Saturday 7 February 2015

INEC Officially Shifts Nigeria’s Election Date To March 28 And April 11

In the new schedule announced on Saturday by the Chairman of the commission, Professor Attahiru Jega said that the Presidential Election will hold on March 28 while the Governorship election will hold on April 11.

Professor Jega said that the commission had had wide range consultations with relevant stakeholders before the decision was taken.

He said that the decision of the commission was in the interest of Nigeria’s democracy.

http://www.channelstv.com/2015/02/07/electoral-body-sifts-nigerias-election-date-march-28-april-11/

Presidency hopeful Buhari expects 'landslide victory'

More News

Presidency hopeful Buhari expects 'landslide victory'

Nigerian presidential candidate of the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari and vice-presidential candidate Yemi Osinbajo attend a campaign rally on January 19, 2015 in Kaduna. Buhari will face President Goodluck Jonathan ~ CHRIS STEIN

Abuja - Nigeria's main opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari on Friday told AFP he was expecting to win next week's presidential election by a wide margin, despite talk of a close race.
The February 14 poll, in which he is challenging incumbent Goodluck Jonathan, has been seen as too close to call, leading to a possible run-off if neither man secures a first-round majority.
But Buhari, 72, dismissed the suggestion of a tight race, saying in an interview: "What's their reason for 'too close to call'? What is their speculation on? I'm expecting a landslide victory."
The former army general, who led a military government for 20 months after seizing power in December 1983, has stood unsuccessfully for the presidency three times in the last 16 years.
On each occasion (2003, 2007, 2011), he alleged electoral foul-play.
But asked if he would accept defeat this time around, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate stated: "I'm not going to lose. So, I won't answer that question."

Also read: History of Buhari
Nigeria's main opposition is considered as having its best chance yet of ending the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) unbroken run in power since the country returned to civilian rule in 1999.
Buhari, who was noted for his hardline approach to indiscipline and corruption during his time in power, has been touted as the answer to Nigeria's lengthy list of problems.
The PDP has sought to portray Buhari as yesterday's man with dangerous, outdated ideas but he asserted that Africa's most populous nation and leading economy was ready for change.
"I have visited 34 states so far. In each of the states there are three things that are consistent, that are fundamental issues to this country, insecurity, the destruction of the economy and corruption," he said.
"Every Nigerian is feeling worried."

No iron fists?
Buhari rejected claims from the ruling party that he would rule again with an iron fist, saying the circumstances under a military regime were different from a civilian administration.
Multi-party democracy and the three tiers of government, enshrined in the constitution, had to be respected, with consequences for anyone acting outside the system, he said.
The APC has portrayed President Jonathan as weak on security and of being unable -- some say unwilling -- to end the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast.
Some soldiers have complained that they lack the weapons and even bullets to fight the better-armed militants, despite defence spending accounting for some 20 percent of the federal budget.
Buhari said that if elected, his administration would "empower the law enforcement agencies to be much more efficient".
"The first thing we will do is to make sure there is efficient utilisation of resources. If money is voted for equipment and training, that money will go to equipment and training," he added.
The APC has claimed that Jonathan has failed to tackle endemic graft and Buhari said corruption was practically "a culture" in the country.
"I believe the most serious thing to do is to draw a line, that you intend to move forward," he said but added that investigating every allegation of corruption would be a hindrance to progress.
"From the day we are sworn in as a government, anybody who abuses trust will be called to account," he added.

- AFP

Jonathan bribing small parties to accept shift in polls

More News

Jonathan bribing small parties to accept shift in polls

Abuja - Ahead of Saturday’s meeting between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and registered political parties, the presidency is allegedly bribing smaller parties to push for the postponement of the general elections, reports Premium Times.

Government officials on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan have been reaching out to the smaller parties and offering them between $30 000 and $50 000 to vote for the shifting of the election.

The parties are being told to push for at least six weeks extension.

Aside, the parties, the Presidency is also reaching out reaching out to the resident electoral commissioners, who will also hold a separate meeting with the INEC Chairman, Prof attahiru Jega on Saturday.

The commissioners are also being offered incentives to call for the postponement of the elections.

Read more at Premium Times.

26 000 PDP members in Yobe State defect APC

More News

26 000 PDP members in Yobe State defect APC

Damaturu - Over 26 000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Yobe State have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), reports Thisday.

The PDP members who defected cut across seven of 17 local government areas of the state.

The seven local governments are Damaturu, Tarmuwa, Yunusari, Nangere. Gulani, Geidam and Bursari.

The Speaker of the Yobe State House of Assembly , Adamu Dala Dogo, who received the defectors said the APC would carry them along in its entire programmes noting that they will never regret leaving the PDP.

Those who defected included all the chairmen of the PDP in the seven local government and all the Local Government executives.

Read more at Thisday

INEC achieves 95% PVCs distribution in Gombe

More News

INEC achieves 95% PVCs distribution in Gombe

A ballot box filled with ballot is pictured before being counted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at a polling station in Yenagoa in Bayelsa State ~ PIUS UTOMI EKPEI

Gombe - The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Friday that despite the insecurity challenges in the North East, it had achieved a 95 percent distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Gombe State.

Giving the breakdown of the distribution at a workshop organised for stakeholders in the state, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Kassim Gaidamm, disclosed that the Commission had so far distributed 967 000 PVCs to registered voters in the state, saying the figure represents about 95 percent of the 1 141 200 earmarked for the entire state.

Gaidam, who urged the people of the state to come and collect the few remaining PVCs in order to enable them exercise their franchise, noted that the massive enlightenment campaign embarked upon by the Commission was responsible for the success so far recorded.

He however pleaded with residents of Akko and Gombe Local Government Areas of the state to collect their cards, disclosing that they have the highest number of unclaimed permanent voter cards.

“We have distributed a total of 967 000 permanent voter cards now. For those who have not received their own, they should please do so. I specifically appeal to our brothers and sisters in Akko and Gombe Local Government Areas to quickly come forward, because they have the highest number of unclaimed cards,” Gaidam said.

Speaking on the stakeholders’ workshop, the REC said it was organised, to further inform participants on the level of preparations for the forth-coming elections as he disclosed that 15 political parties would be participating in the elections in Gombe State, with only three of them fielding governorship candidates.

In his remarks at the occasion, the state Governor, Dr. Ibrahim Dankwambo, expressed gratitude to INEC for organising the workshop, which, according to him , was very enriching.

Urging politicians to be persuasive and shun violence before, during and after the elections, Dankwambo called on the electorate to be extra vigilant on the days of election, to check the activities of those he described as desperate terrorists.

- NAN

INEC weighs six-week election delay: lawmakers

More News

INEC weighs six-week election delay: lawmakers

Supporters ride in a campaign bus of leading opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate Mohammadu Buhari and his running mate Yemi Osinbajo as they drive past a campaign poster of Nigerian President and candidate to his re-elect ~ PIUS UTOMI EKPEI

Abuja - INEC met on Saturday to discuss the possibility of a minimum six-week delay to voting on security grounds, lawmakers said.
Bashir Yusuf, head of the smaller opposition Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), said the closed-door talks at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had been about postponement.
"The main agenda of the meeting (was) for the political parties to advise INEC on the basis of a request made by the national security advisor that the military is engaged in certain sensitive operations in the northeastern part of the country and that because of this it will be unable to provide adequate security for the elections," he told reporters.
"On the basis of that the national security advisor has requested INEC to consider rescheduling the elections for at least a period of six weeks."
INEC chairman Attahiru Jega had earlier only said that the meeting was called to give delegates information on "new developments" in the organisation of the February 14 poll.
Jega has been under pressure to announce a delay to the presidential and parliamentary poll because not all of the 68.8 million registered voters have received their cards.
The national secretary of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wale Oladipo, said they would "abide by any decision taken by INEC".
But Yusuf said that some parties present at the meeting, including the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), were against any delay.
The PDP's President Goodluck Jonathan has been pushed hard by the APC's Muhammadu Buhari, with predictions that the result is too close to call.

