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<h1>A group, Kwara Coalition for Good Governance and Accountability (Kwara-CGGA), on Tuesday criticised the statement credited to the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, that the outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly elections did not reflect the wishes of the Kwarans.</h1>

Hassan Omoiya, the Secretary General of the group, noted in a statement in Ilorin on Tuesday, that contrary to Sen. Saraki’s claim, the people of Kwara have spoken with one voice to retire him from Kwara politics.

“PDP’s claim that the card readers did not work in most part of Kwara and that the defeat it suffered emanated from over-voting was a reckless lie from politicians and a party not willing to admit their pathetic records with the people,” he said.

Omoiya added that the rumour that the PDP would win the Saturday’s polls by all means “suggests that the party was doing everything to thwart the wishes of the voters in connivance with some electoral officials.

“We hereby warn electoral officials and security agencies to avoid anything that could provoke people already pushed to the wall,” Omoiya said.

According to Omoiya, one would have expected the Senate President and the PDP to do in-house introspection on how and why they were routed in the presidential and National Assembly polls.

“Instead, what we have seen are a party and a leader neck-deep in self-denial and refusal to acknowledge their persistent maltreatment of the people of the state.

“How can a leader and a party notorious for their vainglorious attitude to governance expect not to be punished by the voters?

“As many right thinking analysts have observed, the so-called Saraki’s political machine is effective only through election rigging as was seen in the Offa rerun of 2012 and the Kwara State local government elections of 2017.

“The 2019 elections were, therefore, the litmus test of their popularity with the voters. The rest, as they say, is now history.

“With the attempt to insult the populace by saying they didn’t vote to teach Saraki and his followers a bitter lesson, the PDP and the discredited dynasty should expect more humiliation at the poll this Saturday,” Omoiya added.

Hassan Omoiya, the Secretary General of the group, noted in a statement in Ilorin on Tuesday, that contrary to Sen. Saraki’s claim, the people of Kwara have spoken with one voice to retire him from Kwara politics.

Group faults Saraki’s statement on outcome of Presidential, NASS elections in Kwara

<h1>The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kwara, Malam Garba Attahiru-Madami, says the commission has taken delivery of all sensitive materials for Saturday’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections.</h1>

Attahiru-Madami told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ilorin that all the sensitive materials were in the custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He added that officials of the commission would commence sorting the materials on Wednesday in the open within the premises of the CBN.

The REC added that the sorting of sensitive materials would be done in the presence of representatives of political parties, security agencies, election observers and the media.

NAN reports that the sensitive materials included ballot papers, Form EC 8 and result sheet form.

The REC said that after sorting of the materials, they would be moved to the various local governments accompanied by armed security personnel.

Attahiru-Madami said non sensitive materials like ballot boxes, ink, stamp pads and other items had earlier been moved to the 16 local governments.

The REC added that all the sensitive materials would be kept at the Divisional Police Headquarters in each local government headquarters.

According to him, the sensitive materials would be moved to the 193 Registration Centres (RACs) on Friday evening where they would be sorted out according to various polling units in the open glare of representatives of political parties and security personnel.

Attahiru-Madami assured the people of the state that INEC would conduct credible and internationally accepted governorship and House of Assembly elections on Saturday.

Postponement: Niger INEC retrieves sensitive materials from LGAs to CBN

NAN reports that the sensitive materials included ballot papers, Form EC 8 and result sheet form.

Elections: INEC in Kwara receives sensitive materials

<h1>A group, Kwara Coalition for Good Governance and Accountability (Kwara-CGGA), has called on the people of the state not to trust Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed on his promise to pay the N30,000 minimum wage to workers.</h1>

The Secretary General of the group, Hassan Omoiya, on Wednesday in Ilorin described the said Memorandum of Understanding the governor signed with labour leaders as a political campaign gimmick.

According to Omoiya, neither Ahmed nor his political family has a history of honouring agreements.

He said: “The MOU is a familiar campaign gimmick from a governor who couldn’t faithfully implement the N18,000 National Minimum Wage.

“It is one thing to make a promise. It is another thing for the person making the promise to honour the promise.

“Of course, the governor doesn’t have any record of fulfilling any pact with not just labour but the entire people of Kwara.

“If you can’t pay N18,000 minimum wages, how do you plan to pay N30, 000? ”

The group called on the governor to first implement the N18, 000 minimum wage, including the arrears since 2011, before focusing on the N30,000 proposed wage.

"What is the worth of an MOU that is certain to be ignored? If you can’t pay minimum wage with N190 billion budget, how would you pay it through a budget of N150 billion ?

“It is a case of wanting to fool the people twice. Our people are no fools,” Omoiya added.

