Senate: Those favoured to win

JUST like the presidential election, the National Assembly poll also promises to be a battle of the titans today. While many of the legislators are seeking to return, some of the candidates are sitting governors, who are also running today.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu will be seeking second term in the Senate in today’s election. She currently represents Lagos Central Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and would have Dr. Ade Dosunmu, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as her major opponent. Political analysts have described Dr Dosunmu as no match for Senator Tinubu.

She is one of the candidates tipped to win the election following her robust contributions on the floor of the Senate and her enduring impact on her constituents. An educationist, administrator, philanthropist and Officer of the Order of the Niger, she was the exemplary First Lady of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007, during which period she founded the New Era Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to youth development, girl-child education, women empowerment and inspiring young persons to excellence.

Over the years, she has made tremendous impact on the lives of several people and institutions within and outside Nigeria.

As Senator, she hosts a quarterly Town Hall Meeting with her constituents to render accounts of her stewardship and obtain feed-backs on their developmental needs.

Senator Gbenga Ashafa of the APC will also be seeking a second term in the Senate in today’s election. He was first elected into the Senate in 2011 under the defunct ACN. He represents Lagos East in the current 7th National Assembly. He  is the Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development. He is also a member of Senate committees on Environment and Ecology Committee, Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Relations, Gas Committee, and Senate Services Committee.

The contest appears to be an easy ride for him judging by the fact that his main opponent in the PDP, Mrs. Olabisi Owolabi Salis-Fakos, is relatively young and unknown in the political terrain. If analysis by political watchers is anything to go by, Ashafa  may have an easy ride to the next legislative session.

Abubakar Bukola Saraki: The former governor of Kwara State is one of the candidates that  may have an easy ride to victory in today’s election. He is seeking a second term in the Senate to  represent Kwara Central Senatorial District.

He was elected governor on May 2003 and served for  two terms in office. In the April 2011 elections, he was elected Senator for Kwara Central, succeeding his sister, Gbemisola Saraki-Forowa. He was a member of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) but defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He prides himself as  one of the few senators in the 7th assembly who post their weekly activities, so Kwarans and Nigerians at large can see, follow and contribute to what he is doing both in the legislative and constituency.

He surely stands shoulder above any of his political opponents going by his political clout and antecedent.

David Mark: The Senate President is one of the senators that will be seeking reelection to the Senate. He has contested and won election to represent Benue South on four occasions. He will be seeking his fifth term in the Senate in today’s election. The former Minister of Communication will have the All Progressives Congress candidate Dan Onjeh to battle with to determine who represents the area in the 8th legislative session. Mark was elected to his position as the Senate President on June 6, 2007 and ran for re-election to the Senate for Benue South in April 2011 and was elected for a fourth term. Prior to his senatorial career, Mark was a military governor of Niger State. He retired as a Brigadier-General.

George Akume: The former governor of Benue State is looking forward to his third tenure in the Senate after today’s election. He is contesting on the platform of the APC and has Hon. Mike Nku of the PDP as one of his top contenders. His journey to the Senate began in 2007 when he won election to represent the people of Benue North West in the  legislative arm of government. And was reelected Senator in the April 2011 elections.

He is currently the Minority Leader of the Senate. With his wealth of political experience as the governor of the state from 1999 to 2007 and his quality participation in his two terms in the Senate, he is likely to coast to victory at the end of the day.

Senator Barnabas Gemade: The former national chairman of the PDP is a member of the current Senate. He will be contesting on the platform of the APC to represent Benue North East, for a third term in the upper legislative arm. He has the incumbent governor, Gabriel Suswan, to contend with. The battle will no doubt rank among the toughest for a seat in the next Senate.

But such challenge may not be new to the leading chief from the Tiv ethnic minority who holds the title of the Nom-I-Yange-I-Tiv . In the first National Convention of the PDP after the April 1999 General Elections, Gemade was elected National Chairman after a tough competition with one of the party’s founding fathers, the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi. He succeeded Solomon Lar, the first Chairman of the party, and was elected in part due to zoning rules which favoured giving the post to a northerner.

It appears Gemade  has what it takes to shrug off the challenge of Governor Suswam, who has left no one in doubt of his preparedness to snatch the seat from him at the end of the day.

Shaaba Lafiagi: Like Bukola Sarski, Lafiagi will also be taking a second shot at the Senate in today’s election. He currently represents Kwara-North Senatorial District and will be squaring it up with Hon. Yinusa Yahaya, the PDP candidate, and others to clinch the seat. Yahaya is a former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Works as well as a two-term lawmaker for Edu/Patigi/Moro federal constituency between 1999 and 2007.

The APC candidate is not a new comer in the business of politics. He was elected the governor of the state on the platform of the then Social Democratic Party in 1991. After some years of absence from public office, he was elected senator representing Kwara-North in 2011. He was returned unopposed as the senatorial candidate of the district to take part in today’s election.

Professor Olusola Adeyeye: He is a biologist who was elected Senator for the Osun Central constituency of Osun State in the April 2011  elections. Back then, he ran on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Today, he is seeking reelection to the Senate on the platform of the APC.

He is currently the Vice-Chairman of Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa and NAPED  and also  Education (Science and Technology).

Before he was elected to represent his constituency in the Senate, Prof Adeyeye was a member, House of Representatives between 2003/2007.  The outspoken lawmaker definitely has an intimidating political record that qualifies him to emerge victorious in today’s election. Chief Oluwole Aina is the PDP candidate for the senatorial district. Both of them will be joined by other candidates to slug it out for the senatorial seat.