- AFP

21 INEC Resident Commissioners Reject Postponement Of Elections - Politics

Twenty one Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, have rejected a proposal to postpone Nigeria’s general elections billed for February 14 and 28.

In a vote conducted Saturday by the INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega, after he met with political parties and the civil society, 21 RECs said the elections should continue as planned while 16 others voted in support of a reschedule.

Nigeria has 37 RECs, each for a state and the Federal Capital, Abuja.

The outcome of the vote came as Nigerians await INEC’s decision on whether the elections are moved or not.

Civil Society leaders said Mr. Jega had told them at their meeting that the commission was under pressure to postpone the polls after all security agencies, including the military and the police, warned that they will only support polls held at least six weeks after the current dates.

Jibrin Ibrahim, a senior fellow at the Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD, in Abuja, who was at the meeting, said Mr. Jega told the meeting that security operatives told INEC that they were commencing a six weeks special operations against Boko Haram insurgents in the north eastern corridors of the country and would rather not be distracted by the elections.

Mr. Jega announced that the security forces also said the operations are due to commence on February 14, the date INEC had planned for the presidential and federal legislative elections.
Earlier, 17 political parties out of the total 28 voted in support of an extension.

The opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, has rejected any plan to postpone the election saying such calls are sponsored by President Goodluck Jonathan and the ruling party to stave their imminent defeat at the polls.

It is not clear what the commission’s eventual decision would be with the latest voting pattern by the RECs.

Mr. Jega is expected to brief the media any moment from now.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/176432-breaking-21-inec-resident-commissioners-reject-postponement-elections.html

Security Chiefs Put Pressure On Me To Shift Polls – Jega - Politics

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Saturday said he is under intense pressure to shift the February 14presidential election by six weeks in the first instance.

Jega told representatives of the Civil Societies at a meeting in Abuja that he had received a letter from those at the helms of the country’s security agencies that their concerns now is to defeat the Boko Haram insurgency and not to provide security for elections.

The Civil Societies however advised INEC to resist the pressure.
The statement reads:

“The NIGERIA Civil Society Situation Room (Situation Room) this afternoon, Saturday, 7th February 2015 met with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and with all of its 12 National Commissioners in attendance.

“At the meeting, INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, conveyed that he had received a letter from the security services advising that he postpones the general elections on the grounds that the security agencies were engaged in a renewed battle against insurgency in the North-East that would require their full concentration. In the letter the Military was demanding a rescheduling of elections by at least 6wks in the first instance.

“Situation room conveyed to INEC its disappointment with the letter from the security agencies pointing out that this amounted to the Military’s abdication of its constitutional duties to provide security to citizens and to the Commission to enable it conduct elections and appeared contrived to truncate the democratic process in NIGERIA.

“Situation Room is further worried that the Military’s position also aims to blackmail and arm-twist the Election Management Body away from its constitutional guaranteed function of conducting elections. Situation Room also condemns this advisory by security agents that they cannot guarantee the security of citizens, election officials and materials during the election.
“The Situation Room calls for the resignation of military chiefs and security heads including the Police on account of their inability to exercise their constitutional responsibility to secure lives and property at all times including during the elections.
“Situation Room also calls on Nigerians to be vigilant and be ready to protect this hard won democracy!

“The Situation Room is made up of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working in support of credible and transparent elections in NIGERIA and includes such groups as Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), CLEEN Foundation, Action Aid Nigeria, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Enough is Enough Nigeria, Wangonet, Partners for Electoral Reform and Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth & Advancement (YIAGA). Others are Development Dynamics, Human Rights Monitor, Election Monitor, Reclaim Naija, Institute for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, CITAD, CISLAC and several other CSOs numbering more than Sixty.”

http://theeagleonline.com.ng/security-chiefs-put-pressure-on-me-to-shift-polls-jega/

Deadlock As INEC Recs Give Jega Conditions For Poll Shift - PremiumTimes - Politics

The meeting between the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Attahiru Jega, and the nation’s resident electoral commissioners has ended in a deadlock, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

The deadlock follows the rejection of the proposal to shift the elections by 21 RECs who insisted that election must go on as planned.

However, the RECs have agreed to support the poll shift on two conditions. Firstly that Mr. Jega must extract commitment from the Presidency and security agencies that further extension will not be required after six weeks.

“RECs need a guarantee that there will not be further postponement after the six weeks they are demanding,” our source said.

He also said the second condition was that the commission should be allowed to decide how long the postponement should last.

“The feeling is that outside forces, especially the security agencies, should not be the ones to decide how long to shift the elections. That should be solely decided by INEC,” he said.
To this end, it was agreed that Mr. Jega should consult with the presidency and security agencies, after which another meeting will hold by 8pm.

“The Chairman will then brief the RECs on the outcome of his consultations,” our said.

INEC has all day been holding consultative meetings with political parties, civil society organisations and the RECs with a view to taking decision on whether to or not postpone the general elections scheduled for February 14 and 28.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/176435-breaking-deadlock-inec-recs-give-jega-conditions-poll-shift.html

Parties’ Positions At The Meeting With INEC On Poll Shift - Politics

The list of parties that favoured the re-scheduling of the elections has emerged.

They are: 1.Action Alliance (AA ) 2. Action Congress of Democrats ACD 3.Alliance for Democracy AD 4. African Democratic Congress, ADC 5. Citizens popular Party, (CPP) 6. Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) 7. Labour Party (LP) 8. Mega Peoples Party MPP 9. New Nigeria Peoples Party NNPP 10. United Democratic Party UDP. 11.Peoples popular Movement PPM 12. Progressives People Alliance (PPA). 13.Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). And 14.Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

Parties against the re-scheduling of the elections are: 1.Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) 2. All Progressives Congress (APC) 3.United Peoples Party (UPP) 4.ACPN 5. Social Democratic Party (SDP). 6. KOWA 7.Indepednet Democrats (ID) 8. Hope Democratic Party 9 Africans Democratic Alliance (APA) 10. Accord Party.

On its part, All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) abstained and National Conscience Party (NCP) was indifferent.
At the meeting with Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (Situation Room), INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, conveyed to them that he had received a letter from the security services advising that he postpones the general elections on the grounds that the security agencies were engaged in a renewed battle against insurgency in the North-East that would require their full concentration.

In the letter the military was demanding a
reschedulng of elections by at least six weeks in the first instance.

Situation Room conveyed to INEC its disappointment with the letter from the security agencies, pointing out that this amounted to the military’s abdication of its constitutional duties to provide security to citizens and to the Commission to enable it conduct elections and appeared contrived to truncate the democratic process in Nigeria.

