By Maureen Ojinaka

The police command in Enugu State has arrested three alleged highway robbers operating along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Road.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, SP Ebere Amaraizu, said in a statement issued on Sunday that the suspects were arrested on Feb. 15 at about 8p.m.

Amaraizu said the feat was achieved by police operatives of Mbanabo Division who acted on intelligence information.

He noted that the suspects specialised in planting sharp objects on Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, thereby causing vehicles tyres to be punctured, forcing affected vehicles to stop and rob passengers.

He said the suspects gave their names as Henry Odogwu of 36 Amechi Road, Awkunanaw; Clement Udo of 28 Odudukoko Street Gariki and Chinweuba Okoye of 17 Chikaogbe Street, Maryland Enugu State.

According to him, the suspects were nabbed on their way to carry out their activities where they were rounded up by the operatives.

In their separate reactions, suspects had maintained that it was their friend identified as one Ifeanyi from Agbogugu in Awgu Local Government Area of the state who lured them into the illicit business.

The sharp chisel-like objects are usually placed on the road along Ogbaku axis of Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway at night.

They said their role was always to come out from the bush to rob occupants of vehicle which tyres had picked sharp chisel objects placed on the road by the said Ifeanyi, he said.

Amaraizu said the suspects were regretting their actions and advised youths to know the kind of persons they keep as friends.

He said this would allow them to avoid being misled into getting involved in criminality.

He said that the suspects had been helping police operatives in their investigation, while manhunt on other members of the gang had been intensified. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Japans Prime Minister Shinzo Abe nominated US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize last autumn after being requested to do so by Washington, a Japanese newspaper reported Sunday.

Washington sounded out Tokyo over the possibility of nominating Trump for the prize after his landmark summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un in June last year, an unnamed Japanese government source told the

The report came after Trumps claim on Friday that Abe had nominated him for the prize.

Trump said Abe had sent him a copy of a five-page nomination letter delivered to the Nobel Peace Prize committee in which the Japanese leader praised his efforts in defusing tensions with Pyongyang.

He said I have nominated you respectfully on behalf of Japan. I am asking them to give you the Nobel Peace Prize. I said thank you, Trump told reporters at the White House.

Many other people feel that way, too. Ill probably never get it. Thats okay.

Read more at https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/195469-190217-japan-pm-nominated-trump-for-nobel-after-us-request-report

Source: NAN

Support

By Habibu Harisu

Sokoto State Chapter of the Buhari Support Organisation (BSO) has refuted the rumour being circulated in social media platforms about last minute shift of its political support, describing the message as fake news.

Malam Aminu Farouk, Director Media and Publicity BSO (Sokoto chapter), in a signed statement issued to Journalists on Sunday, said: It is false, baseless and malicious.

It is the handwork of detractors and their cronies who have been perpetrating lies just to deceive the public.

BSO members are firmly in Support of President Muhammadu Buhari whose leadership credentials put him very high among leaders, Farouk stated.

Reacting to the postponement of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), he emphasised that the State chapter aligned with the BSO headquarters in the appeal to Nigerians to remain calm.

The BSO calls on all its members, affiliate organisations and members of the public to remain calm and steadfast despite the setback and to prepare to cast their votes on the rescheduled election dates.

The INEC had postponed the Presidential and National Assembly elections to Feb. 23, and the Governorship and State Assembly elections to March 9, stating logistic challenges and sabotage as reasons.

Source: NAN

Election

By Funmilayo Okunade

Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, has expressed confidence that the postponement of the general elections by one week will not stop the All Progressives Congress (APC) from winning the polls.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, Egbeyemi made the remark during a meeting with APC members at his residence in Ado-Ekiti on the heels of the postponement of the general elections.

He urged party members not to be discouraged by the shift, saying that victory is sure for President Muhammadu Buhari and other APC candidates in the general elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the early hours of Saturday shifted the Presidential and National Assembly election to February 23 and the Governorship and State House of Assembly election to March 9 citing logistic challenges.

The deputy governor gave assurance to the APC members that the Party was poised for victory on the new dates announced by the electoral umpire noting that the poll shift would only delay celebration of victory by its members.

Egbeyemi explained that the APC, as a law-abiding party, had campaigned vigorously across the length and breadth of Ekiti and Nigeria and was confident of achieving victory at the polls before the shift was announced.

