₦airaland Forum

The All progressive Congress, APC in Taraba State has accused Governor of the state Darius Ishaku of intimidating and harassing traditional rulers and civil servants to ensure that only candidates from the Peoples Democratic Party are elected.

The accusations were made by the state chairman of the party Barrister Ibrahim El- Sudi while briefing newsmen in Jalingo.

He alleged that the governor had assembled 53 traditional rulers in the government house in Jalingo few days ago and directed them that they must ensure he and all contestants of PDP are elected in their domains.

He said the governor threatened to remove any royal fathers that allowed PDP to loose election in his domain.

The chairman said such threats were also extended to senior state civil servants and local government staff.

According to him, the governor had also assembled senior civil servants at the exco- chamber in government house, Jalingo recently and handed down warnings that they must ensure the victory of PDP in the areas they are from or face sanctions.

He said APC viewed the governor’s actions as desperate attempt to cause crisis in the state.

Reacting to the allegation, the Senior Assistant on media and publicity to governor Darius, Mr Bala Dan Abu said Governor Darius was not desperate to win elections, addibg that he does not need to intimidate anybody to win elections.

He said the government of Darius Ishaku had done so much for the people of the state, saying his performances will earn him victory at the polls.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/2019-elections-apc-accuses-gov-darius-of-intimidating-traditional-rulers-civil-servants.html

Some regional groups: Northern Alternative Forum (NAF), South South Professionals (SSP) and Oduduwa Democratic Group (ODG), known as “Regional Professionals”, yesterday, said Nigerians should count them out of the purported endorsement of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, by some regional leaders.

Leaders of NAF, SSP and ODG, who called themselves regional and professional groups from the six geo-political zones, made their position known after a meeting in Abuja.

They were responding to Atiku’s endorsement by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Ohaneze Ndigbo, Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Pan Niger Delta Forum (PNDF) and Nigeria Leaders and Elders Forum (NLEF).

In a statement signed by Mallam Gidado Ibrahim, Dr. Tunji Yekini, Hon. Arinze Goodwill and Mr. Mbeke Itah, the “Regional Professionals” described Atiku’s endorsement by who they called “ethnic leaders” as a charade, saying the move did not reflect the true position of Nigerians in the six geo-political zones. The groups disowned the endorsement of Atiku, saying the grassroots were with the candidate of the APC, President Muhammadu Buhari.

“We urge our very respected elders to thread with caution so as not to return the country to wrong hands like what we saw in the 16 years of PDP misrule,” the Regional Professionals said.

“We want Nigerians to be aware that we are not part of the political mess called endorsement by these so called leaders from the regions. We are solidly behind President Buhari’s re-election come February 16, 2019. The so called endorsement of Atiku by some socio-cultural groups cannot stand.

“These are the same people who have not been in contact with the people at the grassroots. They are out for what they can grab before the February 16, 2019, general elections. Their opinion can’t stand for the simple fact that our people are with President Muhammadu Buhari because of his achievements,” the regional professionals said. They further said they remained with Buhari because he was tackling corruption and other ills.

“There is a revolutionary approach to tax revenue. This is now yielding a lot of gains. Customs and some other agencies like JAMB have been remitting a lot of money and the common man is feeling the impact.

“We urge Nigerians to look beyond the ordinary campaign gimmicks on the streets and drum support for Muhammadu Buhari as the only man to provide lasting solution to our myriad of problems,” they added.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/regional-groups-reject-endorsement-of-atiku-by-afenifere-nef-pandef-others.html

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has said no politician can defeat the All Progressives Congress, APC Presidential candidate President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 Presidential election.

The Governor described the President as the will of God and darling of Nigerian masses.


He said the president earned the masses’ trust because he had never cheated or betrayed their trust when he held previous offices.

The Governor stated this in an interview aired on BBC Hausa, monitored in Kaduna, on Monday.


“President Buhari is a will of God and I don’t see any politician or civil servants that is so much loved by the masses like him,” he said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/no-politician-can-defeat-president-buhari-says-elrufai.html

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has alleged that the Federal Government is plotting to blackmail and intimidate 200 fudges.

The governor alleged that strategic credible intelligence intercepted by him revealed the plot.

He spoke during a church service at Greater Evangelism World Crusade at the weekend in Port Harcourt, he alleged that Federal Government had collected the asset declaration forms of 200 judges from the Code of Conduct Bureau with the intention of blackmailing the judges.

He said: “I intercepted a discussion by a minister of the Federal Executive Council where he was telling a gathering that they are happy that they have dealt with the Supreme Court. The Minister said that the next set would be the Court of Appeal judges and the Federal High Court judges. The minister said any judge that fails to cooperate will face trump up charges and be compelled to resign.

“This APC Federal Government has gone to the Code of Conduct Bureau to get the asset declaration forms of 200 judges. Any judge that fails to follow their evil plot will be harassed with false allegations and persecution.”

He also alleged that Federal Government would generate several false allegations to compel upright judges to resign from the bench.

