National publicity secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said that the Goodluck Jonathan Administration and the PDP are determined not to hold the February 14 and 28 elections in the country for excuses that are neither here nor there.

He said that despite their deceitful statements that they are ready for the polls, President Jonathan and his party will stop at nothing to ensure that the polls do not hold as scheduled, if at all.
Lai Mohammed who addressed newsmen in Lagos today said that their determination to postpone the elections has made them not be asking Nigerians to go and collect their PVCs, even when INEC has said the cards for all registered voters are now ready for collection, putting a lie to the campaign that the cards will not be ready before the elections.
That is why, Lai Mohammed said, they have refused hordes of foreign journalists visas to come to Nigeria, adding: “as we said earlier, the denial of visas to foreign journalists is systemic, aimed at preventing the international community from seeing or watching the desperate plots to scuttle the elections.”
Mohammed said that an Administration that has nothing to hide will not embark on a deliberate move to shut foreign journalists out of what is definitely one of the most important elections in the world this year.
“In addition to using the courts, they have resorted to lobbying some members of the Council of State to support their clamour for election postponement. We hope the Council, which is due to meet later in the week, will put national interest above narrow, partisan considerations and reject the poisoned chalice of election postponement.
Conclusion:
“We call on local and international Observers to take note of the scheming by the election-postponement campaigners. This is because if they succeed, Observers will have no elections to observe. We urge them to note that since election is a process, and not restricted to election day alone, all the steps leading to the elections are as important as the actual voting itself. “Therefore, we implore them to take note of the systemic shut-out of foreign journalists from the forthcoming polls, which is a ploy to shut out the international community from the elections.
“We urge the Council of State not to allow itself to be used to scuttle the forthcoming elections, because it is in the interest of Nigeria and her people that the elections proceed as scheduled.
“If the Jonathan Administration and the PDP are indeed committed to the Feb. 14th and 28th dates for the elections, as they have said, we challenge them to heed our call for a two-day public holiday so that working class Nigerians who have yet to collect their PVCs can do so. By the way, APC states will declare two public holidays for this purpose.
“We will also like to repeat our appeal to the judiciary to act as a bulwark against any attempt to truncate our nation’s hard-earned democracy by refusing to be used to scuttle the elections. We consider it an insult to the judiciary for the advocates of election shift to believe they can use their dirty funds to influence the course of justice. We believe the judiciary will not take this bait.
“On our part, we will not relent in speaking out against ongoing efforts to scuttle the elections. The APC is ready for the elections as scheduled. The PDP and the Jonathan Administration should stop their scheming and get themselves ready for the elections too. Nigerians have seen through them, and have rejected their evil plots.”
The full text of the press conference by Lai Mohammed goes thus:
During my last press conference on January 29th, I alerted the nation to the fact that the advocates of the postponement of this month’s general elections have resorted to using the courts to disqualify our presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and scuttle the polls.
This followed the obvious failure of their clandestine campaign to have the elections postponed ostensibly because of the poor distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.
Despite sponsoring pseudo-experts and cash-and-carry analysts to make the television rounds to canvass for the postponement of the election, in addition to instigating protests against INEC, Nigerians have rejected the call for election shift, which is a big blow to those who want the elections postponed to give the Jonathan Administration time to recover lost ground.
The advocates of election shift may have retreated, but they have not given up their push to scuttle the elections. In fact, a conference organized on Monday to consider the effects of the National Conference on the 2015 elections was turned into a campaign for election postponement by the usual culprits.
The election-postponement campaigners have now returned to the drawing board to plot another move to make sure the elections do not hold, and that precisely is why we have called this press conference.
Despite their defeat in the court of public of opinion, the no-election proponents are now working hard on their back-up plan, which is to force a constitutional crisis that will ultimately lead to their goal: Interim Government!
And the courts and tribunals are the main tools to be used in pursuing this devilish plot.
They have restrategised to procure ‘pliant judges’ to give outrageous and unpopular judgment at election tribunals and courts, judgment that are capable of destabilizing the polity
Their hope is that such outrageous and unpopular judgment will help trigger massive violence across the country, which they will then leverage as an excuse to scuttle the elections and form an Interim Government.
At the last count, six cases have been filed by the agents of those working to scuttle the elections, and we expect more. In one of the cases, Justice Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday gave the order for a substituted service in the case instituted by Max Uzoaka against our candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari
Make no mistake about it, the Jonathan Administration and the PDP do not want elections, despite their deceitful statements that they are ready for the polls, and they will stop at nothing to ensure that the polls do not hold as scheduled, if at all.
