WATCH VIDEO: Apostle Suleiman’s prophecy on election postponement a guesswork – Daddy Freeze

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="600" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5_mB2u_MFGmGyJ1QQOTk-1vzdnFRbX_TATjvAlvJwJkkOzFWawQFmRiyK-wDHCk2jxP_JbzEOg1zjlbC8Ylst8_FC_uhO8FD8WR2fv2zL_5cG-JdZTf-bxypzd9zzF1djvqg0k6U5pLo/s640/Suleiman-and-Daddy-Freeze.jpg" width="640" /></div> <br /> <br /> Controversial on-air personality, Daddy Freeze is in the news again. This time, he has attacked The Senior Pastor of Omega Fire Ministries International, Apostle Johnson Suleiman over his prophecy that the general elections will be postponed.<br /> <br /> Suleiman, had in January during a church programme said the election would be postponed if Christians did not pray.<br /> <br /> <b>Watch video below:</b><br /> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kPkN6OmZQ1E" width="636"></iframe><br /> <br /> Daddy Freeze had earlier taken to his back-up Instagram page to mock ministers of God, by asking: “How come none of your so called ‘spiritual’ GOs, prophets, senior pastors etc saw the postponement of the elections?<br /> <br /> “Didn’t their gods reveal this to them? The real miracle is that you still trust them with your hard earned money!”<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> One of Daddy Freeze’s follower had countered him by saying that Suleiman prophesied about the election postponement in January, while Daddy Freeze requested for the video.<br /> <br /> After watching the video, Freeze mocked Suleiman, saying “OMG Sule is a genuine prophet. He saw the elections moving if we don’t pray, but come, they prayed now, didn’t they?<br /> <br /> “Most Nigerians knew this election, like those of previous years would be postponed, this is guesswork in my opinion, NOT A PROPHECY!”

Latest-News WATCH VIDEO: Apostle Suleiman’s prophecy on election postponement a guesswork – Daddy Freeze

Controversial on-air personality, Daddy Freeze is in the news again. This time, he has attacked The Senior Pastor of Omega Fire Ministrie...

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INEC bans fresh political campaigns, collection of PVC's

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="504" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthFcaOgyc9QBoyLDu-OXuu4-rFYz0bprJisKC-sahSxyZVqbMKX69nLWUr82MppFSUVvfbfR-qnhsNU9YGjHhhGWBzAngWnPXjlUp8BB87WIEiGh6iDJfCud_jxk114o37EcdbqGGTSMR/s400/Prof.-Mahmood-Yakubu-copy-504x315+inec.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> <br /> The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said there is no more room for political campaign or collection of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in spite of the postponement of elections by one week.<br /> <br /> The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this on Saturday in Abuja while fielding questions at the meeting with political parties and other stakeholders.<br /> <br /> Yakubu said that the deadline for the collection of PVCs and elections campaign by political parties according to the election timetable has passed.<br /> <br /> “Campaign closed on Thursday, Feb. 14, and for the period that remains campaigns remain closed.<br /> <br /> “All the other processes that remain in the main timetable remain closed, including the collection of PVC, except the conduct of the elections,” he said.<br /> <br /> On why the commission did not consult party leaders before adjusting the dates of the elections, Yakubu said that it was due to the urgency and that Section 36 of the Electoral Act empowered the commission to do so.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “We have to take a decision and communicate because polls were supposed to open at 8a.m. and we took the decision at 2a.m,” he said.<br /> <br /> Until then, Yakubu said, INEC was hopeful that elections would hold as scheduled.<br /> <br /> On whether the commission has enough fund should the elections be postponed again, Yakubu said that INEC is not complaining, adding that the commission does not intend to postpone any other election.<br /> <br /> On request for compensation to political parties for the change in dates, Yakubu said that INEC did not finance parties.<br /> <br /> The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Adams Oshiomhole, expressed displeasure that INEC waited till last few hours before announcing the postponement to Nigerians, demanding the apology of Yakubu to Nigerians and political parties.<br /> <br /> He said the postponement entailed huge losses to political parties who had no public fund to fall on like INEC, saying if the postponement was done on time, losses and inconveniences to political parties would have been avoided.<br /> <br /> “Serious inconveniences have been caused. Nigerians have been subjected to rude shock and I feel extremely cold.<br /> <br /> ” I think we should be honest. I am shocked, disappointed and disgusted.<br /> <br /> “The real question I will insist, Mr Chairman by all due respect, is to tell us why by Wednesday you were not in the position, since you acknowledged that the weather was bad.<br /> <br /> “You should have taken all these into account and announced this postponement at least 48 hours before the elections time, so that political parties don’t have to mobilise resources across 176,000 Polling units.<br /> <br /> ” Observer will stay where they were and a lot of inconveniences would have been saved,” Oshiomhole said.<br /> <br /> Former aviation minister, Osita Chidoka, who represented the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Chairman, Strategy Committee of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, commended the decision of the commission for not allowing the experienced challenges to lead to staggered elections.<br /> <br /> Chidoka, requested INEC assurances that the Activate Technologies Limited, one of the companies producing the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), would not be involved in the retrieval and reconfiguration of card readers to be used for the rescheduled elections.<br /> <br /> He said that available information was that the Managing Director of of the company was a senatorial candidate of APC in Niger State.<br /> <br /> He also asked the commission to allow independent verification to establish that sensitive materials to be retrieved to the CBN have not been opened or tampered with.<br /> <br /> The National Chairman, Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA), Chief Peter Ameh, said he was initially angry that INEC did not consult political parties before the change of date for the elections.<br /> <br /> However, Ameh, who is also the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), said that with the explanation by the INEC Chairman, it was clear that the decision was taken in the interest of the nation.

Latest-News INEC bans fresh political campaigns, collection of PVC's

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said there is no more room for political campaign or collection of the Permanent Vot...

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Two killed as thugs burn buses conveying electoral materials in Akwa Ibom

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMCtiVyXMOTD0hZcqFuhEYgA-McDKkz1-ctbvtQZxVCczg4KYuKRm0JYjQ9U8MPbYNKyoz0MgA21f9H0SV65f_NLKWReiGorN4-RMaxWDj4D2Mi9KwV5td1Aq4GXZ24f8DmklvKVg0yDL/s400/inec-akwaibo.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> <br /> Two persons have been killed reported killed in Akwa Ibom State after suspected thugs set buses carrying sensitive electoral materials to Obot Akara local government area of the state.<br /> <br /> The buses which were also conveying election personnel were set on fire and some of the drivers wounded with machetes.<br /> <br /> The personnel and drivers escaped and found their way to the INEC office to report the incident.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> More details later

Latest-News Two killed as thugs burn buses conveying electoral materials in Akwa Ibom

Two persons have been killed reported killed in Akwa Ibom State after suspected thugs set buses carrying sensitive electoral materials to...

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VIDEO: Oshiomhole demands apology from INEC for postponing Presidential election

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZXT9miUOZ63488kpVC-umJdoWuSwWDfVFrES7O0LGe7DjNOVekmfoVHnwXK5TBpHmWsEg4125wybNCjzoMBDXiTnV4C97bnZfMqA7Lw0yngb_iLuvg1UmHyZAESDMg5xYQ8U6bnWoc6u/s1600/Adams-Oshiomhole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZXT9miUOZ63488kpVC-umJdoWuSwWDfVFrES7O0LGe7DjNOVekmfoVHnwXK5TBpHmWsEg4125wybNCjzoMBDXiTnV4C97bnZfMqA7Lw0yngb_iLuvg1UmHyZAESDMg5xYQ8U6bnWoc6u/s640/Adams-Oshiomhole.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole on Saturday demanded an apology from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for postponing the Presidential and National Assembly Elections.<br /> <br /> Watch video below...<br /> <br /> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <div dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">Adams Oshiomole demands apology from INEC and implies they need to stop acting like they don’t owe us any credible explanations. You’ve embarrassed us as a nation.... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NigeriaDecides?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NigeriaDecides</a> <a href="https://t.co/mcmSy6ZE6Z">pic.twitter.com/mcmSy6ZE6Z</a></div> — 👑 DaddyMO PhD CEng 👑 🚀♠️ (@officialdaddymo) <a href="https://twitter.com/officialdaddymo/status/1096806506039832576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"> </script><br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br />

Latest-News VIDEO: Oshiomhole demands apology from INEC for postponing Presidential election

National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole on Saturday demanded an apology from the Independent National Elector...

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Seme border reopens after postponement of elections

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ro7sFJnjJ5uT8FhrLcCTiUTqx0dTZESxuemepXyysyMGgTFksT1TwOItzTGbCeKCkxl_24EZMlTLi1bnzwjlBRLttEiLdsJ27TCphVKzpsHKrDFKuMMtXau4kBtbpvMm64dybtu7N_MD/s1600/Seme-border-320x180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ro7sFJnjJ5uT8FhrLcCTiUTqx0dTZESxuemepXyysyMGgTFksT1TwOItzTGbCeKCkxl_24EZMlTLi1bnzwjlBRLttEiLdsJ27TCphVKzpsHKrDFKuMMtXau4kBtbpvMm64dybtu7N_MD/s1600/Seme-border-320x180.jpg" /></a></div> <br /> Commercial activities remained low at Seme on Saturday following the reopening of Nigeria-Benin Republic border after the last-minute postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.<br /> <br /> The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Federal Government had ordered the closure of all Nigerian land borders with effect from Friday 12:00 noon February 15 to 12.00 noon of Sunday, February 17.<br /> <br /> NAN reports that even though Seme border was reopened early on Saturday following the election postponement to February 23, commercial activities were low as many traders and licensed clearing agents did not show up.<br /> <br /> Mr Jacob Uchenna, a customs agent, told NAN that he was in Seme to find out if the border would be reopened.<br /> <br /> “It is so unfortunate that INEC decided to postpone the election without considering the economic implications on Nigerians.<br /> <br /> “It is only on Saturdays that business used to boom here at Seme but look at what is happening now.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “Marketers did not come, even those that are around are not selling because people didn’t show up for business,” he said.<br /> <br /> NAN reports that human and vehicular movement across the border took place without any hindrance while customs and immigration officials thoroughly checked the few vehicles passing through the area.<br /> <br /> The situation remained the same at Badagry Market, where few traders displayed their goods, which were patronized by a few buyers.<br /> <br /> Mrs Iyabode Joseph, a food vendor in the market, lamented low patronage because many refused to leave their homes.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, some residents of the coastal city of Badagry reacted to the postponement of the election, describing it as unfortunate.<br /> <br /> Mr Dosu Avoseh said, “This postponement will cause a lot of hardship on citizens.<br /> <br /> “It doesn’t say well of INEC and raised doubts on its ability and readiness to conduct free and fair elections.<br /> <br /> “Many people have had programs planned for next weekend that will now have to be cancelled.<br /> <br /> “Businesses will suffer, people who travelled this weekend will lose income and may end up not voting next weekend because they won’t be able to afford to travel back.<br /> <br /> “The negative ripple effect of the postponement is frightening so much so that it’s hard to appreciate the need for the postponement in the first place.”<br /> <br /> Also speaking, Mr Victor Akinseye, said the commission had reasons for postponing the elections.<br /> <br /> “I think INEC would not have deliberately done that if it is not worth it, however, the short notice was the problem.<br /> <br /> “It does not portray the country as a serious nation to foreigners, particularly the International Observers.<br /> <br /> “It also portrays the nation a wasteful country,” he said.<br /> <br /> (NAN)

Latest-News Seme border reopens after postponement of elections

Commercial activities remained low at Seme on Saturday following the reopening of Nigeria-Benin Republic border after the last-minute post...

