BREAKING NEWS: INEC POSTPONES ELECTIONS IN LAGOS, RIVERS, ANAMBRA , OTHERS

INEC boss, Prof Mahmood Yakubu

The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has announced the postponement of the elections in some parts of Lagos, Rivers and Anambra States following disruption of the exercise due to violence.

Specifically, INEC said elections in Akuku Toru and Bonny local government areas of Rivers state as well as some parts of Anambra and Lagos would be conducted on a later date, saying mostly affected is the contest for the federal legislative seats.

“The commission has received reports of violence and ballot box snatching in some areas leading to the disruption of the process. We have asked the Resident Electoral Commissioners RECs and the Electoral Officials on ground to submit their firsthand reports in relation to some of these incidents.

We are still receiving reports relating to incidences in some states of the federation but we have received reports relating to incidences in Akuku Toru and Bonny local government areas of Rivers state. So long as the commission could not deploy in these areas, the implication is that voting did not take place in those areas and the commission will hold consultations with the relevant authorities and the Resident Electoral Commissioners RECs in relation to these areas and will announce the date when polls will take place in some of these areas, especially in relation to the areas as they affect the House of Representatives and Senatorial elections.

“It is not only in Rivers that we had reports of burning of electoral materials. We have such reports from Anambra and Lagos states as well as some other places”, he added.

The commission also vowed to prosecute any of its staff who failed to use the Smart Card Readers for purposes of accreditation, saying where the card readers do not work up till 6pm on Election Day, the standard procedure is to shift the exercise to the next day.

According to Okoye, no staff of the commission has discretionary powers on the use or otherwise of the card readers as its usage is not a subject of negotiation.

“With regards to the challenges associated with Smart Card Readers in some polling units, most of these challenges were resolved and were resolved on time. However, it is to be noted that in the Regulations and the Guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC it was made very clear that the use of the smart card readers is mandatory.

Therefore, no staff of the Commission or any ad hoc staff of the Commission is permitted in whatever guise to deliberately refuse to use the smart card readers for the conduct of elections.

According to the Guidelines and Regulations of the Commission, it is negligent conduct for any ad hoc staff to refuse to use the smart card readers for purposes of accreditation and any of them that refused to use the smart card readers or deliberately violated the use of the smart card readers will be subject to prosecution in accordance with the Guidelines and Regulations of the Commission and the Electoral Act”, he declared.

PRESIDENT BUHARI WINS IN OBASANJO'S POLLING UNIT

President Muhammadu Buhari emerged victorious at the polling unit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in the presidential election held on Saturday. At Obasanjo’s polling unit in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 87 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came far behind with just 18 votes. Obasanjo had supported Buhari in the 2015 election, but chose to pitch his tent with Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the PDP for the 2019 presidential election

COURT OF APPEAL CLEARS ZAMFARA APC CANDIDATES FOR 2019 ELECTIONS

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has cleared the All Progressives Congress, APC, to participate in the general elections starting on Saturday.

The court set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which affirmed the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to bar the ruling party from fielding candidates in the State.

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had in a judgment delivered on 25th January 2019, held that INEC was right to have delisted names of candidates.

The court ruled that the APC failed to conduct a valid primary within the period scheduled by the electoral body.

However, a 3-man panel of the Appeal Court, led by Justice Abdul Aboki, held that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to have entertained the suit, adding that it was an abuse of court process.

The judge further stated that the suit at the Federal High Court was filed out of time.

He said that the Electoral Act provides for 14 days to institute a suit after the cause of action had arisen.

The Appeal Court noted that the suit was filed 15 days after, and therefore rendered the action incompetent.

UN WOMEN INTERNSHIP & EXPERIENCED JOB RECRUITMENT (8 POSITIONS)

UN Women –  Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Job Description

UN Women - In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. In doing so, UN Member States took an historic step in accelerating the Organization's goals on gender equality and the empowerment of women.