Mohammed Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso: He was governor of Kano State from 1999 to 2003. He was re-elected for a second term as governor on 26 April 2011. He was among the five PDP governors that defected to the new opposition party APC after they were dissatisfied with developments in the ruling party. He contested the APC presidential primary alongside General Muhammadu Buhari. He is contesting for the Kano Central Senatorial District in the election. He would contend with the incumbent senator, Basheer Garba Mohammed Lado, in what pundits have termed the battle of the titans. With his experience in different political capacities, analysts opine that Kwankwaso has all it takes to defeat the incumbent senator.

Aliyu Wamakko: He ran successfully for governor of Sokoto State in April 2007 on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform, and assumed office on 29 May 2007 and still in charge of the state till date. He is one of the candidates jostling for Sokoto West senatorial seat in today’s election. He has been tipped to win the contest by political commentators who have cited his political sagacity as rare strength that would give him victory in any electoral contest.

Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige, who is also seeking to return to the Senate in today’s election, was elected Senator for Anambra Central Constituency in April 2011. He ran  for the election  on the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) platform. He contested with the late former Minister of Information,  Professor Dora Akunyili and won.

Magnus Abe is a member representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly. He was elected Senator for the constituency in April 2011. He is gunning for a second term in office in today’s election on the platform of the APC. With the political profile he has built over the years, his chances of returning to the Senate in the next legislative session appear to be very bright.

Ike Ekweremadu

Ike Ekweremadu has been a senator since May 2003 on the platform of PDP. He is now Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate for the second consecutive time.

Ike Ekweremadu was born in 1962 at Amachara Mpu in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State. He holds both Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Law from the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987.

Ekweremadu was returned to the Senate in the 29 April 2007 Nigerian National Assembly elections, and retained his position as deputy senate president.

In September 2009, Ekweremadu was named co-chairman of a committee to conduct the primary elections for the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate for Anambra State. In September 2009, he was appointed to lead the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ad hoc committee to would work for the return of constitutional order in the Niger Republic.

Ekweremadu was reelected as Senator for Enugu West in the April 2011 elections.

Isiaka Adeleke

Adeleke was first elected senator (Osun East) in 2007 on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State. He ran for re-election in April 2011 on the PDP platform, coming second with 77,090 votes. The winner was Mudasiru Oyetunde Hussein of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) with 121,971 votes.

Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke was born in 15 January 1955 in Ede in Osun State. He holds a Bachelor Of Arts Degree, and a Master’s Degree In Public Administration. He was Chairman, Governing Council, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Pro-Chancellor And Chairman, Governing Council, University of Calabar, Nigeria. He was first civilian Executive Governor Of Osun State (19921993), until the military government aborted the transition to full civilian administration. As governor, he signed the law establishing the Osun State College of Technology.

In March 2008, he instituted a scholarship award for about 100 indigent students in tertiary institutions across the country.

Babangida Aliyu

Governor Aliyu is the senatorial candidate of Peoples Democratic Party for Niger East. His Senatorial ambition was endorsed by the party hierarchy. He is to replace Senator Shem Zagbayi Nuhu, the newly elected senator who replaced the late senator Kuta who died last year.

Aliyu will complete his two-term tenure as Governor of Niger State. He is the chairman of the PDP Governorship. He was a member of PDP G7 that challenged the leadership of the party over what they described as lack of internal democracy. While five members of the group defected to APC, Aliyu and his counterpart from Jigawa State stay put in the PDP.

After the new zoning was announced, a non-governmental organisation, Talba Success Movement (TSM) purchased nomination and intent form for the state governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu.

The leader of TSM, Hamisu Jankaro, said: “Since the party zoned the Senate seat to Minna Emirate and in view of the sterling qualities of the governor, the group is calling on him to contest the senatorial seat”.

Adeola Solomon Olamilekan

Adeola started his political career as a member of Lagos State House of Assembly representing Alimosho (2003-2007). He was elected member of Representatives in 2007 and re-elected 2011. As Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, he introduced probity and accountability in public expenditure. It was through his efforts that the position of Auditor General became autonomous from the control of the executive arm of Government.

Olamilekan is popular among his people. He is known to have assisted many indigent students by providing them scholarship and bursary. Olamilekan is vying for Lagos West Senatorial seat. Despite his popularity he went round the whole of his senatorial district, which is the largest in Lagos State to canvass for votes.

He was a member of House Committee Aids, Loans and Debt Management, Emergency & Disaster Preparedness, Land Transport, Petroleum Resources.

