Haram insurgents captured on Baga, a fishing town in the northern part of Borno state on Wednesday, December 26, after a fierce battle with troops.

Major Ge earlier reported that the Nigerian Army has dismissed reports that Boko Haram insurgents captured on Baga, a fishing town in the northern part of Borno state on Wednesday, December 26, after a fierce battle with troops. the military.

Source: https://www.freshreporters.com/2018/12/breaking-news-governor-shettima-calls.html

SOURCE: https://www.freshreporters.com/2018/12/apga-governorship-candidate-vows-to-end.html

Labaran Maku, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Nasarawa state, has promised to end insecurity in the state, if elected in 2019. Maku, a former minister of information, made the promise on Friday, December 21, while addressing some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Akon, Obi local government area.
He said that he would ensure that peace returned to all parts of the state within his first 100 days in office. Maku, who is also the national secretary of APGA, said that his administration would convene a peace, unity and security summit, where the template for the restoration of peace and the people’s integration would be fine-tuned.

“By the grace of God and the commitment of my government, we will make sure that no community is taken over by any militia group.

“We will make the state too hot for any militia group to operate; we will also defend our people in all parts of the state from attacks,’’ he added. Maku said that if he was elected, his administration would empower community leaders with communication gadgets to enable them to report any suspicious activities in their domains to the government for prompt action. He bemoaned the alarming rate of kidnapping, assassination, rape and attack in communities across the state, vowing that his government would bring the masterminds of the violent activities to book.

The governorship candidate said that the Tiv people were most marginalised ethnic group in the state because of factors such as under-representation in government, among others. Maku stressed that he would be fair and just in treating all matters relating to the majority and minority ethnic groups in the state, if elected governor in 2019.

Speaking, Francis Iyua, the leader of the IDPs, said that the Tiv people had no any other choice than to vote for Maku in order to ensure their safety. He said that Maku had, over the years, demonstrated that he had the capacity to govern the state with a clear vision and purpose. Iyua recalled that suspected militia groups had ravaged their communities, killing and maiming some residents. “Out of all the governorship candidates, it is only Labaran Maku who has empathised with us, while speaking against the injustice meted out to us. “Therefore, voting for Maku is voting for our peace, unity, security, progress and development,’’ he added.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International (AI) has called on federal government to end what it called a harvest of deaths following the reported killings of 3,641 Nigerians from January 2016 to October 2018. AI made the call in a series of tweets where it also faulted claims that it drew wrong conclusions in a report where it accused the federal government of failing to prosecute perpetrators of the violence between herdsmen and farmers.

The human rights body had come under criticism from the federal government when it released a report alleging that in 2018, more than 2,000 people were killed in violence between herdsmen and farmers.

SOURCE: https://www.freshreporters.com/2018/12/2019-budget-nigerian-students-reacts-to.html

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on members of the National Assembly to apologise to Nigerians for their unruly behaviour during President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 budget presentation. The public relations officer of NANS, Azeez Adeyemi, made the call on Friday, December 21, in Abeokuta, NAN reports.

It was gathered that Adeyemi condemned the lawmakers’ behaviour, saying that it had further tarnished the external image of the country. He urged the lawmakers to always promote the integrity of the country, while according due respect to its leaders.

He stressed that the legislators should jettison personal and political interests while treating matters of national interest. He said: “Nigerian students believe that members of the National Assembly should be role models to Nigerian youths and students by displaying worthy and enviable character. “It is important to place respect for the honour and integrity of our dear country above any personal or political interests. “We, hereby, call on the leadership of the National Assembly to, as a matter of necessity, apologise to the entire people of Nigeria over the members’ unruly conduct during the president’s budget presentation."

The NANS spokesperson, nonetheless, urged the National Assembly members to scrutinise the 2019 appropriation bill before its passage so as to ensure the outcome was in the best interest of all Nigerians.

It was earlier reported that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers at the House of Representatives had given the reason behind their booing of the president when he was presenting the 2019 budget proposal on Wednesday, December 19, in Abuja. Report claimed that upon entering the National Assembly for the budget presentation at 12pm on Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari became the subject of booing by the aggrieved opposition law makers.

SOURCE: https://www.freshreporters.com/2018/12/house-of-reps-ask-igp-idris-to-arrest.html

The House of Representatives has asked Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police, to arrest and prosecute Okoi Obono-Obla, the senior special assistant to the president prosecution for allegedly being in possession of a fake West African Examination Council (WAEC) result.

