Anxiety in Ekiti over Supreme Court judgment

All was tense yesterday in Ekiti State ahead of today’s Supreme Court judgment in the suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the election of Governor Ayo Fayose.

The legal dispute is on the June 21, 2014 governorship election, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Fayose, who ran on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), winner.

The electoral agency credited Fayose with 203,090 votes. The APC candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, scored 120,433 votes.

Fayemi conceded defeat to Fayose but his party (APC) went to court, complaining of intimidation of its members and militarisation of the poll. Besides, the APC questioned Fayose’s qualification for the election.

Fayose’s election was affirmed by the Election Petition Tribunal led by Justice Mohammed Sirajo, on December 19, last year.

The APC proceeded to the Court of Appeal but lost again as an Appeal Panel chaired by Justice Abdu Aboki on February 16 upheld Fayose’s election.

Although the APC lost at the Appeal Court, the court found merit in the party’s claim that the military was used to intimidate its leaders and members before and during the election.

The court ruled that it is illegal to deploy the military for election duties.

Undeterred by its loss in the Appeal Court, the APC went to the apex court, to challenge Fayose’s victory.

Fayose, in a broadcast, urged residents to maintain the peace.

He expressed appreciation to the people for voting for his party at last Saturday’s House of Assembly polls.

Fayose said the victory had confirmed that the PDP’s winning streak, which started with last year’s governorship poll, was not a fluke and that he is not holding a stolen mandate as alleged by his opponents.

The governor expressed confidence that he would overcome his travails, adding that the plot to remove him will not succeed.

Some residents have been reacting to the impending judgment.

A State Local Government Service Commission official said what was paramount to him is the peaceful coexistence of residents.

A farmer, Mr. Sunday Adelowo, said he did not believe that people should nurse anxiety over the judgment since the Tribunal and the Appeal Court had earlier ruled in Fayose’s favour.

Policemen remained on guard yesterday at various places in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital where they have been since the outbreak of the impeachment crisis last week.

The APC in Ekiti State has raised the alarm over alleged plans by members of the PDP to attack its members and supporters on Tuesday if the Supreme Court judgment threatens Fayose ‘s position.

APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun said in a statement that the party had uncovered plans to burn down houses of APC leaders and harm members and supporters if the judgment is not favourable to the governor.

Jonathan Mourns Tamuno

President Goodluck Jonathan has commiserated with the Tamuno Family of Okrika and the people of Rivers State on the death of their famous son and one of the country’s most renowned historians, Prof. Tekena Tamuno. The President, in a statement signed by his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, joined them in mourning the first rate intellectual, academician and historian who stood out for many years as one of the very best of his generation.

President Jonathan believes that the late Prof. Tamuno, who was also a seasoned administrator, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan and notable public servant, will be long remembered and honoured for his very significant contributions to national development over several decades. The Nigerian nation, the President notes, particularly owes the departed Professor a huge debt of gratitude for his immense efforts in helping to document the history of the country’s foundation, growth and development for posterity.

As they mourn the former President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, President Jonathan urges his family, friends, associates and generations of students, within and outside the country, to also give thanks to God Almighty for his long and very fulfilled life of shining and enduring accomplishments. The President prays that Almighty God will comfort all who mourn Prof. Tamuno and grant his gentle soul eternal rest.

Elections: APC wins 19 states as PDP takes seven

The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday consolidated its hold on the political landscape, winning some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) strongholds as more governorship election results were announced.

The party won in Plateau, Benue, Niger, Adamawa and Kebbi states that were held by the PDP. Besides, it retained Nasarawa and Borno states.

The PDP won in Delta and Cross River states. Its ‘victory’ in Rivers, announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday – like the one in Akwa Ibom on Sunday – is in dispute.

Results from Taraba, Abia and Imo states were declared inconclusive by the electoral agency.

