Daniel Usman, the 19-yar-old student of Kogi State University, who was killed by political thugs while trying to vote in Anyigba, Kogi state on Saturday February 23rd, has been laid to rest.
Daniel was killed by a stray bullet in a cross fire between political thugs in the state during the elections.
Fifteen hours before his life was cut short, Daniel had taken to his Facebook to preach against election violence. Sadly, he died when he was caught up in one.
Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade, has asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu and Director General, Directorate of State Services (DSS) to investigate the video showing thumb printing of ballot papers during last Saturday’s election.
Ayade, who spoke at a media briefing shortly after the State Security Council meeting in Calabar yesterday, insisted that the intention of the perpetrators was not only criminal, but was designed to paint a bad image and reduce the credibility of elections in the state.
A statement issued by Chief Press Secretary to the state government, Christian Ita, noted: “It is a cooked up video designed to embarrass the state, but God has a way of vindicating the innocent.”
He urged the IGP, the Director General of DSS to narrow down its investigation to the fraudulent, well choreographed, display of wickedness with intent to cause the Federal Government to doubt the credibility of Cross River elections.
Ayade argued that the video was politically motivated and intended to hurt his re-election election on March 9, 2019 adding: “That was not natural, I don’t believe that video and I think the public should disregard it.”
He said the security agencies should ensure that they work on it and assured Nigerians that those who staged the video will soon be apprehended.
Besides, Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State has expressed concern over Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s desperation to install his preferred candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, as his successor.
Although, he is an APC Governor, Amosun has declared his unflinching support morally and financially to Akinlade, who is the gubernatorial candidate of Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
The governor had said on Monday that he would embark on full campaigns for the APM before the March 9, 2019 governorship race.
According to Publicity Secretary of the committee, Tunde Oladunjoye, who spoke in Abeokuta yesterday: “For the governor to be supporting APM, I just want to say that it is a sign of ingratitude for members of the APC who were persuaded to support him by a former governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Aremu Osoba.”
Meanwhile, a civil society group, Alliances for Africa (AfA) is seeking protection for female candidates ahead of the March 9 governorship and states Assembly elections.
The group also decried the spate of electoral violence characterised by sporadic shootings and ballot theft by sponsored hoodlums.
A statement issued by the group in Abuja yesterday by its Communications Officer, Chiwendu Anozie, noted that it was no longer news that security personnel were deployed to polling units on elections day.
Former president Olusegun Obasanjo has been spotted in London, United Kingdom after the presidential and national assembly elections which were held last Saturday.
According to a UK based Nigerian man, Femi Anjorin, he revealed that he saw the ex-president yesterday at Heathrow airport.
He shared a picture of both of them on Facebook and wrote; Just now at Heathrow airport T3 with Baba Obasanjo. I asked him, “Sir, why did you not support Buhari?”… he couldn’t look me in the face! Baba looked away and say “Nigeria Aa’daa” .
Photos below:
Meanwhile, Obasanjo has kept mum after the Independent National Electoral Commission, in the early hours of Wednesday declared Buhari winner of Saturday, February 23 presidential polls.
He threw his weight behind the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Obasanjo was filmed walking hurriedly at an Airport in Nigeria before travelling to the UK.
The Igbo community has no issues whatever with its Yoruba hosts in Lagos State, apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze has declared.
President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos, Chief Solomon Aguene, dismissed reports of tension between the two ethnic groups, describing them as handiworks of mischief-makers.
He said insinuations of a deep-seated acrimony and suspicion between Igbos and Yorubas on the account of political affinities were untrue.
Aguene told reporters on Wednesday in Lagos that the Igbo community remains grateful to its Yoruba hosts and will do nothing to alter the mutually beneficial relationship between the two.
According to him: “The Igbos in Lagos are active contributors to the thriving Lagos economy through their individual and collective enterprise and industry helping to open up new economic and investment corridors in Lagos State.
“The Yorubas on the other hand have warmly welcomed and received the Igbos offering access to choice political and economic opportunities.
“To cement this very cordial relationship between the Igbos and the Yorubas, sons and daughters of Igboland over the years have been appointed or elected to enviable positions of leadership here in Lagos.”
He said though there were pockets of skirmishes during last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in some parts of the state, especially in Okota, they had nothing to do with the cordial relationship the Igbos have enjoyed over the years from their Yoruba host communities.
While describing the Yoruba people as the best friend of the Ndigbo in Lagos and beyond, he advised Ndigbo residents in Lagos and their host communities not to allow some mischievous elements to destroy the long standing friendship between them.
Chief Ogbona said the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, being the umbrella body of Ndigbos, has met with constituted authorities in the state, and has received the assurance that no such crisis exist.
“We therefore call on all citizens to remain law abiding, and respecting constituted authorities, we urge them to go about their normal businesses while we iron out all the grey areas including the immediate and remote causes of the alleged breach of public peace and possible solutions to prevent reoccurrence,” he stressed.
He also called on all political actors and government authorities in the state to begin to take steps to address noticeable gaps and trust deficits leading to regular ethnic disharmony in Lagos.
“We call on the Lagos State Government, the National Orientation Agency, the political actors and other critical stakeholders to do more in terms of orientation to help douse inter-ethnic rivalry, jealousy and mistrust,” he added.
National leader of the People of south East Region (POSER) Amb. Obuesi Phillips, said most often the people creating the crisis were not from the southeast.