The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system, which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

UN Women is recruiting to fill the positions below:

1. Programme Analyst, Women, Peace and Security

Location: Abuja

Application Closing Date: February 27, 2019

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2. Programme Specialist, WPS

Location: Abuja

Application Closing Date: February 27, 2019

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3. Spotlight Initiative Intern

Location: Abuja

Application Closing Date: March 4, 2019

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4. Women’s Economic Empowerment Intern

Location: Abuja

Application Closing Date: March 4, 2019

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5. Women’s Peace and Security/Humanitarian Intern

Location: Abuja

Application Closing Date: March 4, 2019

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6. Communications Intern

Location: Abuja

Application Closing Date: March 4, 2019

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7. Operations Intern

Location: Abuja

Application Closing Date: March 4, 2019

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8. HeForShe Programme Intern

Location: Abuja

Application Closing Date: March 4, 2019

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http://www.ng.undp.org/content/nigeria/en/home/jobs.html

BREAKING: FG DECLARES FRIDAY WORK-FREE DAY FOR NIGERIAN WORKERS

Interior Minister, Abdulrahman Dambazau.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared Friday, 22 February, 2019 as a work-free day to allow Nigerians prepare for the Presidential and National Assembly elections, slated for Saturday, 23 February, 2019.

The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau disclosed this in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry, Barr Georgina Ehuriah on Wednesday night.

“Federal Government declares Friday 22, February 2019 as work-free day. Those providing essential duties and bankers are excluded.

“The work-free day is to enable citizens return to their poling units for the reschedule Presidential & National Assembly elections.

"PUNISHMENT FOR SNATCHING OF BALLOT BOXES IN THE US IS DEATH" - PRINCE TONY MOMOH

Prince Tony Momoh

Prince Tony Momoh, a former Minister of Information on Wednesday said President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to security agencies to deal ruthlessly with ballot box snatchers ahead of the 2019 general election is in order.

Speaking in a chat with correspondents, Momoh, one of the national leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) said Nigerians do not expect the President to give national honours to those who committed crime by declaring war on due process and free, fair elections.

He said “What is snatching of ballot box? Snatching a box is a crime. It is declaration of war on due process and free, fair election. Anyone who declares war on due process is committing treason against due process.

“Those condemning Buhari, are they suggesting that anybody who snatches a box on Election Day should be given a national honour?

“I don’t know what Nigerians are talking about. In America, if you attempt to subvert due process, you can pay for it with your life.”

POLICE ARREST ANAMBRA WOMAN AND DAUGHTER FOR STEALING, SELLING BABY

A mother and her daughter have been nabbed by the police in Anambra State for allegedly stealing a four-year-old girl.

It was learnt that the woman, whose name was given as Ngozi Ede, and her daughter, Kosiso, arranged and sold the baby for N250,000.

The incident happened at Awada, Obosi, in the Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the story to Southern City News.

Mohammed said the baby had been recovered and handed over to her mother in good condition.

He stated, “Police detectives attached to the Awada Division arrested one Ngozi Ede, female, aged 42 years, and her daughter, Kosiso Ede, female, aged 17 years of No. 4 Ukaegbu Junction, Awada.

“The suspects conspired and stolen one Mesoma Ikoko, aged four years, from the custody of her mother, one Nneka Ikoko, of the Mammy Market, Army Barracks, Onitsha.

“Preliminary investigation further led to the arrest of one Ifeoma Okeke, aged 45 years, who collected the child from the above mentioned suspects and handed her over to one Ifeoma Okonkwo of Eke Nkpor.

“The stolen baby has been recovered in good condition and handed over to her mother. Consequently, the sum of N250,000 suspected to be part of the proceeds of the illicit transaction was also recovered as exhibit.”

The PPRO added that the case was under investigation after which the suspects would be charged to court

PDP RAISES ALARM OVER MASSIVE DEPLOYMENT OF SOLDIERS TO RIVERS COMMUNITY

Secondus

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council, has raised alarm over alleged massive deployment of soldiers to Abonnema, headquarters of Akuku-Toru local government area of Rivers State, ahead of the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly elections.

It accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to disrupt the February 23, 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections and the March 9, 2019 Governorship and State Assembly elections in no fewer than nine local government areas in Rivers State.