Suleiman Abba: An officer and anti-hero

SULEIMAN ABBA, Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) has never been to war; he does not know lethal courage. He has not felt that proverbial rush of adrenaline that spurs a cornered soldier, outmanned and outgunned, to cock his rifle at approaching hostiles, in a final dash for honour and glory.
Such suicidal valour is frequently ascribed to an innate strength and unparalleled humanity of the courageous. It is no physical strength and very few of the world’s bravest warriors possess such gallantry that defies brawn and accentuates moral vigour. Abba obviously mistakes something else for such valour.
In his extensive career as a police officer, Abba could hardly muster sufficient heroism or notoriety to stand him out as a super cop or radical law enforcer but he still managed to get by, playing to the script and following the rule book of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF). Yet by a sweeping twist of fate, Abba was favoured above eight of his superiors to be named the Acting Inspector General of Police on August 1, 2014. Thus he succeeded IGP, Mohammed Abubakar.
Having ascended through the ranks presumably by merit, few people expected Abba to morph into the character he has become to his office and the Nigerian State. Abba’s metamorphosis manifested too early into his captaincy of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF). On October 30, 2014, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, defected from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Few hours later, the IGP announced in a statement, the withdrawal of the Speaker’s security details citing provisions of Section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
The statement reads: “In view of the recent defection by the Right Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, CFR, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress and having regard to the clear provision of section 68(1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, the Nigeria Police Force, has redeployed its personnel attached to his office.”
The presidency and ruling party of course applauded the IGP for his action despite widespread condemnations from the opposition party and political pundits. A widely stunned citizenry wondered why the IGP, who was supposed to be apolitical, brazenly led the police to abandon its primary responsibility “To protect and serve” to interpret the constitution  thus gate-crashing the functions of the judiciary.
The implication, according to Tambuwal’s spokesperson, Imam Imam, is that the IGP singlehandedly removed Tambuwal from office. Abba is, however, no stranger to controversy.
Riotously egged on by the ruling party and the presidency, the IGP continually overreaches himself. For instance, he recently warned voters to stay off polling booths after casting their votes. This, no doubt, flouts constitutional provisions and in a swift response, Prof. Attahiru Jega, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),  assured the citizenry that it is their constitutionally right to stay behind to monitor proceedings at the polling centres after casting their votes. Many pundits, including Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), also faulted the police chief on this score. Following the barrage of criticisms, the IGP, however, later made a clarification, saying he never banned voters from staying back to monitor the votes. “I didn’t ban voters from staying after voting. I advised based on Section 129 (1) of the Electoral Act, which states that voters should not loiter after voting to prevent commission of crimes. And if they must stay, they should be at least 300 metres from the polling unit for security reasons,” he said.

It is enlightening to see the purportedly dignified police officer evolve into a hatchet man for the ruling party. The illogicalities and wanton generalisations that are feverishly mustered to legitimise his oft controversial statements and actions all attest to the fact that he is in dire need of a moral code of personal and professional ethics.  Despite his academic exposure – his first degree was in History after which he bagged another degree in Law; he is also an alumnus of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru (NIPPS), Jos Plateau State – Abba could do with greater tact and diplomacy.
Honour and glory are two catchwords that Abba could live by. But to live by such demanding code, he needs to imbibe and affect unusual courage; the type that flowers in the face of the impossible. Victor John, 15, showed such courage in a damning moment; thanks to John, the entire clans constituting Ungwan Sankwai, Tyekum and Ungwan Gata villages of Bondon district, Kaura LGA of Kaduna State were saved from total extermination by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
Although many of the bereaved are mourning the brutal massacre of loved ones, the survivors owed their lives to the 15-year-old who sighted the invaders marching on the community. John alerted his father and reportedly went from house to house to wake up their neighbours and warn them of imminent death. Eventually, his father evacuated some of his siblings but his mother and other siblings weren’t so lucky; they were hacked to death by the invaders.
Like the Kaduna teen, Hugh Thompson, an American army pilot, exhibited similar courage in the face of damning odds. Thompson landed his helicopter between a platoon of American soldiers and 10 terrified Vietnamese civilians during the My Lai massacre. Then he ordered his gunner to fire his M60 machine gun on the advancing U.S. soldiers if they began to shoot the villagers. For his courage, Thompson, like John, suffered repercussion; he was hounded and reviled by the American establishment.
Such is the consequence of moral courage. It begets a price. In the case of Victor John, it cost him his mother and siblings. And for being morally courageous, Thompson was vilified by the American military,  the establishment attempted to conceal the massacre and court-martial him.
Moral courage thus encompasses the nerve to do the right thing and speak the truth always. It involves defying the mob as a solitary individual; to spurn the invigorating embrace of comradeship; to be disobedient to corrupt authorities, even in the face death, for a higher principle. Predictably, perpetuators of such morality are either maligned by fate or ascribed rogue status by the state. Routinely, they are accused and charged for treason. But in their touted notoriety subsists the irony of an incontrovertible metaphor; they habitually symbolise the best of mankind and civilisation in their time.
Does IGP Abba belong to such superior breed of mankind and civilisation of our time? The answer lies in his future exploits “To protect and serve” or vice versa.

Jega: An umpire’s date with history

Attahiru Jega, political scientist, university don, pro-democracy activist and Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is walking on a tight rope. The electoral agency under his watch is on the weighing scale. Will he survive the electoral tempest? Will the commission live up to expectation?

The seat was hot for his predecessors-Eyo Esua, Michael Ani, Ovie-Whiskey, Eme Awa, Humphrey Nwosu, Okom, Dagogo Jack, Ephraim Akpata, Abel Guobadia and Maurice Iwu. Today, the seat is hotter, owing to the dynamics of politics, stiff competition for power, political antagonism and growing electoral corruption, intolerance and gross violation of electoral due process. Reminiscent of the earlier dispensations, elections, rather than being a festival of choice and change, are a nightmare.

The INEC boss is conscious of the weight of historic responsibilities on his shoulders. The eyes of the political class and the international community are on him. To observers, he is a key player in an election that has been described as a make or mar exercise. Due to the contradiction in the polity and the perception of election as war by critical stakeholders, Jega carries a national burden. On many occasions, he has reiterated his determination to conduct credible elections. “I can assure you that we will do everything humanly possible to deliver a free and fair election,” he said in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It is an irony of fate that the chief electoral officer, who was commended for conducting a transparent poll four years ago, is now being viewed with suspicion by both the ruling and opposition parties.