He added that Ohanaeze and POSER have been advocating for a peaceful co-existence between Igbo residents in Lagos and their Yoruba host communities.
He expressed gratitude to the leadership of the AFENIFERE for their fatherly role in nipping the challenge in the bud and praised Police authorities for the swift response to the very ugly incident, he alleged was engineered to taint the already existing cordial relationship between the Igbos and the Yorubas in Lagos.
He said the Igbos in Lagos have pledged to continue to work assiduously for the advancement of the Centre of Excellence.
The Ex-Nigerdelta militant commandant, Asari Dokubo have stressed on why the Igbo’s living in lagos must relocate to back home and invest. “Lagos is not a no man’s land”.
thebiafrastar reporter obtained this information from Asari Dokubo’s news timeline on social media after discovery of the attack on igbos going on in Lagos state.
He said: WHY NDIGBO MUST LEAVE LAGOS NOW AND INVEST IN EAST …By Dokubo Asari
1.first and foremost, Lagos is not a no man’s land..Lagos belongs to the Yoruba. In the event of any uprising the owners of Lagos will eliminate any group they consider a threat and Igbos are first on the list. You cannot continue to invest where you are not willing to defend with your blood.
2.the main reason why igbos are rushing to lagos is because of the ignorant belief of making more returns or profiting very fast which on its own is greed for quick money. Other tribes mock them for idolizing money more than anything.
3.igbos always claim their abandonment of their zone is because there is no seaport down eastern region including rivers and calabar. While this may be true, they are not the only ones affected. People living in kano and kaduna equally travel long distances to lagos to bring back there imported goods,but the difference is that they move it back to kaduna or Kano to invest in their land. Nothing stops the Igbo man/woman from doing same thing.
4.the Nigerian system is skewed to sabotage the igbos economically, but we must learn from the people of NNEWI,they have created an economic hub for themselves there by bringing back there goods down to their town. We can do this in other places in the east.
5..We can have our own Lagos in Anambra (Onitsha) and Abia (Aba). It starts by bringing back your investment one after the other, gradually there will be a cluster of businesses and economic boom. People in lagos will come down to the east to look for you. This can be achieved in 2 years time if you start today.
6..people falsely claim the East is small. It will not fit all of the Igbos. That’s a lie from the pit of hell. Lagos is just a little bigger than the size of Abia state. Despite the massive influx of people all over Nigeria into lagos including igbos right from the creation of this country it still accommodate everyone. That’s not an excuse at all. There are empty lands all over igbo land.
7..igbos must realize that its all a grand plan to spread them out and make sure they can’t unite again after the civil war as a strong opposition. They monopolized the seaport to Lagos alone and strategically locate federal structures outside east to weaken the zone economically and politically. Why are we naively supporting a grand plan that was designed for our detriment. The National railroad plan under Buhari quietly excluding the East.
This has made igbos to leave east to Lagos or Abuja in other to get these things they have been deprived of. The result is that igbos now live outside east,get married, develop outside the east and have their children outside the east and even hate their kinsmen in the east.
These children have little or no knowledge about their language and culture. They only travel back home during festive period. They are forced to learn language and practice the culture of their masters.
This Federal strategy has also worked wonders for the Nigerian leaders. By strategically blocking the Igbos from education and employment in Nigeria, the bulk of the Igbos were forced out of Nigeria to search for survival outside the country. Some of these people are now the second highest source of income for Nigeria after oil due to their remittances back home in their quest to invest in Lagos and Abuja as designed by their master.
8.this has led to igbo language becoming endangered and increase in disunity among the Igbos. That’s why you can bet that igbos in Lagos or those outside the East will never support the idea of Biafra because they have made investments where they were not supposed to and they are so scared to death about losing their idol – Money located outside the East.
9..😢igbos must learn from history, after the war, igbo properties were taken away with full consent of the government yet they have not learnt anything from that.
Recently when Arewa youths gave igbos quit notice, no Arrest was made by federal government. They were already targeting igbo properties to be taken when the time comes, yet Ndigbo have nothing to learn from all these.
10.😢.let’s stop the idea that we should be the ones practicing one Nigeria. That’s a lie. Hausa said they want one Nigeria on their terms but over fourteen Northern states have instituted Sharia Islamic law over the Nigerian constitution. The Islamic sharia law happens to be binding on Christians and non-Moslems also.
The igbo quest to invest In another land is strictly driven by the mindset of making quick money or returns. Let’s tell ourselves the truth..
Dangote with all his wealth doesn’t have a land in east. You only find cement depots. How many Hausa or Yoruba has a land or investment in east? Are we now more Nigerian than them?
The average rich Northerner will bring his cows to the East to sell during Christmas even though he hates Christians but he will not even sleep in your hotels. He will rather sleep underneath his trailer and will quickly depart from the east after selling his cows. For God’s sake, why do you think you are smarter than this people who share common unforgivable passion to spill the Igbo blood.
11😢..the government of Lagos is demolishing markets dominated by igbos and relocating them to outskirts of town. This should be a wake up call for Ndigbo to return home and create their own Lagos in the East. They usually point Ndigbo to any undeveloped forest and in a matter of weeks, Igbos will spring up a new market at the site and still pay taxes, levies, bills for the site.
The property tax alone the Igbos pay every year where they reside is enough to pay the salaries of the teachers in these places especially Lagos.
Ndigbo must now understand that they are being used due to their ignorance. During the budgetary period, the places where you reside includes you in the count but after the money has been allocated, they tell you to go back to your state of origin.
