The Nigerian Army on Saturday said its activities in the just-concluded Presidential and National Assembly polls were within the ambit of the law and rules of engagement. Colonel Sagir Musa Reacting to allegations of partisanship, coercion and shooting of voters in some areas across the country during the elections, it said that soldiers deployed on election duty were professional and proactive in their conduct. According to Spokesman of the army, Col. Sagir Musa, “we acted within the requirements of the law, rules of engagement and code of conduct”. During the elections, there were widespread allegations of partisanship, the brutality of soldiers on some electorate and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, and partisanship in the process. Electoral officers in some states, including Rivers, Lagos and Delta, accused the military of interfering in the elections. The soldiers were fingered in shootings that resulted in deaths of many people, and ...

As of 2am on Sunday after the presidential and National Assembly elections had been concluded on Saturday, members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who served as ad hoc staff were still littered around the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) collation office in Amawbia, Anambra State. Most of them were not done with returning election materials and filling forms given to them, while others were seen sleeping in the open space because it was too late to leave. Andrew omige, a corps member who was seen at the INEC collation office in Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area (LGA) in Anambra State, at 4am on Sunday, lamented the poor working conditions and unpreparedness of the commission in the state for the elections. Speaking on how they were treated, he said:  “Our materials were not working well and some of us didn't know how to fill forms, and were not taught how to do so properly. So, we are here doing so.” Another corps member, Sandra Iwuoha...

…To prosecute ad hoc staff who jettisoned Card Readers ABUJA: The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has announced the postponement of the elections in some parts of Lagos, Rivers and Anambra States following disruption of the exercise due to violence. Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Specifically, INEC said elections in Akuku Toru and Bonny local government areas of Rivers state as well as some parts of Anambra and Lagos would be conducted on a later date, saying mostly affected is the contest for the federal legislative seats. “The commission has received reports of violence and ballot box snatching in some areas leading to the disruption of the process. We have asked the Resident Electoral Commissioners RECs and the Electoral Officials on ground to submit their firsthand reports in relation to some of these incidents. We are still receiving reports relating to incidences in some states of the federatio...

The Nigerian Army (NA) has released hotlines to its Situation Room from where electoral activities will be monitored. According to as statement by the army the creation of its situation is in pursuant of its mandate to help create a secure and enabling environment for the conduct of the 2019 General Elections. The army said its situation room would be operating  24/7 and urged the general public to forward genuine information on security related matters as may arise during the elections period to the numbers provided. The army also noted that the public could utilize the NA Information Call Center short code 193 from any Nigerian network or the NA iReport platform on  https :// army . mil . ng /  .

Lagos – A head of tomorrow’s rescheduled presidential and National Assembly elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday said it would not conduct elections in volatile areas where security agencies said the safety of their officials could not be guaranteed, especially in some parts of the North East where Boko Haram insurgents had displaced thousands. It would be recalled that in 2015, the presidential election was shifted from February 14 to March 28, 2015 while the governorship and Assembly elections scheduled for February 28 were shifted to April 11 because of security issues. Also, the convoy of Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, was last week attacked by the Boko Haram splinter group loyal to the Islamic State, West Africa Province, in Gamboru area of the state while the governor was on election campaign. Speaking with Daily Independent on whether INEC would go ahead with the elections tomorrow despite the security situation in the...

On Saturday, Nigerians will be going to the polls for the presidential and national assembly elections. Seventy-three political parties filled candidates for the presidential election, though a number of candidates have pulled out of the race. There are also many parties contesting the 109 senate seats and 360 positions at the house of representatives. Below are basic things to know regarding the elections: VOTING TIME: According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), polling stations will open for accreditation and voting from 8am to 2pm. However, voters in the queue before the close of poll at 2pm will be accredited and allowed to vote. Unlike in the past when voting is usually delayed, in some cases till 12pm, each voter will vote immediately he or she is accredited. WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE VOTING PROCESS? Any prospective voter must be a Nigerian citizen, be 18 years and above, possess a permanent voter card (PVC) and be in the voter register...

The United States has closed its offices Abuja and Lagos ahead of the general elections. In a statement on Friday, the US said it took the decision after the Federal Government declared Friday work-free day. It explained that the closure of the embassies was to allow its Nigerian employees to prepare and participate in the rescheduled polls. The US advised those seeking consular services on Friday to reconsider their decision as none would be available. It also said those whose appointment for regular visa or ACS has been fixed for February 22 would be contacted for rescheduling. The statement read, “The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared Friday, February 22, 2019, as a Work-Free Day to enable Nigerians to prepare for the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly Elections on Saturday, February 23, 2019. “In recognition of this declaration and to encourage all our Nigerian employees to exercise their right to vote, the U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the U.S. C...