“Situation Room is further worried that the military’s position also aims to blackmail and arm-twist the election management body away from its constitutionally guaranteed function of conducting elections. Situation Room also condemns this advisory by security agents that they cannot guarantee the security of citizens, election officials and materials during the election.

“The Situation Room calls for the resignation of military chiefs and security heads, including the Police, on account of their inability to exercise their constitutional responsibility to secure lives and property at all times, including during the elections.

“Situation Room also calls on Nigerians to be vigilant and be ready to protect this hard won democracy,” the civil society organisations said.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/parties-positions-at-the-meeting-with-inec-on-rescheduling-of-the-general-elections/201220/

Boko Haram Planned To Attack Whole Country – Jonathan - Politics

President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday said various attacks by Boko Haram in Abuja were planned to extend to parts of the country with the intention of bringing down the nation.

He stated this when he attended the revival service of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement at its headquarters in Ijesha, Lagos.

“The idea of the group was to start from the centre of the country and then move to bring the whole country down,’’ Jonathan said.

He listed the United Nation’s building, Police Headquarters, Army barracks market and Nyanya Motor Park as some of the places the terrorist organisation attacked in the federal capital.

He, however, said that the efforts of the Federal Government had curtailed the spread of the attacks to other parts of the country, except in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

The president said that insurgency and terrorism were global phenomena that were not peculiar to Nigeria, but added that with international collaboration, the Armed Forces would defeat the extremists.

“We are working hard as a government and with your cooperation, we will rout terrorism.

“We will work harder to protect all Nigerians.

“We will improve the economy so that people will have jobs so that these distractions about terror will end,’’ he said.

He thanked members of the church and the Christian community in the country for their intercessory prayers and urged them not to relent.

“We believe we should not campaign in churches but I am here to thank the General Overseer and members of the church for what you are doing.

“Your spiritual work has not only helped members of the church but helped the country,’’ Jonathan said.

The General Overseer of the church, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, led the congregation through intercessory prayers for God to bless the nation with unity, peace and stability.

The faithful also prayed to God to give the president good health and strength to continue to prosper the nation.

They also prayed for pre-election and post-election peace in the country and for the Lord to protect and preserve the president to enable him to achieve national prosperity.
http://www.punchng.com/news/boko-haram-planned-to-attack-whole-country-jonathan/

PDP Keeps Dribbling Me, 17 Years After Designing Its Umbrella Logo – Gbenga Amob

From VANGUARD on February 07, 2015 / in Features 7:08 pm / Comments

PDP keeps dribbling me, 17 years after designing its umbrella logo – Gbenga Amobonye

BY LEKAN BILESANMI

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, in one of the on-going campaign rallies for this year’s general elections, told on excited crowd that the party will continue to do well if it refrains from the habit of using and dumping its members. To situate this statement in its proper context, until 1998, there was no name like the PDP.

The name became famous, perhaps than other parties, because it was the party of choice when it was founded to usher in the new political dispensation in 1999. The name, however, is not as popular as its logo, the umbrella. The party is so popular that sometimes, only its logo would suffice. The now celebrated logo was designed by a journalist, Gbenga Amobonye.

Gbenga Amobonye
However, Amobonye’s effort to the success of the party today appears an oversight as some have suggested. Thunder does not strike on the same spot twice. If after repeated efforts to get the party’s hierarchy to see the need why this unsung hero should be rewarded and, at every effort, there is a brick wall, one is quick to align with its Chairman’s postulation of use and dump. Amobonye wrote several letters to the party leadership without any response. Well, if the letters did not get to the addressee, the addressee cannot be blocked from reading Amobonye’s thoughts on the pages of newspapers.

He said, in one of the letters,” I proposed umbrella to the party in 1998 as its symbol and it was carried with spontaneous applause and commendation. The proposal for the adoption of the umbrella as symbol of the then emerging political party, PDP, was presented on my behalf by one time President of the Senate, the late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, in his capacity as Chairman of the Publicity Committee of the political association, whose responsibility, it was, to consider a name and symbol for the association, in preparation for its registration as a political party with the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC”. His proposed symbol was not only accepted but was approved by the party hierarchy.

However, in year 2000, according to the letter, Okadigbo introduced him to the then party Chairman, Chief Barnabas Gemade, as ‘ the man who gave PDP its logo, and said, please do something for him’. Gemade never did even when Amobonye had to officially write him. His persistent efforts appeared to be paying off when he learnt that the Special Assistant to the then National Secretary, Senator Aniete Okon, signed a letter addressed to some founding fathers of the party on the issue.

It read, “I am directed to forward here the letter dated 27th June,2001 from Mr Gboyega Amobonye, Abuja Bureau Chief, National Concord Press of Nigeria Ltd, to our National Chairman claiming he suggested the umbrella symbol at the foundation stage of our great party, for your kind attention and advice. It will be appreciated if you throw more light on this matter to help the National Working Committee, NWC.”

Segun Adeniyi, the Thisday Editorial Chairman, on December 15, 2002, published an interview with the late Okadigbo where he said, ” The name PDP was suggested by me at the Muson Centre in Lagos, including the symbol. There was a certain Yoruba guy from Concord Newspaper who wrote me a letter which had this symbol of umbrella, I thought it was interesting. So, I read it out and it was adopted”.

Evidence abound to show that indeed Amobonye was the brain behind the symbol through the collaborative claims of important party members.

One-time PDP Publicity Secretary, Gbenga Olawepo, in an interview with the defunct Monitor Newspaper of September 30,2001, corroborated the claim of the late Okadigbo. Olawepo, in the interview, was expressing his view on his suspension and eventual expulsion from the party. He said: ’You, Gbenga Amobonye, even submitted the proposal for our symbol which we adopted at the Muson Centre, Lagos. Was Gemade at the meeting? That was when we were considering the logo and everything, you made a proposal. You know the story of the PDP better. How can any of these people now say they are sacking me from the party?”

Amobonye said he would continue to appeal to the PDP leadership rather than resorting to legal action over the logo issue, hoping that they would have a change of heart.” I think this option I have been pursuing is far better than the legal option you are asking me about. If you believe in a cause, see it to the end, and that is what I intend to do. I will continue to appeal to them, particularly Alhaji Adamu Muazu, the Chairman and President Goodluck Jonathan, the party leader, to see my little contribution to what the party is today and duly acknowledge it .

I have written another letter to the President explaining my stand on the issue. I am yet to get a reply. Yes, it is true that this is an intellectual property issue which ordinarily should resort to litigation. But what do I stand to benefit ultimately if I drag the party to court? If my design, which is my sweat, is appreciated by the party and adopted it as its official symbol, and the same party is now the largest on the continent, apart from being the ruling party since about 16 years now, I should be glad that my effort is what everybody is trying to associate with. So, I will continue to appeal to them, particularly through your widely read medium”.

Amobonye appealed to President Good luck Jonathan to appreciate his foundation effort that has led to the success of the party today.” I, most respectfully, therefore, crave Mr President’s kind indulgence that I may be so recognised, acknowledged and compensated for my intellectual property.

I am appealing to Mr President, in his capacity as the leader of the party and father of the nation, having failed to receive due attention of every Chairman of the party to whom I have been appealing since 1999-from Chief Barnabas Gemade to the incumbent and skilful crises manager, former action governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, whose letter was delivered and acknowledged on April 14, 2014”. Just as the effort of the Nigerian flag designer, Pa Akinwunmi, was eventually acknowledged and appreciated by the Jonathan administration, let us hope that he would also do same for Amobonye.