How many times do you want to get screwed before you learn that these people are taking turns screwing you for nothing.
Stop the Self-Imposed marginalization and empower the Igbo land.
UK Prime Minister, Theresa May has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election Buhari, on Wednesday, was declared winner of presidential 2019 election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for defeating his close rival Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Prominent and well-meaning Nigerians, as well as African leaders, have since been commending and congratulating Buhari over his victory in the election.
Theresa May, reacting to Buhari’s victory congratulated the president on his re-election.
May in a terse statement expressed optimism in future UK-Nigeria relationship following Buhari’s victory.
The statement read: “Congratulations Buhari. I witnessed first-hand the importance of the UK-Nigeria relationship during my trip last year
“I look forward to continuing our close partnership and strengthening our shared prosperity and security.”
Father Mbaka has said that what happened to Atiku/Obi is spiritual. He also said that this is the beginning of Peter Obi’s political downfall unless he comes to Adoration Ministry and apologised.
He said Adoration Ministry is too sacred and Holy Spirit’s apple of eyes.
What’s your take? Should Peter Obi go and apologize or Ignore Father Mbaka?
Founder and leader of the True Word Prophetic Ministry International, Prophet Nigel Gaisie prophesied that the People’s Democratic Party of Nigeria will win the 2019 general elections but they might not get the opportunity to rule.
According to him APC flagbearer, Muhammadu Buhari who is also the incumbent President of Nigeria, will rig the upcoming presidential election.
He made this revelation at the 2018 watch night service on the 31st at his church in Accra monitored by Ghanapoliticsonline.com.
Among other prophecies, Prophet Nigel Gaisie also said Ghana will have a female vice-president between 2020 and 2024.
He mentioned that the supposed incoming female veep hails from the Eastern-Region with a mixed Voltarian background and must have been an Attorney General in a previous government.
The man of God is noted for popular prophecies including the election of Donald Trump as the President of the United States of America, prediction of the death of former opposition leader of Zimbabwe Morgan Tsvangirai and others.
voiceeletion Congress [APC] was declared winner with over 15 million votes defeating his main opponent Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic party [ PDP] having 11 million votes.
Nigeria Election was not free and fair election there was manipulation from President Buhari treating the INEC Chairman over the election result. He must do anything within his power to delay the result so that He can manipulate the figure.
The delay of the result from the INEC as a result of rigging the election.i am not in support to that act over Nigerian election just too bad from Buhari and INEC Chairman Yakubu.
No fewer than 88 vessels were attacked in the Niger Delta between 2017 and 2018, the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has disclosed.The Executive Secretary, Dr. Hassan Bello, who spoke during a courtesy call on the Nigerian Navy yesterday in Abuja, regretted that amid the security infrastructure by shipping companies, the incidence was high, especially at the eastern ports.
“We have received a lot of complaints from the shipping companies which have been forced to provide own security to escort their vessels to the ports. In spite of this, they recorded about 88 attacks between 2017 and 2018 in the Niger Delta region.”He observed that oftentimes, the cost of providing security is passed on to the consignee, resulting ultimately in the high cost of product in the market.Urging the naval authorities to scale up security on the waterways, Bello stated that the volatility of the Gulf of Guinea necessitated the imposition of War Risk Surcharge and related freight charges on Nigeria-bound cargoes.
The NSC boss said increased security would boost competitiveness, trade and the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).He posited that the peculiar nature of maritime security threats required concerted measures from coastal, landlocked, flag states as well as international organisations and relevant stakeholders.
To effectively tackle the challenge, the ES sought the support of the navy in the passage of an enabling legislation.The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas, pledged the force’s commitment to improved security, adding that measures had been put in place to reverse the trend.
According to him, the navy has a tripartite approach to maritime security, namely surveillance, response and enforcement.He said the surveillance capability was being enhanced daily with more ships for effective patrol as well better awareness infrastructure to enable it monitor what happens in other jurisdictions.
The naval chief revealed that 40 vessels embarking on illegal operations were confiscated and 150 persons arrested and handed over to relevant agencies for prosecution in 2018. Also, 130 facilities were seized for maritime-related infractions.
Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded election, says he is confident of victory at the court.
Atiku vowed to challenge the outcome of the election which he described as “worst” in Nigeria’s democratic history.
President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) defeated Atiku with over three million votes.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Atiku said the election witnessed an “implementation of grant theft of the people’s will.”
He said voter suppression took place in Akwa Ibom which, according to him, recorded 62 percent decrease in number of votes cast when compared to 2015.
He also said while this was the case in Akwa Ibom, a PDP stronghold, “Borno state recorded 82 percent increase in votes cast despite the insecurity in the state.”
“The electoral fruad cannot produce a government of the people for the simple reason that it does not reflect the will of the people,” he added.
“It is for this reason what I reject the result of the election as announced by INEC.”
Atiku added that he was consulting with the party and Nigerians on the next step.
He said the PDP has “the real figures” from the election, adding that “this is the worst election in Nigeria’s democratic regime.”
Former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has promised to challenge his loss in the February 23 National Assembly elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Tuesday, had declared Dr. Chris Ekpenyong of the Peoples Democratic Party as winner of the senatorial election in the Ikot-Ekpene Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom State.
According to the result declared by the INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Peter Ogbang, Ekpenyong, who is a former deputy governor, scored 118,215 votes to defeat the incumbent senator, Akpabio of the All Progressives Congress, who secured 83,158 votes.
