| Source | Date | Story Title | Summary of Reports | Subject/Category | Page No/Weblink | No | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | Electoral Act: APC, PDP Reps set for stormy session today | "Lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives, yesterday, vowed to block any move to override President Muhammadu Buhari’s veto of the Electoral Act (Amendment) bill. On the other hand, PDP lawmakers will today decide whether or not to go ahead with the process of overriding President Buhari’s veto a member of the caucus told Daily Trust. Briefing newsmen at the National Assembly in Abuja, the APC caucus leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, insisted that the “APC lawmakers have more than the two-third number to stop any veto.” According to him, President Buhari declined his assent to the bill because of its imperfection and inherent potentialities to disenfranchise millions of eligible Nigerian voters." | colspan | APC, Lawmakers, Buhari, Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, Nigerian voters | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/electoral-act-apc-pdp-reps-set-for-stormy-session-today.html | 1 |
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | APC asks Supreme Court to sack Tambuwal | "The APC has asked the Supreme Court to sack Governor Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State on the ground of alleged irregularities in the 2014 primary election that produced him as the party’s candidate. The APC in a dramatic twist, now backed the appeal earlier filed by Senator Umar Dahiru and Aliyu Abubakar Sanyinna, who both contested the primary with Governor Tambuwal for the governorship position. A new counsel, Abduganiyu Arobo, yesterday, announced appearance for the APC in place of Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), who had in the past represented the party in the matter. Okutepa, who acknowledged the change of counsel by the APC, however, declined to change the argument of the party, which he had canvassed at both the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal for the party on behalf of Governor Tambuwal, who recently defected to the PDP." | colspan | Tambuwal, Supreme Court, APC, Sokoto State, 2014 primary election, Senator Umaru Dahiru, Aliyu Abubakar Sanyinna, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), PDP | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/apc-asks-supreme-court-to-sack-tambuwal.html | 1 |
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | Honour peace accord, U.S urges presidential candidates | "The United States government has congratulated the presidential candidates for signing a peace accord for the 2019 general elections, urging them to honour it faithfully. A statement from the U.S Embassy in Abuja described the peace accord as a great step towards the goal shared by all Nigerians on national elections that are credible. The statement reads, “The United States warmly congratulates the presidential candidates and parties who have signed the Peace Accord for the 2019 Presidential elections. We also congratulate all those advocates for Peace and Democracy who have worked together to achieve this important result." | colspan | United States Government, US Embassy, Abuja, presidential candidates, 2019 presidential elections | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/honour-peace-accord-u-s-urges-presidential-candidates.html | 1 |
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | Train your agents before elections, INEC tell political parties | "The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged political parties to utilize the period remaining for the conduct of 2019 general elections to train agents they intend to deploy for the various strands of elections. The commission said the training has become imperative because an agent without knowledge of electoral rules and regulations would be a burden to the party and cannot protect its interest in the polling units. INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, stated this yesterday in Abuja at the 2019 General Elections National Peace Conference, organized by Youngstars Development Initiative (YDI) with support from the National Democratic Institute (NDI)." | colspan | INEC, 2019 general elections, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, YDI, NDI | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/train-your-agents-before-elections-inec-tell-political-parties.html | 1 |
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | Group wants INEC legal dept reorganised | "The Association of Nigerian Youths for Democracy (ANYD) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to reorganise its legal department. It alleged that the department was allying with some political parties, saying this compromised the commission’s independence and impartiality. In a statement signed yesterday by its national president and secretary, Abubakar Gwazo and Olufemi Ayodele respectively, the group urged INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to investigate the allegation and take necessary steps to save the commission’s image and the nation’s democratic process. “Reports we are receiving from across the country indicate that INEC is not living up to that expectation. The INEC legal department from our investigations has been badly indicted of this. We have documented grievances from almost all the political parties all pointing accusing fingers at the legal department of the commission. In particular, the lawyers in the legal department of the commission have formed alliances with different political parties leaving their mandate as an umpire that stands for the truth.""" | colspan | Association of Nigerian Youths for Democracy (ANYD), INEC Legal Department, Abubakar Gwazo, Professor Mahmood Yakubu | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/group-wants-inec-legal-dept-reorganised.html | 1 |
