The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party are planning to take their protests against the conduct of the February 23 presidential and National Assembly elections to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, our correspondent has gathered in Abuja.

The protest, it was learnt, would include the conduct of some officials of the commission and the involvement of the military in the elections.

Already, officials of the party had started mobilising for the action, which will hold in Abuja anytime soon.

Details shortly…

Despite a court ruling on Monday, which nullified the Peoples Democratic Party primary elections in Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir- Yusuf, insisted that he remains the party’s governorship candidate in Saturday’s election.

A Federal High Court in Kano on Monday nullified the governorship candidacy of the Peoples Democratic Party, citing the failure of the party to conduct its primary.

The Court ruled that the purported nomination of Abba Kabir-Yusuf, as the governorship candidate should be revalidated by the conduct of a fresh primary election.

However, when The PUNCH contacted him, Yusuf said he was not a party to the suit, filed by Alhaji Ibrahim Ali-Amin, rather the case was against the PDP, adding that the party has taken the necessary action.

”Abba Kabir-Yusuf remains the candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party for the coming election on Saturday the 9th. For us, the case is between Alhaji Ibrahim Ali-Amin, who was one of the aspirants that contested 2019 primary of the People Democratic Party.

”The plaintiff did not any way accuse the governorship candidate. He is accusing his party and the party would take the necessary action. So, as far as we are concerned, Abba Kabir Yusuf is neither mentioned in the case nor in the ruling, so, it is an internal issue and the party is taking the necessary action.”

Yusuf went on to reveal that his campaign activities would continue until Thursday night, urging his supporters to remain calm and continue with the electioneering to ensure his victory, come the 9th of March.

Meanwhile, in a dramatic move, the factional leader of the PDP in Kano State, Senate Mas’ud El-Jibril Doguwa, on Monday, said he and his loyalists dumped the party because it has lost popular appeal, among the people.

Court ruling: I’m Kano PDP gov candidate, Abba Yusuf insists

President Muhammadu Buhari is in a closed-door meeting with Service Chiefs and other heads of security agencies at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The agenda of the meeting which started at about 11am is not made public.

Bashir Ahmad, Buhari’s aide made this known in a post on Twitter, “President @MBuhari receives security briefing from Defence Minister, service chiefs and other heads of the security agencies at the State House, Abuja. Zamfara issues at the top of the agenda. #SecuringNigeria”

Speculations however are that discussions during the meeting may centre on the current security situation in the country and how to ensure adequate security during this Saturday’s governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections across the federation.

Service Chiefs; Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonishakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete IIbas and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, were all in attendance.

Others in attendance are the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major Gen. Babagana Monguno; Director of National Intelligence Agency (NIA); the Director General, Department of Security Service (DSS) and Acting Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Mohammed Adamu.

The Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dangazzau and the Minister of Defence, Brigadier Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali were also in attendance.

Buhari meets with Security Chiefs in Aso Rock

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus, has said elections may not hold in 2023.

Secondus speaking at the opening session of the caucus meeting of the party in Abuja said that there might be no election in 2023 if the military continued to participate in elections as they did in the just concluded presidential and National Assembly elections.

Secondus lamenting the interference of the military in the 2019 presidential election, quizzed if such will repeat on March 9th during the governorship elections across the country.

He further urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that the Saturday’s elections were free, fair, transparent and credible.

He said, “On February 23, 2019, how will history judge you (Buhari)? How will the next generation judge you? In fact, there may not be election in 2023, it may just be an announcement because if you have the military on your side, you do not need the people, you do not need to campaign. All you need to do is to put the figure on election day and announce. Is that what is going to happen again on March 9?”

Why elections may not be conducted in 2023 – Secondus

All Progressives Congress (APC) may not field a governorship candidate in Enugu state for the February 9 gubernatorial election.

A final list for the March 9 governorship election published on the website of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showed that Enugu APC had no candidate.

The list signed by Rose Oriaran-Anthony, Secretary, INEC, said it was in obedience to court order as the party was yet to submit a fresh name after Ayogu was sacked.

In the 330-page final list of candidates, Enugu occupied pages 100 to 111, with the APC having candidate.

A Federal High Court in Abuja, had allegedly sacked Senator Ayogu Eze as the governorship candidate of the party in Enugu State.

In the judgment delivered by Hon. Justice I. Ekwo of the Federal High Court 5, the court asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognize Barr. George Ogara as the candidate.

However the APC National Working Committee (NWC), which earlier declared that Ayogu was still the candidate known to the party was yet to obey the order of the court, which had asked that Ogara’s name be submitted to the INEC.

