APC, APGA, others want Imo REC redeployed

Major stakeholders in Imo State, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Chidi Ibe, have called for the immediate redeployment of the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), George Ada, for allegedly conniving with security agents to compromise the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Ibe who recounted how he was manhandled by soldiers at the alleged instance of the Minister of State for Education, Professor Viola Onwuliri, accused the REC of compromising the process by handing over sensitive electoral materials to PDP candidates.

According to the Commissioner, the purported results released by the Commission do not represent the figures obtained by the various party agents in the state.

“We urgently demand the redeployment of the state REC and the overhaul of the entire INEC officials and adhoc staff in the state before the governorship election to forestall a repeat of the sham that happened during Presidential and National Assembly election.

“We saw how security agents and INEC staff assisted the PDP to compromise the process and we will resist any attempt to rig the governorship election by any person or group of persons”.

Also rejecting the results of the National Assembly elections in the state, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly and the APC Senatorial candidate for Imo North (Okigwe senatorial zone), Hon.Benjamin Uwajumogu, described the election as a “complete sham”.

The Speaker held that elections did not hold in the majority of the Local Government Areas, including Ehime Mbano, Isiala Mbano, and Okigwe Council Areas but results were released in the Council Areas by INEC in favour of the PDP

Calling for the cancelation of the entire election, Uwajumogu alleged that “at Ehime Mbano LGA for instance, ballot papers and other election materials meant for Imo West (Owerri senatorial zone) were brought to Okigwe zone. On noticing the situation INEC quickly withdrew the ballot papers and this delayed the exercise.

“At about 7 pm the Electoral Officer announced that it was already late and the election was shifted to the following day and we all agreed to hold the election the following morning but the moment we left the Electoral Officer and the PDP candidate wrote the results of the election and took it to INEC and it was announced as the result from the zone”.

According to him, “the results that emanated in the purported Senatorial election in Imo North especially in the polling units of Ehime Mbano, Isiala Mbano, Onuimo, Okigwe and Ihitte/Uboma did not reflect the actual results with the party agents.

“I reject the entire results being circulated to have emanated from the said March 28th 2015 Senatorial election in the affected LGAs in Imo North. And we will not accept the result until a fresh election is conducted”.

In a similar vein, the APGA state Chairman, Barrister Peter Ezeobi, also called for the cancellation of the National Assembly elections alleging that the result announced did not correspond with the votes casted.

Addressing journalists, Ezeobi pointed out that election never took place in some wards in Orlu Local zone such as Isu, Oguta, Ohaji/Egbema, agwa, Asa Obirie and Obiti where he alleged that ballot boxes were snatched by some PDP thugs.

Ezeobi while calling for a fresh election to be conducted in the three senatorial zones in the state urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to improve on the performance of the card readers and check the high incidence of thuggery, violence and ballot snatching that marred the National Assembly elections.

Bayelsa Rep hails Buhari, Jonathan

A member representing Sagbama-Ekeremor Federal Constituency in the House Representatives, Dr. Stella Dorgu, Thursday saluted President Goodluck Jonathan for his uncommon show of sportsmanship after losing the Saturday’s election to Gen. Muhammadu, Buhari (retd).

Dorgu who spoke in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, further hailed Buhari for his success and appealed to him to be magnanimous in victory.

She said the President by conceding defeat immediately demonstrated his love and commitment to the unity of Nigeria.

Dorgu said President Jonathan had made the Ijaw proud and changed people’s negative perception against the ethnic group.

She said the posture of the President had paved the way for a peaceful transition for the continuity of democracy in the country.

“I salute his courage and magnanimity. I also salute Governor Seriake Dickson for keeping the Bayelsa PDP family together.

“We will now enter another phase of political development that will make us stronger strategically. We need to work in unity for good governance in Bayelsa State and Nigeria as a whole,”she said.

Jonathan acted in best interest of Nigeria – Kerry

•Jonathan

The United States secretary of state John Kerry has sent a message of congratulation to the Federal Government and entire Nigerians for the peaceful conduct of last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

In a statement, Kerry said; “The United States congratulates the people of Nigeria and the Nigerian Government on historic and largely peaceful elections the weekend of March 28.  We especially applaud all voters who showed patience and demonstrated their commitment to participate in the democratic process.”

He also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its Chairman, Attahiru Jega, on the general orderly vote, adding “on the use of technology such as card readers to increase the credibility and transparency of the electoral process, and on prompt communication of the results.  While we note reports of logistical problems, such incidents did not undermine the overall outcome of the election.”

The statement added, “In January, I traveled personally to Nigeria and met with both President Jonathan and now President-Elect Buhari.  At that time, I emphasized that for the United States, Nigeria is an increasingly important strategic partner and that Nigeria has a critical role to play in the security and prosperity of this continent and beyond.

“I also said that it was imperative that these elections are an improvement over past elections and that they need to set a new standard for this democracy.  That means that Nigerians needed to not only reject violence but actually promote peace.

“We laud both President Jonathan and General Buhari for their public commitments to the Abuja Accord signed in January and reaffirmed March 26, respecting the official results, and encouraging their supporters to do the same.  We commend President Jonathan for his years of service and for having acted in the best interest of his country.  We welcome President Jonathan’s calls for unity and calm during this transition period.

“We extend our congratulations to President-elect Buhari.  The United States reiterates its commitment to working with the newly elected government that emerges from this democratic process.

Photo: FRSC routine test for alcohol

Officers of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) examining a driver to check alcohol consumption during the routine test on drivers at Area 3 motor park in Abuja on Thursday

An officer of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) educating some drivers on the danger of alcohol consumption during the routine test on drivers at Area 3 motor park in Abuja on Thursday

Officers of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) examining a driver to check alcohol consumption during the routine test on drivers at Area 3 motor park in Abuja on Thursday

Officers of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) examining a driver to check alcohol consumption during the routine test on drivers at Area 3 motor park in Abuja on Thursday

Officers of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) examining a driver to check alcohol consumption during the routine test on drivers at Area 3 motor park in Abuja on Thursday