Chairman of the PDP Campaign Council in the state, Chief Ferdinand Anabraba, who spoke at a press conference in Port Harcourt yesterday, alleged that the APC is behind the deployment of the soldiers, which it intends using to wreak havoc in communities in the state during the rescheduled general elections.

Anabraba said: “This press conference was called to let Nigerians and international observers know of the evil plans of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in conjunction with security agencies to disrupt and destabilize the election. The desperation of APC knows no bounds; they are ready to do anything to scatter all the elections in the state.

“To tell you the level of their desperation, just this morning, I got information that the Nigerian Army had forcefully occupied my property in Abonnema and brought in soldiers who stationed there to cause havoc and crisis in Abonnema and Akuku-Toru local government area.

Speaking at the press conference, Director-General of the PDP Campaign Council, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, listed Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City, Khana, Gokana, Tai, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Etche, Abua/Odual and Akuku-Toru local government areas as the areas the APC allegedly want to frustrate the elections all cost.

“These actions by the APC, INEC, the security agencies and the Federal Government clearly point to the undisputable conclusion that the plot by the APC to scuttle the general elections in Rivers State is real and must be taken seriously and prevented by all well-meaning Nigerians and the international community before it degenerates into major crisis.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army says it has uncovered a plot by some political actors within the command of its 6 Division to arm miscreants who will dress like military personnel so as to wreak havoc in the forthcoming general elections.

The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Division, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, said the Nigerian Army and its sister agencies are making efforts to track down the sources of the weapons and the agents involved.

The statement reads in part: “Credible intelligence available to Headquarters 6 Division Nigerian Army (NA) has uncovered an unholy plan by some political actors within its Area of Responsibility (AOR) to arm and sponsor miscreants in addition to using military-like fatigue dress for deception to cause pandemonium at polling stations for their political gain.

“To this end, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division and Land Component Commander (LCC) OPDS, Maj Gen Jamil Sarham wishes to reassure the good people of Niger Delta of providing adequate security in conjunction with other security agencies before, during and after the 2019 General Elections.

ECOBANK NIGERIA ENTRY-LEVEL RECRUITMENT 2019

Ecobank Nigeria is a key affiliate of Africa’s leading independent Banking Group Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), with footprint in 36 countries across Africa. The Group also has licensed operations in Paris, and representative offices in Dubai, Beijing and London. The Ecobank Group is a full-serviced pan-African bank providing retail, corporate, investment, transaction banking services and products to governments, financial institutions, multinationals, international organizations, SMEs and individuals.

Ecobank Nigeria is calling for applications for the below position:

Title: Ecobank Entry-level Recruitment 2019

Location: Nigeria

Introduction

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), a public limited liability company, was established as a bank holding company in 1985 under a private sector initiative spearheaded by the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and Industry with the support of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). 

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Qualifications/Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree with Minimum 2.2

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Application Closing Date: March 4, 2019

SNATCH BALLOT BOXES AND LOSE YOUR LIFE — PRESIDENT BUHARI

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has warned potential troublemakers to stay away from ballot boxes on February 23.

At an emergency caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja on Monday morning, the president warned that anyone who foments trouble, especially by carrying ballot boxes, would be doing so at the “expense of his life”.

Mr Buhari made the statement after reprimanding the Independent National Electoral Commission for postponing the general elections from February 16 to 23.

The president repeated that he gave INEC all necessary support to ensure a smooth exercise, but the electoral body still displayed “incompetence” and failed to let Nigerians go to the poll as originally scheduled.

Electoral chiefs cited widespread logistics mishaps for the “painful” postponement, and promised everything would be in order before the new date of February 23 for presidential and federal parliamentary elections. Statewide elections would now hold on March 9, from the initial March 2.

Mr Buhari also threatened consequences against INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu, agreeing with the submission of party chairman Adams Oshiomhole that the electoral chief had compromised and was in purported collusion with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

The national caucus meeting, which was initially televised for about 30 minutes, was cut off live broadcast after the president’s remarks.

Journalists were also asked to leave the venue to allow for a closed-door session.