Container Loaded With Card Readers For Anambra State Catches Fire
Fire on Tuesday at 2.30pm gutted a container at the Secretariat of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Awka, Anambra State. The Punch reports that the container contained card readers. Staff of the Commission fled their offices. As of the time of filing the story, firefighters were still battling to put off the fire. Security operatives, including army and police thronged the Secretariat to assist. However, no INEC official was ready to talk to the press.
President Buhari Curses PDP, Its Leaders
President Muhammadu Buhari again on Friday rained curses on the Peoples Democratic Party and its leaders, saying that God must punish them. The Punch reports that the President said PDP looted the country for 16 years and that he was on a mission to recover what he said they stole. He spoke at the State House, Abuja, when he received members of the 1,000 Support Group. Buhari said, “Large scale abuse of trust, only God can give them punishment but those we can touch, we will get them prosecuted. "We have said properties confiscated should be sold and the money
Resist External Pressures, Intimidation, US Urges INEC
The United States has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to resist external “pressure and intimidation” in the upcoming general elections scheduled for February 16 and March 2. The United States’ Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, in a press statement, said that the upcoming elections in Nigeria would be an opportunity for the country to solidify its democratic leadership in Africa. Pompeo said, “The United States government supports a free, fair, transparent, and peaceful election that reflects the will of the Nigerian people. “It is critical that the Independent National Electoral Commission operates free from outside pressure and intimidation and in a
INEC creates 57,023 more voting points for elections
Ahead of next Saturday’s elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission has created additional 57,023 voting points to address the large number of voters which now stands at 84 million. Information obtained by The PUNCH showed that the voting points would be carved out of the existing 119, 973 polling units nationwide. This comes barely a month after the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said more voting units would not be created. Yakubu had said last month, “On polling units, the commission wishes to assure the media that there is no change in the number of polling units and voting
CBN Has Taken Delivery of Sensitive Materials, INEC Hints Nigerians
The Independent National Electoral Commission said the Central Bank of Nigeria has started taking delivery of sensitive materials for the conduct of the forthcoming general elections. NAN reports that INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye, made this known while updating newsmen on the preparations of the commission for the elections on Wednesday in Abuja. Okoye said that the commission was ready to conduct credible free, fair and credible elections. He said that the CBN in various states had started receiving sensitive materials including ballot papers and result sheets. He also disclosed that the commission
Your Threat Would Not Deter Us From Observing The Election, EU Replies El-rufai
* You have lost your mental control, PDP chieftain bombs El-rufai A team of European Union election observers on Wednesday reacted to a statement by Governor Nasir El-Rufai that Nigerian forces would kill any foreign soldiers who intervene in Nigeria’s elections. The EU team said the threat would not deter it from observing the general elections set to hold on February 16 and March 2. The team, however, said it would continue to review its security arrangements before, during and after the elections. Meanwhile, the Publicity Secretary of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Hon. Banji Okunomo,
You are a beneficiary of rigged polls, Tinubu hits OBJ again
— As Ondo PDP accuses the deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi of plot to rig the election for APC with the use of ex-militants The national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, yesterday described former President Olusegun Obasanjo as a beneficiary of rigged elections. At the party’s presidential rally in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Tinubu alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under former Obasanjo, rigged elections in its favour in 2003 and 2007. The Guardian reports that Tinubu accused the PDP of crying wolf about rigging in the forthcoming polls because it lacked capacity to
You Don’t Have Monopoly of Violence, Nigerians Reply El-rufai
* Impose travel ban on El-Rufai, PDP tells international community * He’s already on travel ban over graft allegations since 2010, US official hints Sahara reporters Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai’s threat that foreign nations, whom he suspects of trying to interfere in the affairs of Nigeria, would leave in body bags has been generating reactions from Nigerians. Speaking on Tuesday Live, on a late-night programme on the NTA, El-Rufai warned the United States of America, the United Kingdom and the European Union, who have reacted to the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, to stop
El-rufai Issues Death Threat To Foreign Nationals Who Intervene In Nigeria Election
Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, on Tuesday threatened the murder of foreign nationals who might interfere in upcoming Nigerian general elections. His comments came over a week after the Nigerian government accused foreign powers including the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union of actions that could be deemed as interference, and warned of consequences. The three entities had condemned the suspension of Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen, warning the decision by President Muhammadu Buhari could affect the credibility of general elections weeks away. The February 16 presidential election is expected to be hotly contested, and there are fears of
We only seek a second term, not third, like some people —Buhari attacks Obj
In a veiled attack on former president Olusegun Obasanjo, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, said that he is only seeking a second term in office and not a third term as did "some people." Speaking with Ondo State Council of Obas in Akure, he said, "We have just finished one term and are seeking a second one. After that, the constitution doesn’t permit any more." He added, "There are some who tried looking for more but they did not succeed. We should learn from their mistakes.” Tolu Ogunlesi, who oversees digital communications in the presidency hinted Nigerians on Twitter this afternoon. The