While noting that although the postponement of the elections was painful, Egbeyemi described it as a price to pay for a long-awaited victory by the APC, which he described as a party to beat at the polls.

The deputy governor said party members in Ekiti State has sold the candidacy of President Buhari and other APC candidates to the electorate whom he said are waiting to speak with their votes.

Describing the poll shift as blessing in disguise, the Ekiti deputy governor recalled that similar postponement in the 2011 and 2015 general elections resulted in overwhelming victory for the party.

I want to appeal to our teeming party members not to be discouraged by the sudden postponement of the elections by INEC.

APC members should see the postponement as an opportunity to plan better, re-strategize and work harder to ensure victory for our party on the new dates of February 23 and March 9 announced by INEC, he said.

Egbeyemi expressed optimism that APC would coast home to victory and the postponement would not stop APCs victory, but only delay it by a week.

Source: NAN

Materials

By Polycarp Auta

Following the shift in the date for the conduct of the general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Plateau has retrieved all sensitive materials earlier distributed to the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.

Mr Osaretin Imahireogbo, Head, Voter Education and Publicity of the commission in the state told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Sunday in Jos.

NAN recalls that INEC had, last Thursday, distributed all sensitive materials to the various LGAs in the state.

Imahireogbo said that the retrieval, which began on Saturday night, was concluded on Sunday morning, adding that all the materials had been deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Jos, the State capital.

With the change in the date of the general elections, we have retrieved all the sensitive materials that we earlier distributed to the 17 LGAs of Plateau.

All the materials are intact and now kept in the custody of the CBN where it was collected and distributed to the LGAs, he said.

The official said all card readers had also been retrieved and kept at the Commissions office.

Source: NAN

By Femi Ogunshola

A Legal Practitioner, Mr Kayode Ajulo, has demanded compensation of free fuel to all Nigerians over the postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Ajulo stated this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on Saturday.

He said that the Federal Government through the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must compensate Nigerians for wasting resources and energy to travel to their various polling units to cast their vote.

According to him, I traveled to Cardive in America few weeks ago and a certain road was closed without the knowledge of the citizenry, the government had to compensate them with five litres of fuel.

He said that the postponement was a technical disenfranchisement that only the presidency could reverse by providing palliative measures in form of free fuel flows to voters.

He said that an arbitrary predilection for unpleasant surprises, the INEC has made Feb. 16th into a national day of April Fool.

INECs decision to suspend at the eleventh hour, the Presidential and National Assembly elections long billed for today has thrown a crooked wrench in the plans and schedule of several million of voters all over the country

He stated that the election meant taking trips away from primary states of residence and commerce to polling units in other states to participate in the election.

According to him, schedules were disrupted, families uprooted and finances invested in the bid to exercise franchise and execute the civic duty owed by the registered citizenry to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He said that the dilemma for more than a few families and individuals at the moment would be to making a decision between maintaining their locations or heading back to their respective businesses and abode.

Ajulo noted that INEC must be seen to keep its words, adding that a second postponement could have dire implications for it and bleed it of public faith and trust.

Source: NAN

Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has described the last minute postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections as shocking and disappointing.

Saraki who is also theDirector General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council, said that the postponement has caused a great inconvenience to many Nigerians who are poised to vote for their choice as president and federal legislators.

In a statement in Ilorin, Saraki expressed shock and disappointment that after all the preparations by the electoral commisssion, the security services and other agencies of government, issues of logistics and related matters are now said to be responsible for postponing the federal elections.

Waiting till just a few hours to commencement of voting before announcing postponement of elections is extremely sad. Nobody can quantify the difficulty that this will bring to people at every level.

I empathize with youth corps members who have been relocated from their places of primary assignment to assist with the conduct of the elections.

My thoughts also go to civil servants who left their bases to go and vote in their hometowns. I also sympathize with millions of ordinary Nigerian traders whose businesses were suspended because of the no movement order.Thus, the costs ofthis postponement are incalculable.

However, I want to appeal to Nigerians not to be deterred, discouraged or disappointed. They must continue to be strong and determined to cast their votes for their preferred candidates.

Next Saturday, they should try and forget the current setback and troop out en masse to vote for their preferred candidates. Not voting because of the postponement is not a good option for Nigerians.

My appeal to our people is that we must still go out next Saturday to exercise our franchise.

