President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the withdrawal of Police personnel serving as security details for Very Important Personalities (VIPs).
The Minister of State for Police Affairs, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, made this known on Monday at a 2-Day Retreat for Directorate Cadre in the ministry held in Abuja.
She said the mandate of the ministry includes amending the Nigerian Police Act, developing and implementing a harmonized police reform report, and developing a community policing strategy for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said her ministry will soon carry out the presidential directives, saying that are not mere tasks but transformative initiatives that can enhance internal security in the country.
She said: “The key mandates of the Ministry of Police Affairs are developing and implementing a harmonized police reform report, amending the Police Act, executing Mr President’s directive on the withdrawal of police personnel from VIP security duties, and developing a community policing strategy.
“These mandates are not mere tasks but transformative initiatives that can enhance internal security in Nigeria. This two-day management retreat will inspire a collective commitment to align efforts of the Ministerial mandate to contribute to the realization of Mr. President’s vision for a renewed, highly effective Nigeria Police Force.
“The Nigeria Police Force finds itself at a critical juncture and currently struggling with the consequences of decades of neglect that have hindered its ability to fulfill its constitutional mandate.
“The Ministry of Police Affairs has also not been spared. However, given Mr. President’s commitment to reforming the Nigeria Police Force, the Ministry is now positioned at the forefront of the Police transformation agenda, and it must rise to the challenge.
“The Ministry must bear this weighty responsibility of ensuring coordination and creating the enabling frameworks to steer the Nigeria Police Force towards improved technical and operational effectiveness.”
The opposition Action Alliance (AA) has reacted to the outcome of the just concluded governorship election in Kogi State.
Naija News recalls that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Ahmed Usman Ododo of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) winner of the election.
Addressing a press conference in Lokoja on Monday, the Kogi State Chairman of AA, Fred Ambo rejected the outcome of the election.
He described the election as fraudulent, adding that it was marred by alleged ballot box snatching, and manipulations in various polling units across the state.
He called for the total cancellation of the entire exercise, adding that the party would be contending the outcome of the election in court.
”INEC promised us free and fair election, but what we saw was a show of shame. There was ballot box snatching, while result has already been written before the commencement of election to favour a particular political party. They have stolen our mandate.
“The party declared winner by INEC, if they are sincere with themselves, knew that they never won this governorship election in Kogi State. Why where they scared of our candidate, Olayinka Braimoh?
“They used their power to arrest him for no reason just because they want to subvert the will of the people. The Kogi State governorship election on Saturday is a scam and we won’t accept it. We are going to court to seek redress for this injustice,” he stated.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Bayelsa State governorship election held on Saturday, November 11, 2023.
The who contested for the second term in office was declared the winner on Monday afternoon, November 13, 2023, by the Returning Officer, Prof Faruq Kuta, who is also the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Of Technology, Minna.
Diri polled 175,196 to defeat his closest rival, Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who garnered 110,108 votes while the Labour Party polled 905 votes.
While 18 candidates vied for the post, Sylva was Diri’s main contender. The immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum was contesting to return as the governor of the South-South state.
He first became a governor from May 2007 to April 2008. Sylva returned as the leader of the state between May 2008 and January 2012
But his third attempt to become the governor of Bayelsa State was a bumpy ride. About one month before the election, the Federal High Court in Abuja disqualified him from the contest, citing a breach of the 1999 Constitution if he won.
According to Justice Okorowo, since Sylva has served twice and five years as governor of the state, he would breach the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to contest again.
The judge also declared that Sylva was not qualified to run in the November poll because if he wins and is sworn in, he would spend more than eight years in office as governor of the state.
In the wake of the ruling, INEC delisted him as a contestant for the exercise. But APC and Sylva challenged the judgment with the Appeal Court on October 31, 2023 later reversing Sylva’s disqualification for the poll.
This report is developing, more details will be shared on the Intel Region WhatsApp group as soon as possible.
A woman identified as Sughshater Ushahemba from Mbadyur council ward in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State faces allegations of poisoning her 11-month-old baby.
Reports from the community suggest that the woman allegedly administered a substance, suspected to be a chemical, to the baby early on Saturday.
According to sources, the woman claimed the baby developed a high temperature and passed away in the early hours of Saturday.
