Saraki: Despite Inadequacies in Kwara Polls, I Wish Those Who Emerged Best of Luck.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has stated that in spite of the reported inadequacies that attended last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in Kwara State, he is wishing the candidates who emerged from the election the best of luck.

Dr. Saraki in a statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu stated that while the election was generally peaceful there were inadequacies like the card readers  not used in over 70 percent of the polling units while there was also multiple-voting, over-voting and other discrepancies that were reported by agents of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) across the state. He added that the state chapter of his party will take a position on the right response to these inadequacies.

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

“As a product of a family and a political structure that is, from its foundation, devoted to the service and development of our state and its people, it is my wish that our people will always have a good deal at all times. The new development will even provide the people the opportunity to compare and contrast. After all, the people who have emerged from last Saturday’s election are not my enemies. They are fellow Kwarans.

“As we prepare for the March 9th, 2019 Governorship and House of Assembly elections, let me reiterate my position that the candidates of the PDP in the election represent the best materials for our dear State, Kwara. Therefore, I enjoin our people to come out en masse on Election Day and vote for them. I am going to work with our party leaders to further sell the PDP candidates to the general public.

“I thank all Nigerians for their goodwill and to enjoin all of us that as we patiently await the outcome of the Presidential election, we pray for peace, unity and genuine development in our country. It is also our prayers that at all times, the wish of the people will always prevail in the choice of the leadership and the electorate will always enjoy the benefit of good governance”, Saraki stated.

Signed

Yusuph Olaniyonu
Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to Senate President

Saraki Congratulates Oloriegbe

I hereby congratulate Dr. Yahaya Oloriegbe, the Senator-elect for Kwara Central. The result of this election is indeed a painful one, but old empires disappear so the new ones may emerge and hopefully reemerge again.

At this level, we have steered the affair of Kwarans to where we were able to, let others take over from here. This is indeed the message our people are passing across in this symbolic moment.

I have no regret whatsoever. I have served my state and my country to the best of my ability. I, therefore, thank all Saraki lovers across Kwara state and our nation at large for their unwavering support. This is certainly not the end. I will always do everything in my capacity to better the lot of Kwarans.

Once again, congratulations to Dr. Yahaya Oloriegbe for his victory at the poll.

Thank you.

Signed:

Prof. Abubakar Sulayman, DG, PDP Kwara gubernatorial campaign

My victory is sure, Atiku boasts.

The Presidential candidate of the People Democratic Party and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has thanked Nigerians for turning out to vote for him in their millions and confirmed that the initial indications from the PDPs Simultaneous Vote Count show a PDP victory is assured.

Atiku in a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Assistant On Public Communication, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, said “I would like to sincerely thank the millions of people who, despite having to bear the additional burden of a postponed election, came out yesterday to vote for me and the other PDP candidates standing in this election.” He said with the PDP’s high tech, cloud-based SVC system – which is able to collate in real-time the results from the 176,000 voting points across the nation – the Presidential candidate could boldly assure his supporters that victory was at hand.

Nigeria decides: Ballot boxes set ablaze in Lagos, INEC officials, voters run away

Some ballot boxes at Polling Unit 18 located at junction of Ohafia/Ago Palace Way, Okota in Oshodi/Isolo LGA of Lagos State have been set on fire.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who witnessed the incident reports that the Polling Unit 23 located on Baba-Ewe Street/Ago Palace Way was also affected by the fire

INEC ad-hoc staff at the polling units as well as voters who came out to cast their votes ran away from the polling centres for safety.

A team of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command wrrr at the scene to apprehend suspects.

As at the time of this report, the INEC ad-hoc staff and voters had yet to return to the units.

Also, at Polling Units, 035 and 036 located at Adeneken St./Alhaji Olusesi Street Junction and Adeneken Street/ Olusesi, Ago Palace Way, respectively, a group of young men in tricycle and motorcycle disrupted the exercise by attempting to force voters to vote for a particular candidate.

A team of SARS intervened, shooting in the air. The team arrested some of the suspects.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Zubairu Muazu, confirmed the crisis at Okota, saying that he had ordered the area commander to be on top of the situation

THIS WEEK IS HIGHLY SENSITIVE - Bishop David Oyedepo.

This week is a highly sensitive week but we have the victory; this land will not suck blood again.

No devil will unseat us from this nation.

This sickness will not be unto death, Nigeria shall be healed.

Every gang up of hell to turn Nigeria to a battle field will be crushed this time.

The Lord will grant Nigeria peace by all means.

Every agent of the devil hiding anywhere in Nigeria, for the purpose of turning this place to a stream of blood, by all means God will flush them out.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and wicked spirits in high places, we have an assurance from the Lord, the battle will be won.

We have an assurance from heaven that as all the lions and lionesses come against this Rhino, we will bring it down.

That mountain of evil that the principalities and powers have put together will be brought down and the nation will be free.

Nigeria shall not see war, there will be no blood bath in Nigeria.

Everything taking place throughout shall be peaceful in the name of Jesus Christ.

No one’s vote shall be wasted; your vote shall not be wasted.

No one will return injured, every life shall be preserved of all Nigerians across the length and breath of this nation, in the name of Jesus.

Atiku rejects alleged plan to postpone elections in Borno, Adamawa, Kaduna

The presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has rejected the reported plan by President Muhammadu Buhari to use the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the forthcoming elections in some northern states, including Borno, Adamawa and Kaduna, to give the APC-led federal government enough time to concentrate efforts to rig in those states on a later date.

In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, the PDP presidential candidate warned that failure to hold elections on the same day across the country would be an invitation to rigging, thuggery and violence.

‘’Anything short of a simultaneous holding of the scheduled elections across the country on Saturday is not acceptable to us,’’ Atiku said.

He said reports available to the PDP said the deal struck at a closed-door meeting yesterday between the federal government and the Governors of Borno, Adamawa and Kaduna States reflected the desperation of the APC to ‘’capture’’ the states and some others through election postponement.

‘’The deal, cut at a meeting with some northern governors and service chiefs in the presidential villa in Abuja is simple: The federal government will shift election in northern states of Borno, Adamawa and Kaduna, citing security concerns to provide the APC the opportunity use security agents to massively rig polls in those state at a later date,’’ the statement said.