At this point, Government and INEC should focus on what is the way forward and ensure that the elections take place as rescheduled. They should move swiftly to smoothen all the rough edges. The commisssion must ensure we do not have a repeat of what happened today. We have been saying it that the 2019 elections should be a clear improvement on that of 2015.

Let me urge our people to continue in their determination to cast their votes. They should remain resolute and come out en mass next Saturday to vote for the PDP. The Atiku-Obi ticket have the momentum on its side. This postponement will not slow us down. We have seven more days to get more voters to come out next Saturday and vote massively for PDP candidates,Saraki stated.

Source: NAN

Senator Andy Uba, the lawmaker representing Anambra South in the Senate, has debunked fresh rumours that he had been arrested by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS).

In a statement issued on Saturday, Uba who is theAnambra State Coordinator of Buhari Campaign Organisation, described the report as fake news and malicious.

Uba who would have contested the postponed National Assembly election on Saturday, said he was not involved in any form of money laundering neither had he been arrested.

According to the statement issued by his Media Office, the news was described as as mischievous and a malicious propaganda sponsored by detractors of the Senator.

Uba who just rounded up his campaign tour for his re-election is presently in his country home Uga in Aguata Local Government Area of the state, the statement said.

Source: NAN

Grieving Argentines paid tribute to footballer Emiliano Sala on Saturday at a special memorial in his home region of Santa Fe.

The body of the 28-year-old Sala, who died in a plane crash last month, was laid out in a gymnasium in the town where he grew up.

This was to enable friends and family pay their last respects.

A single-engine plane carrying Sala from his French club Nantes to his new team Cardiff City crashed on Jan. 21 in the English Channel.

This was before he could make his debut for the English Premier League (EPL) side.

Wreckage was found on Feb. 3 following a privately-funded underwater search, and a body recovered three days later.

Salas body was flown back to Argentina and arrived in Buenos Aires on Friday morning before being driven the 538 km (334 miles) to Progreso, where he grew up.

The gymnasium of the Atletico y Social San Martin de Progreso club hosted boys teams where Sala played as a child.

Many of the residents in the town of around 2,500 people wore the red and black shirt of the local side, with the name EMI on the back.

They began arriving at about 7 a.m. on Saturday to see the body and pay their last respects.

Outside, fans draped a banner saying, Emi, nunca caminaras solo or Emi, Youll Never Walk Alone.

Its as if he was a member of my family, said a sobbing Lucia Torres, who lives nearby.

Its something I cant understand nor accept because it hurts so much. The town has been in darkness since Jan. 21.

Cardiff manager Neil Warnock and the Welsh clubs chief executive Ken Choo are among those who will attend the funeral this weekend.

I will like to find a responsible person; someone who says to me, `This happened, but, well, it seems this was just an accident, said Salas aunt, Mirta Taffarel

Source: NAN

By Emmanuel Afonne

A campaign group working for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari, No Alternative to Buhari-Osinbajo (NATBO 2019), has condemned the action of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which saw the postponement of the Feb. 16 elections.

A statement issued on Saturday by the National Coordinator of the group Vincent Uba, said the action was capable of discouraging prospective voters.

Uba stated that INEC has given Nigerians opportunity to interpret the reasons for the postponement in different ways, and then put the blame on the current administration.

As cogent as INEC reasons for the postponement may be, we had expected the electoral body to be on top of its game, foreseeing the likely issues that could rear their ugly heads leading to this avoidable embarrassing situation we have found ourselves.

In an electoral contest that has been laden with unnecessary desperation by the opposition to unseat the current administration by every means available, it is expected that INEC should have envisaged possible sabotage to compromise the process leading to the free, fair and credible re-election of the party in power.

Notwithstanding the fact that some people had called for the postponement of the election including the opposition party, PDP, this postponement came at a time most unexpected the eve of the election.

It is very appalling and unfortunate that some people are now blaming the government for this postponement as if INEC is no longer independent, but there have been earlier convincing factors that would have been cogent reasons for the postponement, the statement quoted Uba as saying.

The coordinator of the NATBO 2019 expressed disappointment that INEC, even in the face of its budget delay by the National Assembly, assured Nigerians that it was still feasible to hold the elections according to the already released time table.

The statement also quoted Uba as saying: We believe that it was at that point of the budget delay that INEC would have been bold and courageous enough to postpone the election.