When attempting to bury the baby, she was reportedly apprehended.
However, the Information Officer for Logo LGA, Paul Pevikyaa, addressing journalists on Monday, mentioned that the woman had previously informed others that the baby fell ill at 12:31 am and passed away two hours later.”
He said, “When the woman was interviewed, she (the woman) said when they were asleep, around 12.31am, the baby started having high fever and that the body was so hot that she gave up within two hours.
“She said that the mistake she made was at day break, she failed to inform her neighbours of what happened in the night because there is a strong belief that when you have neighbours and when you are having difficulties at night, at least you can call your neighbours to help you and they can be your witness. But she never did that.”
The information officer, however, said that the woman later confessed to killing her baby because she was abandoned by the man who impregnated her.
“So when day broke, she now attempted burying the baby. The baby was 11 months old,” he said.
Pevikyaa added that the woman said she was impregnated by her boyfriend, and after she gave birth to a baby girl, the boy abandoned her with the child.
“She said she had been suffering with the child, and that was why she poisoned the baby by giving her a chemical that is used to spray grasses,” Pevikyaa said.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, Benue State Command, SP, Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident, saying the suspect is currently in custody.
The Minister of State for Environment and Ecological Management, Kunle Salako, has advised Nigerian youths to serve the country before making demands.
He made the statement on Sunday, November 12, at the Ayetoro-Yewa Day held in Ayetoro, Ogun State.
According to him, young people should contribute to building the nation by working hared wherever they are.
He added that the youth can expect the nation to serve them only after they have served Nigeria.
He continued that the youth need to understand that serving the country is a prerequisite for it to reciprocate.
Kunle Salako: “My advice, especially to the younger ones, is to prioritize serving our land before making demands of Nigeria. If you serve your land, your land will serve you.”
He promised that Ogun would enjoy the priority of attention from the Federal Government, especially from the Federal Ministry of Environment.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Sunday, announced that fresh polls will be conducted in 59 polling units in the Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area of the state.
According to the electoral body, the fresh election will be held next Saturday, November 18, 2023.
INEC National Commissioner, Mohammed Haruna, announced this in a statement on Sunday night.
The statement reads, “Further to our Statement yesterday, we have received an update from our Kogi State office regarding the suspension of election in some locations in the State where result sheets were completed before the commencement of voting. The most critical incident occurred in nine out of 10 Wards in Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area (LGA).
“We received reports of similar and other incidents in Adavi (5 Polling Units in Okunchi/Ozuri/Onieka Ward), Ajaokuta (5 Polling Units in Adogo Ward), Okehi (1 Polling Unit in Eika/Ohizenyi Ward) and Okene (5 Polling Units in Obehira Uvete Ward). Results from the affected Polling Units have been accounted for in Form EC40G for the four LGAs.
“However, in the case of Ogori/Magongo LGA, only the result of Oshobane Ward II with eight Polling Units and 2,264 registered voters has been collated. Election in the other nine Wards (Eni, Okibo, Okesi, Ileteju, Aiyeromi, Ugugu, Obinoyin, Obatgben and Oturu) involving 59 Polling Units and 15,136 registered voters remain suspended. In line with Section 24(3) of the Electoral Act 2022 and Clause 59 of INEC Regulations and Guidelines on the Conduct of Elections 2022, fresh election will be held on Saturday 18thNovember 2023 in the affected Polling Units.
“The decision to hold fresh elections is subject to the Returning Officer’s determination of the application of the Margin of Lead Principle. However, this decision is without prejudice to our avowed commitment to follow the audit trail of personnel and materials to ascertain those who may have been complicit in undermining the process and apply appropriate sanctions where necessary.
“The Commission wishes to reiterate its assurances to voters in Kogi State that their votes will continue to count and their wishes respected.”
Many members of the National Assembly have received the big stick from the Court of Appeal after losing out in their election litigation battles.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives are witnessing an unprecedented level of judicial verdicts, with a number of them shockingly sent packing after five months.
In this report, DAILY POST reviews the grounds for the removal of some of the members.
In the Senate, five lawmakers have so far been sacked by the Court of Appeal. APC lost seats and gained two seats. The PDP gained three seats but lost two, while the Labour Party lost one seat.
