Gwoza recapture: Journalist Ahmad Salkida questions military claim

Journalist Ahmad Salkida who has extensively covered the sect activities asked some interesting questions on twitter today after the Nigerian military released a statement (with photos), saying they'd recaptured Gwoza from Boko Haram. See more tweets after the cut...

Election results will be announced 48 hours after election - Jega

INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega says that results from tomorrow's general election will be announced 48 hours after the elections have been concluded. So expect results on Monday March 30. He said this during a joint press briefing with the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. Gen. Johnson Olawumi in Abuja today March 27th. “For the 2015 elections, we should be able to declare results nationally within 48 hours. Our aim is to im‎prove upon our performance in 2011,” he said

OPC, EX-Militants in Military Uniforms to Attacks Opposition - APC

The All Progressives Congress has raised the alarm that ethnic militias and ex-militants, now wear fake police and army uniforms in order to unleash mayhem on the opposition and disrupt voting, especially in the South-West without hindrance. In a statement in Lagos on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said Oodua Peoples Congress members were sighted at Owu -Elepe in Ikorodu Local Government Area on Friday morning, changing into fake police and army uniforms. The party said the development confirmed the alarm earlier raised by the party that fake uniforms of security agencies were being sewn in the capital city of a South-West state. It also said the ex-militants had been issued with fake military uniforms and deployed in some areas of Lagos, especially in the Lekki-Ajah axis, to foment trouble. APC said the ex-militants in military uniforms were moving around in unmarked private vehicles, and their assignments were being facilitated by security agencies. It said, ”In his national broadcast to the nation on Friday morning, President (Goodluck) Jonathan said he was under oath to protect the lives of all Nigerians and the security of the country at all times. How can he do that when his supporters have engaged the services of ethnic militias, whom they have clothed in police and military uniforms, to engage in violence and election manipulations? ”If indeed the President means what he said, when he warned, in his broadcast, that ‘all necessary measures have been put in place to ensure that any persons, who breach the peace or cause public disorder during or after the elections are speedily apprehended and summarily dealt with according to our laws’, then he should immediately call his supporters to order and direct the security agencies to arrest those going around in fake police and military uniforms,” APC said. Meanwhile, the party has also alerted the nation to what he called the ‘brazen actions to rig the elections in Rivers State’, where all original results sheets have been removed and photocopied to pave the way for the PDP to write fake results of the elections in the state. It alleged similar moves to manipulate the elections and engage in massive thumb printing, starting on Friday evening, with purchased PVCs, which it added was also taking place not just in Rivers but in the South-East. APC said the APC agent at the INEC office in the Port Harcourt, Emma Edeeyah, was arrested this morning without cause. ”These developments are worrisome and do not bode well for a free, fair, transparent and peaceful election. We are therefore calling on local and international observers to pay a close attention to these desperate measures aimed at thwarting the will of the people,” APC said.

