Saturday 28 March 2015

Nigeria's Elections: Passengers Stranded At Lagos Airport

Over 200 passenger were stranded at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, on Saturday morning as movement was restricted for the elections, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.



A passenger, Esther Duke, who arrived from London in the early hours of Saturday, said that she was aware of the election.



Ms. Duke said that she came into the country early so that she would participate in the elections.

She, however,said that her brother who should pick her up could not make it to the airport because of the movement restriction.



She urged the INEC to also find a way of creating a voting centre at the airport in subsequent elections to enable passengers have the opportunity of casting their votes.



Another passenger, Kehinde Ajayi, who is travelling to London, said he arrived the airport at 8 a.m. to travel by 11 p.m.



Mr. Ajayi said he was going out of Nigeria to avoid any problem that could arise after the result of the elections would have been announced.



Another passenger, who did not give his name, said that the delay in receiving his visa made him be at the airport.



He said that he missed his flight on getting to the airport and he was stuck.



All the airlines’ counters were not operating as some passengers were seen sitting on the floor while others were sleeping.

(NAN)





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2015 Elections: Jonathan Accredited Using Old Manual System

President Goodluck Jonathan turned up Saturday to accredit himself and his wife Patience for his re-election bid but problems with new voting technology forced to him to temporarily abandon his plans but was later accredited using old manual system.

The incumbent leader, who is seeking a second term of office, arrived at his hometown polling station of Otuoke in southern Bayelsa state at about 0820 GMT to begin the accreditation process.

But handheld technology being used for the first time to “read” biometric voter identity cards apparently malfunctioned, forcing Jonathan to stand around in the scorching heat before leaving.

The 57-year-old, whose ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised concerns about the technology and election officials’ ability to use it, acknowledged that “there may be an issue”.

But he joked, “Maybe it’s me?” while calling for patience.

“If I can endure, you see my sweat? I plead with all Nigerians to be patient, no matter the pains we take,” he told reporters outside the polling station.

“It’s the first time we are using this technology, PVCs (permanent voters card), card readers,” he said, adding that he was “not worried”, despite reports of difficulties in other states across the country.

Jonathan later returned and was accredited using the old manual system.

“Because it’s new, anything new must have its challenges,” he said, adding that he would return again once voting proper gets under way from about 1230 GMT.

The main opposition candidate for the presidency Muhammadu Buhari, whose party backs the technology, had no problem getting accredited in his hometown of Daura, in northern Katsina state.

But one polling station in Abuja suffered major delays, with the readers struggling to confirm voters’ fingerprints, an AFP reporter said.

There were also problems in the north’s biggest city of Kano, where tensions rose among thousands of voters who had been waiting for both election officials and materials to turn up.

“We’ve been here since six o’clock and now it’s half-past nine,” fumed Ismail Omar, a 65-year-old builder. “No one has shown up from INEC (the Independent National Electoral Commission).

“They told us accreditation will start at eight then end at one, and so far we think something is fishy. This is a deliberate attempt to sabotage the elections.”

Another voter, Mohammed Awwal, added: “We don’t want to fight anyone but are ready to die to defend our rights.

“This is our fundamental right that is being denied for whatever reason. We will not leave here until we are accredited and then allowed to vote."

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BREAKING: INEC Announces That Elections Will Continue Tomorrow

INEC just announced via its newly created Twitter account for alerts @INECAlert that elections will be postponed till tomorrow in some polling units. This affects areas where accreditation has been slow or impossible due to card reader errors.



Accreditation will be suspended in some polling units to the next day in accordance with the 2015 general elections guidelines where card readers fail to work and cannot be replaced.









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Breaking News: INEC Okays Manual Accreditation Due To Issues With Card Reader

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria has adjusted the guidelines for the elections to address some of the challenges being faced during the accreditation process across the country.



The chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee of the commission, Dr. Chris Iyimoga, told reporters that “where card readers fail to work, presiding officers can accredit voters by marking the voter register”.

He also said arrangements will be made for voting to take place tomorrow in polling units where accreditation was suspended.

In some polling units across the country, card readers failed to read the finger prints of voters, causing delay in the process that is supposed to last for at most five hours.



In Otuoke, the home town of Nigeria’s President and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Goodluck Jonathan, the card reader failed to authenticate the finger print of the President and his wife.



President Jonathan was made to fill the ‘Incidence Form’ before he was accredited manually by the ad-hoc staff of the electoral commission.