In the House of Representatives, no less than 12 lawmakers have been sacked by the Court. Out of the twelve sacked, eight of them are members of the PDP, three are on the LP platform and one from the APC.
On the gainers side, APC gained 8 seats, PDP has 2, NNPP 1 and APGA 1.
Elisha Abbo, Adamawa APC
The controversial legislator was sacked by the Court of Appeal in Abuja which declared Amos Yohanna as the winner of Adamawa North Senatorial District.
Yohanna cited electoral irregularities and manipulation of results, and the Court granted the prayer to sack the lawmaker.
Abbo, who was first elected in 2019 on the platform of the PDP, had a fair share of controversy, including the slapping of a lady in a sex toy shop in Abuja.
Darlington Nwokocha, Abia LP
The former minority whip of the senate has also gotten the big hammer from the court.
The Court of Appeal in Lagos sacked Darlington and declared Augustine Akobundu of the PDP as the winner of Abia Central Senatorial District.
The decision of the court further depleted the number of the Labour Party in the Senate. Darlington had won the election by a landslide by polling 92,116 votes against Akobundu’s 41,477 votes. But he fell to pre-election complications.
Abubakar Ohere, Kogi APC
Governor Yahaya Bello is currently represented in the senate by his archenemy, Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan.
Akpoti-Uduagan defeated Abubakar Ohere at both the election petition tribunal and the Court of Appeal.
The tribunal had in September sacked Ohere as the Senator representing Kogi West, but the lawmaker approached the Court of Appeal for redress. However, the court ruled against him.
Napoleon Bali, Plateau PDP
Napoleon Bali is one of the victims of the crisis rocking the PDP in Plateau State, as the Appeal Court continued to sack PDP lawmakers from Plateau State.
The court ruled that the PDP had no structure in the state prior to its primary elections. It therefore sacked Bali and declared Simon Lalong, a former governor of the state and Minister of Labour and Employment, as the Senator for Plateau South.
Mr Lalong will have to decide if he is going to the Red Chamber or sticking to his current job.
A High Court in Plateau State had ruled that PDP had no valid structure in Plateau State to nominate candidates for elections. But it seems the party ignored the ruling. Therefore, the Appeal Court has been sacking most of the candidates one after the other.
So far, the Appeal Court has sacked about six federal lawmakers from Plateau State.
Simon Mwadkwon, Plateau PDP
The minority leader was also affected by the PDP crisis in Plateau State. The Court of Appeal sacked him and ordered a rerun within 90 days.
The decision of the court followed a suit filed by Chris Giwa of the All Progressives Congress and Gyang Zi of the Labour Party.
It is unclear if the former Minority Leader would be allowed to participate in the re-run election.
House of Representatives
Simon Bagos, Beni Lar, Isaac Kwalu and Peter Gyendeng, Plateau PDP
The Court of Appeal in Abuja sacked the four of Simon Bagos, Beni Lar, Isaac Kwalu and Peter Gyendeng as members of the House of Representatives from Plateau State.
The four lawmakers are also the victims of the pre-election matter affecting PDP members from Plateau State.
The Court affirmed that the issue of party structure is both pre-election and post-election.
Chijioke Okereke, Enugu Labour Party
The Court of Appeal also sacked Chijioke Okereke of the Labour Party as the member representing Aninri/Awgu/Oji-River Federal Constituency.
The election petition tribunal had sacked Okereke as the winner of the election and declared Anayo Onwuegbu of the PDP as the winner of the election.
Okereke had approached the Court of Appeal for redress but the court affirmed the decision of the tribunal.
Stainless Nwodo, Enugu LP
The Court of Appeal also sacked Stainless Nwodo, a member representing Igbo-Etiti/Uzo-Uwani federal constituency of Enugu State.
The Court sacked the lawmaker over alleged certificate forgery and irregularities during the election and declared Martin Oke of the PDP as the winner of the election.
Dennis Agbo, Enugu LP
The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos State also sacked Denis Agbo, the member elected on the platform of the Labour Party in the last election. He was representing Udenu/Igboeze North federal constituency of Enugu State.
The court ordered a fresh election within 90 days while ruling on a petition filed by the All Progressives Congress candidate, Dr Oby Ajih.
Emeka Nnamani, Abia LP
Emeka Nnamani was sacked as the member representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency over alleged certificate forgery.