Atiku said the implication of the plot is that President Buhari, “for all his sweet words on ensuring free and fair elections and avoiding unethical measures to win at all costs, is ready to do anything just to ‘’capture’’ Borno, Adamawa, Kaduna and other states using security reasons as a pretext”.

The PDP presidential candidate, however, said his party would not lose any sleep over the ignoble deal, since the battle to rescue Nigeria from incompetence and bad leadership will be fought by the people themselves and not by some desperate APC governors and or President Buhari .

He said Nigerians were aware that the APC- led federal government has failed in all their despicable options to enable them to cling on to power and was now resorting to the idea of shifting elections.

Atiku said his persistent demand for a strict adherence to the right way of doing things, as far as the 2019 general election are concerned, is in the overall interest of Nigerians and the growth of democracy.

Source- Thisday

Okorocha and Amisun shun APC Caucus metting on Abuja Yesterday

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state and his counterpart in Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, have stayed away from the APC caucus meeting at the party’s secretariat in Abuja.

The meeting has in attendance governors of Zamfara, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Jigawa, Borno, Bauchi, Kebbi, Niger, Lagos and Kaduna States. The pair’s absence at the meeting might be connected to their anti-party behaviour.

This will be the first meeting of the party since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the general elections by one week.

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Elections shift: I am shocked by INEC’s action —Atiku.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed shock that the presidential election was postponed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, a few hours before its conduct.

Atiku, who spoke at his residence in Yola, Adamawa State on Saturday, said he had no issue with the sensitive materials that had already been distributed for the election in as much as they were kept in a safe place.
Atiku said, “I am shocked with the postponement of the election. You don’t postpone an election few hours to its conduct.

I am going to Abuja to attend an emergency meeting of the PDP and decide the next step. I am not dampened by the postponement.

Elections; Special Assistant To Delta Governor Assassinated By Unknown Gunmen.

Special Assistant on Youth Development to Delta state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, Lawrence Akpomiemie, has been murdered.

According to reports, Akpomiemie was on his way out with his girlfriend when unknown gunmen ambushed him and shot him dead at close range in the Uvwie Local Government Area of the state last night Friday, February 15th.


Pandemonium broke out in the area afterwards as his supporters began to attack the home of those believed to be behind the murder.

The police have been drafted to the area and are making frantic effiorts to restore peace. Meanwhile the remains of the deceased has been deposited in the morgue. It is not certain if the girlfriend of the deceased was killed in the attack.

The Nation reports that prior to his appointment by Governor Okowa in 2016, Akpomimie was standing trial for murder and other crime but was controversially released from prison before being appointed.

Election Postponement: Remain Peaceful In Face of Provocation.

Dear citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,

As you know, the Independent National Electoral Commission has announced a postponement of the elections until 23 February and 9 March respectively.

The Buhari administration has had more than enough time and money to prepare for these elections and the Nigerian people were poised and ready to perform their civic responsibility by voting in the elections earlier scheduled for Saturday, 16 February, 2019.

This postponement is obviously a case of the hand of Esau but the voice of Jacob. By instigating this postponement, the Buhari administration hopes to disenfranchise the Nigerian electorate in order to ensure that turn out is low on the rescheduled date. Nigerians must frustrate their plans by coming out in even greater numbers on Saturday, 23 February and Saturday, 9 March respectively.

Knowing that the Nigerian people are determined to reject them, they are desperate and will do anything in their power to avoid their rejection by the Nigerian people.

Their plan is to provoke the public, hoping for a negative reaction, and then use that as an excuse for further anti-democratic acts.

As such, I call on all Nigerians to be patient. We have tolerated the maladministration of this government for four years. We can extend our tolerance a few more days and give them our verdict via our votes.

Maintain the peace and be law abiding. Do not react to this provocation with anger, violence or any action that might be exploited by those who do not want this election to hold. Remain calm. We will overcome this. You can postpone an election, but you cannot postpone destiny.

Please come out to vote on Saturday, 23 February and Saturday, 9 March respectively. Frustrate those who do not want this election to hold by coming out in very large numbers. That is the best antidote to their plans.

May God bless you and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Atiku Abubkar

Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party & Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007.

INEC'S INTENDED OSUN TEMPLATE BUSTED BY THE UNITED STATES.

Nigerians should be grateful to the United States for saving our democracy today. This is why the party in power got frustrated about the international communities interference at one point and threatened “body bags” because they know, “Americans would know”.

We are a sovereign state, agreed, but there was nothing Nigerians would have done tonight to prevent Mohammadu Buhari from rigging this election, if not for the intervention of the USA.

The Buhari government in collaboration with INEC had an agenda on how to rig the election in favor of Buhari. This was what they were planning to execute tonight with the postponement drama when the United States government got a wind of it and called the INEC Chairman not to dare.

THEIR PLAN:

The strategy was to allow elections hold in 26 states and postpone it in 10 states. For the ten states, they had two plans: late arrival of election materials and security crisis.

The idea was to deliberately allow materials arrive late as we are already witnessing in some states, and INEC would have no option but to postpone elections in those states.

For instance, the aircraft that was supposed to deliver materials to Enugu was told it can't land because of bad weather conditions and it had to land in Port Harcourt. Right before us, elections in Enugu would have been postponed.

The crisis template was executed in Kaduna today. The news of Kaduna State killings of 66 people today was part of the plan to create an atmosphere of catastrophic so that INEC would postpone the election in Kaduna State citing security challenges. The news of the killings was fabricated and sponsored by the 3 inches 'body bag' Governor of that state.

For the 26 states that election would have held, the plan was to watch out for the outcome. If it favours Atiku, whatever the margin is, they would deploy heavy security agents to ensure they get enough votes to cover up the margin in the 10 states that elections were to be postponed as they did in Osun state.

With this plan, Buhari would be elected back as president, but the US said, NO!

Elections across the 36 states must hold simultaneously, they insist.

~ May Ubeku

PDP Rejects Shift In Election Date says its Buhari’s agenda to cling to power calls on INEC Chairman to resign immediately .

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Prince Uche Secondus has said that shoddy arrangement for this election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is a deliberate pre determined agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari to cling on to power even when it’s obvious to him that Nigerians want him out.