Source : http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/02/pdp-keeps-dribbling-17-years-designing-umbrella-logo-gbenga-amobonye/#sthash.hN9LvmoO.dpuf

PDP Keeps Dribbling Me, 17 Years After Designing Its Umbrella Logo – Gbenga Amob - Politics

Amaechi Threatens Mass Protest Against Poll Shift - Politics

THE director general of Buhari campaign organization and Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, has threatened mass action if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) decides today to shift this month’s election.

Amaechi, who said monumental change is about to happen in Nigeria because the vast majority of Nigerians yearn for it, insisted that the presidential election must hold on February 14 because Nigerians are charged and poised to vote on that day for an inevitable change.

He stated this during the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign rally at Isiokpo, the headquarters of his Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Addressing thousands of APC supporters who had converged for the rally, the governor charged his kinsmen and the people of the State to vote against the president and the Peoples Democratic Party because they are adverse to the rule of law and good governance.

“If PDP say there are strong, we are ready for election, let them come out. APC has said to PDP, let us wrestle; they are running away.

“If they try the postponement, we Nigerians will match out on the streets. Nigerians are charged and poised to vote on February 14,” he said.

Amaechi, who observed the INEC would be meeting today with critical stakeholders to deliberate on the forthcoming elections, insisted that whether the Federal Government likes it or not, the presidential election must hold on Saturday.

According to him, Nigerians are yearning for freedom from the yoke inflicted on them by the PDP administration, which is endemically corrupt.

He told the teeming audience that the APC presidential candidate remains gravely concerned about the incessant attacks on the party’s faithful in the state and has assured them that he would ensure the protection of life and property if he wins the February 14 presidential election.

http://m.ngrguardiannews.com/en/news/national-news/197008-we-will-take-to-the-streets-if-inec-shifts-election-says-amaechi

President Jonathan At RCCG Camp Today Meets APC VP Prof Osbanjo(photos) - Politics

The president visited The Redeemed Christian Church of
God camp today where pastor E.A Adeboye prayed for him.
He also met APC VP candidate Prof. Osinbajo there.

Nigerian Army Captain Who Leaked Ekiti Election Rigging Tape Speaks - Politics

Nigerian Army Captain who leaked Ekiti election rigging tape speaks

A Nigerian Army Captain who leaked audio and documentary evidences of how some top officials of the Federal Government and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, used the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to rig the governorship election in Ekiti and Osun States last year, has defended his actions.

In an affidavit titled:

How the Nigerian Army personnel were used to rig Ekiti and Osun States Gubernatorial Elections 2014., Captain Sagir Koli gave details of all that transpired between himself, his Commanding officer, two Ministers and some politicians prior to the elections in the state.
See the full text of his submission below:

Staff In Confidence

How the Nigerian Army personal were used to Rig Ekiti and Osun States Gubernatorial Elections 2014.

1. I was officially deployed as the 32, Artillery Brigade Intelligence Officer to provide credible Intelligence to the success of Ekiti State governorship election. At about 2030 hours on June 2014, a day to the election proper, the commander, Brigadier General AA Momoh told me to escort him to a place where the State Minister for Defence wanted to see him.

Reaching the place (Spotless Hotel in Ado- Ekiti), which serves as coordinating campaign office for the PDP candidate Mr. Ayodele Fayose, we met the Minister himself, Mr of Police Affairs, Mr Fayose, My Iyiola Omisore, one Honoruable Abdulkareem and host of other top PDP chieftains.

The Outcome of what was discussed that gave the party victory during the election are as follows:

A. They told brigade commander that they are on presidential assignment and they cannot afford to fail. Also, they told him that they were there to remove any obstacles that would block their victory and the commander is the key; therefore, he has no option but to collaborate with them. They said, if the commander play(ed) with them, his promotion is in their hands and the president and the chief of army Staff would be very angry with him and he knows what that means.

B.They directed that soldiers on election duty must work hand in hand with the PDP agents and give them all the necessary support they needed without limitation.

C. They ordered the arrest of selected APC stalwarts that could greatly assist the party during the election including the DG campaign organisation for Dr Fayemi Mr Bimbo Daramola. APC members in Ekiti State should be interviewed of what they went through. We were forced to do a dirty job for them with a threat of court martial.

D.They directed that soldiers must block APC members’ access to the electorates but all PDP supporters’ movement anywhere using a designated sticker with inscription, “National Security Task” it should be noted that some of these PDP agents were given NYSC uniforms because we were well briefed by the commander.

E. Chief Chris Uba who also said he was from the presidency entered Ado- Ekiti a day to the election accompanied by 16 commissioned Army officers (Major and below) led by Major Ujung of 82 Base Ammunitions Depot from Nigeria Army 82 Division Enugu. Their major task was to effect arrest and move secret materials and money. This money was brought from CBN Umuahia.

F. Chief Chris Uba was physically present with the soldiers and the commander at Forward Operational Base (FOB) close to government house in Ado- Ekiti. He personally supervised the movement of the strike force. This act of a civilian directing military operation is highly unprofessional and tarnishing of the military discipline and regimentation.

G. Chief Chris Uba entered Ado-Ekiti a day to the election accompanied by military/police escort with 2 black tinted Hilux Vans with “secret” materials according to him. Items inside the vans were 1000/500 Naria notes closed and cloned marked ballot papers.

H. Chris Uba, Minster of police Affairs, Obanikoro and Co said this is just a test run that should not fail and its to be done in SS and SW states, moreover, Rivers State to make sure Rotimi Ameachi bow to the federal government.

2. Based on the aforementioned, they succeeded in rigging the Ekiti State election with victory in all the 16 LGAs.

These really inspired them and they were with the euphoria that same would happen in Osun State. In preparation of the plans, they confirmed the posting of the commander and task him to prepare for Osun State election (remember that Osun State is not part of 32 Artillery Brigade Area of operations) but they ordered the Nigerian Army Construction Engineers Commander Brigadier General Adeyemi to proceed for 3 weeks compulsory leave until after the election just to pave way for General Momah to repeat the same dirty work that he has done to them in Ekiti State.

3. In build-up towards the Osun State elections, the commander directed me as his intelligence officer who has worked with him perfectly in Ekiti State to go ahead and recce (Army word for Spy or Survey ) the area as well as familiarize myself with all stake holders for the election. While I and my team were working for the operations, the commander was in Abuja re-strategizing how to use the military to rig the elections.

Feelers based on my discussion with him on phone confirmed to me beyond reasonable doubt that we were repeating the same compromise in Osun State.

My heart got burnt and become disenchanted and in total disagreement with such being professional junior officer aspiring to become a General tomorrow.

4. However efforts to explain my grievances prove abortive due to the military dictatorial hierarchy in channel of communication vis a vis threat of court martial from the commander.

I resorted to alert the APC high level officials with the aim of stopping Army from partisan involvement during election. A week to the election, the commander came back from Abuja and he made revelations being their final arrangement on how the PDP was to become victorious in Osun state as follows:

A. After welcome address by the commander, he thanked all his staff officers, and said “you all know who we are working for, so you guys MUST follow my direction. I am working for the presidency and the ruling party as you all know, is no longer a hidden thing” for those of you who are moles among us, the presidency is watching you, be careful because the consequence will be severe.