The appellate court declared Alex Ikwechegh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, as the representative of Aba North and South Federal Constituency.
Jingi Rufai, Adamawa PDP
Jingi Rufai, a member of the PDP was also sent packing from the House as the member representing Mubi North, Mubi South and Maiha federal constituency of Adamawa State.
The Court ordered INEC to give a certificate of return to Jaafar Magaji of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Musa Ilyasu Kwankwaso, Kano APC
Kwankwaso was also sacked as the representative of Kura/Madobi/Garun Malam federal constituency in the House.
The Court of Appeal asked INEC to give a certificate of return to Yusuf Datti, candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The judgement further depleted the ruling APC in Kano State.
Yusuf Bashir, Kaduna PDP
The Court also sacked Yusuf Bashir of the PDP as the representative of Kauru federal constituency of Kaduna State.
The court declared Muktar Chawai as the member representing the constituency.
Jonas Okeke, Imo PDP
Jonas Okeke was also sent packing by the Court as the representative of Ehime Mbano/Ihitte Uboma, Obowo Federal Constituency in Imo State.
The Court declared Chike Okafor as the winner of the election.
Mohammed Salihu, Adamawa PDP
The Court sacked Salihu as the representative of Yola North/South federal constituency of Adamawa State. The former lawmaker was sacked over discrepancies in his certificate.
The appellant court declared Abubakar Baba Zango as the new member of the Reps.
The victory of APC’s Usman Ododo in the Kogi State governorship election has been congratulated by the Presidency.
Ododo emerged as the winner, defeating his rivals from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Muri Ajaka, and Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, Prof Johnson Urama, officially declared Ododo as the winner of the election on Sunday.
Ododo secured 446,237 votes, surpassing his closest rival, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who scored 259,052.
President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy posted on X, expressing congratulations to the APC candidate for his victory in the Kogi governorship election.
Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has thanked supporters following his re-election.
Uzodinma became the Imo governor in 2020 after the Supreme Court nullified Emeka Ihedioha’s victory.
But on Sunday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate as the winner of the Imo governorship election after he cleared all 27 local government areas of the South-East state. He said the latest victory shows he actually won the Imo governorship election back in 2019 but was cheated until the Supreme Court came to the rescue.
“This victory is very dear to me because it is vindication that the same God who did it before will do it again,” he said during a thanksgiving service in Owerri, the state capital, on Sunday.
“My good people of Imo State, I am humbled and honored by your overwhelming support in yesterday’s election,” he added.
“Your trust in me to continue leading our dear State is both inspiring and deeply appreciated. Together, we have achieved a resounding victory and I am committed to delivering on the promises made during our campaign.”
[NaijaTimes]
Social and political activist Aisha Yesufu has cautioned about the possibility of a protest more devastating than the 2020 nationwide demonstration known as ‘End SARS’.
EndSARS was a decentralized social movement initiated as a series of mass protests against police brutality in Nigeria.
The movement, which gained momentum on Twitter, called for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a notorious unit of the Nigeria Police Force.
The protests quickly spread to major cities in Nigeria and turned violent, resulting in the loss of lives, particularly young Nigerians.
Yesufu, who played a prominent role in the #EndSARS protests, highlighted the underlying anger in the country, instigated by the arrogance and audacity of corrupt politicians and leaders who manipulated their way into power.
“No one predicted the #EndSARS protest. Likewise, the next uprising might catch everyone off guard,” she expressed on X.
“Regrettably, it could escalate into violence. The prevailing anger is being fueled by the impunity and audacity of the corrupt politicians and rulers who have subverted the democratic process. No one will be spared.”
More...
Governorship candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi State, Murtala Ajaka, has alleged irregularities in Saturday’s election.
Ajaka said he won’t challenge the outcome of the poll in court if he loses as it would be a waste of time.
Speaking on Channels TV’s ‘The 2023 Verdict: Off-Cycle Elections,’ Ajaka had claimed that the election was rigged with the support of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“In the whole of the five local governments in central, the whole of the five local governments in central, there was no election anywhere. They wrote results. Result sheets were given to Yahaya Bello
“In Okene local government, they turned out over 130,000 votes, haba! And INEC accepted that result and what is on the BVAS is less than 30,000.