Another factor that would have lent credence to the postponement is the burning and other sabotage activities of INEC offices and facilities in some states.

When these INEC office burnings were reported, it became obvious that some unscrupulous persons were on sabotage mission and that the election dates could not be feasible but INEC went ahead to maintain that it was going ahead with election on the original dates.

That would have been a good reason to postpone.

Despite the postponement, we still have confidence on INEC to remain neutral and resolute in its desire and commitment to conduct free and fair elections that would further portray the positive image of Nigeria as the Buhari-led administration work to ensure a better future for the citizenry.

Uba urged the electorate to remain focused in the face of the disappointing circumstance and come out to cast their votes on Feb. 23.

The group while appealing for their understandings of the foreign observers following the postponement, apologised for the inconveniences the postponement may have caused them.

Source: NAN

By Precious Akutamadu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been urged to conduct all outstanding elections on March 2 to reduce cost.

Mr Precious Elekima, the Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Rivers, made the call on Saturday in Port Harcourt in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Elekima, who spoke in Port Harcourt while reacting to INECs postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections, said all elections should be conducted simultaneousl on March 2

I think that the government in reconsidering the conduct of this election should abridge the election and conduct all elections in one day.

That is the only way they could have addressed the loss arising from the postponement, he said.

Elekima said that conducting the elections in a day would make it more free, fair, credible and also incur less cost.

He called on the media, the security and the foreign observers to use the opportunity to address challenging issues before the postponement.

He said that nobody should blame President Muhammadu Buhari over the postponement of the Feb. 16 polls.

Source: NAN

With the advent of GSM in Nigeria, the market has been expanding tremendously with so many value added services coming on board. As the subscriber base grew, so also network providers.

At the onset of this telecom boom, Nigerians quickly adapted to recognising the network providers by the mobile numbers. It was easy, since we were taught that to identify a mobile network provider, simply look at the first 4 characters of the caller ID number.

This was captured with prefixes as follows:-

• MTN - 0803

• Glo - 0805

• Zain, Airtel, Econet - 0802

In fact, my first number was a Globacom line, and it started with 0805, followed by an Airtel line which was prefixed as 0802. Things have greatly changed and this telecom providers have so far expanded and the Nigerian Communications Commission gave further mobile number prefixes to the telecom providers which still retained the first allocations.

Below is a list of mobile number telecom prefixes for major telecom providers in Nigeria.

0701 ---- Airtel Nigeria
0702 ---- Smile
07025 ---- Visafone
07026 ---- Visafone
07027 ---- Multi-Links
07028 ---- Starcomms
07029 ---- Starcomms
0703 ---- MTN Nigeria
0704 ---- Visafone
0705 ---- Globacom
0706 ---- MTN Nigeria
0707 ---- ZoomMobile (formerly Reltel)
0708 ---- Airtel Nigeria
0709 ---- Multi-Links
0802 ---- Airtel Nigeria
0803 ---- MTN Nigeria
0804 ---- Ntel
0805 ---- Globacom
0806 ---- MTN Nigeria
0807 ---- Globacom
0808 ---- Airtel Nigeria
0809 ---- 9mobile
0810 ---- MTN Nigeria
0811 ---- Globacom
0812 ---- Airtel Nigeria
0813 ---- MTN Nigeria
0814 ---- MTN Nigeria
0815 ---- Globacom
0816 ---- MTN Nigeria
0817 ---- 9mobile
0818 ---- 9mobile
0819 ---- Starcomms
0909 ---- 9mobile
0908 ---- 9mobile
0902 ---- Airtel Nigeria
0903 ---- MTN Nigeria
0905 ---- Globacom
0906 ---- MTN Nigeria
0907 ---- Airtel Nigeria

So any time you get a caller id with any of the above prefixes, you should be able to identify the network provider.

Additional information can be gotten from NCC.

Aside having the legal powers to postpone elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may have taken the recent action in the interest of integrity and fairness of the elections.

Similar to what happened in 2015, INEC early on Saturday announced the shift of the Presidential and National Assembly polls to February 23 and Governorship and State Assembly elections to March 9.

Mr Kazem Gbadamosi, former Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan branch, said INEC had the legal backing to postpone elections.

Gbadamosi in an interview with NAN, said the electoral Act empowered INEC to postpone elections if it envisaged any difficulty with materials or security that would affect the conduct of a free, fair and credible elections.

