Buhari’s victory: Edo declares public holiday

Edo State Government has declared a work-free day in the state on Wednesday to celebrate the historic victory of General Muhammadu Buhari, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

 

Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Peter Okhira  invited people of the state to a victory party which will hold at the Oba Ovoranmwen Square, Benin City starting from 3:00pm.

 

Top artistes, including Davido, Patoranking, Osayomore Joseph, Young Bolivia, among others, will perform at the party to celebrate General Buhari’s victory

I regret my action, says Orubebe

A former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe has apologized to Nigerians for his infamous act during the collation of the Presidential election results Tuesday.

Orubebe said he sincerely regretted his action as he allowed his emotion to betray him.

He pleaded with Niger Delta youths not to perpetrate violence because of the election of the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

Aso Rock Chaplain to Jonathan: elections should not be do or die

President Goodluck Jonathan returned yesterday to Aso Villa, 24 hours after voting in the general elections at his Otuoke, Bayelsa State hometown.

He attended a church service to mark the Palm Sunday.  Guest minister and Founding General Overseer of the All Christians Fellowship Mission, Abuja, Rev. William Okoye, cautioned politicians that results of the general election should be accepted, adding that “It should not be a do-or-die “ matter.

APC seeks polls’ cancellation in Akwa Ibom, Rivers

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel Saturday’s polls.

APC supporters in Rivers yesterday protested what they described as electoral fraud.

The protest, which started from the Government House, Port Harcourt to the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) caused a major traffic jam at the popular Aba road express way.

Rivers election didn’t meet minimal standard, says observer

The results of the presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives elections are expected today. While election observers are still collating their findings, Ibrahim Zikrullah of the Transitional Monitoring Group (TMG) gave DW an insight into his impression of how the elections went. 

What are your preliminary findings about the elections so far?

Anxiety as Nigerians await presidential, National Assembly polls’ results

Nigerians were yesterday eagerly awaiting the results of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

The elections went into second day yesterday after technical glitches occasioned by the Smart Card Readers (SCRs) deployed in the polling unitsby the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Hoodlums burn INEC office in Suswam’s local govt

Gun-totting thugs last night,  believed to be supporters of one of the candidates yesterday set the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ugba town, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State on fire.

Ugba is the headquarters of Logo Council, hometown of Governor Gabriel Suswam, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorial candidate. His opponent is Senator Barnabas Gemade of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

ECOWAS: elections free, fair

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Observer Mission (EOM), has declared that Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections met the acceptable criteria of being free and transparent.

The declaration was made by the mission’s head and former President of Ghana, John Kuffour, in Abuja yesterday.

Jega: INEC not under pressureThe Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, yesterday said the agency was not under pressure to declare the results of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections inconclusive.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, yesterday said the agency  was not under pressure to declare the results of Saturday’s  presidential and National Assembly elections inconclusive.

He also said the collation and release of the results  of the elections will begin today.

Buhari ahead in Kano, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, 4 others

All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari took an early lead yesterday as results of Saturday’s poll trickled in.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officers announced results in some states.

The APC candidate is ahead in Kano, Ogun, Osun, Kogi, Oyo, Borno,   Ondo and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

APC wins in Sambo’s unit

The All Progressives Congress has won the presidential and National Assembly elections in the Kabala 005 polling unit of Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo in Kaduna
The APC scored 386 votes to beat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that scored 53 votes in the presidential election. APC got 385 and 369 votes in the Senate and House of Assembly elections respectively while the PDP got 59 and 62 respectively.
The results were announced by the presiding officer Abdulfatah Ali.

Election Tragedy: APC chieftain, monarch’s son, others die in boat capsize

The first son of Olu of Epe, Oba Sefiu Adewale, Aremo Azeez Adewale and a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr Muiz Bello, died yesterday when their boat capsized in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos.

Aremo Adewale, heir apparent to the throne, was until his death a director in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, while Bello, a lawyer was APC Chairmanship aspirant in Epe.

Osinbajo pleased with process

The vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has hailed the conduct of yesterday’s presidential and national assembly elections.

Though he flayed the late arrival of electoral materials and officials, Osinbajo said the process was “smooth but slow.”

Speaking shortly after casting his vote by 8:10pm at his polling 033 Unit 4 in Victoria Garden City (VGC) Lagos, the former Lagos Attorney General said the long wait was worth the stress.

Two explosions rock Anambra

Two explosions yesterday in Onitsha and Awka respectively nearly marred the presidential and national assembly elections in Anambra State which made the electorate scamper for safety.#

The Onitsha explosion happened at the Onitsha South Local Government Headquarters, though without any damage but the Awka incident was at Ayomna Okpala Primary School 001 polling unit Amenyi Ward 1 Awka-South.