Read Buhari's Last Message to Nigerians Before Election Day

Dear Compatriots, Time For Nigeria To Be Great Once Again I want to take this last opportunity, before we go to the polls on Saturday March 28 and April 11 respectively, to thank everyone who has supported our campaigns. I am humbled and grateful to have had the opportunity to meet so many of my fellow Nigerians who have helped to carry the message of change across our great country. At no other time in our history is Nigeria in such an urgent need of strong and competent leadership. Sadly, at no other time is this leadership so sorely absent in our country. We live in a time of great opportunities and great peril. It is only a leader that understands these in equal measure that can find the rightful place for Nigeria among the great Nations of the world. I have travelled extensively around Nigeria in the last three months. In the course of my travels, I encountered directly, what I have always believed: that a Hausa man’s desire for security is not different from the Ijaw woman’s desire to feel secured in any part of our country. An Igbo woman’s desire for her children to get quality education and find employment is not different from the Yoruba man’s dream for his children to become a useful member of our society. A wife’s desperate need for affordable and quality healthcare for her husband diagnosed with prostate cancer in Enugu is not different from a husband’s desire to save the life of his wife diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Lagos. Invariably, our fears are the same; our dreams are the same; and our problems are the same. Regardless of the language we speak, or the way we understand and worship God, what affects anyone of us, affects everyone of us. Our economy is celebrated as the largest in Africa, yet our country is home to the continent’s highest number of people living in extreme poverty. Our youth population is larger than the combined population of many of our neighbours, yet our failure to plan and create opportunities for them is turning them to a social time bomb rather than economic catalysts. A band of ragtag terrorist group has threatened our territorial integrity, killed thousands of Nigerians, displaced our people and abducted our children. The almost 60, 000 Nigerians who have become refugees in neighbouring countries represent a budding threat to sub-regional stability. Recent fall in international price of crude leaves us badly exposed and vulnerable. Dwindling oil revenue also means that we are going to face serious financial challenges in the months ahead. However, even as daunting as this appears, it also provides us with great opportunity to diversify our economy and finally give meaning to the widely held belief that our prosperity as a nation would not continue to depend on the resources buried under our feet, but on the productive capacity of our people. No matter how much resources we have, if not properly utilized, it would only create a few billionaires and leave majority of our people in poverty. Under the current administration, corruption has enjoyed unprecedented prosperity and this has been at the heart of most of our government failings, including insecurity, broken infrastructure and growing inequality in our country. My government will have a zero tolerance for corruption. I will set a personal example and run a government that truly serves the people rather than serve themselves and a privileged few. Like I have repeatedly maintained that if Nigeria does not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. We must not allow Nigeria to die. Therefore, we must do all that is necessary to root out this evil that has reduced our great country to a laughing stock of the world. We must begin to rebuild the social fabrics of our society and teach a different experience to our youth in the values of hard work, discipline, integrity and service. The change that I seek therefore; is a change from the current regime of mindless of corruption and profligacy; a change from fear and insecurity to peace and stability; a change from religious and ethnic divisiveness to unity, equity and justice. This is the change that my party stands for. This is the change that I am committed to bringing about as President. Give me the chance to lead you in rebuilding a Nigeria that all of us can be proud of once again. As we come out to vote on Saturday, I appeal to all Nigerians to shun violence in whatever form. It is the right of every adult Nigerian to vote and expect that their votes would count in a free, fair and credible election. However, we also have a responsibility to respect the choice of others and grant them the same treatment that we expect. I also want to call on all our men and women in uniform, the Judiciary, and all others who have constitutional responsibility to safeguard our democracy, to remember that their responsibility is primarily to Nigerians and the survival of Nigeria. They must therefore not allow anyone to use them to subvert the will of the Nigerian people. I believe that their dreams and aspirations are not different from those of other Nigerians. I have no doubt that with God being on our side; together we can make our country great once again. Gen. Muhammadu BUHARI, GCFR

BREAKING NEWS: Gbemi Saraki dumps Jonathan for Buhari

Barely 24 hours to the presidential election, a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kwara State and former Senator, Gbemisola Saraki has declared support for the candidacy of All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd). There‎ have been widespread speculations about her defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). ‎Senator Gbemisola who is the first daughter of Second Republic Senate Leader, Late Dr Olusola Saraki was quoted to have ordered thousands of her supporters to go out with brooms on Saturday to sweep Kwara State and Nigeria clean. ‎The meeting was held on Friday at her residence in Ilorin.

Her open declaration of support for the APC and its candidates would definitely boost the chances of the party in Kwara State.

Senator Gbemisola’s open support for the APC ‎has heightened worries within the PDP fold that President Goodluck Jonathan may fail to gather the minimum of 25% of the total votes cast in Kwara State as earlier projected by the party.

INEC Begins Distribution Of Electoral Materials (Photos)

INEC materials being moved to various local government and wards ahead of tomorrow’s elections. Please vote and don’t fight.

Trailer Load Of Jonathan/sambo Rice Involved In Accident [See Photo]

A trailer load of Jonathan/Sambo rice involved in accident yesterday, Very sad. Hope there were no fatalities,

President Goodluck Jonathan Will Win On Saturday - Abdullahi Maibasira

Abdullahi Hussaini MaiBasira is the National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Director of Youth Mobilisation of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization. He recently talked to journalists on the youth preparation of this month’s general elections and how well the PDP’s Youth wing has prepared and galvanised support for President Jonathan's re-election nationwide.

