Taraba Election Deadlock: INEC Fixes April 25 For Re-Run

April 14, 2015

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Saturday, April 25th for the run-off election between Arch. Darius Ishaku of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Senator Aisha Jumai Alhassan of All Progressives Congress(APC).

This is coming as normalcy finally returned to Jalingo, Sunkani in Ardo Kola local government area and Gembu, headquarters of Sardauna Local Government Area.

The Head of Department of Enlightenment and Publicity for INEC in the state, Mr. Phebian Yame, who announced the date for the election during a briefing at the head office of the Commission in Jalingo, said the date has been communicated to all the parties involved.

INEC had declared the gubernatorial election in the state inconclusive and ordered based on the fact that cancelled votes in the election were more than the margin between the votes polled by Ishaku who came top in the election and Sen. Alhassan who was runner up.

The margin between Darius Ishaku who polled 317,198 votes and Senator Alhassan who polled 262,386 votes was 54,812 while the canceled votes were 127,125.

In declaring the elections inconclusive, the returning officer, Prof Kyari Mohammad explained that the Constitution of Nigeria and the Electoral Act stipulates that when the difference between the total canceled votes in an election is higher than the margin between the first and the second person, elections should be declared inconclusive and a run-off should be conducted.

The run-off election would be conducted in all the 165 polling units of Donga local government as well as some polling units in Bali, Karim Lamido, Takum, Ussa, Wukari, Yorro and Zing.

Meanwhile, normalcy has returned to Jalingo and other communities that recorded incidents of electoral violence though it was gathered that the death toll of the violent clash in Sunkani has risen to 11. [myad]

Mallam el-Rufai Visits General Buhari In Daura

Greenbarge Reporters

April 14, 2015

Kaduna State Governor-elect, Mallam Nasir el-rufai pays courtesy visit on the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (left) in Daura, Katsina State on Tuesday, April 14. In the middle is Dr. Aloy Chife. [myad]

I will Respond Promptly To The Anguish Of Chibok Girls’Parents, Buhari Assures

Greenbarge Reporters

April 13, 2015

President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress (APC) has assured Nigerians and parents of the over 200 students of the Government Girls“Secondary School, Chibok in Borno state who were abducted from their school by members of Boko Haram exactly a year ago, that the new government he would head would respond promptly and positively to the anguish of the parents of the girls.

In his address to the nation today to mark one year anniversary of the abduction of the girls, General Buhari described the kidnapping of 276 girls from a school in Chibok as a crime that has caused outrage both in Nigeria and across the world.

“Today is a time to reflect on the pain and suffering of the victims, their friends and families. Our thoughts and prayers, and that of the whole Nigerian Nation, are with you today.

“I want to assure all of them, and particularly the parents, that when my new Administration takes office at the end of May, we will do everything we can to defeat Boko Haram. We will act differently from the Government we replace: we hear the anguish of our citizens and intend to respond accordingly.”

The President-elect who called on all Nigerians to embark on new approach with honesty as the hunt continue on the girls, admitted: “we do not know if the Chibok girls can be rescued. Their whereabouts remain unknown. As much as I wish to, I cannot promise that we can find them. “But I say to every parent, family member and friend of the children that my Government will do everything in its power to bring them home.

“What I can pledge, with absolute certainty, is that starting on the first day of my Administration Boko Haram will know the strength of our collective will and commitment to rid this nation of terror, and bring back peace and normalcy to all the affected areas.

“Boko Haram” means “Western Education is Sinful”. When they are defeated militarily, as they will be, we will ensure our citizens in the affected areas have improved educational opportunities as a direct counterbalance to Boko Haram’s twisted ideology. In particular we will educate ever more young girls ensuring they are empowered as citizens of Nigeria.

“Let us use this anniversary to remind each other that the attack on Chibok was an attack on the dreams and aspirations of our young people.

