News Agency of Nigeria
Politics

LP ‘ll win Saturday’s presidential election- Support Group

 

 

By Angela Atabo

The Obidient Movement, a Peter Obi support group, says it is almost certain that the Labour Party (LP) will win the Feb. 25 presidential election, going by happenings in the country.

Mr Valentine Ozigbo, the  spokesperson for the group said  Special Adviser to  Obi on Technology and Strategic Alliances, said this at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

“We are positioned to win this election for Mr Peter Obi, and we are watching to see how state election and governorship candidates treat Obidients and Labour Party supporters.

“What we want is a peaceful election. We want the election to be free and fair, and transparent.

“We want voters to come out and exercise their civic responsibility on Saturday and be free to vote for who they want

” Labour Party is leveraging on technology, the strength of the youth, and the brilliance of the candidacy of Mr Peter Obi, towards winning the election,” said

Ozigbo said that the Obidient Movement would adopt governorship and state assembly candidates across the country after victory in Saturday’s poll.

He added that the movement would carefully consider and extensively consult with stakeholders across the country before adopting governorship candidates.

This he said,  was particularly, where the LP has no candidate.

“The adopted candidates would be chosen because of their track records as honest citizens, their dedication to the welfare of their people.

”Most importantly, is their alignment with the values and principles of the Obidients Movement and their public support for the election of Peter Obi as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The Obidients Movement will fully back these candidates in the upcoming governorship and Houses of Assembly elections and will work hard to ensure they win as a reciprocal gesture of their support for Mr Peter Obi,” he said. (NAN)(nannews.ng)

 

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

Politics

Buhari wants credible election in spite of his support for Tinubu – BMO

By Inuwa Baba-Ali

The 2023 general election will be one of the freest, fairest and most credible in Nigeria’s history in spite of President Muhammadu Buhari’s support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Bola Tinubu.

The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) gave this assurance after an assessment of the preparations and build-up to the elections starting on Saturday.

In a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, BMO said that the President has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) all the necessary support to ensure a free and fair electoral process.

“President Buhari has left no one in doubt of his intention to leave a legacy of electoral reforms beyond simply signing the Electoral amendment bill into law.

“He has since being walking the talk by ensuring total support for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and only recently said at a gathering co-hosted by the United State Institute of Peace (USIP), the International Republican Institute, the National Endowment for Democracy, and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, that he was confident of the commission’s readiness for the 2023 election.

“We make bold to say that the President’s confidence was borne out of the fact that he has ensured that INEC got all the resources it asked for.

“And even in spite of having a candidate in the flag-bearer of the All Progressive Congress (APC), the President has famously done what previous Presidents have not done by assuring all Nigerians of free choice.

“For him, it is not a do-or-die affair and he would rather publicly endorse the ruling party’s candidate and rally support for him,  than seek to use ‘federal might’ to forcibly install a successor, like a former President once did.

“And can anyone forget in a hurry how opposition elements have been hailing President Buhari lately and taking up the role of his official spokespersons in the face of the new currency policy”.

BMO expressed confidence that a free,fair and credible election will be yet another legacy the President would be handing down to Nigerians by the time he leave office in May. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

By Inuwa Ali-Baba

Politics

Osinbajo support groups endorse Atiku for president

By Joseph Edeh

The Osinbajo Support Groups, a bipartisan organisation has endorsed the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

The groups stated this in statement signed by Mr Sunnie Chukumele, Chairman and Mr John Elemi, Secretary on behalf of the groups on Thursday in Abuja.

The groups said they took the decision having considered Atiku`s track record as an astute politician and experienced public servant.

The groups said Abubakar had shown over time that he does not have a vaulting ambition, as he had made sacrifices for the political stability of the country.

“In our analysis before arriving at a choice of candidate to support outside the APC candidate, we looked at critical variables, comparing the present and future of our dear country.

“He is the most qualified of all the candidates based on cognate experience at the presidency of Nigeria, haven served as Vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for years.

“Abubakar has built and maintained social bridge and networks of lasting friendships across every constituency in Nigeria. He has eternal relationship with all regions of Nigeria,” the group said.