This is why they have not been asking Nigerians to go and collect their PVCs, even when INEC has said the cards for all registered voters are now ready for collection, putting a lie to the campaign that the cards will not be ready before the elections.
That is why they have refused hordes of foreign journalists visas to come to Nigeria. As we said earlier, the denial of visas to foreign journalists is systemic, aimed at preventing the international community from seeing or watching the desperate plots to scuttle the elections. An Administration that has nothing to hide will not embark on a deliberate move to shut foreign journalists out of what is definitely one of the most important elections in the world this year.
In addition to using the courts, they have resorted to lobbying some members of the Council of State to support their clamour for election postponement. We hope the Council, which is due to meet later in the week, will put national interest above narrow, partisan considerations and reject the poisoned chalice of election postponement.
Conclusion:
We call on local and international Observers to take note of the scheming by the election-postponement campaigners. This is because if they succeed, Observers will have no elections to observe. We urge them to note that since election is a process, and not restricted to election day alone, all the steps leading to the elections are as important as the actual voting itself. Therefore, we implore them to take note of the systemic shut-out of foreign journalists from the forthcoming polls, which is a ploy to shut out the international community from the elections.
We urge the Council of State not to allow itself to be used to scuttle the forthcoming elections, because it is in the interest of Nigeria and her people that the elections proceed as scheduled.
We call on Nigerians to remain vigilant, especially in the days ahead, and to continue to reject all attempts by anti-democratic forces to cling to or get power through means that are not democratic. We urge our members and supporters in particular to eschew violence under any guise, even in the face of the most egregious provocations, so as not to play into the hands of those working to scuttle the elections.
If the Jonathan Administration and the PDP are indeed committed to the Feb. 14th and 28th dates for the elections, as they have said, we challenge them to heed our call for a two-day public holiday so that working class Nigerians who have yet to collect their PVCs can do so. By the way, APC states will declare two public holidays for this purpose.
We will also like to repeat our appeal to the judiciary to act as a bulwark against any attempt to truncate our nation’s hard-earned democracy by refusing to be used to scuttle the elections. We consider it an insult to the judiciary for the advocates of election shift to believe they can use their dirty funds to influence the course of justice. We believe the judiciary will not take this bait.
On our part, we will not relent in speaking out against ongoing efforts to scuttle the elections. The APC is ready for the elections as scheduled. The PDP and the Jonathan Administration should stop their scheming and get themselves ready for the elections too. Nigerians have seen through them, and have rejected their evil plots.
The elections dates of Feb. 14th and 28th are sacrosanct!
I thank you.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed
National Publicity Secretary
All Progressives Congress (APC)
Lagos, Feb. 3rd 2015. [myad]

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Organization has drew the attention of Nigerians to the gathering of individuals, which it called “Association of Jonathan-organized National Conference Attendees” that are trying to re-enact the June 12 scenario by moving to truncate the February general elections in the country.

The APC Presidential campaign organization said in a statement, signed by Garba Shehu, Director of Media and Publicity of the campaign that it is more galling that one of these people, with a history of armed insurrection by way of attempted military putsch against a united Nigeria, had the effrontery to offer admonition against the conduct of election, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended for the virility of the Nigerian state.
The APC warned that it is possible for an undiscerning Nigerian to conflate the ostensible reasons of this group of unpatriotic zealots from their real motives.
“The ostensible reason of insecurity in some part of the country, though seemingly valid, pales into insignificance when put side by side with their real reasons. The fact of insecurity of lives and property, which has consigned a portion of the Nation state to a ragtag insurgency group, is in itself, a huge indictment of the government in failing in its primary responsibility as contemplated in Section 14 of 1999 Constitution as amended,” Shehu said.
“Should a government that has shown such insouciance to the security and welfare of the people be compensated with longer duration than contemplated by the statute book? Of course, we are aware that these unpatriotic elements are doing this piece of execrable endeavor to rebuild their stomach infrastructure that had been pulled down after the cessation of free funding following the completion of the National conference!
“We have rightly observed that this is Nigeria’s season of anomie. All shades of ill-mannered and self-centered behavior can be seen in once respected people. It is our hope that Nigerians shall not be swayed into believing them on account of their previous service.