He asked the church to pray for the federal Judiciary to survive “the deadly siege of the APC Federal Government. The church should continually pray for the Federal Judiciary. The Judiciary in Nigeria is under siege. If anything happens to the judiciary, our democracy is in trouble. The church needs to pray for the judges to remain strong in the face of intimidation and harassment.


https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/fg-plotting-to-intimidate-200-judges-wike.html

The presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, said that he was moved to tears over his endorsement by northern and southern elders ahead of the February 16, 2019, presidential poll.

In a statement yesterday by his media office, Atiku said the endorsement had given him more courage to work hard, win the election and return Nigeria to its lost glory.

Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Northern Elders Forum (NEF) Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PNDF) and Middle Belt Forum (MBF), yesterday, unanimously endorsed Atiku’s candidature in Abuja, less than two weeks to the poll.

Atiku said he would run a properly federated Nigeria through constitutional reforms to bring out the best from all sections of the country to make Nigeria work if given the mandate.

“I profusely thank our leaders across the country who have created this wonderful moment for us to come to the table of brotherhood. Once again, and in the words of our old National Anthem, we can proudly sing, ‘Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand.’

“This has buoyed me to lead a Pan-Nigerian team that will give practical interpretation to what has been done by the time I take leadership of our country, by the grace of Allah, on May 29, 2019.”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/afenifere-ohanaeze-northern-elders-others-endorse-atiku.html

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday met leaders of top political parties and security chiefs in Ogun State over violence which has characterised campaigns in the state ahead of general elections.

Daily Trust on Sunday recalls that no fewer than 10 supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) were injured and many campaign vehicles shattered when both parties clashed on Thursday in Abeokuta.

Obasanjo, however, met the political parties’ leaders behind closed doors for more two hours at Owu Hall inside Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta on Saturday.

Briefing newsmen shortly after the meeting, the State Chairman of Action Democratic Party (ADP), Chief Wale Egunleti said Obasanjo warned them to maintain peaceful campaign in the interest of all.

Egunleti said “Our father (Obasanjo) has called the political parties for a meeting to shun any act of thuggery, fighting, and any form of violence during and after election.

“We want to serve the people and we must lead by example. Therefore, we have been warned and advised to keep peace in Ogun for the benefit of all.

“Also, we should maintain peace and ensure that we inform authorities about our plans and movement for security reasons.”

He added that there would be subsequent meetings for review and monitor of compliance.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/obasanjo-meets-parties-security-chiefs-warns-against-violence-in-ogun.html

The Director General of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Campaign Council in Gombe State, Alhaji Bala Bello Tinka said he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to help President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid for second term.

In a phone interview with Daily Trust, Bala Tinka said he left the PDP for APC because of irreconcilable differences with stakeholders of the party and to chatter a new course in his political career.

He said he will be formally accepted into the APC by President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of the party in a grand rally to be held on Saturday (tomorrow) in Gombe.

Tinka Point, as he is popularly known, had contested against the PDP’s Gubernatorial candidate in the state, Senator Usman Bayero Nafada.

He was made the DG of the party’s campaign council last December.

In 2015, through his organisation, Talba Neighbour to Neighbour, he played a key role in the then re-election bid of Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo.

Tinka’s role was believed to helped Dankwambo to survived the APC ‘tsunami’ that swept 16 northern states in the 2015 elections.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/why-i-defect-to-apc-gombe-pdp-campaign-dg.html

Good luck

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has asked security agencies to probe the alleged appearance of those it described as foreign thugs and the presence of two governors from Niger Republic at President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign rally in Kano on Thursday.

The party also demanded the All Progressives Congress (APC’s) explanation on why it found it necessary to import governors from another country to participate in Nigeria’s electoral process at a time of serious security challenges.
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The Director Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan who addressed a press conference in Abuja yesterday, said the appearance of “foreign powers” at Buhari’s campaign showed desperation.

The PDP said in their desperation, the APC and presidency had compromised Nigeria’s territorial integrity as a nation, adding that their action portends grave danger to national security and the sanctity of the electoral process.
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“For a nation contending with insurgency and banditry, the involvement of mercenaries from neighbouring countries in the APC rally must be condemned by all and sundry. Already, there are apprehensions that miscreants who came from Niger Republic to President Buhari’s rally are being offered accommodation in our country by the APC to unleash violence immediately it is clear that President Buhari is losing the February 16 presidential election.

“On account of these, PDP demands an urgent and thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the presence of politicians and thugs from Niger Republic at the APC presidential rally in Kano on Thursday.

“The APC and the Buhari Presidency must immediately explain the roles being played by Issa Moussa, Governor of Zinder and his counterpart from Maradi, Zakiri Umar both of Niger Republic, who were sighted decked in the attires and official logos of the APC, in our political affairs.

“Our security agencies must immediately investigate and lay in the public domain the circumstances leading to their presence, which more or less confirms that the APC has lost all domestic credibility and has assumed a desperate mode,” he said.

“The presence of the Niger Republic Governors at President Buhari’s rally signposts a direct assault on the credibility of the presidential elections. This is particularly against the backdrop of INEC’s plans to allow Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in that country to vote in our election, a situation that opens the way for aliens to infiltrate as IDPs and participate in our elections.

“Our apprehensions are accentuated by INEC’s recent mass creation of additional polling units which have not been properly designated and which may be deployed for the perpetuation of monumental electoral fraud. We note how Kano State, in 2015, delivered 1.9 million votes to the APC presidential candidate in circumstances devoid of transparency and credulity.