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Elections postponement a national embarrassment, says CAN

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMJbOwiXkovk2oqDZYGDUwlf9fz9zUdOiMyVwhk7ZXOgIdMH1pSABdd_bjM4canSVhWUjbNWzo3SxITlFXWARp3Q6xLs98tE99RuniD2-7PYef__mAQ73lyz7Px1jh6SpWQnzq1rPnv8/s1600/CAN-President-Dr.-Samson-Supo-Ayokunle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="650" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMJbOwiXkovk2oqDZYGDUwlf9fz9zUdOiMyVwhk7ZXOgIdMH1pSABdd_bjM4canSVhWUjbNWzo3SxITlFXWARp3Q6xLs98tE99RuniD2-7PYef__mAQ73lyz7Px1jh6SpWQnzq1rPnv8/s320/CAN-President-Dr.-Samson-Supo-Ayokunle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> The Christian Association of Nigeria has described the postponement of the Saturday’ s elections as a national embarrassment and setback.<br /> <br /> <br /> The President , Rev Samson Ayokunle , expressed the CAN’ s view through his Special Assistant, Media and Communications , Pastor Adebayo Oladeji , in a statement in Abuja on Saturday.<br /> <br /> <br /> According to the association , it first came as fake news that was totally far from the truth, thinking that the Independent National Electoral Commission had enough time to prepare for these elections.<br /> <br /> <br /> “ They got the needed fund released to them earlier enough and also assured Nigerians that elections would go on as scheduled without any issue.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> <br /> “ This is a national embarrassment on the nation , as big as Nigeria is, with many highly qualified professionals , yet we postponed the elections in the early hours of Election Day, ” he said .<br /> Ayokunle said that the postponement was unexplainable, adding that smaller nations were doing better.<br /> <br /> <br /> “ With the 2015 election, the whole world is expecting a better electoral process , but it seems the INEC is not ready to build on the 2015 foundation , ” he said.<br /> <br /> <br /> The CAN president said that economically , the postponement had led to the loss of billions of Naira in pterms of movement of election materials nationwide and the closure of the borders , seaports and airports.<br /> <br /> <br /> He said that many local and international observers were already in Nigeria but , rather they would be forced back to their countries and come back again by next week or stay for extra one week and incurred additional expenses.<br /> <br /> <br /> “ Electorate who travelled to their home towns to vote have to go back to their places of work now and come back in a week’ s time.<br /> <br /> <br /> “ There is great question on the credibility of the elections now because of doubt on safe - keeping of these election materials where they were sent to.<br /> <br /> <br /> “ How are we sure the ballot papers , card readers and other materials will not get into wrong hands for election manipulation , ” he said.<br /> <br /> <br /> The cleric stressed that no excuse was strong and good enough to justify the postponement by INEC in the early hour of an Election Day.<br /> <br /> <br /> According to him , This development has led us almost loosing confidence in INEC and its chairman.<br /> <br /> <br /> “ INEC has disappointed Nigerians and the international community. We hope we would not hear of another postponement again after this.<br /> <br /> <br /> “ From all indications , INEC unilaterally postponed the elections without any input from other stakeholders such as the leading Presidential candidates, their parties , the National Council of States and others.<br /> <br /> <br /> “ We recalled that when it happened in 2015 for “security reasons” , the National Council of State was carried along , ” he said.<br /> <br /> <br /> He questioned how the logistics issues claimed by INEC could be justified , stressing that the excuse came when all stakeholders were already in the fields.<br /> <br /> <br /> According to him , this kind of disappointment can cause voters ’ apathy for so many reasons because it has raised serious question on the credibility and integrity of the Commission.<br /> <br /> <br /> He , however urged Nigerians to remain calm , prayerful and focused.<br /> <br /> <br /> The cleric said that the association believed with the prayers already offered , all would work out well for our nation in the name of Jesus.<br /> <br /> <br /> The cleric again urged Nigerians to remain calm and maintain peace wherever they were.<br /> <br /> <br /> He encouraged them not to be discouraged but be determined to decide who presides over the affairs of the nation.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> ( NAN)

Latest-News Elections postponement a national embarrassment, says CAN

The Christian Association of Nigeria has described the postponement of the Saturday’ s elections as a national embarrassment and setback....

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Elections Postponement: See how lawyer wants FG to compensate Nigerians

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="1000" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyW6dGMOV_OUDNZ4u7B6IVmsO-CsUYlvtJon5MrVitMf-bzt7-arNxPtKkS0VUsX7CUH42j5WS4h6MTNpTPcWy6Rc-gXKelgoOJ8KtDbDbNpdsRFz-cGiHau0o0kATW81MuDLPP5egCxXg/s400/gavel+law.jpeg" width="400" /></div> <br /> A Legal Practitioner, Mr Kayode Ajulo, has demanded compensation of free fuel to all Nigerians over the postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.<br /> <br /> Ajulo stated this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on Saturday.<br /> <br /> He said that the Federal Government through the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must compensate Nigerians for wasting resources and energy to travel to their various polling units to cast their vote.<br /> <br /> According to him, I traveled to Cardive in America few weeks ago and a certain road was closed without the knowledge of the citizenry, the government had to compensate them with five litres of fuel.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> He said that the postponement was a technical disenfranchisement that only the presidency could reverse by providing palliative measures in form of free fuel flows to voters.<br /> <br /> He said that an arbitrary predilection for unpleasant surprises, the INEC has made Feb. 16th into a national day of ‘April Fool’.<br /> <br /> “INEC’s decision to suspend at the eleventh hour, the Presidential and National Assembly elections long billed for today has thrown a crooked wrench in the plans and schedule of several million of voters all over the country”<br /> <br /> He stated that the election meant taking trips away from primary states of residence and commerce to polling units in other states to participate in the election.<br /> <br /> According to him, schedules were disrupted, families uprooted and finances invested in the bid to exercise franchise and execute the civic duty owed by the registered citizenry to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.<br /> <br /> He said that the dilemma for more than a few families and individuals at the moment would be to making a decision between maintaining their locations or heading back to their respective businesses and abode.<br /> <br /> Ajulo noted that INEC must be seen to keep its words, adding that a second postponement could have dire implications for it and bleed it of public faith and trust.

Latest-News Elections Postponement: See how lawyer wants FG to compensate Nigerians

A Legal Practitioner, Mr Kayode Ajulo, has demanded compensation of free fuel to all Nigerians over the postponement of the Presidential ...

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Lucky Igbinedion’s son dies in fatal road accident

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAozsXVRJIVgWVrIrx2m9DA2juF3sUkWTtcu4kW0hiq3YtlZR5Mqaa4Rgz3B_hbuvwnAwmEkbEqw-pXD6yzQg-LloAoixfAV73O3l50QOGcDA46rrsOQiG_eHbllkJBp9qKqt0KMhc6zA/s400/lk.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> Former Governor of Edo state, Lucky Igbinedion, second son, Osaretin, has died in a fatal road accident in the United States.<br /> <br /> According to family sources, Osaretin died earlier this morning in a fatal accident in Dallas. He was driving with his cousin, Esosa Oyemwense, when they collided with an 18-wheeler at about 3am. They both died in the accident.<br /> <br /> Osaretin is graduated from the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration with a degree in marketing, and a minor in economics.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br />  He also bagged a Masters degree in International Management from the Northeastern University

Latest-News Lucky Igbinedion’s son dies in fatal road accident

Former Governor of Edo state, Lucky Igbinedion, second son, Osaretin, has died in a fatal road accident in the United States. According ...

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Poll Shift: Buhari planning to sack INEC chair, appoint Amina Zakari - CUPP

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="412" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlt-YZxqktwV-wTv95yah80C1dIHT1mCJun0kyDa7UZPvwf9UlomviA0g1JVNOMpPIVAtAKlHlkuKwY0Lqtcqy9d8iUudpIfvmtb7pUYj1CZy1wulFnxgZo_jCUgJU7G2QVDEkKSWfMnd/s400/Amina-Zakari.png" width="400" /></div> <br /> The Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP,has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari was planning a change of leadership in the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, following the shift in the conduct of 2019 general elections.<br /> <br /> CUPP alleged that the president’s plan was against the backdrop of his unfavorable disposition to the postponement which stopped the staggered elections as allegedly planned by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.<br /> <br /> In a statement by its spokesman,Ikenga Ugochinyere,CUPP said it was raising” the alarm over move by Buhari to suspend INEC chairman and appoint Amina Zakari as Acting Chairman under the guise of INEC inability to Conduct Election today (Saturday). The statement read in thus:”The Coalition of United Political Parties is alerting the world of plan and decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to announce the suspension of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, from office.<br /> <br /> “The President has also pencilled down Amina Zakari for appointment as the Acting Chairman citing her experience as the oldest and most experienced National Commissioner of the Commission. “The President is planning to use the excuse of inability to hold election today as a reason for the imminent suspension.<br /> <br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a> Feigning ignorance of the real reasons behind the shift, the President in his earlier statement today did not have just a word for the shameful and despicable actions of security forces and the central Bank staff who in obedience to Presidency directives deliberately sabotaged the distribution of sensitive materials in selected states. “We are aware that his hurried return to Abuja today from his home state, Katsina is to sack the INEC boss.<br /> <br /> But this should be resisted by all well meaning Nigerians and the international community. “The sin of the INEC Chairman is that he refused to conduct staggered elections that will allow the President and his men to manipulate the process. The Presidency had mounted pressure on the Commission to conduct election today in states where there were no issues and postpone only the states with materials distribution issues. The INEC Chairman insisted on conducting the election at the same time hence warranting the postponement of the entire election. “We hereby warn President Buhari that the position of the INEC Chairman is independent, hence, he cannot be removed from office via suspension.<br /> <br /> The 1999 Constitution in Section 157(1) states that the Chairman and members of the Commission may only be removed by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate that the person be removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office (whether arising from infirmity of Mind or body or any other cause) or for misconduct “We are aware that the government itself sabotaged INEC distribution of materials and he is turning around to suspend the Chairman of INEC illegally. “We are warning that any attempt to sack or suspend the INEC Chairman will only lead to electoral and constitutional crisis.<br /> <br /> The nation is still grappling with the illegality and unconstitutionality of the removal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the President wants to go down this ignoble path again.<br /> <br /> “If the President has ears, let him hear.”

Latest-News Poll Shift: Buhari planning to sack INEC chair, appoint Amina Zakari - CUPP

The Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP,has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari was planning a change of leadership in the Ind...