The lawmakers also recommended withdrawal of his law degree and law school certificate obtained with the result, the cable reports. The House made the recommendation on Thursday, December 20, when it adopted the report of its committee that investigated the special presidential investigative panel for the recovery of public property (SPIP), which is headed by Obono-Obla.

Findings by the committee stated that the O’level result belonging to presidential aide had irregularities. The investigation was into Obono-Obla’s WAEC result followed a petition to the house by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA). The presidential aide is accused of using the alleged questionable result to gain admission into the University of Jos where he studied and subsequently, the Nigerian Law School. Femi Ola, the deputy WAEC registrar, citing had told the House of Represntatives committee that available evidence showed that Obono-Obla's results were altered and therefore invalid.

Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara state in the forthcoming general elections, Razak Atunwa, allegedly did not participate in Nigeria’s compulsory national youth service scheme.

The online medium reports that instead, he procured a forged discharge certificate of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) which he submitted to the PDP to prove his eligibility for public office.

It was gathered that the fresh revelation about Atunwa came about four months after the online medium exposed the then finance minister, Kemi Adeosun, for engaging in similar conduct, and just a little over a month since the embattled official was forced to resign as a result of the scandal.

SOURCE: https://www.freshreporters.com/2018/12/nigerian-farmers-donate-n17bn-to.html

The President Muhammadu Buhari campaign is to receive the sum of N1.77 billion from the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) and Fertilisers Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN).

The associations announced the donations on Wednesday night, December 19, during a gala night organised by beneficiaries of the government’s anchor borrowers programme at the old banquet hall of the presidential villa, Abuja, Premium Times reports.

The groups said the unprecedented achievement recorded by the Buhari administration in the agricultural sector prompted the donation. Aminu Goronyo, the president of RIFAN, when announcing the donation of N1.2 billion on behalf of rice farmers said Buhari’s policies have resulted in savings of billions of naira for the country.

He said his association had a membership of about 12.2 million and that each member will donate N100 to the campaign which translates to N1.2 billion. Similarly, president of Fertilisers Producers and Supplies Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN), Thomas Etuh, announced that FEPSAN is contributing N570 million to the re-election bid of the president.

He said President Buhari’s administration’s policies in the agricultural sector was yielding results. Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has laughed off the competence of President Muhammadu Buhari's economic team, adding that their lack of prerequisite knowledge about economy has put the sector on downhill.

The Punch reports that Atiku, who stated this on Wednesday, December 20, during a town hall meeting in Aba, promised to use his wealth of experience to bring the country's economic back on track.

SOURCE: https://www.freshreporters.com/2018/12/so-many-reactions-as-zahra-buhari.html

Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, Zahra, clocked 24 on December 18, 2018. To celebrate, she took to her Instagram handle to post a stunning photo of herself to the joy of her fans.

In her usual manner, she was dressed modestly in a beautiful orange ankara which she paired with an elegant pearl necklace and light brown head scarf.

To celebrate her, several Nigerians sent her congratulatory messages while others commented on how good she looks. See some reactions in below (pics source: Instagram)

Zahra Indimi's birthday messages. (As seen in pics below).
Zahra's husband, Ahmed Indimi, also took to social media to celebrate her big day. Sharing a video of them together, he wrote: "My dear wife @mrs_zmbi , may your birthday be as happy as you have made me. Happy birthday!♥️" Recall a while back, the couple celebrated their first wedding anniversary together.

Ahmed, who has proven himself quite the expressive lover, took to social media to shower accolades on his wife and mother of their son.

Source: https://www.freshreporters.com/2018/12/2019-atikus-wife-takes-campaign-to.html

Ms Jennifer Atiku, wife of Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has urged residents of Onitsha to vote massively for the party in the 2019 general elections. Jennifer, who hails from Onitsha, made the plea when she paid a courtesy visit to Igwe Alfred Achebe, the traditional ruler of Onitsha on Tuesday, December 2018.
2019: Atiku’s Wife Takes Campaign To Onitsha, Reveals Why Igbos Should Vote Her Husbandl

“I am here to inform you, my own people, that your in-law, who is my husband, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is contesting the presidential election in 2019, so that you support us to win the election.