After waiting trying for over one hour, President Jonathan urged Nigerians to be patient with the INEC, saying everything that is being used for the first time will always have challenges.



Details to come.









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Election At Ward 022, Ejigbo, Lagos Is Being Rigged?

Fellow Nigerians, this is to inform you that the election currently held at Ejigbo, Lagos State, Ward 022 IS BEING RIGGED as we speak.



I am at the venue writing to the entire populace to act fast; people are stealing our votes.



Modified:



***At Ejigbo, Lagos State, as we speak. At Polling Unit: Ward 022, the Acreditation has been done, and now, being the time for voting, the Corpers and Policemen were OPENLY bribed and the Balot Box is no longer at the Polling Unit.



The Corpers have been taken to a nearby hotel and we the voters have been barred.



People are now leaving out of fear and frustration.



I will stay here, under this rain, and see to the end of it even if it means being gunned down in the process.



#EJIGBO_RIGGING***



THE BALOT BOX IS GONE!!!!



I call on INEC, Human Right Groups and the Federal Government to come to our aid immediately!!!!



Thank y'all in advance.


INEC Stops Use Of Card Readers In Cross River

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has directed its officials in Cross River to stop the use of card readers.



The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Okey Ezeani, said the directive became necessary due to several complaints across the state on the card readers.



“From the look of things, it means we might even not use the card reader during the other elections,” he said. “IRS (is) a machine, it can fail anytime. Instead if disenfranchising voters I have directed them to stop using the card readers.”



Meanwhile, some electoral officials in charge of Akam Ward in Ikom Local Government Area are said to have absconded from their polling unit.

The officials reportedly fled the polling units amidst reports that there were plans to lynch them and do away with the electoral materials by agents of a political party.



Despite restriction of vehicular movement across the state and heavy deployment of security operatives, there are fears across the state of safety of voters.



At about 1:15 p.m., voting had commenced across many polling units in the state.



However, in Obubu, the PDP governorship candidate and senator representing Cross River North, Benedict Ayade, complained of late accreditation. As at 2 p.m., voting was yet to commence.





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Ballot Box Snatched In Rivers

In Rivers State, election observers say a ballot box has been snatched.



The ballot box was snatched at Ward 7 Unit 7 in Bugama.



It was forcefully taken away by unidentified persons.



Rivers State had been identified by many civil society organisations as a flashpoint for violence.

The pre-election period was embroiled in pockets of violence culminating in an allegation by the State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, that he was shot at.



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Card Reader Fails To Recognise Adamawa Governor's Biometrics

A mild drama ensued at one of the designated voting centres for Internally Displaced Persons, Modibbo Adama University of Technology in Yola, as the card reader failed to capture the biometrics of the State Governor, Bala Ngillari.



Speaking to journalists shortly after the card reader machine failed to get his thumb print, Mr. Ngillari said “I am disappointed in the process, since the card reader can reject the number one citizen of the state, I am so concerned about our people who are IDPs. They trekked kilometres only to be disenfranchised by card reader. This is snail-speed process,” Mr. Ngillari said.





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INEC Staff, One Other, Killed In Benue State

MAKURD – A female adhoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, (name withheld) and a commercial motorbike operator were reportedly killed on Saturday morning, along the Obussa-Ebonyi road, in Oju local government area of Benue state.



Vanguard learnt that the INEC staff had boarded the motorbike to Oju town where she was posted for election duties when she, alongside the bike operator, met their untimely death.



According to the source,”they were riding on top speed at about 7:45 when the front part of the motorbike suddenly pulled of leading to the fatal accident and the instant death of the INEC staff.

“Though the bike rider survived after sustaining seriously injuries he later died before receiving medical attention.”



Reacting to the development, the Public Relations Officer, PRO, of INEC in Benue state, Mr. Louis Ochai confirmed that the deceased official was an adhoc staff who was moving to her place of assignment when the accident occurred.



“We have already sent people there to give us a detailed report on the matter for further action.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Assistant Superintendent, ASP, Austin Ezeani who confirmed the incident said the victims were on election duty when they met their untimely death.



“I also want to state that aside this accident, we have not recorded any ugly incidents in the state, so far it has been a peaceful exercise in Benue state.”Ezeani said.