The result was announced at the INEC headquarters in Uyo instead of Ikot-Ekpene because of alleged security threats in the area.
But Akpabio, who spoke on The Verdict, a live programme of Channels Television, on Wednesday, vowed to challenge the collation of the results, adding that he could not lose the election.
The senator said, “I won. It’s a temporary setback. That is why there are processes. For instance, if you feel that you were cheated or there was wrong collation, you have recourse to the courts. I did not fail; I can’t fail.
“I believe strongly that there must have been some wrong collation somewhere. Those things will be corrected. We have processes in the election. It’s from one stage; we have to do registration, vote and collate.
“As far as there is a mistake anywhere, you go to the court and get your mandate. My mandate is somewhere waiting for me. My people know that I can’t fail elections.”
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved judgments in the four appeals filed by the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnghen.
A three-man panel of the court, led by Justice Stephen Adah, after taking arguments from parties, in respect of the appeals, said they will be informed when judgments were ready.
The appeals are CA/A/44c/2019; CA/A/CA/A/63c/19; CA:A/70c/2019 and CA/A/114c/2019.
Onnoghen is, by his first appeal, challenging the jurisdiction of the CCT to hear the charge against him, being a serving judicial officer.
He is, in the second appeal, querying the propriety of the CCT’s ruling of January 14 this year, in which it elected to hear all pending applications
The third appeal is against the CCT ex-parte order directing Onnoghen to vacate office as CJN and for President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint an acting CJN.
The fourth appeal challenges the competence of the warrant of arrest issued against the suspended CJN by the CCT.
The arrest warrant, issued on February 13 this year, was vacated by the CCT on February 15 when Onnoghen voluntarily attended the sitting of the CCT, during which he was arraigned.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has rejected the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 23 presidential election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had, Wednesday morning, declared President Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the election.
But in a statement Wednesday entitled; Democracy Will Not Be Emasculated in Nigeria, Atiku said democracy was debased in the conduct of the elections.
“Consequently, I hereby reject the result of the February 23, 2019 sham election and will be challenging it in court”, Atiku said.
Stating his objection to the outcome of the election, as announced by INEC, Atiku said, “With regards to the presidential elections that took place on February 23, 2019, it is clear that there were manifest and premeditated malpractices in many states which negate the results announced.
“One obvious red flag is the statistical impossibility of states ravaged by the war on terror generating much higher voter turnouts than peaceful states.
“The suppressed votes in my strongholds are so apparent and amateurish, that I am ashamed as a Nigerian that such could be allowed to happen. How can total votes in Akwa-Ibom, for instance, be 50% less than what they were in 2015?
“Another glaring anomaly is the disruption of voting in strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers and diverse other states, with the authorities doing little or nothing and in some cases facilitating these unfortunate situations.
“The militarization of the electoral process is a disservice to our democracy and a throwback to the jackboot era of military dictatorship. In some areas of the country, such as, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Imo states, troops deployed for the elections turned their guns on the very citizens they were meant to protect. This is condemnable and should not be associated with our electoral process in the future.
“I am a democrat and there are democratic avenues available to present the truth to the nation and the watching world. Already, many international observers have given their verdicts, which corroborate our observations. I am sure more will come in the coming hours and days”.
The PDP candidate said he would have called to congratulate President Buhari within seconds of being aware of his victory if he had lost in a free and fair election.
He added that he had struggled over the years with his services to help unite Nigeria by being a bridge between the North and the South.
Continuing, he said, “However, in my democratic struggles for the past three decades, I have never seen our democracy so debased as it was on Saturday, February 23, 2019.
“2007 was a challenge, but President Yar’ Adua was remorseful. In 2019, it is sad to see those who trampled on democracy thumping their noses down on the Nigerian people.
“I want to assure my supporters and the entire Nigerian people that together, we will not allow democracy to be emasculated.
“I hope and pray Nigerians will someday summon the courage to defend democracy. That is the only way we can move away from being the world headquarters for extreme poverty”
The PDP candidate thanked the Nigerian people who trooped out in their millions to perform their civic duty on Saturday.
“The patriotism of Nigerians is heartwarming and affirms my oft-repeated statement that we are brothers and sisters born from the womb of one mother Nigeria”, he added.
The vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Peter Obi, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of disenfranchising over eight million eligible voters in the South-East during the February 23 presidential election.
He said the election was deliberately programmed to ensure that the zone did not participate fully.
Obi made the allegation on Tuesday at a press conference held in Onitsha, Anambra State.
He said that out of the 10 million registered voters in the zone, only about 20 per cent were able to cast their votes.
He said, “You will recall that on election day, I said the process was clumsy and we also had a major problem with malfunctioning card readers. Most people couldn’t vote as a result.
“When over 4,000 card readers got burnt, it became clear that something was wrong somewhere and the Independent National Electoral Commission could neither save the situation nor allow people to vote manually.
“But in some other parts of the country, people were allowed to vote manually and it was accepted by the electoral body.
“How can you tell me that states like Yobe and Borno produced more voters than Anambra and Ebonyi states put together?
“The two states have been at war. I wonder how they got card readers that were working so well, despite the war situation in which they found themselves.”
Obi noted that Nigeria failed to build on the achievements of the 2015 general election.
UGHELLI – Following his victory in last weekend’s National Assembly elections, Senator James Manager, PDP, Delta South, has extended a hand of fellowship to his fellow contesant, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan urging for them to put the interest of the people ahead.