APC raises alarm over use of FG facility in Lagos

The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday raised the alarm over suspicious, election-related activities being carried out at the Federal Government Press on Mobil Road, Ajegunle, Lagos.
The party said workers at the facility were sent home early on Friday, apparently so it could   be made ready for use yesterday for a ‘presidency’ assignment.

The APC  National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said in a statement  that a  concerned Nigerian “alerted us to these developments, and we wonder what a federal government facility can be needed for on election day if it is not part of the facilities designated by INEC for election collation purpose.”

Dame Patience’s fixation with Buhari

FOR about two weeks or so before yesterday’s poll, Dame Patience Jonathan crisscrossed nearly the entire southern part of Nigeria wooing voters to her husband’s side. During the period, her animated spirit, unfettered by grammar and logic, presented a stark contrast to her husband’s dour and unremarkable performance on the stump. Her élan, especially when she began to wax joyous and lyrical in the vernacular and pidgin, was infectious, sometimes provocative, but undoubtedly unforgettable. In a quaint and uncomfortable way, she was the charismatic, entertaining opposite of her husband’s sullen, quivering unease.

Kebbi: Thugs snatch ballot box at Dankwambo’s polling unit

Thugs in Gombe state yesterday snatched ballot boxes at Shehu Manzo 005 polling unit in Gombe metropolis where Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo voted following apparent indication of President Jonathan’s defeat at the unit. It was gathered that the thugs were aided by armed policemen men on patrol in the polling unit area.

Before the incident, votes for the Senate and House of representatives were already counted and the All progressive Congress (APC) candidates won both. Nasiru Shehu Ali Sidi Manzo, an eye witness said they noticed thugs patrolling the area and reported to policemen on patrol that thugs were disrupting the peaceful conduct of voting at the polling unit, but were ignored by the police.

INEC should extend voting time in Lagos, says Tinubu

All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the voting period in Lagos to enable prospective voters perform their civic duties.

He alleged plans by some unscrupulous elements to subvert the electoral process and suppress the votes in Lagos, adding that the plot will not work.

Tinubu, spoke with reporters, shortly before and after casting his vote at his Polling Unit OO45/EC 30 along Sunday Adigun, Alausa, Ikeja, during the presidential and national assembly elections and the performance of the electoral agency. He was inundated with complaints by party chieftains and other prospective voters in many parts of the state about the failure of the card readers, lack of polling materials and absence of polling staff.

Buhari, other APC candidates lead in Ogun

EARLY results emerging from the presidential and national assembly  elections conducted in Ogun State yesterday showed that the All Progressives Congress(APC) candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of the party were leading, particularly Ogun Central and Ogun West.

They were closely being followed by the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Part y(PDP) and others on the tickets of PDP. Tagging from behind are candidates of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) where former governor Olusegun Osoba is the state party leader.
The Peoples Democratic Party lost Obasanjo’s ward 11 polling unit 22 at Oke – Sokori near his Ita – Eko home in Abeokuta North Local Government to the APC candidates.

Scores of APC members shot dead in Rivers

Scores of members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State were killed and maimed as the presidential and national assembly elections got underway across the country yesterday.

One of the victims, an APC member in Ward 3, Unit 2, Ogale-Eleme, was allegedly killed by a soldier attached to a prominent leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Eleme, Eleme local government area.

Boko Haram kills lawmaker, policeman, 10 others in polls attacks



Suspected members of Boko Haram sect yesterday launched separate attacks on voters in Gombe and Yobe states, killing 10 people including an All Progressives Congress (APC) member seeking re-election into the Gombe State House of Assembly, and a policeman.

Alhaji Umar Aminu  and five voters  were  shot dead in his Dukku South constituency by the terrorists who were quoted by eye witnesses as saying : ‘Didn’t we warn you about staying away from (the) election?” as they pulled the triggers.

South West, North favour APC’s Buhari

The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari seems to have found favour with most of the voters in four of the nation’s six geo-political zones in yesterday’s election.

General Buhari, according to indications from across the country, got the nod of most voters in the Northwest, Northcentral, Northeast and Southwest, in what observers, local and foreign, described as the nation’s most crucial polls ever.

Potential flashpoints: Lagos, Rivers, Kaduna, Ekiti, others

AS the rescheduled presidential and National Assembly elections finally hold today, Lagos, Rivers, Kaduna and Ekiti States have been identified as potential flashpoints.  This is going by the palpable and worrisome tension that trailed the build-up to the elections in the listed states.

Consequently, findings revealed that a number of the residents have either fled or made up their minds not to go out and vote to avoid being victims in the event that violence breaks out eventually.

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.

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.

D-Day: Jonathan, Buhari in final showdown

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.