The group said it was convinced that Abubakar has the political experience and network to lead the country.

“At this material time in our national history, the Southwest and South- South and the Northwest have taken shots at the presidency, leaving out the Southeast, North Central and Northeast.

“The Constitution of Nigeria has always guaranteed equity and fairness as an enabler for a just society.

“Be it known to everyone, that the leaders of these support groups and stakeholders have undertaken this migration on their own as consenting adults without the prompting and mandate of Osinbajo,” the groups said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Uche Anunne

Politics

Election: Tinubu has capacity to salvage Nigeria – Group

 

By Olatunde Ajayi

The Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) Elite Group has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu, has the capacity to salvage Nigeria.

The group made this known at the Special Youth Sensitisation and Election Awareness Programme tagged: Tinubu 2023: The Push to the Finish Line,” organised on Wednesday in Ibadan.

Speaking at the event, Mr Wale Oladiti, the leader of the group, said that the group believed that right policies for economic development could only be achieved when the most qualified candidate emerged as Nigeria’s president.

Oladiti noted that Nigeria needed a person with credentials, capabilities and experience, especially at this critical moment to bring the required social reform and development to the country.

He added that the track record of Tinubu as a former governor of Lagos State showed that he would bring the much-needed positive change, especially in the area of job creation for the youth.

“Imagine if we have the kind of progress we witnessed in Lagos State during the regime of Sen. Bola Tinubu in many states, that means there will be massive job opportunities for the youth.

“We want youths to vote according to their conscience by checking the track record of all the presidential contestants.

“We are not tribalistic, as a youth group, we are not supporting Tinubu based on tribe or religion but purely on his capabilities,” he said.

One of the guest panelists, Mr Laide Oduyemi, a business development expert, said that the manifesto of Tinubu had clearly showed that there would be reduction in overreliance on imported goods.

This, according to Oduyemi, will bring massive job opportunities for the youth.

“When we cut down importation and increase local production, many of our youths will get good jobs, reduce brain drain and boost our revenue as a nation,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Afeez Bolaji, the former Deputy National Youth Leader, APC, said that the programme sought to sensitise the youth to the need to vote for leaders that would salvage the nation’ economy, security, agriculture, education and other sectors.

Commenting, Mr Lanre Oyegbola, the special Assistant to Ogun State Governor on Housing, added that the manifesto of Tinubu had clearly shown that he had good plans for the youth.

“We can clearly feel the good spirits he has for the youth from the push and mentorship he has offered in the past, helping many youths to reach the top and fulfill their destinies,” he noted.

Another member of the panel, Mrs Mercy Adelabu, said that the move by the APC presidential candidate to ensure active participation of women in governance and policy formulation was commendable.

Adelabu noted that statistics had shown that women always perform creditably when given the chance to make input in policy formulation and governance.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sensitisation programme featured panel session, voter education and awareness campaign, among others.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Politics

Women’s Situation Room Nigeria inaugurates observatory, calls for peaceful polls

By Ruth Oketunde

The Women’s Situation Room Nigeria (WSRN), a women civil society-led initiative, on Wednesday in Abuja, inaugurated observatory room in preparation for the 2023 general elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event has the support of the UN Women and the Canadian Embassy.

The National Coordinator of WSRN, Prof. Joy Onyesoh, said that the aim of the situation room was to observe the election processes from a gender perspective and track cases of violence in 10 states, including the FCT.

She said that the group would be getting feedback from those on the field, as it would also be responding to its strategic partners.

Onyesoh, who stressed the need for free and credible elections, added that violence against women before, during and after the elections must be discouraged at all cost.

She said “we are going to be looking at the impacts of the election process for accountability, transparency with a focus on women inclusive participation.

“We are open and ready to contribute our quota to the stability of Nigeria.”

According to her, Nigerians can also provide the group with on-the-spot assessment of elections in their various communities using the toll free number — 08003425776.

Ms Beatrice Eyong, the UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said “violence against women during election is a human right abuse which must be discouraged.