Q. What is the focus of the youth wing of your party in this month's general election? As youth leader of my party, our present focus and direction is simply that candidates of our party should emerge victorious at all levels at the polls. Our work is to mobilize and ensure the re-election of Mr. President and to principally galvanise youth support nationwide. Q. The Directorate of Youths have been traveling round the Country galvanising the Youths for the President, What is the response of Youths based on your interactions country wide? Yes, we held several side-line programs for the campaigns. We held town hall meetings in Sokoto, Niger, Kogi, Calabar, Owerri, Akure, Ilorin, Lagos, Kaduna and our other officers were detailed to Adamawa, Taraba, Plateau and Nasarawa. We also did stop overs in Zamfara, Kebbi and Ekiti. Some of these were youth regional meetings while some were States. We engaged youths on social media through the “PDPyouthtweetmeet” with over 2.3 million reach, We also mobilized members of the Youth Campaign Committee for all the Presidential Campaign rallies. The 2015 Youth Campaign Committee will go down in history as one with the most assembly of youth and student leaders. We liaised consistently with the youth and students movements and we also got endorsements of youth leaders from other political parties who joined us in Lagos. We convened an interactive session with youth groups and we had fruitful engagements with our peers and colleagues. Other groups too have held some programs for youths and we are satisfied that we are all on board for the same success. Why do you think young people should vote for President Goodluck Jonathan? If you take a close look at his policy initiatives and thrust, you will find out that the administration has consistently placed young people in all of its interventions. Federal Government led interventions in agricultural, ICT, education, public health, works and infrastructure, employment drive such as the Graduate Internship Scheme that allows corporate and private enterprises mentor young people and prepare them for full scale employment, and channelling funds oil subsidy funds into youWIN and SureP programs. The budgetary allocation to the education sector in particular has increased and has allowed for the creation of additional tertiary universities bringing to total one federal university in each state of the federation. All these signify a broad and concerted approach towards enhancing youth policy objectives in government. We are also confident that he would do more in this regard after his re – election so that these policies will be consolidated and strengthened. What is your take on the recommended 30% inclusion of Youth in governance by the National Conference? I am for it. We had advocated for it. We shall work towards its full realization. At the CONFAB, we were represented by 18 young people whom we must commend. They pushed home our call for youth inclusion in governance and it was part of the recommendations in the final report. Commendably, the Federal Executive Council chaired by Mr. President has adopted the report and that is the first step. This party, the President and our leaders will advance any genuine and constructive effort that will strengthen the involvement of young people in our democracy. This strategy will open up new gates to ensure that more young people are deliberately involved not only governance but would also expand the horizon for mentorship and leadership recruitment. The place of useful youth in country in the next 20 years is without a doubt important, but how do you reconcile it with the fact that 60% of the thugs or miscreants are youth? First as a party and the ideals of President Jonathan, we denounce, deplore, abhore and reject all forms of political violence. Though I have not seen any empirical evidence to concede to this assertion, I am confident that given increased awareness of the populace, improved credibility in our electoral system and the increasing involvement of young people seeking elective office, and subsequently being appointed, this tendency will be greatly reduced in the future. The fact is, this nation has no greater resource than its youth, and that is why education, youth empowerment, capacity building and promotion of self – reliance should and has been the centre piece of PDP and the present administration. It has been stated by the year 2030, Nigeria’s most important asset will not be our crude reserves, or mineral deposits or agricultural capacity, it will be in our nation’s capacity to harness the full potentials of its youthful population for economic development. By that time, I for one should have left the youth constituency by age but we presently have a responsibility to prepare for the future. That is what President Jonathan represents. That is what we shall work for and that is why the PDP should be re – elected. What efforts are you making to ensure that non – violent elections? We launched the no - violence campaign