“With all due respect to the person of the INEC chairman, if they don’t do a checklist and investigate their officials that went to Kogi State and allow this to stand, I doubt if there will be election in 2027.
“Because people will go into that election armed and I fear Somalia will be a child’s play.
“If we knew it would be the same old music, we would have played along with that old music by inflating the results from my area.
“When the commission told us yesterday that they were looking into this case, we were hopeful, that is why everybody relaxed. Only for them now to collate these results. It is annoying. Three local governments are producing 230,000-something votes,” he said,
When asked why he was agitated since he had evidence to prove that the election was rigged, Ajaka said, “What am I going to court to do when the same INEC that did this is going to come as a witness to defend what they did? So it is a waste of time. Except the party people because I’m hugely disappointed. If the INEC chairman allows this to stand, they are looking for trouble in Nigeria.
“You gave me assurance that the election would be transparent, you allowed me to waste my time, spend my money, mobilise my people, only for you to write the results. Even if I’m not sad about it, you expect my supporters to be happy. I assure you if they allow this to stand as they are allowing in all the states now, they are calling for anarchy in this country.”
Meanwhile, INEC has ordered fresh elections in some wards in Kogi State as a result of irregularities.
Following some pre-filled result sheets which went into circulation while voting was ongoing, INEC had suspended elections across nine wards and said further communication would be made.
In a statement on Sunday, Mohammed Haruna, a National Commissioner, said fresh elections would hold in the affected areas.
Many members of the National Assembly have received the big stick from the Court of Appeal after losing out in their election litigation battles.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives are witnessing an unprecedented level of judicial verdicts, with a number of them shockingly sent packing after five months.
In this report, DAILY POST reviews the grounds for the removal of some of the members.
In the Senate, five lawmakers have so far been sacked by the Court of Appeal. APC lost seats and gained two seats. The PDP gained three seats but lost two, while the Labour Party lost one seat.
In the House of Representatives, no less than 12 lawmakers have been sacked by the Court. Out of the twelve sacked, eight of them are members of the PDP, three are on the LP platform and one from the APC.
On the gainers side, APC gained 8 seats, PDP has 2, NNPP 1 and APGA 1.
Elisha Abbo, Adamawa APC
The controversial legislator was sacked by the Court of Appeal in Abuja which declared Amos Yohanna as the winner of Adamawa North Senatorial District.
Yohanna cited electoral irregularities and manipulation of results, and the Court granted the prayer to sack the lawmaker.
Abbo, who was first elected in 2019 on the platform of the PDP, had a fair share of controversy, including the slapping of a lady in a sex toy shop in Abuja.
Darlington Nwokocha, Abia LP
The former minority whip of the senate has also gotten the big hammer from the court.
The Court of Appeal in Lagos sacked Darlington and declared Augustine Akobundu of the PDP as the winner of Abia Central Senatorial District.
The decision of the court further depleted the number of the Labour Party in the Senate. Darlington had won the election by a landslide by polling 92,116 votes against Akobundu’s 41,477 votes. But he fell to pre-election complications.
Abubakar Ohere, Kogi APC
Governor Yahaya Bello is currently represented in the senate by his archenemy, Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan.
Akpoti-Uduagan defeated Abubakar Ohere at both the election petition tribunal and the Court of Appeal.
The tribunal had in September sacked Ohere as the Senator representing Kogi West, but the lawmaker approached the Court of Appeal for redress. However, the court ruled against him.
Napoleon Bali, Plateau PDP
Napoleon Bali is one of the victims of the crisis rocking the PDP in Plateau State, as the Appeal Court continued to sack PDP lawmakers from Plateau State.
The court ruled that the PDP had no structure in the state prior to its primary elections. It therefore sacked Bali and declared Simon Lalong, a former governor of the state and Minister of Labour and Employment, as the Senator for Plateau South.
Mr Lalong will have to decide if he is going to the Red Chamber or sticking to his current job.
A High Court in Plateau State had ruled that PDP had no valid structure in Plateau State to nominate candidates for elections. But it seems the party ignored the ruling. Therefore, the Appeal Court has been sacking most of the candidates one after the other.
So far, the Appeal Court has sacked about six federal lawmakers from Plateau State.