I learnt that some of you went to Lagos and met with Tinubu without knowing that his line is already bugged at Abuja, then we are in trouble, but before somebody will kill me I have to kill him first” (referring to me). The commander asked how many of us were involved, that I should say the truth, he now held a secret talk with the operation officer and military police officer to tie and handcuff me to Army HQs, from there I know that my life was in danger.

B. The commander categorically told us that the soldiers were to work under PDP agents while their platoon commanders only supervise the soldiers conduct. He briefed the officers that were working the list of agents and those to be arrested at the SGF office in Abuja and once the list is out everybody must work with accordingly.

C. The commander briefed us on the formation of a strike-force in conjunction with police, DSS and NSCDC and he would command the strike force directly. Their duty was to work directly with the PDP aspirant for arrest and intimidation of APC supporters in their strong hold.

D. Money was shared openly at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp Ede to the strike force to ensure compliance.

5. Having said all of the above, I must state before concluding that:

A, My brother Adamu Koli a 15yrs old school boy was under detention since on the 2nd August 2014. The boy stays with me at 32 Artillery Brigade Akure.

B. Brigadier General AM Dikko who they consulted initially for the scam insisted that the army must remain professional and apolitical, was disgracefully removed from his command which he served only for 7 months just to allow General Momoh to carry out the dirty work.

6. Last but not the least, to further substantiate my submission and how my dear-loving, hard-achieving noble calling was de-professionalized; here is the recorded voices of the Ministers, the aspirant and the Brigade Commander. Other officers present at the hotel were Major Aliyu and captain Adegoke who were also part of the officers that escorted commander to the venue where the compromise was made. Also conversation between the commander and Abuja could be traced via MTN, GLO, on the under listed phone numbers (between 20-21 June 2014).

A. 08037033694
B. 08055832835

7,Lastly, in order to strengthen the unity and continue existence of Nigeria, I call on the federal Government to desist from using the military for partisan politics. This is to avoid the military from being divided along ethnic and regional lines which is dangerous to the defence of the nation. I remain a patriotic Nigerian and a loyal professional Army officer,

God bless you all
Thank you for listening. Captain Sagir Koli

SOURCE:http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/176384-nigerian-army-captain-leaked-ekiti-election-rigging-tape-speaks.html

Nigerian Army Captain Who Leaked Ekiti Election Rigging Tape Speaks - Politics

Nigerian Army Captain who leaked Ekiti election rigging tape speaks

A Nigerian Army Captain who leaked audio and documentary evidences of how some top officials of the Federal Government and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, used the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to rig the governorship election in Ekiti and Osun States last year, has defended his actions.

In an affidavit titled:

How the Nigerian Army personnel were used to rig Ekiti and Osun States Gubernatorial Elections 2014., Captain Sagir Koli gave details of all that transpired between himself, his Commanding officer, two Ministers and some politicians prior to the elections in the state.
See the full text of his submission below:

Staff In Confidence

How the Nigerian Army personal were used to Rig Ekiti and Osun States Gubernatorial Elections 2014.

1. I was officially deployed as the 32, Artillery Brigade Intelligence Officer to provide credible Intelligence to the success of Ekiti State governorship election. At about 2030 hours on June 2014, a day to the election proper, the commander, Brigadier General AA Momoh told me to escort him to a place where the State Minister for Defence wanted to see him.

Reaching the place (Spotless Hotel in Ado- Ekiti), which serves as coordinating campaign office for the PDP candidate Mr. Ayodele Fayose, we met the Minister himself, Mr of Police Affairs, Mr Fayose, My Iyiola Omisore, one Honoruable Abdulkareem and host of other top PDP chieftains.

The Outcome of what was discussed that gave the party victory during the election are as follows:

A. They told brigade commander that they are on presidential assignment and they cannot afford to fail. Also, they told him that they were there to remove any obstacles that would block their victory and the commander is the key; therefore, he has no option but to collaborate with them. They said, if the commander play(ed) with them, his promotion is in their hands and the president and the chief of army Staff would be very angry with him and he knows what that means.

B.They directed that soldiers on election duty must work hand in hand with the PDP agents and give them all the necessary support they needed without limitation.

C. They ordered the arrest of selected APC stalwarts that could greatly assist the party during the election including the DG campaign organisation for Dr Fayemi Mr Bimbo Daramola. APC members in Ekiti State should be interviewed of what they went through. We were forced to do a dirty job for them with a threat of court martial.

D.They directed that soldiers must block APC members’ access to the electorates but all PDP supporters’ movement anywhere using a designated sticker with inscription, “National Security Task” it should be noted that some of these PDP agents were given NYSC uniforms because we were well briefed by the commander.

E. Chief Chris Uba who also said he was from the presidency entered Ado- Ekiti a day to the election accompanied by 16 commissioned Army officers (Major and below) led by Major Ujung of 82 Base Ammunitions Depot from Nigeria Army 82 Division Enugu. Their major task was to effect arrest and move secret materials and money. This money was brought from CBN Umuahia.

F. Chief Chris Uba was physically present with the soldiers and the commander at Forward Operational Base (FOB) close to government house in Ado- Ekiti. He personally supervised the movement of the strike force. This act of a civilian directing military operation is highly unprofessional and tarnishing of the military discipline and regimentation.

G. Chief Chris Uba entered Ado-Ekiti a day to the election accompanied by military/police escort with 2 black tinted Hilux Vans with “secret” materials according to him. Items inside the vans were 1000/500 Naria notes closed and cloned marked ballot papers.

H. Chris Uba, Minster of police Affairs, Obanikoro and Co said this is just a test run that should not fail and its to be done in SS and SW states, moreover, Rivers State to make sure Rotimi Ameachi bow to the federal government.

2. Based on the aforementioned, they succeeded in rigging the Ekiti State election with victory in all the 16 LGAs.

These really inspired them and they were with the euphoria that same would happen in Osun State. In preparation of the plans, they confirmed the posting of the commander and task him to prepare for Osun State election (remember that Osun State is not part of 32 Artillery Brigade Area of operations) but they ordered the Nigerian Army Construction Engineers Commander Brigadier General Adeyemi to proceed for 3 weeks compulsory leave until after the election just to pave way for General Momah to repeat the same dirty work that he has done to them in Ekiti State.

3. In build-up towards the Osun State elections, the commander directed me as his intelligence officer who has worked with him perfectly in Ekiti State to go ahead and recce (Army word for Spy or Survey ) the area as well as familiarize myself with all stake holders for the election. While I and my team were working for the operations, the commander was in Abuja re-strategizing how to use the military to rig the elections.

Feelers based on my discussion with him on phone confirmed to me beyond reasonable doubt that we were repeating the same compromise in Osun State.

My heart got burnt and become disenchanted and in total disagreement with such being professional junior officer aspiring to become a General tomorrow.

4. However efforts to explain my grievances prove abortive due to the military dictatorial hierarchy in channel of communication vis a vis threat of court martial from the commander.

I resorted to alert the APC high level officials with the aim of stopping Army from partisan involvement during election. A week to the election, the commander came back from Abuja and he made revelations being their final arrangement on how the PDP was to become victorious in Osun state as follows:

A. After welcome address by the commander, he thanked all his staff officers, and said “you all know who we are working for, so you guys MUST follow my direction. I am working for the presidency and the ruling party as you all know, is no longer a hidden thing” for those of you who are moles among us, the presidency is watching you, be careful because the consequence will be severe.

