Official Results: Buhari Wins Oyo, Ondo, Osun, Kogi and Ogun - : 5:00pm
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Monday commenced the official release of the results of Saturday’s presidential election, with official figures showing that the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari winning Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kogo and Ondo States.
The results further showed that President Goodluck Jonathan won in Nasarawa State, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Enugu and Ekiti States.
According to the results announced by the Returning Officer of Ekiti, President Jonathan scored 176,466 to win the state, while Buhari came second with 120,331 votes.
In Ogun State, the APC presidential candidate came first with 308,290 votes, while the PDP presidential standard bearer came second with 207,950 votes.
In Enugu, the PDP came first with 553,003 votes and APC came a distant second with 14,157 votes, while in Kogi Buhari came first with 264,851 votes and Jonathan garnered 149,987 votes.
In Osun, APC candidate won the state with 383,603 votes, while the PDP came second with 249,929. In the FCT, the presidential candidate of the PDP came first with 157,195 while the APC presidential standard bearer came second with 1463,99.
In Oyo, Buhari came first with 582,620 and Jonathan came second with 303,376.
In Nasarawa, Jonathan was victorious beating Buhari to the second position with 273,460 to 236838 votes.
Details to follow…
COMPLETE KOGI PRESIDENTIAL POLL RESULTS : 2: 49pm
LGAs APC PDP
Ogori Mangongo 2321 1934
Adavi 22659 7,767
Okehi 17,801 5808
Yagba West 6231 6639
Igalamela-Odolu 6075 7285
Idah LGA 10445 6113
Mopa/Moro 3881 2793
Bassa 7412 9964
Dekina 18189 13885
Kabba Bunu 8737 9009
Ibaji 6076 13358
Kogi 15358 2735
Olamaboro 10419 7788
Ofu 12998 9204
Ajaokuta 12197 8139
Omala 7378 7857
Lokoja 24658 5112
Yagba East 7013 3856
Ankpa 21806 10742
Okene 34293 3728
Ijumu 8904 6271
Total 264, 851 149, 937
Total number of votes for APC & PDP 414788
% for APC 63.8
% for PDP 36.1
PARTIAL SOKOTO PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS: 2:20pm
LGA APC PDP
Kware 25,286 5,339
Dagel/Shuni 31,036 6,918
Goronyo 28,950 7,664
Yabo 20,279 4,357
Binji 16,478 4,722
Gwadabawa 34,929 5,951
Silame 44,785 5,029
Wurno 24,414 3,948
Sokoto South 48,900 11,048
Bodinga 25,084 6,816
Rabah 19,887 4,994
Sokota North 44,705 8,687
Total 364,733 75,473
Total of APC &PDP 440206
% of APC 82.8
% of PDP 17.1
Presidential Poll: Jonathan Wins Ekiti, Buhari Victorious in Ogun
APC leads in Kano, Sokoto, Kaduna, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Borno
PDP leads in Enugu, Plateau, Nassarawa, Imo
INEC to announce results from noon today
David Mark, Ekweremadu win re-election to Senate
PDP leads in Enugu, Plateau, Nassarawa, Imo
INEC to announce results from noon today
David Mark, Ekweremadu win re-election to Senate
By Our Correspondents
Initial results pouring in from the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across the states have shown that President Goodluck Jonathan and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major-General Muhammdu Buhari, were running neck and neck, but with Buhari edging ahead slightly in Kano, Sokoto, Osun, Ogun, Oyo, Kaduna, Ondo and Borno States, where he won most of the local government areas in the seven states.
However, President Jonathan trounced Buhari in Ekiti State where he won all the 14 local government areas, and had secured an early lead over Buhari in Plateau, Nassarawa, Imo and Enugu States.
Based on the results released by INEC in Abeokuta on Sunday, Buhari won in 13 local government areas out of the 20 local councils in the state.
He won in Odogbolu, Ijebu North-east, Ewekoro, Abeokuta North, Obafemi Owode, Ijebu Ode, Odeda, Ado Odo/Ota, Abeokuta South, Egbado North, Ifo, Ipokia and Egbado South giving him 60.9 per cent of the total results released so far.
Jonathan, on the other hand, won in Sagamu, Imeko Afon, Waterside, Ijebu East, Ijebu North, Ikenne and Remo North to secure 37.3 per cent of the votes cast.
In Osun State, Buhari also led in 26 out of 29 local government areas for which results had been released in a keenly contested race. The state has 33 local government areas in total.
Buhari was shown to have swept Atakumosa, Ife South, Odo-Otin, Isokan, Atakumosa East, Orolu, Ifelodun, Irepodun, Egbedore, Ayedaade, Ola-Oluwa, Ilesa West, Ayedire, Obokun, Oriade and Ilesa East, among other local government areas to secure 61.40 per cent of the votes cast in the 28 local councils.
Jonathan won only in Ife East and Ife Central council areas to end up with 38.60 per cent of the votes cast.
In Borno State, which has 27 local government areas, Buhari cleared all 15 councils by a landslide for which results were announced by INEC in Maiduguri.
He won in Kaga, Mafa, Askira-Uba, Ngala, Kukawa, Mobbar, Abadam, Ngansai, Dikwa, Marte, Kala-Balge, Gwoza, Gubio, Monguno and Bama, to garner 94.40 per cent of the votes cast in the 15 councils, while Jonathan got a measly 5.60 per cent of the votes.
However, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Samuel Madaki, announced that elections in nine polling units in three local councils in Borno were held on Sunday.
The affected polling units were Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), five polling units in Jere and two polling units in Hawul.
In Oyo, Buhari also swept the presidential poll in 17 of the 19 local councils for which results were announced by INEC yesterday in Ibadan. Results were still being awaited from 14 councils in the state.
Of the total 377,815 votes cast for Buhari and Jonathan in the 19 councils, the APC presidential candidate got 241,546 of the votes cast, giving him 63.9 per cent, while the president got a paltry 136,269 votes or 36.1 per cent.
Similarly, five results from Kaduna showed Buhari was leading in three local councils. The INEC REC in the state announced that he won in Soba, Sabon Gari and Sango local councils with 157,938 votes cast in the five council or 66 per cent.
Jonathan, on the other hand won in Kaura and Jaba to secure 81,497 of the votes, representing 34 per cent of the votes cast in the five councils in the state.