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Frustrated Nigerians count the cost of postponed elections

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="284" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gtjgEgFIf8XpjHyqlr22e6IFpFinVF78tDm3DOAObRZnW4SW61tPjuap7Tmsk227KFjwXOjqnvSnktTPyldskJo7JtiVp2EvL_6ZOZNzy9BGHw70MrxjSBOc1g_pKtwocfSZrbVEG-15/s400/ballot.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> Nigerians on Saturday hit out in frustration and anger at election officials after a last-minute delay to voting, just as they were preparing to cast their ballots.<br /> <br /> Many people were taken unawares by the overnight announcement and only found out when they reached polling stations — to find them empty and unstaffed.<br /> <br /> Others counted the cost of a lost day’s work in a country where many people are daily wage earners in the informal sector, and some 87 million live in extreme poverty.<br /> <br /> In the commercial capital Lagos, streets normally teeming with activity were eerily empty on Saturday morning, with many businesses closed.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “It’s not a good day,” said David Ujo, a 58-year-old flower stall owner, watering his plants by the road-side. “It’s like a lost day, no one is around.”<br /> <br /> Many polling units across the city were not even set up, reflecting widespread reports of problems with the distribution of election materials.<br /> <br /> “This is where the polling unit should be,” said Austin Onwusoanya, who was expected to manage a polling unit in the sandy compound of a secondary school in the Ikoyi area.<br /> <br /> He said no election equipment was sent, even as locals continued to enter through the school gates to confirm that the delay was true.<br /> <br /> “They had rolled out the timetable months ago,” said Onwusoanya angrily.<br /> <br /> Many people had planned weddings and other important engagements around election day but now had to reschedule, he added.<br /> <b><br /></b><b>– ‘This is Nigeria!’ –</b><br /> Meanwhile, dozens of angry men crowded around a stand of the day’s newspapers, laid out on the ground under rocks.<br /> <br /> Many carried headlines prematurely declaring the polls open. One, the Saturday Independent, read: “Nigeria Decides Today.”<br /> <br /> Newspaper vendor Samson Onasanya said he was not surprised at the delay, in a country accustomed to last-minute preparations, even for long-standing engagements.<br /> <br /> In 2015, INEC postponed elections by six weeks — but at least did so with one week to go before people travelled back to their home villages and towns to cast their vote.<br /> <br /> “This is Nigeria, this is Nigeria,” he shouted, adding: “We are tired of all this.<br /> <br /> “This is not the first time it has happened and it will not be the last time, it is because they don’t respect we the voters.”<br /> <b><br /></b><b>– Demand for answers –</b><br /> About 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) northwest in Buhari’s home town of Daura, in Katsina State, many would-be supporters of the president tried to return to normalcy.<br /> <br /> Shops began to open and motorcycle taxis plied the streets for customers.<br /> <br /> Many in Buhari’s stronghold were also frustrated and suspicious of the reasons for the delay.<br /> <br /> “We suspect foul play,” ventured Abba Hassan Shehu, a 22-year-old student.<br /> <br /> “INEC (the Independent National Electoral Commission) told us they were ready. How could they now tell us they can’t conduct the election?<br /> <br /> “They should give us a more cogent excuse,” he said, surrounded by a group of young men who nodded in agreement.<br /> <br /> INEC officials in various states also lamented the inconvenience.<br /> <br /> In the southern city of Port Harcourt, election officers woke up with shock and anger at the news, after a night spent sleeping out in the open next to election materials.<br /> <br /> Many had travelled from faraway places and there was no guarantee voters would return for the rescheduled poll, they said.<br /> <br /> Presidential and parliamentary elections are now due on February 23. Governorship and state assembly polls have been pushed back to March 9.<br /> <br /> (AFP)

Latest-News Frustrated Nigerians count the cost of postponed elections

Nigerians on Saturday hit out in frustration and anger at election officials after a last-minute delay to voting, just as they were prepar...

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ELECTIONS POSTPONEMENT: Don’t be deterred, Saraki tells Nigerians

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mwehjm8PsG_yGX8aCm79yjWpdXYZyBmWcCvVTss5q_IKyCa-vGgzolYhAznwncBR_OA8aTVlNE6WmYpF9cEj17pb7208ezRBc0vXr06GgBpIkthMGtj5Lut9PRlHkCYrE4zpVUXRQnc/s1600/Bukola-Saraki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="700" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mwehjm8PsG_yGX8aCm79yjWpdXYZyBmWcCvVTss5q_IKyCa-vGgzolYhAznwncBR_OA8aTVlNE6WmYpF9cEj17pb7208ezRBc0vXr06GgBpIkthMGtj5Lut9PRlHkCYrE4zpVUXRQnc/s320/Bukola-Saraki.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> The President of the Senate , Dr . Bukola Saraki, on Saturday said the last - minute postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections caused a great inconvenience to many Nigerians.<br /> <br /> <br /> Saraki made this known in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity , Yusuph Olaniyonu.<br /> <br /> <br /> He , however , appealed to Nigerians not to be discouraged by the rescheduling, but to remain determined to cast their votes for their preferred candidates.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> <br /> The Senate President expressed disappointment that after preparations by the electoral commission , security services and other agencies of government , issues of logistics and related matters were said to be responsible for postponing the elections .<br /> <br /> <br /> “ Waiting till just a few hours to commencement of voting before announcing postponement of elections is extremely sad .<br /> <br /> <br /> “ Nobody can quantify the difficulty that this will bring to people at every level . I empathise with youth corps members who have been relocated from their places of primary assignment to assist with the conduct of the elections .<br /> <br /> <br /> “ My thoughts also go to civil servants who left their bases to go and vote in their hometowns .<br /> <br /> <br /> “ I also sympathise with millions of ordinary Nigerian traders whose businesses were suspended because of the no movement order. Thus , the costs of this postponement are incalculable , ” he said .<br /> Saraki appealed to Nigerians not to be deterred , discouraged or disappointed .<br /> <br /> <br /> “ Next Saturday, they should try and forget the current setback and troop out en masse to vote for their preferred candidates .<br /> <br /> <br /> “ Not voting because of the postponement is not a good option for Nigerians . My appeal to our people is that we must still go out next Saturday to exercise our franchise.<br /> <br /> <br /> “ At this point , government and INEC should focus on what is the way forward and ensure that the elections take place as rescheduled . They should move swiftly to smoothen all the rough edges.<br /> <br /> <br /> “ The commission must ensure we do not have a repeat of what happened today . We have been saying it that the 2019 elections should be a clear improvement on that of 2015 , ” he said.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> ( NAN)

Latest-News ELECTIONS POSTPONEMENT: Don’t be deterred, Saraki tells Nigerians

The President of the Senate , Dr . Bukola Saraki, on Saturday said the last - minute postponement of the presidential and National Assembl...

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READ FULL TEXT - Why we postponed General Elections – INEC

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="365" data-original-width="653" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Z_CzXu3CDBmrfmLeaYegv8jksAbiInla58vQcvmslHYqjVtuOo5AQg207-8o60ZeqdWUuipqSScGO9AB8-1RjQ9RzOZoCqFKvwK9xZnKS8Q4JdPpPwq2OgO16rOxhA3zmhJeJGLvr5Gp/s640/Mahmood-Yakubu-653x365+and+INEC.jpg" width="640" /></div> <b><br /></b><b>ADDRESS BY THE CHAIRMAN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION lNEC. PROFESSOR MAHMOOD YAKUBU TO THE STAKEHOLDERS’ MEETING ON THE 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE ABUJA ON SATURDAY 16th FEBRUARY 2019</b><br /> <br /> About thirteen hours ago, 1 conveyed to Nigerians the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reschedule the 2019 general elections by one week. Presidential and National Assembly earlier scheduled for 16‘“ February 2019 will now hold on Saturday 23″ February 2019 while Governorship, State Assembly and FCT Area Council elections scheduled for 2““ March 2019 will now hold on Saturday 9‘I March 2019.<br /> <br /> The one-week adjustment was a painful one for [NEC but necessary in the overall interest of our democracy.<br /> <br /> Nigerians will recall that when this Commission was appointed in November 2015, we promised Nigerians two cardinal things.<br /> <br /> First, we shall work hard to consolidate the improvements made in the management of elections in Nigeria since 2011. Secondly. we shall always be open, transparent and responsive.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> We have striven diligently to keep these promises in very trying circumstances.<br /> <br /> In keeping with our promise to consolidate the gains of the last two electoral cycles, the Commission has conducted 195 rerun and off-season elections across the country since the last general elections.<br /> <br /> Most of these elections have been generally adjudged to show progressive improvements in planning, execution and outcomes.<br /> <br /> This commitment to continue to improve on election administration has informed our preparations for the 2019 general elections. Our goal is to plan carefully, execute meticulously and bring stability into election management in Nigeria.<br /> <br /> Consequently, we announced fixed data for elections in Nigeria to the effect that Presidential and National Assembly elections will always hold on the third Saturday in February of an election year. while the Governorship and State Assembly elections follow two weeks later.<br /> <br /> Having settled this, we began the planning quite early, with a Strategic Plan (SP), 3 Strategic Programme of Action (SPA) and an Election Project Plan (EPP). In fact, the plan for the 2019 general elections was ready in November 2017 and we subsequently issued the timetable and schedule of activities for the elections over one year ago on 9″I January 2018.<br /> <br /> We carefully followed the timetable and implemented 13 of the 14 activities as scheduled. We kept to the time-frame and have not missed the date fixed for any single activity.<br /> <br /> In preparing for the 2019 general elections, we have come face-to-face with the realities of conducting such an extensive national deployment of men and materials in a developing country like ours.<br /> <br /> It is said that elections constitute the most extensive mobilization of men and materials that any country could undertake in peacetime.<br /> <br /> The challenges of doing so, even under the best of circumstances, are enormous. Within a period of 16 months, we registered over 14 million Nigerians as new voters, collecting their names, addresses, photographs and their entire ten fingerprints. Beyond that, we prepared, printed and delivered their permanent voter’s cards for collection. I should note that of the 14.28 million Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) made available for collection, about 10.87 million or 76.12% have been collected.<br /> <br /> It is often not appreciated the magnitude of activities that the Commission undertakes during general elections. Not only we have recruited and trained about 1 million young people to serve as ad hoc staff, the magnitude of materials mobilized for our elections, is enormous.<br /> <br /> For instance, the Commission has printed 421.7 million ballot papers for six scheduled elections, as well as 13.6 million leaves of result forms for the Presidential election alone.<br /> <br /> Indeed, managing 91 political parties and 23,316 candidates for whom votes will be cast in 119,973 polling units by over 84 million voters is certainly astounding. No doubt. preparations for the 2019 general elections have been extremely tasking for the Commission.<br /> <br /> It is therefore not unexpected that such a tremendous national mobilization of men and materials will encounter operational challenges and we have had our own fair share of such challenges.<br /> <br /> There have been delays in delivering ballot papers and result sheets for the elections which are not unusual. However, I must emphasize that all the ballot papers and result sheets were ready before the elections despite the very tight legal time-frame for finalizing nomination of candidates and dealing with the spate of legal challenges that accompany it.<br /> <br /> In this regard, the Commission has been sued or joined in over 640 court cases arising from the nomination of candidates. As at today, there are 40 different court orders against the Commission on whether to add or drop candidates.<br /> <br /> The net effect of these is that there is usually roughly a one-month window for the Commission to print ballot papers and result sheets and either fly or transport them to several destinations until they finally get to each polling unit.<br /> <br /> Unfortunately, in the last week, flights within the country have been adversely affected by bad weather. For instance, three days ago, we were unable to deliver materials to some locations due to bad weather.<br /> <br /> We therefore had to rely on slow-moving long haulage vehicles to locations that can be serviced by air in spite of the fact that we created five zonal airport hubs Abuja (North Central), Port Harcourt (South-South and South East), Kano (North West), Maiduguri and Yale (North East) and Lagos (South West) to facilitate the delivery of electoral logistics.<br /> <br /> Apart from these logistical challenges, we also faced what may well attempt to sabotage our preparations. In a space of two weeks. we had to deal with serious fire incidents in three of our offices in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State, Qu‘an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State and our Anambra State Office at Awka.<br /> <br /> In all three cases. serious disruptions were occasioned by the fire, further diverting our attention from regular preparations to recovery from the impact of the incidents. In lsiala Ngwa South, hundreds of PVCs were burnt, necessitating the recompiling of the affected cards and reprinting in time to ensure that the affected voters are not disenfranchised. I am glad that all the cards were quickly reprinted and made available for collection by their owners.<br /> <br /> ln Qu’an Pan Local Government Area. our entire office was razed, destroying all the materials prepared for the elections printed register of voters, ballot boxes, voting cubicles and several electricity generating sets. ll Registration Areas and over IOO polling units were affected by the fire. We recovered quickly and have since replaced everything destroyed. In addition, we secured a suitable building from which to conduct the elections.<br /> <br /> Perhaps the most serious was the fire incident in our Anambra State Office at Awka, which destroyed over 4,600 Smart Card Readers being prepared for the elections. These Card Readers take at least six months to procure.<br /> <br /> Despite this setback, we have practically recovered from this by mopping up every available spare SCR across the country and within 24 hours delivered them for elections to hold in Anambra State.<br /> <br /> All these challenges mean that then: have been differences in preparations from one State to another. Our overall assessment is that if the elections went on as planned, polls will not open at 8am in all polling units nationwide. Yet, we are determined that polls must hold at the same time everywhere in the country.<br /> <br /> In this way, elections will not be staggered. This is very important to the public perception of elections as free. fair and credible. We promised Nigerians that we shall be open. transparent and responsive.<br /> <br /> Faced with these challenges, we initially thought that we only require a maximum of 24 hours to resolve the logistics issues involved and complete our deployment for the election.<br /> <br /> This would mean shifting the elections to commence on Sunday 17th February 2019. However, given the restriction of movement during elections, that could affect many votes who worship on Sundays.<br /> <br /> While the Commission was considering the following Monday 18th February 2019 as an option, our LCT Department advised us that it would require 5 -6 days to reconfigure about 180,000 Smart Card Readers earlier programmed to work only on election day Saturday 16th February 2019.<br /> <br /> It is for this reason that the Commission decided to adjust the election dates to Saturday 23rd February 2019 for Presidential and National Assembly elections and a consequential adjustment of Governorship, State Assembly and FCT Area Council elections to Saturday 9th March 2019.<br /> <br /> Some sensitive materials have been distributed. However, all such materials have been retrieved and will be taken back to the custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria. I want to assure you that there will be a proper audit to account for all materials.<br /> <br /> In the next few days, the Commission will work on the basis of the following plan:<br /> <br /> S/No. Activity Time-frame<br /> <br /> <b>1. Completion/confirmation of deployment Monday 18th February 2019 of materials<br /> <br /> 2. The configuration of the Smart Card Readers Sunday 17th Thursday, 21st February, 2019<br /> <br /> 3. Receipt and Deployment of sensitive Wednesday 20 and materials to LGAs Thursday, 21st February, 2019<br /> <br /> 4. Refresher training for ad-hoc staff Thursday, 21st February, 2019<br /> <br /> 5. Deployment of personnel to RACs Friday, 22nd of February, 2019<br /> <br /> 6. Election Day Saturday, 23rd February, 2019.<br /></b><br /> <b><br /></b>I want to appeal to Nigerians and all other stakeholders for their understanding of what has been a very difficult decision for the Commission. But we believe that ultimately this is for the good of our democracy and country. I wish to assure you of our commitment to free, fair and credible elections.<br /> <br /> As Chairman of INEC, and on behalf of the Commission, we take full responsibility for what happened and we regret any inconvenience our decision might have caused.<br /> <br /> Thank you and God bless”.