In Adamawa, APC candidate Jibrilla Mohammed Bindow won with 362,329 votes. Markus Gundiri of Social Democratic Party (SDP) with 181,806 came second.

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu of the PDP came third with 98,917.

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Dr Ahmed Modibbo, scored 32,985 votes.

APC candidate Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar won the Jigawa governoship seat. He scored 648,045 votes to beat the PDP candidate, Alhaji Aminu Ibrahim Ringim, who got 479,447 votes.

Ben Ayade of the PDP won in Cross River State. He defeated Odey Ochicha of the APC with 342,016 to 53, 983. Labour Party candidate Fidelis Ugbo scored 36, 918.

In Benue State, APC candidate Samuel Ortom polled 422,932 to defeat PDP candidate Terhemen Tarzoor who took 313,878 votes.

A one-time speaker of the House of Assembly, Simon Lalong, is the Plateau State governor-elect. He polled 564,627 to defeat Senator Gyan Pwajok of the PDR, who scored 520,913 votes.

Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura of the APC retains his seat by defeating his closest rival and former Minister of Information Labaran Maku of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Al Makura polled 309,746 votes to Maku’s 178,983. PDP candidate Yusuf Agabi polled 119,782.

Al – Makura said: “My victory is victory for all the people of Nasarawa State. It is victory for all the people that contested with me because by their participation in this exercise they have endured due diligence in the process of democracy and I think they should also be appreciated for having faith in the system to participate in it.

“I believe all of us are working towards one goal for the purpose of taking this state to the next level for the betterment of the people of the state.”

APC candidate Abubakar Sani Bello won in Niger State. He scored 593,702 votes against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Umar Nasko with 239, 772 votes.

Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima of APC polled 649,913 to beat Gambo Lawan of PDP who scored 34,771 votes.

In Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa polled 724,680 votes to beat Chief Great Ogboru of Labour Party who won 130,028 votes. Chief O’tega Emerhor of APC garnered 67,825 votes. Okowa won in 21 of the 25 local government areas. Ogboru clinched the remaining four. Kebbi State Governor-elect is Senator Atiku Bagudu, who scored 477,376 votes to defeat PDP candidate Gen. Sarkin Bello, who scored 293,443 votes.

Former Minister of State for Education and PPD candidate Nyesom Wike was declared winner of the Rivers governorship elections.

INEC Returning Officer Prof. Faraday Orumwense, said he polled 1,029,102 votes.

He said Dr. Dakuku Peterside, of the APC scored 124,896 votes. LP candidate Tonye Princewill polled 10,142 votes.

Election in Emohua, one of the 23 local government areas, was cancelled, having been marred by violence, according to the INEC officer in charge of the area.

The result showed that the PDP won 25 seats in the House of Assembly elections. The APC won a seat while the exercise was inconclusive in six constituencies.

INEC yesterday declared as “inconclusive”, the governorship election in Taraba State.

The commission ordered a rerun in some polling units.

The candidate of the PDP Darius Dickson Ishaku won in nine local governments areas with 317,198 votes. Hajia Aisha Alhassan of the APC won six local government areas, scoring 262,386 votes.

The Returning Officer, Prof. Mohammed Kyari, said since the number of cancelled votes was more than the number of the difference in votes (margin) between PDP and APC, there was need to reconduct the election in the affected areas.

Kyari said: “Since the number of the cancelled votes is more than the difference between the two leading parties, the election in Taraba State is therefore inconclusive.”

INEC said it cancelled the polls in those areas because of irregularities and pockets of violence.

The PDP is leading with 54,812 votes. The number of the cancelled votes in all the affected polling units is 127,125.

INEC said there would be rerun in Donga Local Government Area and some polling units in Chanchanji Ward in Takum “where votes were rejected”.

The rerun in Donga will hold across the entire 165 polling units, which the PDP earlier claimed to have won.

INEC also declared the Imo State governorship election inconclusive.