Results were still being awaited in 18 local governments in Kaduna State last night.
Also, in a tightly contested race in Ondo, Buhari managed to edge out the president by winning eight of the 15 local councils for which results were announced. Ondo has 18 local councils.
The APC candidate got 248,588 of the votes cast in the 15 councils, translating to 54.5 per cent, while Jonathan who won in seven local councils, got 195,817 votes, representing 44.1 per cent.
In Abuja also, Buhari edged out Jonathan by winning 10,853 or 58.3 per cent to 7,762 of the votes cast in the city.
Buhari also continued on a winning streak in Kano, which boasts 44 local governments, the highest in the country.
Of the results released in 19 local councils in Kano, Buhari won in all the councils to secure 629,718 of the votes cast, or 87.70 per cent, while the president only managed to secure 87,800 of the votes or 12.30 per cent.
In Sokoto, Buhari continued his whitewash in the North-west by leading in Sokoto State, where results from two local governments were announced by INEC.
He got 82.10 per cent of the votes cast in the two LGs, compared to Jonathan’s 17.90 per cent.
In Ekiti, on the other hand, Jonathan floored Buhari, winning in all the 14 local government areas in the state. He got 176,476 of the 296,808 votes cast in Ekiti, representing 59.5 per cent, while Buhari secured 120,322 votes of 40.5 per cent.
As at last night, the president was also in the lead in Imo, Enugu, Plateau and Nassarawa States.
In Enugu, he won in the three local governments for which results were released while results were being awaited in 14 councils.
He got 74,290 of the votes cast in the state or 98.30 per cent, while Buhari managed to get 1,287 of the votes or 1.70 per cent cast in the three councils.
In Nassarawa, the president also led in four of the seven councils in the state for which results were announced. He got 124,555 votes, representing 56.05 per cent, while Buhari got 96,11 or 43.5 per cent in the three councils.
In Imo, Jonathan had a clear lead in 10 of the 11 local governments from which results were released. Imo has a total of 27 councils.
Jonathan won in Ideato North, Isiala Mbano, Obowo, Ohaji/Egbema, Okigwe, Oru East, Owerri Municipal, Nkwerre, Nwangele and Ideato South, securing 211,385 of the votes or 79.70 per cent.
Buhari, however, won in Ideato South to bring his total tally in the 12 local councils to 53,776 or 20.30 per cent.
In Plateau, exit polls showed that Jonathan was also in an early lead.
Providing further clarification on the results, the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, yesterday debunked the assertion by the PDP that it was leading in 23 states of the federation in the presidential election, stating that the collation of results of only two states had been completed and released.
He also declared that the commission was not under any pressure to declare the outcome of the presidential election as being inconclusive, while expressing worries over the violence and crisis in Rivers State, adding that the commission was investigating the crisis in the state and would take a position soon.
He cautioned media houses against publishing unofficial results, adding that only the commission has the constitutional powers to announce and declare results.
He also assured the public that the results of the presidential poll would be announced piecemeal from today at noon in the presence of media and stakeholders.
According to Jega, “Only INEC is empowered by law to announce results and it is an offence for anyone to preempt the commission in this regard.”
The INEC chairman, who expressed concern over the violence in Rivers State, acknowledged that the APC had petitioned the commission over the crisis, stating that INEC was yet to take a position on the petition.
“We have received a petition from the APC in Rivers State calling for cancellation of the elections. We are yet to take a position, but we are investigating the allegations.
“The commission is concerned over what happened in Rivers State and we will pay attention after investigations,” he said.
Jega declared the outcome of the elections and particularly the use of card readers as successful, stating that it was only in 374 polling units out of 155,000 polling units where the card users failed.
“Statistically, it is insignificant as it is only 0.25 per cent of the card readers that failed,” he said.
He named the areas where the card readers failed to include 90 polling units in Lagos State; 16 polling units in Kebbi; 25 polling units in Adamawa; six polling units in Niger; 37 polling units in Yobe; eight polling units in Borno; 37 polling units in Jigawa; 13 polling units in Kano; 116 polling units in Taraba; and two polling units in the Federal Capital Teritory (FCT).
Though Jega acknowledged that there were some lapses like the substitution of the trained ad hoc staff, underage voters and other electoral malpractices, he said the commission would investigate such complaints and appropriate sanctions would be taken against the INEC officials involved.
He commended Nigerians for the large turnout during Saturday’s elections and also for their resilience and remarkable understanding in the face of the observed difficulties during the elections, stating: “We hope that this good conduct will continue throughout the post election period.”
He considered it gratifying that the smart card readers worked well in the majority of the polling units, even where there were some problems, but manual accreditation took place in Osun, Kebbi, Ekiti, Adamawa, Borno, Jigawa, Anambra, Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi States.
He said the commission was investigating what led to the failure or difficulties in the card readers in the affected states.
Jega further said the commission received reports of isolated security challenges in some states, but added that they were successfully repelled, while commending the security agencies for their vigilance and dedication.
Meanwhile, preliminary results showed yesterday that Senate President David Mark and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, both won their re-elections to the Senate.
Results from Benue South, which comprises nine local government areas, suggested that Mark of the PDP won in all the nine local councils.
His main challenger and former Nigeria Students’ Union leader Daniel Onje polled significant votes in the senatorial district, but not enough to upset Mark.
Similarly, Ekweremadu was declared winner for the Enugu West senatorial district election held Saturday.
Ekweremadu, who contested on the platform of the PDP, polled 120,075 votes to beat his closest rival, Mrs Louisa Achieze of the APC, who polled 2,314 votes.
With the result announced by the Returning Officer for Enugu West, Prof Fab Onah will be returning to the senate for the fourth time.
APC Vice Chairman: RECs, FG, PDP Rigging Election in South South... 29-03-15 7:30 pm
Bassey Inyang in Calabar
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the south south zone has accused Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in the area of working in league with the federal government and the People Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the elections.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the south south zone has accused Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in the area of working in league with the federal government and the People Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the elections.
National Vice Chairman of the APC , Hilliard Eta, spoke on behalf of his party against the backdrop of the controversy trailing the conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly elections in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and other states in the zone.
Speaking with journalists in Calabar on Sunday, Eta said there was no election at all in Rivers State, Akwa Ibom State , and most states in the region.