Latest-News READ FULL TEXT - Why we postponed General Elections – INEC

ADDRESS BY THE CHAIRMAN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION lNEC. PROFESSOR MAHMOOD YAKUBU TO THE STAKEHOLDERS’ MEETING ON THE 2019 G...

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Oshiomhole blasts INEC chairman - 'Why did you have to wait till 2:30am to postpone elections?'

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1VLFh_xiq8aB9bvNDwl31tZWHL_8XxGTGYlkGLCvGVjsllrPNoQMamYfk1SxSYGLNCcWe-wPVR2CaffWU_ybMkDHDooYuqR8d8oB67vrxs3mHbsgzFuU2wOvNT9bJxfJ10mJhjf5Jw5E/s1600/Adams-Oshiomhole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1VLFh_xiq8aB9bvNDwl31tZWHL_8XxGTGYlkGLCvGVjsllrPNoQMamYfk1SxSYGLNCcWe-wPVR2CaffWU_ybMkDHDooYuqR8d8oB67vrxs3mHbsgzFuU2wOvNT9bJxfJ10mJhjf5Jw5E/s640/Adams-Oshiomhole.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <b><br /></b><b>Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), took on Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), over the postponement of the elections.</b><br /> <br /> Speaking at the International Conference Center (ICC), Abuja, where the commission held a press conference to explain the reasons for shifting the polls, Oshiomhole said the commission ought to have done more.<br /> <br /> The APC chairman described the action of the commission as an embarrassment to the country, demanding Yakubu should tender an apology.<br /> <br /> “Why at 2:30am on the day of the election? Why? The problem is not about the postponement but why 2:30am  on the day of the election? You have explanations to do. If you had told us since, we would have planned,” he said.<br /> <br /> “Why didn’t you tell us 48 hours ago? You must apologise to Nigerians because you have embarrassed us as a nation.”<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The INEC chairman, Prof.  Mahmood Yakubu responded by explaining that up till 1:00am, they still thought the elections will go ahead as scheduled, and the postponement was a difficult last minute decision they had to take due to logistics problems.

Latest-News Oshiomhole blasts INEC chairman - 'Why did you have to wait till 2:30am to postpone elections?'

Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), took on Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National...

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INEC blames logistics problems, burning of offices, late court judgements for postponement

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSD8h46fHAqC21j3G-cS5Pyx_scnvyDCbya6ZgTHhmw5CqNVqvWHpAB83cDtPxYRe67EWX4X8dzYWWDLN2WchnnhcgyoZZzgVc8EdyNQGo_5_uZs6734oTY0lCayYFBzSrxc0p2x-7wPC5/s1600/Yakubu-Copy+inec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSD8h46fHAqC21j3G-cS5Pyx_scnvyDCbya6ZgTHhmw5CqNVqvWHpAB83cDtPxYRe67EWX4X8dzYWWDLN2WchnnhcgyoZZzgVc8EdyNQGo_5_uZs6734oTY0lCayYFBzSrxc0p2x-7wPC5/s320/Yakubu-Copy+inec.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> The Independent National Electoral Commission has blamed logistics problems and the burning of its offices in Plateau, Anambra and Abia states for the postponement of elections.<br /> <br /> INEC also said some late judgements which ordered the commission to include some parties on already printed ballot papers altered its plans for the elections.<br /> <br /> The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this while addressing stakeholders in Abuja on Saturday.<br /> <br /> He said the commission was able to address some of the unforeseen challenges but they had a negative effect on the overall planning of the polls.<br /> <br /> Yakubu added, “There have been delays in delivering ballot papers and result sheets for the elections which are not unusual. However, one must emphasise that all the ballot papers and result sheets were ready before the elections despite the very tight legal timeframe for the nomination of candidates and dealing with the spate of legal challenges that accompany it.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “In this regard, the commission has been sued or joined in over 640 court cases arising from the nomination of candidates. As of today, there are 40 different court orders against the commission on whether to add or drop candidates.<br /> <br /> “The net effect of these is that there is usually roughly a one-month window for the commission to print ballot papers and result sheets and either fly or transport them to several destinations until they finally get to each polling unit.<br /> <br /> “Unfortunately, in the last one week flights within the country have been adversely affected by bad weather. For instance, three days ago, we were unable to deliver materials to some locations due to bad weather.<br /> <br /> “We therefore had to rely on slow-moving long haulage vehicles to locations that can be serviced by air in spite of the fact that we created five zonal airport hubs in Abuja (North Central), Port Harcourt (South South and South East). Kano (North West), Maiduguri and Yale (North-East) and Lagos (South-West) to facilitate the delivery of electoral logistics.<br /> <br /> “Apart from these logistical challenges, we also faced what may well be attempts to sabotage our preparations. In a space of two weeks, we had to deal with serious fire incidents in three of our offices in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State, Qu’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State and our Anambra State Office at Awka.<br /> <br /> “In all three cases, serious disruptions were occasioned by the fire, further diverting our attention from regular preparations to recovery from the impact of the incidents. In Isiala Ngwa South, hundreds of PVCs were burnt, necessitating the recompiling of the affected cards and reprinting in time to ensure that the affected voters are not disenfranchised. I am glad that all the cards were quickly reprinted and made available for collection by their owners.”<br /> <br /> “In Qu’an Pan Local Government Area, our entire office was razed, destroying all the materials prepared for the elections printed register of voters, ballot boxes, voting cubicles and several electricity generating sets. ll Registration Areas and over I00 polling units were affected by the tire. We recovered quickly and have since replaced everything destroyed. In addition, we secured a suitable building from which to conduct the elections.<br /> <br /> “Perhaps the most serious was the fire incident in our Anambra State Office at Awka, which destroyed over 4,600 Smart Card Readers being prepared for the elections. These Card Readers take at least six months to procure. Despite this setback, we have practically recovered from this by mopping up every available.

Latest-News INEC blames logistics problems, burning of offices, late court judgements for postponement

The Independent National Electoral Commission has blamed logistics problems and the burning of its offices in Plateau, Anambra and Abia st...

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11 killed, 15 injured in Boko Haram attack on Maiduguri

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TPINKSfbsvNg4uglf25Lh8R3muCo6Ycxhb_zuDA2lCVFDNwUyfzmu5ComMDYHLkzXK66ngeVOh6CpOUX9dMkbdPmWWZxsu1T4j-HzI1FXpEi2ZDZGCe5KvBNujFwlVbeVzid09LOsMaH/s640/Maiduguri.jpg" width="640" /></div> <br /> Eleven persons were killed and 15 others injured in Saturday’s Boko Haram attack on Maiduguri, the Commissioner of Police in Borno State, Damian Chukwu said.<br /> <br /> The Commissioner in a text message to some journalists in the town, revealed that his on-the-spot assessment of the scene of the attack showed the number of casualties.<br /> <br /> He said at about 5:40am, “gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists and suicide bombers infiltrated Gwozari/Kushari in Polo General area, Maiduguri.”<br /> <br /> He said they shot sporadically and detonated IEDs strapped to their bodies.<br /> <br /> He said during the attack 11 persons were killed including three suicide bombers.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Chukwu said 15 others sustained injuries and they have been taken to the State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri.<br /> <br /> He revealed that there was on an ongoing clearance operation by security teams in the attacked area.<br /> <br /> He said, “Clearance operations is ongoing by own teams of EOD, SARS, PMF, Civil Defence and military.”

