Rivers rerun election: Abe tells APC to use PVCs not guns

Sen. Magnus Abe, the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate for Rivers South-East Senatorial District in forthcoming re-run election, has urged the people to vote with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and not guns.

Abe made the call during an APC rally at Ngo, Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers on Thursday.

He alleged that opponents of APC in the state were desperate to win the election.

“Let them tell their members to vote with PVCs; we will tell our people to vote with PVCs too.

“Let them not do guns against PVCs. Let us do PVC against PVC, and see who will emerge.”

According to Abe, opponents of his party only accept election results that are in their favour and will never take in good fate, outcomes against them.

“Tai Local Government result for the March 19 re-run election is a clear example. They have even refused to swear-in APC Assembly members-elect from other constituencies.

“They want the result of elections declared in their favour against the rules to stand but do not want result of Tai to stand,” he said.

Abe commended security agencies for the peaceful conduct of the Edo governorship election and urged them to replicate it in Rivers.

“With the just concluded governorship election in Edo, the Nigerian security have shown that they have the capacity to create an atmosphere for free and fair elections in the country.

“The next challenge, step and obstacle to the reputation of the security agencies of Nigeria is Rivers.

“Two times, they have been in Rivers to do election, but it did not work because people hired boys with guns to scare away the people, and turn election into war,” he said.

Abe urged APC members to mobilise the electorate to vote for the party because it had the best candidates. (NAN)

Daily Post

INEC Postpones Edo Election

Despite the widely reported stance of INEC to go ahead with the governorship elections in Edo, a new information has been released. 

The Independent National Electoral Commission has agreed to shift the Edo State governorship election by two weeks.

 

According to The Punch, the decision to postpone the election was reached at a security meeting held in Benin, the Edo State capital this evening.

 

A national commissioner at the commission said the  Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu and other national officials of the commission are planning to address a press conference shortly.

 

It would be recalled that on Wednesday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was urged by the the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to postpone Saturday’s governorship election in Edo state.

Tori News

Catholic bishops condemn election violence in South Africa

Cape Town - Young people should not let politicians use them in the build-up to the elections, the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference and the Justice and Peace Commission said on Monday.

The commission was concerned about the rising levels of violence and political intolerance ahead of the August 3 local government elections, Bishop Abel Gabuza said. 

“Do not allow yourselves to be used by the politicians who show signs that their primary interest is greed for power and government tenders,” he said.

ANC supporters in several parts of Tshwane began protesting, looting, and destroying property last Sunday, after the party announced Thoko Didiza as its mayoral candidate for the metro.

Gabuza condemned political party leaders who mobilised young people to take part in violence.

"We are disappointed that our political leaders have not been visible and loud enough in their condemnation of factional violence and political assassinations. They have also not been vigorous enough in disciplining their candidates and members who are involved in disrupting campaign rallies of other parties and in creating no-go zones," he said.

NEWS 24

Four Electoral Commission Bosses Set to Resign in Kenya

Four electoral commissioners have offered to resign just as Parliament is getting ready for talks on the future of the commission after demands by Cord that all the nine top bosses be sent home ahead of the 2017 General Election.

Sources revealed that commissioners Yusuf Nzibo, Albert Bwire, Kule Galma Godana and Abdullahi Sharawe had written to President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday this week declaring their readiness to quit. The four said they wanted to avoid being dragged through the process initiated by Parliament to remove them from office.

The letter was delivered to the Head of the Public Service, Mr Joseph Kinyua, on Wednesday.

Their decision has split the IEBC because the other five commissioners including Chairman Issack Hassan have resolved to stay put and adopt "a wait and see" position.

"It is true they wrote a letter on Tuesday. They don't want further delays," said a source at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Dr Nzibo and Mr Sharawe did not answer calls from the Nation. The former sent a text message saying: "Sorry, I can't talk right now".

Besides Mr Hassan, the commissioners who have opted to stay are Vice Chairperson Lilian Mahiri-Zaja, Mr Thomas Letangule, Mr Muthoni Wangai and Mr Mohamed Alawi Hussun.

Yesterday, a source in the Presidency said the resignation letter had not been received "and is not expected". The source also said that a vacuum at IEBC "would be undesirable".

Commissioners held a meeting on Monday where the issue of voluntary resignation was discussed at length. However, they failed to reach a unanimous decision.

"The four decided they no longer want to be the topic of political discussion," said a source.

As part of their condition for resigning, the four have asked to be paid a cumulative sum of the salaries they would have earned had they served their entire term. They also want to be paid gratuity for the work they have done and additional payment as compensation because they feel their reputations have been damaged.