Eta who hails from Cross River state said though there was voting in most parts of the state, exit polls claimed that the PDP had lost in most of the constituencies where voting held on Saturday.
“A lot of people have lost their lives in Rivers State and we cannot allow this kind of thing to continue. A situation where the REC is openly working with the FG and PDP in Rivers State is unacceptable.
“They gave the PDP incidents forms 48 hours before the election. The REC was giving hundreds of thousands of incident forms to the PDP to fill because I don’t know if they had premonitions that the card readers would fail. They programmed it to fail in Rivers because the REC was involved. The PDP had prepared murder gang and the governor had shouted long before that time that even his own life was at threat and nobody paid heed to it. They thought it was just politics”, Eta said.
He stated that the world should not remain aloof to what is happening in the South South part of the country where elections have been abolished.
“And it happened that yesterday a lot of our members lost their lives in Rivers State. It is not business as usual. Even the loss of one life should repulse the nation in an electoral process. It ought to make us feel dismissed as a people, not to talk about those many lives because the president must have millions of vote from Rivers State. And in Akwa IBom State, the governor had corrupted the REC and made sure that 90 per cent of the result sheets in Akwa Ibom were in the government house. Umana shouted, shouted and nobody is paying heed. Even when they are called for the election to be redone in other places, Akwa Ibom, Rivers States were not even mentioned.
“To INEC it was free, fair and credible elections that went on well and that is wrong. What is it that happened in Jigawa, Nasarawa and Niger that did not happen in Akwa Ibom and Rivers. Why is it that INEC is having a rerun in those jurisdictions and not in Akwa Ibom and Rivers, where even the governor was not shown the result sheet in his polling unit. If, the CSO (chief security officer) of a state could not be shown the result sheet of his polling unit, how about lesser mortals
Again, INEC Fails to Hold Election in Oshodi... 29-03-15 7:15pm
• Voters lament delayed arrival of INEC officials
Gboyega Akinsanmi
Contrary to public expectation, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday failed to hold the rescheduled election in some parts of Oshodi in Lagos, where elections did not hold on Saturday.
When THISDAY visited the area about 4.00pm, INEC officials did not show up to conduct the rescheduled election in 28 polling units in Oshodi with residents waiting endlessly for them to come, vowing that they must cast their votes.
At Polling Units 054 and 055 on Salami Street, for instance, voters complained that INEC officials did not show up for the process, though police officers were waiting at the polling stations for INEC officials since morning.
At 056, Akiodu Street, INEC officials were still being expected as at past 3.00pm with frustration written in the faces of residents who were eager to cast their votes. The same goes to Polling Unit 060 on Abdulrasak Street where the officials have not shown up few minutes to 4.00 p.m.
Also, the INEC officials had not arrived at Agbalaya Street, Ishola Daniel, Lawanson and some other areas in Oshodi for the rescheduled election at the time THISDAY visited the area.
Logo of The Nigeria Police
Irate Youths Attack Unity FM, Journalists in Jos... 29-03-15 6:00pm
Seriki Adinoyi in Jos
Irate youths from Anguwan Rogo and Zinaria community in Jos North local government area of Plateau State on Sunday attacked a private radio station, Unity FM, and journalists from both electronic and print media including a Daily Trust correspondent.
The youths were after a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Muhammed Adam for making an inciting statement on live programme on radio.
Adam allegedly tagged a religious scholar and youths who had stoned him the previous day as Boko Haram members during a live chat with journalists at Unity FM.
He had made the instigating remark before he hurried out of the station accompanied by security operatives. However, the irate youths had gathered before journalists could leave the building. The youths threw stones at journalists demanding the handover of Adam and threatened to burn the Radio House. They damaged five cars and injured a youth leader from Zinaria community who tried to calm them.
Minister Protests Saturday's Election in Kwara... 29-03-15 5:55pm
- As APC backs poll
From: Hammed Shittu in Ilorin.
Minister National Planning, Dr. Suleiman Abubakar on Sunday kicked against the projected victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara state, alleging that the weekend election was marred by irregularities in his constituency.
But Director General of the APC Campaign, Hon. Razaq Atunwa, described the minister’s anger as misdirected, saying the result of the election was a pointer to the political weight of the minister and his colleagues in the PDP.
Abubakar, who spoke with newsmen in Ilorin on Sunday described what transpired on election day in his area as a tragedy, arguing that it has significant negative implications on the electoral future of the nation if not addressed.
According to him, “In the course of accreditation, the process of accreditation was faulty, the card reader in most cases were not working hence the recourse to the manual. Using manual method for accreditation attest to what we have been saying in PDP that the card reader introduction by Jega at this point in time is a misplaced priority”..
He said, “It is obvious to Nigerians now that the card reader usage in this election did not really work and as such it created room for a lot of irregularities in accreditation process. I saw a connivance of the security agencies in Kwara State, to be specific, with the opposition party”..
Abubakar added, “It does not tally with sense, for instance, where you have about 1,800 potential voters to one policeman.; one policeman without any arms. How will he contain the crowd? And you see the policeman eating left and right, being invited upstairs for one thing or the other. When there were disorderliness and you see policemen laughing, trivializing issues. This country has a long way to go.
“Security men were inadequate and in some cases, they were not there at all. We told security operatives about thugs and the need to check them but nothing was done.
“In so many places in Ilorin, residences were used as polling units which is a contravention of the law. I personally complained to Jega, he told me that it was too late that they cannot do anything about it. When I insisted that it was a violation of the law, he promised to get back to me. He did not get back to me, he did not do anything about it. So many of these houses were used as electoral fraud havens by the ruling party in Kwara State to rig election yesterday.
“Where I voted, at Opobiyi was the residence of an APC chieftain, the three polling units. Going by the declared votes, the vote declare for Mr. President especially for the opposition outweighed the PVCs collected. It is a case of electoral tragedy especially in our polling unit 006.
But in his reaction Atunwa said it would be an herculean task for anyone to uproot a political system that has been in place for about four decades and remained committed to the wellbeing of the people
Resident Electoral Commissioner in Yobe state, Mr. Habu Zarma
Security: Elections Fail to Hold in 18 Yobe LGA Wards... 29-03-15 5:25pm
Michael Olugbode
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Yobe state, Mr. Habu Zarma on Sunday said elections could not be held in 18 wards in Geidam Local Government Area of the state due to security concerns.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Yobe state, Mr. Habu Zarma on Sunday said elections could not be held in 18 wards in Geidam Local Government Area of the state due to security concerns.