To rekindle public trust and confidence, Jega said the electoral agency will not compromise its integrity. He said INEC officials will demonstrate patriotism and ensure the credibility of the electoral process. Unscrupulous officials, he said, would be shown the way out. In the face of multiple challenges and barriers erected by stakeholders with competing political interests, the commission has been up and doing. But, when Jega  rose swiftly to assert the independence of the electoral body, reality dawned on him that the commission still has a long way to go.

Jega has been a household name in Nigeria before he became the 11th umpire. He has served as the Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano. He is also the former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). In the human rights community, he is a vocal voice. Under the Yar’Adua Administration, Jega also served as a member of the Electoral Reforms Committee led by the former Chief Justice of the Federation, Mohammed Uwais. But, his job as the chief electoral officer of the nation is the most challenging.

Many Nigerians hailed his appointment in 2010. Reflecting on his appointment, former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and House of Representatives member Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, who shared the same cell with him when they were detained by the military, said many were surprised by the appointment. “It was either the President meant serious business or he did not know what he was doing when he appointed him,” he said.

His first baptism of fire came in 2011. He nearly lost the opportunity to write his name in gold. Four hours after the commencement of the polls, the Chairman cancelled the exercise. It had flopped in many states. There were cries of despair by voters. Many voters complained about shoddy preparation for the exercise. In many polling units, officials did not turn up for the electoral duty. In others, they came late. There were complaints about shortage of personnel and polling materials. Within two weeks, the mistakes were corrected. Unlike the 2007, which was acknowledged as a severely flawed exercise by the late President Yar’Adua, the 2011 poll was applauded.

Basking in the euphoria of the success, INEC has also conducted parliamentary by-elections and governorship polls in Anambra, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun, with varying degrees of controversy.

However, today’s elections are a turning point. Some loopholes have been exploited to discredit the agency. The controversy over the distribution of Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) and card readers was deliberately fuelled to convey the impression that INEC was not ready for the election. When the exercise kicked off nation-wide, it was a disaster. The All Progressives Congress (APC) cried foul, saying that there was a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise registered voters in its strongholds. In the North, there were even allegations that people were collecting PVCs by proxy.

Also, PDP Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, had an axe to grind with the commission. He alleged that non-indigenes, who he said, were in the majority, were being denied PVCs in Lagos, adding that the scenario is the same in other APC states.

When the commission came up with the idea of card readers, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) raised an objection. However, INEC overcame the challenge when the test-run was successful. When Jega tried to convince skeptics about the commission’s preparations and readiness, insecurity, which was outside INEC’s purview, came to the front burner. Nigerians were shocked when service chiefs said that they could not guarantee security for INEC officials and voters in the Northeast, which has been ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency.

The Federal Government demanded for a six-week postponement. Jega was under pressure to postpone the election. When he mustered the strength to assert his independence, he became a subject of blackmail. PDP leaders, including Senator Edwin Clark, Dr. Doyin Okupe, and Femi Fani-Kayode, alleged that Jega was acting the script of the APC. The umpire was compelled to surrender and the poll was postponed.

When the poll was shifted, it was feared that riots might break out in the North. But, the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, pacified his supporters. Criticisms trailed the polls shift. APC alleged that the PDP influenced INEC to shift the exercise to avert imminent electoral defeat. But, PDP chieftains fired back, saying that INEC was not ready.

Shortly after the postponement, the agitation for Jega’s sack by the PDP chieftains assumed a new dimension. Clark said that INEC had sold out to the opposition, thereby forfeiting public confidence. But, members of the civil society groups rejected the agitations, saying that it was devoid of logic. Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), pointed out that Jega’s five-year tenure as the INEC chairman enjoyed the backing of the law.

Last week,  another coup against the electoral process was in the offing. The Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Kenneth Minimah, said the onus was on INEC to decide on whether to conduct elections in three local governments in Northeast states because, despite their liberation from the Boko Haram sect, the governance structures germane to peaceful elections were still absent. But, according to observers, INEC jettisoned pressures to shift the polls again in utter sensitivity to public mood.

As the first leg of the elections kicks off today, there are some mistakes the commission must avoid. INEC has a duty to properly organise the poll without compromising ethics and sacrificing the rules of the game on the altar of partisanship. Many election observers have pointed out that, while election can be free and fair at the level of voting and counting at the polling units, electoral fraud can be committed at the level of collation of results at the collation centres. According to the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER), a transparent election is possible, if the officials exhibit patriotism and candour in the discharge of their duties. Its convener, Ayo Opadokun, warned that the exercise can be hijacked and manipulated at the polling unit, local, state and national collation centres. He urged returning officers to avoid any break or adjournment during collation because it can be exploited to declare false results.

During the Anambra State governorship elections, there were no result sheets in many polling units. Many officials also reported late for the assignment in many local governments. Where the officials reported for the exercise, they did not show up with the non-negotiable polling materials. Voters were disillusioned. Many returned home in protest. Later, the commission shifted the exercise in some units till the next day.

Elections have become a burden in Nigeria, owing to the do-or-die contest, thuggery and violence. Ahead of the polls, there is tension.  According to observers, troops deployment, in defiance of court rulings, may scare away votes. This may result in low turn out of voters in some communities.

Many electoral observers have wondered why the INEC is reluctant to invoke the various provisions in the constitution against electoral malpractices. Electoral officers who act in concert with politicians and the police to commit atrocities against the ballot box should be prosecuted.