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Female INEC official, Okadaman die in fatal road accident in Benue

A female adhoc staff of INEC died in a fatal bike accident this morning March 28th along Obussa-Ebonyi road, in Oju local government area of Benue state, Vanguard reports. The Okada man also lost his life. The INEC staff was on her way to Oju town where she was posted for election duties..

"They were riding on top speed at about 7:45 when the front part of the motorbike suddenly pulled of leading to the fatal accident and the instant death of the INEC staff. Though the bike rider survived after sustaining serious injuries he later died before receiving medical attention.” A witness said

The Public Relations Officer, PRO, of INEC in Benue state, Mr. Louis Ochai confirmed the incident.


Taraba PDP Chairman, 700 Others Denied Voting

The chairman Peoples Democratic Party Taraba state chapter Hon. Victor Bala Kona and 700 others were denied been participated in the presidential and National Assembly election.



Victor Bala and the 700 others were denied participation in the election by INEC for not having their names on the voters register even though they were with their PVCs.



The Electoral officer of Ardo-Kola local government area, where Victor Bala and the 700 others came from, Mallam Garba Inua confirmed the incident to Vanguard, he also said the hitches occured in three other polling units of the local government.



Bala Kona while briefing journalist at his house in Sunkani said he was protesting along side the 700 others for been disfranchised by INEC in an election that matters so much to Nigeria.



He stated that after visiting INEC office in Ardo-Kola he also proceeded to Jalingo the state capital to meet with the INEC resident commissioner to register his protest.



“I went to REC at Jalingo office of INEC and he has taken the responsibility because there it was confirmed that my PVC is INEC own”

“I have to rush back home and calm the situation here because the tension was getting tensed up”

“Am disappointed and my people are disappointed with the way we were denied of our civil responsibility”



He call on the INEC to find a way for giving him and the 700 others who he claimed they were his relatives to vote for the elections.





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Police Arrests Man With Snatched 300 PVCs

ABAKALIKI- MIDDLE aged man, Ozemena Odeta among others have been arrested at Ekawoke Ward in Ikwo local government area of the state while distributing Permanent Voters Cards, PVC allegedly snatched from Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC staff during the last distribution exercise in the area.



Addressing newsmen immediately after his accreditation, the state Deputy Coordinator, Goodluck/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organization, Ambassador Franklin Ogbuewu stated that the suspect disappeared from the community after stealing the cards but resurfaced during the election.



He noted that the suspect was arrested by the police when he was allegedly distributing the PVC to voters who agreed to vote the candidate of his choice.



According to Ogbuewu, the reports reaching him from different parts of the state has it that the Card Reader failed to authenticate most voters.

“I want to inform you that the person that snatched about 300 PVCs from INEC staff during the last distribution exercise has been arrested by the police; you see immediately after the theft, the guy disappeared from the community but resurfaced during the election”.



A police source which further confirmed the development added that the police in the area had commenced investigation into the matter to ascertain the involvement of any other suspects



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Nigeria Elections: Over 200 Passengers Stranded at Lagos Airport






Over 200 passenger were stranded at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, on Saturday morning as movement was restricted for the elections, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.



A passenger, Esther Duke, who arrived from London in the early hours of Saturday, said that she was aware of the election. Ms. Duke said that she came into the country early so that she would participate in the elections. She, however, said that her brother who should pick her up could not

make it to the airport because of the movement restriction.



She urged the INEC to also find a way of creating a voting centre at the airport in subsequent elections to enable passengers have the opportunity of casting their votes.



Another passenger, Kehinde Ajayi, who is travelling to London, said he arrived the airport at 8 a.m. to travel by 11 p.m. Mr. Ajayi said he was going out of Nigeria to avoid any problem that could arise after the result of the elections would have been announced.



Another passenger, who did not give his name, said that the delay in receiving his visa made him be at the airport. He said that he missed his flight on getting to the airport and he was stuck.



All the airlines’ counters were not operating as some passengers were seen sitting on the floor while others were sleeping.

(NAN)


Tinubu Denies Sending SMS Canvassing Votes For Jonathan, Threatens Court Action

National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has debunked any knowledge of text message from him asking electorate to vote for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Goodluck Jonathan, insisting that its fraudulent.



Tinubu, who disclosed this while speaking with newsmen, shortly after getting accredited by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), at Ward 047 in Alausa, said the issue will be adequately addressed at the court.The APC chieftain who affirmed that he did not send any kind of message, said “I didn’t send any message. That’s part of the gimmicks and desperation of the ruling party when they pack a lot of fraudulent people in office trying to sabotage the right of people from exercising their civic duty.