Zarma told journalists in Damaturu, Yobe state capital, that the electoral officers posted to the affected wards were advised against proceeding on security ground
He also revealed that non arrival of electoral materials in eighteen polling units in Fika, Potiskum and Yunusari Local Government Areas also thwarted the conduct of the exercise as arranged.
The extension of the election according to him affected 10 units of Fika Local Government Areas as well as four units each in Potiskum and Yunusari Local Government Areas.
With the arrival of the electoral materials according to him elections are currently going on in the affected units of Potiskum, Fika and Yunusari Local Government Areas.
He said the commission "will meet to consider the position of the affected units in Geidam Local Government Area of the state later."
PDP Presidential Campaigns Accuse APC of Dishing Out False Results -29-03-15 6:23pm
** Says; Jonathan is winning in 23 states with 64 percent -
** Says; Jonathan is winning in 23 states with 64 percent -
By Chuks. Okocha in Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of dishing out false results that are contrary to the actual results of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
The PDP Presidential Campaign said that President Goodluck Jonathan is winning in 23 states with 64 percent.
The PDP Presidential Campaign said that President Goodluck Jonathan is winning in 23 states with 64 percent.
Addressing a press conference yesterday, the spokesman of PDP Presidential Campaigns, Femi Fani Kayode said that since saturday the APC and its friends in the media have been releasing fake results and they have been attempting to mislead the Nigerian people and the international community.
According to Fani Kayode, "The public have been inundated with lie after lie about the APC's so-called victories in virtually every single polling booth, ward, local government area and state in the country.
"This is not only nonsensical but it is also far-fetched, absurd and childish."
"This is not only nonsensical but it is also far-fetched, absurd and childish."
He said that two opposition media houses and their associates in the social media went as far as to shamelessly claim that President Goodluck Jonathan lost in his (Fani Kayode) polling unit and i ward in Ile-Ife, when in actual fact the President not only won in the polling booth and ward but he also won in virtually every other ward in the four local government areas of Ile Ife in Osun state.
The PDP Presidential Director of Publicity and Media said that the dirty lies that these two media houses have told is just one example of the gross and irresponsible mendacities and falsehood that the agents and associates of the APC habitually enjoy peddling.
Accordingly, he said, "As we have always said, they are a party of liars that are led and inspired by a small cabalistic cult of shameful deceivers, liars and cheap propaganda merchants. In them there is no truth and lying is their second nature and natural habitat. "The APC, through their agents in the media, also indulged in many other fanciful and vain mendacities about many other PDP leaders. For example they claimed that Senator Musiliu Obanikoro who is presently the Honorable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Senator Iyiola Omisore, the leader of our party in Osun state, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, the Governor of Ondo state, Senator David Mark, the Senate President, and so many other of our highly esteemed and respected leaders also lost their polling units and wards to General Muhammadu Buhari and the APC candidates for the various elections.
"Needless to say these claims by the APC are not only false but they are also absurd and nauseating. Such mendacities are indicative of the fact that they have lost touch with reality as we have always suspected. As a matter of fact we are surprised that they didn't claim that the President himself also lost in his polling unit and ward and that he in fact voted for Buhari rather than for himself. Such is their level of depravity and deceit that they will manufacture any lie and assert any falsehood just to gain an edge and feed their vain delusions."
He further said, "the lies they have told about the so-called victory of Buhari in Ile Ife, Osun state is particularly distasteful because not only has Jonathan appeared to have won in Ile-Ife but our PDP candidate for the Federal House of Representatives in that constituency, Mr. Albert Adeogun, appears to have won the election hands down and defeated Mr. Rotimi Makinde of the APC, who is the sitting member of the Federal House of Representatives.
"Our candidate for the House of Representatives in Ilesa in the same senatorial district, Mr. Wole Oke, appears to have won his election as well which is another major blow for the APC in Osun state.
"Our candidate for the House of Representatives in Ilesa in the same senatorial district, Mr. Wole Oke, appears to have won his election as well which is another major blow for the APC in Osun state.
"Instead of acknowledging these monumental and devastating losses of some of their leading members, the APC, in their habitual manner simply continue to bury their small heads in the ground like the proverbial ostrich, live in denial and peddle lies and falsehood.
"It is time that they were called to order. The lies of the APC must be ignored and treated with the contempt and disdain that they deserve."
Fani Kayode said that the reports that PDP are getting from the field is that President Jonathan is doing very well in the south and north central and that the PDP are making very strong inroads into various states in the core north.
He explained that the motive for the lies and disinformation of the APC is to create high expectations for their supporters so that when the real results come out and they are announced by INEC, and when those real results do not tally with the fake results that the APC have told their agents and friends to release, they will begin to run riot, create havoc and kill people.
"It is time that they were called to order. The lies of the APC must be ignored and treated with the contempt and disdain that they deserve."
Fani Kayode said that the reports that PDP are getting from the field is that President Jonathan is doing very well in the south and north central and that the PDP are making very strong inroads into various states in the core north.
He explained that the motive for the lies and disinformation of the APC is to create high expectations for their supporters so that when the real results come out and they are announced by INEC, and when those real results do not tally with the fake results that the APC have told their agents and friends to release, they will begin to run riot, create havoc and kill people.
In view of this, the PDP Presidential Campaign spokesman said, "This is irresponsible and dangerous and we hereby warn the APC and their agents in the media to stop spreading falsehood and telling dangerous lies. We also call on the security agencies to be vigilant because when the truth of their defeat finally dawns on them the APC and Buhari will not take it very lightly.
"We should all patiently wait for INEC to release the official results of all the elections and until then we call on our supporters and party members to hold their heads up high, to remain confident and strong and to hold their peace."
Fani Kayode described saturday's election as a close election saying, "undoubtedly a close race we at the PDPCO are cautiously confident and we are very optimistic of total victory despite the desperation, lies and disinformation of the APC. At the end of the day we have no doubt that President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP shall prevail.
