Presidential Election: NBA Gives INEC “Excellence” Mark

March 5, 2023

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has said that the Independent National Electoral Commission has “delivered and performed well” during the Presidential and National Assembly Elections held across Nigeria last Saturday, February 25..

The President of the Association, Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), on Channels TV programme today, March 5, insisted that the elections went well with people coming out to express their franchise.

“I will say that the elections went well. Those who came out were happy to express their franchise.

“There were challenges, definitely. There were some infractions, some of them actually constituted electoral offences but on the whole, I will score INEC as having performed maybe about 78, 80 percent in the delivery of these elections.

“That will be an A for every exam. Notwithstanding, all the things that happened we are not ignoring.”

The NBA President advised the electoral body to identify the lapses in the elections to avoid a recurring experience in the March 11 state governorship State Houses of Assembly elections.

“That is why we are admonishing and advising INEC and recommending to INEC that in those areas where we saw lapses in the election held on the 25th February 2023, deliberate efforts must be taken to make sure that those lapses did not occur again in the elections that are coming up on the 11th March.

“Because when these lapses happened, it impacted on the confidence of the public in the process.”

Source: Persecondnews.

Institute On Security Studies Partners NCC To Improve National Security

Editorial staff

March 5, 2023

National Institute of Security Studies (NISS) has engaged in partnership with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to advance strategic collaboration that would enhance the application of Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) towards improving national security.

The Institute’s Director of Research Estimates and Library Services, Dr. Adegboyega Karim, who spoke when he a visited the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta in Abuja, said he was on wht he called “a fact-finding mission” to enrich ongoing research that focuses on globalization and regional integration for sustainable development in Africa.

Dr. Karim, who led a team of Executive Intelligence Management Course Sixteen Participants (EIM16), a study group with representations from various security agencies under the auspices of NISS, said that the Commission has made giant strides advancing the course of digital economy development in Nigeria

He said that the Commission’s regulatory processes provide a good opportunity for the collaboration to enable the group to research further into matters regarding telecommunications and national security.

Director of Special Duties in the Commission, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, who received the team on behalf of Professor Danbatta, affirmed the readiness of the Commission to collaborate with the Institute, and, indeed, any private and public institution that is focused on national development.

He reiterated the advancements made in ICTs, adding that it is within this context that the Commission continued to promote the deployment of robust digital infrastructure capable of supporting and improving the security of lives and property.

“As a way of consolidating on the tremendous successes that had been recorded in the telecoms industry through effective regulatory regime emplaced by the Commission, the Federal Government has formulated a number of policies such as the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) and the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), among others, which serve as a compass for our efforts at building a resilient digital economy that supports security.”

Dr. Adinde enumerated NCC’s efforts towards ensuring adequate protection for telecoms facilities, across the nooks and crannies of the country where it is treated as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), the building of Emergency Communications Centres (ECCs) across states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as well as series of collaborations with relevant agencies to ensure effective connectivity to individuals and institutions.

The NCC Director of Public Affairs of the NCC, Reuben Muoka, said that senior officers in security agencies, including the military, police, intelligence services, and other relevant agencies made up the entourage of the Institute’s visitors.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Congratulates Tinubu, Confident He Will Unify Nigerians

Editorial staff

March 5, 2023

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has congratulated the President-elect on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu over his electoral victory.

The Director General, Implementation and Strategic Planning, Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly Worldwide, Ambassador Tony Chiemelu Obizoba, in a statement today, March 5, expressed confident that Tinubu unify Nigerians for a focused development plan that will follow

The statement reads in part: “The group visualises the success of the APC flagbearer in the election contest as one that will lead to unifying Nigerians for a focused development plan that will follow.

“Tinubu is capable, and we have no doubt in his capacity to ensure the continuity of the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari, which are apparent, indisputably correct and will continue to stand as good legacies for generations of leaders to come.

