INEC releases statement ahead of Saturday’s elections

Press statement from INEC ahead of Saturday
Gubernatorial elections..
The Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) has received reports that
some political leaders are asking members of
the public to disregard its stated resolve to
use Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and Smart
Card Readers (SCRs) for the April 11,
2015Governorship and State Assembly
elections.A particular state governor in the
North Central geo-political zone is reported to
have assured voters in the state that they
could come out to vote on Election Day with
Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs) if they do not
have the PVC, and that INEC will not be
allowed to insist on the use of SCRs for voter
accreditation.
Members of the public are strongly advised
to disregard false assurances that contradict
the regulations INEC has outlined for the
Governorship and State Assembly elections.
The Commission reaffirms that only voters
with genuine PVCs should come out to the
polling units on Election Day, and that
guidelines issued on the use of SCRs for the
April 11 elections will be strictly applied. Any
action infringing these guidelines will be an
electoral offence, and security agents will be
on hand to apprehend offenders.
The Commission commends Nigerian voters
for their peaceful conduct and exemplary
resilience, even in the face of minor
challenges, during the Presidential and
National Assembly elections on March 28,
2015. It, however, considers it unfortunate
that some leaders would misguide the public
and thereby prepare ground for needless
disruptions to the polling process on April
11. INEC hereby warns that any obstruction
to the processes it has put in place for the
elections by any person, no matter how
highly placed, will constitute an electoral
offence punishable in law.
Meanwhile, the Commission has assigned the
Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of
Kogi State, Alhaji Hussaini Halilu Pai, to
supervise the conduct of the Governorship
and State Assembly elections in Kano State,
following the tragic demise of Alhaji Minkala
Abdullahi last weekend. Before his posting as
FCT REC, Alhaji Pai was Ekiti State REC, who
conducted the Governorship Election of June
21, 2014.
Kayode Robert Idowu
Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman

Push APC into Atlantic Ocean, Agbaje tells Igbo

The Peoples Democratic Party governorship
candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has
urged Igbo across the state to push the All
Progressives Congress ‘into the lagoon’ by
voting for him on Saturday.
Agbaje said this while addressing Igbo
traders at the Alaba International Market on
Thursday.
The PDP candidate urged them to ignore the
threats made by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan
Akiolu, that if they do not vote for the APC
governorship candidate on Saturday, they
would die in the lagoon.
“Nobody can push you into the Atlantic
Ocean. Rather, you should use your votes to
push the APC into the Atlantic Ocean by
voting massively for the PDP on Saturday,”
Agbaje said.
He urged the people to ignore the scare
tactics being marshalled by the APC, saying,
it was the antics of a drowning party.
Agbaje said, “Election is like a snake. You
have to make sure you win by killing the
snake completely by using your votes to
drive the APC out of power. The reason why
they are harassing you is because they fear
Igbo votes. They will try to do ‘shakara’ for
you but you must vote massively for the PDP
and protect your votes.”
Agbaje, who was accompanied by his
running mate, Alhaja Safuratu Abdulkarim;
and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs,
Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, said the APC had
become arrogant because the party had been
in power for too long.
He said, “In the last 16 years, the APC has
been full of arrogance. This arrogance must
end once and for all. Saturday is the time to
say enough is enough.”
Counselling the audience to eschew violence
and refuse to be intimidated at the polling
venue, Agbaje urged them to guard their
votes.
He said, “God is on our side and power will
change hands on Saturday and life will be
better for you and your businesses. There
will be no oppression again because this
election is about freedom from bondage.

Governorship Election: Nigeria Police deploy AIGs to Rivers, Akwa Ibom, other flashpoints

The Nigeria Police on Thursday deployed
senior police officers to oversee
governorship and state assembly elections
in states considered as the likely flashpoints
on Saturday.
Assistant Inspectors General of Police will
supervise elections in 16 states, including
Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Lagos States, and other
potentially troubled spots, a statement from
the force said Thursday.
Elections in four other states, including
Ekiti, Anambra and Osun, will be overseen
by Commissioners of Police.
In addition, a Commissioner of Police has
been deployed to command each Senatorial
Zones in Gombe, Bauchi, Imo, Akwa Ibom,
Lagos, Benue, Edo, Plateau and Sokoto
states, the statement by police spokesperson,
Emmanuel Ojukwu, said.
In Rivers State, the Special Units of the
Nigeria Police Force have been deployed to
address security concerns.
The units are the 32 Units of Police Mobile
Force, 4 Units of Counter terrorism Units, 4
Units of Special Protection Units and six
Crack Teams of Detectives from Force
Criminal Investigation Department and
complements of Intelligence officers.
The police had earlier deployed six Deputy
Inspector Generals of police to the six
geopolitical zones in Nigeria to coordinate
election activities.
Opposition candidates in several states,
including Akwa Ibom and Rivers, had
demanded the redeployment of
Commissioners of Police in their states,
accusing them of colluding with the ruling
parties to rig the March 28 presidential
election.

PHOTO. Jimi Agbaje Takes Campaign Train To Alaba Market With Branded Ijebu Garri

Jimi Agbaje was in Alaba International market today
campaigning for Saturday's election where he distributed PDP
branded Ijebu garri and recharge cards

Photo: Friends Murder Influential Area Boy In Oshodi After He Dumped PDP For APC

Photo: Friends Murder Influential Area Boy In Oshodi
After He Dumped PDP For APC