“We want to call the attention of Nigerians and the international community to the repeated calls for the postponement of the forthcoming presidential election. We do not have any difficulty to discern that these groups are working out the script of some agents in the ruling party. We also want to call on the security agencies in the country to stop any further public parade by this outlawed group.
“Let us remind Nigerians that the power of our democracy has been tested in the past by this outlawed group during the June 12, 1993 presidential election and our democracy won and will win again. No person or any faceless group of corrupt individuals can stop an idea which time has come. Nigerians made the call for a change in the country and the will of the people must prevail in February 14.
“We do not entertain any iota of doubts in our minds that this current attempt to scuttle democracy is because of the impending defeat starring the ruling party in the face. The same individuals who scuttled democracy through the instrumentality of the ABN (Association of Better Nigeria) are at their game again. They failed in the past and they will fail again.
“The All Progressive Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation had rejected and continues to reject any suggestion, proposals or insinuation to postpone the February 14 presidential election by a single day.
“Needless to say that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has shown its preparedness to conduct the February elections and very necessary for all Nigerian Patriots to rally behind the Electoral body in accomplishing the onerous task of delivering a good election!
“We hereby call on Nigerians to ignore the scare mongering of these elements and remain focused on the desired change that should see to the birth of a new Nation where no man is oppressed.” [myad]

A frontline Yoruba leader and former top Nigeria military officer, General Alani Akinrinade (rtd) has described the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by the pan social-cultural Yoruba group, Afenifere, as disgraceful, self-serving and an embarrassment to every Yoruba living or dead.
“if this old men that are shouting marginalization few months ago, can sit today to endorse the same man that is marginalizing them, then their brains need medical examination.”
He said that the emergence of Professor Yemi Osinbajo as APC vice presidential candidate,(an in-law to Chief Obafemi Awolowo family) is enough to unite Yoruba to work for a common interest.
He described the endorsement of Jonathan, against the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket as a serious disservice to the Yoruba race.
“How can this people be speaking for Yoruba, when they abandon their own son to celebrate a man that see them as nothing for complete four years. He continue to deceive them with implementation of National Conference, as if that is where our future lies”
Aknrinade asked Yoruba youths to take their destiny in their hands, as the old men are not good role models.
He described them as a group of sadist working assiduously against Yoruba interest because of their hatred for a single man.
He advised members of Afenifere to use their last days wisely since they will be answerable to God Almighty who created them one day. [myad]

Nigerian Citizens under the aegis of Nigerians in the Diaspora UK, an umbrella group of several partisan and non-partisan groups have endorsed the candidacy of General Mohammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), for the presidency in the forthcoming election.
This was contained in the communiqué of at least eight groups who jointly hosted the representative of General Buhari, Hon. Farouk Adamu Aliyu, to a well-attended and educative Interactive Evening in London on Monday 26th January 2015.
BUHARI SUPPORT ORGANISATION DIASPORA UK, an umbrella group of several Muhammadu Buhari supporters harmonized the entire process that led to the endorsement. The groups endorsed General Buhari, noting that he is better positioned to tackle the urgent needs of insecurity and corruption in the country.
The groups frowned at the level of abuse of office for the past six years President Goodluck Jonathan has been in office. For example, the non-rescue of the Chibok school girls, the level of poverty in the country unemployment and the lack of equipping of our military to fight insurgency.
The groups who came together to establish a united Nigerian front for the General are: Hope 2015 Movement, Buhari Diaspora Organisation, Buhari Friends Organisation Network, Progressives Solidarity Forum, Buhari Vendors, General Muhammadu Buhari Grassroots Mobilisation and the Diaspora For Buhari Project.
Chairman of the event, Chief Wale Kalejaiye welcomed the guest of honour, Hon. Farouk Aliyu to London,  special guests, amongst who are His Worshipful Mayor of Lambeth, Councillor Adedamola Aminu;  Chief (Dr) Ibrahim Emokpaire (Secretary APC-UK);  Hon Odaro Omorege; Alhaji Abdulkadir Maikudi;  Dr Dapo Oshun-Williams; Mrs Jana Shodiya (Ayaba); Mr Rasheed  Taiwo; Mr Charles Emuko-Whate; Chief (Mrs) Uche Mill; Air Vice Marshall (Rtd) Funsho Martin (Patron, Hope Movement) amongst others.