Prince Secondus said that the postponement which is part of a grand design by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to thwart the will of Nigerians at all cost, clearly exposes INEC as a failure and calls on the Chairman of the Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu to resign immediately.

The PDP leader  warns that the party will not accept anything short of a well-organized electoral process devoid of manipulation, harassment and intimidation of voters and the opposition particularly members of the PDP.

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 unacceptable.

The National Chairman said 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.

According to a statement from the National Chairman’s media office signed by Ike Abonyi, Prince Secondus said that the party is privy to all the pressures from the APC and the federal government to arm twist the INEC, to dance to their new strategy after their earlier ones failed. “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. “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.

He said that by the action of the President he has further demonstrated his insensitivity costing the huge cost after Nigerians including those who came home from abroad have all mobilized to their various constituencies. The National Chairman recalls that the PDP had earlier alerted Nigerians that the APC was coming up with lined up rigging strategies including burning down of INEC offices and engineering crisis in PDP strong hold areas to scare away the people.

Prince Secondus said that the wicked killing of over 60 persons mostly women and children in Southern Kaduna on the eve of election is 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.

“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.

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 wants to do.

Prince Secondus also regretted that President Buhari who made a promise at the signing of peace accord that the election will be conducted in a fair and transparent atmosphere has gone ahead in breach of the peace agreements to send soldiers and other security agencies to arrest, harass and intimidate opponents in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kwara, Kano, Kaduna.

Source- Leadership.

Elections: Buhari campaign blames PDP for postponement.

The campaign office of President Muhammadu Buhari has blamed the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the postponement of the 2019 presidential elections.

Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, announced at about 2:40 a.m. Saturday that the election had been postponed, barely hours after Nigerians were set to hit the polling units.

The elections would now hold on new dates scheduled as February 23 for presidential and national assembly elections and March 9 for governorship and state assemblies elections.

Mr Yakubu said the announcement came hours after a string of strategic meetings were held by top INEC officials to review preparedness for the exercise. It was concluded that a rash of logistics challenges that arose on Friday informed the postponement.

Ekiti, Niger and Taraba states were identified as some of the states that faced glitches of distribution of voting materials that would be difficult to resolve in time for the elections Saturday morning, thereby forcing the postponement.

Nigerians online expressed severe disappointment in INEC’s eleventh-hour decision, with many criticising the umpire for displaying stark incompetence since it had four years to prepare for the exercise.

Festus Keyamo, a spokesperson for Mr Buhari’s reelection campaign committee, also expressed sadness about the development, and quickly heaped the blame on the PDP in a statement released minutes after the announcement.

“We condemn and deprecate this tardiness of the electoral umpire in the strongest terms possible.

“President Muhammadu Buhari had since cooperated fully with INEC by ensuring everything it demanded to conduct free and fair elections were promptly made available to it.

“This news is therefore a huge disappointment to us and to our teeming supporters nationwide and around the world, many of whom have come into the country to exercise their franchise.

“We do hope that INEC will remain neutral and impartial in this process as the rumor mill is agog with the suggestion that this postponement has been orchestrated in collusion with the main opposition, the PDP, that was never ready for this election.

“We note that all the major credible demographic projections have predicted a defeat of the PDP and it seriously needed this breather to orchestrate more devious strategies to try and halt President Buhari’s momentum.

“It did the same as the ruling Party in 2015, when it realized the game was up, by orchestrating the postponement of the 2015 elections by six weeks. Now, it may be up to its old trick again.

“We have earlier raised the alarm that the PDP is bent on discrediting this process the moment it realized it cannot make up the numbers to win this election. We are only urging INEC not collude with the PDP on this.

“We are truly worried because as early as Friday morning, some known PDP Social Media influencers unwittingly announced this postponement, but quickly deleted the message and apologized to the public that it was fake news,” Mr Keyamo said.

The spokesperson also urged Nigerians to support INEC in its challenges, and prevent the commission from being compromised by the opposition.

“We do not want to be forced to a situation of announcing our total loss of confidence in INEC, because we know where that would leave our democracy.

“It is in the light of the above that we wish to appeal to Nigerians and our supporters to be patient, calm and resolute despite this temporary setback.

“Let us not give anyone, especially the PDP, the opportunity to plunge this nation into a crises, which is what they earnestly desire. Its imminent defeat is just a few days away.

“Lastly, we wish to draw the attention of INEC and the world to observe that the PDP has clearly and openly said it plans to announce parallel results through some funny device it has procured or developed.

“We wish to reiterate that it is only INEC that is legally and constitutionally empowered to declare results and it constitutes an offence for anyone to do so.

“We urge INEC to speak up now and warn the PDP to desist from this ignoble act that is capable of plunging the nation into a crises of immeasurable proportions,” he said.

Mr Keyamo did not attach any evidence to corroborate his claims against the PDP or other opposition elements he accused in the statement.

A spokesperson for the PDP did not immediately answer calls seeking comments in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Source- Premium Times

Why I was soft with Buhari, Osinbajo at The Candidates —Kadaria Ahmed.

The moderator of the town hall meeting for the 2019 presidential candidates and their deputies, Kadaria Ahmed, has said that she was gentle in handling President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo when they both appeared on The Candidates on January 16, 2019.

The Candidates was the town hall meetings for presidential candidates and their deputies, where candidates had the opportunity to explain their manifestos to the electorate.

It may be recalled that viewers and commentators had accused Kadaria of “open bias,” saying that she was a lot harder on the Atiku-Obi pair than she was on Buhari-Osinbajo.
Speaking to Mr. Jimi Disu, the host of a radio programme, Lagos Talks, on Friday, Kadaria said she was benign on Buhari and Osinbajo because, unlike the Atiku-Obi pair, Buhari-Osinbajo were “gentle” in their dispositions.

2019 election: Nobody will unseat me, Buhari vows.

President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed that nobody will unseat him.

He said contrary to opinions in some quarters, he had the strength to lead the country for four more years.
Buhari stated this in an interview aired on Friday on the verified Instagram page of CNN Africa while responding to doubts about his ability to run the country for a second term.

The interviewer had asked the President, “This is a vibrant democracy. You came in, unseating the incumbent. Are you worried the same could happen to you?”