The problem we have in Nigeria is that people read meanings into every issue even if it was of law.

If you take the right decision, people will say it was because of this or that.

Though, I am yet to read the reason for the postponement of the election by INEC but to ordinary Nigerians the reasons may not be tenable.

We are all aware that election materials got burnt in Anambra State and 66 persons also killed in Kaduna State few days to election day, gbadamosi said.

He said if INEC suspected that there would be violence and breakdown of law and order, it would in the good interest of Nigeria not go on with the election.

Also speaking, another Ibadan based legal practitioner, Mr Adams Oladimeji, said this was not the first time INEC would be postponing elections in Nigeria as it happened in 2015 under President Goodluck Jonathans administration.

Oladimeji said INEC had the legal backing to postpone election for the good of the country and it would be wrong to condemn INEC for postponing the election.

The legal practitioner was optimistic that INEC must have some intelligent information that could lead to loss of lives that prompted them to postpone the election to avoid unnecessary crisis.

I know very well that INEC will not postponed the election if there are no good reasons for doing so.

INEC is an independent body not controlled by the federal or state government, though some people rumour it to be so but I do not believe it.

The International community is watching and I am sure INEC will not want to fail by conducting an election that will not be free and fair, Oladimeji said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Emmanuel Afonne

The Chairman of JOSAN Integrated Rice Mills and Farms, Chief Oliver Okeke, has commended the Anambra Government for the successful inauguration of the JOSAN Rice Mills, with about 10,000 farmers.

Okeke said on Saturday in Abuja that the resuscitation of the JOSAN Giant Mill, formerly Omor Rice Mill, meant that the country would soon bounce back as the largest rice mill in West Africa.

Okeke, who is also the Chairman of Joseph Agro Industries, commended the administration of Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra for rising to the occasion and seeing to the resuscitation of the mills located at Umumbo community.

He said that the industry had a capacity to produce 30,000 metric tons and a current expanded annual capacity of 80,000 metric tons of paddy rice input and 50,000 metric tons of milled rice.

JOSAN integrated rice mills and farms is a Private Public Partnership (PPP) scheme between Joseph Agro Industries and the Anambra Government.

JOSAN is first given the former dilapidated World Bank Rice farm in Ufuma in 2015, as a pilot test scheme, whereby JOSAN installed two new rice mills in Ufuma, built all year round irrigation facilities and engaged in a large co-sponsored out-growers scheme with IFAD-value chain.

JOSAN also won the National award as the IFAD (the agriculture and rural development agency of the United Nations) State off-taker.

The Anambra Government then handed over the giant mill at Umumbo in 2018 to JOSAN (formerly known as Omor Rice mill) for complete rehabilitation.

Successive federal and state governments since 1997, were unable to successfully rehabilitate the vandalised and abandoned giant mill. JOSAN did the technical resuscitation and all investments to this effect, Okeke said in a statement.

According to him, the inauguration of the giant mill is a testimony of the federal and state governments successful agriculture policies to bring in genuine investors into the agriculture sector.

He said: Anambra State Rice, produced by JOSAN (different from Anambra Rice), was also inaugurated at the event as a testimony to rice that is grown in Anambra, milled in Anambra and packaged in Anambra.

This will become a proudly Anambra State Rice, made in Nigeria product, to reduce the importation of rice and save foreign exchange for Nigeria.

He appreciated Umumbo community for agreeing to give them 5,000 hectares of land to develop a highly irrigated and mechanised farm which would also see JOSAN be the anchor off-taker for the Lower Anambra Irrigation Project (LAIP) in conjunction with NISRAL, IFAD, FADAMA and other development partners.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed grave disappointment in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for at the last minute.

Buhari in a series of tweets on his twitter handle @MBuhari said that it was so disappointing that after promising day after day that it was ready for the election, the commission had to call it off at the last minute.

Buhari decried that many Nigerians had traveled to various locations across Nigeria to exercise their franchise while election observers were already on ground, only for the commission to postpone the polls.

I am deeply disappointed that despite the long notice given and our preparations both locally and internationally, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the Presidential and National Assembly elections within hours of its commencement.

I am deeply disappointed that despite the long notice given and our preparations both locally and internationally, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the Presidential and National Assembly elections within hours of its commencement.

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) February 16, 2019

I am deeply disappointed that despite the long notice given and our preparations both locally and internationally, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the Presidential and National Assembly elections within hours of its commencement.