Hon. Farouk Aliyu introduced himself and apologised on behalf of General Buhari, explaining that the schedule of the election campaign in Nigeria put a constraint on the travel plans of the General, who has now had to shelve plans to travel to the Vatican, the US and the UK before the election on 14 February.
However, Buhari sent his goodwill messages and warm wishes to his supporters in the UK and the Diaspora in general. He assured Nigerians of the right CHANGE and that he and his running mate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, a dedicated, loyal, focused, knowledgeable, true and patriotic Nigerian, are committed to doing their utmost to ensure Nigeria is turned around.
He assured the enthusiastic audience that the General Muhammadu Buhari/Professor Yemi Osinbajo (GMB/PYO) group, as well as the party itself have identified the problems and the real issues affecting the people of Nigeria and are working towards readiness to tackle them once they get into power.
Hon. Aliyu talked about issues and how GMB/PYO are planning to tackle them: corruption, education, insecurity of life and property from Boko Haram, failure of the PDP to turn the country around in 16 years of being in power, etc
He further said that they do not want any violence or bloodshed and that the GBM/PYO will concede and accept defeat if the elections are free and fair. They will only go to court if they know a lot of rigging has occurred to put the PDP government back in power.
He assured the audience that all the negative perceptions of Buhari – religious fanatic who is against Christians, Fulani hegemony who believes in “born-to-rule”, rigid, certificate, etc., have been debunked already in Nigeria and around the world and would not serve the PDP well to continue to dish out falsehood and slander.
Chief Wale Kalejaiye, in his response said there are more than 2 million Nigerians in the UK alone and about 14 million worldwide. He assured GMB/PYO of the Diaspora’s highest esteem, and promises to continue to work for them to win the election, as well as to provide support even after the election to ensure Nigeria changes for good. He said most Nigerians in the Diaspora believe that the GMB/PYO is a good combination and ideal candidates for Nigeria’s emancipation and redemption.
The Mayor of Lambeth also took this opportunity to applaud General Buhari’s leadership, and emphasised that political manifestoes are just pieces of papers unless the contents are implemented, not only nationally, but down to the states and local government levels so that all the levels of government are working at the same level of understanding and in tandem to develop the country. Only when this is done will a manifesto be considered effective and implemented.
He also called on GMB/PYO never to forget Nigerians in Diaspora and their achievements in various areas of human endeavour all over the world. He pointed out the amount in billions of Dollars and Pounds Sterling that Nigerians repatriate home every year, which is more than the entire budget of several states in Nigeria. Nigerians abroad are assets to Nigeria and must be recognised and exploited by any responsible government that wishes to do well for its citizens. He urged Brain Gain instead of Brain Drain, and assured all that Nigerians abroad are always ready to contribute to and serve their country if sincerely given the chance and the enabling environment. He also called on the GMB/PYO to ensure that Nigerians in Diaspora are able to vote before the next election in 2019.
There then follows a very robust, educative and penetrating, well-informed interactive session of questions and answers from the mostly professional Nigerians ranging from diaspora voting, job creation, women inclusion and empowerment, care for the disabled, prevention of rigging, the contentious PVC, how will the new government source money for its proposed programmes on job creation, healthcare improvement, transportation and roads rehabilitation, improving communication, boosting agriculture, uplifting education, creating social welfare, and many  other issues of importance and concern to Nigerians.
Hon Aliyu was very much up to the task and responded to the highly penetrating and interrogative questions expertly and with great knowledge and sincerity, putting his reputation and that of GMB/PYO on the line, and even giving the audience his personal phone numbers and email addresses. And the answers left many in the audience satisfied and assured that Nigeria is on the way to greatness, if and when GMB/PYO assume the peoples’ mandate, come 29 May 2015.
Later in the evening, Chief Kalejaiye on behalf of all the groups presented 2 laptop computers to aid the collation of results as well as other logistics. He explained that apart from the donated laptops, 5 laptops have already been delivered to the GMB/PYO campaign efforts in Nigeria and assured that more funding, laptops and other equipment are forthcoming before the elections.
The night ended with the launching of a “Phone a Relative for Buhari/Osinbajo” campaign. It was very colourful as Hon Farouk Adamu Aliyu flagged off the launch when he cut the ribbons and placed a live random call to a voter in Nigeria, urging him to vote for Buhari/Osinbajo in the next presidential election taking place in February 14. The receiver of the call responded in excitement that his entire family will be voting for Change on the Election Day but equally urged all Nigerians to do the same. [myad]