“I am your daughter and your in-law is my husband. You asked me to marry him and here I am today to seek your support for his presidential ambition. “Please, do not let us down,” Jennifer, who was accompanied by Ms Margret Obi, wife of Peter Obi, the vice presidential candidate of the party, pleaded. While saying that her visit was to buttress the saying that “charity begins at home,” Jennifer expressed optimism that a PDP government would guarantee the desired economic and social development of the country. In his response, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, commended Ms Jennifer for finding time to visit the palace and Onitsha to canvass for votes for Atiku and PDP.

“It will be good if our in-law becomes the president of Nigeria. You are a good daughter and your husband, our in-law is also a good man. “Since you deemed it fit to seek my blessing from the throne and support of your people for your husband, Atiku, who is our in-law, what you are praying for will be fulfilled by the grace of God,” the monarch said.

In a remark, the PDP candidate for Onitsha South 11 constituency, Jude Omennajiego, assured that the party would guarantee the people of the area dividends of democracy if elected into office.

Meanwhile, a socio-political group, the Coalition for Nigeria (CN), has raised allegations against the PDP, and its presidential candidate, Atiku, claiming they are hiring foreign help to win the 2019 presidential election. The group made this known in a press statement on Tuesday, December 18, in Lagos.

According to Dipo Samuel, the group’s secretary general, Atiku has already released funds to facilitate the alleged secret mission.

Bukola Saraki approves 12 nominees into National Assembly Service Commission 3 minutes ago by Kess Ewubare The Senate president, Bukola Saraki, has approved the names of 12 nominees into the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC).

They include Senator Joy Emordi (Anambra) who is being proposed as the Chairman, Nuhu Musa (Jigawa), Hon. Bilyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi (Kebbi), Barr. Femi Agge (Edo), Uthman Olakunle Taofeek (Lagos), Prince Adenekan Olateru-Olagbegi (Ondo) and Amb. Abdulazeez Sheikh Usman (Kwara). Other nominees are Awalu Aliyu Ohindese (Kogi), Henry Odey Adagba (Ebonyi), Dr. Rufus Omeire (Imo), Hon. Bilyamini Bunbot (Bauchi), and Ahmed Ashemi (Borno).

In line with the provisions of Sections 3 and 4 of the National Assembly Commission Act, 2000, the names of the nominees will be presented to President Muhammadu Buhari for appointment.

Stay tuned
Details later.....

SOURCE: https://www.freshreporters.com/2018/12/bukola-saraki-approves-12-nominees-into.html

An aggrieved leader in the Lagos state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that a southwest leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, is planning to contest for president in 2023. The APC member who pleaded not to be named also blamed Tinubu for the leadership crisis rocking the southwest chapter of the party.

The party leader told This Day that the primaries in Lagos state has caused problems which may lead to extraordinary consequences for the party in the coming elections.


“It is sad though. End of one-man’s rule may finally be here. There is enormous interest in what those disaffected with Lagos APC primaries will do. It will significantly affect presidential and governorship elections results in Lagos. If they all act their conscience and hidden agenda, then an earthquake will happen in Lagos,” he said. “It is the era of the revolution to free Lagos now.
SOURCE: https://www.freshreporters.com/2018/12/apc-leader-claims-bola-tinubu-is.html

Tinubu may have installed the last governor in open elections. The undue and unjust interference of Tinubu’s over ambition to be president in 2023.
He imposed Oshiomhole and Osinbajo on the APC due to their selfishness. “This practice will sure cause the party to suffer loss in a lot of states including, Ogun, Lagos, Osun, Ondo, Oyo, Imo, Zamfara, Akwa Ibom Delta, Benue, Kwara, Bayelsa, Abia and many other states, where Tinubu is seeking to install stooges as governors in preparation for his 2023 presidential bid, having deceived and blackmailed President Buhari."

Meanwhile, efforts at resolving the intraparty crisis rocking the APC in the southwest have again failed as several aggrieved members of the party, including southwest governors boycotted the meeting of the six-man reconciliation committee, which kicked off on December 10 in Ekiti State and ended on December 12 in Lagos state.
Multiple sources told This Day that most of the aggrieved aspirants threatened to work against the APC during the 2019 general election if the party failed to address diverse issues they had raised before the committee.

