INEC gets warning ahead of March 9 elections

Ebun-olu Adegboruwa, a lawyer practitioner, has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to let Nigerians down during the next scheduled election.

He said the commission has a big burden to tame the antics of politicians and their desperation, especially the dominant political parties.

“The crude quest for power across the divide is simply sickening”, Adegboruwa said in a statement on Wednesday.

“It may be too early to comment on the February 23 elections in view of the pending Governorship and House of Assembly elections slated for March 9. Nonetheless, INEC must rise to the occasion to leverage on this past exercise to improve on the coming ones.

“An appeal must also be made to all concerned to embrace due process of law in all actions connected with the elections. INEC having declared winners for the elections, no matter the merits or otherwise, the options available should be exhausted through due process of law. We have no choice than that noble option, in the interest of our dear nation.

“If we can conduct the March 9 elections without shedding the blood of any Nigerian, then we would have fulfilled the lofty expectations of our heroes past.

“In this regard, INEC must demonstrate apparent transparency and impartiality, in the entire electoral process, so as to command and sustain the confidence of voters and to ensure that their votes count, in the determination of the winner or loser, eventually.

“That is when INEC can truly earn its name “INDEPENDENT”. There must be no room for any person, candidate or political party, to influence the outcome of any election, one way or the other.”

- DAILY POST

Another 4yrs of empty promises !!! No section of Nigeria will be left behind, Buhari promises in acceptance speech

President Muhammadu Buhari says his second administration will be fair to everyone and ensure no section or group is left behind in its programmes.

Buhari said this on Wednesday while delivering his acceptance speech at the All Progressives Congress (APC) headquarters in Abuja.

The president was re-elected after defeating his main challenger Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with over three million votes.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said he polled 15,191,847 votes while Atiku got 11,262,978 votes.

Buhari thanked all those who voted for him, describing the victory as “another victory for Nigerian democracy”.

“I will like to make a special appeal to my supporters not to gloat or humiliate the opposition. Victory is enough reward for your efforts,” Buhari said.

“The new Administration will intensify its efforts in security, restructuring the economy and fighting corruption. We have laid down the foundation and we are committed to seeing matters to the end. We will strive to strengthen our unity and inclusiveness so that no section or group will feel left behind or left out.”

Below is the full transcript of the president’s speech.

My Dear Nigerians,

First and foremost, I give thanks to Almighty God Who has spared our lives to witness another victory for Nigerian democracy and victory for our party APC.

I thank the millions of Nigerians who voted to re-elect me as your president for the next four years. I am deeply humbled and profoundly grateful to you for judging me worthy of continuing to serve you and for your peaceful conduct.

In particular, I would like to thank Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for his masterful leadership as Co-chair of the Campaign Council. I would like to also thank the Party Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, the Director General of the Campaign Council Rotimi Amaechi, all members of the Presidential Campaign Council and other various Support Groups.

My grateful thanks to all those who contributed to the logistical expenses of the campaign in such a vast country like Nigeria.

I also thank the millions of volunteers, self-appointed overseers, canvassers, agents, escorts and sentries who sacrificed so much of their time and resources to ensure the success of these elections. I do not have the words adequate to thank them.

Although Saturday’s elections were relatively peaceful, troublemakers in a handful of states attempted to disrupt an otherwise orderly process. Security agencies will bring to justice all those arrested in the process.

I am very sad at the grievous loss of lives during these elections. Security agencies will step up their efforts to protect voters in the forthcoming State elections.

I would like to commend our security agencies, as severely overstretched as they are, for handling the difficult task of securing the country during the election period.

I will like to make a special appeal to my supporters not to gloat or humiliate the opposition. Victory is enough reward for your efforts.

We give thanks also to our Domestic and International observers for contributing to the success of our elections and for their interest in our country and our developing democracy.

The new Administration will intensify its efforts in Security, Restructuring the Economy and Fighting Corruption. We have laid down the foundation and we are committed to seeing matters to the end. We will strive to strengthen our unity and inclusiveness so that no section or group will feel left behind or left out.

I thank you for your support and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

- THECABLE

Presidential poll result: NSE loses N85bn in six hours

The market capitalisation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) shed N85 billion in what traders have attributed to profit taking in reaction to the results of the presidential poll.

The market, which opened at N12.194 trillion, closed at N12.109 trillion after six hours of trading on Tuesday.