Many Nigerians have traveled to various locations to exercise their right to vote, and international observers are gathered.

INEC themselves have given assurances, day after day and almost hour after hour that they are in complete readiness for the elections. We and all our citizens believed them.

This administration has ensured that we do not interfere in any way with the work of INEC except to ensure that all funds were released to the commission, he said.

He cautioned INEC to ensure that all the lapses that led to the postponement were addressed before the new date so that a free, fair and credible election would be conducted.

We now urge INEC to ensure not only that materials already distributed are safe and do not get into wrong hands, but that everything is done to avoid the lapses that resulted in this unfortunate postponement, and ensure a free and fair election on the rescheduled dates.

While I reaffirm my strong commitment to the independence, neutrality of the electoral umpire

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Financial experts on Saturday said the hasty postponement of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would create uncertainty and affect inflow of foreign investments.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Lagos that the hasty postponement a few hours to the Presidential and National Assembly elections was not good for the economy and investors confidence.

NAN reports that INEC hours earlier, announced the shift of the Feb. 16 Presidential and National Assembly elections to Feb. 23.

The Governorship and State House of Assembly as well as FCT area council elections have also been shifted from March 2 to March 9.

INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, at a press conference, attributed the postponement of all the scheduled elections to logistic and operational problems.

Prof. Sheriffdeen Tella, Professor of Economics, Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State said the development would create unnecessary uncertainty in the economy and affect inflow of foreign investment.

Tella said the countrys inability to stabilise election processes 20 years after would affect the way foreign investors perceived Nigeria.

He said the development would affect inflow of foreign investments, both portfolio and direct investments.

Uncertainty is the operating atmosphere in Nigeria but businesses thrive under certainty and predictable situations, Tella said.

He said the postponement would bring about extra cost for businesses and Nigerians.

Tella said business successes depended not only on macroeconomic stability but also on political stability.

Businesses that have shifted some programmes because of the elections have to start making adjustments which outcomes may not be optimal.

When INEC released its plan long ago, I thought we had arrived but this last minute botch shows that we still have a long way to go, he said.

Also speaking, Mr Ambrose Omordion, the Chief Operating Officer, InvestData Ltd., said the postponement of the elections showed that government and INEC were not prepared.

Omordion said the postponement a few minutes to the election day would further slow down economic activities and as well cause cautious trading in the nations bourse.

He said investors confidence as seen in the recent stock market rebound would be dampened with the development.

Omordion wondered why INEC had been feeding Nigerians with lies that they were prepared for the elections only to announce a shift when it mattered most.

Malam Garba Kurfi, the Managing Director, APT Securities and Funds Ltd., said the postponement of the elections would be a huge cost to the economy in view of the fact that schools had been closed for almost three days ahead of the elections.

Kurfi said many companies and markets had been closed due to the elections while many individuals had traveled to various destinations in order to cast their votes only for it to be postponed.

Logistics cost have been incurred by INEC; where will they get extra budget to augment the short fall.

It is clear that we are not ready to learn from the past mistakes. INEC should learn to make contingency arrangements rather than postponement.

This will not allow the rest of the world to take us as a serious nation. The Presidency should set up a committee to investigate the reason for the postponement and whoever is responsible for it should be brought to book, he said.

Mr Moses Igbrude, Publicity Secretary, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, said the postponement of the presidential election on the same day of the election was unfortunate.

Igbrude said the postponement was unacceptable and should be condemned in its entirety.

He said the shift would create uncertainty and doubt on the ability of the commission to conduct free and fair polls.

Igbrude said the development would create economic waste and untold hardship to the electorate, noting that, many people had travelled to various locations to exercise their civic responsibility.

He decried the effect of economic waste the postponement would have on state governments, private businesses and foreign and local election observers.

Igbrude added that some state governments had declared work-free days while some organisations worked for a half-day in order to prepare for the elections.

This action will surely frustrate and discourage the electorate from voting. I sincerely appeal to INEC and President Muhammadu Buhari not to throw Nigeria into problem.

They should make sure that they conduct elections that will be free and acceptable to everybody, Igbrude stated.

He, however, appealed to voters to be calm and ensure they perform their civic responsibility.

Source: NAN

Nigerians in Europe has described the postponement of the 2019 general elections as sad, insensitive and a conspiracy against the Buhari administration.