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | 2019 elections will be peaceful in Bayelsa – Police | "The Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa State, Joseph Mukan, says with the collaboration of journalists in reporting objectively, there will be a peaceful conduct of the 2019 general elections in the state. Mukan, stated this yesterday while receiving the leadership of the federated correspondents’ chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state. According to him, if the media properly educate the electorate, especially youths, on the danger of thuggery and violence during elections, they will not yield to the temptation from the political class to involve themselves in violent activities. “Anybody who has the interest of the masses at heart will not cause violence in elections. But with the preparation by INEC and the security agencies, we are optimistic that Bayelsa will have most peaceful election in 2019.”" | colspan | Bayelsa State, Commissioner of Police Joseph Mukan, 2019 elections, NUJ | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/2019-elections-will-be-peaceful-in-bayelsa-police.html | 1 |
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | Yobe Assembly speaker resigns | "The speaker of Yobe State House of Assembly, Adamu Dala Dogo, yesterday, resigned at the floor of the House. A source at the House of Assembly, however told Daily Trust that the speaker’s resignation was to escape an impending impeachment that had dangled for two days. He said that was the second attempt by members to impeach Dala Dogo, recalling that the first move was shelved following the intervention of Governor Ibrahim Gaidam. “Unfortunately for him, the members had refused to honour Gaidam’s intervention this time around; that is why he took the path of honour and helplessly resigned,” he said." | colspan | Yobe State House of Assembly Speaker, Governor ibrahim Gaidam, Dala Dogo | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/yobe-assembly-speaker-resigns.html | 1 |
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | I won’t support APC gov’ship candidate in Oyo – Shittu | "The Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, says he will be a bastard to support the APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu. Shittu said he was defrauded out of the primary election and therefore said he would not support the person that got the ticket. Shittu, who fielded questions from journalists, yesterday, in Abuja said there could be no peace in the Pace Setter State without restitution and justice. The minister was edged out of the contest during screening for not participating in the mandatory NYSC scheme after leaving the university." | colspan | Barrister Adebayo Shittu, Oyo APC governorship candidate, Abuja, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, NYSC | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/i-wont-support-apc-govship-candidate-in-oyo-shittu.html | 1 |
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | NRM presidential candidate unveils policy document | "The presidential candidate of National Rescue Movement (NRM), Usman Ibrahim Alhaji, has unveiled his policy document ahead of the polls. Speaking at the occasion, yesterday, in Abuja, Alhaji who was flanked by the National Working Committee (NWC) members and other stakeholders of the party, said his government would initiate and implement strategic policies that would end the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East and insecurity in other parts of the country." | colspan | National Rescue Movement (NRM), Usman Ibrahim Alhaji, National Working Committee (NWC), Policy Document | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/nrm-presidential-candidate-unveils-policy-document.html | 1 |
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | Amosun shuns APC S/West reconciliatory meeting | "Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State was conspicuously absent at the final leg of the South West reconciliatory meeting of the APC held in Lagos yesterday. The Lagos reconciliatory meeting was expected to listen to grievances from stakeholders from Lagos and Ogun states after similar interventions for those from Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and Oyo states. At the meeting held at the State House, Marina, Lagos, neither Amosun nor any member of his camp was sighted at the reconciliatory meeting. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State who is also a member of the committee, alluded to the crisis rocking the Ogun State chapter of the party and appealed to those aggrieved to accept the overtures extended to them." | colspan | Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Ogun State, APC, SouthWest Reconciliatory meeting, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/amosun-shuns-apc-s-west-reconciliatory-meeting.html | 1 |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | Perpetrators of vote buying should be sanctioned' | "Experts have called for the prosecution of the perpetrators of vote buying in Nigeria to save democracy. Ms. Ayo Obe and Mr. Ezenwa Nwogwu spoke yesterday in Abuja at a roundtable organised by The Electoral Institute (TEI) on ‘Incidence of Vote Buying/Vote Trading: Implications for 2019 General Elections and Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria’" | colspan | Experts, Perpetrators of vote buying, The Electoral Institute (TEI), 2019 general elections | Page 13 | 1 |