Simon Mwadkwon, Plateau PDP
The minority leader was also affected by the PDP crisis in Plateau State. The Court of Appeal sacked him and ordered a rerun within 90 days.
The decision of the court followed a suit filed by Chris Giwa of the All Progressives Congress and Gyang Zi of the Labour Party.
It is unclear if the former Minority Leader would be allowed to participate in the re-run election.
House of Representatives
Simon Bagos, Beni Lar, Isaac Kwalu and Peter Gyendeng, Plateau PDP
The Court of Appeal in Abuja sacked the four of Simon Bagos, Beni Lar, Isaac Kwalu and Peter Gyendeng as members of the House of Representatives from Plateau State.
The four lawmakers are also the victims of the pre-election matter affecting PDP members from Plateau State.
The Court affirmed that the issue of party structure is both pre-election and post-election.
Chijioke Okereke, Enugu Labour Party
The Court of Appeal also sacked Chijioke Okereke of the Labour Party as the member representing Aninri/Awgu/Oji-River Federal Constituency.
The election petition tribunal had sacked Okereke as the winner of the election and declared Anayo Onwuegbu of the PDP as the winner of the election.
Okereke had approached the Court of Appeal for redress but the court affirmed the decision of the tribunal.
Stainless Nwodo, Enugu LP
The Court of Appeal also sacked Stainless Nwodo, a member representing Igbo-Etiti/Uzo-Uwani federal constituency of Enugu State.
The Court sacked the lawmaker over alleged certificate forgery and irregularities during the election and declared Martin Oke of the PDP as the winner of the election.
Dennis Agbo, Enugu LP
The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos State also sacked Denis Agbo, the member elected on the platform of the Labour Party in the last election. He was representing Udenu/Igboeze North federal constituency of Enugu State.
The court ordered a fresh election within 90 days while ruling on a petition filed by the All Progressives Congress candidate, Dr Oby Ajih.
Emeka Nnamani, Abia LP
Emeka Nnamani was sacked as the member representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency over alleged certificate forgery.
The appellate court declared Alex Ikwechegh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, as the representative of Aba North and South Federal Constituency.
Jingi Rufai, Adamawa PDP
Jingi Rufai, a member of the PDP was also sent packing from the House as the member representing Mubi North, Mubi South and Maiha federal constituency of Adamawa State.
The Court ordered INEC to give a certificate of return to Jaafar Magaji of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Musa Ilyasu Kwankwaso, Kano APC
Kwankwaso was also sacked as the representative of Kura/Madobi/Garun Malam federal constituency in the House.
The Court of Appeal asked INEC to give a certificate of return to Yusuf Datti, candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The judgement further depleted the ruling APC in Kano State.
Yusuf Bashir, Kaduna PDP
The Court also sacked Yusuf Bashir of the PDP as the representative of Kauru federal constituency of Kaduna State.
The court declared Muktar Chawai as the member representing the constituency.
Jonas Okeke, Imo PDP
Jonas Okeke was also sent packing by the Court as the representative of Ehime Mbano/Ihitte Uboma, Obowo Federal Constituency in Imo State.
The Court declared Chike Okafor as the winner of the election.
Mohammed Salihu, Adamawa PDP
The Court sacked Salihu as the representative of Yola North/South federal constituency of Adamawa State. The former lawmaker was sacked over discrepancies in his certificate.
The appellant court declared Abubakar Baba Zango as the new member of the Reps.
[DailyPost]
The governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party in Kogi State, Dino Melaye and Muritala Ajaka, have rejected the declaration of their All Progressives Congress counterpart, Usman Ododo, as the winner of the Saturday election.
The candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the Kogi State Governorship Election, Usman Ododo was declared the winner of the poll, on Sunday.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had on Sunday declared Ododo winner after scoring a total of 446,238 votes to defeat his opponents, Ajaka and Melaye who polled 259, 052 votes and 46,262 votes respectively.
However, Melaye has called for the cancellation of the election due to what he termed “irregularities that marred the election.”
Melaye on Sunday in Lokoja said the irregularities that marred Saturday’s election in all three senatorial districts were unprecedented in the history of the state and should not be allowed to stand.
He described the exercise as “shameful and unhealthy”, regretting that INEC has not learnt any lesson to realise, ameliorate and palliate the problem it created for the democratic process during the general elections in the country.