Fani Kayode described saturday's election as a close election saying, "undoubtedly a close race we at the PDPCO are cautiously confident and we are very optimistic of total victory despite the desperation, lies and disinformation of the APC. At the end of the day we have no doubt that President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP shall prevail.
"We are constrained to conclude this short briefing by commenting on two issues that are also a matter of grave concern to us. First of all it has been brought to our attention that hundreds of thousands of underage voters were allowed to vote by INEC officials in many parts of the north during saturdays elections."
He concluded, saying, "As we speak now, we are winning in 23 states and we have 64 percent while the APC is winning in 14 states and has 36 percent. These results are subject to confirmation by the Independent National Electoral Commission. However, we are certain of what we are saying because we have information from our agents in every polling unit nationwide. No one must test our will by attempting to change these results and the APC should desist from pushing this nation to the brink of fire, chaos and destruction with their dirty lies and propaganda.
We'll Reject Attempt to Falsify Election Results, Says APC - 29-03-15 3:50pm
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned against any attempt to tamper with the results of the elections that were concluded
nationwide on Saturday, saying Nigerians have voted peacefully and massively and they know who they have voted for.
nationwide on Saturday, saying Nigerians have voted peacefully and massively and they know who they have voted for.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said it has the authentic
results from every polling unit where voting took place on Saturday, and will not accept anything contrary to those signed results.
results from every polling unit where voting took place on Saturday, and will not accept anything contrary to those signed results.
It decried the dangerous kite now being flown by the PDP, through some of their paid media channels, seeking to appropriate unearned victories across the nation.
''We have always said we will accept the result of any free, fair and transparent elections. We stand by that avowal. However, what we will not accept - and which we are sure Nigerians themselves will reject - is any move to rewrite the results and thwart the will of the people under any guise. We will not accept that.
''We have heard of the desperate moves to cancel the results in areas where the APC has beaten the PDP embarrassingly. Nigerians will definitely not accept that,'' APC said.
The party said it is aware of the ongoing efforts to force Electoral Officers and Presiding Officers in Imo State, some of whom are being
picked up by the military as we write, to rewrite the results of the elections in the state.
picked up by the military as we write, to rewrite the results of the elections in the state.
''We have the results from every polling unit in Imo State and we know that we have won in over 80 per cent in the presidential election. So there must be no shenanigans,'' it warned.
APC also said the same attempts are being made in Sokoto, Enugu, Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos and other states, wondering why anyone will be seeking to reverse the results that are already settled.
''In the Nsukka Local Government Area, INEC officials, instead of collating results, handed over the exercise to PDP Nsukka zone to
write. They holed up inside ADADA House (a Local Government guest house) to write results and change figures, and were provided with security by the police. APC candidates and agents were chased away. In collaboration with INEC, they refused to let the card readers function and no result sheets came to most polling booths.
write. They holed up inside ADADA House (a Local Government guest house) to write results and change figures, and were provided with security by the police. APC candidates and agents were chased away. In collaboration with INEC, they refused to let the card readers function and no result sheets came to most polling booths.
The party said result of the Apapa Local Government in Lagos is yet to be announced the which has been ready since yesterday, apparently in a move to manipulate its outcome, warning that voters will not agree with any attempt to steal their votes.
APC Posting Fake Results- PDP Alerts - 29-03-15 11:50pm
…..Says INEC Still Collating Authentic Figures
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged Nigerians to totally disregard misleading figures being circulated by the APC in the social media as results of the Presidential and National Assembly elections in some polling booths.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh in a statement on Sunday said the figures were “fake and do not represented the true results which are currently being collated by INEC, the only body authorized to release and announce results”.
“The APC in its desperation for power has resorted to posting fake results in the social media in a bid to ambush the electoral commission, mislead the unsuspecting public to believe it is winning, all in furtherance of its grand plot to cause confusion and set the stage for violence when the authentic results are finally released.
“We therefore alert Nigerians to be on their guard and close ranks in resisting the APC’s plot to plunge the nation into chaos and anarchy. Our democracy has come to stay and the will of the people must prevail over and above the parochial ambition of a selfish few.
“Finally, we strongly caution the APC against its acts of desperation and use of dishonest methods including physical attacks against our members and supporters as these pose great threat to our democracy, the unity and stability of our dear nation.
Hiccups: Buhari Rules Out Polls Cancellation...29-03-15 7:50pm
- commend INEC's performance
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Daura, Katsin
The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari has said that the level of hiccups witnessed during Saturday's presidential election will not be enough to seek for annulment of the polls.
Buhari's assessment of the polls came just as the APC expressed satisfaction with the use of the card reader for voting accreditation, describing it as successful despite some delays.
In its reaction to Saturday's election, the party's National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said from the reports it has received from its field agents, "it is clear that that the card reader, as a tool to enhance the credibility of elections in the country, has so far proved effective, despite the delays.
''The card reader is a novel tool in our elections and naturally there will be some initial hiccups. We understand that the delays were due to the failure to remove the protective films on the lenses of many card readers, the poor network of some of the sim cards in the card readers and the effect of jamming devices on the card readers," it said.
APC warned against the resort to manual accreditation in some parts of the country, where the card readers are being bypassed, saying it is against the electoral guidelines.
However, while addressing Journalists at his country home in Daura after casting his vote Buhari said though there was some incidents in about five states, it is not enough to necessitate total annulment of the election.
Buhari who came back to the polling unit to cast his vote at about 4.56pm, amidst hundreds of jubilant supporters, said he was impressed by the integrity of the system.
"I also base it on the performance of INEC. If I could recall, I even referred to the submission by the INEC chairman of their activities from the end of the last General election in 2011 till how. I said the document was very good and even INEC said they were ready to conduct this election".
Card Reader Hiccups Avoidable - PDP... 7:41pm
- Warns against under-aged voters
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the poor working of the Permanent Voter Card readers in Saturday's Presidential and National Assembly elections across the country could have been avoided if INEC had listened to sound advice from well meaning individuals and organizations including the PDP regarding their deployment without proper testing.
National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Olisa Metuh, said in a statement on Saturday said the last minute resort to manual accreditation by INEC hours into the exercise against its earlier guidelines clearly shows the failure of the system.
"The unfortunate development is a vindication of our earlier position that as good as the idea of card readers is, it was too virgin to be successfully used in a general election without proper testing especially in an environment as ours that is not entirely digitally proficient”, it said.