I learnt that some of you went to Lagos and met with Tinubu without knowing that his line is already bugged at Abuja, then we are in trouble, but before somebody will kill me I have to kill him first” (referring to me). The commander asked how many of us were involved, that I should say the truth, he now held a secret talk with the operation officer and military police officer to tie and handcuff me to Army HQs, from there I know that my life was in danger.

B. The commander categorically told us that the soldiers were to work under PDP agents while their platoon commanders only supervise the soldiers conduct. He briefed the officers that were working the list of agents and those to be arrested at the SGF office in Abuja and once the list is out everybody must work with accordingly.

C. The commander briefed us on the formation of a strike-force in conjunction with police, DSS and NSCDC and he would command the strike force directly. Their duty was to work directly with the PDP aspirant for arrest and intimidation of APC supporters in their strong hold.

D. Money was shared openly at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp Ede to the strike force to ensure compliance.

5. Having said all of the above, I must state before concluding that:

A, My brother Adamu Koli a 15yrs old school boy was under detention since on the 2nd August 2014. The boy stays with me at 32 Artillery Brigade Akure.

B. Brigadier General AM Dikko who they consulted initially for the scam insisted that the army must remain professional and apolitical, was disgracefully removed from his command which he served only for 7 months just to allow General Momoh to carry out the dirty work.

6. Last but not the least, to further substantiate my submission and how my dear-loving, hard-achieving noble calling was de-professionalized; here is the recorded voices of the Ministers, the aspirant and the Brigade Commander. Other officers present at the hotel were Major Aliyu and captain Adegoke who were also part of the officers that escorted commander to the venue where the compromise was made. Also conversation between the commander and Abuja could be traced via MTN, GLO, on the under listed phone numbers (between 20-21 June 2014).

A. 08037033694
B. 08055832835

7,Lastly, in order to strengthen the unity and continue existence of Nigeria, I call on the federal Government to desist from using the military for partisan politics. This is to avoid the military from being divided along ethnic and regional lines which is dangerous to the defence of the nation. I remain a patriotic Nigerian and a loyal professional Army officer,

God bless you all
Thank you for listening. Captain Sagir Koli

SOURCE:http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/176384-nigerian-army-captain-leaked-ekiti-election-rigging-tape-speaks.html

We Won't Provide Security For February 14 Poll Unless Its Postponed - Military

Commission makes final decision today

Military service chiefs have told the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] that no soldiers will be available to provide security anywhere in the country if it goes ahead with its plans to hold the presidential elections on Saturday next week because they are too busy with operations in the North East region. The commission is expected to table this position, which has created for it a huge dilemma, at meetings planned for this morning with registered political parties, civil society groups and its resident electoral commissioners before it announces its final decision on whether or not to go ahead with the polls as scheduled.

Weekly Trust learnt yesterday that while all national attention was focused on last Thursday’s meeting of the National Council of State which failed to reach a consensus on whether or not the polls should be shifted, the military service chiefs had already advised INEC in writing to postpone the polls for at least six weeks. The letter, Weekly Trust learnt, was sent to INEC chairman Professor Attahiru Jega on Wednesday by the President’s National Security Adviser Colonel Sambo Dasuki. The NSA said he was “strongly advising” INEC to postpone the polls on the basis of a letter which he received from Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.

Badeh’s letter to the NSA, which he said had the concurrence of all the service chiefs, said the military had just launched a major effort with the collaboration of Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic to rid the North East region of Boko Haram insurgents once and for all. He said while the operation lasts, it will not be possible to hold elections in Adamawa, Yobe, Borno and Gombe states. The CDS therefore advised the NSA to advise INEC to either defer elections in the four states or alternatively to postpone elections throughout the country for at least six weeks. He indicated that the military preferred the second option.

Weekly Trust learnt that when the INEC chairman made his presentation at the Council of State meeting, he essentially said INEC was ready to go ahead with the polls as planned. He however added that INEC had received a new security report which could change the equation but did not elaborate on it. Afterwards, the NSA briefed the council and restated the military brass’ call for an election postponement while the operation in the North East lasts. When Army Chief Lt Gen Kenneth Minimah was asked to speak, sources said he added another joker. He said if INEC decides to go ahead with the polls next week there will be no soldiers available anywhere to provide election security. Director General of the State Security Service then followed up by warning that Boko Haram’s terrorist ambitions are national and not just regional. He said the service recently caught terrorists in Abuja and Uyo as they were planning to carry out major attacks. He strongly supported the call for election postponement.

Weekly Trust learnt that APC presidential candidate General Muhammadu Buhari spoke against election postponement, saying as a military man himself he knew that the arrival of new weapons alone could not end the Boko Haram carnage because the weapons have to be unpacked and tested and the personnel must be trained to handle them. His position was supported by all the APC governors notably Rochas Okorocha and Rauf Aregbesola. However, Vice President Mohamed Namadi Sambo said he did not believe that INEC was ready to conduct the elections next week, saying its chairman’s report failed to align systems and timing. All the PDP governors then supported Sambo, saying more time was needed to enable Nigerians collect their permanent voters’ cards.

General Ibrahim Babangida then spoke, saying the INEC chairman should explain if it was okay to hold the elections in the rest of the country without the four troubled states. General Yakubu Gowon and General Abdulsalami Abubakar both supported IBB’s view but President Goodluck Jonathan brushed the suggestion aside, saying he would not allow elections to be held without the North East states. If that happened, he said, it would lend support to the charge that he allowed the Boko Haram to fester or even created it in order to disenfranchise a part of the country. The meeting ended after eight hours with the president saying INEC heard all the views expressed and should go and consult before making its final decision known to the public.

Weekly Trust learnt last night that the commission has scheduled a series of meetings for today. Professor Jega and his commissioners will meet with political party representatives at 10 am, meet with civil society groups at noon, meet with Resident Electoral Commissioners [RECs] at 2 pm and then hold a full meeting of the commission at 4pm. Afterwards, INEC would announce its final decision to the public. Informed sources told Weekly Trust that contrary to the impression created by many newspapers yesterday that the Council of State okayed the polls to go ahead next week, the military service chiefs’ “strong advice” to INEC to postpone the polls could be the game changer. The sources said it was difficult to see how elections could go ahead with security agencies washing their hands off the provision of security but the final decision would only be known this afternoon.Source: http://dailytrust.com.ng/weekly/index.php/top-stories/18981-army-to-inec-no-security-for-feb-14-poll

Exxonmobil 2015 Graduate /experienced Hire Recruitment - Jobs/Vacancies

I just successfully applied. Follow this link
http://www.exxonmobil.com/Nigeria-English/HR/HR_Nigeria_engineering.aspx
Then click on "click here to apply" in the top right corner

You need to register first. So quickly do that using your email address.
After registration.. Login and select "search opening"...
Leave everything as is and click search, after which a list of results will appear. Click on the one relevant ti your field and a brief summary of the position wil be displayed after which you click on apply for job and the application process starts.

Note that you need a cover letter as well as a cv so make sure both have been prepared and tailored properly before starting the application.

Goodluck to everyone.

Jega Working with Northern Leaders To Install Buhari - Southern Leaders - Politics

I will summarize this article below.

Text Of Press Conference By Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA) On The Unholy Conspiracy Between The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) And The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) With Intent To Install A Northern President Though Rigging.

