Election: Nasarawa Monarch Urges Politicians to Accept Outcome of Polls In Good Faith

The Emir of Wamba in Nasarawa State, Alhaji Musa
Nagogo, on Friday pleaded with politicians to accept the
outcome of the March 28 and April 11 general elections
in good faith.

The emir made the plea during an interview with
reporters at Wamba Local Government Area, Nasarawa
State.

“Leadership as an act of God; God gives power to
whoever he wishes. The electorate should vote for God-
fearing leaders in the interest of peace and
development.

“As a traditional ruler, my role is to preach peace, unity
and to advise my subjects and other Nigerians to live in
peace and tolerate one another irrespective of ethnic,
religious and political affiliation.

“No nation or society can develop in an atmosphere of
rancour and confusion. The security challenges facing
some parts of the country have affected the socio-
economic development of the country”, he said.

According to Nagogo, as the general elections draw
nearer, the people of Nasarawa State and indeed every
Nigerian should shun violence and resist the urge to be
used by selfish individuals to foment trouble.

He also called on the populace to pray for successful
and peaceful elections.

The monarch specifically charged the youth to always
respect constituted authorities, be law abiding and
engage in meaningful ventures in order to contribute
their quota to national development.

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Election: Nasarawa Monarch Urges Politicians to Accept Outcome of Polls In Good Faith

The Emir of Wamba in Nasarawa State, Alhaji Musa
Nagogo, on Friday pleaded with politicians to accept the
outcome of the March 28 and April 11 general elections
in good faith.

The emir made the plea during an interview with
reporters at Wamba Local Government Area, Nasarawa
State.

“Leadership as an act of God; God gives power to
whoever he wishes. The electorate should vote for God-
fearing leaders in the interest of peace and
development.

“As a traditional ruler, my role is to preach peace, unity
and to advise my subjects and other Nigerians to live in
peace and tolerate one another irrespective of ethnic,
religious and political affiliation.

“No nation or society can develop in an atmosphere of
rancour and confusion. The security challenges facing
some parts of the country have affected the socio-
economic development of the country”, he said.

According to Nagogo, as the general elections draw
nearer, the people of Nasarawa State and indeed every
Nigerian should shun violence and resist the urge to be
used by selfish individuals to foment trouble.

He also called on the populace to pray for successful
and peaceful elections.

The monarch specifically charged the youth to always
respect constituted authorities, be law abiding and
engage in meaningful ventures in order to contribute
their quota to national development.

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Police arrest Okorocha’s SSA, 4 others for stockpiling arms

Imo State Police Command yeaterday in Owerri, arrested
Mr. Okechukwu Okorocha, the Senior Special Adviser, SSA,
on Security Matters, to Governor Rochas Okorocha, for
allegedly stockpiling arms and ammunition apparently for
the purpose of disrupting election in the State.

Similarly, four members of Imo Security Network, ISN, a
security contraption established by the Rochas Okorocha
administration, are also cooling their heels in police cells for
the same offence.

Parading the suspects before newsmen at the State Police
Headquarters, Owerri, the Commissioner of Police, Mr.
Austin Evbakhavbokun, said that the arrest of the security
aide and ISN personnel, followed a tip off.
“The arrest of the SSA and the illegal security personnel
followed a very reliable tip off and subsequent search
operation conducted by the State Criminal Investigation
Department, SCID, at his house and premises led to the
recovery of the arms and ammunitions”, the CP said.

The Imo Police boss, who spoke through Public Public
Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, a deputy
superintendent of police, DSP, disclosed that “in the course
of the operation, the police recovered three pump action
automatic rifles, 24 life cartridges and a Ken WalkieTalkie”.

Continuing, the CP said that in a similar operation at the
security post of Imo Security Network at Egbeada Housing
Estate, on the outskirts of Owerri Municipality, apprehended
four members of Okorocha’s ISN, as well as recovered three
automatic pump action riffles and 14 live cartridges.

He gave the names of the suspects as Kelechi Onuoha,
Chigozie Uzowuru, Osita Obiako and Aka Linus.