Returning Officer Prof. Oye Ibidapo- Obe, said APC candidate Rochas Okorocha is leading with 385,071 votes to his PDP rival Emeka Ihedioha with 306,142 votes.

According to the Returning Officer, the election was declared inconclusive because the total number of votes in areas where election could not hold was higher than the margin between the two leading candidates.

The APC candidate is ahead with 79,0529 votes. The number of votes in the affected areas is 144,715.

Prof. Ibidapo-Obe said the results could not be authenticated and a winner declared, until rerun election was held in the places were results were cancelled.

Then units are scattered across the state with the bulk in six Wards out of the 10 in Oru East local government area.

In Abia, PDP candidate Okezie Ikpeazu is leading with 248,459. APGA’s Dr Alex Otti has 165,406 votes. The election was declared inconclusive last night by Returning Officer Prof. Benjamin Ozumba.

Prof Ozumba said there were 179,224 potential voters who were accredited but could not vote due to various reasons including violence. He said the number is higher than the difference between the leading candidate and the second placed candidate. Ikpeazu is leading Otti with 83,053 votes.

Protest Rocks Owerri Over Poll Result

Thousands of angry supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday, demonstrated against what they tagged `irregularities’ which they alleged marred April 11, governorship and state assembly elections in Imo State. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the governorship election in the state inconclusive after some wards and polling units were cancelled in 23 local government areas of the state. The demonstrators, mostly youths, and women blocked one lane of Okigwe Road, Owerri, directly in front of PDP state secretariat, carrying placards with various inscriptions. Some of the placards read; Okorocha Must Go. INEC Should Allow The Mandate of Emeka Ihedioha. Imo People Are Tired Of Okorocha’s Fraudulent System and PDP Is The Winner of April 11 Polls in Imo among others. The youths, who came from various parts of the state, said they were in Owerri to demonstrate against irregularities that characterized last Saturday polls. Spokesman of the group, who gave his name as Livinus Njoku, told journalists that the result of the election being announced by the INEC did not reflect the true results collated by parties that took part in the exercise.

According to him, “PDP’s candidate, Emeka Ihedioha won with a landslide. We institutionalized a mechanism to collate the results the way people voted, but that did not conform to what INEC announced from various local government areas which made them declare the election inconclusive”, he said. Njoku said it was surprised that rather than INEC to allow the Imo electorate to decide who governs them, its officials in the state decided to abridge the process by not only changing the figures, but as well declare the exercise inconclusive. He explained that the mission at the PDP office was to get go ahead order from the leadership of PDP before they could demonstrate to INEC state office and major streets in Owerri. Addressing the aggrieved protesters, the state chairman of PDP, Chief Nnamdi Anyaehie, regretted that APC supporters hijacked ballot boxes, snatched ballot papers and changed elections results from different locations across the state. He said the party got series of reports where APC supporters snatched ballot boxes, promoted violence and other sundry misconducts during the April 11 polls across Imo.

The PDP boss therefore called on the PDP supporters to be calm and act responsibly, noting that the PDP had raised a formal protest to INEC on the Irregularities that characterized the conduct of April 11 polls in the state. ` “All we are advising is that everybody should return to his or her home since PDP has already written a protest letter to INEC and we hope something will be done. “As responsible citizens, we don’t need to take laws into our hands, we must allow the law to take its course’’, he said. Although Anyaehie said that his party was yet to take position on the outcome of Imo governorship election, he prayed that the interlude provided by the commission would enable INEC to unravel series of fraud perpetrated by the APC as well as calm frayed nerves. Reacting however to the development, Director General of Rochas Okorocha Campaign Organisation, Mr. Iheukwumere Alaribe, dismissed the claim by PDP that INEC and APC manipulated the election results. Alaribe, who spoke at a press briefing, said “what PDP is doing is a mere pretentious claim; they are actually the party that promoted fraud during the elections on Saturday. “In Mbaise, for example, PDP governorship candidate did not score up to 200, 000 votes, but they engaged men from Aguleri who wore red uniforms to intimidate and harass people during the elections”, he alleged.