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | I lost money sponsoring female deputy gov’ship contenders – Atiku | "The presidential candidate of PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has revealed that he lost a lot of money sponsoring women to be deputy governors in Northern states. Atiku, a former vice president who advised political parties to allot at least 30 per cent of deputy governorship slots to women during an interactive session with a coalition of PDP women yesterday in Abuja, said he had been trying to produce a female deputy governor in any of the Northern states without success. “I have sponsored women as deputy governors. I lost all my money… Up to today I have not succeeded,” he said. “Every time I say let’s have a deputy governor in Kogi State, it wouldn’t work. Let’s have a deputy governor in Taraba State, it wouldn’t work. “The only way is to get the parties to make it mandatory to say a certain percentage of deputy governors should be women; otherwise, if we allow it to evolve on its own, it will take maybe another hundred years,” he said." | colspan | PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, female deputy governorship contenders, Northern States, money | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/i-lost-money-sponsoring-female-deputy-govship-contenders-atiku.html | 1 |
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | Atiku signs 2019 peace deal, asks Buhari to sign electoral bill | "The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 general election, Atiku Abubakar has signed the presidential peace pact in Abuja. Atiku, a former Vice President was absent on Tuesday, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, when the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari and others signed the peace accord. He said he was not invited to the occasion by the National Peace Committee, led by a former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd). Atiku who signed the pact at the Kukah Centre in Abuja, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for accepting to sign the accord, but appealed to the President to also sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law." | colspan | PDP, Peace Accord, Electoral Bill, Atiku, Buhari, APC, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/atiku-signs-2019-peace-deal-asks-buhari-to-sign-electoral-bill.html | 1 |
| Daily Trust Online | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | Sanwo-Olu, Agbaje in social media tirade over Lagos gov’ship | "The candidates of the ruling APC and opposition PDP, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Jimi Agbaje, have engaged in social media ‘war’. This was coming as a group of Yoruba under the aegis of Yoruba Self-Determination Advancement Forum (YOSEDAF) endorsed Agbaje for the governorship of the state. The group is said to be a coalition of over 60 self-determination platforms committed to the political survival and democratic values of the people of the South West geopolitical region comprising Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo states as well as their kith and kin in Kogi, Kwara, Edo and Delta states." | colspan | Sanwo-Olu, Agbaje, APC, PDP, Social Media, YOSEDAF, SouthWest geopolitical zone | https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/sanwo-olu-agbaje-in-social-media-tirade-over-lagos-govship.html | 1 |
| The Guardian.ng | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | Rivers APC won’t field candidates in 2019, court affirms | "The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt yesterday dismissed all appeals by the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the nullification of its primaries. The governorship candidate, Mr. Tonye Cole, state chairman Ojukaye Flag-Amachree and others had filed the appeals challenging the October 10, 2018 judgment of the state High Court, which nullified the party’s congresses and primaries.The Chairman of the appeal panel, Justice Abubakar Datti Yayaha, asserted that the appeals by Cole and others lacked competence and therefore struck them out. The court also held that being a pre-election matter, the suits were filed out of time and were statute-barred. An application by Cole and 48 other candidates of the APC that emerged through the indirect primaries was dismissed on the ground that they could not appeal a matter they were not party to, especially when those persons were already in serial contempt of court." | colspan | Court of Appeal, Rivers State, APC, Mr. Tonye Cole, Justice Abubakar Datti Yahaya, 2019 polls | https://guardian.ng/politics/rivers-apc-wont-field-candidates-in-2019-court-affirms/ | 1 |