The Federal Government has ordered the closure of the nation’s borders for Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections. Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr Muhammad Babandede, said in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, that the order was announced by Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd). Muhammad-Babandede CG Nigeria Immigration Service: Happy with the Jigawa arrest He said: “Further to the Presidential and National Assembly elections taking place on Feb. 23, 2019, the minister has directed the closure of all Nigeria’s Land Borders with effect from Friday, Feb. 22 to Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019. “This is to restrict movements across the borders during the election days. “The public is to take note and ensure compliance.”

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) on Tuesday claimed that the Department of State Services (DSS) will today arrest the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commissioner in charge of operations and logistics, Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu. Imo Ugochinyere, CUPP spokesman, in a statement on Tuesday, also alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari was planning to sabotage and shift the rescheduled February 23rd election, and has directed DSS to invite and detain the federal commissioner. He said the planned arrest of the official was due to his alleged refusal to help the All Progressives Congress (APC) government sabotage distribution and compromise of sensitive election materials. Ugochinyere said: “The Refusal of INEC to proceed with staggered election during the aborted Feb 16 election which ruined Buhari APC rigging plan is the reason for the new offensive action against INEC to intimidate them into submission. “The idea to detain the Federal Commissioner...

A special assistant to the governor of Delta State on Community Development, Hon. Ngozi Ijei Akpomiemie, was yesterday, 15th of February, killed by gunmen. According to reports, the victim was shot dead at about 10:15 pm at Afieki Road, Ekpan, Delta State. According to eyewitnesses, the masked gunmen came in a Red Jetta and assassinated him, hours before the proposed election which was later postponed. Until his death, Mr. Ngozi was the Youth Leader of Ekpan Community. May his soul rest in peace.

Ahead of the general elections, the All Progressives Congress, APC, National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, on Wednesday accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of working with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Oshiomhole said the electoral umpire was unfair to the ruling party. The APC Chairman alleged that the electoral body believe everything that PDP says, adding that two Resident Electoral Commissioners are “campaigning line by line” with the PDP in the South South. Speaking with The Nation, the former Edo State governor, however, assured that INEC will not be brought down because the APC believes that state institutions should be allowed to perform their functions. He said “If anything, this INEC has been very unfair to the APC. But we just discovered that we have a responsibility. The fact that we are a governing party imposes on us a certain level of code that you can’t be seen to rubbish every institution because if we rubbish everything, it woul...

Ballot paper prototype produced by INEC containing the initial 68 political parties. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged voters to ensure that ink does not spill beyond the box meant for a party to another while marking the ballot papers when voting. The electoral body made this appeal while reacting to “false reports” that only the index finger is approved for marking the ballot papers. “INEC’s attention has been drawn to fake news making rounds that the index finger is the only finger approved for marking a ballot paper. This is false,”  INEC said. It described the rumour as “false”, noting that “at the point of registration, all ten fingers were captured. So any finger can be used for marking a ballot paper. “Make sure that your mark is inside the box of your party of choice and does not stray into another box.”

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Wednesday stated that each corps member carrying out election duties would receive a total of N35,000 as duty allowances for the Feb. 16 and March 2 elections. The Ogun NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs Josephine Bakare, disclosed this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abeokuta at a sensitisation programme for corps members. Bakare also said no fewer than 17,000 corps members had been confirmed as ad hoc staff for the forthcoming elections in Ogun. She also assured corps members that adequate provision for welfare and accommodation had been made with the NYSC Local Government Inspectors which they could access. Bakar, however, appealed to pregnant corps members to refrain from participating in the exercise for their safety and those of their unborn babies. Also speaking, Mrs Franca Olaleye, the NYSC Assistant Director of Human Resource Management, who represented the Director-General, Maj.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure,...

L AGOS —Retired Lt Colonel Anthony Nyiam, one of the army officers who attempted the April 22, 1990 coup and  a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee, PAC, which packaged the National Conference during the Jonathan regime but later resigned  has requested that the Chiefs of the Armed Forces and other national security agencies need to rise up to their duty of protecting the Nigerian people from any act that tramples on their democratic rights to elect who governs them. *Col.Tony Nyiam He said the security agencies need to be careful not to execute Unconstitutional Presidential Executive Orders. In an encounter with  Vanguard  yesterday, Col Tony Nyiam said, “the fate of the Nigerian people during the Presidential election in a few days’ time, and the weeks immediately after the election, depends squarely on the armed services Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police. Any partial support of any political party particularly the ruling party could ...