“The Ohanaeze Ndigbo congratulates Peter Obi for creating an unprecedented commitment to changing the status quo with a hitherto unpopular political party, making great sweeps of votes across all regions but North West of Nigeria to finish an “unputdownable” third position.

“This Igbo umbrella body will continue to remember Obi, former Governor of Anambra State, as one who, despite all odds, laboured hard to actualise a Nigerian President from the Igboland. However, God has not destined it to happen in 2023. It may happen later. God spares the life of everybody.

“The group also congratulated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ‘s presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on his effort that ended in second position.

“They called on some elements in Lagos State, who see the vote for Labour Party’s Peter Obi as hate by Igbo people and who are, therefore, now threatening the lives of Igbo, saying that it should not be so.

“Those who are circulating videos, threatening and drumming the sounds of war over the coming governorship and House of Assembly elections of March 11, 2023, in Lagos State because of Igbo people, should stop it in the national interest of Nigeria and the collective good of the masses of the Nigerian people.”

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo called on President Muhammadu Buhari, the security forces and security/intelligence agencies to improve on the performances of the last election to make the governorship and national assembly elections of 11 March more commendable.

With Tinubu Declared President-elect, I’m Considering Going On Exile – Bode George

Editorial staff

March 5, 2023

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has indicated his intention to go on exile soon in fulfilment of his earlier threat to leave the country if Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), wins the 2023 election.

Speaking in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, Chief George said that he has not changed his position.

The former Military Administrator of Ondo State said: “That is still on my plan.

“If I decide on what to do, I wish you well.

“I’m not looking for a job, I have everything I want and how much can I eat.

“I also have my children and they are no longer kids.

“They are all mature so what am I looking for?

“My wife is there.

“She will take good care of me.

“I will stay in Nigeria depending on the outcome of this because I know there might be a hell of a problem.”

On the country he plans to relocating, George, sand: “You know I am a military lord so I can go anywhere in any part of the world and I will be looking at you, people.

“I have even decided that having put 25 years each in the military and politics which is 50 years of my life in the public domain, I need rest so whatever I see at the end of this thing.

“I’m retiring from partisan politics and will be enjoying the rest of my life.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on March 1 declared Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu winner of the Saturday, February 25 Presidential election.

Afenifere Leader, Pa Fasoranti, Marvels At Tinubu’s Doggedness, God’s Grace On Him

Editorial staff

March 4, 2023

The leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, has marveled at the doggednesss and determination of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, that had seen him through to his long-drawn ambition of ruling Nigeria, advising him to avoid the mistakes of the “forebears” by ensuring that every ethnic group is united under his leadership.

Congratulating the President-elect on his victory in the just concluded presidential election in the country, Fasoranti commended Tinubu said, “I did marvel at your doggedness, self-determination, self-assuredness, strong belief in self, ability to overcome daunting and ever surging challenges.

“I was, also amazed at God’s grace on you, that gave you the strength of character and such abundance of energy, that enabled you to navigate through all the ever emerging intricate problems and made it possible for you to, against the wishes of some people, traverse successfully all the States of the Federation, during the energy sapping marathon Presidential campaigns.

“I am, indeed, glad to know that your hard earned victory had a very good national spread. Amongst about 18 presidential candidates, you came 2nd in South South; 2nd in South East; 1st in South West; 1st in North Central; 2nd in North East; and 1st in North West. What a brilliant performance! You now have the opportunity. Now is time for you to prove me right. I pray God to be with you (amen).”

The Afenifere leader called on other presidential candidates who lost out in the exercise to seek redress in the court and allow Tinubu to settle down to plan his government.

“I now appeal to all concerned Nigerians and the International Community, who might be aggrieved, one way or the other, not to do anything that will set Nigeria on fire.

“We should all go peaceful, take lawful means, and thread legitimate and legal paths to rectify anything that might have, from their own point of view, gone wrong, and let Tinubu and all concerned settle down immediately to tackle the enormous Nigerian project of tackling insecurity, solving our economic downturn, restructuring the country, and rebuilding a nation never so badly divided on ethnic, religious and corrupt lines.”