| The Guardian.ng | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | INEC assures electorate of card reader usage for 2019 polls | "The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured the electorate that the card readers would be deployed during the 2019 polls.National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu represented by National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voters Education, Festus Okoye, stated this during the national peace conference organised by Youngstars Development Initiative (YDI) in Abuja. He said that the use of card readers was in line with the extant laws on the conduct of elections in the country.The INEC boss, who stated that the recent decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to withhold assent to the Electoral Amendment Bill would not affect the use of card readers at the polls, enjoined the youths to take ownership of the electoral process. He reiterated the commitment of INEC to put in place policies and programmes aimed at ensuring that the elections are held in a free and fair manner.He said notwithstanding the security challenges in some parts of the country, INEC would not relent in its effort to ensure that eligible voters cast their ballots across the country. Yakubu said the commission INEC had procured special cubicles aimed at ensuring secrecy of casting of ballots on Election Day and asked the youths to embark on a vigorous campaign against vote-buying." | colspan | INEC, Card Reader, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Electoral Act Amendment Bill, Buhari, Youths, Voters | https://guardian.ng/politics/inec-assures-electorate-of-card-reader-usage-for-2019-polls/ | 1 |
| The Guardian.ng | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | I’m yet to get National Assembly nod on 2019 budget, says Buhari | "President Muhammadu Buhari says he is yet to get a date from the National Assembly for the presentation of the 2019 appropriation bill.The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, who made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja, explained that sequel to the Federal Executive Council’s (FEC) approval at a special session last Friday, the president was ready to present the fiscal document to a joint session of the parliament. Buhari had last week transmitted the budget proposals to the legislature, but the minister noted that the delay was due to the inability of the federal lawmakers to give their green light for the presentation. Udoma, who was briefing State House Correspondents alongside his Information and Transportation counterparts, Lai Mohammed, and Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, after the end of the FEC meeting presided over by the president, said his boss was prepared for the exercise, insisting that the choice of date falls within the purview of the legislators. He said: “As you already know, the budget is ready. We are liaising with the National Assembly because they are to give us a date. If they say today, we will go.”" | colspan | Buhari, 2019 Budget, National Assembly, Federal Executive Council (FEC), Lawmakers | https://guardian.ng/news/im-yet-to-get-national-assembly-nod-on-2019-budget-says-buhari/ | 1 |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | Delta House of Assembly passes N27.5bn extra budget | "The Delta State House of Assembly has passed a supplementary budget of N27.5 billion for the state government services in the 2018 fiscal year. The bill was passed during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Sheriff Oborevbori, following a report by Vice Chairman, House Committee on Esdtablishments, Ethics, Privileges and House Services, Peter Uviejitobor. " | colspan | Delta State House of Assembly, Extra Budget, 2018 fiscal year | Page 7 | 1 |
| The Guardian.ng | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | With 2015 popularity, Buhari will win upcoming poll, APC chief affirms | "The All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Deputy National Organising Secretary, Muhammed Sani, has promised that President Muhammadu Buhari will repeat his popularity in 2015 to win the upcoming poll. Sani, who spoke at the party’s campaign in Kaduna, urged Nigerians to support the president and Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, as well as other APC candidates to consolidate on the dividends of democracy. The party presented flags to Senatorial, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly candidates as it kicked off its campaigns at the Kaduna Township Stadium. The national deputy organising secretary said the leadership of the APC is impressed with El-Rufai’s performance.“We are counting on the millions of votes from the state for the re-election of President Buhari in 2019 polls. Kaduna State voted massively for APC in 2015, and I am convinced that the votes in 2019 will be higher,” he said.On his part, Kaduna APC Deputy Chairman, Shuaibu Idris, told the opposition parties that there are no vacancies in the Presidential Villa and Kaduna State Government House. According to him, the current occupants have performed credibly well and need no replacement in 2019." | colspan | APC, Muhammad Sani, 2019 general elections, Buhari, Kaduna State | https://guardian.ng/politics/with-2015-popularity-buhari-will-win-upcoming-poll-apc-chief-affirms/ | 1 |