Tragic! Boy with holes in heart who Nigerians donated over N70m for reportedly passes on

Nigerians were recently moved to donate over N70 million for the surgery of a little boy, Beniah

Beniah's health got the attention of people after his father was spotted sitting on the road side as a form of protest for not getting help from the government

The little boy has reportedly passed on before he could travel out for the surgery

Death is inevitable but the knowledge of it does nothing to prepare an individual for the eventual passing of a loved one.

It was a time of tears and sorrow in the family of one young man who gained the attention of Nigerians after he was spotted in front of the government house in Rivers state, where he was pleading for the government’s intervention in his son’s ill health.

The man had reportedly written a letter to the Rivers state government asking for financial assistance without getting any positive reply.

The father who was desperate to save his son decided to take action by going to the government house himself but he was reportedly dragged out by security men.

The man’s son, Beniah, had reportedly been born with holes in his heart and doctors had predicted that he had about 60 days to live.

Tragic! Boy with hole in heart whom Nigerians donated over 70m for reportedly passes on
Man whose son had days to live protested in the middle of the road Facebook source: Lexy Mueka Source: Facebook
Source: Facebook

Nigerians were so touched by his pain that several of them donated their widow’s mite to enable him undergo surgery in a reputable foreign hospital.

The donations gotten were well over N70 million and many people were glad that he would get the much needed help.

However, according to an exclusive report gathered by Instablog9ja it was reported that little Beniah has passed on.

The sick tot reportedly died before he could make it to Dubai for his surgery. He was reportedly rushed to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) where he was confirmed dead.

Beniah is said to have died in the morning of February 15, 2019.

RIP to the dead.

It was previously reported that the family members of sick Beniah seemed to be unreachable after Nigerians donated money towards his health.

However, his father denied the claims that he had absconded and that he had to remain low key because he had been getting calls from several people who did not mean well.

Elections: Bill Clinton Phones Buhari .

A former President of the United States, Bill Clinton on Thursday phoned president Muhammadu Buhari, ahead of Saturday’s polls.

Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina in a statement, said the former US president regretted his inability to visit the country to witness the signing of the final peace accord before the general elections.

Buhari, Abubakar Atiku of the main opposition party, PDP and other presidential candidates on Wednesday signed the second phase of the peace accord for the 2019 general elections, organised by the National Peace Committee (NPC) under the chairmanship of former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Clinton wished Nigeria well as her citizens go to the polls. Buhari appreciated Clinton for his continuous support for Nigeria and the growth of her democracy.

He described him as a friend of the country, while commending his constant support for the peace, stability and progress of Nigeria under a democratic dispensation.

President Buhari also assured him of his commitment to free, fair and credible elections in the weeks ahead.

Buhari, APC can’t be trusted, says Atiku at Lagos rally.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress, can no longer be trusted because they have not kept any of the promises they made to Nigerians while soliciting their votes four years ago.

Atiku said this on Tuesday during the party’s presidential rally at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.
He said the PDP would provide adequate security, jobs and turn around the economy, noting that the APC had made situations worse than they met them after deceiving Nigerians to vote for them.

Atiku promised the Lagos crowd that he would create jobs and tackle other problems confronting the nation if voted into power on Saturday.

He said Lagos State was dear to him, adding that with the PDP in control at the centre the myriad of problems confronting the state would be effectively tackled.

APC Responsible For Burnt INEC Offices – PDP..

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Tuesday, accused the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC of burning the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, offices in various parts of the country.

The party clearly stated that it has fresh facts and prove to show that APC was responsible for the burnt INEC offices.

In a statement disclosed by the National Publicity Secretary and Director, Media & Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Organization, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party charged INEC to be careful noting that APC is after it facilities.

Read the full statement below:

PDP Accuses APC of Burning INEC Offices

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says fresh facts available to it have shown that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is responsible for the burning of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices in various parts of the country.

The PDP already has the details of how the APC mobilized misguided elements in its fold to burn INEC offices and destroy electoral materials and equipment in Plateau, Abia and Anambra state.

Our party is also privy to clandestine plots by the APC to burn INEC offices in some other states, so as to paralyze the commission’s operations in such states, and pave the way for the isolation and postponement of Presidential elections in those states; after which it plans to unleash compromised security agencies to muzzle the shifted polls in favour of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Having realized that President Buhari has no chance in a credible, free and fair general election, the APC now plots a violent staggering of the polls so as to use security forces to re-enact the same rigging formula it used in the 2018 Ekiti and Osun governorship elections.

In attacking INEC offices and destroying the card readers, APC seeks to cripple the commission’s use of full benefit of technology that will guarantee a credible biometric voter accreditation.

The PDP in very unequivocal terms insists that it will never accept any attempt by the APC to postpone the Presidential election in any state of the federation. The Presidential election must hold in all the states on the 16th of February and President Buhari will be served his defeat certificate.

The PDP therefore charges Nigerians to resist the desperation of the APC, for which it has now resorted to burning INEC offices. The party also charges INEC to note that the APC is after it facilities and as such put stronger measures to protect itself from the assaults of this desperate party.

Source: vanguard.

Election: UK to deploy 100 observers in 15 states.

The United Kingdom says it will deploy more than 100 observers across 15 states for the elections in Nigeria.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms Catriona Laing, said this on Tuesday while discussing the UK’s efforts to support free, fair and credible elections in the country.
The presidential and National Assembly elections have been slated for February 16, 2019.

Laing said the UK respected Nigeria’s sovereignty and would help it to strengthen its democracy.

Speaking as a guest on Nigerian Info FM in Abuja, she said, “As an independent observer country, we respect Nigeria’s sovereignty; it is our job to stand with the people of Nigeria in this democratic journey.”

Amosun reveals how Tinubu escaped through back door at the Ogun rally

Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, has given an account on what transpired at the rally for President Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Monday.

Writing on his official Facebook page, Amosun narrated how party members booed the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, former Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign, Rotimi Amaechi.

The Governor also claimed that the APC National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had to sneak out “through the back door”.

“The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State boiled over today (Monday) when protests by party members marred the presidential campaign rally as party members booed the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, former Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Raufu Aregbesola and Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign, Rotimi Amaechi.