On why the Okorocha men were stockpiling arms and
ammunitions, the CP said it was aimed at disrupting the
general elections in the state.

Answering a question, the CP recalled that soon after
assuming office in Imo, he issued a warning that all
unapproved security outfits should surrender their arms to
the Police.

“The arrest of the suspects was in order, considering the
time for the general election scheduled to begin today”, the
CP said.

Speaking to newsmen, the SSA to the Governor explained
that before his arrest, he had asked his men to surrender
their arms for onward submission to the police, adding that
since his directive, he had surrendered a number of arms to
the police, which is in their inventory.
“I was surprised to see arms recovered in one of my rooms.

The recovered arms may be the ones ISN members could
not return earlier before I traveled”, Mr. Okorocha said.

He further explained that before now, his men had been
working closely with the police, adding that Imo Security
Network has contributed in the reduction of kidnapping in
the state.

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Police arrest Okorocha’s SSA, 4 others for stockpiling arms

Imo State Police Command yeaterday in Owerri, arrested
Mr. Okechukwu Okorocha, the Senior Special Adviser, SSA,
on Security Matters, to Governor Rochas Okorocha, for
allegedly stockpiling arms and ammunition apparently for
the purpose of disrupting election in the State.

Similarly, four members of Imo Security Network, ISN, a
security contraption established by the Rochas Okorocha
administration, are also cooling their heels in police cells for
the same offence.

Parading the suspects before newsmen at the State Police
Headquarters, Owerri, the Commissioner of Police, Mr.
Austin Evbakhavbokun, said that the arrest of the security
aide and ISN personnel, followed a tip off.
“The arrest of the SSA and the illegal security personnel
followed a very reliable tip off and subsequent search
operation conducted by the State Criminal Investigation
Department, SCID, at his house and premises led to the
recovery of the arms and ammunitions”, the CP said.

The Imo Police boss, who spoke through Public Public
Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, a deputy
superintendent of police, DSP, disclosed that “in the course
of the operation, the police recovered three pump action
automatic rifles, 24 life cartridges and a Ken WalkieTalkie”.

Continuing, the CP said that in a similar operation at the
security post of Imo Security Network at Egbeada Housing
Estate, on the outskirts of Owerri Municipality, apprehended
four members of Okorocha’s ISN, as well as recovered three
automatic pump action riffles and 14 live cartridges.

He gave the names of the suspects as Kelechi Onuoha,
Chigozie Uzowuru, Osita Obiako and Aka Linus.

On why the Okorocha men were stockpiling arms and
ammunitions, the CP said it was aimed at disrupting the
general elections in the state.

Answering a question, the CP recalled that soon after
assuming office in Imo, he issued a warning that all
unapproved security outfits should surrender their arms to
the Police.

“The arrest of the suspects was in order, considering the
time for the general election scheduled to begin today”, the
CP said.

Speaking to newsmen, the SSA to the Governor explained
that before his arrest, he had asked his men to surrender
their arms for onward submission to the police, adding that
since his directive, he had surrendered a number of arms to
the police, which is in their inventory.
“I was surprised to see arms recovered in one of my rooms.

The recovered arms may be the ones ISN members could
not return earlier before I traveled”, Mr. Okorocha said.

He further explained that before now, his men had been
working closely with the police, adding that Imo Security
Network has contributed in the reduction of kidnapping in
the state.

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We’ve ensured water-tight security for corpers working for INEC — NYSC boss

As the nation goes to the polls today, the Director-General of
the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brigadier-General
Johnson Olawumi has said that adequate security has been
put in place for the safety of the corps members who are
working as Adhoc staff for the elections.
Olawumi also declared that over 168,000 corps were
participating in the exercise across the country.

According to him, the number dropped from 240,000 after
participation in the polls was made voluntary.

The DG who spoke in Abuja as part of the activities to mark
his first year in office added that a Distress Call Center has
also been opened at national secretariat of the Scheme.

He said: “I need to make it clear that we signed an MOU
with INEC in 2010 for corps members to take part as ad-hoc
staff in the conduct of elections. Since then, corps members
have been taking part and contributing so much to
improving our elections.