In another report, some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have accused Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of funding the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship campaign as payback for the way he was stopped from seeking a second term.
The accusation is coming ahead of a Monday, December 17, briefing where Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the southwest leader of the party is expected to address party members, Vanguard reports. Though Ambode has publicly endorsed Sanwo-Olu as the party’s candidate for the Lagos state 2019 governorship election, a section of the party has continued to suspect the governor of double dealings.

SOURCE: https://www.freshreporters.com/2018/12/apc-leader-claims-bola-tinubu-is.html

The alleged disobedience of the federal government also relates to its refusal to implement an agreement reached with the union especially on earned allowance.

The Nigerian Tribune reports that SSANU made the resolution at its 35th regular National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Enugu state University of Science and Technology.

The report said the resolution was signed by its national president, Comrade Samson Ugwoke, and the national public relations officer, Comrade Abdussobur Salaam.

The report said SSANU accused the federal government of not obeying the judgment of National Industrial Court, Abuja, which ruled that the teachers in university staff schools who were sacked by government should be reinstated.

The union further alleged that the federal government has not released the N8 billion earned allowance it promised its members.

Senator Chris Ngige, the labour minister, had announced that the federal government would pay the three non-teaching staff unions N8 billion as their earned allowance, but SSANU laments that months after, the promise has not been fulfilled.

“The federal government through the federal ministry of education had informed the chairman of the Joint Action Committee of NAAT, NASU and SSANU via a letter dated 9th August 2018, that approval had been given for the release of eight billion naira being payment of earned Allowances for non-teaching staff in the universities and requested for templates for the payments to the unions.

“It appears that the letters being sent to the unions are a delay ploy by the Federal Ministry of Education as the letters in themselves are needless because the unions had always made their positions known since the irregular disbursement of N23 billion to ASUU in 2017.

Source: https://www.freshreporters.com/2018/12/breaking-news-ssanu-commences.html

Source: https://www.freshreporters.com/2018/12/details-of-president-buharis-meeting.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly warned Governor Ibikunle Amosun to desist from anti-party activities as details of their meeting have emerged.

The duo met on Monday, December 10 in Abuja and according to Daily Independent, the president sternly warned the Ogun governor not to engage in activities that may affect the party.

The president reportedly frowned at Amosun’s statement that while he would support that All progressives Congress in the presidential election, he will not support the candidate of the party, Dapo Abiodun, in the gubernatorial contest. President Buhari reportedly told Amosun that he requires total loyalty from him urging him to learn to sacrifice personal interest for the collective interest of the party.

Adekunle Akinlade who is Amosun’s preferred governorship candidate left the APC for the Allied People’s Movement (APM), a move Governor Amosun endorsed.

Source: https://www.freshreporters.com/2018/12/details-of-president-buharis-meeting.html

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The Sun reports that Atiku signed the document on Wednesday, December 12, in the presence of members of the peace committee headed by a former head of state, Abdulsalami Abubakar, in Abuja.

The national chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus and other party members, reportedly accompanied Atiku the Kukah Centre, Abuja, where the document was signed. There had been concerns after Atiku did not show up at a meeting on Tuesday, December 11, where other presidential candidates of political parties, including President Muhammadu Buhari signed the document.

It was earlier reported that Atiku and other presidential candidates such as Omoyele Sowore of the AAC, and Oby Ezekwesili of ACPN had all said they were not invited. Report later emerged that Ezekwesili and Atiku promised to sign the document on Wednesday, December 12.

Meanwhile, Dele Ashiru, the chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Lagos chapter, on Wednesday, December 12, urged politicians contesting the 2019 elections to desist from any act that would cause chaos in a bid to win. Ashiru told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that political office seekers should not jeopardise the nation’s peaceful coexistence and progression. He said Nigerian politicians ought to learn from history what violence-prone elections has done to some societies.

Source:

Source: https://www.freshreporters.com/2018/11/some-presidential-candidates-are-under.html

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu on Thursday, November 29, made it know that the candidates of some parties do not meet up with the primary requirement of age which is 35 for the post of President and Vice President.

Read his full statement below...

”A few parties have nominated candidates below the mandatory age of thirty-five (35) years for as presidential and vice presidential candidates.

''We have drawn the attention of the parties concerned to the breach of the constitutional requirement ahead of the publication of the full list of presidential and vice presidential candidates for the 2019 general elections.”
“So far, INEC has successfully implemented seven out of the 14 activities strictly on schedule, including the conduct of party primaries for all elections and the processes of nomination of candidates. “We did not, and will never, tolerate any breach of the strict timelines provided for in the timetable for the elections.