“We stand united in our pledge to resist terror in Nigeria– not just through military means but also through the power of opportunity and the hope of a better future for all.”

[myad]

Nollywood Actor, Desmond Elliot Now Becomes Lagos Lawmaker

Greenbarge Reporters

April 13, 2015

An ace Nollywood Actor, Desmond Elliot has won the Lagos state House of Assembly election and would proceed to the State Assembly where he’ll be representing Surulere Constituency 1. Elliot today, on his Facebook, expressed gratitude to everyone for believing in him and voting for him. Hear him below.

“Today marks a new phase in my life as I have officially launched my journey into the Nigerian Politics, firstly I would love to thank the people of Surulere for truly believing in me and my dreams to bringing out new energy and new enthusiasm to our place, today I reaffirm all my promises to you, we have attained victory together and together we shall also attain The Change We Desire. I also want to extend my profound gratitude to everyone who has supported me in this cause, my friends, fans and well wishers. May God bless you all!”

[myad]

Niger Delta Militants’ Leader, Ateke Tom Congratulates Buhari, Says He’ll Work With Him

Greenbarge Reporters

April 13, 2015

Ex-militant and leader of the Niger Delta Vigilante (NDV), Ateke Tom, has congratulated the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress (APC), assuring that former militant leaders in the Niger Delta region are ready to work with him.

Ateke, who disclosed this while speaking in pidgin english to newsmen at Okochiri in Rivers State, advised General Buhari to invite leaders of genuine militant camps to discuss on how to move the region forward.

“I am here to congratulate Buhari for his victory. We will want good leadership; we thank God that Buhari is now our President and we pray God Almighty to give him wisdom to rule our country. Since Buhari is now our President, we want him to meet with the core leaders of the Niger Delta struggle; I mean the real leaders in the struggle.

“He should call the real leaders and talk to them. Let us discuss on our needs. He should also not forget the Amnesty Programme, because we know what we fought for and that was why they gave us Amnesty. We did not get the Amnesty Programme from the backyard. So, let him keep to the programme. Let the Amnesty Programme function well and we will like it. We are ready to work with Buhari.”

The former militant leader said none of the former agitators in the region will go back to the creeks, adding: “Some people are saying they want to go back to the creek, or they want to blow up pipelines; no, I, Ateke Tom will not be part of that, we don’t need all those things and nobody will go back to the creeks. I have a say in the Niger Delta and I am one of the top fighters; so nobody will go back to the creeks. I advice the youths not to follow anybody back to the creeks.

“We should not say because there is change of government and Buhari is now the President, and somebody wants to go back to the creeks; what are you going there to do? So, let nobody follow anybody to the creeks. What we want is that let Buhari meet us and treat us well.

[myad]

6 Die In Taraba Post Election Violence, As Acting Governor Imposes Curfew

Greenbarge Reporters

April 13, 2015

Taraba State Acting Governor, Garba Umar

No fewer than six people have been reportedly killed in Taraba state following the post governorship election which held in the state on Saturday, even as the Acting Governor of the state, Alhaji Sani Abubakar Danladi has declared a curfew from 7 pm to 6 am.

In a statement today, the acting governor said that total compliance to the curfew would help to curtail the political crisis that has bedeviled the state.

The six people were reported to have been killed at Sunkani, the headquarters of Ardo Kola local government area of the state while in Jalingo, the state capital, there was a high level of burning of properties at Narawo village while Army, patrol in Jalingo have arrested a number of people with weapons.

Crisis were also reported in Jalingo, Ardo Kola, Gasol and Sadauna local government areas of the state. A younger brother of Mark Useni the speaker Taraba State House of Assembly was said to have been killed by some gunmen in Takum local government area of Taraba state.

Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba state, Dickson Ishaku has called on all his supporters to remain calm despite the declaration of the state gubernatorial election as inconclusive by INEC.

The Taraba state Returning Officer for the governorship election, Professor Muhammed Kyari, declared the governorship election in the state inconclusive following the large number of cancelation of votes in the exercise.