| The Guardian.ng | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | This is Atiku’s time to become president, says Benue governor Ortom | "Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom says time has come for the standard-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, to become president of Nigeria.He made the declaration yesterday at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi when the North Central Women Unite for Atiku, led by its President, Mrs. Dorcas Din, visited him. The governor noted that when God permits, nobody objects, stressing that it is time for Atiku to lead Nigeria, as all things were working towards his success. Ortom, who is the North Central Coordinator of Atiku/Obi Presidential Campaign Organisation, said the PDP candidate has the capacity to provide purposeful leadership for Nigerians. The governor said it was hypocritical and deceitful for the APC-led Federal Government to demonise opposition members by sending anti-graft agencies after them, only for the same people to become “saints” when they join the APC. Mrs. Din said the women had fared badly in the past three years under the APC administration at the federal level, and would not want to remain like that for the next four years." | colspan | Samuel Ortom, Atiku, PDP, APC, North Central Coordinator of Atiku/Obi Presidential Campaign Organisation | https://guardian.ng/politics/this-is-atikus-time-to-become-president-says-benue-governor-ortom/ | 1 |
| The Guardian.ng | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | AD candidate flays debate for five parties | "Presidential candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Eniola Ojajuni, has condemned the plan of the Nigerian Elections Debate Group (NEDG) and the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) to conduct debate for only five political parties ahead of next year’s general election, describing it as undemocratic and a threat to credible polls. NEDG and BON yesterday released the names of political parties that will be participating in the presidential debates.A statement signed by the executive secretary of NEDG, Eddi Emesiri, listed Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Young Progressives Party (YPP) as participants in the debate. Ojajuni, while demanding that NEDG and BON publicly declare the criteria used for selecting the participants, said that the decision would limit the choice and decision of the electorate. The AD candidate’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Adesola Ikulajolu, stated yesterday: “It is unacceptable, ridiculous and undemocratic to allow some candidates to participate in the presidential debate, leaving others out.”" | colspan | Alliance for Democracy (AD), Eniola Ojajuni, NEDG, BON, ANN, ACPN, APC, PDP, YPP, Presidential and VP Debate | https://guardian.ng/politics/ad-candidate-flays-debate-for-five-parties/ | 1 |
| The Guardian.ng | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | Elections Debate Group is APC agenda, Olawepo-Hashim insists | "By excluding the presidential candidate of Peoples Trust (PT), Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, from the Presidential Debate by the National Elections Debate Group and Broadcasting Organisatio of Nigeria (BON), the organisers have shown the project as part of the agenda of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to interfere with the 2019 election. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim Campaign Organisation (GOHCO), which condemned the exclusion of their principal from the scheduled Presidential Debate, alleged that the method adopted in selecting candidates not only lacked objectivity, but also showed bias and underlined the anti-democratic agenda of APC. In a statement by Mr. Hassan Ibrahim, spokesperson of the candidate, GOHCO disclosed that PT had long indicated interest to participate in the debate, but regretted the exclusion of its candidate despite the fact that he remains among the top three candidates from all surveys. GOHCO contended that it is its hope that the debating group is not working in cahoots with the ruling APC to downplay the party’s strides with its spread across the country. It noted that PT and its presidential candidate, Mr. Olawepo-Hashim, recently emerged top among the nearly 28 newly registered political parties fielding candidates for political positions for next year’s presidential elections, with 194 persons running on its platform." | colspan | Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, People's Trust (PT), APC, Debate, BON, NEDG, GOHCO | https://guardian.ng/politics/elections-debate-group-is-apc-agenda-olawepo-hashim-insists/ | 1 |
| The Guardian.ng | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | Lamido welcomes 2000 APC defectors to Jigawa PDP | "Citing inability of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to fulfill its electioneering promises, more than 2000 members of the party have defected en masse to the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The mostly young poiliticians, who were led by an APC stalwart in Limawa ward, Alhaji Umaru Makama Galamawa, decried the ruling party’s resort to lies and propaganda to cover ineptitude and lack of focused leadership. Galamawa praised the simplicity and humility of PDP candidate for Jigawa Central Senatorial District, Mustapha Sule Lamido, saying they were interested in working with him to redefine leadership in Jigawa State. Receiving the defectors at Limawa ward, Dutse Local Government Council of the state, Lamido Jnr expressed optimism that with