“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the first time in the APC Presidential campaign, declined to make a speech at the event as he exited the venue through the backdoor as President Muhammadu Buhari made his speech.

“President Buhari, as he did at the presidential rally of the APC in Owerri, Imo State, asked members of the party in the state to vote for any candidate of their choice apart from the presidential election,” part of Amosun’s post read.

Why Adamawa will vote Buhari —Bwala.

The Talban of Adamawa State, Daniel Bwala, said it would have been a miracle to find anyone living in the whole state now if not for the intervention of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

He said because of this, the President and his political party, the All Progressives Congress, would get the support of voters on Saturday.

Bwala,  who spoke with our correspondent in Abuja on Monday, said the people of the state would not forget many security crises that happened there before Buhari’s assumption of office.

He claimed that some people in the state had never experienced good governance until the advent of the President and the APC government in the state.

Buhari, I am addressing you, we will not fight each other again because of you – Atiku.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar weighed in on a statement attributed to President Muhammadu Buhari, wherein he was said to have preached violence in at a campaign rally in Zamfara state last weekend.

According to Atiku, while speaking in Port Harcourt on Monday, during the PDP’s presidential campaign rally in Rivers state said it wouldn’t be the first time – clearly stating that Nigerians will no longer tolerate a leader that instigate them against one another.

“Do you know what the president said yesterday in Zamfara when he went there? He said Zamfara people, let us pray for rainfall, let us pray we grow food, let us pray we eat bellefull, and then we can make trouble,” Atiku said.

“Is that what a president should say? Buhari, I am addressing you. This is a president who is preaching violence, and this is not the first time he has done so in this country.

“We are not going to allow any person to knock our heads and make us fight; we want peace, we want prosperity, we want development, we want jobs — that is what we want for this country.

“We are not ready to fight each other again; so any leader who has come to instigate us to fight against each other, we will use our ballot papers to throw him out. So Buhari must go, Buhari must go, Buhari must go — I love you all, I swear to God”.

We’ll Begin Restructuring Nigeria After May 29 —Atiku

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 elections has re - affirmed his commitment to restructuring if elected on February 16 .

Atiku gave the assurance while addressing thousands of party faithful at a presidential rally at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt on Monday .

The PDP presidential candidate who was accompanied by his running mate, Peter Obi, and other leaders of the party , promised to uphold the rule of law.

“If you elect PDP and Atiku into office , I will restructure Niger Delta and all other parts of the country . We must restructure the country .

“Secondly , after the Obasanjo / Atiku administration started the East West highway project , till today, it has not been completed.

“It has not been completed because we did not vote PDP to continue in power in 2015 . The project has been halted till today. We are going to complete it if voted into power , ” he assured.

Atiku said that his administration would complete the dredging of old Port Harcourt and Onne sea ports if he wins the February 16 presidential polls .

According to him , Rivers State , Niger Delta and South- South had been abandoned by the administration since 2015 , notwithstanding being the economic hub of the country .

“Every development that the people of South- South, Niger Delta and Rivers have gotten was done by PDP - led governments. The roads , schools , hospitals and water, among others were provided by PDP .

“I assure you that I will protect the Constitution , protect separation of powers and will not interfere with the National Assembly and Judiciary because I believe in checks and balances .

“My administration will uphold rule of law and will never allow the rule of law to be trampled by anybody, ” he promised .

Also speaking , former President Goodluck Jonathan called on the people of the state to come out en masse to vote PDP at all levels .

He said that nepotism, divisiveness, discrimination , factionalism , favouritism , sectionalism and killings had now become prevalent in the country .

“All of us know that things that had never been happening in this country have been happening since 2015 . Nigerians can attest if the country has gone forward, backward or static.

“We cannot as a nation continue to stay where we currently are . We believe the only person out of the candidates who can lead us out of this quagmire is Atiku .

“If your son or daughter is qualified to become Inspector - General of Police and Chief of Army Staff , he or she will be appointed. No one will be discriminated against. Atiku will lead Nigeria forward, ” he said.

Senate President and Director - General of Atiku Presidential Campaign, Bukola Saraki, said that Atiku had experience to take the country to greater heights.

He said that poverty and unemployment had reached an all- time high never seen in the country since Independence in 1960 .

“There is poverty in the land and Nigerians are tired of poverty . The people want a man who can bring economic prosperity and that man is Atiku , ” he said .

On his part , PDP National Chairman , Prince Uche Secondus , assured the people of victory at the polls.

He expressed optimism that Atiku would win the North Western states of Jigawa , Kebbi, Kaduna , Kano , Sokoto and Zamfara .

“If you want a president that will work for 24 hours daily, a president with capacity and energy and a president who will be in charge and take responsibility , then vote Atiku , ” he appealed .

Highlight of the rally was the adoption of Governor Nyesom Wike as gubernatorial candidate by 58 political parties in the state

Atiku accuses Buhari of instigating violence .

 The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of instigating violence ahead of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

The president had, while campaigning in Zamfara State, been reported to have said: “Come out and vote for our choice. May Allah grant us patience; May He bless us with bountiful harvest, because I want every one of us to be well fed so that even if it comes to violence we are ready.”

The former vice president, while addressing supporters during the presidential rally of the party in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, assured the people that he would restructure the country.

He stated, “You know what the President said in Zamfara? 

He said Zamfara people, let us pray for rainfall, let us pray we grow food, let us pray we eat well and then we can make trouble. Is that what a president should say? Buhari I am addressing you, this is a president who is preaching violence and this is not the first time he is doing this in this country. We are not going to allow anybody to make us fight.

“We want peace, we want development, we want prosperity, we want jobs. That is what we want for this country. We are not ready to fight each other again. So, any leader who has come to instigate us to fight each other, we will use the ballot paper to chase them out. So Buhari must go.”

Atiku also assured that he would protect the constitution and would never interfere in the affairs of the National Assembly.

According to him, “I will protect separation of powers, I will not interfere with National Assembly, because I believe in checks and balances. I will not interfere with the judiciary, because it is part of our checks and balances. I will uphold the rule of law, I will not allow anyone to trample on the rule of law.”

Also speaking, former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, said everyone is aware that from 2015 when Buhari came into power till date that a number of things that had never happened in the country have been happening.

