Tribunal begins sitting, strikes out APC’s application

The Ekiti Election Petition Tribunal yesterday began sitting amidst tight security to commence hearing on the suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the conduct of the June 21 governorship election in the State.

Armed policemen barricaded the dual carriage way that links Fajuyi Park with Basiri side of the capital city while the sitting going on.

"check the behaviour of politicians" says Fayose

 

The governor-elect of Ekiti state, Mr Ayo Fayose, has called on INEC and security agencies to brace up ahead of the 2015 general elections to check the behaviour of politicians..
Fayose made the call on Thursday in Abuja at a forum of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that politicians are predisposed to playing’ rough’.
“Politicians are not good. It is the referee that controls the game. When you get to the field every potential politician wants to play rough, it is the referee that checks the excesses of all of us.

I don't recognize Professor Olawale Oladipo as PDP National Secretary

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Wednesday told a Federal High Court in Lagos that it does not recognise Professor Olawale Oladipo as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

APC promise to re-strategise for future election

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that it will re-strategise for future elections after Saturday’s defeat of its candidate and incumbent governor Kayode Fayemi.

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu congratulate Mr. Ayodele Fayose on his victory.

Deputy Senate  President Ike Ekweremadu, has congratulated the winner of the Ekiti State governorship election, Mr. Ayodele Fayose on his victory.

"APC has little or no faith in the promises and commitment of the PDP"

Newly elected national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief John Oyegun was yesterday inaugurated with other members of the party’s new National Working Committee (NWC).

Oyegun in a speech at the inauguration said the APC has little or no faith in the promises and commitment of the PDP led government to conduct a free and fear election in Ekiti.
 He said with the recent development beginning from attacks on APC members and other tactics, there is a need for explanation by the PDP on its intentions during the Ekiti elections.
“The All Progressives Congress, APC, will not accept the outcome of the election in Ekiti unless the authorities provide convincing explanations to the series of questionable developments in recent times,” he said.
The chairman said his  first message to President Goodluck Jonathan is to discontinue the dangerous trend being pursued by the PDP as the fall out  will be disastrous for Nigeria’s democracy.

The 2015 elections and Permanent voters’ cards

Prof. Attahiru Jega

                                                                                                                                                               The promise by INEC to issue permanent voters’ cards ahead of the 2015 elections is coming to pass with the commencement of issuance of the cards this week. Our correspondent looks at the process and INEC’s preparedness for 2015.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will on Friday, commence the distribution of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in some selected states of the federation.
The permanent voters’ card would replace the current temporary document issued few days to elections which remains valid for only specific elections period.
The distribution of the PVCs is expected to precede the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the pilot states.

NDC calls senate to approve the extension of emergency rule

 

National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on the Senate to approve the extension of emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States in line with the House of Representatives stressing that the extension would save lives.

In a press statement issued to newsmen yesterday in Abuja by its national coordinator, Prince Humphrey Benson Ogbuehi, the group explained that extension of emergency rule in the three states would enable security agents and foreign nations assisting Nigeria to rescue the over 200 abducted girls.

IBB gives advise Politicians To Be Careful And Responsible In Conduct during campaign

 

As Nigerians prepare to go to the polls in 2015 to elect leaders in the forthcoming general elections, former military head of state, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida yesterday warned politicians to desist from engaging in acts capable of setting the country on the path of anarchy.

The former military president, who gave the warning in Kaduna while speaking at the presentation ceremony of two books written by the Director-General of the National Teachers Institute (NTI), Kaduna, Dr Aminu Ladan Sharehu, said politicians must not heat up the polity in their bid to gain acceptance.
He added that “politics is a game that produces a winner and not all contestants will emerge victorious at the polls; therefore, losers must learn to accept defeat with grace and prepare for another race someday”.
Represented by Brigadier General Dantsoho Mohammed (rtd), IBB as he is fondly called, said that as the campaign for 2015 gathers steam, an overheated polity will produce nothing other than chaos in the land.
His words, “I wish to advise politicians to be careful and responsible as they start their campaign train

Rigging: harvest of accusations of Ekiti’s candidate

Fayemi, Jega and Fayose

In this report,PUNCH examines the counter accusations among political parties in Ekiti of plots to rig the June 21 governorship election in the state

Who is planning to rig the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State? This is the question on the lips of many residents of Ekiti as the governorship election gets nearer. There have been counter-accusations among political parties on plots to rig the election in the past few weeks. The principal actors are the ruling All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.