during our Youth interactive session in Sokoto State. We launched it because we believe that young people should not be involved in violence, we should actively play a part in the electoral process without engaging in conflict. And we have taken this message to all the other places where we subsequently went for our various town hall meetings with youths. We also informed youth leaders at the state level and the Presidential Campaign Committee members on the need to sensitize our supporters that we believe in one Nigeria and the survival of the country is very important to us all. Our candidate, the incumbent president has vowed that no shedding of blood is worth sacrificing for his ambition; and I believe for any other politician for that matter. So we believe that we should follow suit. How much more should Nigerian youths be willing to sacrifice for the country, given the sacrifice the Nigerian youths has done over time without results? I believe that nation building is a continuous process. Our founding fathers have played their parts, as a country we have had our challenges, we would simply have to play our part in keeping the eagle’s flag flying. Our diversity is both a great asset but also a call to continuously rectify our fault lines. As long as humanity exists, Nigeria will continue to exist because we have responsibility to the black race and the world. All of us young or small, big or small, male or female must continue to strive to ensure that this country continues to exist. In my opinion no sacrifice is too much in keeping Nigeria one. There is no country that does not have fault lines, we have to work on ours, solidify them and know that we don't have anywhere else to go and we have to work to meet the aspirations of our people and make sure our children inherit a better country, better than how we met it. I believe that the PDP is the only true Nigerian party that cut across every segment of the country, a party that embraces all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, ethnicity, norms, cultures or religion. What are the prospects of the youth in the PDP? It is bright. I'm the youngest National Youth Leader the party has ever had, and currently, the youngest Governor is PDP – Ramalan Yero and the youngest Governorship candidate is PDP – Umar Nasko. We have young men like Comrades Tony Nwolo, Onofiok Luke, Bello Ahmed Agwara, Kolade, Tony Nwoye, Ben Duntoye and many contesting on our platform for legislative houses. Many more aspired. By next year or the year after that, I would leave office and definitely another young man will also emerge. This party is youth friendly. Our President youth focused. We have consolidated the youth movement in the party, our prospects for a well - defined youth wing within the context of the organs of the party will be our post - election priority so that mentorship, succession planning and leadership identification will be institutionalized, planned and monitored. What informed your decision to resign as the Speaker of the Nigerian Youth Parliament? I was elected on 14th December 2011 and I resigned on 13th December 2014. I must give credit to President Jonathan who continued with the policy of the Youth Parliament after Late President Umaru Yar'adua. It shows a leader with vision and conscious of continuity with objective government policies. I am one of the products of the Parliament. The fact is there was no rule of the Parliament requiring me to vacate office but as I resigned for three reasons. One was my belief that I cannot be a Youth Leader and the same time Speaker because the Parliament is non – partisan in structure. Two; because I have work to do galvanizing and mobilizing youths for the re – election of President Jonathan and the success of our party. And three, because I believe another young man can fill in the space and even perform better than me in taking the Parliament to the next level. I am still a member of the Parliament though. How would you describe the forth coming elections? First we are confident we will win. The PDP is a truly Nigerian Party. On the election, it is an election that, in my own opinion will consolidate our country's democracy and prepare us to face the challenges of overcoming our fault lines. This election will make Nigerians really appreciate democracy. It is about moving forward and enhancing our country’s prospects. It is about consolidating our hold on our economic growth to further translate it into full development. In our appraisal, I would rather suggest that we be objective than subjective. We expect high turnout of voters, which is good for democracy and the confidence of our elected Leaders. Nigerians will participate in the process and appreciate the fact that democracy is here to stay and we must all work together to ensure that it stays Q. What is your opinion on those calling for Change? That is slogan of another party; the slogan and motto of my party - the PDP is “Power to the people” and I think that is what democracy signifies.