Latest-News 11 killed, 15 injured in Boko Haram attack on Maiduguri

Eleven persons were killed and 15 others injured in Saturday’s Boko Haram attack on Maiduguri, the Commissioner of Police in Borno State, ...

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ELECTIONS POSTPONEMENT: Nigerians don’t appreciate our efforts, INEC laments

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31gvHrnWOzvW7Nf3AMBliVWQA5DoJMerVgTYeC4Rly03dXeS_li6YvhRCUKhQr3K4GzXlNxjzTBG2xtZSVnntTm9jT2DAjJNIz8IAafP0K6bheeue3Yo8QYU__Ej2RmNsvDBQ_PM1P1U/s1600/INEC-Chairman-Mahmood-Yakubu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31gvHrnWOzvW7Nf3AMBliVWQA5DoJMerVgTYeC4Rly03dXeS_li6YvhRCUKhQr3K4GzXlNxjzTBG2xtZSVnntTm9jT2DAjJNIz8IAafP0K6bheeue3Yo8QYU__Ej2RmNsvDBQ_PM1P1U/s320/INEC-Chairman-Mahmood-Yakubu.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> The Independent National Electoral Commission says it is unfortunate that Nigerians do not appreciate the efforts of the commission.<br /> <br /> <br /> The INEC Chairman , Prof Mahmood Yakubu , said this while briefing stakeholders on the reason for the postponement of the general elections which had drawn the ire of Nigerians .<br /> He said between 2015 November when he took over INEC and now , the commission had been able to undertake 195 off - season elections which were successful.<br /> <br /> <br /> Yakubu said ahead of the postponed elections , the electoral umpire was able to register 14 million new voters , print 421.7 million of ballot papers and 14.28 million Permanent Voter Cards in record time as well as mobilise over one million ad hoc workers which would undertake the elections.<br /> <br /> <br /> The INEC boss, however , said Nigerians had failed to see these achievements.<br /> <br /> <br /> Yakubu added , “ It is often not appreciated the magnitude of activities that the Commission undertakes during general elections . Not only have we recruited and trained about one million young people to serve as ad hoc staff , but the magnitude of materials mobilised for our elections is also enormous.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> <br /> For instance , the commission has printed 421.7 million ballot papers for six scheduled elections , as well as 13.6 million leaves of result forms for the Presidential election alone.<br /> <br /> <br /> “ Indeed , managing 91 political parties and 23,316 candidates for whom votes will be cast in 119,973 polling units by over 84 million voters is certainly astounding . No doubt, preparations for the 2019 general elections have been extremely tasking for the commission.<br /> <br /> <br /> “ It is therefore not unexpected that such a tremendous national mobilisation of men and materials will encounter operational challenges and we have had our own fair share of such challenges . There had been delays in delivering ballot papers and result sheets for the elections which are not unusual.<br /> <br /> <br /> “However, one must emphasise that all the ballot papers and result sheets were ready before the elections despite the very tight legal timeframe for finalising nomination of candidates and dealing with the spate of legal challenges that accompany it. In this regard, the commission has been sued or joined in over 640 court cases."

Latest-News ELECTIONS POSTPONEMENT: Nigerians don’t appreciate our efforts, INEC laments

The Independent National Electoral Commission says it is unfortunate that Nigerians do not appreciate the efforts of the commission. Th...

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PHOTO NEWS: INEC chair meets with stakeholders

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99SWe36fotTAYIeqNh9jIP9ZOBz-_fStJd0mWHHmPEIvUAQNWyOV6QyDCxY_Xrg2WMJrmD4CvFPRJMeFSmPP95SX2HH-RGSdP0eFj1QxyW-TFYzjP4p-zN9UYhwQ_vZzpah1-0LVBaek/s1600/INEC-chair4-1024x768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99SWe36fotTAYIeqNh9jIP9ZOBz-_fStJd0mWHHmPEIvUAQNWyOV6QyDCxY_Xrg2WMJrmD4CvFPRJMeFSmPP95SX2HH-RGSdP0eFj1QxyW-TFYzjP4p-zN9UYhwQ_vZzpah1-0LVBaek/s320/INEC-chair4-1024x768.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission , Professor Yakubu Mahmood and other members of the commission , on Saturday, met with stakeholders, to address the reasons for the postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections .<br /> <br /> <br /> Photos from the meetings were shared on the verified Twitter handle of the agency .<br /> <br /> <br /> INEC tweeted: “ INEC Chairman , Prof Yakubu Mahmood and Members of the Commission in a meeting with key stakeholders on updates of the 2019 General Elections. ”<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> <br /> The INEC chair had in the early hours of Saturday announced the postponement of the polls.<br /> <br /> <br /> See photos :<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihISlEzky97lFwmlzr1hNYmLkhAg4QF_7Gpl2UrA2pKixbFQQIxiRoNudG3Ce3xXhGje29pwLFA1TzaizeG4WaGWiuJb9oXzJ0LRZacTyvaNs5ZAOYFUdMVKT0ZtBC8kf6V_3mMxxhFNU/s1600/INEC-chair-e1550329609269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="600" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihISlEzky97lFwmlzr1hNYmLkhAg4QF_7Gpl2UrA2pKixbFQQIxiRoNudG3Ce3xXhGje29pwLFA1TzaizeG4WaGWiuJb9oXzJ0LRZacTyvaNs5ZAOYFUdMVKT0ZtBC8kf6V_3mMxxhFNU/s320/INEC-chair-e1550329609269.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofY4a1vE5uhT9LF0A7GET28jyg_oyj8Gni67I-sfYUjksFXFW1TFadI0suKFuFLH8yRPGhn0RW4Xe-Ih-fMRYhYDMAqoQxPNYgEDUmpQh2mqFe439oPEWus3WJEd4kUCp3NGKqv665MM/s1600/INEC-chair1-e1550329622462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofY4a1vE5uhT9LF0A7GET28jyg_oyj8Gni67I-sfYUjksFXFW1TFadI0suKFuFLH8yRPGhn0RW4Xe-Ih-fMRYhYDMAqoQxPNYgEDUmpQh2mqFe439oPEWus3WJEd4kUCp3NGKqv665MM/s320/INEC-chair1-e1550329622462.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ16KhYOHpAFLNjrdavR0RZOrhCzXXrGaSM9W0zVeTLn_01wXufBz8DqmPgXfRAf66JHLwugtajffuFC5JSI-Hr0phtfgfQPIwnXHvSlt6oMdl4ti7WMudSEMbk9_GOEKgrMkxxoQJUPg/s1600/INEC-chair3-e1550329637799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ16KhYOHpAFLNjrdavR0RZOrhCzXXrGaSM9W0zVeTLn_01wXufBz8DqmPgXfRAf66JHLwugtajffuFC5JSI-Hr0phtfgfQPIwnXHvSlt6oMdl4ti7WMudSEMbk9_GOEKgrMkxxoQJUPg/s320/INEC-chair3-e1550329637799.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> <span id="goog_2003704315"></span><span id="goog_2003704316"></span><br />

Latest-News PHOTO NEWS: INEC chair meets with stakeholders

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission , Professor Yakubu Mahmood and other members of the commission , on Saturday...

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Election postponement, deliberate abuse of power by INEC —CISLAC

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9F4ZJ8IjdThXmhHa6y-N2UOb_yFYb3QePowY8GBaVWCA1YKZxhAzg_MLw3SjN-Yfdg8y6BasiUdmjK_aZ2HzDFYalet6PA_Mf-fd3B9IkM-bvSOUwqthn0XbrkvNK1y7Nv8oYimDnL1E/s1600/Prof.-Mahmood-Yakubu2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="750" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9F4ZJ8IjdThXmhHa6y-N2UOb_yFYb3QePowY8GBaVWCA1YKZxhAzg_MLw3SjN-Yfdg8y6BasiUdmjK_aZ2HzDFYalet6PA_Mf-fd3B9IkM-bvSOUwqthn0XbrkvNK1y7Nv8oYimDnL1E/s320/Prof.-Mahmood-Yakubu2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> The postponement of the 2019 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission is a deliberate abuse of power by the commission , the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre has said .<br /> <br /> <br /> The centre also called for an urgent investigation by the National Assembly into the sudden postponement of the elections by INEC .<br /> <br /> <br /> CISLAC ’ s , Executive Director, Auwal Musa , said it was seriously perturbed by the action of INEC few hours to the presidential and National Assembly elections .<br /> <br /> <br /> Musa said , “ While we express unreserved disappointment over the reported poor preparatory processes by the electoral body that disproportionately hampered adequate deployment of electoral materials to many parts of the country with resultant postponement, we condemn such abrupt decision informed by deliberate abuse of independent power that may discredit subsequent position by the commission as an ‘ independent body ’ before national and international observers . ”<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> <br /> He added , “ We are concerned by the wastages and losses the postponement would cause the country, civil society and international community that have committed financial and human resources to observation missions to ensure free, fair and credible elections that will be acceptable to all. ”<br /> <br /> <br /> The centre noted that with the new electoral dates, there was a need to worry about the safety , integrity and security of election materials which had been disseminated across the country.<br /> <br /> <br /> Musa said , “ We , therefore , call on the National Assembly to , as a matter of urgency , to constitute an ad hoc committee to investigate the sudden postponement to clear the commission of public doubt that her decision was not informed by desperate desires of unjust individuals or groups who want to assume or sustain power by all illegitimate means.<br /> <br /> <br /> “ We demand adequate security for both materials and human resources deployed by the commission so far to the field to avert susceptibility to violations and attacks by unpatriotic individuals or groups across the country. ”<br /> <br /> <br /> The CISLAC boss added , “ We call on the commission to tender an unreserved apology to Nigerians and international observers , who have committed their time, presence and financial resources to monitor the electoral process with an assurance that elections would hold as earlier scheduled.<br /> <br /> <br /> “ This apology must also be rendered to Nigerian voters who have invested time and resources to sacrifice the day for them to discharge their civic responsibility . ”

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The postponement of the 2019 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission is a deliberate abuse of power by the comm...