“At the end of the period for the substitution and withdrawal of candidates for the presidential election, a total of 73 political parties have now filed their nominations. “Even so, a few parties have nominated candidates below the mandatory age of 35 years for as presidential and vice presidential candidates.

“We have drawn the attention of the parties concerned to the breach of the constitutional requirement ahead of the publication of the full list of presidential and vice presidential candidates for the 2019 general elections. “For National Assembly elections, a total of 1,848 candidates (1,615 male and 233 female) are vying for 109 Senatorial seats while 4,635 candidates (4,066 male and 569 female) are competing for the 360 seats in the House of Representatives. “Similarly, the full list of candidates and their political parties will be published for public information in line with the Commission’s timetable and schedule of activities. “As for state elections, a total of 1,068 candidates, 980 male and 88 female, are contesting for 29 Governorship positions with 805 male and 263 female deputy governorship candidates. “The commission is working on the list of candidates nominated by political parties for the 991 State Assembly constituencies as well as the 68 Area Council Chairmen and Councillors for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“The full details will also be published for public information in line with our timetable and schedule of activities. Unfortunately, we have also witnessed some of the most acrimonious party primaries in our recent history. “Internal party democracy is still a source of concern to our electoral progress. So far, the Commission has been joined in 396 pending actions in various courts across the country arising from the conduct of party primaries and nomination of candidates by political parties.
“We have similarly received 302 requests for Certified True Copies (CTC) of documents, mainly our monitoring reports of party primaries and copies of personal particulars of candidates.

“These requests are obviously a prelude to more court actions. In addition, we have also received 52 petitions and protests from aggrieved party aspirants. The implication of these challenges is that as we prepare for the General Elections, we are also going to grapple with pre-election litigations. “Parties that fail to respect the democratic process in selecting candidates during primary elections lose the moral right to complain about secondary elections. I wish to reassure the nation that we shall continue to maintain our neutrality as the umpire, registrar and regulator of political parties.

Meanwhile, it had been reported that the INEC on Wednesday, November 29, met with the National Peace Committee behind closed-door in Abuja ahead of 2019 general elections. Chairman of the committee and former military head of state, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, said members were on a fact-finding mission on INEC’s preparedness to conduct the 2019 elections.

He said: “Tomorrow (Thursday), we are going to meet all the chairmen and secretaries of registered political parties. “The aim of the meeting is to reach an understanding where we will meet and then at a later day, sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on how to play politics without bitterness and for political parties to accept the result once INEC declares the results.”

What do you have to say about this

Source: https://www.freshreporters.com/2018/11/some-presidential-candidates-are-under.html

Source: https://www.freshreporters.com/2018/11/be-careful-in-giving-atiku-usa-visa.html

The minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, during an interactive session in Abuja on Thursday, November 29. Mohammed made it known that the government was informed of the move by the former vice president to initiate the United State to lift the visa ban imposed on him. "The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)".

He said, while the US has the decision and criteria of whom to issue visa, they should be sensitive of the timing, in order not to give the impression that Abubakar Atiku has been endorsed by the US government.
Read Full statement below....
“We understand and appreciate the fact that it is the prerogative of the US to grant a visa to anyone who applies. “However, we want the US to be neutral and be wary of taking any decision that will give the impression that they are favouring or endorsing one candidate over the other “Impression must not be created that the US government is endorsing one particular candidate over the other,’’ he said. The minister recalled that for years, there has been a kind of congressional bi-partisan investigation on corruption against certain individuals which had made it difficult for Atiku to secure a US visa.

“I am sure you will all recall the Jefferson’s case and the cold 90,000 U.S. dollar in fridge. “We are not unaware that Atiku has engaged the services of some lobbyists to persuade the US to issue visa to him. “Our position is that if the former vice president is seeking the US visa we have no problem about it. “However, we want the US government not to create the impression that it is endorsing one candidate over the other,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, It was understood that Bayo Dayo - the deputy chairman of Atiku's 42-man campaign team had assured the member of the committee of defeating the current ruling party in the forth coming election.

Source: https://www.freshreporters.com/2018/11/be-careful-in-giving-atiku-usa-visa.html