Buhari’s Friend Produced INEC Card Readers, APC Has ‘master Key’ – Fani- Kayode - Politics

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday called to question the integrity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing it of working for the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP specifically alleged that the INEC not only awarded the contract for the supply of Master Card Readers to an APC apologist, but also handed the master key to the man whom it identified as Sani Musa. Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, who disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja, accused INEC of putting in place in its preparation for the Presidential election programmes specifically meant to benefit the APC with a view to ensuring victory for the opposition party. Fani-Kayode, however, expressed confidence that the PDP would win the elections irrespective of what happens, saying with confidence that Nigerians in their millions would vote for President Goodluck Jonathan. Speaking on the controversy surrounding the debate of whether voters should stay behind after voting to protect their votes or not, the PDP asked voters to stay back at the polling units and ensure that their votes are not rigged in favour of the opposition. “We cannot sit by idly and remain silent when a desperate group of ruthless and greedy little men, in collusion with their friends in the APC, rob the Nigerian people of their historic opportunity to elect a President of their choice. “This they intend to do this by sitting in a dark room somewhere and rigging the election in the most sophisticated manner even before it holds. “We shall share this information in good faith and we shall then leave the matter for necessary action by the relevant security agencies and authorities,” he stated. “Our concerns stem from the fact that the moving spirit and a major shareholder and board member of the company that supplied the Card Reader system and machines to INEC is not only a friend of but also an ardent and keen supporter of General Mohammadu Buhari and the APC. “That man’s name is Sani Musa and he is indeed the main force behind the company. The company’s name is Act Technologies Ltd. and the Chairman of the company is one Engineer SK Danladi. “How and why INEC would give the contract to supply the Card Readers to a fanatical APC supporter and to a man whose other company was officially blacklisted by INEC a couple of years ago for sharp practices, needs to be explained,” he stated. He said Sani Musa has expressed his undying support for the APC and General Buhari and his hatred and virulent opposition to the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan openly and publicly on his Facebook wall. “Some of his comments on Facebook read as follows: ‘I stand with him (Buhari) for whatever reason” and “Imagine the kind of people given spaces in our nation’s news tabloids. Hoodlums are having field day in Nigeria since the inception of GEJ’s administration. Mad men, hooligans and vultures have taken over decency of the society. May Allah save us from the torments of this (sic) rascals and expose their intentions on our nation state be it the Boko Haram, killer militants or by extension those in authority with wicked intentions – Amen.’” He also alleged that certain aspect of and electronic components within the Card Reader system which would be used in Saturday’s election had not only been compromised but that the encryption codes and so-called ‘’master key’’ may have been made available to the opposition or their friends and agents. “This will enable them to access the system, fabricate and generate fake votes and manipulate the voting patterns to their advantage. This constitutes a very serious breach of security and it is a criminal offence,” he stated. “If the conspiracy is not exposed, if the Nigerian people do not rise up and demand answers, if the plan is not intercepted and aborted, if the Chairman of INEC does not answer the relevant questions and take the necessary steps and if the relevant individuals, including Sani Musa and his collaborators and co-conspirators in INEC and the opposition, are not called to order, arrested, interrogated and prosecuted, their plan may well succeed,” he further said. Raising further allegations, Fani-Kayode said specifically that, “The Master Encryption/Decryption Key that can “unlock” and simulate the PVC data processed by the Smart Card Reader had been compromised. “There is only one copy of the Master Key in Nigeria and it is in the possession of an individual who is a known APC sympathiser/supporter (and also the contractor responsible for the production of PVCs and manufacture of Smart Card Readers for INEC who was already blacklisted by INEC following his inability to deliver ballot papers during the 2011 elections). “The Master Key should rightly be in the possession of INEC, as the neutral umpire, under the most stringent access control protocol imaginable and not freely in the possession of a partisan actor,” he stated. Proffering solutions to the identified problem, the PDP said, “INEC should be officially requested to immediately produce the Master Encryption/Decryption Key (before it has the opportunity to cover up this monumental act of negligence). “Failure to carry out Independent Security Audit of its IT Infrastructure: Contrary to what the average political commentator thinks, the critical IT infrastructure for the use of the Smart Card Readers by INEC is not necessarily the actual device itself, but the back-end IT infrastructure comprising INEC servers, database, network, personnel and processes. “Given the critical nature and purpose of this infrastructure, the standard global best practice is for the organisation to enlist the services of an independent third-party IT Security Audit firm to carry out a comprehensive (and indeed, periodic) Security Audit of its entire end-to-end IT infrastructure and prepare a Security Audit Report which forms the ONLY basis upon which INEC can certify its proposed technology as secure and safe from vulnerabilities that can be exploited by rouge persons/systems. “There are various internationally-acceptable information security standard certifications that a reliable back-end IT infrastructure like INEC’s should pass in order to command public confidence, such as ISO/IEC 27001, ISO 27018, etc. “The lack of such security-related certifications simply means that INEC cannot confidently assert that its systems have not been “hacked”, compromised or otherwise illegally accessed by unauthorised persons. “INEC should be officially requested to immediately produce a copy of any Security Audit Report independently authored by a reputable and certified third party (before it has the opportunity to cover up this monumental act of negligence). “If INEC fails to produce a satisfactory Security Audit Report, then it should be compelled to conduct a fresh Security Audit of its entire IT infrastructure which can even be extended to its production/manufacturing facilities in China (indeed the only other copy of the Master Encryption/Decryption Key is in the possession of the Chinese Manufacturers) – this process of auditing cannot possibly be completed before the general elections,” he stated. “Compromised back-end Personnel: Contrary to standard industry practice, INEC opted for the engagement of relatively inexperienced, “suitcase” IT Consulting Companies for the development of its back-end collation and transmission systems and other core server and database applications, using predominantly open source software characterised by publicly-available source code – another major security vulnerability. “While significant budgets were made available for this purpose, INEC’s choice of “greenhorn” consultants was due to the ridiculously low contract sums paid for these consultancy contracts. “The unfortunate consequence of this indiscretion, however, is that the personnel associated with these firms are poorly motivated, ill-equipped, poorly supervised and easily compromised,” he stated. Despite the identified challenges, Fani-Kayode expressed confidence that President Jonathan would win the elections. “The PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation and our candidate President Goodluck Jonathan are not in the least bit worried about what the outcome of Saturday’s election will be. “We believe that we have the backing and full support of the Nigerian people and we believe that we shall not only win but that we shall win convincingly,” he stated.