They were reacting to the re-scheduled presidential and national assembly elections as well as that of the governorship and state houses of assembly.

The presidential election earlier scheduled to hold in Saturday was shifted to Feb. 23 while that of governorship would now hold on March 9 as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In telephone interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bern, they expressed disappointment over the development which they described as act of incompetence.

Mr Bayo Michael, Chairman of the Nigeria In Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Brussels, said that the decision taken by INEC reeks of insensitivity, irresponsibility and incompetence.

In saner climes, INEC chairmans announcement would have been followed by a letter of resignation.

However, unless you are directly involved in the decision making, it can be hard to empathise with or understand the logic behind some decisions taken. he stressed.

Similarly, Mr Godwin Azu, a political Analyst in London described the postponed election as highly suspicious and unacceptable.

We in the diaspora are highly disappointed with the 11th hour development by INEC, which is greatly unprofessional of an election umpire at a highly volatile election moment to cancel an election on the day of election.

Many of our Diasporas who have travelled to join the international community and domestic observers to observe the election, I am sure, are equally shocked and disappointed on the turn of events.

The very credibility of INEC chairman and his entire team is now at stake, he has to legitimately prove his innocence and genuine honesty for making the final decision to postpone the elections on the 11th hour, Azu said.

In the same vein, Dr Rita Odey , a member of the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (CANUK) said that the move was to discourage people from performing their civic responsibility.

People travelled from Europe to Nigeria for this purpose under tight circumstances. To postpone an election on the day of voting speaks volume.

INEC had four years to plan for this election, if it couldnt deliver as we are now made to believe, it should have announced it since Feb.1 in order for people to adjust their plans.

This is a grand conspiracy against the Buhari administration. Nigerians must rise against this by turning out en mass to vote him back into office on Saturday.

Others who spoke from Spain, Germany and Italy said they were not against the postponement but the timing of the announcement.

While urging INEC to make adequate preparation ahead of the new dates slated for voting, they called on voters to be resilient and committed to their civic responsibility.

NAN gathered that a large number of Nigerians in Europe are in the country to vote and also serve as observers in the election.

Also Sen. Magnus Abe, (APC- Rivers South East) said that INEC owed Nigerians a detailed explanations on its decision to postpone the elections.

Abe said this in an interview with Newsmen in Port Harcourt while reacting to the decision of the electoral commission to shift the national polls.

Election should be free, fair and credible and it has become clear to INEC that with the logistic challenges they are facing it will be impossible to hold the elections.

I think INEC has done the right thing to postponed the elections and to enable it to prepare better.

But I believe that INEC owes Nigerians a clear explanation to why the country would have to be subjected to this kind of challenge.

The personal plans, financial fallouts of this kind of decision are going to affect things in a whole lot.

They (INEC officials) owe Nigerians a more detailed explanation about why this has to be done at this time, he said.

Source: NAN

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) have said the postponement of elections has disrupted the economy, causing colossal losses.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC shifted Saturdays presidential and National Assembly elections to Feb. 23 after a meeting, which began Friday evening, ending early on Saturday.

The governorship and house of assembly, FCT area council elections have also been shifted from March 2 to March 9.

INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu attributed the postponement of all the scheduled elections to logistic and operational challenges.

He said the postponement would afford the commission the opportunity to address the identified challenges in order to maintain the quality of Nigerias elections.

Mr Muda Yusuf, Director-General of LCCI told NAN that the postponement had caused a lot of disruption to businesses, both small and large scale enterprises.

The economy is shut down today, and that is a great loss in terms of output and revenue; and we are dealing in an economy with a large informal sector operators who depend on daily income for survival.

A lot of cost has also been incurred; cost incurred by INEC, political parties, security agencies, foreign and local observers; and these are huge costs borne by both the private and public sectors.

All these together puts a burden on the economy, he said.

Yusuf said it was unfortunate that such happened and even more disturbing that the losses could have been reduced with earlier notice to the public.

I am sure that INEC had seen some signs that this was not going to work out, rather than coming out with the information few hours to the election.

If these information had come in early yesterday, maybe the level of disruption and losses would not be these much, he said.

However, Yusuf said it was better to have the postponement and have an election that was credible, fair and transparent, urging the citizens to be patient and bear with INEC hoping that the sacrifice would be worth it eventually.