The party described as a huge national embarrassment the that the card reader had problems in accrediting President Goodluck Jonathan, Governors Jonah Jang, of Plateau, James Ngilari of Adamawa, Isa Yuguda of Buachi among others and called for thorough explanation from INEC.
The PDP equally frowned at reported cases of accreditation of under-aged persons in some states especially in the northern part of the country and called on INEC not only to ensure that such unqualified persons are not allowed to vote but also to prosecute its officials involved in the crime.
The ruling party said it is seriously concerned about the developments given the avowed commitment of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led PDP administration to hitch-free, fair and credible electoral process.
8 killed in Gombe . . . 6:25 PM
Segun Awofadeji in Gombe
No fewer than seven persons were reported to have been killed this Saturday morning when suspected fleeing members of Boko Haram invaded Shole village in Nafada Local Government Area of Gombe State.
Shole is at the border with Yobe State and our correspondent gathered that the villagers all ran out of the village just before the commencement of the general election.
THISDAY checks also revealed that several cars and houses were burnt and that the suspected insurgents invaded the village on motorbikes and Hilux vehicles.
The insurgents were said to have moved to Biri in the same Nafada LGA where they killed one Policeman and ran away with some card readers and some election materials.
They were said to have moved to Dukku where they disrupted election processes as they shot sporadically.
No casualties have been reported yet from Dukku but an aspirant to the Gombe State House of Assembly Usman Mohammad Jafun told our correspondent on phone that the attackers were dressed in military uniforms.
It was also gathered from the Dukku attack that following some resistance from the people in Dukku, one of the attackers was killed while three persons from Dukku sustained injuries.
When contacted over the incident, the Gombe Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Fwaje Atajiri said he was not aware of it but promised to get back to our correspondent after he is through with an urgent meeting he was attending.
However, the election process was reported to have commenced on time in some polling units visited by our correspondent in Gombe, the Gombe State capital as at the time of filing this report. A large turnout was also observed.
A feature observed from most of the polling units is that many youths were stationed at the gates of most of the schools with iron detectors ensuring that people don't get into the polling units with dangerous weapons.
Tambuwal: It’s God that Made this Election Possible Despite Odds . . . 4:45 PM
By Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto
Speaker of the House of Representatives and the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Saturday said it was only by the grace of God that Nigerians were able to witness another election despite all the efforts to prevent it from holding.
Speaking, shortly after he was screened at the Kofar Ajiya polling unit, Tambuwal described the election as historic and critical in the history of this country.
"Today is very special and critical in the history of Nigeria and for us to witness it is only by the grace of God because effort had been made to stop it from holding," he said.
He commended the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, for insisting that the elections must hold as scheduled in spite of all odds.
He also advised the media against broadcasting or revealing unofficial result, saying it may create a lot of tension in the country.
INEC Card Reader Machine Fails to Authenticate Jang, Wife, Others . . . 4:25PM
By Seriki Adinoyi in Jos
Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, and his wife, Ngo Talatu, have expressed disappointment over the failure of the INEC Card Readers to authenticate them and many other voters at their Ladura II polling unit in Jos south, local government area of the state.
He and his wife had to fill Incident Form for accreditation.
The Governor, who was visibly upset that many people at his polling unit and indeed the state could not be authenticated by the Card Readers, queried the need for the use of card readers in the first place.
He said, “I and my wife could not be authenticated with the Card Reader in this place. And I don’t know how many people have suffered a similar fate in the state. Besides, so many people are crying that they don’t even have the PVC. That is why we are wondering whether INEC is really prepared for the elections. Presently I don't know what decision INEC wants to take, but definitely from all indications many people would be disenfranchised in the state.
“I am even told that the Card Reader could not capture Mr President.
And the question is if the card reader could not capture the number one citizen of this country, and could not capture me as a Governor; then i wonder what the Card Reader is all about, and I just sincerely hope this card reader would not mess up this elections.
And the question is if the card reader could not capture the number one citizen of this country, and could not capture me as a Governor; then i wonder what the Card Reader is all about, and I just sincerely hope this card reader would not mess up this elections.
“I think Jega can be advised that he can state a decision on the card reader now.
“I have said it that those with TVC have the right to vote because the electoral law said any citizen that has been registered with his name in the register, and has the voter’s card, is eligible to vote. The law didn’t specify whether it is PVC or TVC. So these people with TVC have the right to vote. They had used this card in 2011, in bye elections and LG elections.”
Meanwhile, across the state, late arrival of INEC official and the problems with the card reader machines created initial hitches in the exercise.
At Alama Junction, Bassa and Rukuba Roads the INEC officials arrived at about 11 am.
While in most polling units at Jos East and at Abattoir the Card Reader machines were working quite well, the situation was not as good at Mista Ali A and B, where the machines were brought without memory cards. At Anwa Tofa, inpatient voters started leaving the units one after.
Frustrated Shendam LGA Chairman, Mr Kemi Nshe was worried that the many card reader machines in his council failed to work. He however commended the high turn up of voters and their peaceful conduct. He called on INEC to do something about the card reader machine immediately.
INEC Resorts to Manual Accreditation . . . 4:21
Bassey Inyang in Calabar
Bassey Inyang in Calabar
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has resorted to manual accreditation in situations when the card reader has issues.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC in Cross River State, Dr. Sylvester Okey Ezeani, explained that the use of manual accreditation was the new directive where card reader failed.
Ezeani stated this in response to enquiries as to why some polling units had resorted to manual accreditation.
Ezeani told THISDAY that even where manual accreditation is applied, only those with PVCs will be accredited and allowed to vote.
Ezeani said the new directive was to ensure that no eligible voter is disenfranchised.
INEC Restores Hacked Website . . . 4:20 PM
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
The official website of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) hacked in the early hours of Saturday, thereby making inaccessible, has been restored.
The official website of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) hacked in the early hours of Saturday, thereby making inaccessible, has been restored.
This was confirmed to THISDAY by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Kayode Idowu.
However, in spite of Idowu’s statement that the website has been restored and made more secure, when THISDAY visited the website, www.inecnigeria.org, it displayed the name of the hacke, Nigeria Cyber Army, that posted a cartoon of President Goodluck Jonathan and the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari in a football pitch.