Senator Manager’s assertion followed a petition by Dr. Uduaghan who was the All Progressives Congress, APC candidate in the election for the cancellation of the result on the basis of alleged malpractises.
Responding yesterday, Senator Manager who described Uduaghan as his “Oga” in a statement yesterday, said: “To all my fellow candidates, particularly my main challenger, my brother, friend, ally and “Oga”, Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, we are all winners together after all it is about Delta South senatorial district.” “I want to sincerely thank my teeming supporters, by that I mean all in Delta south.
I want to thank you all for giving me your support thus far. Your support is what I don’t take for granted. “So, I am grateful to everybody for their continued confidence and faith in me. This victory is for all delta southerners. I am most grateful to Almighty God who has made this victory possible. “It is not about me or a particular ethnic group. So I also congratulate them too. To God Almighty be the glory!”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the result of the Presidential election.
President Muhammadu Buhari was declared winner having scored 15,191,847 votes as against its candidate, Atiku Abubakar of the PDP who scored 11,262,978.
Reacting to the declaration of Buhari as the winner, PDP presidential collation agent, Osita Chidoka said his party does not accept the result as representing the valid votes.
PDP, he said will be will explore all options, including legal process in seeking redress.
So, in our view this election required too be looked at again and possibly we would have had rerun, more importantly, we think that INEC should have looked consciously to the use of the card reader, the absence of card reader is a major violation in the elections, it renders that election null and void, that’s what the chairman promised us.
“So, for us in the PDP, we believe that this is a new low in Nigeria’s electoral history. Since 2015 we believe that Nigeria would have been making progress in the election, but violence in this election, the issues that have arises in this election, lack of transparency that we saw in this election did not increase, neither did it improve the believe of Nigerians in the electoral process.
“However, the PDP remains a very lawful party, we believe in the law, we believe in the constitution of Nigeria, we are committed democrat, PDP is a party that entrenched democracy in Nigeria, the PDP is the party that made it possible for Nigeria to enjoy the fruit and dividend of democracy.
“We will continue to support democracy in Nigeria, we will continue to promote democracy in Nigeria but we have a good message for Nigerians, we want them to remnants peaceful, we will explore all our options, including the believe (sic) that the legal process in Nigeria is one of the ways to resolve issues,” he said.
He further argued that “the PDP does not accept this result as representing the valid votes of Nigerians, we have made three issues; first after all the investment in technology, we required INEC, after spending N27 billion in this year’s budget alone for technology, we had expected that today, INEC would have for the purpose of transparency not just for law would have projected to us the result of what the card reader that they used displayed about the people that went through the card reader verification, that singular at put a dent in the image of the election.
“The second one is the issues we raised about the number of registered vis-à-vis if what the chairman now calls collated voters means that 1.6 million people are missing in the voter register. We think that issue is substantial enough to require a resolution.
We also believed that difference between the accredited voters and the voter votes cast which came to about 750,000 votes requires an issue to be looked at.
“Finally, we believed that the cancellations that took place in the election impacting 2.7 million voters required be looked into seriously.”
INEC chairman on his response noted that the difference in the valid votes and cancellation were insignificant to impact on the general outcome of the election.
Shortly after he was declared the winner of the 2019 presidential election, President Muhammadu Buhari delivered an acceptance speech at the Abuja headquarters of the presidential campaign council.
Mr Buhari won the election after polling 15,191,847 votes to defeat his closest challenger and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party. Mr Abubakar, who served as vice president between 1999 and 2007, polled 11,262,978 votes to finish as runner-up.
Below is the full text of the speech.
My Dear Nigerians,
First and foremost, I give thanks to Almighty God Who has spared our lives to witness another victory for Nigerian democracy and victory for our party APC.
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I thank the millions of Nigerians who voted to re-elect me as your president for the next four years. I am deeply humbled and profoundly grateful to you for judging me worthy of continuing to serve you and for your peaceful conduct.
In particular, I would like to thank Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for his masterful leadership as Co-chair of the Campaign Council. I would like to also thank the Party Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, the Director General of the Campaign Council Rotimi Amaechi, all members of the Presidential Campaign Council and other various Support Groups.
My grateful thanks to all those who contributed to the logistical expenses of the campaign in such a vast country like Nigeria.
I also thank the millions of volunteers, self-appointed overseers, canvassers, agents, escorts and sentries who sacrificed so much of their time and resources to ensure the success of these elections. I do not have the words adequate to thank them.
Although Saturday’s elections were relatively peaceful, troublemakers in a handful of states attempted to disrupt an otherwise orderly process. Security agencies will bring to justice all those arrested in the process.
I am very sad at the grievous loss of lives during these elections. Security agencies will step up their efforts to protect voters in the forthcoming State elections.
I would like to commend our security agencies, as severely overstretched as they are, for handling the difficult task of securing the country during the election period.
I will like to make a special appeal to my supporters not to gloat or humiliate the opposition. Victory is enough reward for your efforts.
We give thanks also to our Domestic and International observers for contributing to the success of our elections and for their interest in our country and our developing democracy.
The new Administration will intensify its efforts in Security, Restructuring the Economy and Fighting Corruption. We have laid down the foundation and we are committed to seeing matters to the end. We will strive to strengthen our unity and inclusiveness so that no section or group will feel left behind or left out.
