Nigeria Content Online

INEC to distribute materials with helicopters in Borno

Tukur Sa’ad, the
Borno Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), said on Sunday that the
commission would use Air Force helicopters to distribute election
materials to difficult terrains in the state.

The News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the commission had on Saturday shifted the
National Assembly election to Monday, due to the late arrival of some
essential materials.

But Mr. Sa’ad told NAN in Maiduguri that the commission had taken all the necessary measures to correct the lapses.

“I am happy to hear
that the Nigeria Air Force has made available some of its helicopters
to carry sensitive voting materials for the elections. I believe that
the gesture has made our job simpler by making sure that the needed
materials got to their destination in time,” he said.

He said the postponement was in good faith, adding that the outcome would have been disastrous if the election had been held.

Meanwhile, the
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged Nigerians not to blame the INEC
chairman, Attahiru Jega, alone for the postponement of the National
Assembly elections to April 4.

The group said this
was because INEC had maintained its independence through the new
process and called on Nigerians not to “slay the goose that lays the
golden eggs.”

Mr. Jega had, on
April 2, postponed the NASS election on the grounds of non-availability
of sufficient logistics, including ballot papers and result sheets
nationwide.

Is-haq Akintola,
the director of MURIC, in a statement signed in Sunday in Abuja said
the group “laments over this national tragedy, but we salute the INEC
chairman, Attahiru Jega, for having the courage to face the truth early
in the exercise. The non-arrival of materials can hardly be blamed on
him personally.”

He called on the Federal Government and Nigerians to give Mr. Jega the privilege of concluding the assignment.

‘Era of voting based on religion and sentiments is over’

Ibrahim Gobir,
senatorial candidate of the PDP for Sokoto east senatorial district,
says Nigerians will massively vote for President Goodluck Jonathan in
the presidential election, declaring that the era of voting based on
religion and sentiments is over.

Mr. Gobir told the
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Sokoto that the “provision
of petroleum products, drilling of River Niger, establishment of new
universities, and expansion of railway lines were some of the
achievements of the government. “

According to him,
the era of voting for a presidential candidate based on religion and
sentiments is now over, hence the need for Nigerians to vote for
President Jonathan, for transformation and development.

“We are aware of
what Jonathan can do based on his antecedents and we strongly believe
he will take Nigeria out of the woods, if given the mandate,” the
senatorial candidate said, and called on the people to protect their
votes after voting “massively for all the PDP candidates seeking
elective positions across the country.”

He also called on
PDP supporters to cooperate with INEC officials in their resolve to
ensure smooth implementation of the electoral process.

Kebbi INEC takes measures to eliminate obstacles

The INEC in Kebbi
State says it has adopted measures to eliminate obstacles during the
conduct of the National Assembly election re-scheduled for Saturday,
April 16.

The INEC Resident
Electoral Commissioner, Kabir Ahmed, told journalists in Birnin Kebbi
on Saturday that additional electoral officers would be deployed to
polling units, especially those with a large number of voters.

Mr. Ahmed said that the commission would also provide additional vehicles for timely distribution of election materials.

“We realised that
45 per cent of polling units commenced election processes on time. We
will also ensure that experienced officers are posted to the polling
units on Saturday. The deployment of more policemen and security
operatives to units with high population of voters will be effected,
and we appeal to voters to exhibit respect for law and order,” he said.

He said that the commission would rectify the problem of some voters whose names were not found in the voter register.

Mr. Ahmed urged the
media to disseminate information on the measures being taken by INEC to
address the challenges that compelled the suspension of the National
Assembly election.

Nigerians in UK react to postponement

Nigerians resident
in the UK have expressed optimism that the general elections in Nigeria
will be free and fair, in spite of the postponement of the National
Assembly election on Saturday.

Boma Douglas, chairman, UK chapter of Reality 2011 Worldwide, a political support group, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in London, on Sunday, that INEC would conduct credible elections.

“I believe INEC
wants to deliver; so Nigerians should support them toward making sure
that the elections are free and fair. The elections will be free and
fair because I have confidence in Attahiru Jega,” Mr. Douglas said.

He also expressed optimism that President Goodluck Jonathan and his vice, Namadi Sambo, would emerge victorious.

“The presence of
PDP has been felt and the duo have explained to the electorate what
their intentions are in terms of governance; so I have no doubt that
Jonathan and Sambo will come out victorious,” Mr. Douglas said.

Also speaking,
Bimbo Folayan, chairman of the Central Association of Nigerians in the
UK (CANUK), said the decision to postpone the NASS election was timely
and in order.

He said if the electoral body deemed it fit to tell Nigerians there was problem, the electorate should accept it in good faith.

“I will rather
prefer INEC to err on the side of caution than to go ahead for the
process to turn violent. Mr President made it clear that votes will
count this time around, and if INEC realised that votes were not going
to count, then the postponement was timely,” Mr. Folayan said.

He appealed to
Nigerians not to regard the elections as Mr. Jega’s affair alone,
adding that they should support him to ensure that there was a peaceful
election.

The chairman of the
Association of Nigerian Academics in the UK (ANAUK), Adedamola Aminu,
expressed disappointment over the postponement.

“INEC should have a plan B; I am really disappointed at the news
because of the time and money devoted to this election. I am surprised
that INEC did not put plan B in place to forestall this embarrassing
situation. It is very disappointing, knowing our position in Africa and
the expectations from the international community,” Mr. Aminu said.