Gentlemen of the Press,

On behalf of the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA) we have invited you to brief you on the subversive, subterranean and dishonorable conspiracy which we discovered to exist between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), with the sole desire of enthroning a President of Northern extraction at all cost in the February 14, 2015 presidential election.

We authoritatively gathered with unassailable and incontrovertible evidence that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who was away in Lagos for an official engagement, through one of his National Commissioners that represented him, met with select leaders of the Northern Elders Forum led by Prof. Ango Abdullahi on the 20th August, 2014 where strategies and modalities for enthroning a President of Northern extraction through vote rigging were discussed and agreed upon.

The meeting was sequel to an earlier meeting of the Northern Elders Forum held on the 16th August, 2015 at Arewa House, Kaduna under the chairmanship of Amb. Yusuf Maitama Sule where it was resolved that “all avenues must be explored towards enthroning a President of Northern extraction in the forthcoming 2015 elections” and “a committee … put in place to liaise with the INEC Chairman and some States Resident Electoral Commissioners in order to favor the North in the creation of additional polling units”.

Other prominent members in attendance include Professor Ango Abdullahi, Prof. Idris Mohammed, Alhaji Sani Zango Daura, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Alhaji Bashir Ibrahim Yusuf, Alhaji Mohammed Bello Kirfi, Amb. Shehu Malami and Dr. Tima Sani. Also in attendance were Alamin Dagash, Gen. Paul Tarfa, Gen. Saleh Maina, Alh. Bashir Tofa, Barr. Solomon Dalung, Barr. M. B. Wali, Barr. Rhoda Ako and Mohammed Sharif who served as Secretary.Since then we have noticed that Engr. Nuru Yakubu, a crony and ally of Prof. Jega in INEC has become the devious hatchet man.

Another meeting of Finance Committee of the Northern Elders Forum also took place on the 21st January, 2015 where further details of the detestable plans to impugn the integrity of the 2015 general elections were taken.

It will interest you, gentlemen of the press, to know that we have copies of minutes of these meetings. These meetings and plans were hatched in furtherance to the Northern Elders Forum’s obsession that there will be no Nigeria, if a Northerner does not emerge President of Nigeria in the 2015 general elections.

As part of the grand design, Prof. Jega agreed in the meeting to create astronomical number of additional polling units in the North, over and above what is desirable to ensure the election of a Northern Presidential candidate, that would emerge from the party primaries, in the general election. We now know that this was responsible for Prof. Jega’s whimsical creation of additional 30,000 polling units with intent to give unearned massive votes to the northern presidential candidate. These additional polling units were agreed to exist only on “sheet of papers” which would be used as votes mill to rig the election. This means therefore that the acclaimed suspension of the implementation of the additional 30,000 polling units by Prof. Jega is a grand deceit as same is reported to have continued in parts of the North under cover.

It is surprising that Prof. Jega, in consonance with the agreement with the leaders of Northern Elders Forum (NEF) had two sets of rules for the conduct of the continuous voters registration exercise. Whereas requirements for the registration of voters in the core north was agreed to be “loose “in order to encourage under-aged registration, the same was “stringently” enforced in the whole of Southern Nigeria so as to reduce the number of eligible voters where they believe President Jonathan has the strongest support base.

In furtherance of Professor Jega’s nepotistic bias and ethnocentrism, he reportedly advised the Northern Elders Forum leaders to compromise the State Resident Electoral Commissioners to assist him in perfecting the vote rigging to install a President of northern extraction. Whereas RECs who are willing to play ball are to be deliberately posted to core northern states, others who were considered recalcitrant were to be put under the surveillance of the National Commissioner in charge of Operations to achieve their desired results.

A close observation of some of the activities of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) show glaring collaboration between Prof. Jega’s INEC and the former. For instance, despite Prof. Jega’s public admission that the Commission has all the funds it requires to conduct the 2015 elections, we are aware that the Northern Elders Forum obtained and distributed 150 pieces of laptop computers to INEC for each of the Northern States. The laptop computers were used by INEC’s adhoc staff in collaboration with Northern Youth activists for the indiscriminate registration of voters during the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise. This strategy, which abetted and made possible massive registration of voters without restriction on the age, was part of the earlier agreement between INEC and the Northern Elders Forum, without prejudice to the fact that age is a prerequisite qualification for every eligible voter. The following curious questions beg for answers:

1) Is the Northern Elders Forum a government institution/agency or an NGO promoting good electoral conduct and governance that it would donate 150 laptop computers to INEC for each northern state? If yes, why was the donation not made public?

2) Is it for want of funds that INEC accepted the donation and distribution of 150 laptop computers to only each of the northern states?

3) Giving the known age-long uncompromising hatred against President Jonathan and stance that a northerner must become President at all cost by Northern Elders Forum, could the acceptance of these “Greek gifts” place Prof. Jega’s INEC on a pedestal of impartiality to supervise the 2015 elections?

4) Could this be the reason why Prof. Jega arbitrarily allocated 21,850 additional polling units (which gave a voting population of about 15 million extra votes) to the north and 8,150 additional polling units, which approximates 5 million extra votes to the entire south?

5) What was the experience and skill of the northern activist youths who were recruited for the registration exercise when specialized training always preceded field operations carried out by adhoc staff in all electoral processes?

In addition to the above and in clear contravention of procedure, Prof. Jega reportedly directed the release of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in their catchment states to Emirs, District Heads and top politicians and not necessarily to the voters themselves, a situation that culminated in some voters being in possession of 2 to 3 PVCs. This accounted for the nearly 100 percent PVC collection rate in especially the North West States as compared with the less than 50 percent collection rate in the Southern States.

This is the reason why Lagos state with a sophiscated voter population of over 5.2 million has not distributed more than 2.5 million PVCs; even the war ravaged states n the North East have collected more PVCs than most Southern states. Is this kind of selective treatment borne out of sheer nepotism and primordial bias deserving of a supposed impartial electoral umpire? Also as part of the nocturnal agenda, the Northern Elders Forum, the unrepentant group of ethno-bigots which only living penchant is that President Goodluck Jonathan must vacate the presidency for a northerner, has been given the sole responsibility to recruit all electoral officers, returning officers and polling clerks, in collaboration with their activist youths, for Prof. Jega’s absorption into INEC.

Contrary to Professor Jega’s public posturing and pronouncements, we have uncovered that in line with his firm promise to the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), he is determined to announce General Buhari as the winner of the 2015 Presidential election irrespective of its outcome. And in preparation for the ensuing electoral tsunami that would engulf the country, the Northern Elders Forum has already retained the services of 34 Legal luminaries including 14 Seniors Advocates of Nigeria who shall be on standby for the Tribunal cases.

The Legal luminaries have already started their assignment by filing an action in court, challenging the eligibility of President Jonathan to contest the 2015 presidential election, an action that have been challenged and decided several times by the same Federal High Court. To make the judgment a fait accompli, a Committee of the National Elders Forum at Prof. Jega’s prompting, because of his desire to hide under the cloak of legal and judicial protection, is courting senior judges of Northern extraction to obtain judgment against President Jonathan and the PDP during and after the proclamation of Gen. Buhari as the winner.

Our investigations revealed that the funds for the entire Northern Elders Forum guided operations in INEC is being provided by APC governors in the north, who each contributed N100 million and few Hausa-Fulani irredentist PDP governors who also contributed N167million to perfect these invidious electoral fraud.