I thank you for your support and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
thebiafrastar-Report reaching SaharaNews hints that many people have been reportedly killed in a fresh attack in Kajuru local government area of Kaduna state.
thebiafrastar gathered that most of the people affected are from Karmai village in Maro ward of the local government area.
The United States of America Ambassador to Nigeria, W. Stuart has reacted to Nigeria has reacted to the election held on Saturday.
In a statement made available to SaharaNews, the US congratulated tens of millions of Nigerians who stood patiently in long lines to vote this week and the hundreds of thousands who worked together with INEC to conduct the elections.
The statement reads in full
“I congratulate the tens of millions of Nigerians who stood patiently in long lines to vote this week and the hundreds of thousands who worked together with INEC to conduct the elections. As noted by many observer groups in their preliminary reports, this election was predominantly peaceful, and it was proof of the Nigerian people’s resolute commitment to choose their leaders. “
“The peaceful achievement of millions was shadowed by the violence of a few. We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives, and we urge all candidates to honor the Peace Accord they signed.”
” All should convince those who support them to refrain from using force or violence to interfere with INEC. No one should break the law by announcing results before INEC does, or break the peace by claiming victory before the results are final. Everyone has a common interest in showing patience as INEC collates and announces the election results.”
Abuja – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Ebonyi State Collation Officer, Prof. Chukwuemeka Eze, on Tuesday in Abuja said that 54,668 votes were cancelled in the state due to card readers related issues.
INEC Adhoc Staff arranging non sensitive material at Ward A’ Kofar Baru 003 Sakin Yara Polling Unit during the 2019 National Assembly and Presidential Elections in Daura, Katsina State on Saturday
Eze, who is also the Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Owerri, disclosed this while giving a break down of the election results for 13 Local Government Areas (LGA) of the state at the INEC National Collation Centre in Abuja.
According to him, “a total number of 1,392,931 were registered voters; 391,747 voters were accredited; 379,394 votes were cast and a total of 359,131 were recorded as valid votes, while 20,263 were rejected in the 13 LGA of the state”.
Eze said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) garnered 258, 575 votes, the All Progressives Party (APC) scored 90, 726 votes while the Africa Action Congress (AAC) scored 205 votes.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, thereafter adjourned proceedings to 10:a.m. (NAN)
President Muhammadu Buhari is leading with over 280,000 votes in results of 12 states announced at the national collation center of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
While the president running under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has secured 2,976,721 votes, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has had 2,690,616 votes.
Buhari has won seven of the 12 states while Atiku has won in five, with 71 other presidential candidates coming far behind.
ASABA – ALL Progressives Congress, APC, Delta South Senatorial candidate and former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has called for the cancellation of the district’s senatorial polls held last Saturday, saying it was massively rigged.
In a petition to the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Delta State, by his lawyer, E. Otaru, he said there was massive election malpractices “perpetrated through voter intimidation, where voters were compelled to vote against their conscience by thugs, who were openly brandishing various dangerous weapons.
” Uduaghan’s petition to the state Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Commissioner came as the Collation Officer was still collating the senatorial results at Oleh in Isoko area of the state. He provided videos of some persons being intimidated with woods by thugs allegedly at polling units 5, 6, 7, 8 in Ogbe Ijoh Ward One, Warri South West LGA, parts of Bomadi, four wards in Warri South-West and part of Warri North.
According to his lawyer, “Voting slips were hijacked and in some cases, destroyed, especially in polling units where it is perceived that the APC, head the upper level.
“It is pertinent to point out that these malpractices were made possible by the collaboration of INEC officials with these thugs identified as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, supporters. “The areas where these malpractices were more brazen and massive include Burutu, Warri North, Warri South, Bomadi, Patani, Warri South-West , Isoko North and Isoko South Local Government Areas.
“It is obvious that the outcome and/or the results from the above listed local government areas, if nothing is done about them will reflect not reflect the will of people and their wish to freely elect the candidate of their choice. “Based on the foregoing, we have our client’s instructions to call on you sir and appeal that the election in the aforementioned local government areas be cancelled,” his lawyer said.
Yoruba people led by MC Oluomo are burning Igbos properties and barred Igbos not to open their shops now in Lagos, both in Oshodi, Okota, Aguda, Oduade and environs.
Due to that fact they refuse to vote for APC, during this four years of government thing are very hard,killing,hunger every where. Voting is a choice nobody will tell me who to vote for i have exercise my right as a true Nigerian.
The hatred has started not today. according to thebiafrastar reporters. Nobody talk about the killing that happen here in lagos, even the money that was loaded into Tinubu house no one speak about it because they are working for APC.
Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has adjourned the official announcement of results of the presidential election until 10am Today been Tuesday.
Yakubu made the adjournment at about 12:45am on Tuesday when it became clear that no other state was ready for result announcement after 11 states and the FCT had been announced.
At this stage, Presdent Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is leading with 2,976,721 votes, while Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is next to him with 2,690,616 votes.
Nigerians voted, with minor glitches, on Saturday for presidential and National Assembly positions in the 36 states of the country.
The country’s electoral body, INEC has announced that the announcement of results will commerce 11 am on Monday.
Sporadic violence were reported in some parts of the country mostly in the South South, South West and North central regions. Figures of death casualties stand at 20 with 15 being shot dead by the military in the riverine community of Abonnema in Rivers state.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) earlier accused the ruling All Progressive Congress of planning to rig the elections.