He wondered why INEC decided to cancel the election in Donga Local government area where PDP scored over 36,000 against APC which scored just over 10,000 votes.
“INEC has been cancelling elections in poling units all over the federation where there are problems, I cannot imagine somebody to come and cancel election in a whole local government area where we have 165 poling units because of a problem that affect just 5 poling units.”

“I appreciate the people of Taraba state who came out enmass to vote for me, destiny can be delayed but cannot be changed, am appealing to all my supporters to remain calm as we as responsible people are following the issue with wisdom” Ishaku stated.

[myad]

Jonathan Mourns Professor Tekena Tamuno Who Dies At 83 In Ibadan

Greenbarge Reporters

April 13, 2015

President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed sympathy over the death, at the weekend, of the foremost Professor of History and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Tekena Tamuno. He died in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital at the age of 83.

In a condolence message from his special adviser on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, President Jonathan described late Professor Tamuno as ”first rate intellectual, academician and historian who stood out for many years as one of the very best of his generation.”
President Jonathan believes that the late Professor Tamuno, who was also a seasoned administrator and notable public servant, will be long remembered and honoured for his very significant contributions to national development over several decades.
He said that Nigeria owes the departed Professor a huge debt of gratitude for his immense efforts in helping to document the history of the country’s foundation, growth and development for posterity even as he advised his family, friends, associates and generations of students, within and outside the country, to also give thanks to God Almighty for his long and very fulfilled life of shining and enduring accomplishments.
Professor Tamuno died after he was said to have recovered from the treatment in the United States of America, of prostate cancer last month.

Yesterday, one of the late Professor’s sons, a lawyer; Tamuno’s widow and a few other relations who received sympathisers declined to talk to the press, describing their loss as “a private affair.”

They also turned down entreaties to copy entries in the condolence register already opened for the deceased, despite being reminded that the late historian was a public figure.

Reacting to Tamuno’s death, the Secretary Nigerian Academic of Letters (NAL) and fellow historian, Professor Olutayo Charles Adesina, said the Nigerian academic community and indeed the nation had lost “an extremely cerebral historian and foremost scholar of the humanities, who combined both the rigour and flexibility needed for a better understanding of his field.”

Adesina, a former Head, Department of History, UI, where the deceased had also taught, said the late historian was an extremely approachable academic with excellent interpersonal relations qualities. “They don’t build them like that anymore; he was a study in humility.”

Another colleague and erudite linguist, Prof. Francis Egbokhare, echoed Adesina remark, saying: “For a man of his kind of stature, an intellectual and administrator, he was unbelievably accessible to the younger ones, unlike others who would strut like Emperors.

“If you were with him, you may forget you were not with your age mate. But, more importantly, he was a man who had great faith in God.”

Besides, Egbokhare said the late Tamuno, a prolific author of many books and articles in journals, would be missed for his numerous and quality intellectual contributions.

Tamuno served as Chancellor, Redeemer’s University; Chairman of the presidential panel on National Security from October 2001 to December 2002 and panel on Policing Nigeria Project 2002 to 2003.

As a poet and historian, Tamuno, was a fellow of both the Nigerian Academy of Letters and Rockefeller Foundation and a member of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Born on January 28, 1932, in Okrika, Rivers State, he attended St. Peter,s School, Okrika from 1938 to 46; Okrika Grammar School, Okrika from 1947 to 51; University College, Ibadan from 1953 to1958; Birkbeck College, University of London from 1960 to 62; and Columbia University, New York City, United States from 1965 to 66.

[myad]

INEC Declares Abia, Imo Governorship Polls Inconclusive

Greenbarge Reporters

April 13, 2015

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Saturday’s governorship election in Abia and Imo States inconclusive.