He said: “In 2015, I did mention that the choice before Nigerians was either to move forward or backward. And within these past years, you can attest for yourself, are we going forward, backward or static? All the indices of development be it unemployment, poverty, health status, happiness; everything that is mentioned none of them that we have made any progress. And I believe that you all know that we cannot as a nation continue to stay where we are.”

To this end, the former president said that Atiku is the only person that could lead the country out of this quagmire and lead Nigeria forward.

Jonathan stated, “He will not discriminate against you. He will not have a ratio of 97% vs 5%. Every part of this country will be treated equally. If your son or daughter qualifies to be an IG, he will be appointed. If your son or daughter qualifies to be appointed as the Chief of Army Staff, he will be appointed.

“You will not be discriminated against and that is the person that we are all supporting. He has been tested. When he was the Vice President to Olusegun Obasanjo, they did very well. They never discriminated against any part of this country. And that is why the country was relatively stable. I believe and I am sure you all believe – that a vote for Atiku, a vote for PDP is a vote for progress.”

On his part, the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, said the government at the centre is not working, adding that Nigerians must vote out the APC-led federal government to change from analogue to digital system.

He stressed, “The man there is no longer in charge of our country and we are aware of that. We are appealing to you to be very vigilant because they are planning to rig the election. Resist rigging, stand by your vote; your vote must count. We must send away prison democracy, what is not working is not good for us.”

The National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus , described the ‘body bag’ statement by the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, that ‘the language seems to be the language of a terrorist’.

He said that Buhari has no other choice than to leave the Presidential Villa on May 29.

Secondus stated: “He is not aware that he is loosing election, he is not aware that there is insecurity in our country, he is not aware that the hunger in the land is too much, he is not aware of what is happening around him. He is not aware that the DG of his campaign organisation is so corrupt that a white paper released by the Rivers State government indicted the DG and they are talking about corruption. He is not aware that the governor of Kano had to put dollar and turned to Bureau the Change in his Agbada, he is not aware.

“He is not aware of any decision, he is not aware that the National Assembly has been assaulted, he is not aware that the Chief Justice of the Federation has been suspended, he is not aware of anything. Is that the kind of president you want? No!”

Secondus urged Nigerians to vote him out.

Source- Thisday

Please, don’t disgrace me before Buhari’ — Amosun begs angry party members.

Ibikunle Amosun, governor of Ogun state, failed in his bid to restore normalcy at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, Ogun state, on Monday.

An unruly crowd had disrupted the presidential rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC), forcing security operatives to form a ring around President Muhammadu Buhari.

Trouble started after Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the party, introduced Dapo Abiodun, gubernatorial candidate of the APC in the state.

Shouts of “Ole! Ole! Ole!” rented the air as the angry mob pelted Oshiomhole with stones.

The APC national chairman ended his speech abruptly and handed over the microphone to Abike Dabiri, a presidential aide, who anchored the programme.

Dabiri had introduced Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo as the next speaker but before then Amosun took to the podium to appeal to the aggrieved persons in the crowd.

“I beg you in the name of God… this is what they want to happen… Please don’t disgrace me here,” he said in Yoruba.

“Our father is here, please don’t disgrace me. I beg you in the name of God, please don’t disgrace me before our father… We have laboured this hard. I am appealing to you. Please, leave. I beg you in the name of God, please leave. I beg you. I am begging.”

Amosun had lost out in his bid to secure the APC gubernatorial ticket for Adekunle Akinlade, a serving member of the house of representatives.

The governor had accused Oshiomhole and some APC leaders of working against the interest of the state through the emergence of Abiodun, whom he vowed not to hand over to.

After losing the APC ticket, Akinlade defected to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), under which he would be contesting the March 2 election while Amosun, his benefactor, will contest Saturday’s senatorial election under APC.

It's not easy for me to rule Nigeria- Buhari.

Muhammadu Bihari has said that it has not been easy journey for the over three years that Nigerians gave him the mandate to pilot the affairs of the country.

He, however, said that he has not taken the support Nigerians gave him for granted and therefore, promised to continue to protect the interest of the people and deliver on his mandate.

In a video message to Nigerians titled, “We will continue to work to protect your interest and deliver our mandate,” he requested for more support in the February 16 presidential election.

He said, “It’s been over three years since you gave me the mandate to oversee the affairs of our dear country.
“It’s not been an easy journey but with sincerity of purpose, perseverance, dedication and most importantly, support from individuals like you, we have made great progress.

“Some of these achievements are visible for everyone to see, some are still in the works.
“I hereby humbly ask for your support again in the coming election to enable us to move to the NEXT LEVEL and consolidate on the successes recorded in making our country a better place.
“I don’t take your support for granted. We will continue to work to protect your interest and deliver our mandate.”

Peter Obi Escapes Unhurt After Deadly Clash Between PDP And APC Supporters.

Peter Obi, the Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, reportedly escaped death today after supporters of the PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC clashed at Dei-Dei, Abuja.

PoliticsNGR gathered from an eye witness report that the clash occurred after some APC supporters blocked the convoy of Obi and the PDP shortly after he finished speaking to some traders at Dei-dei International Building Materials market, Abuja.

"Peter obi came to the market to continue with the Atiku/Obi campaign this afternoon, after his campaign rounds, on his way going back, an APC candidate was passing with his convey they blocked Peter and his protocol and started fighting them……

"They tried to attack Obi which was resisted by the Igbo boys around who destroyed their cars," he said.

Shocking: Worn Tyre Of Airplane In Nigeria.

Facebook user shared this pictures and captioned: "Shocking: Tyre of a boarded plane in Nigeria (Passengers are already inside) Flight about to take off with a damaged tyre."

We Don’t Know Who Constructed The Giant Broom, Says APC.

The All Progressives Congress says the party is not responsible for the giant broom monument mounted at the city gate in Abuja.

The structure, a broom which is a symbol of the All Progressives Congress, has generated widespread reactions from Nigerians, with some questioning why a party symbol would be erected at such a monumental position as the city gate of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The APC publicity secretary, Mallam Lanre Isa-Onilu in an exclusive chat with Channels Television says the giant broom was erected by Nigerians who support the Buhari-led administration.

In reaction to the PDP’s condemnation of the structure, the APC spokesman told the opposition party to erect its own symbol.