“A dimension that was introduced late last year is that we
are no longer the ones who submit names of corps
members to INEC. INEC opened their portal and asked
interested corps members to register and they registered.

They were not forced. They registered on their own volition.

“That was why from the over 240,000 corps members that
we have only about 168,000 registered which means close
to 80,000 did not register. It should be noted that the corps
members were not forced and what that means is that any
parent who does not want his or her child to take part must
have told the child not to register.

“Yes it is voluntary. They registered on their own. Not only
that, in the course of registration, they supplied information
as to where they are serving and where they want to be
during the election.

“That means, if a corps member is serving in Anambra
State and the parents live in Oyo State, when asked where
he or she would like to participate during the elections, the
corps member could fill Oyo State. So these are things that
have been done as part of security measures.

“We have documented all the contacts of security agencies
in all local government areas in Nigeria. And we made these
contacts available to all corps members in those areas.
Then in the headquarters here, we keep a record of all those
contacts because we have a Distress Call Centre which we
have reinvigorated to cope with whatever challenges that
might arise during the elections.

“Through that Distress Call Centre, once a corps member is
in distress and he or she calls, we immediately identify the
location and we inform the closest security agency within
the location to rescue the corps member. We have also
compiled the addresses of all the Corpers Lodges across
the country which have been made available to security
agencies in all those areas.

“We have also issued out directives that all our Local
Government Inspectors will not take part in the elections.

Their sole duty on that day is the security of corps
members. We have approached INEC and they are going to
provide logistical support in each of the local government
areas for easy monitoring and rescue operation on the day
of the elections.”

Reacting to concerns in some quarters that some corps
members who work as polling agents usually compromise
election standards and connive with desperate politicians or
party agents to rig elections, Olawumi said that they had
been sensitized sufficiently against any electoral fraud,
saying that apart from the punitive measures stipulated in
the constitution, NYSC Scheme also has its internal
mechanism to discipline any erring members.

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Election: Oshiomhole Denounces Brigade Commander Over Minister ’ s Vehicles’ Gift To Army

Edo Sate Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, on
Friday faulted the Brigade Commander, 4 TH Brigade of
the Nigerian Army, Benin City, Brig.-Gen.Olajide Laleye,
for allegedly soliciting and receiving from the Minister of
Works, Mike Onolememen, 14 Toyota Hilux vehicles, for
the purpose of elections monitoring.
The governor, who frowned at the gesture while
speaking with journalists shortly after holding security
meeting with security chiefs in the state, also raised
alarm on the alleged plot by the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) to rig the election in the state, using some
military men on mufti.

He said: “We have intelligence and it has been
confirmed that the Minister of Works, deployed 14
vehicles in the premises of RCC construction Company
Benin. This Hilux vehicles about 13 of them, were
transferred from RCC premises to the headquarters of
the 4th Brigade of the Nigerian army. I have expressed
my concern to the Commander of the 4th Brigade that I
did not think it was appropriate for the 4th Brigade to
collect vehicles from the Ministry of Works for the
purpose of this election.

“The Commander of the 4th Brigade told me that the
vehicles were donated by the RCC because he
approached RCC for support. I told him even that is
wrong. The Brigade Commander cannot approach
Israelis to provide them with security when the Edo
State government is here. He has not made such a
request to me and I reminded him that Israeli people
cannot be assumed to have greater interest in the peace
and security of Nigeria than the government of Edo
state.

“After all we set up Operation Thunder Storm which
encourages the military to compliment the efforts of the
police. I denounced the idea. Whether RCC or Minister
of Works, this is clearly irregular.

“I expect that the Ministry of Works if they have
donations to make it should have been made
transparently to the Nigerian police not the Nigerian
Army because the conduct of this election is primarily
the responsibility of the Nigerian police and not the
Nigerian Army. That they prefer to donate to the Army
rather than the police raises more questions than the
answers that have been provided.