“Women’s political representation in Nigeria has witnessed a downward trend, with only 3.8 per cent of women in elective offices at both the national and state level following the 2019 elections and only 10.2 per cent of women candidates in the 2023 elections.

“Violence against women in politics is a human rights abuse that hinders the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal 16 and 25.

The Police Commissioner in the FCT, Sadiq Abubakar, represented by the Officer In-Charge, Gender, Funmi Kolawole, assured police readiness to participate in the elections.

She said “the Nigeria Police Force is fully ready for the elections; we do not want anyone to entertain any fear.

“Go out and cast your votes and remain law-abiding.”

NAN reports that the event had in attendance representatives from the Ministry of Women Affairs, National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), INEC, NOA, Women in Politics Forum, FOMWAN, as well as various civil society organisations.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Politics

Election: Utomi urges Nigerians to vote Obi for new possibilities

 

By Adeyemi Adeleye

Prof. Pat Utomi, Convener of the Big Tent Coalition for Obi/Datti, has urged Nigerians, especially the youth, to vote for the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, in Saturday’s general elections.

Utomi, a Political Economist and Professor at the Lagos Business School, made the plea in a statement titled “A Perfect Mess and New Possibilities” on Wednesday in Lagos.

According to the Labour Party (LP) chieftain, only Obi and his running mate, Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed, among all candidates has the capacity to perfectly clear the ‘mess’ in the nation.

“It is liberation time as the Peter Obi/Datti Baba-Ahmed ticket brings a breath of fresh air to the quest to take back Nigeria and remake it for its young people.

“Perhaps we can miss the wider road to serfdom,” Utomi said.

The professor, who decried the challenges of fuel and new Naira scarcity, epileptic power supply and network, economic hardship and insecurity, said that the nation’s leaders had failed “examinations”.

He urged All Progressives Congress Congress (APC) to apologise to Nigerians instead of campaigning.

Utomi said that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had also lost character for breaking its grand norm of North-South power rotation.

The professor noted that the young of Nigeria had suffered enough to be left to such a future.

He said that politicians had weaponised poverty to easily manipulate and suppress voters, and buy their conscience during elections.

Utomi said: “Much of this will likely be on display this weekend even as our friends from the West who are election observers observe but not see.

“And the perfect mess will roll on, unless the youth of the land look at the famished road ahead and say we protect this vote and if we die we die.

“Between the greed of the complicit, middle hoping the victory of different candidates can place them on the gravy train and those so poor and more desperate for scarce new Naira that they will sell more than their vote, we are lost.

“This is why this week, the pain and anger in the land is so high that there are enough people ready to defy the moments vote price for a taste of freedom,” Utomi said.

He applauded some of Nigeria’s grand patriarchs like former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Edwin Clark and others “for showing examples of dignity in leadership that can be shoulders to stand on for many.”

“What is evident is that on Feb. 25th, God sets before us light and darkness, more of yesterday or a new beginning, life or death. May we choose life that we may live.

“It’s now left for the people to massively show up to vote, and protect their vote. A new Nigeria is possible and we hope it begins this Saturday,” Utomi said

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigerians will on Saturday go to the polls to elect a new president and members of the National Assembly.

The Governorship and House of Assembly elections are billed for March 11. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

 

 

Edited by Ayodeji Alabi/Oluwole Sogunle

Politics

PDP, LP lose scores of members to APC in FCT

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Barely 48 hours to the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) have lost scores of members to APC in the FCT.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defectors were received into the fold of APC on Wednesday in Abuja.

Dr Hauwa Bagu, the National Coordinator, National Mass Movement for Better Orientation (NAMMBO), a frontline Tinubu support group, said the development was an indication of APC’s victory in the Feb. 25 elections.

Bagu said that the organisation had been in touch with the defectors for a very long time, saying ” today those that accepted the truth have decided to follow the winning team.

She said: “We have been going round canvassing for votes and most of them here are only the leaders, because if all of them will be here, this place cannot contain them.

” So, we now ask their leaders and some of them to come here and make it public about their decision to dump PDP and LP and declare their readiness to vote for Tinubu and Shettima.

“With this development and what we have seen so far in the course of our campaigns across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, Nigerians, especially the women are ready to vote for the duo.”