He also accused the INEC and security agencies of conniving to rig the election in favour of the PDP, accusing the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Gabriel Ada, of being a card carrying member of the PDP. “The REC is an interested party. That is why INEC was the greatest rival the APC had during the election. “But I want to tell you that both the INEC and PDP underestimated the popularity of Governor Rochas Okorocha. That is why the PDP youths are demonstrating against the INEC for failing to declare Ihedioha winner either by hook or crook”, he said. When contacted on the allegation that INEC compromised, Mr Elias Osim, Head Voter Education and Public Enlightenment, INEC, Owerri said that the commission would address press conference on the matter later in the week. “For now, I do not have the mandate to speak on that issue, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Gabriel Ada just left for Abuja and will address a press conference as soon as he returns on Wednesday”.

Winners Should Be Magnanimous –Abubakar

Former Military Head of State, General Abdulsalami A. Abubakar (rtd.) has advised contestants of the Saturday Governorship and House of Assembly election nationwide to carry along losers in the polls so as to give them a sense of belonging as stakeholders to promote the country’s democracy. Abdulsalami who gave the advice shortly after his accreditation on Saturday, along with his wife, the Chief Justice of Niger State , Hon. Justice Fati Lami Abubakar at the Up Hill Polling Unit near his country home, in Minna Niger State capital said the gesture will promote the country’s nascent democracy.

Our correspondent, reports that   the former leader arrived the polling unit along sides his wife in a black colour Nissan Maxima at exactly 11:02am, said in an interaction with newsmen that he was impressed to see the accreditation of the registered voters at the polling unit going very smoothly and fast while others who were yet to be accredited conducted themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner .

He stated “I also want to seize this opportunity to thank God for the relative peace in the country especially since the commencement of the general elections. My appeal to the registered voters is that they should vote for candidates of their choice whom they can hold accountable for his stewardship in office”.

Answering question on the   candidature of the president-elect, as representing the interest of the Nigerian military, he said, “His Excellency, General Muhammadu Buhari came in his private capacity as a Nigerian to join the political party of his choice, he contested and won the election based on his personal recognition and the trust reposed in him by the Nigerian people.

Therefore, it is an idle for anyone talk to classify him as a candidate of the Military class” said Abubakar . Meanwhile, the Governorship and the House of Assembly election in Niger State recorded low turnout compared to the enthusiasm expressed by eligible voters during the presidential election in the state. Our correspondent who monitored the exercise in Bida, Lavun Edati, Lemu, and Wushishi Local Government Areas reports that INEC officials arrived polling unit with all sensitive and non-sensitive materials while eligible voters   were seen conducting themselves in an orderly manner during the accreditation period.

The report added that except in Wuya polling unit in Edati Local Government were up to 11am none of the prospective voters were accredited due to miss up in the card-reader which was alleged to have been taken to Gajetu, however the polling officer Ngozika Okeke had explained that she reported the development to the electoral officer who has promised to sort out the miss-up.

Tinubu Blames Low Turnout On Insecurity

The National leader of All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has blamed lack of adequate security for low turnout of voters during the government elections on Saturday. Tinubu stated this while casting his votes at polling unit 047 near his residence at Iyala Street, Alausa, Lagos. The presence of media personnel both local and foreign media was preventing smooth voting process and he pleaded with the officials of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow him cast his votes first to allow other voters space to vote.

He eventually casted his at exactly 1.30pm. He argued that an Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police has taken over the function of Commissioner of Police in Lagos. “If you observe few days ago, there were sporadic shootings across the state and people were scared to come out and exercise their civic responsibility,” he said.