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Buhari apologizes to Nigerians for the postponement of the 2019 general elections

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="412" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVN8-pmffDuGBniII76lagbWJEa9aXDBt1UWT3YFsKeO9FJPAImY67vIY3sCUauOzATF5a9ccjY9TrwSFP1N5uaA6GbUWDCJSSKpmnJKtAoDi46MBrKpbBVhxx5FsGJFMEg7hcmRZ6L_p/s400/buhari+pensive+pity+face+sad.png" width="400" /></div> <br /> President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday apologized to Nigerians for the postponement of the 2019 general elections by one week.<br /> <br /> He felt bittered that many Nigerians must have spent their resources in moving from one location to the other towards voting in the postponement elections.<br /> <br /> Buhari, who returned to Abuja at 1:15 pm from Katsina State, spoke with journalists at the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.<br /> <br /> Asked why he was disappointed over the postponement of elections, he said “Yes I am disappointed because INEC has got all the time and resources needed and therefore supposed to work according to their programme.<br /> <br /> “They were given all the resources, they had all the time and they kept on telling us up to the last minute that they were ready.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “The fact that they are not ready means there is some inefficiency along the line.” he said<br /> <br /> On his message to Nigerians and his supporters, he said “They should be patient, let them come out a week from today and vote.<br /> <br /> “I apologise for this inefficiency because they have to use their own resources to go back to their various polling units at their own expense if they are all that committed.” he said

Latest-News Buhari apologizes to Nigerians for the postponement of the 2019 general elections

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Election Shift: Nobody had clue polls won’t go on – Oshiomhole

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="780" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrN5s37u7Vuf39NSZ4g1Ntu-pX8832oFGjYR2nrH3kFHaBgFCQstleFh8OeRkZagr6q_n37O_MmE8s941ocq1vSKWeUzpujLzYMEDZXlWuUc7wMwC9EtQORKXo-uYGm8pNeEPdArYC3Au/s400/Adams-Oshiomole-Edo-Governor.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, has condemned the postponement of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission.<br /> <br /> Oshiomhole, who spoke in Iyamoh, in the Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, on Saturday, however, said that the APC did not have prior information that the elections would not hold as earlier scheduled.<br /> <br /> “I am disappointed, disgusted and I think my party members are totally frustrated because nobody has any clue that this election will not be able to go on, ” he said.<br /> <br /> The former Edo governor also explained that the postponement was a huge cost to his party and other parties who had mobilised their members and supporters to various parts of the country in other to vote.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> According to him, “We have spent a couple of days mobilising our party agents, supervisors and everybody that is expected to vote at various polling booths to make sure they get (there) on time to carry out their function.<br /> <br /> “Now, to wake up that the elections have been postponed not by one day, not by two days but by one week, that, for me, is absolutely unacceptable.<br /> <br /> “INEC has repeatedly reassured Nigerians that they were ready. Now, if, for any reason, they were not ready, the most responsible thing they need to have done is to call the political parties together at the even, not in the morning of the election.<br /> <br /> “INEC can’t say that they don’t have their things ready until the last minute and what this has cost us as a party is huge. It also demoralises our members, not just our members but also our supporters – people who have made up their mind that they are going to vote and put all this whole tension behind us.”<br /> <br /> Oshiomhole further advised against politicising the postponement as the elections were about the Nigerian people.<br /> <br /> He also urged Nigerians not to be discouraged by the shift but to come out and vote on the rescheduled dates.<br /> <br /> He said, “INEC is responsible for the conduct of elections and I am not going to sit down here and say it is PDP’s strategy to rig the election or the PDP saying it is the APC’s strategy to rig the elections,.<br /> <br /> “No. I think on occasions like this, we should be in unity and we should condemn in strong terms possible this rude shock INEC has subjected Nigerians to.<br /> <br /> “This is not about the political parties. It is about the Nigerian people.”<br /> <br /> The former governor added, “I am here in my village. The President is in his home town in Daura (Katsina State). Everybody I called is in his village just to comply with the INEC guidelines.<br /> <br /> “And this is INEC that is unyielding when they criticise us that we didn’t conclude our primaries within the guidelines, not the law, but within their own guidelines. And here they are; they cannot keep to their own guidelines.”

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Presidency behind the postponement of elections, says PDP

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8YbvTsvbn1Br0YDwjxsarDZWwIo-iTz7aZF5U7LEjTJmSsFO3zUQdH_xbV_wBLFNmOae_ShjxmexSAwt-l1Y0ZxuAsl-gyzGZKh2EfAiAuFuV-1TxjmeHvZFzJDRlkCixhVayFIt4uTB/s1600/PDP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="336" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8YbvTsvbn1Br0YDwjxsarDZWwIo-iTz7aZF5U7LEjTJmSsFO3zUQdH_xbV_wBLFNmOae_ShjxmexSAwt-l1Y0ZxuAsl-gyzGZKh2EfAiAuFuV-1TxjmeHvZFzJDRlkCixhVayFIt4uTB/s320/PDP.jpg" width="317" /></a></div> <br /> The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has alleged that the plan to postpone today’s Presidential and National Assembly elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission was hatched inside the Presidency.<br /> <br /> It alleged that the idea actually came from the Presidency, but warned that President Muhammadu Buhari’s defeat was merely a few days away.<br /> <br /> The main opposition party also said that the Presidency was allegedly still planning to put some unnamed impediments on the way of the Independent National Electoral Commission in order to make sure that the election would not hold in a single day.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr kola Ologbondiyan, stated these at an ongoing press briefing while reacting to the postponement of the election by the electoral body.

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Election postponement not politically motivated, we take full responsibility – INEC Chairman

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPr64TpHZtk6Fb4fGlnHq-vO5MEtcm7CSXkPR2kP07tTbwcQiohW4QWxcIZvVrj16XMKdsyLuJ1SRaoeRl12AB4NxDLh4wY56KHpc-nJp5tjcHkcpuReC_PTBjlRygXYXCNQW6ROKwSK6/s1600/INEC-Mahmud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPr64TpHZtk6Fb4fGlnHq-vO5MEtcm7CSXkPR2kP07tTbwcQiohW4QWxcIZvVrj16XMKdsyLuJ1SRaoeRl12AB4NxDLh4wY56KHpc-nJp5tjcHkcpuReC_PTBjlRygXYXCNQW6ROKwSK6/s320/INEC-Mahmud.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood on Saturday said the postponement of today’s Presidential and National Assembly election was not politically motivated as being assumed in some quarters.<br /> <br /> The INEC chairman, briefing stakeholders in Abuja on Saturday said the postponement had nothing to do with politics or security issues.<br /> <br /> He said INEC took full responsibility of the postponement of the polls.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Details later…

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INEC was never prepared for 2019 polls – Balarabe Musa

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tcku2r-fsbPzIJ8Ef35IYT-yNZYNPArx5kU-2dSNT-vGZWVZudxyUCxMYoFAaCCZ9wabGyfaoV93jpLbZQef1DdhOCQmMYjFpj_X1nl4NdwnerzZ3nMtO9Dk5Yh-szdmOf0hZ3HA3H3C/s1600/balarabe+musa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="620" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tcku2r-fsbPzIJ8Ef35IYT-yNZYNPArx5kU-2dSNT-vGZWVZudxyUCxMYoFAaCCZ9wabGyfaoV93jpLbZQef1DdhOCQmMYjFpj_X1nl4NdwnerzZ3nMtO9Dk5Yh-szdmOf0hZ3HA3H3C/s320/balarabe+musa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> Former Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, on Saturday expressed disappointment over the postponement of the general elections, but declared that Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC was never prepared for the exercise in the first place.<br /> <br /> INEC had announced the postponement, few hours to the kickoff of the Feb. 16 Presidential and National Assembly polls.<br /> Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, while announcing the postponement in Abuja, attributed the step to “overwhelming logistics and operational challenges”.<br /> <br /> The commission fixed Feb. 23 and March 9 as new dates for the Presidential and National Assembly elections and, the Governorship and State Assembly polls respectively.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> But Musa, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Kaduna on Saturday, said he was disappointed, but not surprised, at the development.<br /> <br /> “I am not surprised because INEC was never ready for the exercise, given the level of its preparations.<br /> “INEC had serious funding challenges; what was appropriated to the commission by the National Assembly was not adequate and everyone knew it.<br /> <br /> “We are not even sure if the approved amount was released to the electoral body by the Federal Government.<br /> “The logistics and operational challenges are glaring. There are also serious security challenges that may affect the agency in the course of the elections.<br /> <br /> “The security services are facing the same funding crises and most of them are living in fear.<br /> “You can also see the serious challenges being faced by the Judiciary, who are supposed to play a major role in the election process,” Musa said.<br /> <br /> “So, I must say that I am disappointed, but, again, as I said, I am not surprised.<br /> <br /> “I hope that all the stakeholders will take the necessary measures to help INEC address the issues before Feb, 23, the new date for the Presidential polls, because the President can only handover power to an elected person.”<br /> <br /> Musa called on Nigerians to remain calm, while waiting for the new dates for the polls. (NAN)

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Elections postponement a familiar nightmare, says Sowore

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrAHr4G0oUlk5JF0AB8nfYGPEc4F2xfxuhD4WONlNIR-hHZ0uQOc0ECkO5uL-4o77VRyYNVhbfXc5c1x-1_BWATar0MlXLx3lktVzTV-AkVHylLH100lKC4P0bowR-Ou7U-QmXm96b3E/s1600/Sowore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="500" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrAHr4G0oUlk5JF0AB8nfYGPEc4F2xfxuhD4WONlNIR-hHZ0uQOc0ECkO5uL-4o77VRyYNVhbfXc5c1x-1_BWATar0MlXLx3lktVzTV-AkVHylLH100lKC4P0bowR-Ou7U-QmXm96b3E/s320/Sowore.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress , Omoyele Sowore , on Saturday described the postponement of the 2019 general elections as a familiar nightmare .<br /> <br /> <br /> He condemned the postponement of the presidential and National Assembly polls by the Independent National Electoral Commission , describing it as a travesty .<br /> <br /> <br /> According to him , the decision meant that President Muhammdau Buhari ’ s All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party , “ are both two sides of the same bad coin . ”<br /> <br /> <br /> The AAC candidate in a statement by the Director- General of Sowore 2019 Campaign Organisation , Dr . Malcolm Fabiyi , asked his supporters and party members to “ stay the course , re -energise their engagements in their communities , and help to ensure an even bigger turnout for freedom next week. ”<br /> <br /> <br /> He said , “Nigerians awoke to a familiar nightmare – the sudden cancellation of elections that both the government and its electoral agencies had four years to prepare for .<br /> <br /> <br /> “ The failure to successfully hold elections whose dates were known four years in advance speaks to the complete ineptitude and lack of transparency of the Buhari regime .<br /> <br /> <br /> “ We have seen this script before . In 2011 and 2015 , our electoral process was similarly thrown into chaos by last - minute shifts in the election dates under the (Goodluck ) Jonathan - led PDP government .<br /> <br /> <br /> “ By repeating the same failures, Buhari ’ s APC government has now demonstrated to Nigerians that there is no difference in values between itself and the former PDP administration .<br /> <br /> <br /> “ This is yet another example of the fact that the two establishment parties , APC and PDP , are both two sides of the same bad coin.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> <br /> “ Nigerians must not become numb to this travesty . No one would tolerate such ineptitude in their own personal affairs.<br /> <br /> <br /> “ Millions of Nigerians travelled to ensure that they were in place to participate in the elections . Businesses and commercial activities have been disrupted , and the sacrifices of tens of millions of Nigerians who had readied themselves to go to the polls and effect a positive change in the trajectory of the nation has been dashed – albeit temporarily.<br /> <br /> <br /> “ The complicity of Buhari ’ s APC government in this last - minute shift in the electoral process is clear for all to see . If this administration had no hand in this callous postponement , their condemnation would have been swift and their denunciation of INEC ’ s actions would have been screamed from every mountain top .<br /> <br /> <br /> “ The APC was quick to denounce similar actions taken by the Jonathan -led PDP administration in 2015 . Their silence on this occasion is deafening.<br /> “ The AAC, our presidential candidate , Omoyele Sowore , and the Nigerian people are not deterred.<br /> <br /> <br /> “ Positive change and true transformation are coming to Nigeria , and whether it happens on the 16 th or on the 23 rd of February , it will happen.<br /> “ We ask all of our supporters and party members to stay the course , re -energise their engagements in their communities , and help to ensure an even bigger turnout for freedom next week. ”