“Moreover, the promise by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State to deliver five million votes to Presidential Buhari in the 2019 elections is predicated on the unfettered opening of our international borders to foreign political interests.

“What was the true purpose of the invitation of these foreigners to the APC rally in Kano on Thursday? What secret deals did APC leaders make with them at the expense of our national security?” he added.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/probe-foreign-presence-at-buhari-rally-pdp.html

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Uche Secondus, has urged Nigerians to vote out President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) on February 16, 2019, as he alleged that the president is no longer in charge of affairs.

Chief Secondus made the assertion while addressing a crowd of PDP supporters who thronged the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, venue of the PDP presidential campaign rally which held yesterday.

Secondus referenced alleged gaffes by President Buhari during debates and rallies and averred that Nigeria could not continue to condone “a man who has been bringing embarrassment to the country.

“Have you been following the debates? he asked the enthusiastic crowd, who answered in the affirmative.

“Every mistake of Buhari, and by the special grace of God, they would continue to make mistakes, shows the man is not aware of anything and he is not in charge.

“Go out to vote and let your votes count. Stand by your votes and change a man who is embarrassing Nigeria. He went to Germany and addressed the country as Western Germany. He was in Warri recently and addressed the governorship candidate as presidential candidate.

“He suspended the CJN and said he was not aware he suspended him. He is not in charge. It is now clear a cabal has hijacked the government and we cannot allow a proxy government by a cabal to continue in this country,” Secondus said.

Addressing the rally, Atiku thanked Delta State for remaining with the PDP since 1999, noting that every development in the state was the legacy of PDP.

“So why vote another party that has not done anything for you?” he asked.

“I will renovate all the sea ports in Delta State. I will also complete all abandoned infrastructure projects by the Federal Government because you are an opposition state. I promise I will deliver on these promises,” he said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/cabal-not-buhari-now-in-charge-of-affairs-secondus.html

A former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday, said the world was waiting to see the contributions of President Muhammadu Buhari and other West African leaders to deepening democracy in the forthcoming elections.

The former president spoke in Abuja where he chaired a public presentation of a book “Politics as a Dashed Hopes in Nigeria” authored by Dr Auwalu Anwar.

Obasanjo said the success of President Buhari at the 2015 polls strengthened Nigeria’s democracy but the international community is watching his contributions to consolidating the gains.

Between 2019 and 2020, major elections will hold in Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Cote d’ivoire.

“In these four countries, the incumbents were in the opposition and took over power from the ruling parties. It was good for democracy.

“The world is waiting, in the incoming elections, to see what will be their contributions to cumulatively strengthen, deepen and stabilize democracy in each of these countries,” he said.

Obasanjo, however, urged Nigerians to protect Nigeria’s fledgling democracy, pledging that he would “do everything humanly possible to safeguard our democracy and ensure good governance.”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/2019-elections-the-world-is-watching-buhari-others-obasanjo.html

Stakeholders of PDP in Kogi State, including Sen. Dino Melaye, former Governors, Idris Wada and Ibrahim Idris, serving members of the House of Representatives and the party’s candidates for the general elections have said the APC is threatening the forthcoming polls.

Addressing newsmen yesterday in Abuja, the stakeholders, led by the PDP Chairman in the state, Engr. Sam Uhuoto, said the ruling APC in the state was weakening the opposition and threatening its chances of winning the forth-coming general polls.

Engr. Uhuoto who called on INEC, the acting Inspector General of Police, the National Security Adviser and the National Peace Committee to prevail on the APC to “sheathe its sword”, also demanded a thorough investigation into allegation of arms stockpiling and training of arms-bearing militia in the state in the guise of vigilantes.

He also demanded the dismantling of all the alleged training camps for the militia and confiscation of the illegal arms in their custody.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/dino-wada-others-allege-threat-to-kogi-polls.html

The presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari, has said his administration would continue to reposition the police and judiciary especially in his anti-graft campaign, if re-elected at the February 16 poll.

He stated this at the Pa Ngele Township stadium, Abakiliki during his presidential campaign rally in Ebonyi state on Wednesday.

He acknowledged that fighting corruption which is among the three cardinal points of his administration is the most difficult.

“The important thing that I assure you as president today is that I have never been in position and abuse it.

He further explained that under his reign in office in 3 and half years, Nigeria has achieve food security, improved on the economy, recovered, through the gallant efforts of the military those 17 local government areas in the north east region under Boko Haram terrorists in 2015.

“First, is that we must secure the country. Second, is the economy, the unemployed Nigerians were too many and thirdly is to fight corruption.

“The last but not the least is about fighting corruption and bribery. Under this system it is a very difficult thing but we are doing our best to reposition the police and the judiciary”, he said.

President Buhari however reminded the Nigerians that Boko Haram has changed tactic which is adopting girls and boy under 15, reap them with explosives for purposes of sending them to market places, churches, mosques to kill innocent people.