The coordinator also stated that the youths were ready to ensure the landslide victory of Tinubu, assuring the defectors of equal treatment.

According to her, the APC presidential candidate will reciprocate any gesture to be done to him with quality leadership.

Also speaking, the Deputy National Coordinator of NAMMBO, Ibrahim Umar, lauded the Tinubu support group for attracting the defectotrs into the fold of APC.

Umar, who said that the chances of Tinubu of winning the presidential election were very bright, saying that Nigerians were eager to vote for Tinubu and Shettima.

Earlier, Mr Titus Musa, former PDP Youth Leader in Gwarinpa Ward, Abuja Municipal Area Council, who led defectors said they decided to defect to APC to vote Tinubu.

He said: ”This is due to his record of excellent service in Lagos and his contributions to national development.

”We are convinced with APC manifesto titled, the Message of Hope. APC is the way to go and Tinubu has something to offer Nigeria.

“We have seen the light in Tinubu and we are ready to join hands with him to move our country to the desired level and I believe the way Tinubu transformed Lagos if given the mandate, he will do a lot for the country.

” Therefore, we decide to defect from PDP to APC together with our teeming supporters compromising youths and women.”

On her part, the former Labour Party Women leader in Gwarinpa Ward, Ms Zipporah Bitrus, said that they left LP to APC as Tinubu and Shettima were the best for the country.

” Tinubu is a person that is always concerned about the uplifting the ordinary citizens. He had mentored many Nigerians and that is why we see reasons we pitched our tent with APC.

NAN reports that the high point of the event was the presentation of the APC flags to the defectors symbolising their formal integration into the party’s larger family. (NAN) (www,nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Politics

Political parties, candidates sign second pact on 2023 polls

By Lizzy Okoji

All 18 registered political parties in Nigeria signed a peace pact on the 2023 general elections in Abuja on Wednesday.

The peace past was organised and coordinated by the National Accord for Peace under the chairmanship of former Head of State, retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.

The pact entails that all political parties accept the outcome of the elections or to seek legitimate means of redress in the event of divergent positions.

Gen. Abubakar stressed at the pact signing the need for all parties to stay committed to the second peace accord, as he observed that some of them flouted the first peace accord signed on Sept. 29, 2022.

“There was lack of compliance by the major political parties.

“Forty-four per cent of the violations were carried out by spokespersons of the political parties and 26 per cent by party members.

“Nineteen per cent of the violations were carried out by the presidential candidates themselves; 11 per cent by hard-core supporters and 4 per cent by party chairmen.

“Additionally, in January 2023, a lot of violence has occurred with at least 15 abductions (including that of a police officer) and at least, 30 killings (including those of 11 security personnel),’’ he said.

Abubakar noted that campaign rallies were also not free of attacks.

“There were at least six attacks at political campaign rallies.

“In December 2022, INEC said it recorded 50 attacks on its offices between 2019 and 2022.

“According to data released by INEC, there were 11 attacks on its offices in Imo, seven attacks in Osun, five each in Enugu State and Akwa Ibom.

“In each of Ebonyi, Abia and Cross River, there were four attacks on INEC offices; two attacks each in Anambra and Taraba, and one attack each in Kaduna State, Borno, Bayelsa, Ondo State, Lagos State and Ogun.

“As a nation, we have got to put a stop to all of these. That is why on Jan. 20, 2022, we convened a meeting of all presidential candidates and party chairmen.

“The meeting discussed existing and emerging issues regarding the ways campaigns were being conducted, and the need for parties to moderate their views,’’ he said.

The former head of state noted that Wednesday’s peace pact became expedient as elections were only a few days away.

“Now that the elections are only a few hours away, we are here to witness the second signing of the National Peace Accord.

“It is to commit presidential candidates and their party chairmen to accept the outcome of the elections as long as it is adjudged to be free, fair, and credible.

“It is also to commit them to seek legitimate and peaceful means of addressing any concerns that may arise thereafter.

“In this regard, I want to encourage political parties to respect that only the INEC has the Constitutional authority to announce election results.