Jega’s staying power has been his integrity. Will his integrity still be intact after today’s polls?  Can INEC weather the storm? Everybody watches.

D-Day: Jonathan, Buhari in final showdown

APC candidate tipped to win

14 factors that will determine outcome of presidential, National Assembly polls
After almost five months of intensive campaign, President Goodluck Jonathan and former Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari will slug it out today in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) for the exalted position of President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Nigerians will also decide those to sit in the next legislative chambers of the National Assembly – 109 for the Senate and 560 for the House of Representatives.
It is the first time since the beginning of the present political dispensation in 1999 and 22 years after 1993 that two major parties will appear evenly matched.
In 1993, the defunct Social Democratic Party and the disbanded National Republican Congress, both creation of the General Ibrahim Babangida government, went into the election -with bookmakers predicting a close race. The SDP candidate, Chief MKO won the election but was annulled by the Babangida government.

With Jonathan, Nigeria’ll go bankrupt in four years —Ambode

Akinwunmi Ambode

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has said Nigeria will go bankrupt in four years if President Goodluck Jonathan is allowed to return for another term.

He said since the rulling Peoples Democratic Party had ruined the nation’s economy, the option left for Nigerians was to vote en masse for the APC, pointing out that victory for the party would ensure freedom.

The candidate spoke on Thursday at the campaign rally of the party in the Alimosho Local Government Area of the state.

He said, “Victory for the PDP in Saturday’s election will lead to further bankruptcy of the nation’s economy. Vote en masse for the APC. The victory for the party will ensure freedom and liberate the country.

“If we fail to vote and PDP is still in government, Nigeria will go bankrupt in the next four years. This election is election of freedom to liberate Nigerians from the shackles of poverty and misrule.”

Ambode said the present generation should start thinking of, not only themselves, but also of their children and generations to come.

According to him, if Nigerians fail to vote out the present administration at the federal level, they have ruined the future of their children.

Polls: Jonathan, Buhari sign fresh peace pact

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan; All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.); and a former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, during the political parties signing of a renewal election peace accord, in Abuja … on Thursday.
| credits: Olatunji Obasa

President Goodluck Jonathan and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj.Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Thursday signed a fresh peace pact ahead of tomorrow’s election.

The agreement, which is a follow-up to the January 14, 2015 Abuja accord,   is a commitment by the two candidates to keep their supporters in check before, during and after the elections.

The fresh agreement was signed in Abuja shortly after they met behind closed-doors with the leadership of the National Peace Committee for the 2015 General Elections led by a former Head of State,   Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar.

Jonathan and Buhari were accompanied to the event by the national, chairmen of their parties, Adamu Mu’azu (Peoples Democratic Party) and   John Odigie-Oyegun (APC).

Shortly before signing the document, Abubakar said his committee had been working round the clock to assist the political parties and Nigerians to ensure that there is peace   before, during and after the elections.

He recalled that Jonathan met with the committee members on Wednesday while Buhari did the same in the early hours of Thursday.

Abubakar   explained that   the separate meetings were   held to brief them on the current situation in the country and what the committee expected of them as stakeholders and as presidential candidates.

He said, “I want to thank both the President and Gen. Buhari for finding time to meet with the committee. And I want to thank both party chairmen for the support received in trying to send this message of peace.

“I am happy that both parties, the contestants are committed to free and fair elections, free of violence.’’

Under Abubakar’s supervision, the two candidates then signed three copies each of the document. The former military leader  countersigned.

Don’t vote those without certificate, says Sambo

Vice-President Namadi Sambo

Vice President Namadi Sambo, who is also the presidential running mate to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, has asked Nigerians not to vote for any candidate in the March 28 election who cannot provide his school certificate.

Sambo said this on Thursday during a meeting with the Arewa community in Lagos at the old parliament building in Tafawa Balewa Square.

“Don’t listen to those who cannot prove or provide their school certificate. If you go back, it’s change. Do you want to go back? Today, some people will tell you their certificate is in Toronto. Tomorrow, they will tell you their certificate is in Toronto. Do we want people like that?” he said.

According to the vice president, the PDP is certain to sweep the poll on March 28.

“We need to ensure that the Peoples Democratic Party wins at every polling booth. Our rating is very high in Lagos and other South-West states. We need to mobilise and vote in PDP in the presidential election,” he added.

He told his audience that if PDP was voted in the presidential poll, the April 11 governorship election would be a “walk-over” for Mr. Jimi Agbaje, the party’s governorship candidate in Lagos.

Responding to the VP’s speech, Agbaje said Lagos State would be delivered to PDP. While commending the oratorical skill of Sambo, the PDP Lagos governorship candidate took a swipe at the All Progressives Congress’ presidential and governorship candidates.

He said, “Lagos will be delivered this Saturday. Just imagine how brilliantly our VP spoke without reading from any prepared paper. But their own candidates in the opposition cannot speak or say anything without reading from a prepared note.

“Do you know why? It is because they are always told what to say. I can also tell you that after these elections, they will change the name of their party again. After April 11, APC will change its name.”

Buhari, a gamble not worth taking —Jonathan

Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)

Ahead of the Saturday’s presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan has described his main contender, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) of the All Progressives Congress as a gamble that is not worth taking by Nigerians.

He said he did not think that Nigerians would make the mistake of electing Buhari, who he said was not the right option for the country at this time.

Jonathan said this in an interview he granted an online news medium, TheCable. The interview was published on Thursday.

The President said while he could not claim to be perfect, majority of Nigerians would still prefer him to Buhari.

