POLITICS

Wednesday, 21 November 2018 04:07

2019: How to check vote buying during elections – Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday in Abuja, expressed concern over increased incidences of vote buying in the country, ahead of 2019 general elections. Mr Jonathan expressed his concern at the public presentation and formal launch of a book — “My Transition Hours”. He said vote buying, which was gradually replacing other forms of electoral malpractices, had become scandalous and placed the country in bad light. He pointed out that voters inducement through engraving of pictures of candidates and political party logos on gift items during elections was another rampant strategy of vote buying. He advised Independent National Electoral Commission…

Tuesday, 20 November 2018 04:54

Mixed reactions greet Buhari, Atiku’s plans

Mixed reactions on Monday trailed Sunday inauguration of campaign documents of President Muhammadu Buhari and presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Atiku Abubakar. Mr Buhari who is candidate of All Progressives Congress and Atiku are the leading contestants in the presidential election slated for February 16, 2019. The President unveiled a campaign document called ‘Next Level,’ while PDP candidate released a documented titled ‘Let’s get Nigeria working again.’ The two documents have elicited different reactions. Civil society lambasts Buhari, Atiku over campaign promises The first salvo came from two civil societies, Campaign for Democracy, and Centre for Anti-Corruption and…

Tuesday, 20 November 2018 04:52

Buhari’s failure to obey court orders, national embarrassment – Soyinka

Nobel Laureate, Mr Wole Soyinka, has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s failure to obey court orders as a national embarrassment. It was also a day President General of apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mr Nnia Nwodo, Afenifere chieftain, Mr Ayo Adebanjo, declared in Lagos that restructuring of Nigeria is now or never. They said this at the maiden Handshake Across Nigeria summit, with the theme: Nigeria beyond oil organised by Nzuko Umunna in partnership with The Core Federalists, held in Lagos, yesterday. Soyinka, who was the keynote speaker, also said present and past leaders have consistently abandoned recommendations made by…

Tuesday, 20 November 2018 04:40

Internal quarrels weaken Nigeria's ruling party before elections

President Muhammadu Buhari’s chances of winning re-election in February are facing a potentially insurmountable hurdle: widening divisions in his own party. Dissatisfied party heavyweights range from his wife, Aisha Buhari, who called on members to “rise against impunity” after her brother lost a gubernatorial nomination, to three influential state governors whose chosen successors failed to win party primaries. It’s especially troubling for Buhari’s All Progressives Congress because the campaign of his main challenger, Mr Atiku Abubakar, has remained unified and shows signs of gaining momentum. “With about three months to the elections, what has become obvious is that APC is…

Monday, 19 November 2018 04:52

Buhari launches re-election bid with corruption still in focus

President Muhammadu Buhari launched his manifesto on Sunday, hoping his anti-corruption agenda can win him a second term at a Feb. 16 election. Mr Buhari, a military ruler in the early 1980s, in 2015 became the first opposition candidate to oust a president through the ballot box. His focus on corruption may be offset by Nigeria’s slow growth. The country emerged from its first recession in a quarter of a century - largely caused by low crude prices - last year. In his first term, Buhari ordered government revenues and funds recovered in corruption investigations to be placed in a…

Monday, 19 November 2018 04:50

Saraki, Ahmed react to Kwara by-election won by APC

Senate President Bukola Saraki, and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed have both reacted to Saturday’s by-election in Kwara State won by candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC). Both politicians, members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alleged that the process was skewed against their party. APC candidate, Mr Raheem Olawuyi, was on Saturday declared the winner of the Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency by-election held across the four councils in Kwara State. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said Olawuyi polled 21,236 to emerge winner. But Messrs Saraki and Ahmed, have alleged that the elections were marred by intimidation of voters by security officials. Ahmed described…

Monday, 19 November 2018 04:49

APC’s Olawuyi who defeated Saraki’s candidate speaks

Winner of Saturday’s by-election in Kwara, Mr Tunji Olawuyi, has described his victory as one for residents of the state. Olawuyi won Saturday’s Ekiti/Isin/Oke-Ero and Irepodun federal constituency bye-election in Kwara State. Olawuyi said the success was a sign of more victories to come for All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019 general elections in Kwara. He said this while speaking on Sunday at Omu-Aran, Kwara State, in reaction to outcome of the poll. According to the electoral commission, INEC, Olawuyi polled 21,236 to emerge winner, while his closest rival, Mr Saheed Alatise of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), scored 18,095. Alatise…

Sunday, 18 November 2018 05:16

APC wins Katsina bye-election

Independent National Electoral Commission has declared Mr Abubakar Kusada of All Progressives Congress as winner of the bye-election into House of Representatives. The election was conducted in Kankiya/Kusada/Ingawa Federal constituency in Katsina state on Saturday. Kusada was speaker of Katsina State House of Assembly before the election. Returning officer, Mr Adedayo Hamza, who announced the result on Saturday in Kankiya said Kusada scored 48,518 votes to emerge winner. Mr Abdussamad Yusuf of PDP came second with 20,193 votes, while Mr Nasiru Kankiya of Peoples Redemption Party scored 1,810 votes as second runner-up. According to Hamza, registered voters in the constituency…

Sunday, 18 November 2018 05:14

APC wins Kwara Reps bye-election

Candidate of All Progressives Congress, Mr Raheem Olawuyi, was on Saturday declared winner of Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency bye-election held across the four councils in Kwara. Returning Officer for the election, Mr Abimbola Adesoji, while declaring the result at Irepodun Local Government Secretariat in Omu-Aran, said Olawuyi polled 21,236 to emerge winner. He defeated his closest rival, Mr Saheed Damilare of Peoples Democratic Party, who polled 18,095. Abimbola, who is of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, said Olawuyi having scored the highest number of votes in the election was declared winner. Other contestants in the election were Mr Femi Ona-Ara of Labour…

Saturday, 17 November 2018 04:56

APC primaries: DSS submits report on Oshiomhole to AGF

Department of State Security Service, DSS has submitted a report of its findings on its investigation of National Chairman of ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Mr. Abubakar Malami for review, it was reliably gathered in Abuja yesterday. The embattled party chairman was recently summoned for interrogation by the leadership of the secret police following allegations of financial inducement and compromise in the conduct and outcome of recently held APC primaries. The party leadership was accused of collecting bribes in millions of dollars to favour particular aspirants…