Highlight of the event was the presentation of the party’s flag to governorship candidate, Sen. Sonni Ogbuoji and APC candidates who are contesting in the general elections.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/i-will-continue-to-reposition-police-judiciary-buhari.html

A former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Wednesday said his recent observations in the well publicised letter to President Muhammadu Buhari are already coming to pass barely two weeks after.

Obasanjo also declared that he has totally forgiven his former Vice President and current presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar for all he might have done to him and against him.

He disclosed this at the Quarterly Business lecture organized by the Lagos Island Club which was delivered by Atiku today in Lagos.

He said he has been called several names because of his position on Atiku, adding that he stands by his statements on him.

Obasanjo also said he stands by his comments on President Buhari, saying all he said about him which cannot be refuted are already coming to pass.

He said though Atiku is neither a saint nor the Messiah, he has the qualities to take Nigeria out of the woods.

He said: “I have been called names because of my position on Atiku Abubakar, the Waziri Adamawa. Everything I have said as far as I have knowledge of Atiku, I have not retracted and I stand firmly by them because they are to the best of my knowledge true.

“And neither has what I have said and written about Buhari been controverted; if anything, they have been confirmed and proved beyond any shadow of doubt.

“But Atiku has done three things which are absolutely imperative for a leader to be followed and believed. First, know who you are and present yourself as you are – a human being in blood and flesh and susceptible to human mistakes and human frailties. Don’t cover up with sanctimonious veneer of bogus integrity, incorruptibility, uprightness, goodness and false figures and statistics, all of which are contrived to deceive, to cheat, to plunder and to destroy.”

Obasanjo said he is confident that majority of Nigerians would vote for the PDP candidate whom he said he had forgiven wholeheartedly according to the dictate of his faith as a Christian.

“Secondly, a leader must be honest to himself and to the people he serves or he wants to serve. He must identify and acknowledge his situation, mistakes, shortcomings and inadequacy; show remorse where and when he has erred, seek forgiveness and repent; and not passing the bulk or keep blaming others and fail to accept responsibility.

“Atiku accepts responsibility for his mistakes, shows remorse and seeks forgiveness from his political party and subsequently from Nigerians.

“He asks for forgiveness from me and as a believer, a Christian as such, I forgave him in accordance with the teaching and instruction of my Saviour.

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (Matt 6:14-15 NIV).

“If anybody blames me for forgiving Atiku, I leave such a person with God Almighty, especially as both Christian and Islamic clerics joined Atiku to visit me to seek forgiveness.

“Anybody who does not forgive when forgiveness is sought with contrite heart cannot be a true believer and should not expect the forgiveness of God,” he said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/i-stand-by-my-comments-on-atiku-buhari-obasanjo.html

Wife of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Presidential candidate, Mrs Titi Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday, said her husband Atiku Abubakar, would liberate Nigeria from what she termed “bondage” if elected in the February 16 election.

Mrs Abubakar spoke at a Town Hall meeting she held with stakeholders in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, ahead of next month election.

She submitted that President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressive Congress (APC) had plunged Nigeria into economic crisis, insecurity, massive poverty and unemployment.

The PDP Presidential candidate’s wife also expressed worry that unemployment had pushed a number of youths into criminal activities.

She however, said Atiku will return an inclusive government by restructure Nigeria and return governance to the “good old days.”

She said: “You have no other President than Atiku. He was there before as Vice President. He has done it before and he will do it again. He was the one who led President Obasanjo’s economic team. The eight years was meaningful to Nigeria. The APC government which is barely four years in power and everything has gone worse.

“We’re in bondage. Vote Atiku to liberate us. It’s an inclusive government that we are going to have because it would be the government by the people and for the people. We want to be the servant of our people because we are the chosen one.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/atiku-will-liberate-nigeria-if-elected-says-titi-abubakar.html

The European Union Election Observation Mission to Nigeria yesterday said it has no interest in seeing a particular candidate or party wins the general elections.

The Chief Observer, Maria Arena, told newsmen at a press conference in Abuja that the mission’s mandate was only to collect information concerning the electoral process and make recommendations.

She said, “We are not interested in the outcome of the elections; we have no interest in seeing this or that candidate or party win. We are here to observe if the electoral process was conducted in a transparent and credible manner.

“We are completely independent in our conclusions. We are independent of the EU Delegation, EU member states, and all EU institutions. We come as a fresh pair of eyes, looking just at the election process.”

Arena said the mission’s observers abide by a Code of Conduct, which insists “we maintain strict neutrality in the course of our work, and we do not interfere in the election process.”


https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/we-have-no-interest-in-who-wins-2019-polls-eu-observers.html

Shehu Sani, the Senator representing Kaduna Central has reacted to National Council of State’s decision to peg minimium wage at N30,000 federal, N27,000 for state workers.

The council, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential Villa, Abuja approved N30,000 for federal workers and N27,000 for thier state counterparts.


The senator in a tweet decried the outcome of the decision, adding the amount is meagre for workers in a nation where even government agencies are declaring ‘record breaking’ billions and trillions in revenues.

“National Council of State,what will you gain by ‘cutting 3k from 30k’,in a nation where even Government agencies are declaring ‘record breaking’ Billions and trillions in revenues;And also states,making claims of higher IGR?”, he said.