He said, “I don’t think Nigerians will make the mistake of voting for Buhari.

“Gen. Buhari, with due respect, is not the right option for Nigeria at this time. It is a gamble that is not worth taking.

“I may not be perfect as nobody is perfect. But I believe that come Saturday, the majority of Nigerian voters will choose me as the best candidate to lead the nation forward.”

APC drags Jonathan, Obanikoro, Fayose others to ICC

Musiliu Obanikoro

The All Progressives Congress has asked the International Criminal Court in The Hague, to investigate President Goodluck Jonathan and eight others as regards an audio file which allegedly captured some Peoples Democratic Party’s leaders giving orders to a military officer on how to rig the June 21, 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State in their favour.

Apart from Jonathan, others named as accused persons in the petition are Minister of State for Foreign Affairs II, Musiliu Obanikoro; Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose; former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, Iyiola Omisore; and Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh,

Others are Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, the Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Army’s 32nd Artillery Brigade Commander, Akure, Ondo State, Brig. Gen. Aliyu Momoh; a member of the Federal House of Representatives, Abdulkareem; and the Minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Jelili Adesiyan.

A copy of the petition dated March 25, 2015, read in part, “Essentially, the recording provides evidence of a clearly articulated strategy to militarise Ekiti and emasculate the opposition parties and their supporters as an approach to rigging the elections in favour of the PDP.

“The meeting was attended by top Federal Government officials including two ministers responsible for the Armed Forces and Police. Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, who was then Minister of State for Defence, and Mr. Jelili Adesiyan, the serving Minister for Police Affairs, were senior government officials, who actively participated in the discussions.”

Fear grips Kaduna residents over tomorrow’s elections

KADUNA — Amid fear of violence and possible imposition of curfew over Kaduna State, residents are now stock- piling food stuff at home, as well as making huge cash withdrawals from banks ahead of Saturday’s poll.

However, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, who is the state’s governorship candidate of the All Progressives, Congress, APC, said at a news conference in Kaduna that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP-led government in the state planned to instigate violence on election day, so that curfew could be imposed, to make manipulation of results in favour of the PDP possible.

Investigations by Vanguard showed that more residents were buying food stuff and meat that could last for several days in anticipation of election violence in the state.

This was even as some youths believed to be APC supporters had been pulling down or vandalising PDP bill boards in the metropolis.

Mallam Aminu Danmanir, Chairman, Meat Sellers Association, at the Kaduna Central Market, who spoke on the issue, said his members have recorded huge increase in sales over the past few days.

Danmanir said:  “It came to us as surprise when people started buying meat in large quantities. It was later that we knew that it was not because of the forthcoming Easter celebrations. Because  even Muslims were buying.

“Before now, I used to sell about 60 kilogrammes of meat in a day. But it the past four days, I have been selling between 90 and 110 kilogrammes daily. We have not increased the price of meat. A kilogramme  of beef is still N900. But, if we keep getting this pressure, the price may go up.”

At Sabo Main Market, Mrs. Agnes Sati, told Vanguard that she had noticed some increase in the sale of her grains.

She said: “There are times in this market that I can hardly sell 10 measures of rice and beans or garri. But, now when people come to buy, they buy in large quantities.

“There was a day I sold three bags of rice, one bag of beans and almost three bags of Ijebu garri. It is the same for palm oil and vegetable oil. People are afraid of  tomorrow.”

Tinubu-Ojo shuts Lagos markets for Ambode

Ambode; Will he succeed Fashola?

LAGOS—Under the leadership of the President General, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, market traders kept Lagos markets shut yesterday to hold a rally at the Onikan statdium in support of Akinwunmi Ambode, the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in the state, ahead of the elections.

Mrs. Tinubu-Ojo declared that all members of the Lagos state chapter of the Association of Commodity Market Women and Men of Nigeria, have pledged their support for Ambode in a bid to sustain the growth and development that has been witnessed all over the state under the APC.

“We market women and men make up a majority among voters. I can assure you that we have our voters cards, and with this support and our continued prayers, victory is definitely assured for Ambode and all APC candidates in this general elections”, Tinubu-Ojo said.

Ambode, who was joined at the event by his wife, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, thanked the leadership and members of the market women and men for their overwhelming support, and promised to keep Lagos working for them and all its citizens. Also present at the event was the Babaloja of Lagos, Alhaji Wasiu Atanda Balogun, and Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, Senator representing Lagos Central.

No plot to rig for APC – INEC

Lagos—THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, dismissed as baseless reports that it had hatched plots to the rig tomorrow’s Presidential and National Assembly polls for the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that the polls will be free, fair and credible.

Buhari, Jega and Jonatrhan

Indeed, to ensure that voting begins early tomorrow, the electoral commission, yesterday, moved sensitive election materials like ballot papers to the local councils, which in turn would be moved to the wards today. Tomorrow, the materials will be moved to the polling units and voting points.

At the INEC Lagos office, yesterday, electoral officers were at hand to collect the materials amid tight security. Hordes of Mobile police men were at hand and two Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) were strategically parked in front the commission.

Inside story on the shooting of Amaechi’s convoy in Rivers

PORT HARCOURT— GOVERNOR Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State was trapped, yesterday in Rumuolumeni area of Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area of the state, as suspected political thugs fired live bullets at his convoy. This came as tension heightened in Edo State, over alleged deployment of soldiers to the country home of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, in Iyamoh, Auchi in Etsako West Local Government Area.