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Elections postponement has not dampened my spirit – Atiku

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJCgdRjBYktQ8AtvABgHSFMdyUgLCacXJpEhemFtGu8zksZXxuBgfDH9tWaCXah1DeO7arRpZk_apvOYRV3GhOGBm-3RLpKJ-37LZByifcd0M4BsQRzIjffOuD4HP87CWAwsIiJGobOhe/s1600/Atiku+shuts+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJCgdRjBYktQ8AtvABgHSFMdyUgLCacXJpEhemFtGu8zksZXxuBgfDH9tWaCXah1DeO7arRpZk_apvOYRV3GhOGBm-3RLpKJ-37LZByifcd0M4BsQRzIjffOuD4HP87CWAwsIiJGobOhe/s320/Atiku+shuts+up.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> The Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the postponement of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) but said the development did not dampen his spirit.<br /> <br /> The commission had shifted the Presidential and National Assembly elections from Feb.16 to Feb.23, and moved the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections from March 2 to March 9.<br /> <br /> Abubakar, who spoke to newsmen at his residence in Yola on Saturday, said he was shocked by the development, adding that it was not the best of decision to cancel an election few hours to voting time.<br /> <br /> “I received the news with shock; you don’t postpone an election few hours to its commencement,” Atiku said.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> He urged Nigerians to be patient and endeavour to come out and vote on the new dates of the polls.<br /> <br /> “I urge Nigerians to be patient and come out en masse to vote,” he said.<br /> <br /> Atiku said he was on his way to Abuja for a PDP emergency meeting over the development, adding that he had no problem with voting materials already distributed for the election as long as they were kept in the “right and secure places”.<br /> <br /> NAN

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Buhari leaves Daura, returns to Abuja, says ‘I’m disappointed’

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoi9gJMiw734C2yV5ytVec-DuQvDIiFMeRF4qUDccV5bI0oVYXzOJ9And3pdRDl-wpg2pDdlBQnoQPA41Nhgm9kvv5SHYSP1DJNujU62vzQ0Yrs4aPSLukN-wdHcLRnlDmNjbSuPkfLaMh/s1600/Buhari+Thinking+new+sad+tired+vex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoi9gJMiw734C2yV5ytVec-DuQvDIiFMeRF4qUDccV5bI0oVYXzOJ9And3pdRDl-wpg2pDdlBQnoQPA41Nhgm9kvv5SHYSP1DJNujU62vzQ0Yrs4aPSLukN-wdHcLRnlDmNjbSuPkfLaMh/s400/Buhari+Thinking+new+sad+tired+vex.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his disappointment with the postponement of elections and has decided to return to Abuja from his home town, Daura, where he had gone to vote.<br /> <br /> He said he made everything available to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in order to ensure smooth elections.<br /> <br /> “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,” he said in a statement released on Saturday morning available to <i><b>NigerianEye</b></i><br /> <br /> He called on Nigeria to refrain from “all civil disorder and remain peaceful, patriotic and united to ensure that no force or conspiracy derail our democratic development”.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> <b>THE FULL STATEMENT</b><br /> 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.<br /> <br /> Many Nigerians have traveled to various locations to exercise their right to vote, and international observers are gathered.<br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br /> I have decided to move back to Abuja to ensure that the 14.00 hrs meeting called by INEC with all stakeholders is successful.<br /> <br />

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Can an election still be free, fair when it is postponed 9 hours before schedule?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOU4CDcsSN4XTONXn1wLA5ozAVYDRvjw51G4uN9-RN1y1cnUDLJeNVTrb8B6p2mDlSR_fAwSAFidbBRufXSOAQt6HUuHI00LqaH5Tv4_AEdfMSL2nXPsZ_c-Zi6viB934ZpXtduKSr_k5w/s1600/ballot-box2+inec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOU4CDcsSN4XTONXn1wLA5ozAVYDRvjw51G4uN9-RN1y1cnUDLJeNVTrb8B6p2mDlSR_fAwSAFidbBRufXSOAQt6HUuHI00LqaH5Tv4_AEdfMSL2nXPsZ_c-Zi6viB934ZpXtduKSr_k5w/s320/ballot-box2+inec.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> On April 2, 2011, INEC shifted the national assembly election by seven days (to April 9), citing “logistics and operational” problems. And it took this decision while voting had already commenced in some parts of the country.<br /> <br /> Really, what happened was that the electoral umpire had sent election materials meant for the governorship polls scheduled for April 16 to some states instead of those for the legislative election. This was an epochal, embarrassing logistics failure by INEC.<br /> <br /> However, the Commonwealth Observer Mission in its report on April 18 said INEC managed to hold a “reasonable election” on the rescheduled date. In other words, that the exercise was shifted did not “totally negatively” affect its outcome.<br /> <br /> “The experience of 2 April should not have happened. While INEC managed to hold a reasonable election on 9 April and improved its performance further on 16 April, it clearly needs to improve on its organisational capacity,” it said.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> In fact, the National Democratic Institute (NDI), Washington DC, US, gave INEC some accolades for the conduct of the rescheduled national assembly election.<br /> <br /> Here is what it said in its report: “Reports from NDI observers contrasted markedly with observations recorded during the 2007 polls, when systemic and widespread irregularities subverted the overall credibility of those elections. In this election, (April 9 rescheduled national assembly election), polls were conducted in a generally calm and peaceful atmosphere, with many Nigerians demonstrating eagerness and determination to vote despite long queues and hats weather conditions.”<br /> <br /> On February 7, the 2015 general election was shifted by five weeks, seven days before the exercise. Though INEC relied on security advice and not problems of logistics in taking the decision, the rescheduled election was largely free, fair and peaceful. This is according to some international observers.<br /> <br /> So, it is clear that rescheduling an election may not colossally affect its turn-out or credibility. I know this is a difficult position to hold at this time that many Nigerians would like to have the head of INEC on a spike, but we must look beyond emotions and a bit into the nitty-gritty.<br /> <br /> However, it is grossly irresponsible of INEC to have postponed the election nine hours before the schedule. Really, it is gravitationally sloppy of it. The electoral body had four years to prepare for the exercise; this tardiness can simply not be excused.<br /> <br /> Importantly, INEC should not lease itself to political influence. Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation, had pensively asked the electoral body to postpone conducting any election in Zamfara state so as to accommodate candidates from the APC. The party has been banned from fielding candidates in the state owing to the fraudulent primary elections it conducted.<br /> <br /> As it is, if INEC succumbs to this wheedling, it will be clear that it did not postpone the election for logistics reasons, but for political reasons.<br /> <br /> <i>Fredrick is a media personality. Twitter: @FredrickNwabufo</i>

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Fayose Reacts To INEC postponed Elections

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9RCFpKIt1Wm6i8epi1glPKU0WTWUdVlCJw6zf4LWYP-piVyNj-hM_8AAX3tXdo40HoRcZNwo4MfFByRX4fRZHmH7lb4bE4P8YXbEKzyy_o7S5hk2aqPTjGj5Rs4oIck46LM5TR8wgrPh/s1600/fayose+q.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="412" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9RCFpKIt1Wm6i8epi1glPKU0WTWUdVlCJw6zf4LWYP-piVyNj-hM_8AAX3tXdo40HoRcZNwo4MfFByRX4fRZHmH7lb4bE4P8YXbEKzyy_o7S5hk2aqPTjGj5Rs4oIck46LM5TR8wgrPh/s400/fayose+q.png" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> As the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, postponed elections for the presidential and National Assembly seats, the former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has reacted.<br /> <br /> Addressing a press conference on Saturday in Abuja, INEC, Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu said the presidential election was shifted to February 23 while the governorship was rescheduled for March 9.<br /> <br /> Yakubu explained that the shift was due to problems of logistics.<br /> <br /> Reacting, Fayose claimed the shift was because cabal in the presidency knew President Muhammadu Buhari will lose the election.<br /> <br /> In a tweet, Fayose, however, warned that the cabal has succeeded in making their matter worse.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> He tweeted:<br /> <blockquote><br /> “Two days ago, I told Nigerians that the Presidency cabal were considering postponement of the elections because they knew that they can’t win.<br /> <br /> “Now I’m vindicated. With this, they have only succeeded in making their situation worse. Nigerians will defeat this tyranny ultimately.”</blockquote>

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PHOTO NEWS: Police nab armed man at sorting site for election materials

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdggOcYWe91zGGrTJctjYfNfYTmN4v7bBo3lN2wLJ5tc41Fh0RJa-JmPRVKGeyaere5cotmmxTg54S8INITf1DULeSWQU8dnuYJi8-eYoiVHWa04vkPxEsXzW-6CkPadzCqKHqIs6mIo/s1600/nab+man.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="206" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdggOcYWe91zGGrTJctjYfNfYTmN4v7bBo3lN2wLJ5tc41Fh0RJa-JmPRVKGeyaere5cotmmxTg54S8INITf1DULeSWQU8dnuYJi8-eYoiVHWa04vkPxEsXzW-6CkPadzCqKHqIs6mIo/s320/nab+man.jpeg" width="179" /></a></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal">Police nabbed a suspected political thug with pump action assaulted riffles inside a Sienna car close to CBN where elections materials are sorted.</div> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJLriycxgou7RVEClz_Kren_k0WNZP09EHahPA34RMJ5dCg8P8-6aXf04wnMOmNpURI8CFpf3LVMyBAUriY9miuBqTcwa0dkDyAbIWGVdUb55-v2tLaiACiCc6viMWZ40-7jGhKhNl50/s1600/nab+car.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="489" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJLriycxgou7RVEClz_Kren_k0WNZP09EHahPA34RMJ5dCg8P8-6aXf04wnMOmNpURI8CFpf3LVMyBAUriY9miuBqTcwa0dkDyAbIWGVdUb55-v2tLaiACiCc6viMWZ40-7jGhKhNl50/s320/nab+car.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>

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Election postponement: IPAC urges INEC to secure electoral materials