According to the Chief Press to the INEC Chairman, “Yes, it was hacked but we have restored it and it is much more secure than before.”
When asked the implication the hacking for the elections, he said that the hacking has no effect as it was immediately restored.
When THISDAY visited the website again, it had been restored as it displayed all activities of the commission online.
Election Cannot Stand if Manipulated, Says Umahi . . . 4:19 PM
Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki
Ebonyi state Deputy Governor and PDP governorship candidate in the state, Engr. Dave Umahi, has said that the Presidential/ National Assembly election cannot stand if the results are manipulated.
He noted that despite the alarm raised by the Peoples Democratic Party, the Independent National Electoral Commission still went ahead to use the card readers, which have malfunctioned even after the experimental test carried out a few weeks ago.
The deputy governor observed with dismay that materials did not get to the polling units by 8a.m, stressing that some booths started accreditation at about 11a.m.
He wondered what could have been the fate of the country if by six weeks ago, INEC had conducted the election, owing to the level of challenges that the card readers have posed on the conduct of the election.
He expressed optimism that President Goodluck Jonathan would win because he has done well for the country and the people are desperate to return him.
EU: Election Process Slow But...4:10pm
Chuks Akunna, Yemi Akinsuyi, Damilola Oyedele and Adebiyi Adedayo in Abuja
European Union Chief Election Observer in Nigeria Mr Santiago Fisas has described the accreditation of voters for Saturday's presidential and National Assembly elections as slow.
He, however, saluted the "courage" of Nigerians to exercise their right to vote.
Fisas spoke to THISDAY shortly after monitoring the exercise at Model Secondary School, in Maitama district of Abuja.
"I can tell you that many of the polling units were not ready. And why? Because sometimes the INEC people were not ready, sometimes the materials were not ready. That sort of complicated things. But now, hopefully, things are going on," said Fisas.
He continued, "The machine is a little complicated, obviously to prevent fraud. But sometimes it fails, sometimes you put a finger it fails, you put the next, it says 'okay'. Even if the machine is failing, it is good for the accreditation."
The EU chief said his mission would stay in Nigeria throughout the elections and "follow up" the process, but that he and his deputy will return to Nigeria in July to present their recommendation to whoever becomes president.
PDP Stalwart Killed in Osun
Yinka Kolawole
One Yomi Ademola was allegedly killed by hoodlums suspected to be members of All Progressives Congress (APC).
He was reportedly killed in the wee hours of Saturday in Ikirun, Ifelodun Local Government Area.
He was said to have joined Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recently
INEC Website Hacked
*Late arrival of election materials mar polling in FCT
• Massive turnout witnessed
• Massive turnout witnessed
By Chuks Okocha in Abuja
The website of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has been hacked and remains inaccessible.
Details were however sketchy at the time of this report.
Concernimg the ongoing voting, late arrival of election materials in some of the polling stations within the. Federal Capital Teritary (FCT) visited by THISDAY was witnessed.
Most of thr election materials arrived their designated polling stations at least 9 am or later.
No reason was given for the late arrival.
There was adequate security by combined team of police, members of the Civil Defence, fire service and Road Safety. Though there were armed soldiers, they were not near the polling stations.
For instance, at the Kubwa. LEA Primary School at the FHA, election materials with INEC officials did not arrive till around 10am. It was the same situation in the Dutse Alhaji.
In the IBB Boulevard/Panama polling booth in Maitama, the election materials also arrived late.
At the OAU Quarters polling booth in Maitama and the Polling station located near Barnex junction, INEC officials and the election materials arrived late.
The same late arrival of polling materials took place in most of the polling stations in Wuse 2, Wuse Zone 7, 5, and Garki Area 3, Area 3 and other adjoining polling centres in the city centres.
But the arrival of materials started improving as from noon when accreditation processes commenced.
In the Sun city polling centre in the Lokogoma, the card reader functioned perfectly. At 13.22, out of 200 registered voters, over 120 voters had been accredited.
At the Aso Drive polling station in Asokoro District, the Card Readers worked perfectly and accreditation was still on at the time of filing this report. In Area one block of flats, accreditation was still on, but the electorate were inpatient. The centre has more than 2000 eligible voters.
At Garki 2, by Monday market, the card read functioned very well and voting was about to commence as at 1.25 pm.
In the Nyanya area of the FCT, there were cases of the Smart Card Readers not functioning properly, but in the LEA Primary school in Karu. Area, only about 100 voters out of 750 voters in the Voter Register.
In Gimbiya street in Area Eleven, the situation was chaotic. The election materials arrived latr and the card readers did not function well.
In some of the polling centre, the card readers rejects the thumb finger but accepts the small finger. As at 1pm when accreditation is expected to end, the processes were still on.
In Ushafa in Bwari Area Council, accreditation and the Smart Card Readers were perfect and voting commenced as planned.
In some of the polling centre, the card readers rejects the thumb finger but accepts the small finger. As at 1pm when accreditation is expected to end, the processes were still on.
In Ushafa in Bwari Area Council, accreditation and the Smart Card Readers were perfect and voting commenced as planned.
But in all, there was a massive turn out of eligible voters who were patiently waiting on the queues.
Situation report from Rivers State - By Ernest Chinwo
Amaechi Returns to Government House
A statement by the Director of Communications, Greater Together Campaign Organisation (the campaign organisation of APC governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside), Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, has said, "Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, has just returned from his polling unit in Ubima (ward 8, unit 14) without being accredited. INEC officials there claimed that they did not have the result sheet for the unit.
The Governor said he could not subject himself to accreditation when the required election materials meant for his unit can not be accounted for by INEC officials."
She also said reports from other parts of the state show that the problem is wide spread. It is believed the the result sheets are in the hands of PDP officals in the state with the intention of falsifying results after the accreditation period. In some areas, armed men chased away people who have been accredited.
The Governor said he could not subject himself to accreditation when the required election materials meant for his unit can not be accounted for by INEC officials."
She also said reports from other parts of the state show that the problem is wide spread. It is believed the the result sheets are in the hands of PDP officals in the state with the intention of falsifying results after the accreditation period. In some areas, armed men chased away people who have been accredited.