The APC has also accused the PDP of planning to procure a court injunction to stop INEC from announcing the result of the elections tomorrow.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has clinched three more House of Representatives seats in Ogun, winning all four so far declared out of nine federal constituencies in the state.
Olumide Osoba (APC) won Abeokuta North/ Odeda/Obafemi Owode, Lanre Edun (APC) won Abeokuta South, while Korede Osunsanya, also of APC, was declared winner of Ijebu-Ode/Ijebu-North/Odogbolu federal constituency.
Reports have it that the APC had earlier been declared winner of Ado – Odo/Ota Federal Constituency’s seat in Ogun. Olumide, son of a former governor of the state and chieftain of APC, Chief Segun Osoba, polled a total of 33, 538 votes to defeat the incumbent, Mikhail Kazeem of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), who scored 14,903 votes. The result was announced by the Returning Officer, Prof. Ismaila Salami, at Unity High School Collation Centre, Ago- Ika, Abeokuta.
At the Centenary Hall collation centre for the Abeokuta-South federal constituency, the Returning Officer, Prof. Bameke Oyedele, declared APC’s Edun as winner, having polled a total of 17,003 votes. He defeated his closest rival, Mr Segun Sowunmi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored a total of 8,608 votes.
Similarly, Prof. Michael Ozoje, the Returning Officer at Ijebu-Ode Local Government Collation Centre, declared Osunsanya as winner of Ijebu-Ode/Ijebu North-East/Odogbolu seat with a total of 25,608 votes. Mr Taiwo Shote, the PDP candidate who came closest to Osunsanya, scored total votes of 21,775. Results of the polls for the five remaining federal constituency seats were being awaited as at the filing of this report.
The Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu said, Jewish Nations has a great destiny, wherever they go, they dominate, in technology and commerce, they are more intelligent and creative than other Nations.
Biafra is a Jewish Nation in Africa and the moment Biafrans go out from Nigeria, within five years, they will take over from Nigeria as the Gaint of Africa. FREEBIAFRANATION.
On the Elections in Nigeria, Washington, Feb 24, 2019 Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Africa, issued the following statement on the elections in Nigeria:
“Yesterday, Nigeria voted. Today, votes are being counted. I am very concerned by credible reports that the vote is being tampered with. To avoid any manipulation of the tally, it is critical that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announce without delay actual results — which are certified by party agents and observers — at each polling unit as the vote is tabulated.
“Well-placed sources report that in some states and localities — including Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia — INEC commissioners are receiving enormous pressure to alter poll results. This must not be allowed to happen.
“The eyes of the United States, of Africa, and the world are upon Nigeria and INEC. I also ask Secretary Michael Pompeo to hold accountable anyone who seeks to cheat the Nigerian people — who have waited patiently — of their vote or foments violence.”
Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the violence that characterized the Presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday, reiterating his earlier stand that his quest for the exalted office is not worth the blood of any Nigerian.
According to Atiku, no politician should celebrate his political gains if they are written in the blood of innocent Nigerians, and that no Nigerian, including innocent youth corps members, deserve to die for the sake of any man’s political ambition.
In a statement signed by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku said those innocent Nigerians that died won’t be forgotten for their sacrifices, adding that political violence which is being aided and abetted by desperate politicians, “is giving our democracy a bad name.” He added that those who climbed the ladder of human lives to attain power have brought our democracy into disrepute, stressing it was high time the Nigerian youth opened their eyes to resist being used to kill and maim. He explained that any politician who is sincerely interested in the progress of the youth shouldn’t be using them as cannon fodder for his/her ambition, noting youths deserve jobs, not
According to the former Vice President, “the real enemies worth fighting are poverty, unemployment, hunger, nepotism, division, despair and uncertain future.”
THE Nigerian Army said its troops of 6 Division killed six political thugs in Rivers State during yesterday’s presidential and National Assembly elections because they attacked the troops.
Army spokesman, Col. Sagir Musa,in a statement,late yesterday, explained that the
“pre-planned attack occurred in between Charles and Bob-Manuel’s compounds in Abonnema Town at about 1:00pm on the 23rd February 2019.”
It said preliminary investigation showed that the attack on the troops by the armed political thugs, was masterminded by ” one Roland Sekibo, – the Chairman Akuku Toru LGA, Omodo – the CSO Akuku Toru LGA and Kenneth of Kula currently at large were the masterminds of the unexpected/ unprovoked attack.”
The statement read:”Information reaching Headquarters Nigerian Army (NA) revealed that troops of 6 Division on a legitimate duty of protecting lives and properties of law abiding citizens and ensuring a conducive environment for peaceful conduct of 2019 General Elections in Abonnema, Akuku Toru Local Government Area (LGA) Rivers State were attacked by some hoodlums.
“The pre-planned attack occurred in between Charles and Bob-Manuel’s compounds in Abonnema Town at about 1:00pm on the 23rd February 2019.
” The attackers barricaded a major road into the town and laid an ambush in the adjoining built-up areas from where they opened fire on our unsuspecting troops when they attempted to remove the barricade.
“The gallant troops fought their way through the siege and in the process killed six of the assailants. However, we lost a lieutenant in the encounter.
“Preliminary investigation indicated that one Roland Sekibo, – the Chairman Akuku Toru LGA, Omodo – the CSO Akuku Toru LGA and Kenneth of Kula currently at large were the masterminds of the unexpected/ unprovoked attack.
“To this end, the NA strongly hereby state that perpetrators of this ambush will be made to face the full wrath of the law.”