The impervious desire to orchestrate these agreements driven by eccentric parochialism has unfortunately guided Prof. Attahiru Jega’s internal actions in positioning INEC for the inexorable task of supervising the 2015 general elections. The recent deployment of National Commissioners essentially elected the philosophy of loyalty to Prof. Jega’s northern agenda and hence all critical and key electoral departments that will eventually decide the outcome of the 2015 general elections were given to those who have aligned with him.

We have also become aware that the recent redeployment of Resident Electoral Commissioners, contrary to public expectation, was based on the plan to secure and protect expected positive results in supposed catchment states while those sent to the South were given specific directive to comply with extant rules and regulations or be sacked. Prof. Jega’s disdainful verve to prosecute his hallowed task of rigging President Jonathan out of office at all cost is further noted from the movement of top Directors of Southern Nigeria origin. These officers who were hitherto occupying sensitive positions in INEC are now moved to obscure and redundant office such as the INEC Electoral Institute, which make them completely irrelevant with electoral processes.

There has been more forced voluntary retirement for senior staff of Southern origin even when they have up to three or more years in the service under Prof. Jega’s chairmanship. And to take over such sensitive positions of high electoral value, Prof. Jega in defiance of extant rules on federal character moved Directorate Cadre Staff from some Northern State Offices to Headquarters as replacement with a view to ensuring strict realization of the project.

It will further interest you to equally note that Prof. Jega’s posturing that card readers are to be used for authentication and verification of voters is already being circumvented by Prof. Jega’s INEC. INEC has suddenly realized for the first time that over 2million Nigerians mostly from the North are amputees. It has accordingly decided to introduce a “special verification” process different from the card reader for this class of Nigerians. But the real fact is that the entire process is being initiated as part of Prof. Jega’s hidden agenda to amass a whopping 2million votes for his preferred Northern candidate. This as well as the recently introduced IDPs voting are part of strategies of Prof. Jega’s vote mill to rig the election.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it’s both inexplicable and confounds commonsense that Prof. Jega has decided to conduct the 2015 general elections in February in the light of very glaring organizational, technical and operational deficiencies whereas in 2003, 2007 and 2011the same elections were conducted in April. We may wish to recall that even with the time leverage in 2011, Prof. Jega was compelled to postpone the conduct of elections to the National Assembly from April 2 to April 9 due to inadequate preparations. Such postponements did not in any affect the sacrosanctity of the 29th May swearing in date. Such postponements never deprecated the sanctity of our elections in the past and would not in any way compromise the integrity of the 2015 elections if postponed to sometime in April, 2015 insofar as it provides for the mandatory 30 days in consonance with the provisions of extant rules and regulations in our statutes.

What could therefore be responsible for Prof. Jega’s petulant haste to hold the elections in February 2015 even in the face of the following critically fundamental operational, technical and organizational challenges that could mar the integrity of the elections other than to deliver on the timetable he has promised the Northern Elders Forum:

Whereas Prof. Jega has premised the integrity of 2015 elections on the use of card readers, the caravans needed for storing them are yet to be delivered barely one week to the presidential election, a situation that has led those responsible to suspend the delivery of additional card readers. This means there may not be enough card readers to service all the 121,000 polling units all over the country.

There are reported polling units specific configuration problems for the card readers that have delivered which need yet-to-be-provided urgent resolution, particularly against the backdrop that some of the card readers have factory faults, thus requiring full scale audit to determine whether the available card readers can guarantee the integrity of the elections.

The late conclusion of party primaries and INEC’s deadline for substitution of candidates has grossly delayed the production of customized ballot papers and result sheets. This is an avoidable recipe for multiple post-election crises and litigation. We therefore doubt INEC’s competence and capability to conduct an impartial election.

Given the fact that a high preponderance of the 960,000 adhoc staff for the conduct of the election are yet to be properly trained on the use of the new technology barely 8 days to the election, how can Prof. Jega convince Nigerians and the international community that he is prepared to conduct a free, fair and credible elections?

Gentlemen of the Press, we have presented these facts to show that Prof. Jega is an ethnic and religious jingoist, an unrepentant Hausa-Fulani irredentist and a highly tribalised public administrator. We are not convinced that an INEC superintend by Prof. Attahiru Jega would have any iota of impartiality to conduct a free and fair elections in this country any more. Prof. Jega’s open romance, either directly or indirectly with elements of the opposition, has compromised his integrity, credibility and moral standing to conduct an impartial, free and fair 2015 presidential elections.

He has become a wolf in sheep’s clothing, who is not only deeply repugnantly clannish but also brazenly corrupt and fraudulent. Because Prof. Jega was gravely intent on perfecting the strategies to rig the elections in favor of the Northern candidate, he circumvented fundamental and critical requirements in the Public Procurement Act. We would therefore want Prof. Jega to tell the entire world:

At what meeting in INEC was the decision to award the contract for the procurement of the Permanent Voters Cards taken?

At what time and where were the contract documents forwarded to the Bureau of Public Procurement for consideration and approval?

And indeed where the PVCs being processed and printed? Are the PVCs being printed abroad with a reputable firm or they are being printed somewhere in Nigeria within the enclave of Maitama in Abuja?

What is the cost of the contract for the procurement of PVCs?

As a responsible government agency, it is only germane that Nigerians, whose tax monies are used to fund its operations, are properly informed on these critical aspects of INEC’s activities.

We make bold to say that Prof. Jega has betrayed public trust, respect and acceptance, sublime attributes that are necessary for an impartial electoral umpire.

Consequent upon the foregoing, the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA) wish to make the following unequivocal demands, which if not complied forth with, would compel us to consider every necessary step to force compliance.

Professor Jega, should and must resign his appointment immediately as the Chairman of INEC because he has lost the requisite moral rectitude to organize a credible election devoid of the shenanigans of the Northern Elders Forum and their cohorts.

There should be immediate postponement of the February 14, 2015 presidential elections to allow for the reconstitution, repositioning and reprocessing of INEC to discharge its responsibility of conducting an impartial election.

We call for the immediate arrest of Prof. Attahiru Jega for criminally masterminding the procurement of PVCs for under-aged pupils in contravention of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended) and the Electoral Act, 2010

Where the Federal Government fail to take decisive action on these demands we shall employ and mobilize with all ounce of energy at our disposal to ensure that there is no election in any part of Southern Nigeria.

We wish to remind Mr. President that the Federal Government has the sacrosanct duty to maintain peace and order, and to protect the lives and property of the citizens of this country. Therefore government must not allow itself to be intimidated by any group of persons to conduct the elections under these uncertain circumstances that could culminate in the breakdown of law and order in the country. The consequences may be too grave for Nigeria to bear.

Thank you.

Chief Edwin K. Clark, CON H. E. Dr. Alex Ekwueme, GCON

South South Leader Coordinating Chairman/South East Leader

ArchBishop Ayo Ladigbolu

South West Leader

http://nigeriapulse.com/jega-plots-with-northern-elders-to-install-buhari-southern-leaders/

Saturday 7 February 2015

Presidency hopeful Buhari expects 'landslide victory'

Jonathan bribing small parties to accept shift in polls

26 000 PDP members in Yobe State defect APC

INEC achieves 95% PVCs distribution in Gombe

INEC weighs six-week election delay: lawmakers

Subscribe To