“I also encourage the parties to ensure that their supporters refrain from disseminating fake news, misinformation, disinformation and avoid statements that will incite violence after the results of the elections have been announced,’’ Abubakar said.

In his message to the pact signing, former President Goodluck Jonathan stated that the peace accord strategy had consolidated efforts of statutory structures like INEC in conducting peaceful and credible elections.

He was represented by Bishop Matthew Kukah, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto.

He reiterated the importance of the signing of the second Peace Accord which committed all presidential candidates, chairmen and members of political parties to peaceful elections.

“In the build-up to the 2015 general elections, myself and my successor, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, signed a similar accord, committing ourselves to free, fair, credible and peaceful elections.

“We also made it very clear in the second Peace Accord that we would abide by the outcome of the votes.

“I believe that is the way to strengthen our democracy, stave off looming violence and bring peace to our nation,’’ Jonathan stated in his message.

He added that there was no better time to make the commitment than now, given the considerable level of tension and apprehension so far experienced, in the build-up to the 2023 elections.

“This is the time for the candidates and party leaders to demonstrate goodwill and impress it on their cadres and followers that election is not war.

“Our country needs a stable and reliable democracy to be able to adequately address its challenges and provide the desired leadership that meets the expectations of our teeming populace,’’ Jonathan also stated.

Convener of the National Peace Committee, Kukah, said the growing international interest in Nigeria’s elections is a source of great encouragement, a pointer to how much hope has been reposed in Nigeria.

“We have five former African Heads of State here and the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Baroness Patricia Scotland,

“We thank Your Excellences and all members of the international observer missions.

“Our political actors need this pressure to compel them to raise the moral tempo of politics and to improve the quality of the lives of our people,’’ Kukah said.

Present at the signing of the second Peace Accord was President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, INEC Chairman and the Inspector General of Police, Mr Usman Baba.

International election observers present included Baroness Scotland, and former President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya leading the African Union Observation Mission.

Others were former President Thambo Mbeki of South Africa leading the Commonwealth Observer group, and former President Joyce Banda of Malawi among others. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Alli Hakeem

Politics

2023 Elections: Group designs strategies to stop disinformation, fake news in cyberspace

By Lizzy Okoji

The Safeguarding Online Civic Space (SOCS) says it has designed strategies to stop all forms of disinformation, misinformation, fake news and violence incitement on the cyberspace in the upcoming general elections.

The group made this known on Wednesday in Abuja while briefing the media on “Safeguarding Civic Space for Electoral Integrity (SDSEI)”, ahead of the Feb. 25, and March 11, 2023, general elections.

Dr Funmi Akinyele, the Chair, SOCS Group, said that in the overarching goal of this particular project is to protect online civic space by upholding the integrity of the electoral process.

She said that to effectively achieve this, the SOCS Group have trained youths across the six geopolitical zones to spot and detect fake news, especially as it concerns the elections.

“As the general elections are approaching, the overarching goal of this project is to protect online civic space by combating voter misinformation and disinformation while improving access to accurate civic information inclusively.

“Unfortunately, some individuals, either by omission or commission, have distorted information, leading to misinformation, disinformation and malformation.

“The misuse and repression of both offline and digital civic spaces, no doubt, have contributed to the perceptions, mostly negative, of members of the international community about Nigeria.

“To address this, the Safeguarding Digital Civic Space for Electoral Integrity (SDSEI) project is engaging critical stakeholders across government, telecommunications, civil society, and the general public.

“Who have been united by an overarching interest in protecting the online civic space to maximize the benefits and minimise the threats for proper enlightenment and education of the populace on their civic rights.

“Regarding the general elections, irrespective of cultural, religious and political affiliations.

“We have trained 100 fact checkers across the country and right now they are working to fact check the elections as well as the governorship elections.

“Because we are dealing with digital space, we are deploying factcheckers online to build a massive movement of people that will be able to spot fake news.

“We will use hashtags to drive home this message on our social media platforms and use for branding. The hashtags are: #ProtectYourVote9ja, #YourVoteMatters9ja #NoToFakeNews9ja,” Akinyele said.

