Military aids electoral fraud –Okorocha

Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha
| credits: File copy

The Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has frowned on the way the Peoples Democratic Party “rigged” the elections of Saturday and has therefore called for the outright cancellation of the results in six local government areas of the state.

He also said that the election in the state was full of combined conspiracy with military intervention.

The governor, who addressed journalists on Monday at the Government House, Owerri, accused notable chieftains of the PDP in the state of using the military to terrorise voters.

He alleged that such areas as Oru East, Ohaji/Egbema, Ngor Okpala, Aboh Mbaise and parts of Owerri West did not only witnessed unprecedented rigging but also abduction and kidnapping of agents of rival political parties who were manhandled and forced to lie prostrate on the ground by soldiers acting on the orders of the Federal Government.

Military frees women, children seized by B’Haram

 

Nigeria Defence spokesman, Major General Chris Olukolade

The Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, has said that troops of the Nigerian Army have recovered some women and children who were locked up by insurgents in Gwoza.

Olukolade said that the hostages were being given medical attention and necessary care by troops pending the arrival of troops in the area.

He said that some of the freed hostages were providing useful information to troops on the activities of the soldiers.

“A number of women, the elderly and children who were locked up by fleeing terrorists in Gwoza have been freed by troops as cordon and search along with mopping up operations continue in the town.

“The freed hostages some of whom are so weak are being given medical attention while others are also receiving necessary care pending the arrival and activities of aid agencies.

“Some of them are also providing useful information for the intelligence in aid of troops operations in the area.”

APC battles Kashamu, alleges rigging

Buruji Kashamu

The All Progressives Congress in Ogun State has vowed to contest the result of Saturday’s National Assembly elections in the Ogun East Senatorial District, where Buruji Kashamu emerged winner.

The APC alleged that Kashamu’s Peoples Democratic Party induced voters and falsified results of the polls.

The Secretary-General of the Senator Ibikunle Amosun Campaign Organisation, Bisi Adegbuyi, said during a press briefing in Abeokuta on Monday that the election in the district was “marred by gross irregularities, inducement and intimidation of voters, manipulation and falsification of the results.

Adegbuyi explained that the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission did not reflect the wishes of the people of Ogun East, describing the election in the district as mere “charade”.

Fayose ‘ll defeat APC again, says aide

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose

The Special Assistant to Governor Ayodele Fayose on Information, Youth and Sports, Mr. Lanre Ogunsuyi, has said the outcome of the Saturday’s election signalled the end of the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State.

The Peoples Democratic Party won all the three senatorial districts and the six House of Representatives seats in the state.

Ogunsuyi, who spoke in Ado Ekiti on Monday, said the election results proved that the June 21 governorship election won by Fayose was not rigged as claimed.

“It is now confirmed to whoever is still doubting whether Fayose is indeed a super political champion that the man is more than that, he is also a rare breed.

Suswam, Yuguda, Ngige lose senatorial bid

L-R: Ngige, Smart Adeyemi, Yuguda and Suswam

Three Peoples Democratic Party governors have lost their senatorial bid. The governors are Isa Yuguda (Bauchi); Gabriel Suswam (Benue) and Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu.

In Anambra state also, a former governor, Chris Ngigie, who represents Anambra-Central, lost his seat.

In Kogi State, the senator representing Kogi-West, Smart Adeyemi, lost to former House of Representatives member, Dino Melaye of the All Progressives Congress

In Benue, Suswam was defeated by incumbent Senator, Chief Barnabas Gemade, in the race for the Benue North-East seat.

Gemade, an APCmember, polled 140,715 votes to beat Suswam.

Buhari leads with 2m votes …as INEC declares 18 states, FCT only

 

Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd)

Results from 18 states and the Federal Capital Territory so far released by the Independent National Electoral Commission on Monday showed the All Progressives Congress Presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari coasting to victory.

He polled 8,520,436 votes in the states and the FCT while his Peoples Democratic Party counterpart and incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan had 6,488,210 votes.

The Daura, Katsina State-born former Head of State won 10 of the states and Jonathan, eight plus the FCT.