Also, Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir, Director-General of MAN, said the general election impacted on industrial activity as most factories shut down their operations till Monday.

All Nigerians were full of expectations and looking forward to the election and were surprised by the news of its postponement.

We know that many businesses closed early yesterday to allow people move around and travel to cast their votes in their respective locations, he said.

He, however, urged Nigerians to keep faith and perform their civic responsibilities next week.

He said irrespective of the inconvenience and disruption to industrial activities, energy and resources exerted, having a credible and smooth election was worth the sacrifice. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Habiba Broger

A cross section of Nigerians in Europe have called for the resignation of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

They stated this on Saturday against the backdrop of the postponed presidential elections from Feb. 16 to Feb. 23.

In telephone interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bern, they expressed disappointment over the development.

The callers described the development as sad and insensitive and a conspiracy against the Buhari administration.

Mr Bayo Michael, Chairman of the Nigeria in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Brussels, said that the decision taken by INEC reeks of insensitivity, irresponsibility and incompetence

In saner climes, his announcement would have been followed by a letter of resignation.

However, unless you are directly involved in the decision making, it can be hard to empathise with or understand the logic behind some decisions taken, he stressed.

Similarly, Mr Godwin Azu, a political analyst in London described the postponed election as highly suspicious and unacceptable.

We in the diaspora are highly disappointed with the 11th hour development by INEC.

This is greatly unprofessional of an election umpire at a highly volatile election moment to cancel an election on the day of election.

Many of our Diasporas who have travelled to join the international community and domestic observers to observe the election, Im sure are equally shocked and disappointed on the turn of events.

The very credibility of INEC chairman and his entire team is now at stake.

He has to legitimately prove his innocence and genuine honesty for making the final decision to postpone the elections on the 11th hour, Azu said.

In the same vein, Dr Rita Odey, a member of the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (CANUK) said that the move was to discourage people from performing their civic responsibility.

People travelled from Europe to Nigeria for this purpose under tight circumstances. To postpone an election on the day of voting speaks volume.

INEC had four years to plan for this election, if it couldnt deliver as we are now made to believe, it should have announced it since Feb.1, in order for people to adjust their plans.

This is a grand conspiracy against the Buhari administration.

Nigerians must rise against this by turning out en mass to vote next Saturday.

Others who spoke from Spain, Germany and Italy said they were not against the postponement but the timing of the announcement.

While urging INEC to make adequate preparations ahead of the new dates slated for voting, they called on voters to be resilient and committed to their civic responsibility.

NAN gathered that a large number from the Europe diaspora, who registered in their local constituencies, are in the country to vote and also serve as observers in the elections.

Source: NAN

The Independent National Electoral Commission has decided to shift Saturdays presidential and National Assembly elections till next week 23 February.

The governorship and house of assembly, FCT area council elections have also been shifted from 2 March to 9 March.

INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu confirmed NAN report of the shift of the presidential election, attributing the postponement of all the scheduled elections to logistic and operational problems.

He said the postponement will afford the commission the opportunity to address the identified challenges in order to maintain the quality of Nigerias elections.

Watch Professor Yakubu deliver the bombshell:

Live update: Press briefing by the Hon. Chairman INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on elections

INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria)

The postponement of the election came after more than six hours of meeting between INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu and 12 national commissioners in Abuja.

The meeting, which began Friday evening ended early on Saturday.

Professor Yakubu said the INEC will be meeting all stakeholders at 2pm on Saturday at the International Conference Centre in Abuja to explain the commissions position.

Rotimi Oyekanmi, the chief press secretary to the INEC chairman had hinted newsmen earlier that some decisions about the election had been reached and that the decision would be communicated later.

I can confirm to you that the INEC Chairman and the 12 national commissioners are in the meeting.

Decisions have been taken and you will be addressed later, Oyekanmi said.

Presidential and National Assembly elections were scheduled to take place throughout the country today, while governorship and state assembly elections were slated for 2 March.

The national elections are expected to hold at 119,973 polling units across the country while collation of results will take place in 8,809 Registration Areas or Wards, 774 Local Government Areas and 36 States and the FCT.

It will not be the first time that the commission would postpone a scheduled general election.

In 2015, the presidential election was shifted from February 14 to March 28th, 2015; while the governorship and assembly elections scheduled for 28 February were shifted to 11 April.

Read INEC full statement:

Source: NAN