At the polling unit where Tinubu voted, 520 accredited voters were recorded while the voting process commenced at exactly 1.30pm Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to Governor Raji Fashola on Education, Hon. Fatai Olukoga, assured the APC of delivery his ward to the party. He stated this while casting his vote at Olukoga ward A1 Ikorodu West LCDA, polling unit 026. in Ikorodu, Lagos.

Abuja (AFP) – “Few would have believed that the taciturn, austere General Buhari had a soft, smiling and sweet woman at home,” the Vanguard daily said after the former military ruler was elected Nigeria’s next president.

Aisha Buhari remained in the shadows for most of the election campaign but could now impose a very different style from the current First Lady at the presidential villa Aso Rock in Abuja.

Little is known for now about the First Lady elect other than a few details in the Nigerian media: she is 44, married her 72-year-old husband in 1989 after he divorced his first wife the previous year, and they have five children together.

“I met Aisha Buhari three times, and she seems to be a very humble person, very friendly and a good listener,” said lawyer Ebere Ifendu, head of the Women in Politics Forum group in Abuja.

The current First Lady, Patience Jonathan, wife of the outgoing president Goodluck Jonathan, has a very different public profile.

She is well-known to journalists and mimicked by comedians for her boisterous public appearances as well as political and financial scandals.

“Patience has been like a bull in a china shop. No control whatsoever,” said Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, head of the Nigeria Network of NGOs.

“We are very hopeful that we will have a very different First Lady, who will bring calm and harmony at the presidency.”

– Calm and relief –

In the large house in a residential area of Abuja where her husband Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was watching election results come in, Aisha Buhari’s calm demeanour contrasted with the tumultuous scenes outside.

The official vote count was under way and the electoral commission was drip-feeding results for the presidential election state by state until Buhari took an unassailable lead.

The APC high command announced victory for their candidate and the news spread around the country, sparking scenes of jubilation, notably in the north’s biggest city, Kano.

Dressed in a cream-coloured tunic and an orange and pink embroidered headscarf, Aisha Buhari seemed calm and also relieved, despite the magnitude of what had just happened and what was to come.

“The long journey has come to an end,” she told AFP, referring to the election campaign.

But she admitted to “mixed feelings” about the campaign, a low-key reference to the low blows and personal attacks aimed at her husband from the ruling party.

Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused Buhari, a northern Muslim, of supporting radical Islam, of failing to secure his secondary school certificate and even having terminal cancer.

Aisha Buhari preferred instead to talk about the positive aspects of the rollercoaster ride that had led Nigeria to its first democratic transfer of power between parties at the ballot box.

Nigeria had nothing to fear from her husband, she said.

“I know him personally. Not as a leader of Nigeria. I know him as my husband and I think Nigeria should feel comfortable with him. He will get there,” she added.

– ‘Mama Peace’ –

Patience Jonathan for her part tended to add fuel to the flames during the campaign, going as far as urging PDP supporters to “stone” anyone shouting “change” — the APC campaign slogan.

The comments sparked outrage in the APC and led to a furious debate in the Nigerian media.

Patience Jonathan — who styled herself “Mama peace” — is used to media scandals.

Even before the election of her husband as head of state in 2011, she was suspected by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in 2006 of having laundered a vast sum of money.

In 2012, she became “permanent secretary” of the oil-producing southern state of Bayelsa, where Goodluck Jonathan is from and was a former governor.

The opposition heavily criticised the appointment, decrying “nepotism” and “favouritism”.

She also attracted the ire of civil society when in the aftermath of the mass kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls in April last year, one of the leaders of the “Bring Back Our Girls” movement was arrested after meeting the First Lady at the presidential villa.

“Maybe she misunderstood her role as the First Lady,” suggested Ifendu.

“There’s no official role for the First Lady in Nigeria. It’s not in the constitution,” added Ransome-Kuti.

Instead, it often depends on what weight the president gives it.

“What we are hoping for is more decorum from the office of the First Lady,” she said

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Anxiety in Ekiti over Supreme Court judgment

Anxiety in Ekiti over Supreme Court judgment