“Our investigation is that these Hilux vehicles provided
by Onolemenmen or by RCC according to the Brigade
Commander, are going to be used to carry soldiers who
will not be wearing uniforms to disguise and our
information is that they intend to use these people to
intimidate the electorate. I have warned the Brigade
Commander not to do the sort of thing that Brigadier
Momoh did Ekiti State. In any case Edo people are Edo
people and we cannot be intimidated. And the Nigerian
Army has no business portraying itself as enemies of
democracy.

“I know they are not if there are some overzealous
officers who wants to do negative things I expect that
haven raised the issue, frankly with the Brigade
Commander this morning in the presence of other
security chiefs, I believe it is clear that the Army must
not be seen to be part of Nigerian problem, the world is
watching. I have also told them that if anybody is killed
by anybody in uniform in the course of trying to do what
is unlawful, it is not my statement, the International
Criminal Court agents are in Nigeria, if anybody can
escape justice in Nigeria, you cannot escape justice
from the International Criminal Court.

“The world has changed that anybody who misused his
office cannot escape justice, this is said directly to the
Brigade Commander and other security chiefs. I have
also informed him of the Brigadier General Odidi who
was earlier transferred from the Electrical Engineering
Command of the Nigerian Army in Auchi but he was
brought back. He is openly canvassing for PDP that
soldiers are paid by PDP so they should work for PDP.

“This I told the Brigade Commander. To draw the
attention of Odidi that the responsibility of the Army is
not to canvass votes of work against any particularly
political party. I have voiced out the dangers of doing
that, Brig. Odidi is from Agenebode because if he
misbehaves I have told him the consequences.

“Yesterday (Thursday), they searched the residence of
APC chairman at Orhiomwon, they have penciled down
the names of APC leaders to be arrested. I have told
them that our people must vote freely”, Gov.
Oshiomhole stated.

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APC ’ s Rigging Allegation Cry of a ‘ Drowning ’ Party – Plateau Govt

The Plateau State Government has denied allegations
by the opposition All Progressives Congress that it is
planning to rig today’s presidential and National
Assembly elections.

Denying the allegation in a statement signed by the
Executive Assistant to Governor Jonah Jang, Mr.
Clinton Garuba, the state government said on Friday
that the opposition was only trying to heat up the polity
by crying wolf where none existed.

APC had claimed, among other things, that the Peoples
Democratic Party was planning to use soldiers to rig the
election, accusing the ruling party of moves to impose a
dubious restriction order.

The statement said, “Our attention has been drawn to a
press conference by the APC chairman where he raised
a number of issues laced with all kinds of lies and
misinformation as a last-ditch campaign strategy with a
view to swaying votes in the direction of the party.

“This recent press conference is nothing more than a
drowning man’s cry, trying to blame his failure on
another person. It is obvious that the APC has seen that
it is unpopular with Plateau people and will fail woefully
in this election. The APC has, therefore, resorted to
crying foul so as to gain the sympathy of undiscerning
minds.

“All the issues raised by the APC chairman are merely
to create an alibi for his party which is known to be
violence inclined. Having checked their excesses, they
are already crying blue murder to create a scenario
depicting that its supporters are being intimidated, that
is far from the truth”.

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Election would be keenly contested but Jonathan will win – Gbenga Daniel

Former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, has
expressed confidence that President Goodluck
Jonathan will emerge victorious in Saturday’s
presidential election.

Daniel, who spoke on African Independent Television
programme, Kaakaki said he was sure President
Jonathan would win convincingly.

According to him, “There’s no doubting the fact that it
would be a keenly fought election but President
Jonathan remains the best hand we have right now.

“In him, we have the best performing President in all
ramifications of governance – economy, education,
transport, health, social welfare, etc.
“We can put all the factors on the table and decipher. In
all, Jonathan has an overwhelming chance of winning,”
he explained.

On the President’s chances in the Southwest, Daniel
stated that the victory of the President in the zone was
a foregone conclusion.

He said Jonathan ha ignited the hope of true federalism
by the success of the National Conference.