In offering to leave office quietly, the commissioners believe they have served the country according to their oath of office and the Constitution and have made the decision in the interest of the country. A source said commissioners were also afraid that the political temperatures could easily escalate to violence and destruction of property, with serious consequences to the economy. They also said they would not want to see the country go back to a situation similar to the 2007-8 post-election violence.

Furthermore, the four are said to have argued that leaving early would give their successors adequate time to prepare for next year's General Election. Their letter to the President emphasises that their decision was in good faith. They asked the President to consider their offer as a nationalistic gesture.

Those offering to quit also brought to the attention of the President that the Constitution dictated they could only be removed from office after being investigated by tribunals. To them that could be a lengthy process, starting with petitions to Parliament and setting up individual tribunals to investigate each commissioner. The process, they reasoned, is bound to consume time and money and the commissioners would still be free to challenge the recommendations in court.

In a related development, Jubilee and Cord leaders yesterday finalised preparations for a Motion to give the mandate to the select committee that will investigate the IEBC to be tabled on Tuesday next week.
Jubilee reduced its 11-member team to seven; Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi, senators Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet, URP), Beatrice Elachi (nominated, APK) and MPs Naomi Shaban (Taveta, TNA), Mohammud Mohammed (Mandera East, URP) and Jimmy Angwenyi (Kitutu Chache North, TNA).

The announcement was made in Parliament last evening by National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale and his Senate counterpart, Prof Kithure Kindiki.

Cord named its representatives as senators James Orengo (Siaya, ODM) and Johnson Muthama (Machakos, Wiper) and MPs Junet Mohammed (Suna East, ODM), Mishi Mboko (Mombasa Woman Rep, ODM), Prof Hellen Sambili (Mogotio, Kanu), Mutula Kilonzo Junior (Makueni, Wiper) and Dr Eseli Simiyu (Tongaren, Ford-K).

The Motion to have the committee set up will be presented to the two committees of the National Assembly and Senate that set the agenda at their meetings on Tuesday morning. Once the names are approved, the select committee could start working on Wednesday or Thursday.

The two Majority Leaders said the creation of the committee had been a compromise from the Jubilee Coalition as all the work it has been given can be undertaken by Parliament.

Mr Duale ruled out claims that President Kenyatta and Cord leader Raila Odinga would address a joint press conference to rally support for the final product of the select committee.

Mr Duale said that while the Jubilee Coalition had insisted that all this could be done by committees in Parliament, they ceded ground to spare the country trouble.

"For us, the IEBC is not a big issue. For us, it is the people of Kenya who vote, so we want to go sell our policies," said Mr Duale.

All Africa

Breaking: Ondo APC Guber Candidate Kidnapped In Abuja

 

 

PM News reports have it that Victor Olabintan, a gubernatorial aspirant in Ondo state, has been kidnapped by fake soldiers.

The former speaker of Ondo state House of Assembly, was reportedly kidnapped in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital on his way from Akure, the Ondo state capital.

According to Gboyega Ajayi, the secretary of the politician’s campaign organisation, Olabintan was kidnapped at Kwali after he was flagged down at a military checkpoint by fake soldiers who turned out to be kidnappers.

Police personnel are currently on the trail of the aspirant who declared his intention to run in the state about 48hours ago.

naij.com

 

Ex Banker, Roch Marc Christian Kabore sworn in as Burkina Faso president

 

A former banker has been sworn in as Burkina Faso's president in front of thousands of cheering supporters.

 

Roch Marc Christian Kabore won elections last month, the first since long-serving ruler Blaise Compaore was ousted in a popular uprising last year.

Mr Kabore was an ally of Mr Compaore before the two fell out.

About 20 soldiers were detained on Monday for plotting to free the jailed leader of September's short-lived coup, Gen Gilbert Diendere, officials said.

Several African heads of state attended Mr Kabore's inauguration in the capital, Ouagadougou.

Mr Kabore said he would defend the constitution and "ensure justice for all".

He once served as Mr Compoare's prime minister, but gained popularity after opposing his bid to change the constitution and run for a third term.

Mr Compaore fled to Ivory Coast after being forced out of office.

Gen Diendere, a powerful ally of the ousted president, staged a coup in September.

He was forced to return power to a transitional government seven days later, after the army sided with protesters opposed to the coup.

Gen Diendere was charged in October with 11 crimes, including threatening state security. He denies the charges.

The 20 soldiers accused of trying to free him were arrested during a raid in Ouagadougou, outgoing Prime Minister Isaac Zida said.

The group had also planned to free other coup plotters, and re-establish the elite presidential guard which organised the short-lived coup, he added.

At least 57 people, including about 20 presidential guard officers, are being held over the coup.
Both Gen Diendere and Mr Compaore have also been charged with the 1987 murder of former President Thomas Sankara.

They have denied any wrongdoing.

Connect with International Business Owners and Build Your Business Free

BBC Africa