Ekiti state government has announced the removal of the Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Prof. Sam Bandele, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Dr. Kolawole Ogundipe and Provost of the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, Prof. Mojisola Oyarekwa.

Their removal followed the consideration and adoption of the White Papers on the reports of the Visitation and Fact-finding Panels by the State Executive Council, on the institutions by the government.

The governor of the state, Dr Kayode Fayemi, in his capacity as Visitor, said the most senior officials of the institutions should take over the running of the institutions pending the appointment of substantive heads.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Yinka Oyebode, on Tuesday, said the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Prof (Mrs)Olubunmi Ajayi, is to take charge in an acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor by the Governing Council.

The governor also approved the appointment of Mrs Folakemi Falore as the Sole Administrator of the College of Health Sciences and Technology, Ijero-Ekiti.

In the case of the College of Health Sciences and Technology, Ijero, the Sole Administrator is responsible for implementing the White Paper.

The governor also approved the immediate constitution of the governing councils for the institutions.

The newly appointed members of the governing councils are to be sworn in on Monday, January 28, 2019.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/fayemi-sacks-eksu-vc-others.html

Popular Singer Niniola Apata has purchased the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for 30 students.

She said the gesture which is being carried out under her foundation “Adopt A Child’s Education,” was part of her giving back to the society

Niniola, an elder sister to Singer Tenientertainer, launched “Adopt A Child’s Education” foundation in July 2018.

She took to her Instagram page @officialniniola on to announce that her foundation and she have successfully gotten JAMB forms for 30 Students.

She wrote; “I promise to do more and walk in my late Dad’s shoes…”

Niniola said the foundation `is her own way of stepping into her late father’s shoes, a man who was known for his advocacy for standard education for every child’

The singer and songwriter rose to stardom after finishing as third runner up in the sixth season of Project Fame West Africa and became more popular with her songs, “Ibadi” and “Maradonna.

Niniola was also nominated for “Best New Act” in 2018 BET Awards. (NAN)

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/singer-niniola-buys-jamb-forms-for-30-students.html

The 2019 Presidential Election Campaign Team of wife of the president, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, has accused PDP presidential candidate and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, and Senate President Bukola Saraki of inciting Nigerians.

The director, Media and Strategic Communication Committee of the Women and Youth Presidential Campaign Team, Hon. Abdulmumini Jibrin, at the inaugural media conference of the committee, also unveiled the ‘Operation Lashe Akwatuna’, meaning ‘Operation Sweep the Units’, as a voter mobilisation and awareness project of the directorate.

He condemned what he described as the campaign of misinformation launched against President Buhari and candidate of the APC by prominent members of the opposition parties, especially PDP.

According to him, Saraki who doubled as the Director General of the PDP campaign, had in an “uninspiring interview” attempted to cast aspersion on the ‘president’s government’ forgetting he was indeed part of the government.

“The biggest threat to the stability of this country is the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and the Director-General of Atiku Campaign, Bukola Saraki, who are taking Nigerians for granted by mooting the idea to incite the North not to support power transfer to the southern part of the country after President Muhammadu Buhari completes his second term in a clear attempt to shortchange the southern part of Nigeria,” Rep. Jibrin said.

“No wonder, the PDP presidential candidate has refused to commit to returning power to the southern part of the country after 2023. This is even after concerted pressure by many of their stakeholders. This is already heating up our polity with combined negative consequences on our economy, security and general development.

“So, if we are talking about the politicians who are threatening the foundation of the peace and security of our country, the cap fits Saraki and Atiku,” he said.

Rep. Jibrin commended Mrs. Aisha Buhari for the revolution she brought into the political arena by recognizing the role of women and youth in political campaigns and also factoring them into the presidential campaign.

He said ‘Operation Lashe Akwatuna’ would cover all segments of voters in a unit which comprised of supporters, undecided voters and opposition voters, and also carry its campaign to the doorsteps of these three segments in polling units across the country on the same day and at the same time.

He said the committee would run a competition calling for Nigerians from various works of life to submit art pieces in various formats, graphic designs, videos, drawings and paintings depicting an achievement of the President Buhari administration that had impacted their lives positively using the hashtag #APCWAYCONTEST.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/aisha-campaign-team-accuses-saraki-atiku-of-inciting-nigerians.html

congrat

A former gubernatorial aspirant and chieftain of the APC in Gombe State, Alhaji Umar Farouk Bamusa, has donated 11 vehicles for the re-election campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya, the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the state.

Delivering the vehicles to the Director General of the APC Gubernatorial Campaign Council, Barrister Zubairu Umar, yesterday in Gombe, Bamusa expressed optimism on the party’s chances ahead of the polls.

He called on the electorate to vote for President Buhari and other APC candidates in the forthcoming general elections and also urged party members to work hard toward securing a fresh tenure for Buhari and the election of Inuwa Yahaya as governor.

According to him, the vehicles would be given to campaign officials at the 11 LGAs of the state to ease movement to the rural areas to woo voters.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/apc-chieftain-donates-11-vehicles-for-buhari.html

Political parties numbering 61, are to file a suite today, at a Federal High Court in Abuja, against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to challenge what they term “manipulated” 2019 election guidelines.