The states cleared by Buhari are Kaduna, Kwara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Oyo, Ondo, Osun, Kogi and Ogun.

Jonathan captured Abia, Anambra, Nasarawa, Enugu, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Plateau and FCT.

In the South-West states, Buhari won in   Oyo, Ondo, Osun, Ogun but lost in Ekiti where he garnered 120,331 votes. Jonathan   polled 176,466 votes in the PDP-controlled state.

Jonathan’s govt planning to manipulate poll results –APC

 

Alhaji Lai Mohammed

The All Progressives Congress on Sunday alerted Nigerians and the international community to plans by the Peoples Democratic Party, led by Goodluck Jonathan administration, to tamper with the results of Saturday’s elections and circumvent the people’s will.

The APC which said this in a statement in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, warned that it had all the results from across the country.

It stated, ‘’The information that we have received since we issued our last statement is to the effect that the administration is holding clandestine meetings with security chiefs and others with the sole aim of altering or scuttling the results which they consider to be highly embarrassing and unpalatable, using malleable RECs (resident electoral commissioners).”

Presidential, N’Assembly elections vicious –Soyinka

Prof. Wole Soyinka

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has described the presidential and National Assembly elections as the most vicious, unprincipled, vulgar and violent he had ever witnessed.

Soyinka, in an interview with TheGuardian UK on Sunday, was quoted as saying, “We’re talking about a very positive response by the public in terms of determination to register and vote but, you know, this has been one of the most vicious, unprincipled, vulgar and violent exercises I have ever witnessed.

“I just hope we won’t go down as being the incorrigible giant of Africa.”

According to Soyinka, the stakes appear to be so high that all scruples have been set aside and it’s very distressing to compare this election with that of 1993, which was one of the most orderly, civilised and resolute elections the country ever had.

PVC better than US voter card –Ambassador

US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle

The Ambassador of the United States to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, has applauded the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to use the Permanent Voter Card in the general elections which commenced on Saturday.

The ambassador, who spoke with journalists at the International Conference Centre, venue of the National Collation Centre of the election results, on Sunday said Nigeria’s PVC involved superior technology which his state of Virginia in the US needed to copy.

He said, “I am very impressed by the decision of INEC to use technology in this election. The Permanent Voter Cards are very high-tech.

INEC office razed as Rivers protesters demand fresh polls

All Progressives Congress supporters protesting at the INEC office in Port Harcourt... on Sunday
| credits: Stanley Ogidi

The office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in the Emouha Local Government Area of Rivers State was on Saturday night set ablaze by persons believed to be political thugs.

A senior official of the commission confirmed the incident hours after hundreds of All Progressives Congress protesters on Sunday besieged the INEC office in Port Harcourt     demanding the conduct of a fresh presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

The INEC official, who did not want his name in print, said, “I got information from one of our officials that some individuals harassed them before setting the place ablaze on Saturday.

“We are still trying to gather more information on the situation.”

The protesting APC supporters   had converged on the Government House in Port Harcourt, around noon before proceeding to the INEC office on Aba Road.

The party supporters, who were led by their   governorship, Dakuku Peterside, carried placards some of which read, ‘‘INEC is an arm of Rivers PDP,’’ ‘‘There was no election in Rivers,’’ ‘‘We must be allowed to vote,’’ and ‘‘INEC, conduct election in Rivers State.’’

PDP, APC clash over Lagos poll results delay

The agent of the Peoples Democratic Party for the presidential election collation in Lagos State, Mr. Wahab Owokoniran, and his All Progressives Congress counterpart, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, earlier today, hotly disagreed during the collation exercise at the Independent National Electoral Commission Lagos office.

The quarrel began immediately the Collation Officer for Lagos State, Prof. Isaac Adewole, announced the suspension of the collation of the presidential poll till 8am.

Before Adewole suspended the collation of the result at 1.48am, electoral officers of 4 local government areas had submitted the results of their respective council areas, while the results for the remaining 16 local government areas had yet to be returned to the INEC office.

But immediately after Adewole, who is the Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, announced the suspension of the collation of the result, Owokoniran flared up and protested the decision, asking the state collation officer to explain the rationale behind the shift.