The Imo State Collation Officer, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, noted that the Electoral Law provides for the declaration of an election inconclusive when the margin of victory is less than the number of voters in areas where election was cancelled. He disclosed that the electorate in places where the Abia guber election was cancelled is in excess of 170,000.

A new date is expected to be fixed soon for a supplementary election between the two heavyweight candidates.

As at the time of the declaraing Imo state election inconclusive, incumbent governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Owelle Rochas Okorocha, was leading, having won in 20 out of the 27 local government areas.

Meanwhile, Governor Okorocha expressed confidence that he would win the elections.

“It is not the first time elections in my state are declared inconclusive. I went through it in 2011. This clearly shows who the winner of the election is,” he said.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the elongated process of result announcement, the governor said out of the about 1.8 million voters, only 1.44 million collected their Permanent Voter Cards and less than 700,000 people voted, which sums up to 40 per cent and not as expected.

The major contender, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declined making any comment on the electoral process.

In 2011, INEC also declared elections that brought Governor Okorocha in inconclusive. After investigations a supplementary election was held and Governor Okorocha, who contested then under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), was declared winner.

[myad]

Taraba Governorship Election Runs Into Deadlock, As INEC Proposes Re-Run

Greenbarge Reporters

April 13, 2015

Confusion set in today as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the Taraba State governorship election inconclusive and proposed a re-run between the candidates of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressive Congress (APC) to determine the winner of the election.

As at yesterday, APC candidate, Senator Aisha Jumai Alhassan was believed to have won the election, but the returning officer for the election, Professor Kyari Muhammed later announced that the PDP candidate, Arch. Darius Ishaku won having polled 317,198 votes while the APC candidate, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan polled 262,386.

Announcing the election inconclusive after the final collation of the results from the 16 local government areas of the State, Professor Muhammed, who is the Vice Chancellor of Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, said it has become imperative to declare the election inconclusive because the number of canceled votes is more than the difference of votes between the two leading candidates.

According to him, the total number of cancelled votes is 127,125 while the difference between the PDP and APC candidates is 54,812 votes, thereby making a re-run inevitable.

He noted that the re-run, which is to take place in the areas where elections are canceled must be held not later than 30 days before 29th May or on or before 28th April.

It would be recalled that the cancelation of the entire results of Donga local government by the returning officer due to alleged irregularities in five polling units was a subject of heated argument between the PDP agent, Rebo Usman and the returning officer.

The governorship election in the state took a violent dimension with the setting ablaze of the residences of the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Gebon Kataps and former Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Abel Peter Diah in Gembu, Sardauna local government area.

Jalingo, the state capital also became so tensed and it took the efforts of a combined team of Soldiers and Mobile Policemen to avert a conflagration and violent clashes Sunday evening while rum ours were rife that there was a plan to attack the INEC office in Jalingo.

[myad]

Governor Uduaghan Thanks Deltans For Renewing Faith In PDP By Electing Okowa

Greenbarge Reporters

April 13, 2015

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has thanked the people of the state for renewing their faith in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by massively voting for Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as the Governor-elect. He added that the victory of the party has affirmed its performance and supremacy in the state.
In a statement issued in Asaba today by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sunny Ogefere, the Governor said that the success of the PDP was “a total victory for all Deltans.”
He commended the members of PDP in the State as well as the electorate for renewing their faith and trust in the PDP to pilot the affairs of the State for the next four years.
Uduaghan commended the people for their peaceful conduct during and after the elections and assured that development strides in the state under Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa will be rapid, peaceful and progressive.
He assured that the transition will be smooth and called on all other political parties that contested the elections to accept defeat, embrace the winner and help to create an atmosphere of peace and development in Delta State.
“My appeal to all Deltans is that we should remain calm and peaceful as we look forward to more dividends of democracy from PDP administration in the state”, he stated.
He however enjoined parties and contestants that are aggrieved to channel their grievances lawfully to the appropriate quarters or approach the elections tribunals for redress rather than take the laws into their hands.

[myad]

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