The parties alleged that INEC had inserted new clauses in the guidelines which they argued would lead to “massive rigging” of the elections in favour of the government in power, if allowed to scale through.

The National Chairman of Action Peoples Party (APP), who is also the National Secretary of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and spokesman for the 61 parties, Chief Ikenga Ugochinyere, said in a statement, yesterday, that Section 155 of the Electoral Act gives political parties the power to challenge INEC’s election guidelines in court.

According to the statement, leaders of the political parties were set to pass a vote of no confidence on INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, if he decided to release the “controversial guidelines” today, without meeting with political parties for their input.

“Political parties predict 2019 pre-election crisis over INEC unilateral decision to issue guidelines which do not promote election credibility. Political parties demand INEC retention of the 2015 separate accreditation and separate voting system to avoid confusing voters due to closeness of polls.

“This move is to stop INEC from releasing the guideline and also quash some sections of the draft guideline which are in conflict with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution including the obnoxious provisions inserted into the guideline which will lead to massive rigging of the 2019 elections,” he said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/61-political-parties-move-to-sue-inec-over-draft-election-guidelines.html

There is accusation and counter accusation between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the alarming rate of political thuggery in the state

In a statement issued on Friday, PDP accused APC of establishing and institutionalizing the culture of violence in the state.
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The party in a statement signed by its publicity Secretary, Abdullahi Hausawa alleged that thugs belonging to APC members
have been attacking their members, destroying their campaign facilities and vehicles.

He further accused the party of sending its thugs in an attempt to disrupt the flag off of their campaign in Binji but for the quick intervention of security agencies.
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He also alleged that the party had attacked a health facility belonging to PDP at Shuni local government area, robbed its staff and destroyed all its facilities and vehicles.

“These attacks have become more frequent and sustained in their despair attempt to take over power in the state by all means,” he alleged

Reacting to the allegation, the Publicity Secretary of APC, Sambo Danchadi said the ruling PDP in the state had reached the end of the road, thus resorting to whipping up sentiment by playing the victim, by bidding behind an imaginary political thuggery.

“Reliably information has it that two lives were lost in Binji while three other innocent individuals were murdered in Wurno by the PDP thugs. This is in addition to razing down properties belonging to our members,” he said

He added that ” it is therefore, no artificial tinkering with the reality in ground can change the course of history. Let PDP leadership in Sokoto brace up for the challenge of deficit in infrastructure, convenient atmosphere for trades as well as descent politics and stop the vociferous cry of blue murder.”
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https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/apcpdp-trade-words-as-political-thuggery-takes-toll-in-sokoto.html

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More Nigerians may vote in this year’s general elections than they did anytime in the last 20 years when the country returned to democratic rule, Daily Trust reports.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday revealed that 84 million Nigerians have been registered to vote in the general elections starting on February 16. This represents an increase of 27 million over the 57 million that were registered in 1999.

INEC yesterday made available to each political party, a copy of the entire national register of voters in fulfilment of the legal requirement.

The INEC National Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who performed the task at the regular quarterly meeting with political parties in Abuja, said the final register for the 2019 general elections stood at 84,004,084 voters after the mandatory display of the register in all polling units nationwide for claims and objections from 6th- 12th November 2018.

Card reader sacrosanct, abolished incident form

Professor Yakubu also yesterday re-emphasized the commission’s policy that the Smart Card Readers (SMR) would be used for the 2019 general elections for accreditation to confirm, verify and authenticate the voter.

“The Card Reader shall be used to authenticate the fingerprint of the voter as an additional confirmatory procedure. If the fingerprint is not authenticated by the card reader but the PVC is confirmed as genuine and the voter’s personal details are consistent with the manual register, he/she shall be allowed to vote,” he said.

“However, where the biometric authentication fails, the voter will be required to thumbprint a box next to his/her picture on the register and to enter his/her mobile telephone number before proceeding to vote.

“The Commission has modified the register of voters for the 2019 general elections accordingly. Consequently, the separate Incident Form used in previous elections which is only completed by the Presiding Officer without the involvement of the voter is now abolished.

“Similarly, the claim that the card reader has been enhanced to recapture voters’ fingerprints at polling units and automatically overwrite the biometric record on our database is untrue and should be disregarded,” he added.

But some political parties at the event expressed reservations over the alleged “smuggling” of new rules with regard to the use of incident form, alleging that the commission did not consult them before making changes to the rules.

They also insisted that Mrs. Amina Zakari must be removed as the chairman of the INEC Committee on Collation of presidential results.

Earlier, the INEC chairman who said the commission had printed and delivered the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to the states urged all registered voters who had not collected theirs to do so at any local government area office and other designated collection centres nationwide.

Campaign finances/Vote buying

Professor Yakubu also told various political parties that the commission would keep a close watch on their campaign finance. He also assured them that that there was no change in the number of polling units and voting points used for the 2015 general elections and the 2016 Area Council elections in the FCT.

The INEC boss, who added that there was a new method of vote buying being devised despite the mechanism already put in place to stop the menace, said the electoral body would work with security agencies to deal with the violators.