The Ayogu Eze campaign organization, however could not offer any reaction to the development.

The spokesman of the campaign organization, Okey Ezerigwe told The Nation that Ayogu Eze was in Abuja to tackle the issue, assuring that “he is making some progress and is due back to Enugu on Tuesday.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/inec-omits-apc-guber-candidate-in-enugu/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released Babalele Abdullahi, son-in-law of Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate.

Abdullahi, who is the finance director of some companies owned by Atiku was arrested on Saturday and released after the anti-graft agency invited Tanimu Turaki, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) leading the defense team of Atiku, to sign a bail document for him.

But the commission detained Turaki, who is also deputy director-general of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation.

Speaking with the Cable, Paul Ibe, Abubakar’s spokesman said Turaki is the lawyer coordinating the suit to challenge the outcome of the presidential election.

He added that the suit had been finalised and is supposed to be filed in court on Tuesday.

“He is the one coordinating the team of lawyers, so you should just use your tongue to count your teeth to understand why he has been arrested.

“Why is President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC scared of a legal challenge? Why are they mobilising all sorts of people and group to beg His Excellency (Atiku) not to go to court?,” he asked.

Abdullahi, who has been in EFCC custody over allegations of money laundering,was subsequently freed by the commission after Turaki’s arrest

The opposition party has in a statement on Monday said Turaki’s arrest is “part of the grand plot by the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to use state apparatus of power to intimidate PDP leaders.”

https://politicsngr.com/efcc-finally-releases-atikus-son-in-law/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Bayelsa State has appealed to those in possession of its 63 missing card readers to return them before Saturday’s elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that INEC on Monday announced that 63 smart card readers used during the Feb. 23 President and National Assembly elections were missing.

Mr Wilfred Ifogah, Head of Department, INEC Voter Education and Publicity, told NAN on Tuesday that the affected local government areas where the cards were used include: Brass, Sagbama, Southern-Ijaw, Nembe and Yenagoa.

Ifogah said that in Brass Ward 6, Unit 19, one smart card reader was missing, 24 missed in Nembe Wards 1, 4, 12 and 13, while 24 missed in Southern-Ijaw, Wards 1, 2, 3, 12 and 15.

“Eight card readers are missing in Sagbama Ward 1, Unit 5 and Ward 6 Unit 3, while in Yenagoa six are also missing in Wards 1, 11 and 16.

“Yes, about 63 card readers are missing. The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Monday Udom, has issued a statement that those involved should return them to INEC on or before Wednesday,’’ he said.

Ifogah said that the commissioner has assured that those in possession of the card readers would not be victimised if they returned the items.

March 9th election: INEC begs for return of 63 missing card readers in Bayelsa

The Kano State government says it has commenced the disbursement of N1.5 billion 2018 GPE/NIPEP girl-child scholarship to 34,698 pupils in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the amount was part of the World Bank grant being disbursed under the Global Partnership for Education/Nigerian Partnership for Education Project.

Flagging-off the disbursement of the grant at a ceremony in Kano on Monday, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje explained that the intervention was aimed at improving access to quality basic education by the girl-child.‎

governor said that the state government would augment GPE/NIPEP efforts by increasing access to quality education in the state.‎

‎Mr Ganduje said that no fewer than 34,698 primary three and four female pupils in 12 local government areas in the state would each get N45,000 under the girl-child scholarship grant.

‎The governor said that the state government had recruited 1,500 female Nigerian Certificate of Education, NCE, teachers in the state to enhance teaching and learning in public schools across the state.

He added that the state government had also rehabilitated 14 primary schools in the state‎.

“We also spent N2 billion on the procurement of instructional materials which were distributed to the schools,” he added.

Mr Ganduje called on the parents and guardians of the children to ‎make judicious use of the grant to achieve the desired objective.

The governor thanked the World Bank and other development partners for the support.

‎Aisha Jafar, the state commissioner for Education said that the state government would monitor the implementation of the scholarship.

She said that no fewer than 6, 944 pupils7 benefited in 2016 while 45, 287 female pupils benefited in 2017 and 34, 698 pupils are expected to benefit in 2018.

‎The commissioner said that the ministry had been implementing reforms in the education sector in order to improve quality of education in the state.‎

A beneficiary, eight-year-old Samira Ali, said that the support would enable her to remain in school and concentrate well.

https://dailynigerian.com/ganduje-disburses-n1-5bn-for-girl-child-scholarship-scheme-34698-pupils-to-benefit/