According to him, several categories of workers in Kwara are being owed up to 11 months in salaries, pensions and gratuities.

“These include but not limited to workers across local governments, water corporation, sports council, Harmony Transport Service and Kwara Football Academy.

“The truth is that the people of Kwara are completely fed up with the deceitful political tendency that Gov.Ahmed represents,” he said.

The Secretary General of the group, Hassan Omoiya, on Wednesday in Ilorin described the said Memorandum of Understanding the governor signed with labour leaders as a political campaign gimmick.

Minimum wage: Don’t trust Gov. Ahmed, group tells Kwarans

<h1>Malam Garba Attahiru-Madami, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Kwara, has advised students of the University of Ilorin to shun violence during and after the forthcoming general elections in the state.</h1>

Attaihiru-Madami gave the advice on Tuesday in Ilorin while addressing students of the university on the coming general elections in the state.

“You should refuse to be used as political thugs to foment trouble before, during and after the elections.

“Tell the politicians who approach you to be their thugs to make use of their children,” he said.

According to him, students are very vulnerable and can easily be lured with money to cause trouble during the elections.

The REC also appealed to the students not to campaign for any political party within the premises of the polling units.

Attahiru-Madami warned that any student caught campaigning on the day of the election would be arrested and prosecuted.

He said students should go to the polling units on Election Day with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to cast their votes for candidates of their choice and be peaceful.

REC called on students, who were yet collect their PVCs to do so, on or before Feb 8, the last day for the exercise.

“Your PVC is your weapon to elect leaders of your choice, leaders that will bring dividends of democracy to you.”

He assured the university community of INEC readiness to conduct free, fair, credible and acceptable elections which would be adjudged the best in the country.

The REC also admonished them against selling their PVCs for any amount, saying that if they should trade their PVCs for paltry sum of money, they would be mortgaging their future.

He disclosed that 1, 130, 266 PVCs had so far been collected out of the 1, 406, 457 registered PVCs in the state.

Attahiru-Madami expressed optimism that sizeable number out of the remaining 277, 184 uncollected PVCs would be collected before the Feb 8 deadline for the exercise.

He also said that on Election Day, no camera or phone would be allowed into the voting cubicle.

According to REC,voters will leave their phones with the Presiding Officers and collect same back after dropping their ballot papers.

“Food is not allowed in the premises of the polling areas, voters are advised to eat before coming to vote.

“This is to discourage vote buying by politicians, because bringing food to voters at the polling units amounts to influencing voters to vote for their candidates.”

The REC also said that no vehicle would be allowed at the polling units, adding that politicians might capitalise on that to bring money in the vehicle to buy voters.

Attaihiru-Madami gave the advice on Tuesday in Ilorin while addressing students of the university on the coming general elections in the state. 

INEC cautions students against violence during elections

<h1>The Commissioner of Police in Kwara, Bashir Makama, says no vigilance group would be allowed on the streets on election days.</h1>

The commissioner made this known on Thursday in Ilorin while speaking at a stakeholders meeting organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2019 general elections.

On election, I dont want to see any vigilante member in uniform parading the streets in Kwara, he said.

The commissioner also warned politicians not to wear or put on any insignia of political party on election day.

According to Makama, any politician caught will face the wrath of the law.

Canvassing and soliciting for votes and wearing of a party insignia in polling areas will not be allowed, he said.

The commissioner further warned politicians to caution their supporters against violence on election day.

Any political thug arrested on election day would be made to face the music with their sponsors, Makama said.

Makama gave an assurance that the police would provide adequate personnel to accompany INEC staff and sensitive materials to voting and collation centres.

He also said offering food to voters at polling centres would not be allowed as this would amount to inducement.

The NYSC Coordinator in Kwara, Mrs Esther Kupolati, assured the stakeholders of the readiness of the corps to participate fully in the elections.

She, however, appealed to all stakeholders to ensure the safety of corps members that would participate as ad-hoc staff during the elections.

Kupolati said corps members constituted more than 50 per cent of the ad-hoc staff INEC would use for the elections.

She appealed to parties and their candidates not to offer inducement to the corps members.

The IPAC Chairman in the state, Abdulmumuni Onagun, pledged the support of all political parties to the success of the elections in the state.

Onagun, who is also the state chairman of Labour Party, said all the 29 political parties that signed a peace accord would abide by it.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was attended by representatives of security agencies, leaders of political parties, members of civil society organisations, religious leaders and persons living with disabilities.

Also in attendance were international observers from the European Union, local observers and representatives of the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission, NURTW and NOA.

The commissioner made this known on Thursday in Ilorin while speaking at a stakeholders meeting organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Police to ban vigilance groups on election days in Kwara

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