He said, “Yesterday (Saturday) in the five local governments of Central Senatorial District in Kogi State, there was no election. Surprisingly, accreditation was done manually, the BVAS was not used, prepared result sheets surfaced even before accreditation and evidence is all over the media.
‘”The INEC, as a matter of urgency, must cancel the election. In many areas where I won, my agents were told there were no available result sheets to enter the result and we have evidence to back up these claims
“As I speak to you, it is shameful that this is what our democracy has descended to. INEC has manifested ever than before, that it cannot be trusted, it is biased, it is compromised and it cannot be a neutral umpire.”
Similarly, Ajaka, in a statement rejected the results of the poll, saying it was against the electoral laws.
The statement issued by his media aide, Faruk Adejoh-Audu, read, “Against all logic, laws and decency, the Independent National Electoral Commission is hurriedly progressing with the announcement of the results of an election it has hitherto and voluntarily declared as dubious and compromised in Kogi State.
“The INEC has suddenly turned ostrich to pretend that the malpractices it uncovered can just be ignored and nobody, not even the victims of the electoral heist, is entitled to protest.
“In this regard, we are calling on INEC to immediately cease announcing the results forthwith until it has cancelled these areas that its criminal staff members colluded to rig the votes in favour of one candidate as exposed by I-rev.”
[Punch]
…Tinubu to declare conference open, Gov Eno as guest of honour
All is now set for the 19th All Nigeria Editors Conference, as Publisher of Vanguard, Uncle Sam Amuka; former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Segun Osoba; Chairman/Editor-in-Chief of THISDAY and Arise News Channel, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, and 300 editors will arrive Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, on Tuesday, for the annual conference.
In a press statement signed by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) President, Eze Anaba and the General Secretary, Dr Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the professional body of editors in Nigeria, said that the conference would be declared open by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while Aremo Osoba and Uncle Amuka will serve as Father of the Day, and Chairman of the conference respectively.
The Guild said that it has invited masters of economy and technocrats from global and local institutions to interrogate the economic situation in Nigeria, amidst several concerns over monetary/ fiscal policy, missing gaps, and the role of the media executives/editors in resolving the challenges
According to the Guild, the annual conference slated for November 14 to 18, 2023, will also witness the launch of the NGE Media Trust Fund, with a theme “Stimulating Economic Growth, Technological Advancement: Role of the Media.”
‘’With few days to our annual conference in Uyo, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, and many corporate organisations, like Nigeria Deposit insurance Corporation (NDIC), Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) and United Bank for African have rallied support for the conference.
‘’Other organisations that have also rallied support for the conference, include, Delta State government, Nigerian Port Authority, Zenith Bank, Access Bank, Dangote Group of Company and many others who have also indicated interests to be part of the conference.
‘’And we are excited by the huge support that is coming in from many stakeholders in our economy. It is an endorsement of the conceived aim and objective of the conference: to rally all the stakeholders in starting a robust conversation – aimed at resolving the nation’s current economic challenges’’, the Guild added.
The NGE further explained that the huge interest for the conference is also a testament to the fact that the media has the capacity to mobilise all stakeholders in voicing diverse opinions on good governance reform, helping to build public consensus to bring about change in the society; and facilitate trade, conveying ideas and innovation across boundaries.
The conference, which will also examine the Nigerian media sustainability and the existential threat by the Big Tech, and what the media ecosystem needs to do to arrest it, according to the statement, is planned to remind editors and media executives that economic actors need accurate, credible and timely information to allocate resources judiciously.
According to the Guild, ‘’The conference will also focus on issues around the need for the federal government to reduce the dependence on oil for exports and revenues, diversify its foreign exchange sources, close the infrastructure gap, build strong and effective institutions, as well as address governance issues and strengthen public financial management systems.
‘’Senior security experts and other stakeholders in the oil sector, including the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, are also expected to examine the impact of illegal oil refinery, bunkering and oil theft, which has continued to threaten the survival of the nation’s economy, and a major threat to Nigeria in meeting its revenue.’’
The statement stressed that the annual conference will also afford media executive and editors the uncommon opportunity to discuss issues affecting journalism profession and proffer solutions that will enhance its robust practice in the country.
[Vanguard]