Buba Galadima, a political ally of Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of Nigeria’s main opposition in Saturday’s presidential election, was arrested on Sunday, his Peoples Democratic Party has said.
Specifics of the development were still unclear as of press time, but the party’s spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, told newsmen that it occurred in Abuja.
“He was accosted on the road and arrested,” Mr Ologbonyan said, adding that he was still making efforts to obtain further details.
A host of opposition voices online quickly pointed at the State Security Service as the agency responsible for Mr Galadima’s arrest, and demanded his immediate release.
A spokesperson for the SSS told newsmen that he could not immediately confirm or deny claims of Mr Galadima’s arrest.
The news comes barely a few hours after a spokesperson for President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign asked security agencies to arrest Mr Galadima, who has been amongst the most vocal spokespersons for the opposition.
Festus Keyamo accused Mr Galadima of recording a video announcing Mr Abubakar winner of the Saturday’s polls.
Mr Keyamo did not attach evidence of the purported recording in his statement, which was published Sunday afternoon in the media.
Also on Sunday afternoon, some PDP elements released a statement, saying there was a credible plot to arrest the party’s leaders and clampdown on party loyalists running its election situation room in Abuja.
Two persons who had been at the situation room told newsmen that they had evacuated following news of Mr Galadima’s arrest.
It was yet unclear whether the arrest, which SaharaNews has not independently confirmed, was at the instance of Mr Keyamo’s statement.
Mr Abubakar is the main challenger to Mr Buhari in the presidential poll, whose close results were still being collated across the country.
A lieutenant in the Nigerian Army was killed in election violence in Rivers State, the army announced on Saturday evening.
The latest killings were contained in a statement by Sagir Musa, a colonel and current army spokesperson.
Mr Musa said the seven people including the lieutenant were killed when some people attacked soldiers on patrol.
Information reaching Headquarters of Nigerian Army (NA) revealed that troops of 6 Division on a legitimate duty of protecting lives and properties of law abiding citizens and ensuring a conducive environment for peaceful conduct of 2019 General Elections in Abonnema, Akuku Toru Local Government Area (LGA) Rivers State were attacked by some hoodlums.
The pre-planned attack occurred in between Charles and Bob-Manuel’s compounds in Abonnema Town at about 1:00pm on the 23rd February 2019.
The attackers barricaded a major road into the town and laid an ambush in the adjoining built-up areas from where they opened fire on our unsuspecting troops when they attempted to remove the barricade.
The gallant troops fought their way through the siege and in the process killed six of the assailants. However, we lost a lieutenant in the encounter.
Preliminary investigation indicated that one Roland Sekibo, – the Chairman Akuku Toru LGA, Omodo – the CSO Akuku Toru LGA and Kenneth of Kula currently at large were the masterminds of the unexpected/ unprovoked attack.
To this end, the NA strongly hereby state that perpetrators of this ambush will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
You are requested to disseminate this information to the public please.
The leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has weighed in on the violence that disrupted elections in some parts of Lagos on Saturday.
Kanu took to his Twitter handle to share a video from one of the affected polling units.
Evidence abound attesting to the primitive savagery and violence in the ongoing ZOO 2019 elections.
Ironically, the Nigerian army are the ones doing the ballot box snatching, who shot at them?
Had we not lifted the boycott, they would have blamed IPOB for the mayhem.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed elections in parts of Lagos, Rivers, Anambra states due to violence that disrupted the elections.
INEC revealed that elections in Akuku Toru and Bonny local government areas of Rivers state, some parts of Anambra and Lagos states will be conducted at a later date, noting that the national assembly elections were those mostly affected.
“The commission has received reports of violence and ballot box snatching in some areas leading to the disruption of the process.
We have asked the Resident Electoral Commissioners RECs and the Electoral Officials on ground to submit their firsthand reports in relation to some of these incidents. We are still receiving reports relating to incidences in some states of the federation but we have received reports relating to incidences in Akuku Toru and Bonny local government areas of Rivers state.
“So long as the commission could not deploy in these areas, the implication is that voting did not take place in those areas and the commission will hold consultations with the relevant authorities and the Resident Electoral Commissioners RECs in relation to these areas and will announce the date when polls will take place in some of these areas, especially in relation to the areas as they affect the House of Representatives and Senatorial elections.
“It is not only in Rivers that we had reports of burning of electoral materials. We have such reports from Anambra and Lagos states as well as some other places”, he added.
The commission also vowed to prosecute any of its staff who failed to use the Smart Card Readers for purposes of accreditation, saying where the card readers do not work up till 6pm on election day, the standard procedure is to shift the exercise to the next day.
According to Okoye, no staff of the commission has discretionary powers on the use or otherwise of the card readers as its usage is not a subject of negotiation.
“With regards to the challenges associated with Smart Card Readers in some polling units, most of these challenges were resolved and were resolved on time.
However, it is to be noted that in the Regulations and the Guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC it was made very clear that the use of the smart card readers is mandatory.
“Therefore, no staff of the Commission or any ad hoc staff of the Commission is permitted in whatever guise to deliberately refuse to use the smart card readers for the conduct of elections.
According to the Guidelines and Regulations of the Commission, it is negligent conduct for any ad hoc staff to refuse to use the smart card readers for purposes of accreditation and any of them that refused to use the smart card readers or deliberately violated the use of the smart card readers will be subject to prosecution in accordance with the Guidelines and Regulations of the Commission and the Electoral Act”, he declared.