“We have received credible information that some partisan actors are now going round buying up PVCs from voters or financially inducing them to collect the Voter Identification Numbers (VIN) on their PVCs. In some instances, telephone numbers and details of bank accounts of voters have been collected. By collecting the PVCs, their intention may be to deprive the voters of voting since no one can vote without the PVC.

“By collecting their phone numbers and bank details, the intention is to induce voters by electronic transfer of funds to their accounts since it will be difficult to buy votes at polling units. By collecting the VINs, they may be acting on the mistaken notion that our system can be hacked into and the Card Readers somehow preloaded ahead of election and compromised.

“We want to reassure Nigerians that we are aware of the new tricks. It is a futile effort. We will work with the security agencies to deal with the violators of our electoral laws, including those who may be trying to compromise our staff responsible for making the PVCs available for collection by legitimate voters,” he added.

Turnout of voters

Daily Trust investigation showed that despite increased number of prospective voters in 20 years, turn out over the years ranged from 53 per cent in 1999 to nearly 70 per cent in both 2003 and 2007; then down to the same percentage as 1999-that is 53 per cent in 2011 and further down to 43 per cent in 2015.

The official data analysed by Daily Trust showed that 175 million Nigerians had voted in the five presidential elections where 81 candidates contested since the country’s return to democracy in the last 19 years.

Also, the April 2003 where Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was elected for the second term had the highest voter turnout of 69.1 per cent.

The April 1999 presidential election had the highest registered voters of 73, 528, 040, according to the official data. The late Umaru Musa Yar’adua was the president elected with the highest percentage of votes cast of 69.1 per cent since 1999.

This is despite the recorded electoral irregularities which the late president even admitted during his swearing in.

A total of 81 candidates contested for the number- one seat in the presidential polls held between 1999 and 2015, where Obasanjo, Yar’adua, Goodluck Jonathan, and Buhari were elected as presidents.

No matter the number of candidates, it had always been a two-way race in all the elections. From 1999 to date, the candidates that mattered had been the first two.

Only two candidates contested in the 1999 elections, 20 vied in 2003 polls, but the number rose to 25 in 2007, and down to 20 in 2011, and 14 in 2015, according to the official data.

Buhari is leading the league of serial presidential candidates, having contested four times only to course to victory in 2015. Obasanjo contested twice and won, late Yar’adua contested once and won, and Jonathan contested twice and won once.

How geopolitical zones voted

In 1999 polls, the south south had the highest valid votes of 4,227,330, followed by northwest 3,884,836, north central 3,615,793, northeast 3,552,353, southeast 2,307,772, and southwest 1,902,196.

In 2003 elections, the northwest led with 9,643,772 valid votes, followed by south-south 7,673,448, northeast 6,237,877, north central 5,739,206, southwest 5,698,907, and southeast 4,550,279.

During 2007 elections, the northwest had the highest valid votes cast totalling 8,867,128; trailed by south-south 6,770,546, north central 6,494,860, southwest 4,349,730, southeast 3,673,274, and northeast 3,114,413.

In 2011, the northwest led other zones with the highest valid votes of 6,844,836, south-south 6,197,404, north central 5,052,348, southeast 5,044,923, southwest 4,553,999, and northeast 4,814,167.

In 2015, the northwest had the highest valid votes of 8,505,577, with south-south following with 4,667,879, southwest 4,362,456, north central 4,149,143, northeast 3,672,348, and southeast 2,719,654.

Composition of N/Assembly since 1999

In 1999 when the 4th National Assembly was to be ushered in, only three political parties took part in the elections to fill the 109 Senate and 360 House of Representatives seats.

The political parties were the PDP the defunct APDP and the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

In the elections conducted on February 20, 1999, the PDP got 59 Senate seats, APP got 29, while AD won 20 seats, with one vacant seat. A total of 24,386,247 votes were cast during that year’s Senate election. As for the House of Reps, ‎PDP got 206 seats, APP had 78, AD got 68, while there were 12 vacant seats. A total of 23,573,407 votes were cast.

In 2003, the figures changed, but the same political parties produced the lawmakers in both chambers as PDP got 76 Senate seats, the defunct ANPP got 27, while AD had 6, with 29,995,171 as total votes cast.

The PDP also got 223 House of Reps seats during that election, ANPP, 96; AD, 34; United Nigerian Peoples Party (UNPP), 2; All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), 2; National Democratic Party (NDP), 1; Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), 1, and 1 vacant seat. A total of 30,386,270 votes were recorded.

The 2003 National Assembly elections were held on April 12, 2003. The 2007 recorded additional political parties that got Senate seats, but the PDP maintained its majority status.

The breakdown of the composition showed that PDP had 85 seats, ANPP, 16; Action for Change (AC), 6; Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA), 1, and Accord Party 1.

In the House of Reps, PDP recorded 262, ANPP, 62; AC, 32; PPA, 3 and Labour Party (P), 1.

As for the 2011 National Assembly elections ‎held on April 9, that year, PDP had 71 Senate seats; the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), 18; ANPP, 7; Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), 7; LP, 4, while APGA and the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) had1 each.

In the House, PDP got 203; ACN, 69; CPC, 38; ANPP, 28; LP, 8, APGA, 7; Accord, 5, DPP and Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) got one each. A total of 28,552,140 votes were cast.