USA/Chicago APC warns against intimidation of voters

The United States of America (USA)/Chicago Branch of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday warned security agencies in the country against undue harassment and intimidation of voters ahead of the Presidential and National Assembly elections today.

Vice Chairman/Assistant National Publicity Secretary of the association, Mr. Olawale Ebietomiye, spoke during an interview with newsmen in Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State.

Niger East By-election: Court upholds Umaru’s victory

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja this morning reaffirmed Barrister David Umaru of All Progressives Congress (APC) as the lawful winner and Senator-elect for Niger East Senatorial district by-election conducted in August last year.

The court dismissed the appeal by Dr. Shem Zagbayi Nuhu of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who challenged the quashing of his victory by the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in January.

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.

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

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.

Jonathan’s broadcast on elections

NATIONAL BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCFR ON THE 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS,FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

Dear Compatriots,
1. As we prepare to go to the polls tomorrow, I have come before you this morning to express my immense appreciation for the opportunity you gave me to lead this great nation of ours in the past four years.

 2. I also wish to place on record, once again, my sincere gratitude for the support you have given my administration without which the significant progress we have made in recent years would not have been possible.

Broadcast: Let’s accept outcome of the election, says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has appealed to politicians that elections must not be mistaken for war despite differences and disagreement among political parties.

He made the call on Friday in a national broadcast on the 2015 general elections.

According to him, those planning to unleash violence during and after the elections would be dealt with according to the laws.

Jonathan’s Election Message: 5 vital Points

1. I urge you all to troop out en-masse to peacefully perform your civic duty of voting for leaders of your choice tomorrow.

2. As we do so, let us all – political party leaders, contestants, party members, party 2agents, supporters and ordinary voters alike, be very conscious of the fact that the eyes of the entire world are on us.

Ambode: Nigeria’ll go bankrupt in four years with Jonathan

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.

Gunmen fire at Gov. Rotimi Amaechi's convoy



Barely 24 hours after the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, raised the alarm of plan by President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to assassinate him through operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS), he narrowly escaped death in Port Harcourt Thursday evening, as PDP thugs fired gunshots at him.

'Impossible' for Neymar to replace me: Pele

The former Santos star does not believe there will ever be a new 'king' of Brazilian football quite like him despite the 23-year-old's challenge to his goalscoring record.

Pele has insisted that not even Neymar can challenge his status as Brazil's greatest footballer. A three-time FIFA World Cup winner and the scorer of more than 1,000 goals in a glittering career, the former Santos and New York Cosmos striker has already seen off plenty of challengers to his mantle since retiring.

GEJ: We’ll liberate Gwoza by Friday

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday expressed the confidence that Nigerian troops will liberate Gwoza from members of the Boko Haram sect latest on Friday.

Once that feat is achieved, he said it would not take the nation more than one week to clean up. Jonathan spoke while granting audience to a group of international election monitors who paid him a visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

El-Rufai: Minimah plots rigging election in favour of Jonathan

All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, has alleged that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, has sworn to use soldiers and the equipment of the army to manipulate the Saturday’s presidential elections in the favour of President Goodluck Jonathan.

El-Rufai, who shared a statement on his official Facebook and Twitter pages in the early hours of Thursday, said he was “deeply worried by reports that the leaders of the security sector have jettisoned every appearance of impartiality for Saturday’s presidential election.

Jonathan, Buhari sign another peace accord

The two leading candidates have signed another peace accord. They signed the document under the supervision of Abdusalami shortly after emerging from a closed door meeting.

President Goodluck Jonathan is currently meeting behind closed doors with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

APC, others ask court to order Fayose’s impeachment

The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council and 53 others, including a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Akinseye George, have asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel the Ekiti State House of Assembly to immediately commence impeachment proceedings against the state governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose.

Court removes APC’s House of Reps candidate in Ondo

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday removed Yejide Ogundipe as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the Odigbo/Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Constituency in the House of Representatives slated to hold on Saturday.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to replace Ogundipe’s name with Festus Adefinraye.

Neglected youths as tools for electoral violence

The election fever has attained an all-time high as Nigerians prepare to go to the polls on Saturday to elect the next president and members of the National Assembly.

Like their counterparts seeking seats in the two legislative chambers, the two major gladiators in the presidential race; incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party and the candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), are leaving no stone unturned to woo the youth for votes.

Fasehun, Gani Adams disagree over OPC monitoring elections

Founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress, Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, says the group will send its members to every polling unit across the country to monitor Saturday’s presidential poll.

Fasehun said this in a telephone an interview with our correspondent on Tuesday.

The OPC founder said the OPC would forestall violence at the polls and that there would be no conflict of interest between the OPC and the security agencies.