Nigeria General Election, Saturday February 23rd, 2019

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Saturday, February 23rd, 2019

African Examiner’s Election Coverage (Presidential & National Assembly)

_______________________________________________________________________________

INEC Officially Declares Buhari As President-Elect as PDP Kicks (Feb. 27, 2019)

By Tajudeen Balogun,

Head, African Examiner, Nigeria Bureau

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – President Muhammadu Buhari has polled the highest number of votes in the last Saturday Presidential election.

Following this, the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu Wednesday midnight declared Buhari and returned him as the winner of the keenly contested poll.

The results of States as collated at the International Conference Centre ICC, Abuja put Buhari in the lead, as he polled a total 15, 191, 847 votes,

while his main rival, Atiku Abubakar trailed behind with 11, 212, 973 votes.

President Buhari who is the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) won in 19 States, while his challenger, Atiku – candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in 17 States, including FCT, Abuja.

The difference between the winner, given the overall result is 3, 928, 868 votes. The Electoral Act provides that the poll will be deemed inconclusive if the voided votes are more than the difference between the winner and the first runner’s up.

Also, the Electoral Law stipulates that for a candidate to be declared the winner, he must garner the total number of votes cast and record a spread – of not less than 25 per cent votes in at least two third of the States.

The President and his main rival have achieved this provision.

Meanwhile, various political parties have complained about irregularities such as malfunctioning of the smart card readers, multiple ballot thump printing, alleged manipulation, regarding the re-configuration of smart card reader.

In the meantime, Prof announced that the Certificate of Return would be issued to the winners later today, at 2 p.m.

A look at 2015 Presidential poll, showed that Buhari polled 15, 424,921 votes to beat the immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan who scored 12,853,162 votes.

Meanwhile, the opposition PDP has kicked against the result and rejected it.

Despite INEC late announcement the declaration was followed by wild jubilation by the APC stalwarts and their supporters in the FCT and other parts of the country.

Nigeria Decides: Voting Ends in Enugu With Massive Turnout

From Ignatius Okpara, Enugu

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Voting has ended in parts of Enugu state south East Nigeria, in today’s presidential and National Assembly election, amid tight security and massive turnout of voters.

Our Correspondent Ignatius Okpara, monitoring the exercise reports that accreditation and voting began in some polling units as early as 8:30 am in some council areas while late arrival of electoral materials delayed voting in some areas .

. Enugu state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, casted his vote at exactly 10: 02 am at his Amaube polling unit in Udenu local government area of the state.

At central primary school Ajuona ward (2) in Igboeze South- council area of the state, where the member representing Nsukka\ Igbeoze South federal constituency, Dr. Pat Assadu voted, the election was peaceful and recorded large turnout of eligible voters.

Speaking newsmen shortly after casting his vote, Asadu expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the polls by the Independent National Electoral commission INEC, saying the large turnout of the electorate shows that democracy is alive in Enugu state.

“I want to say that am absolutely impressed with the large turnout in today’s election, because sine 1999, we have not experienced this type of turnout”

More reports on the election in Enugu state will come your way soonest.

_______________________________________________________________________

Voting Begins Amid Tight Security in Enugu

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Voting has commenced in parts of Enugu state south East Nigeria, in the Presidential and National Assembly election, amid tight security in various locations.

Our Correspondent Ignatius Okpara, monitoring the exercise reports that accreditation and voting began in some polling units as early 8:30 am.

______________________________________________________________________________

In Lagos, Voters Troop Out Early, Voting Commences Early, Late In Some Units

LAGOS, NIGERIA (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Voters in most parts of Lagos State trooped out very early Saturday morning to exercise their civic right in the Presidential and National Assembly (NASS) polls which are underway.

However, as INEC ad-hoc staff arrived early, at some units and get set for the voting, voters in some polling units experienced delay, due to either late arrival of the election officials or lateness in setting up.

Our Correspondent reported that this were the situation in Ojokoro, Fagba, Iju road, college road under Ifako Ijaiye Local Government area.

Specifically, voters waited till around past 9am before they could cast their votes at College area of Ifako.

However, opposite was the case at Idi Agbon area – adjacent the LGA permanent headquarters where INEC staff have arrived early and voters started casting their vote before 9am.

Generally, the atmosphere in Lagos metroplolis is calm. Voters are peaceful and orderly in their conduct and the security operatives monitoring the polls have no difficulty in maintaining law and order.

The Military are stationed at the strategic points, such as main junctions and round about. Our reporter observed that the army at General in Ifako area turned back vehicle from driving via the route as early as 6am.

However, report said some hours ago, voting is yet to commence at polling unit 006, St. Stephen’s School, Ward E3, Eiyekole, Adeniji Adele, Lagos Island, where the Lagos the Lagos State Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is expected to cast his votes

As at 9.47am, INEC officials are still setting up the polling unit, with voters sitting around patiently.

The same was the situation at the 22 other polling units under Ward E3, as elections materials are just being moved from the Registration Area Centre at At. Stephen’s school to the different polling units.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PDP Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Wife Vote in Adamawa

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has cast his vote.

The former Vice President cas his vote at his Ajiya polling unit, in Yola North Local Government Area of Adamawa State, North east Nigeria.

His was accompanied by his wife, Titi who also cast her vote.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Photo: Incumbent President and candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mohammadu Buhari and Wife Voted in Daura, Katsina State.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Nigerians Elect President, NASS Members

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Nigerians will today Saturday February 23, 2019 go to the poll to elect their president and 469 members of the National Assembly (NASS).

This is coming a week after the exercise was rescheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) late Friday night (Feb. 16).

While the electoral umpire would conduct only the presidential and NASS election this Saturday, the poll for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly as well as the Area Council election for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would hold on March 9.

The polling units are expected to open by 8 a.m. and close by 2 p.m. with the last person on the line allowed to vote.

The major presidential contenders are incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former vice president Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Demographic Party (PDP).

Others include Prof. Kingsley Moghalu of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), Felix Osakwe of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), and Christopher Okotie of Fresh Party.

INEC had said that the use of Smart Card Readers and Permanent Voter Cards were compulsory for the elections.

From agency reports