“I didn’t authorise any network to send any message. That one we will discuss when we get to court. I cannot campaign today; I know what I’ve told my supporters, you all know the party I belong to and you know the candidate of that party. Do not believe in any text message from me asking you to do otherwise,” he said.



Speaking further, the former governor of Lagos State noted that he is committed to his party and nothing can make him compromise. “I stay firmed; I stay credible; I stay resolved; I am determined and committed, if anybody sends you any fraudulent message, it is because they are coward, they know they are going to be defeated and that is why they want to resort to fraud.



“That is why they should not even be in government, the more reason they should be out, we have had enough of this. I have received several calls from people to verify the so-called text message but I have consistently denied that. It is disturbing, annoying and terrible that people will resort to fraud.



“What kind of leadership? What kind of legacy? What kind of ethics are we teaching our people? If I ask you to compromise the system, how can I do that to the platform I lead? The platform that I helped built and by the grace of God the best platform that is available.



“So it is a lie and a fraud and I will go to any extent to investigate this and if my phone is cloned and they sent fraudulent messages from there, the investigation has started already. I worked tirelessly for our platform, why would I now change a day to the election? Anybody that was in my house yesterday (Friday) will see the number of crowd who were shouting,” he added.



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Amaechi Refuses Accreditation, Says Result Sheets Missing

Port Harcourt: Governor Chibuike Amaechi Saturday morning refused to be accredited for the elections in his Ubima ward, Ikwerre local government area saying result sheets were missing.among items the Independent National Electoral Commission came with for the exercise.



Former governor of Rivers state, Dr Peter Odili also lamented the failure of card reader machines in Ward 14, Unit 25, Ogba Egbert Ndoni local government area.



Former Chief of Staff, Government House and candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC for the Obio Akpor federal constituency, Rivers state said result sheets were missing in all the 17 wards in the local government area.

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Top 10 Nigerian Universities With The Hottest Babes

Well. when it comes to beautiful girls. well Nigerian universities definitely don't lack. well here I present to you all the top 10 Nigerian universities with the hottest babes.

1. University of Lagos ( no doubt about that)

2. University of Benin

3. University of Calabar ( lot of calabar and aka ibom chicks)

4. University of Nigeria Nsukka

5. University of Port Harcourt

6. Obafemi Awolowo University

7. Yaba college of technology (forgive me its not a uni but I must mention)

8. University of Ibadan

9. University of Ilorin

10. Funaab

.....

that's all I have


INEC Suspends Election In Delta Community Over Insecurity

The Independent National Electoral Commission has suspended election in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State after the police said they could not guarantee security in the area.



The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Anidi Ikowak, said in Agbor that some stakeholders in the area did not allow electoral officers to move voting materials to polling units.



He said the initial complaint was that they wanted to see the constituency collation form.



He said, “But even when the form was brought, they did not still want the materials moved.



“So the police had to advise that for security reasons, the election should be suspended.”









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Photos: 2 Policemen, 1 Civilian Shot Dead In Benin, Edo State?

I just heard a loud gun shot in a primary school (ASORO GRAMMA SCHOOL)nearby which was also use as an accreditation centre for the ongoing INEC PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION,on getting there two police men and one civilian had been shot by unknow gunmen,polling unit activity have already being suspended........


Kate Middleton: Birth Date for Second Child 'Revealed as April 25'




The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s second baby is due on April 25. Kate Middleton gave a clue last week as she visited the Home-Start charity, which helps young children and their families, in South East London.



Asked when the world could expect the patter of tiny feet, she replied: ‘I’m due mid-April to the end of April. Not long to go now.’



Sources have now told the Mail that William and Kate have been given April 25 as the expected date for the birth of their second child. This means her royal baby will be a Taurus and share birthday with Jim Carrey, Al Pacino and Diane Keaton. Wishing her a safe delivery in advance.








Photos: Mrs Osinbajo Drove Husband To Polling Unit


The tension must be high. I can’t even imagine what would be going through Professor Osinbajo’s mind right now. So Mrs Osinbajo drove herself and her husband to a polling unit at VGC this morning (you already saw the photo below) for them to be accredited. And she looks smart doing that. Just imagine if we had paparazzi in Nigeria, see what we would have been enjoying. First hand photos, not just the ones they pose for. More photos below.















