STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE RESULTS OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2015

Fellow Nigerians,

I thank you all for turning out en-masse for the March
28 General Elections.

I promised the country free and fair elections. I have
kept my word. I have also expanded the space for
Nigerians to participate in the democratic process. That
is one legacy I will like to see endure.

Although some people have expressed mixed feelings
about the results announced by the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC), I urge those who
may feel aggrieved to follow due process based on our
constitution and our electoral laws, in seeking redress.

As I have always affirmed, nobody’s ambition is worth
the blood of any Nigerian. The unity, stability and
progress of our dear country is more important than
anything else.

I congratulate all Nigerians for successfully going
through the process of the March 28th General
Elections with the commendable enthusiasm and
commitment that was demonstrated nationwide.

I also commend the Security Services for their role in
ensuring that the elections were mostly peaceful and
violence-free.

To my colleagues in the PDP, I thank you for your
support. Today, the PDP should be celebrating rather
than mourning. We have established a legacy of
democratic freedom, transparency, economic growth and free and fair elections.

For the past 16 years, we have steered the country
away from ethnic and regional politics. We created a
Pan-Nigerian political party and brought home to our
people the realities of economic development and social
transformation.

Through patriotism and diligence, we have built the
biggest and most patriotic party in Nigerian history.

We must stand together as a party and look to the future with renewed optimism.

I thank all Nigerians once again for the great
opportunity I was given to lead this country and assure you that I will continue to do my best at the helm of national affairs until the end of my tenure.

I have conveyed my personal best wishes to General
Muhammadu Buhari.

May God Almighty continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

I thank you all.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria
March 31, 2015

Food For Thought!!!

The presidential elections may have come and gone in Nigeria, but history will always remember this day.

It's the day #change was born.

While the sheers and jubilations continue, it's important to reiterate in the words of Gowon in 1970 that there is "no victor and no vanquished" in this elections. It's victory for democracy. And Nigerians should indeed be proud.

Jonathan is a true statesman with a large heart. His humility in accepting such an epic defeat is incredible. He deserves loads of respect and not insults; because really he is the biggest agent of #change.

Kudos to the "incorruptible" INEC boss. Surely a lot of
questions will always arise about his neutrality in this
election but his calmness and coordination leaves me
breathless. This guy is got balls!

And to the retired General, i salute your courage. You have redefined the word perseverance and history never forgets men like you.

We will start counting your 4years soon. And make no
mistake about it; you will be thrown out of Aso rock in 2019
unless you perform...boys are not smiling.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria

#change

Food For Thought!!!

The presidential elections may have come and gone, but
history will always remember this day.

It's the day #change was born.

While the sheers and jubilations continue, it's important to reiterate in the words of Gowon in 1970 that there is "no victor and no vanquished" in this elections. It's victory for democracy. And Nigerians should indeed be proud.

Jonathan is a true statesman with a large heart. His humility in accepting such an epic defeat is incredible. He deserves loads of respect and not insults; because really he is the biggest agent of #change.

Kudos to the "incorruptible" INEC boss. Surely a lot of
questions will always arise about his neutrality in this
election but his calmness and coordination leaves me
breathless. This guy is got balls!

And to the retired General, i salute your courage. You have redefined the word perseverance and history never forgets men like you.

We will start counting your 4years soon. And make no
mistake about it; you will be thrown out of Aso rock in 2019
unless you perform...boys are not smiling.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria

#change

Police arrest man with snatched 300 PVC, others in Ebonyi

ABAKALIKI- MIDDLE aged man, Ozemena Odeta among others have been arrested at Ekawoke Ward in Ikwo local government area of the state while distributing Permanent Voters Cards, PVC allegedly snatched from Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC staff during the last distribution exercise in the area.

Addressing newsmen immediately after his accreditation, the state Deputy Coordinator, Goodluck/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organization, Ambassador Franklin Ogbuewu stated that the suspect disappeared from the community after stealing the cards but resurfaced during the election.

He noted that the suspect was arrested by the police when he was allegedly distributing the PVC to voters who agreed to vote the candidate of his choice.

According to Ogbuewu, the reports reaching him from
different parts of the state has it that the Card Reader
failed to authenticate most voters.

“I want to inform you that the person that snatched about 300 PVCs from INEC staff during the last distribution exercise has been arrested by the police; you see immediately after the theft, the guy disappeared from the community but resurfaced during the election”.

A police source which further confirmed the development added that the police in the area had commenced investigation into the matter to ascertain the involvement of any other suspects

Jonathan accredited using old manual system

President Goodluck Jonathan turned up Saturday to accredit himself and his wife Patience for his re-election bid but problems with new voting technology forced to him to temporarily abandon his plans but was later accredited using old manual system.

The incumbent leader, who is seeking a second term of office, arrived at his hometown polling station of Otuoke in southern Bayelsa state at about 0820 GMT to begin the accreditation process.