In Rivers State, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Dave Iyofor, who confirmed the attack on Amaechi’s convoy, said that the thugs from an opposition party first pelted the governor’s convoy with stones and other objects before they started firing gunshots at him. Iyofor said gunshots were fired at the governor, adding that two members of the APC sustained injuries.

“Gunshots were fired at Governor Amaechi this evening (yesterday) at Rumuolumeni in Obio Akpor council by suspected Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, thugs. Obio Akpor is the council of PDP Rivers governorship candidate, Mr Nyesom Wike. The thugs attacked the governor and his entourage with bottles, stones and various dangerous objects.

Court restrains Chief of Army Staff from arresting Tinubu

A federal High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday restrained the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, from arresting, detaining, harassing or intimidating the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Justice  J.T. Tsoho granted the order after hearing a motion ex parte application dated and filed on March 24, 2015, by the applicant, Asiwaju Tinubu, through his lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), and reading of the affidavit of urgency in support of the motion ex parte sworn to by a journalist,  Sunday Dare.
The court also restrained Chief of Army Staff, his privies, agents and servants from  preventing Asiwaju Tinubu from participating in the general elections.
The Chief of Army Staff,  his privies, agents and servants were further  restrained from laying siege to Tinubu’s home situated at number 26, Bourdillon Street, Ikoyi,  pending the determination of a motion on notice filed against the defendant.

The applicant had approached the court on March 25, 2015, through his counsel,  Falana, seeking the  enforcement of his fundamental human rights.
In his application, the applicant had prayed for three orders of the court, including leave to serve the Originating Motion on Notice on the respondent at the Ministry of Defence, Area 10, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.
The court granted the three prayers of the applicant.
Justice Tsoho adjourned hearing of the motion on notice in the matter to March 31, 2015.

AD candidate backs Buhari

Presidential candidate of Alliance for Democracy (AD) Rafiu Salau yesterday dumped his ambition, saying he was stepping down for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

Salau told a news conference in Abuja that he was stepping down from the race and giving his support to Buhari to save the country’s democracy from one party system, which he said encourages dictatorship.

According to him, “the PDP had been in power for 16 years, and it has tried its best. No matter how good the performance of PDP, you need to vote for another party before you can know that you always get a better performance when you create a competition among the parties.

“One party system takes away democracy from the owners and denies them the right to use their democratic system to determine the level of the national development. No matter how good the performance of one party system, it cannot perform 10 per cent of a democratic system with at least two strong parties that make the people to have the opportunity to control their democracy.

THE National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed concern over what it described as the frightening and increasing trend of electoral violence by major political actors.

The Chairman, NHRC, Chidi Odinkalu, who spoke at a news conference in Abuja yesterday, expressed fears about the commission’s findings during its recent visit to Lagos, Kaduna and Rivers states,  identified as the states with high electoral violent potentials.

Odinkalu said the outcome of the NHRC’s visitation team to states captured in its February 13 pre-election violence report and advisory, revealed a frightening trend.

He noted that since the commission’s February 13 report, which revealed that 58 pre-election killings were recorded, more of such deaths have been recorded.

But, many political actors have argued that the NHRC was conservative in its death figure.

Odinkalu said the number of pre-election violence incident reports and complaints, submitted to the commission, has increased from 10 to 30.

He added that there were evidence of major political actors’ preference for self-help as against depending on the security agencies and state-owned dispute resolution mechanisms.

“Visits to the states confirmed the assessments in the report and advisory. Certain patterns were very evident from these locations, which predispose them to a potential for significant election-related violence,” he said.

The NHRC boss named some of the identified patterns as including the deliberate arming and empowerment of militias and gangs by leading political parties, increase importation and utilisation of small arms and light weapons; increased substance abuse and psychotropic substances, among others

Jonathan versus Buhari: How states, FCT will vote

Nigerians will file out in their millions tomorrow to vote in presidential elections that could transform the political landscape for decades. In this final installment of our comprehensive reports tracking developments in the race, SUNDAY EDITOR FESTUS  ERIYE,  MANAGING EDITOR YUSUF ALLI, ASSOCIATE EDITOR SAM EGBURONU, ASSISTANT EDITOR DARE ODUFOWOKAN, ASSISTANT EDITOR REMI ADELOWO AND SUNDAY OGUNTOLA highlight the latest realities and project likely outcomes in the 36 states and the FCT.

Less than 60 million of Nigeria’s estimated 170 million population will tomorrow choose the nation’s next president. One week to the day the first ballots would be cast, the Indepenedent National Electoral Commission (INEC) put the total number of registered voters at 68,833,476. Out of this only 56,431,255 permanent voter cards (PVCs) had been collected. This represents 82% of total cards and is a relatively high figure when compared with previous elections.

Before the February 7 postponement the momentum was clearly on the side of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. Founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and a loyalist of President Goodluck Jonathan has confessed that that was a key factor behind the six-week shift pushed through by the Presidency.

The extension was supposed to enable Jonathan and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regain the initiative. In that period the president, governors and campaign team virtually relocated to the South West – courting traditional rulers and others with a shower of dollars. The Gani Adams-led OPC took to Lagos streets brandishing guns and vandalizing All Progessives Congress (APC) billboards. First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan barnstormed throughout the country rallying women for her husband. Critically, the armed forces in collaboration with the multinational force from Cameroon, Chad and Niger chased Boko Haram insurgents out of most towns they had occupied in the North-East.

But not even the successful military campaign has altered the dynamics of the race in the North and across the country. The fundamentals remain largely the same for Jonathan and his challenger, General Muhammadu Buhari.