Situation report from Rivers State - By Ernest Chinwo
Amaechi refuses to be accredited
.Problem of card reader persists
Rivers state governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, refused to be accredited at his Ubima hometown because of the failure of the piling officers to produce result sheets.
The governor therefore headed back to Government House, Port Harcourt, insisting he would not vote unless he sees the result sheets.
The governor was said to have refused to be accredited at his polling unit in front of his house at his Ubima Town, as he insisted that the result sheets should be made available.
Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, David Iyofor, claimed that there was no accreditation at virtually in all the units in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
He said all the people of the local government area have also refused to be accredited as they were all demanding for the result sheets.
However, the Rivers PDP publicity secretary, Mr Samuel Nwanosike, debunked the claim by the governor that there was no accreditation in the local government area, saying several people in his own Ward 9, Omagwa, had been accredited.
He said many eligible voters in Omagwa, Igwuruta, Elele, Ubima, Aluu, among others had registered.
As at 1:37pm, accreditation was still on going in Biara in Gokana Local Government Area .
He said many eligible voters in Omagwa, Igwuruta, Elele, Ubima, Aluu, among others had registered.
As at 1:37pm, accreditation was still on going in Biara in Gokana Local Government Area .
Police Arrest Man for Distributing Stolen PVCs in Ebonyi
A man identified as Ozoemena Odenta has been arrested by the police in Ikwo Division of Ebonyi state Police Command for allegedly distributing stolen PVCs in Ekawoke ward in the area.
The suspect was accused to have stolen the cards, numbering over 300, from INEC officials during the last distribution exercise and disappeared, only to resurface on the election day with the cards, which he distributed based on his discretion to his loyalists.
Confirming the incident, the Deputy Coordinator of Goodluck/ Sambo 2015 Project in Ebonyi state, Ambassador Frank Ogbuewu noted that the culprit was among the suspects that had already been fingered for the crime when the act was committed.
The Coordinator bemoaned the National chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega for using the card readers to experiment election as sensitive as the 2015 general election.
Instead, he should have assessed the efficiency of the machines in the conduct of bye- election in either national assembly or state house of assembly election.
12:30Pm
Card Readers Malfunction in Kano Polling Units
Muhammad Bello
Voters in and around Kano metropolis were on Saturday confronted with failing card readers as they trooped out to cast their votes.
In many polling units, where ad-hoc staff of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) came out late for the exercise, voters had to fill incident forms, which will qualify them for voting.
There was also late arrival of election officials and materials in many areas of the state.
Muhammad Bello
Voters in and around Kano metropolis were on Saturday confronted with failing card readers as they trooped out to cast their votes.
In many polling units, where ad-hoc staff of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) came out late for the exercise, voters had to fill incident forms, which will qualify them for voting.
There was also late arrival of election officials and materials in many areas of the state.
12:59pm
INEC Suspends House of Reps Election in Jigawa
Muhammad Bello
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Jigawa State, Alhaji Halliru Aliyu Tambuwal has announced the suspension of the conduct of election into the eleven federal constituencies in the state as a result of dearth of voting materials.
The suspension, according to Tambuwal, became necessary because INEC, which was ready to conduct the presidential poll in the state, wants to rectify the problems before embarking on the exercise.
No new date has been fixed for the election.
Muhammad Bello
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Jigawa State, Alhaji Halliru Aliyu Tambuwal has announced the suspension of the conduct of election into the eleven federal constituencies in the state as a result of dearth of voting materials.
The suspension, according to Tambuwal, became necessary because INEC, which was ready to conduct the presidential poll in the state, wants to rectify the problems before embarking on the exercise.
No new date has been fixed for the election.
1:03pm
Delay in Materials Supply Stalls Accreditation in Surulere
Chinedu Eze
Voting materials arrived very late at most of the polling boots in Surulere local government council.
There was large voters turnout but INEC officials as well as voting materials came late so accreditation started at mid-day.
THISDAY asked INEC an official why the materials did not come and he said that all the times he called, those bringing the materials would answer they were on the way.
There was no indication that there was a reason why the delay occurred besides poor logistics.
Accreditation has continued to go on amid restive voters who turned up early to be accredited and to cast their votes.
1:15pm
Soldiers Mount Checkpoints around Lagos as Election Process Begins
Abimbola Akosile
Major streets in Lagos were Saturday deserted as soldiers and policemen mounted checkpoints to restrict movement of citizens. However, voters' accreditation began as early as 8am in some locations, as potential voters queued up to verify the PVCs.
As early as 7.30am when THISDAY moved around some parts of Lagos and Ogun States to monitor the election exercise, soldiers, policemen, Air Force and Naval personnel were seen at strategic locations in Agege Total area, Oshodi after Bolade, opposite Abalti Barracks and Stadium area of Surulere and Barracks area of Apapa.
However, accreditation of voters were observed at polling centres at Abattoir area of Agege, Mushin, Sogunle, Surulere, and Apapa; with the INEC major collation and distribution centre located at 34, Bombay Crescent in Apapa a beehive of activities.
At the collation centre, international observers were on ground to witness the accreditation which began at 8.55am, while National Youth Service Corps members were seen collecting materials for their various polling centres.
Some youths were observed playing soccer along Olayiwola Street in New Oko Oba, Agege and along Agege Motor Road at Mushin. Most of the major routes were totally deserted; while the soldiers on checkpoint patrol were strict in checking the identities of passersby and the boots of the few cars which passed through their locations.
1:53pm
Police Arrest Man for Distributing Stolen PVCs in Ebonyi
A man identified as Ozoemena Odenta has been arrested by the police in Ikwo Division of Ebonyi state Police Command for allegedly distributing stolen PVCs in Ekawoke ward in the area.
The suspect was accused to have stolen the cards, numbering over 300, from INEC officials during the last distribution exercise and disappeared, only to resurface on the election day with the cards, which he distributed based on his discretion to his loyalists.
Confirming the incident, the Deputy Coordinator of Goodluck/ Sambo 2015 Project in Ebonyi state, Ambassador Frank Ogbuewu noted that the culprit was among the suspects that had already been fingered for the crime when the act was committed.
The Coordinator bemoaned the National chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega for using the card readers to experiment election as sensitive as the 2015 general election.
Instead, he should have assessed the efficiency of the machines in the conduct of bye- election in either national assembly or state house of assembly election.