First to fire the salvo last Monday was the campaign team of the incumbent governor, Kayode Fayemi, who is the governorship candidate of the APC in the forthcoming election

Confab Delegate to Jonathan, INEC : To Postpone 2015 Elections by 18 months

A Delegate representing the South South geo- political Zone of the country at the on- going National Conference, Chief Okon Osung has called on the Federal government and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to postpone the proposed 2015 general and Presidential elections by at least eighteen (18) months, just as he said that the nation’s democracy must be preserved. Addressing Journalists in Abuja yesterday, Okon Osung noted that with the present Nigeria’s National history and the insecurity challenges with Boko Haram engaging in massive killings of persons and wanton destruction of property in some parts of the country as well as cases of kidnapping, holding elections February next year was no longer feasible as it has become imperative for Nigeria to have a declaration of a Presidential

Electoral violence in Ekiti worries INEC –REC

Is INEC not worried by the spate of attacks among supporters of various political parties participating in the Ekiti governorship  election?

The spate of violence and attacks during rallies and campaign is really a matter of concern to us at INEC, but we know that violence is a characteristic of elections in Nigeria. Politicians always devise strategies to outsmart each other especially during campaigns and elections. But there are provisions of the Electoral Act that guide campaigns and rallies and if our political parties and candidates adhere to these rules, attacks will not occur. For example, there is a section that forbids politicians to use abusive language and insinuations. Campaigns should be strictly on issues. During a campaign, you are not allowed to carry weapons. Also, there are places where you are not supposed to campaign. Campaigns are not allowed at  places of worship like churches  and mosques. People in masquerades

19 Kwankwaso groups join Sumaila guber team

Nineteen pro-Governor Rabiu kwankwaso groups have merged to support the gubernatorial aspiration of Rep. Kawu Sumaila.

Declaring their solidarity yesterday, chairman of the coalition tagged ‘Kawuya Sumailiyya forum’, Fa’izu Alfindiki ,said they decided to rally round Kawu Sumaila

FG must speak with one voice on Boko Haram – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the federal government to stop making contradictory statements and speak with one voice on issues concerning the ongoing efforts to find and rescue the schools girls abducted by Boko Haram.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by its interim national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the conflicting statements credited to top government officials over the conditions

Cracks in PDM as Hanga group threatens ‘pull out’

Pioneer national chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Senator Rufai Hanga has threatened to pull out of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) over alleged high handedness and marginalization.

Hanga’s spokesman Chief Dennis Aghanya, said yesterday in Abuja that when the CPC faction that did not merge with the APC joined the PDM in October 2013, it was done after consultations and extensive discussions with the leadership of the PDM.
“Our first shocker came during the courtesy visit by members of our party from the South East zone to the national secretariat. In course of discussions, leaders of the PDM

INEC technically prepared for 2015, says Jega

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, yesterday said, the commission is technically prepared to conduct acceptable elections.

He said with the series of reforms and innovations

INEC to begin issuing permanent voters card in Benue

The Independent National  Electoral Commission (INEC) has indicated its readiness to commence issuance of permanent voters cards (PVC) in Benue and nine other states.

State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Baba Abba Yusuf, told journalists in Makurdi yesterday that the exercise would hold on May 23 to pave way for the continuous voters registration (CVR)

‘APC will lose Nasarawa if it fields Al-Makura in 2015’

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nurudeen Omar, has said the party would lose in the governorship election in Nasarawa State if it allows the incumbent governor, Alhaji Tanko Umaru Al-Makura to contest as its candidate.

Omar who spoke to newsmen in Jos said: “Al-Makura is killing the party in the state. The APC is growing stronger at the centre but getting weaker in Nasarawa State