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKHxsllOFvjSl53-EK5676x4JQxUIFfCMvKGfEueoRlRbotIwnVTvpOYFycr4a5UotC8IPjX8c4wPlH1xmNXF5_BzRMUFxUZwZunKuTO-HL6YfzUTgyTdHUi8f8Qe3eGo8lYnCBskZfs/s1600/ballot-box1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="750" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKHxsllOFvjSl53-EK5676x4JQxUIFfCMvKGfEueoRlRbotIwnVTvpOYFycr4a5UotC8IPjX8c4wPlH1xmNXF5_BzRMUFxUZwZunKuTO-HL6YfzUTgyTdHUi8f8Qe3eGo8lYnCBskZfs/s320/ballot-box1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> The Inter - Party Advisory Commission in Oyo State , has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that all electoral materials distributed before the election was postponed are secured.<br /> <br /> <br /> INEC on Saturday announced the postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections by one week due to logistic issues .<br /> <br /> <br /> IPAC Chairman , Mr Waheed Oyewole , made this call in his reaction to the postponement of the elections earlier slated for Feb . 16 .<br /> <br /> <br /> The chairman told the newsmen in Ibadan on Saturday that the postponement was unfortunate , noting “ it is better than to conduct shoddy election that would be full of flaws.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> <br /> “ Imagine that INEC conduct election that many polling units receive sensitive materials very late or incomplete materials.<br /> <br /> <br /> “ The commission took a wise decision , but my worry is how the materials that have been distributed to some local government areas will not be tampered with.<br /> <br /> <br /> “ Let the commission in collaboration with the security agencies provide adequate security for the materials so that some unscrupulous politicians do not highjack the materials , ” Oyewole stated.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> ( NAN)

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Buhari’s desperation to win caused election postponement - CUPP

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mrpa9iLyetLGnZSqLqb4B71jjxr_tgFhguoi9MlLAuIH77IIpSGotL1y1W-LFMBeqn06I226XUYzQEOGe8sSRUZQBVQNlCGwvCAJASjzp-ATeab4fMNowmZ3tZJpE-qiyrqQHJUJLOFu/s1600/buhari+new+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="600" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mrpa9iLyetLGnZSqLqb4B71jjxr_tgFhguoi9MlLAuIH77IIpSGotL1y1W-LFMBeqn06I226XUYzQEOGe8sSRUZQBVQNlCGwvCAJASjzp-ATeab4fMNowmZ3tZJpE-qiyrqQHJUJLOFu/s320/buhari+new+2017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> The Coalition of United Political Parties has claimed that the desperation of President Muhammadu Buhari and his men to win the presidential election, by all means, was responsible for the last minute postponement of the election.<br /> <br /> The coalition’s spokesman, Imo Ugochinyere, made the allegation in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Saturday morning.<br /> <br /> He said, “In their bid to once again foist an unpopular government on Nigerians, they threw caution to the winds and started setting electoral materials on fire in states that are well known to be strongholds of opposition.<br /> <br /> “These acts of sabotage, no doubt, ruined the preparations of the Independent National Electoral Commission for the elections.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “We have raised the alarm many times that agents of the government were working hard to ensure that elections are not held or are declared inconclusive in areas they know that the All Progressives Congress will never win. We have been vindicated.<br /> <br /> We blame the international embarrassment this last minute postponement has caused the nation on the President, the desperate leaders of his party, APC, and the nation’s security agencies who failed woefully in their duties to protect electoral materials and INEC offices from attacks by these enemies of the nation.”<br /> <br /> Ugochinyere added that with the postponement, “President Buhari’s judgement day with the people has just been shifted.”<br /> <br /> He, however, said the INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, displayed courage by shifting the election.<br /> <br /> He said the postponement averted what he could have resulted to “national bloodshed because we are aware that APC wanted to proceed with election after compromising distribution and destroying materials in over 15 states.”

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Toke Makinwa sad over embarrassment to Nigeria after election is postponed

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIbg-itbzgdGKguh5xkqc8pK_DhDItmzs1qNtXJyxWgC0R3q35VOMY47FCytRJ3QfFkQUxrbTt5ayFDBpkYSTU26Oxmt14Dneb4LzJQarc0G4DlfNcwW-mRUkP5WmAKhLsC9t75pCB3LH/s1600/toke+makinwa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIbg-itbzgdGKguh5xkqc8pK_DhDItmzs1qNtXJyxWgC0R3q35VOMY47FCytRJ3QfFkQUxrbTt5ayFDBpkYSTU26Oxmt14Dneb4LzJQarc0G4DlfNcwW-mRUkP5WmAKhLsC9t75pCB3LH/s1600/toke+makinwa.jpg" /></b></a></div> <b><br /></b><b>Popular Nigerian radio presenter Toke Makinwa is disappointed and calls the move to postpone the polls by INEC a big shame.</b><br /> <br /> On Saturday, February 16, 2019, a day earlier fixed for the polls, the on-air personality shared on her social media pages an image of some National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members captured sleeping in the open.<br /> <br /> She seemed confused after learning about the hold up which means balloters can only visit polling units a week after. Ahead of the elections, the land borders in Nigeria were closed to allow for an organized, free and fair elections.<br /> <br /> But the plan so far has seemed like a waste.<br /> <br /> "I am disgusted at the blatant disregard, you wait till 2am to announce the postponement of the elections????Why??? People have travelled far and wide to their various polling units and you do this????<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> "Which way Nigeria???? Why do we love to embarrass ourselves so much? The whole world is watching and we do this???? I am so confused," Makinwa shared in an angry post.<br /> <br /> To ensure that she is able to vote for the candidate of her choice, the radio personality confirmed that she temporarily moved to her parent's residence.<br /> <br /> Toke Makinwa shared this on Twitter while responding to a tweet from Cool FM presenter Dotun who is also not impressed. He attempted to console her over INEC's postponement that has left him unimpressed.<br /> <br /> "Absolute no regard for us. Totally bad out of context. Pele Toke baby," he tweets.<br /> <br /> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <div dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">I moved in to my parents as my polling unit is near theirs, arrant BS <a href="https://t.co/C6oKjBjYGr">https://t.co/C6oKjBjYGr</a></div> — Toke Makinwa (@tokstarr) <a href="https://twitter.com/tokstarr/status/1096581177396338690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"> </script><br /> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <div dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">If this picture is really of youth corpers sleeping outside is real then it’s a big shame. I am disgusted at the blatant disregard. You wait till 2am to announce the postponement of the… <a href="https://t.co/Naj9L3AloO">https://t.co/Naj9L3AloO</a></div> — Toke Makinwa (@tokstarr) <a href="https://twitter.com/tokstarr/status/1096592610225938433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"> </script><br /> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <div dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">We are not easily broken, we will make a difference. <a href="https://t.co/uHzZyh4LsX">https://t.co/uHzZyh4LsX</a></div> — Toke Makinwa (@tokstarr) <a href="https://twitter.com/tokstarr/status/1096589731243192322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"> </script><br /> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <div dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">We shall not relent in our resolve for better governance, we shall not be easily distracted. We must vote next week guys, vote out incompetence, out future is no joke!!!! 23td it is then</div> — Toke Makinwa (@tokstarr) <a href="https://twitter.com/tokstarr/status/1096589574099423232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"> </script><br />

Latest-News Toke Makinwa sad over embarrassment to Nigeria after election is postponed

Popular Nigerian radio presenter Toke Makinwa is disappointed and calls the move to postpone the polls by INEC a big shame. On Saturday, ...

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BREAKING: PDP Rejects Shift In Election Dates, Asks INEC Chairman To Resign

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdtxPwiWJlni7mf3if1HzTyvfvyG69MHjN42Oj0pkdlJegYnMvRm0QG6tJ5fme8uI2gXTpB7_1Y6ESrB7yt4SiHbUpgWuQDm_KmmpOidncKjC6bxsIdC8jhgliuscdmACi0Cr2N_Q_TRX/s1600/PDP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="336" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdtxPwiWJlni7mf3if1HzTyvfvyG69MHjN42Oj0pkdlJegYnMvRm0QG6tJ5fme8uI2gXTpB7_1Y6ESrB7yt4SiHbUpgWuQDm_KmmpOidncKjC6bxsIdC8jhgliuscdmACi0Cr2N_Q_TRX/s320/PDP.jpg" width="317" /></a></div> <b><br /></b><b>The Peoples Democratic Party has rejected the new dates announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the conduct of the general elections.</b><br /> <br /> It alleged that shoddy arrangements for the elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission was a deliberate agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari to cling on to power even when it said it was obvious to him that Nigerians wanted him out.<br /> <br /> National Chairman of the party, Prince Secondus, stated this while reacting to the pronouncements made by the Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu in the early hours of Saturday that the elections had been postponed.<br /> <br /> Yakubu said that the Presidential and National Assembly elections earlier scheduled to hold today would now hold next Saturday while that of governorship, state houses of Assembly and Abuja area councils had been shifted to March 9.<br /> <br /> Secondus alleged that the postponement was part of a grand design by the All Progressives Congress to thwart the will of Nigerians at all cost.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> He added that the action had clearly exposed INEC as a failure and called on its chairman to resign immediately.<br /> <br /> The PDP leader warned that the party will not accept “anything short of a well organised electoral process devoid of manipulation, harassment and intimidation of voters and the opposition particularly members of the PDP.”<br /> <br /> He added, “Having failed in all their nefarious options to enable them cling on to power, the APC and the INEC came up with the idea of shifting election, an action that is dangerous to our democracy and is therefore unacceptable.”<br /> <br /> Secondus added that the APC in connivance with the INEC “have been trying all options including but not limited to burning down INEC offices in some states and destroying of electoral materials to create artificial problems upon which to stand for their dubious act.”<br /> <br /> According to a statement from the national chairman’s media office signed by Ike Abonyi, Secondus said that the party was privy to the alleged pressure from the APC and the Federal Government to allegedly arm twist INEC, to dance to their new strategy after earlier ones failed.<br /> <br /> He said, “With several of their rigging options failing, they have to force INEC to agree to a shift in the election or a staggered election with flimsy excuses pre-manufactured for the purpose.<br /> <br /> “For the avoidance of doubt the PDP sees this action as wicked and we are also aware of other dubious designs like the deployment of hooded security operatives who would be ruthless on the people ostensibly to scare them away.”<br /> <br /> He said that by this action, the President had allegedly further demonstrated his “insensitivity costing the huge cost after Nigerians including those who came home from abroad have all mobilised to their various constituencies.”<br /> <br /> He recalled that the PDP had earlier alerted Nigerians that the APC was allegedly coming up with rigging strategies including “burning down of INEC offices and engineering crisis in PDP stronghold areas to scare away the people.”<br /> <br /> Secondus said that the wicked killing of over 60 persons mostly women and children in Southern Kaduna on the eve of election was a copious ploy by the APC to frighten the people away from voting, knowing too well that they were not going to record any vote from the area.<br /> <br /> “Recall that the Governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai had earlier threatened international election observers of going to their country in body bags and with the fatal violence in the state on the eve of election, it’s clear what the motives are, to frighten the observers from the state so that he can carry out his nefarious acts,” he added.<br /> <br /> The National Chairman also drew the attention of all lovers of democracy to the statement of President Buhari on the international media that nobody can unseat him from office as an indication of what he wanted to do.<br /> <br /> Prince Secondus also regretted that President Buhari who made a promise at the signing of peace accord that the election would be conducted in a fair and transparent atmosphere had gone ahead in breach of the peace agreements to by sending soldiers and other security agencies to arrest, harass and intimidate opponents in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kwara, Kano, Kaduna states.

Latest-News BREAKING: PDP Rejects Shift In Election Dates, Asks INEC Chairman To Resign

The Peoples Democratic Party has rejected the new dates announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the conduct of the g...

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