Graphic video: underage boy attacked for stealing ladies underwear in Ile Ife, Osun State

Underage boy accused of attempting to steal pant and bra  in Ile-ife, Osun State.

The boy, who confessed to the crime, said he was sent by a man to bring the underwear for a fee.

Pleas from other residents prevented mob action on the boy. He was eventually taken away by the police.

Click here to watch the video

Many burnt as tanker explosion rocks Anambra.

Many people were feared killed and no fewer than 10 vehicles, 7 buildings and shops were destroyed after a petrol tanker fell at Amawbia round about, near Governor’s lodge in Anambra state.

The incident happened about 9.20pm on Saturday, close to the Fire Service office. The State Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, while confirming the incident, described it as sad and unfortunate.

Dr Adesina Akinwunmi won Sunhak Peace Prize 2019 Award.

Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, Former Minister in President Goodluck E. Jonathan’s Administration and the current President of African Development Bank, has won Sunhak Peace Prize 2019 Award in recognition of his  “Africa Fertilizer Summit," which he organized in 2006.

The Summit was recognized as one of the largest high-level meetings in history that had a focus on solving Africa's food issues. During the Summit, Dr. Adesina was instrumental in developing the "Abuja Declaration on Fertilizer for the African Green Revolution," whereby the participants stated their commitment to the "eradication of hunger in Africa by 2030."

He has also worked with various banks and international NGOs in order to create an innovative financing system, providing loans to smallholder farmers. This move leveraged $100 million in loans and provided opportunities for smallholder farmers to increase their agricultural productivity and their income.

Dr. Akinwunmi Ayodeji Adesina and his Co-Sunhak Peace Prize Laureate, Waris Dirie will enjoy one million dollars (USD) accordingly.

Congratulations to Dr. A. A Adesina for  his noble achievement and able representation of Nigeria and Africa. We are proud of his remarkable achievement!

Reno Omokri Reacts to Tinubu’s insults on OBJ.

“Obasanjo is expired milk, dump him in the dustbin”-Bola Tinubu at the APC rally in Lagos.

Bola, you are insulting a man who has done more for Nigeria than you and Buhari combined.

Has Buhari, who you are insulting Obasanjo for, insulted any Northerner? Buhari won’t insult a Northerner because of a Tinubu. Yet, you insult Obj, your brother.

Afonja did it before you, hoping that Alimi will make him king. Where did he end up? I prophesy that you will NEVER achieve what Obasanjo has achieved," Omokri said.

US Will Vehemently Monitor Nigeria Election And Its outcome- ICA

US Will Vehemently Monitor Nigeria Election And Its

Outcomes — CIA

“Over the past few weeks, we have recorded within the Chad, Niger area, a massive movement of mercenary and weapons. From our findings, we discovered that majority of the thugs and mercenaries including the possession of light heavy weapons were all contracted by personnel in the presence of Nigerian government to move into Nigeria for the purpose of aiding electoral malpractices.

“A satellite watch have been able to record a steady mass movement of thugs and other people to the Northern part of Nigeria.

“The number of aliens are from the nearby countries sharing boundaries with the Nigerian states in the North.

“They are Chad, Niger and Sudan. 60 to 65% are from Niger, 20-25% are from Chad and the rest 10-15% are from Sudan.

“The CIA hereby warns Nigerian government including the INEC to take note and avert any ill-practices that will lead to disaster and loss of lives including the peoples’ mandate towards their choices and preferences for leadership.

“The United States will not accept any action of electoral malpractices geared towards denying the people credible votes and election.

“The United States will not hesitate to impose a sanction and visa denial to any perpetrator of any threat to democracy in Nigeria.

“The United States will monitor vehemently the elections and its outcomes and the people’s mandate must be respected”.

-Central Intelligence Agency(CIA)

Senator Ben Murray-Bruce Kicks Against Tinubu’s Insults on OBJ.

“President Olusegun Obasanjo is an icon. The commander that ended the Nigerian Civil War. The first military head of state to voluntarily hand over to an elected President in Africa.

The man that helped stabilise the democracy we are now enjoying. It is rather unfortunate that the beneficiaries now insult him!”, he said.

Oshibajo is not only cowardly and hopelessly corrupt but he is also an accomplice and an accesory to mass murder, ethnic cleansing and genocide- Femi Fani-Kayode.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo's mother says those that say that Buhari and her son have not done anything are living in another world. I say the following to her.

Mama, your son is not only cowardly and hopelessly corrupt but he is also an accomplice and an accesory to mass murder, ethnic cleansing and genocide.

He will face charges for war crimes and crimes against humanity at the ICC in the Hague after he has been removed from power. He will explain to the world why he asked the Nigerian people to pray for the Fulani terrorist herdsmen as they slaughteted our children, burnt our Churches, massacred our priests, defiled our wives, stole our land, bucthered our loved ones, stole our heritage and desecrated all that is dear to us.

He will tell the world why he turned a blind eye to their hideous activities and encouraged their homicidal frenzy of butchery and sociopathic orgy of violence. He will explain to the international community and to the parents of the IPOB youths that were massacred by Nigerian security forces why he refused to condemn their bestial and murderous acts and why he declined to condemn them or put a stop to their activities.

He will tell the world why he remained silent when thousands of defenceless Shiite Muslims, including women and children, were slaughtered by the Nigerian Army. He will also tell the Nigerian people why he directed the serial arrest and endless detention of a courageous young hero of free speech, defender of democracy and champion of democracy called Prince Deji Adeyanju for no just cause and why he has kept him locked up in a Kano prison for the last 57 days.

The tears that Deji's aged mother is shedding today for her detained son are the same tears that you Mama will shed for yours when he has been removed from power, when justice is meted out to him and when he is forced to answer for his complicity and involvement in these horrific crimes against God and against humanity. It is only a matter of time.

You say that we are living in another world because we cannot see what you claim your son has done. Yet the bitter truth is that the only thing that your son has done is bring division, strife, misery, pain, hardship, poverty, evil, death, destruction, incompetence, injustice, failure, shame and wickedness to the Nigerian people in the last 3 years and 6 months.

God is not mocked: He will avenge.

Any Attempt To Rig Will Attract People’s Wrath- Atiku.