Oshiomhole Expresses Shock As Soldiers Reportedly Block INEC Officials

Following reports that accredited INEC officials were restricted and stopped by some soldiers from conducting their lawful duties in parts of Edo North, Governor Adams Oshiomhole said the report is shocking as electoral officials should not be restricted on their own day.



The Governor who noted that the soldiers must have got an illegal order from their Commander said, “yesterday (Friday) I addressed the Press and I did say that Brigadier Odidi has chosen to frustrate this exercise in Edo North. Ironically, Brigadier Odidi is from Agenebode and he is the one who is giving this unlawful order.”



INEC officials who were taking election materials to Ward 10, Unit 1 in Iyamho, Etsako West Local Government Area were stopped by soldiers who had laid siege to the home town of Governor Adams Oshiomhole. The INEC officials told reporters that were forced to sit on the ground, alongside their police escort for several hours.



They were later allowed to leave after they got calls from their superiors. The soldiers said they were acting on strict orders from above.



Even journalists were not spared the soldiers’ ordeal as the INEC accreditation cards and reflective jackets were ignored while each reporter was asked to produce their company ID cards. The soldiers said the reporters were not permitted to monitor the exercise from one unit to another as they were only allowed to monitor a particular unit.



Miffed by the restriction of INEC officials, Oshiomhole continued, “Why the Nigerian Army will be used in this manner, only God knows. So I am surprised that they are restricting INEC Officers from distributing materials. I have told the Brigade Commander and I am waiting to see what he is going to do but when you bear in mind that time is if the essence, if we finally go and beg the General to please allow democracy, time is gone. First there is no light across the country so we are going to have everywhere in the dark. Under such situation, nobody knows what happens but I refuse to be frustrated and I appeal to our people not to be frustrated, we will sort things out.



“It is clear they have serious problem taking off. As you can see I am here and they say the card reader is not well programmed, it is not functioning and I got report from my Ward Headquarters that there are materials that are there and apparently the returning officers are trapped there because the soldiers wouldn’t let them cross their barricade. From Apana the Ward Headquarters to this place, my voting centre takes about 10 minutes because of the good roads we have done.”



The Governor maintained, “I have complained to the soldiers here. I have also called the Brigade Commander to draw his attention to it. This one is completely incomprehensible because I do not know what the briefing of the Army is but what Professor Jega said is that in the event of a machine not working, they have spare to use and they have officers who would put them to work.



“Now if the Army is blocking INEC officials from moving, this is a new dimension that we have not heard of before and I thought the business of the Army is basically to check people who are carrying offensive weapons, I do not know if card reader is now an offensive weapon. I have complained to the Brigade Commander, Major General Olaleye and you have also heard me mentioning it to the Electoral Officer (E.O).



“My appeal; our people have a proverb that when you know that enemies are surrounding you, you do not go and rub yourself with an inflammable chemical such that when they just push you a little bit and you sit near fire, you get roasted. There is no doubt there are enemies of democracy, there is no doubt there are people who do no want free and fair elections and therefore I am not going to lend support by way of any comment that will readily suit the expectation of those who are anti-democratic.





“I have spoken to the INEC REC in Benin and I believe that Professor Jega the Chairman should be aware of what is going on in Edo where card readers are not working in many places. We have gotten reports from Benin and across the state and it appears the problem is rather widespread but it is my hope that INEC has sensible alternatives to invoke when we are in this kind of critical condition.



“I want to appeal to Nigerians, we have suffered enough. One more day of suffering will not kill us so let us exercise all the patience that we can, let’s refuse to be frustrated, let us not resort to a shouting match. By the Grace of God, God will not leave us hopeless.



“As leaders we must provide leadership role, more so at this hour. I have faith in democracy, it is not a choice, it is the only option. All of us have to be ready to sacrifice the day. I am very impressed seeing ordinary people queue up patiently to vote. These are farmers who if they don’t work, they don’t earn. They are not like urban people who put pen to paper and steal money and earn even without working. If they sleep, their production will sleep. So they donate their production today for Nigeria’s democracy and this is what they get, but I am happy that they are not fighting.



It is already getting to a critical point, it is few minutes to 11:00am and some materials have not been able to reach here because the Army blocked up the roads for INEC, and where INEC has reached, the machines are not working. I want to hope that this will be solved and so let us wait”, Oshiomhole said.





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