Oyedepo’s Church, Winners Chapel Burnt Down In Kaduna Over Purported Support For Jonathan

A branch of the Living Faith Church, popularly called the Winners Chapel, in Giwa, headquarters of Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, has been set ablaze. The church, founded by Bishop David Oyedepo, was reportedly set ablaze by two unidentified arsonists. During the incident that happened on March 20, 2015 at about 2:30pm, nothing was saved from the church. The burning of the church came a few months after the reported endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by Oyedepo. A terse statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the President of Tarayyar Masihiyawan Nijeria (Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri Christians), General Ishaku Ahmed Dikko (rtd), and the Director of National Issues of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Sunny Oibe, entitled: “Presidential Elections 2015: Signs of what to expect,” called on security agencies to act fast to avoid violence in the area. According to Dikko and Oibe, the Christians in the North, particularly the Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri speaking Christians, who are indigenous in these states and live within and among their kith and kin, “are in serious jeopardy”. The statement reads in full: “Giwa is the Headquarters of Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State. On Friday, 20 March, 2015 at about 2:30 pm, two (2) unknown hoodlums on a motorcycle drove into the premises of Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel) and set it ablaze. “The Church was razed to the ground and nothing was saved from the Church including the building. This action surprised the Christian Community especially the Church members, as there was no tension or any sign of it between Christians and Muslims in the town. “It is, however, a known fact that the people of the Local Government have not been friendly with the Christian Community even though over 90 percent of them are of the same Huasa-Fulani indigenes. “The incident actually became more worrisome when no effort was made by a passersby to assist in putting out the fire. In fact, it was a Fulani herdsman that saw the fire and reported to the Police Station. Only one Policeman and a Christian volunteer that ran to the scene and attempted to put out the fire but of course could not achieve anything. “This situation and the circumstances surrounding the incidence are a cause of serious concern. If this can happen more than a week to the Presidential Elections, what shall we expect during or after the elections? Is this a sign of what to expect or a dress rehearsal of a repeat of 2011 Post – Election Violence? This is a wakeup call to the Federal, State and Local Government Authorities,especially the Security Agencies.

Photos Of Kidnappers Shot Dead By Security Operatives In Anambra State (Viewer Discretion)

Five kidnappers were yesterday killed and several others injured in Anambra State by security operatives. After a serious exchange of bullets between the kidnappers and the agents of security operatives,five of the kidnappers were shot dead while others got injured at their den in Eziowelle,Idemmili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. One of the kidnappers shot dead was Paschal Obinna Offor,a a gospel band leader,from Arondizuogu, Imo State while Mr. Ifeanyi Ezeofor who deals in counterfeit currency was also arrested by the operatives.

See The List Of Electoral Offences You Should Avoid – Nigeria Police

The Police have warned voters to beware of certain electoral offenses on the election days. The warning is contained a statement signed by Emmanuel Ojukwu, the Force Public Relations Officer, on Thursday. Here is a summary of the statement as reported by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN): 1. Casting of votes twice or more 2. Announcing false election results 3. Stopping any other person from voting and revealing information on a ballot paper of another person 4. Being in possession of another person’s voter’s card 5. Disorderly behaviour at polling unit 6. Canvassing for votes at polling unit and shouting slogans of a political party at polling units 7. Being armed with guns, sticks, stones or any other dangerous weapons at polling units 8. Loitering or walking about in a polling unit 9. Using siren at a polling unit 10. Snatching or destroying ballot boxes or card readers 11. Holding public meeting during election hours on election day 12. Wearing or carrying badge or poster of a political party and inflicting or threatening to inflict injury on any person or persons at a polling unit as the others. The Nigeria Police Force advises the public to avoid trouble, as any offender will be arrested and prosecuted.