But handheld technology being used for the first time to “read” biometric voter identity cards apparently
malfunctioned, forcing Jonathan to stand around in the
scorching heat before leaving.

The 57-year-old, whose ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised concerns about the technology and election officials’ ability to use it, acknowledged that “there may be an issue”.

But he joked, “Maybe it’s me?” while calling for patience. “If I can endure, you see my sweat? I plead with all Nigerians to be patient, no matter the pains we take,” he told reporters outside the polling station.

“It’s the first time we are using this technology, PVCs
(permanent voters card), card readers,” he said, adding that he was “not worried”, despite reports of difficulties in other states across the country.

Jonathan later returned and was accredited using the old manual system.

“Because it’s new, anything new must have its challenges,” he said, adding that he would return again once voting proper gets under way from about 1230 GMT.

The main opposition candidate for the presidency
Muhammadu Buhari, whose party backs the technology, had no problem getting accredited in his hometown of Daura, in northern Katsina state.

But one polling station in Abuja suffered major delays, with the readers struggling to confirm voters’ fingerprints, an AFP reporter said.

There were also problems in the north’s biggest city of Kano, where tensions rose among thousands of voters who had been waiting for both election officials and materials to turn up.

“We’ve been here since six o’clock and now it’s half-past nine,” fumed Ismail Omar, a 65-year-old builder.

“No one has shown up from INEC (the Independent National Electoral Commission).

“They told us accreditation will start at eight then end at one, and so far we think something is fishy. This is a deliberate attempt to sabotage the elections.”

Another voter, Mohammed Awwal, added: “We don’t want to fight anyone but are ready to die to defend our rights.

“This is our fundamental right that is being denied for
whatever reason. We will not leave here until we are
accredited and then allowed to vote.”

Obasanjo, Adeyeye, Alao-Akala happy over accreditation exercise

FormerPresident Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed
satisfaction over the accreditation process in Abeokuta, the Ogun capital. Obasanjo expressed his view at his Ward 11, Unit 22, Olusomi Compound Polling Centre at Oke – Sokori in Abeokuta where he was accredited for the election.

The former president, who arrived the centre at about 10. 10 a.m. was accredited between 10.16 a.m. and 10. 17 a.m. Obasanjo told newsmen after his accreditation that he was impressed with the process and the orderly conduct of the people. “What I have seen here is satisfactory and I have also received similar views expressed by people I have talked to.

“I do hope that the same peaceful situation that obtains here will prevail in other parts of the country.

“We must allay the fears of those people who thought there will be violence or disturbance regarding this election. “So I appeal to all Nigerians to maintain the peaceful process that we have had so far,” he said.

Obasanjo urged those who could not obtain their PVCs to be calm, adding that such situation did not confer on them any right to be violent. He advised them to be patient, expressing the hope that this would be redressed before the April 11 elections.

Obasanjo, who commended INEC, observed
that it was not possible to have a perfect situation.
Similarly, the Minister of State for Works, Mr Dayo Adeyeye, has expressed delight over the turnout for the election. The minister, who spoke at his Ise-Ekiti country home, expressed delight over the turnout, attributing the development to massive mobilisation efforts. The minister also commended the people of the state over the peaceful manner in which they had conducted themselves.

In Ogbomoso, a former governor of Oyo State, Otunba Alao-Akala, has also expressed satisfaction with the
turn out for the poll. He spoke at his Unit 13, Sabo/Taara Polling Unit after being accredited. But Hon.

Mulikat Akande-Adeokola, the Majority Leader in the House of Representatives, lamented the slow
pace of the accreditation process. Akande-Adeola, who attributed this to the card reader, expressed the fear that it may disenfranchise some potential voters. She, however, expressed happiness over the peaceful manner the exercise was being conducted.

INEC’s arrangement “excellent ” – Buhari

BY ISIAKA OYIBO
KATSINA – THE All Progressives Congress APC, Presidential
candidate, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari Saturday said his
administration would run an all inclusive government if he emerges victorious at the polls.

Gen Buhari said his administration would operate in such a way that every ones interests would be brought to bear irrespective of party differences.

Clan in a White Buba riga with a cap to mach, Gen. Buhari arrived the Sarkinyara ward A Kaafar Baru 0003 polling unit  to a large tumultuous crowds was accredited at exactly 9,30 am.

Security personnel’s had hectic moments controlling the surging crowds as they made desperate attempt to have a glance of Buhari.

I think am satisfied with the whole process so far. Let me use this opportunity to call on my surppoters to remain calm and conduct themselves in the most peaceable manner throughout the elections

The APC presidential candidate expressed happiness   over what he described as “excellent “‘ arrangement put in place by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the polls.

“From what I have seen on ground here to me indicates the electoral body has really braced” he said.
Meanwhile, accreditation of voters for the elections went on peacefully with eligible voters cueing up as early as 8,am in their large numbers.