Mr Al-Kasim Abdulkadir, Founder, Nigerian Numeric, said that the aim of the group is to safeguard the digital space for the electoral integrity of Nigeria.

Abdulkadir said that the key aim of the group under this project is to ensure that the integrity of the process is upheld by political actors, the citizens, government actors towards a peaceful, credible and transparent elections.

He said that SOCS Group is also out with the key message of urging Nigerians and political parties to refrain from announcing election results before they are announced by the electoral umpires.

“We have designed a variety of strategies, with a strong message of refrain, from misinformation, to disinformation, to vote buying, to campaigning against violence, to the use of BVAS device.

“Also mainstreaming the fact that we need to work with persons with disabilities.

“Whether you are a highly placed government officials or an ordinary citizen, we are calling for self-governances.

“That first of all, you must ensure your personal integrity and integrity of the message you send out on digital platform.”

He added: “That first, you must be able to verify these messages, and if you cannot verify these messages, do not send them out. If you are in doubt, do not share.

“If you deliberately disinform or misinform, then please, be ready to face the consequences of your action because the long arm of the law is there to catch up with defaulters.

“Voters should not sit in their homes and announce results before results are announced. It is the primary responsibility of the electoral umpire to announce results.

“We should not make up news of violence where there is none, we should not exaggerate actions that take place during the elections.”

Abdulkadir said: “So we are calling for restraints from citizens, government actors for self-governance.”

The group urged the media as watchdog of the society to support its efforts to combat voters’ misinformation and disinformation, improve inclusive voter and civic education.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the SOCS Group is a loose cluster of mostly youth-led Civil Society Organisations and Business Membership Organisations from diverse areas within the social sector.

The SOCS Group is funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through the Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement Project. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Politics

“We have accredited agents in all polling units” – Labour Party chairman

By Ikenna Uwadileke and Angela Atabo

National Chairman of Labour Party (LP) Mr Julius Abure says the party has accredited agents in all polling units for the 2023 general elections.

He told a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday that Nigerians should disregard speculations that Labour Party lacked polling agents.

According to him, every supporter of the Labour Party is a polling agent.

“I read in the social media that Labour Party has only 40,000 poling agents.

“Well, I am happy that INEC has eventually released the number of polling unit agents and the number we uploaded was more than 140, 000, but what INEC released in their website was 134, 874 polling unit agents.

“This represents more than 73 per cent of polling unit agents accredited by INEC and, therefore, for us any student who scores above 70 per cent in an examination has scored an `A’.

“This is contrary to the speculation that Labour Party has no agent; you know they have always speculated, they initially speculated that we have no structure, but today I know they are no longer thinking along that line.

“They have seen that the people indeed are the structure and that no man or woman can stop an idea whose time has come,” Abure said.

Abure urged Nigerians to exercise their franchise by voting for the Labour Party without fear or intimidation.

According to him, the time has come for Nigerians to take back their country and they are ready to do so through the ballot.

“With the endorsement of some political parties uploading 96,034 poling agents working with us, you can see that we have more than the number of agents required.

“And it will shock you that by Wednesday and Thursday a lot of other political parties will be joining us and will be working with us.

“I don’t want to pre-empt those political parties until they make their announcements.

“So, all these put together, we are home and dry when it comes to polling unit agents, but beyond this any citizen who is supporting the Labour Party is a polling unit agent.

“We want independent citizens to be checks on the polling unit agents that we have accredited.

“Every citizen who is supporting Labour Party and Peter Obi is a polling unit agent and we expect them not just to vote, but to stand, wait and defend their votes,” Abure said.

He urged Nigerians to turn out en-masse and to support the Labour Party at the elections.

“If you are a supporter of the Labour Party, you must, therefore, be an agent for the party on the day of election. We expect that you will not only go to the polling booth to cast your vote; you have a responsibility to also defend your vote.

“We appeal to you to vote, be on standby, and keep an eye on INEC officials, security agents and on accredited party agents so that you will check what is going on.

“And you have a responsibility to query any activity that you find that will compromise the processes,” Abure told supporters. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Alli Hakeem

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