However, the table turned during the 2015 National Assembly elections when the All Progressives Congress (APC), a merger of four different political parties won the majority seats in both chambers.

APC got 60 seats, while PDP got 49 seats during the polls. However, one APC senator-elect, Ahmed ‎Zannah, passed on before the inauguration of the 8th Senate. Our correspondents reports that some senators had since changed political parties, leading to the emergence of parties such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and APGA having senators. Also, as at the time the 2015 elections results were announced, APC got 225 seats, PDP, 125, APGA got 3, LP 4, while Accord had 3. However, that composition had since changed following series of defections by the lawmakers across political parties.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/voter-register-rose-by-50-in-20-years.html

Governor Aminu Bello Masari has advised the Katsina State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to differentiate between politics and security.

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Aminu Masari on Media and Publicity, Abdu Labaran Malumfashi said it was “callous for the PDP in Katsina State to play politics with the issue of security especially as it involved life and property of citizens.”

Malumfashi was reacting to the comment of the state PDP chairman, Salisu Majigiri, who asked Masari to resign over a statement he made that Katsina State was under siege over activities of bandits.

Malumfashi said Governor Masari raised the alarm about the state of insecurity because he was mindful of the need to do all what it took to safeguard the lives of the people unlike what allegedly obtained during PDP days.

According to him, Majigiri’s call was the height of insensitivity and duplicity.

“Majigiri as Chief of Staff to the immediate past governor of the State, Barrister Ibrahim Shema, did not see the need or find the courage to advise his principal to resign when 142 people were massacred in cold blood one morning in May 2014 between the axis of Faskari and Sabuwa local government areas,” he said.

Malumfashi said to show his commitment to peace, it was Masari who initiated the formation of the Forum of North West Governors to collectively tackle insecurity in their states, adding that to this date, he was the only one who remained the most faithful to the cause.‎

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/dont-politicize-security-masari-tells-pdp.html

The Presidency has faulted the claim by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that a Commissioner of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Amina Zakari is a blood relation of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu said President Buhari and Commissioner Amina Zakari don’t have a family relationship.

“An inter-marriage occurred in their extended families, so the imputation of blood relationship between the President and the electoral commissioner is a simple lie.

“What is even more curious about all the fuss coming from the PDP is that they, as a ruling party picked Mrs. Zakari, judging her by her own merit and made her an electoral commissioner.

“She served so well with distinction as can be verified from the records that President Buhari approved the recommendation that she be reappointed, as he did other PDP nominees for second-term of four years.

“PDP, therefore, has no moral right to keep harassing this hardworking mother unless they have a hidden agenda.

“By this statement, the PDP is guilty of scoring an own goal and two, of harassing an innocent citizen on the basis of a lie, pure and simple,” he said in a statement last night.

The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) has asked the National Assembly to prevail on President Buhari to order the removal of Mrs Zakari from INEC.

Addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, the Director, Media and Publicity of the PPCO, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the National Assembly and Buhari should save the nation from what he termed the looming political crisis in the country.

However, a senior INEC official explained that Mrs Zakari’s committee will be responsible for water, electricity, briefing rooms, ushers and internet facilities among others.

The senior officer who pleaded not to be named as he was not authorized to speak on the matter to the media said her role is basically to oversee issues around the administration of the venue.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/amina-zakari-not-blood-relation-of-buhari-presidency.html

The PDP has alleged that the budget presented to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari was full of false performance indices, claims of non-existent projects and fake promises.

Addressing a press conference last night in Abuja, the PDP National Publicity Secretary who doubles as the Director Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said Buhari and the APC were awaiting “crushing defeat in 2019.” The party also said it was wrong for anyone to say that the PDP instigated the booing of the president during the budget presentation.


“As usual, Mr. President dwelt on fictitious figures, unrealistic projections and could not give a credible account of the performance of the 2018 budget, which like other annual budgets, since he came into office remained unimplemented due to sheer incompetence and humongous corruption in his presidency. No wonder he was booed by the lawmakers,” he said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/buharis-budget-presentation-filled-with-false-performance-indices-pdp.html

The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Special Duties Office (SDO), yesterday in Abuja, honoured 16 of its members of staff retiring from the civil service.

The Permanent Secretary, Special Duties Office (SDO), Mr. William Alo, said that the retirees deserved to be celebrated for their meritorious service to the nation.

According to him, one of the major desires of any civil servant was to retire from service unblemished, and that the 16 retirees had put in their best in their service years.

“The most important days for a civil servant is the day you receive your appointment letter and the day you exit service. It is always a thing of joy to spend 35 years or clock 60 years successfully in service and exit peacefully, in spite of all the challenges that comes with civil service

“It is not easy to grow through the ranks in service, because civil servants are paid peanuts and paying your bills as a civil servant is always a miracle. So I want to commend your resilience throughout the years,” Alo said.

A retired Director, Department of Policy Implementation and Monitoring of Government Decisions, Mrs Nkechi Asugha, who spoke on behalf of others, thanked the Permanent Secretary for celebrating them.

She also commended him and the entire staff for their sacrifices in making the day a reality and for giving them the opportunity to share love together.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/sgf-honours-16-retirees-2.html