“The success of the conference has gingered the
Afenifere, the authentic voice of the Yoruba race and
other geo-political zones, to declare their support for
the continuity of his administration in order to execute
its recommendations to the letters.
“Don’t forget that the Yoruba race is very sophisticated
and their political awareness is great. They know what
is good for them. A good example is the last election
where President Jonathan won in the Southwest save
for Osun State, which he lost by a narrow margin.
“Right now, there are two states under the control of
the PDP in the Southwest and the cry for change is
very loud in Ogun and Lagos states.

“This is to buttress the point that the people have
realised that Jonathan’s ticket is the only one that can
respond adequately to the request of the people of the
Southwest for true federalism.

“There’s no fear within the ruling the PDP about the
election. Empirically, we have won because of the fact
that the President’s sterling performance is glaring to
even the opposition,” Daniel added.

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MARCH 28: We ’ ll Enforce No Movement Order On Fayose – Police

The Ekiti State Police Command has said it will enforce
the “no movement” rule on everybody, including the
Governor, Ayodele Fayose, and other political
appointees in the state.
The command also warned against movement
distribution of money or inducement in whatever form
from one polling booth to the other.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, who
made this position known at a press conference in Ado
Ekiti on Friday, said only accredited security agencies,
observers and those on essential duties would be
allowed to move around between 6a.m and 6 p.m.

Responding to a question on whether the governor and
political appointees would be allowed to monitor the
election, the police boss said, “Pronouncement has been
made by the Force High Command that apart from
police and other security agencies, no other person
would be allowed to move around except those on
essential duties and those with approval from police and
the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“Nobody is allowed to move around; that is the position.

The restriction is general and it affects everybody with
exception of observers, police and those on essential
duties.

“Once you don’t have accreditation, we don’t expect you
to be on the road”.
Mr. Lakanu also disclosed that no fewer than 6,000
police personnel had been mobilized for the supervision
of the election.

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ELECTIONS: INEC - Why We Shutdown Hotels In Markurdi

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,
has ordered hotels in Makurdi, the Benue State capital
shut for security reasons.

Hotels particularly affected are those sharing the same
vicinity with the commission’s state head office in
Makurdi.

Confirming the closure of the hotels, INEC’s state Public
Relations Officer, Mr. Ochai Louis, explained that it was
aimed at forestalling any breakdown of law and order.

He noted that criminal elements hiding under the cover
of hotel guests, could launch attacks on the
commission’s office from there.

Louis said, “We called the owners of the hotels to a
meeting this morning. They were adequately briefed on
the security implications.
“So, all the hotels will be evacuated, except for INEC
members of staff”.

Meanwhile, security was tightened around the
commission’s office on Friday as soldiers arrived to
oversee security.

One armoured tank was stationed right inside the
premises of the head office with soldiers taking vantage
positions around the vehicle.

Prior to the arrival of soldiers, security at the state INEC
office was provided by a combined team of riot
policemen and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence
Corps.

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WEIRDO: Baby born with horns in Osun

A strange birth has occurred at a maternity centre
(name withheld) in Ilesa, Osun State. A woman gave
birth to a baby, apparently with a medical condition that
made it appear as if there were two horns on its head.

According to Saturday Tribune, which published photos
of the strange baby, the birth of the baby filled the area
with tension.

“It is true the baby was born,” the proprietress of the
maternity centre spoke to the news platform’s reporter
who visited the hospital. She only spoke on condition of
anonymity.
She said that the woman who gave birth to the
deformed baby was “about 25 years old and she has
been without a child for three years.”

“This woman lives in one of the farm settlements on the
outskirt of Ilesa. She registered for antenatal service
here. So, when she wanted to put to bed, her relatives
rushed her here to deliver the baby.

“But we were shocked to the marrow when she
eventually delivered the baby with two horns on the
head after going into labour for some hours. By the time
she was delivered of the baby, it was already dead and
we had to separate it from the placenta.

“I have never seen such a terrible creature in my life.
So, we helped to pack the dead baby and the placenta
and handed them over to them before they left our
premises. It was indeed a fearful development and we
were saddened about it.