the harvest of APC defectors into the party, PDP was as good as winning the 2019 general election.He noted that being a youth as the defectors, he was glad to identify with the youths and hopes to get victory at the polls, adding that the new members would receive equal treatment as other stakeholders. He stated: “It is time for youths to actively participate in politics because the ruling party is fully prepared to offer a different perspective in governance to eradicate poverty, hunger and frustration that has become commonplace in the country.”" | colspan | APC, PDP, Defectors, Jigawa State, Lamido Jr | https://guardian.ng/politics/lamido-welcomes-2000-apc-defectors-to-jigawa-pdp/ | 1 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | Abia 2019: I’m the Governorship Candidate to Beat, Nwagba Warns Opponents | "The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Abia State, Mrs. Blessing Nwagba, has said she was most suitable candidate running for the governorship position in the 2019 general election that would deliver the change needed in the state. Nwagba stated that she would anchor the governance of the state on three pillars-economic revitalisation, infrastructural transformation and social development-adding that time was ripe for total emancipation of the state from bad governance. In a statement made available to THISDAY yesterday, Nwagba, who spoke in Umuahia, the state capital during the official opening of her campaign office, pointed out that Abia leaders would be deceiving themselves to believe that there was still enough time to develop the state if they continued with the same ritual of recycling the leaders that have neglected the development of the state. According to her, “I have seen the rising poverty like none other. I have seen industries crumble, and businesses taxed and levied to their own death. I have seen our young people go from being industrious and savvy to sycophants rallying around politicians for cheap handouts. “I have seen our hopes and aspiration dashed. A child born in Abia State today is taking a big gamble, being left behind by the rest of Nigeria and the world." | colspan | SDP goverorship candidate, Mrs.Blessing Nwagba, Abia State, opponents | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/12/13/abia-2019-im-the-governorship-candidate-to-beat-nwagba-warns-opponents/ | 1 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | INEC Creates Framework on IDPs Voting in 15 States | "As part of its commitment to inclusivity in the electoral process, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is targeting 15 states where it plans to conduct 2019 elections for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Its National Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, disclosed this Wednesday at a Stakeholders’ Validation Conference on IDPs Voting in Nigeria, saying that the electoral body created the policy framework to guide the conduct of IDPs voting operations and bring the IDPs communities into the voting net. Yakubu stressed that in 2015 general elections, the commission had a framework, such as the one day for IDP voting, which he said enabled the commission to accord Nigerians the opportunity to vote essentially in three states of the North-east of the country, Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. The chairman stated, “This time around, it appears that displacement resulting in a number of citizens, not residing in places where they were ordinarily registered to vote, has led to much wider displacement. “We interacted with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), at the moment, we are looking at about 15 states, for a variety of reasons citizens are not living in their natural and normal places of domicile.""" | colspan | INEC, IDPs, 15 States, 2019 general elections, NorthEast, RECs | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/12/13/inec-creates-framework-on-idps-voting-in-15-states/ | 1 |
| ThisDaylive Online | Thursday, December 13, 2018 | Senate Passes Bill for Establishment of South East Development Commission | "The Senate Wednesday passed the Bill for the establishment of South East Development Commission as a catalyst to develop the commercial potentials of the geo-political zone. The upper chamber of the National Assembly also confirmed the appointment of Mrs. Ronke Sokefun, and five others as Chairman and members of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, (NDIC). The Bill for the establishment of the Commission, which was co-sponsored by Senators Samuel Anyanwu (Imo West) and Stella Oduah ( Anambra North), went through the third reading and was passed at plenary that was presided over by Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, Senator Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa Central), had in his presentation of the 22-page report for the establishment of the Commission, enjoined his colleagues to ensure the quick passage of the two-year old Bill so as to fasttrack the development of the zone and address the ecological problems facing the five states that make up the South East region." | colspan | South East Development Commission, Senate, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Commission (NDIC), Samuel Anyanwu, Stella Oduah | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/12/13/senate-passes-bill-for-establishment-of-south-east-development-commission/ | 1 |