Read The National Broadcast By Pres. Jonathan On The 2015 Election

President Jonathan this morning addressed the nation in a TV broadcast where he called on everyone to come out en-mass to vote for leaders of their choice. Read What he said below… Dear Compatriots, 1. As we prepare to go to the polls tomorrow, I have come before you this morning to express my immense appreciation for the opportunity you gave me to lead this great nation of ours in the past four years. 2. I also wish to place on record, once again, my sincere gratitude for the support you have given my administration without which the significant progress we have made in recent years would not have been possible. 3. In spite of the many challenges we have had to contend with since 1999, our present democratic dispensation continues to endure and grow stronger in keeping with the yearnings and aspirations of our people. 4. We have all worked very hard to nurture and strengthen our democratic institutions and promote the good governance practices which they were designed to deliver for the better well-being of our people. 5. I believe I can say without fear of contradiction that we all clearly cherish the democracy we now have and will never willingly give it up for any other form of governance. 6. This much-cherished democracy of ours is about to be put to the test once again. 7. I urge you all to troop out en-masse to peacefully perform your civic duty of voting for leaders of your choice tomorrow. 8. As we do so, let us all – political party leaders, contestants, party members, party agents, supporters and ordinary voters alike, be very conscious of the fact that the eyes of the entire world are on us. 9. We must therefore comport ourselves in a manner that will further strengthen our democracy and consolidate our place in the comity of truly democratic nations. 10. I made a commitment on assumption of office to progressively deliver freer, fairer and more credible elections in our country. In keeping with that commitment, the Federal Government has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) all necessary support to ensure that it conducts very successful elections tomorrow and on April 11 11. We have all been assured that INEC is fully ready for the elections. I believe that we can all trust that they are certainly more ready now than they may have been before security issues and other concerns necessitated a re-scheduling of the dates for the 2015 general elections. 12. As an administration, we welcome the fact that millions of Nigerians who were yet to receive their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) as at February 14, and would therefore have been unfairly disenfranchised if the polls had gone ahead on that date, have seized the opportunity of the re-scheduling to collect their cards and can now exercise their right to vote tomorrow. 13. We are also glad that our gallant Armed Forces have successfully stemmed the seizure of Nigerian territories in the North-East by the terrorist group, Boko Haram. 14. They have recaptured most of the communities and territories formerly occupied by the insurgents, making it possible for thousands of internally-displaced Nigerians to begin returning to their homes and communities. 15. I heartily commend the very courageous men and women of our Armed Forces for the immense sacrifices which they continue to make in defending the nation and protecting its citizens. 16. I also thank all Nigerians for keeping faith with us over the past six weeks. 17. I call on all political parties and politicians in the country to allow the free, unfettered will of our people to be expressed without any hindrance in the coming elections in keeping with the hallowed principles and tenets of democratic governance which we all profess. 18. The will of the people freely expressed through the ballot is the bedrock of all democracies and ours cannot be an exception. 19. Let us all therefore be prepared, as true democrats, to graciously accept the outcome of the elections as the rightful choice of our people from whom all political powers in our democracy must emanate. 20. My administration has done its utmost best in the past four years to deliver on our promise to positively transform our country. 21. Tomorrow’s election is another very important milestone as we continue our march towards the fulfillment of our God-given potential for greatness. 22. The election offers us another opportunity to empower leaders of our choice once again, and to show the world that genuine democracy is alive and well in our beloved nation. 23. I will like to restate my belief that no political ambition can justify violence or the shedding of the blood of our people. 24. I reaffirm once again, my personal preparedness to ensure fair play during the elections and to deploy the resources and institutions of state only in the manner prescribed by our laws. 25. Let me warn, however, that as President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, I am under oath to protect the lives of all Nigerians and the security of our country at all times. I will never abdicate my responsibilities in that regard. 26. Democracy allows dissent. It encourages differences and even fervent disagreements. But elections must never be mistaken for war or an opportunity to set fellow citizens against each other and tear our beloved nation apart. 27. Those who may harbor any intentions of testing our will by unleashing violence during the elections in order to advance their political ambitions should think again as all necessary measures have been put in place to ensure that any persons who breach the peace or cause public disorder during or after the elections are speedily apprehended and summarily dealt with according to our laws. 28. The nation’s security agencies are also fully prepared and ready to deal decisively with any group or persons who attempt to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the elections or cause any form of public disorder. 29. Our dear country, Nigeria is the largest democracy amongst black nations of the world. We are a nation of great accomplishments, with a proud history of evolving affinities. 30. Let us go out tomorrow to vote peacefully and set a fitting example of political maturity for other emerging democracies to follow. 31. I wish you all and our dear nation, very peaceful and successful elections. 32. May God Almighty continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 33. I thank you all.