Atiku Warns APC Ahead of next week’s presidential poll, Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has warned President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), that any attempt to rig the election will attract people’s wrath.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, the PDP Presidential Candidate said the people’s anger will surely descend on anyone or any party that attempts to thwart the will of voters on February 16. Atiku said the warning had become necessary because the ruling APC had been boasting about how it already had 12 million votes in the kitty even before votes were cast and in spite of the huge acceptance of the PDP across the country as exemplified by the massive turnout at the PDP rally in the President’s home state of Katsina.

The ruling All Progressives Congress reportedly claimed on Thursday that President Buhari had “12 million voters that have been with them over the years”. Atiku however queried: “But ask yourself this: have you met anyone who has said “I made a big mistake not voting Buhari in 2015 and I will make sure I vote for him in 2019”? Such a person does not exist anywhere in this planet (apart from Niger republic). So we can confidently assume that they will get no new votes.”

Atiku added: “Based on the result of the poll by Williams and Associates, Nigerians see that the percentage of voters who have indicated their interest to vote in next week’s election has gone up 17.4% (from 63% in 2015 to 74% in 2019), representing a 11% increase in voter turnout against what it was in 2015. When we apply this to the 2019 registered voter base of 84 million we get to a total of 40.4 million votes to be cast on February 16.”

He explained that even if it was assumed that Buhari’s 12 million votes had not been depleted, then he would get 29.7% of the estimated 40.4 million 2019 vote which makes it impossible for him to win the election.

Expatiating on the Williams and Associates poll, Atiku said even in the highly unlikely event that other candidates in the presidential race get a total of 3 million votes then that would mean Atiku would get 25.4m votes (40.4m – 12m – 3m) which would give him a 63% share of the vote by the APC’s own reckoning.

The PDP Presidential Candidate said that it would be impossible for any party even in Soviet era Russia to rig an election on the scale it would take to overturn this result. “We also note that the Williams & Associates poll not only predicted an Atiku win, but it demonstrated in unmistaken terms that 42% more Nigerians believe that Atiku will be the next president over Buhari,” Atiku said.

According to the forecast by Williams and Associates, “the majority of voters in Buhari’s own geopolitical zone of the north-west believe Atiku will win, as do the voters in every other single geopolitical region, every age group and every religion”. The pollster said the belief that Atiku will win by a landslide also holds true amongst APC supporters by a margin of 56% to 38%, showing even amongst Buhari’s own faithful believe he would be defeated.

Atiku therefore implored voters to come out on election day and ensure that yheir votes coibt. “I urge you to go out and vote, bring our friends and family and endeavor to remain behind until all the votes are counted and the results are announced to ensure that their votes count,” he said.

The former vice president also said: “Muhammadu Buhari you gained power via free and fair elections under the auspices of a PDP President who also stood down peacefully when the result was announced. I trust you will show the Nigerian people the respect to do the same in just one week’s time.”

SDP endorses Buhari as Ezekwesili’s group adopts Atiku.

ALL Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate President Muhammadu Buhari and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenger Atiku Abubakar yesterday got support. President Buhari was adopted by the Social Democratic (SDP) and the Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili-led civil society group, the Red Card Movement (RCM) pledged allegiance to the former vice president.

The SDP adoption of Buhari took place in Abuja after the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting where a communique was issued and adopted by council members who were at the meeting. The party’s NEC explained why it took the decision. It National Chairman Chief Olu Falae was absent.

The communique read by the SDP National Vice Chairman Abdul Ahmed Ishaq said: “It is in view of all this that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the SDP has resolved to adopt President Mohammadu Buhari and Vice Presidential candidate Prof. Yemi Osibanjo of the APC as candidates of the party for the 2019 presidential election.

“Consequently, all members of the party are hereby enjoined to vote for President Buhari of the APC at the presidential election coming up on Saturday 16 February 2019.

 “The NEC noted and expressed happiness that the party’s candidates for various offices namely the State Houses of Assembly, the House of Representatives, the Senate and governorship offices are campaigning vigorously nationwide and their presence and impacts are being felt everywhere. “NEC calls on all our candidates throughout the country not to relent but must work even harder as we approach the finishing line.

NEC also promised to support our candidates in every way possible to ensure their decisive victory at the polls. “The NEC also, expressed regret that since the end of the National Convention of the party held in Abuja on October 6, 2018 and the emergence of Donald Duke as the presidential candidate, the party has been enmeshed in litigations which have significantly sapped our energy. time and resources.

“With less than ten days before the Presidential election, our great party is caught up in a web with very little room for manoeuver. The options before us at this critical juncture are limited: we either realign our forces or we loose out completely “Whatever the dangers and demerits of political alignments, it is far better than to go on alone at this point as it will, in the end, disenfranchise our members.

With the multitude of parties in the race for the crucial Presidency of the country, it has become imperative for engagements and strategic collaboration between and among parties that are strongly committed to the Nigerian ideal so that the future of our great country is not doomed.

“A number of political parties have approached the SDP for collaboration during the forthcoming elections. However, after extensive deliberations, NEC noted that the party that comes close to and nearly shares the social democratic and progressive ideals and values of the SDP is the APC.

“After further weighing the options and reviewing the political situation in the country, NEC was convinced that with the SDP and the APC working together.” At the NEC meeting were Prof. Tunde Adeniran National (Vice Chairman, South), Prof. Rufia Alkali (Deputy (National Vice Chairman, Northeast), Emeka Atuma (National Organising Secretary) and Shehu Gabam (National Secretary).

The RCM adoption of the PDP candidate was a departure from the group’s initial position under Ezekwesili whereby it issued a Red Card to the PDP and the ruling APC. Ezekwesili resigned from the group to contest the presidential election on the platform of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) but withdrew from the race a few days ago.

At a public declaration in Abuja yesterday, RCM’s co-Chairman, Dr. Tony Akabuno, said the decision to endorse Atiku was informed by the failure of the APC to fulfill its campaign promises to Nigerians. “We have come today to tell the world and our members, that the state champions, the co-chair (Dr.Tony Akabuno) and other co-conveners have dissociated from Oby Ezekwesili and today declare support for the Atiku/ Obi ticket,” he said.

Source- Nation