Also, the All-Share Index lost 226.30 points or 0.69% to close at 32,473.82, compared with 32,700.12 recorded on Monday.

Ambrose Omordion, the chief operating officer, InvestData Limited, attributed the market pullback to profit taking embarked by some smart investors.

Omordion said that the smart money that pushed the market up with expectations that the opposition would win the presidential election were leaving the market.

He said that some investors who entered the market in anticipation that the opposition’s economic policy would support market growth were taking profit ahead of earnings season.

“This pullback may not last as a result of 2019 dividend declaration season as dividend yield of financial service stocks are high and attractive due to low prices,” Omordion stated.

Nestle dominated the losers’ chart, dropping by N70 to close at N1,510 per share.

Union Bank of Nigeria trailed with a loss of 60k to close at N6.65, while FBN Holdings was down by 30k to close at N8 per share.

Conversely, Guinness led the gainers’ table during the day, gaining N2.05 to close at N67.15 per share.

Dangote Flour followed with a gain of N1 to close at N12.05, while Oando gained 65k to close at N7.25 per share.

Air Services added 60k to close at N7.05, while Africa Prudential increased by 44k to close at N4.84 per share.

A breakdown of the activity chart indicates that the volume of shares traded rose by 46.57 per cent with an exchange of 322.18 million shares worth N2.43 billion in 4,066 deals.

This was against 219.81 million shares valued at N5.55 billion transacted in 2,999 deals on Monday.

- THECABLE

Solskjaer reveals why Liverpool won’t win title

Manchester United interim manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has told his players that Liverpool are not good enough to win the Premier League title this season.

According to the UK Sun, Solskjaer ripped into Jurgen Klopp’s men, following their 0-0 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday.

United held off the league leaders despite suffering many injuries, leaving Solskjaer unimpressed.

“Ole was very blunt about Liverpool with his players and clearly believes they do not have enough to beat City to the title.

“He thinks they are very one dimensional, lacking creativity. He certainly has faith that his team are a better outfit,” a source said.

The goalless draw saw Liverpool return to the top of the league, one point ahead of Manchester City with 11 fixtures left.

The Reds have not won the league title since 1990.

- DAILY POST

Another 4yrs of poverty development !! Ex-KOWA presidential candidate tasks Buhari on poverty alleviation

Dr Sina Fagbenro-Byron, the ex-presidential candidate of KOWA Party, on Wednesday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to focus more on poverty alleviation and development of critical infrastructure in his second term.

Fagbenro-Byron made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, while reacting to the outcome of the Feb. 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, early on Wednesday, declared Buhari as winner of the presidential election held nationwide.

Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 15,191, 847 votes to defeat his closest rival, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 11,255, 978.

Buhari won in 19 states, while Abubakar won in 17 states.

According to Fagbenro-Byron, Nigerians have spoken and whatever the validated majority decision is, it must be respected by the rest of the candidates.

“I would however caution us to quickly allow the politics to pass so that real development can commence in earnest.

“We have some serious work to do and I hope that President Buhari who has been declared winner will realise this and get to work as soon as possible, ” he said.

Fagbenro-Byron commended other presidential candidates and his party supporters for their efforts and doggedness.

He said “my dear friends and compatriots, the Presidential elections have come and gone and I would like to sincerely thank all of those that supported my effort and especially those who actually voted for Kowa party and myself.

“Without prejudice to winner, I would like to congratulate all participants for our efforts, hard work and patriotism.

“Permit me however, to mention my colleagues and their parties whose performances at the very first attempt at national elections deserve commendation.

” I commend Kingsley Mohgalu of YPP, Fela Durotoye of ANN and Omoyele Sowore for the efforts and doggedness. Well done gentlemen.”

The former presidential candidate said KOWA Party tried its best to win the presidential election, noting however that “those who feel disappointed at our performance, (less than expected) of our party and my candidacy, I would say we did put in our very best.

“We made our offer to Nigerians, unfortunately too many Nigerians for various reasons felt otherwise.

“Human beings can only do their best, which may or may not be good enough or acceptable enough, it is however, God that has the final say.

“I am eternally grateful to God, my party and Nigerians for the opportunity given to me to be a participant in this presidential race.

“I promise to remain disposed to serving you all whenever the opportunity arises again as a development professional and patriot,” he said.

Fagbenro-Byron urged Nigerians to work and pray toward peaceful governorship and state house of assembly elections on March 9.

- PM NEWS