Idowu Bankole The Nigeria police force has reiterated its commitment in ensuring that there is a level playing field for all political actors, without intimidation or molestation and ensuring the peaceful conduct of the forth coming general election. The Acting Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Muhammed Abubakar Adamu departing after his decoration by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida According to the police, “In the 2019 General Election, we will provide adequate security to INEC staff whether permanent or ad-hoc for them to carry out their statutory duties”. “We will ensure we provide level playing ground for all political actors, observers, accredited journalists and other critical stakeholders to do their job without intimidation or molestation” The police made this known via its verified twitter handle. In the 2019 General Elections, we will provide adequate security to INEC staff whether permanent or ad-hoc for th...

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced that Ibikunle Amosun, Governor of Ogun State, will not escape punishment for the embarrassment he caused the party during the presidential rally at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta, on Monday. At the rally, Amosun had shocked everyone when he campaigned for both APC and the Allied People’s Movement (APM), the party of his anointed who did not get the APC governorship ticket. But the high point was Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the party and President Muhammadu Buhari being pelted by the crowd. Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the party, was also videoed flinging the party’s flag away in annoyance. The party has now announced that it intends to “review this gross misconduct of deliberately positioning thugs to attack and embarrass the President and the party's leadership”, and take a decision on this matter “immediately after the elections”. “The All Progressives Congress (APC) regrets Monday's premedi...

…Says visit’ll be politicised Former US President, Bill Clinton, has canceled his planned trip to Nigeria ahead of Saturday’s general elections, saying the visit could be “politicized.” Bill Clinton Clinton was scheduled to visit the capital, Abuja, this week alongside Baroness Patricia Scotland, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. The planned trip was facilitated by the Kofi Annan Foundation and the National Peace Committee (NPC). “Over the course of the last several days, and after various conversations with the different stakeholders, it’s become apparent that President Clinton’s visit to Nigeria has the potential to be politicized in a way that is not in line with the goals of the Committee. Therefore, he will not be traveling to Abuja,” Clinton’s spokesman, Angel Ureña said in a statement. Clinton, according to the statement, would continue to support the NPC ‘s work towards peaceful and fair elections in Nigeria. He had been set to deliver a...

 Speaking at a meeting with the royal fathers in the Government House, Buhari promised not to abuse the constitution, noting that he would stop contesting after this coming election. He said the 2019 election would be the fifth time he is contesting for Presidency. Recall that Buhari ran for the office of the president under All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), in 2003 and 2007 and failed. He changed to Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), in 2011 and equally failed. But in 2015 when he changed to APC, he won and took the mantle of leadership from Ex-president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. In a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the president charged traditional rulers to do more in curbing banditry and kidnapping in their communities, saying that he felt disappointed that people close to some of them were found to have a hand in such criminality. His words, “We are determined to defend the nation and its people. We are d...

All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole yesterday warned state chairmen, secretaries and governorship candidates of the party against complacency in the coming elections. He said the party must win in a free and fair manner. Oshiomhole spoke at a crucial meeting with state critical stakeholders ahead of the presidential election scheduled for the weekend. The meeting, which started at about 8.30pm also have in attendance, party’s governorship candidates with the exemption of siting governors who are seeking re-election. The Nation gathered that the state chairmen, secretaries and governorship candidates were briefed on preparation for the elections and what is expected them. The chairmen and the candidates reportedly briefed the NWC on their preparation for the election and the challenges. Senatorial candidates who were supposed to be part of the meeting were later excluded. A statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanr...

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it would press ahead with preparations for Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections despite recent incidences of attacks on two of its offices. INEC boss Festus Okoye, a National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC disclosed this in a statement issued Sunday night in Abuja. According to him, the fire incident that occurred at the Qua’an Pan Local Government office of the Commission in Plateau State on Saturday 9th February 2019 is the second of such incidents in less than a week. The first incident occurred in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government office of the Commission in Abia State on Saturday 2nd February. However, Okoye said: “the Commission will proceed as planned in the affected Local Government Areas and all the burnt materials will be replaced in good time and as such will not affect the conduct of the elections”. Some of the items destroyed in I...