Source: Daily Trust.

OPC Identifies With Tinubu’s Victory: Gives Him Shopping List

Editorial staff

March 4, 2023

The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has shown solidarity to the President-elect under the umbrella of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who emerged after the February 25 Presidential election in the country.

The Pan Yoruba group, in a statement today, March 4, by its President, Otunba Wasiu Afolabi, asked the President-elect to justify the confidence Nigerians reposed on him by delivering the dividends of democracy to all the people.

The group said that Tinubu’s victory would bring some measure of pride to those who made sacrifices in the struggle for the June 12, and recalled that Tinubu was in the trenches with its Late Founder and President, Dr. Frederick Fasehun.

“OPC congratulates Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this historical achievement of being declared winner of the February 25, 2023 presidential elections.

“Leading a 200 million-strong nation like Nigeria will not be a small task. “So much hope and expectations are pinned on Asiwaju and he cannot afford to fail.

“As OPC, our prayer is that God will grant the President-Elect greater ability to record greater achievements than he did in his eight years as the Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.

“May God grant this country peace, progress and prosperity, as it has never experienced, under this coming regime of Bola Tinubu. May God grant him the wisdom and the health to carry out this great task of nation building.

“However, because Nigerians have never been this divided and insecure since the end of the Nigerian Civil War, the first task that Bola Tinubu must undertake, when he is sworn in on May 29, is that of reuniting this severely divided, disunited and insecure nation.

“Tinubu must heed to the yearnings of pro-democracy organisations like NADECO and even our late Founder Dr. Fasehun, by laying the foundation of a Nigeria founded on the enthronement of true Federalism. We advise Tinubu to embark on the immediate restructuring of this country.

“Taming poverty and inflation remains an urgent task. The country’s four refineries must work before any move to tamper with the fuel subsidy. Other governments failed in giving Nigeria home-refined domestic fuel, Asiwaju must take this as an immediate challenge.

“Tinubu is a product of the struggle. He came from the trenches. He was forced to go into exile by the General Sani Abacha killer-squad, and he remained steadfast to the cause. He deployed his influence, connections and resources to advance the struggle of NADECO-Abroad.

“OPC is proud to have been established in 1994 in the furnace of the fire for the struggle of June 12, just like other groups under NADECO. Our Late Founder and President, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, led our group to the forefront and trenches of that struggle. And we shall be happy to play a role to see to the success of the incoming government of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

Tinubu Won’t Be Sworn In As President On May 29 – Ex Anambra Gov, Ezeife

Editorial staff

March 4, 2023

Former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has said that the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, will not be sworn in as Nigeria’s President on May 29.

Ezeife, who accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of manipulating the electoral process and rigging the Presidential and National Assembly elections in favour of Tinubu, said that it was obvious that Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) won the presidential election across the country.

Ezeife told Arise TV Morning Show that the presidential election revealed so many things to Nigerians, saying: ”I thank all the foreign bodies who commented and condemned the integrity of the election and thank all Nigerians for the way they treated the Labour Party.

“In fact, I’m happy with the result the Labour Party got from the election not the ones announced by the INEC. Of course, we know that one is fake. But what we saw was the Labour Party winning Lagos and across the country.

“Some people who do not believe in the oneness of the country are now thinking otherwise. And the future of Nigeria is now brighter. I do not believe that Tinubu, my friend, would be sworn in as President.

“If that is done it’d be a disaster but I think this thing has opened the eyes of Nigerians. We thank the Yorubas, we thank the Hausas and every group in Nigeria for this openness. Don’t mind the manipulation that made Peter Obi third.

“Everybody knows it is impossible, especially with the controversies surrounding the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“One must distinguish between the election as conducted and the election as reported. Tinubu will not be President of Nigeria. I don’t see him being sworn in.”

Source: Persecondnews.

Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, 4 Others Withdraw Suit Challenging Tinubu’s victory

Editorial staff

March 3, 2023

Six state governments controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have withdrawn the suit challenging the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The states confirmed the development in a Notice of Discontinuance signed by their lawyer, Mr. Mike Ozekhome (SAN) today, March 3.

It read: “Take notice that the plaintiffs do hereby wholly discontinue this suit against the defendant herein.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Wednesday declared Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 election after polling 8,794,726 votes to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and 15 other candidates in the exercise.

The Attorneys-General of Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, and Sokoto States had on Friday morning dragged the Federal Government before the apex court on the conduct, collation, and announcement of the elections’ results.

The plaintiffs in the originating summons marked: SC/CV/354/2023, asked the apex court to order a review of all results so far announced by INEC.

They alleged that the collation and announcement of the results were carried out contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, 2022; and the INEC Manual for Election Officials.

The states argued that the collation of the election results from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory did not comply with the provisions of relevant sections of the Electoral Act, 2022.

They insisted that INEC officials failed to transmit the collated results as prescribed by the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, and the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2022.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, was listed as the sole respondent in the suit.

PDP, APC, LP Were Involved In Electoral Malpractices – SDP Presidential Candidate

Editorial staff

March 3, 2023

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adebayo Adewole, has accused the Labour Party (LP); the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of being part of the electoral malpractices in the last Saturday, February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Adewole alleged that all the political parties, including those that are complaining after the election, cheated through different means, especially vote-buying.

Speaking when he appeared on Arise Television’s The Morning Show today, March 3, the Presidential candidate accused the Labour Party of sharing dollars to the electorate in his own polling unit in Ondo State during the polls.

“A victim cannot be blaming other victims. I never said nothing is wrong with the election. Everything is wrong with the election. Anyone who wants to go and challenge the election should do so because everything is wrong with the election.

“But it’s not only what happened that day that was wrong with the election. People (political parties] cheated. Many of those who are complaining now cheated in the election. In the polling unit where I voted, Labour Party cheated, PDP cheated and the APC cheated more because vote buying is cheating.

“APC used recharge cards to cheat, the Labour Party brought dollars and PDP shared money. Why will I not complain? Atiku Abubakar cheated me of my vote in Katsina and Adamawa State, he was buying votes with N200. What I’m saying is that the election is flawed. It’s not an honest process.”

Source: Voiceof Niaja.ng

Legal Battle Begins: Appeal Court Okays Obi, Atiku Inspecting Election Results

Editorial staff

March 3, 2023

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, has granted the request of the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and that of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, to inspect the election materials used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the Saturday, February 25 Presidential election.

The court granted the request of the two presidential candidates today, March 3, after both parties approached the court to seek permission for the inspection of election materials used during last Saturday’s poll.

The Justice Joseph Ikyegh-led panel of the appellate court, which will also sit as the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, granted the request after it heard two separate ex-parte applications brought by Atiku, Obi and their political parties.

The electoral umpire, Tinubu and APC were cited as Respondents in the matter.

Both applications were predicated on Section146 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022, Paragraph 47 (1, 2 &3) of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act of 2022, as well as under the inherent jurisdiction of the Court as referenced by Section 6 (6) A & B of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Obi, in his application that was moved by his team of lawyers led by Mr Alex Ejesieme, SAN, sought six principal reliefs.

Atiku’s lawyer, Adedamola Faloku, sought seven prayers from the tribunal.

Specifically, the applicants urged the court to compel INEC to allow them to obtain documents in its custody that were used for the presidential election.

They maintained that the requested documents would aid their petition against the outcome of the presidential contest that was declared in favour of Tinubu.

Voiceofnaija.ng had reported that the two top contenders in the February 25 presidential election, refused to concede defeat and also vowed to recover their mandate in court.

The two candidates rebuffed the gesture of conciliation made by the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, who in his acceptance speech after he was declared the winner of the poll on Wednesday, asked them to support him in the task of building the nation.

Source: Voiceof Niger.ng

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