•We’re not involved, says EFCC

All the bank accounts of Enugu Catholic Priest of Adoration Ministry, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, have been frozen.

Sources traced the action to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

They claimed that the EFCC operatives who carried out the operation were detailed from Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Mbaka was also said to have been asked to report at their Port Harcourt office on an unspecified date.

Mbaka’s media aide, Maximus Ugwuoke said: “All the cheques issued to the banks today (yesterday) were returned. We don’t know why they decided to use EFCC operatives from Port Harcourt while the zonal headquarters is here in Enugu. ”

Otuoke eager to receive Jonathan

FROM LEFT: NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF PDP, SEN. ADAMU MUAZU; PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND VICE PRESIDENT NAMADI SAMBO, AT THE PDP PRESIDENTIAL RALLY IN ABAKALIKI ON FRIDAY

Indigenes of Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayela State are eagerly awaiting the arrival of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The president is expected to arrive in his home town today ahead of tomorrow’s general elections.

But there were no soldiers or riot policemen on the streets – unlike many others in the other parts of the country which have been swarmed by troops.

Residents are confident that their “brother” and “son” will be victorious at the polls.

Around the town, posters and banners of President Jonathan and his running mate, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, are at various locations.

Hoodlums shoot Amaechi’s convoy in Port Harcourt

•Soldiers lay siege to Oshiomhole’s  country home
Barely 24 hours after the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, raised the alarm that a plot to assassinate him was on, his convoy was yesterday attacked in Port Harcourt.
Thugs, who are suspected to be working for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),  fired gunshots at his convoy.
Amaechi met at the Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday morning with the caretaker chairmen of the 23 local government areas and other stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Chief Press Secretary to the Rivers Governor, David Iyofor, said in a text message at 7:33 p.m. yesterday: “Gunshots fired at Governor Amaechi. This (yesterday) evening, gunshots were fired at the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, in Rumuolumeni (Port Harcourt), Obio/Akpor LGA (of Rivers State) by PDP thugs. Obio/Akpor LGA is the home of PDP Rivers governorship candidate, Nyesom Wike (an indigene of Rumueprikom).

Buhari: I’m not in the race for money and power

•APC candidate worried about misuse of military

All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is worried about what he calls the government’s penchant for misusing the military.

Speaking yesterday at a news conference in Abuja, Gen. Buhari urged his supporters to shun violence during tomorrow’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

Gen. Buhari also said that he was not contesting the election because of power and money, but because of the belief by Nigerians that he is in a position to lead them out of despair.

He thanked Nigerians for their support throughout his campaign and urged  them to conduct themselves peacefully throughout the elections.

They must resist “any act of deliberate provocation to derail the fast moving train of change”.

He said the democracy being practised in the country is not what Nigerians bargained for when they celebrated the end of military rule in 1999, pointing out that the basic challenges facing Nigerians today are: the economy, insecurity, unemployment and corruption. These challenges demand competence and political will to handle, he added.

Gen. Buhari said: “I specifically called this press conference to thank millions of Nigerians for their support and their enthusiastic commitment to the imperative of change. I am particularly overwhelmed that, despite the sustained smear campaigns against me by the ruling PDP, the support Nigerians have for me has remained intact. The enthusiasm of Nigerians for change is understandable.

Card Reader’s supplier held

Lai Mohammed

•How PDP plans to rig, by APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday alleged plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the general elections, warning that  it could be catastrophic.

The party also decried the incessant harassment and intimidation of its members across the country by PDP officials and candidates, using security agencies, which are supposed to be non-partisan and professional in the discharge of their duties.

APC National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed told reporters in Lagos that PDP chieftains were plotting to manipulate the exercise out of desperation.

He said the rigging strategies include the plan to manipulate the card readers, use of fake security agents and recruitment of thugs to disrupt voting.

5 REASONS WHY YOU DON'T NEED TO DIE FOR ANY POLITICIAN BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER ELECTIONS

:
1. In 2011, Governor Shekarau of Kano State contested for the Presidency on the platform of ANPP against President Jonathan of PDP. So did Nuhu Ribadu of ACN. Today, Gov. Shekarau is a Minister in President Jonathan's cabinet & a member of the President's party & Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is the PDP's candidate for governorship of Adamawa State. How many were killed because of them in 2011?
2. President Obasanjo and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu were thought to be sworn enemies. When President Obasanjo took over SW Nigeria in 2003, Gov. Tinubu became "last man standing" against him in ACN/Lagos. Today, Obasanjo is Tinubu's "Navigator" & Tinubu is treasured guest at Obasanjo's birthday. How many died believing they were enemies?
3. Fmr Govs, Engr. Segun Oni and Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti used to be political foes and now they belong to the same party. Both are alive as friends & some folks had died fighting for them.
4. Fmr. Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola never saw eye to eye with Governor Aregbesola. Now, they belong to the same party, some people died for both, but were they not always friends? Imaging Gov Rotimi Amaechi being the campaign director of Buhari, who could have thought so. What of Gov Rochas Okorocha?
5. President Obasanjo was prepared to throw VP, Atiku Abubakar out of Aso Rock. Who would have thought that Atiku would visit Obasanjo in Otta farm after all the brouhaha; politicians belong to one big family. They have their interest at stake, do not die for them especially when you have nothing at stake. Vote, that is your obligation. You do not owe anyone a duty to die. Value your life, if you are still alive you can be better than them. Say no to violence, say no to blood letting. Make a choice with your PVC & let Nigeria be the winner! Spread the word
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