“This is not something we can celebrate. So, I ordered
by nurses and other attendants to keep their mouth shut
over the incident. But, I am very surprised how you
people got to know about it and came here to inquire
about it. I do not want anyone to make something
unnecessary out of this or create problems for us here,”
she stated.
When asked about the whereabouts of the woman who
was delivered of the baby, the proprietress declined to
give details.

From the picture, the baby could have suffered from a
type of crouzon syndrome, an autosomal dominant
genetic disorder known as a branchial arch syndrome
associated with gene mutation. It occurs in 1.6 out of
every 100,000 people.

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Elections: I-Nigerian urges security agencies to remain professional

The I-Nigerian Initiative has urged security agencies to
remain professional, non-partisan and apolitical at all
times, especially during the forthcoming general
elections.

In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Ada
Stella Apiafi, the I-Nigerian Initiative declared that
Nigerians, are the only ones who can ensure and
guarantee peace, if they collectively refuse to allow
themselves to be used to cause any violence or rancor
during and even after the elections.

The I-Nigerian Initiative which had hosted security
agencies to interactive forum with the media on their
activities, also lent its voice to the many calls on
Nigerians to ensure peace during and after the general
elections beginning on Saturday 28th March 2015.

Apiafi also reminded the Forum of Spokespersons of
Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA) to adhere to
its recent pledge that members will continue to ensure
that press statements as well as official
pronouncements of individual members as well as their
organisations remain professional, non-partisan and
apolitical at all times efficient and effective inter-
agency collaboration.
She emphasized that our security agencies must
appreciate their vital role in ensuring the safety of lives
and property during the period of the elections.

“The role of our security operatives cannot be over-
emphasised, because of their crucial assignment of
keeping the peace in and around our borders where
elections will be taking place,” she said.
While reiterating the need for voters to perform their
civic responsibility of casting their votes for
contestants of their choice, Ada Apiafi urged them to be
vigilant at all times, and report suspicious movements
and activities to appropriate law enforcement agents
because security is the duty of every citizen.

She also urged all Nigerians to respect the outcome of
the elections, as, whoever emerges as the winner, will
be the President of Nigeria and of all Nigerians.
“Whilst he may have won under a party platform, but he
shall be President of Nigeria, and NOT president of any
one section, political party, or ethnic affiliation.

“The position, and the person who occupies that
‘hallowed’ position, is not for the purpose of self-
aggrandisement, selfish interest, party interests,
religious interests, or sectional interests; but for our
national and collective interests.”
She pleaded emphatically with all well-meaning
Nigerians, that they should continue to pray for Nigeria
– as they have no other country than Nigeria.

“Despite our political differences, we must not forget
that our country belongs to us, and it is our
responsibility to make sure that our county remains as
one, even after the elections. Let us also continue to
pray for ourselves as Nigerians as God must have had
His reasons for making us citizens of this great
country; and we must all remember that the stability
and greatness of our country are made possible by our
collective will as a people,” she implored the electorate.

PRNigeria encourages institutions to be transparent in
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items from authoritative sources for free use by the
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Presidential Election : Winner to be announced on Monday

The race for presidency is stiff between President
Goodluck Jonathan of the People’s Democratic Party
(PDP) and Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) but Nigerians would have known their
next leader by Monday as the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured that the
results of today’s presidential and National Assembly
elections would be released within 48 hours.

Speaking at a joint press conference alongside the
Director General of the National Youth Service Corps
(NYSC), Brigadier-General Johnson Olawumi, INEC
Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega said it would be
made possible based on the improvements already
made by the commission since the 2011 general
elections.

“We cannot expect the results from the states under 24
hours, we will be collating the results as they are
coming out but I can assure that under 48 hours, all the
results should be ready. We were able to do it in 2011,
we should be able to do this in 2015 based on much
more improvements that have been put in place,” he
said.

Jega also debunked the claim that the master key to the
critical Information Technology (IT) infrastructure
housing the database of INEC for card reader machine
was in possession of an individual that had sympathy
with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its
presidential candidate.

According to him, there is no master key for the card
reader as being claimed, but a source code which was
only known to the manufacturer. Jega said the code
has not been breached, as far as he can tell.

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