Mike Igini, the Resident Electoral Commissioner
(REC) in Akwa Ibom State, has said that Amina Zakari is no longer in
charge of electoral operations and logistics at the Independent National
Electorial Commission (INEC).
Speaking on Channels Television,
Igini called for an end to criticism and complaints targeted at Zakari,
following the postponement of the general elections on account of
logistic challenges.
“I want to appeal to Nigerians that, this
time, let us not just be name-calling without fact-checking some of the
things people talk about. Amina Zakari is no longer the Chairperson of
electoral operations.
“The person in charge of electoral operations today is Professor (Okechukwu) Ibeanu,” Igini said.
He also claimed that the issues concerning arrangements for NYSC members, and the welfare of ad hoc staff fell under him.
Mrs
Zakari, who is the Chairman of the INEC Committee on Collation Centre
for the general elections, has been the subject of controversy before
now, with the opposition alleging that she is related to President
Muhammadu Buhari.
In an interview last month, she insisted she
was not related to the President and argued that she has always done her
job professionally.
The Supreme Court has upheld the ownership claim of the
people of Umuagama village (Ukwulu) and Oranto/Akpu village (Ukpo) in
Anambra state to a disputed parcel of land that had pitched them against
their neighbours in Okpuloji Abba Town.
In upholding the
respondents’ claim, the apex court dismissed the appeal against the
decision of the Court of Appeal, Enugu which had earlier made similar
findings.
A five-man panel of the court, headed by Justice
Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, resolved all the four issues, identified for
determination, in favour of the two sets of respondents – listed as
representatives of Umuagama village (Ukwulu) and Oranto/Akpu village
(Ukpo).
Court documents revealed that the people of Okpuloji Abba
Town, Umugama Village Ukwulu and Oranto/Akpu Village (Ukpo) have been
locked in dispute over the parcel of land in the area since early
1970.They went before the High Court of Anambra in 1975 in a suit
marked: AA/53/75 and a subsequent one filed in 1977, marked: AA/11/77.
Both
suits were later consolidated, and in a judgment by then Chief Judge of
the court, Justice Obiora Nwazota, delivered on November 12, 1999, the
court declared the title of the disputed land in favour of the people of
Umuagama Village (Ukwulu) and Oranto/Akpu Village (Ukpo).
Okpuloji
Abba Town, through its representatives – Uyaemenam Nwora, Eric Uzoma,
Emesi Okeke, Gabriel Okoye and NwudeIgweonuwu – appealed the decision at
the Court of Appeal, Enugu.
The Court of Appeal, Enugu, in its
final decision on June 27, 2016 dismissed the substantive appeal on the
grounds that the appellants failed to compile and transmit record of
appeal within the stipulated period, as provided in Order 8 Rule 4 of
the Court of Appeal Rules 2011.
The court also dismissed the
appellants’ motion, in which they had sought to direct the Chief Judge
of the High Court of Anambra state to re-assign the consolidated suit
for hearing afresh, on the grounds that the court’s Chief Registrar had
declared the record of proceedings missing.
Uyaemenam Nwora, Eric
Uzoma, Emesi Okeke, Gabriel Okoye and NwudeIgweonuwu, acting for
Okpuloji Abba Town, subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court, in SC:
589/2016.
The appeal had Nweke Nwabueze, Phillip Okoro and Reuben
Ifeka, representing Umugama Village Ukwulu (as the first set of
respondents) and Nwoye Ofoedu, EkemekaOmogu, Ichie Titus Okeke and
EuguneOtunabo, representing Oranto/Akpu Village, Ukpo (as the second set
of respondents).
Justice Paul AdamuGalinje, who read the lead
judgment of the Supreme Court’s decision on February 15, 2019, held that
the appellants failed to sustain their allegation of denial of fair
hearing and miscarriage of justice.
Justice Galinje said it was
the fault of the appellants that they failed to ensure the compilation
and transmission of record of appeal within time, as required under
order 8 rule 4 of the Court of Appeal Rules 2011.
In upholding
the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of the appellants’ motion, Justice
Galinje held that the appellants were wrong to have filed their motion,
for retrial, at the Court of Appeal.
He said the motion ought to
be filed at the trial court, since the appellants’ appeal was not yet
properly before the Court of Appeal, and because they were yet to
compile and transmit the record of appeal then.
Justice Galinje
however advised parties to the dispute to return to the trial court to
have the case re-heard because it might be difficult to enforce a
judgment, which record is said to be missing from the trial court.
The
judge added: “In the instant case there is in place what I may call
“force major,” an unexpected occurrence, which has the capacity to
defeat even the enforcement of the judgment obtained at the trial court
in the two consolidated suits.
“It follows therefore that, if
nothing is done, there will be a total failure of justice. The loss of
the record of the appeal is a factor that has in my view vitiated and
rendered the judgment invalid.
“Is there a way of enforcing the
judgment in the absence of the record of the case? This is what may
unfold later. I think it is in the best interest of the parties to go
back to the trial court and sort out this mess,” the judge said.
Justice
Galumje rejected the appellants’ contention that they ought not to be
penalised for not compiling and transmitting record when the trial
court’s Chief Registrar had said the record of proceedings was missing.
The judge said that the appellants were not diligent in their handling of the appeal at the Court of Appeal, Enugu.
He
stated: “In this matter, the appeal was filed on the 18th November,
1999. The appellants applied for and obtained a stay of execution of the
judgment that had adjudged them trespassers on a piece of land, upon
which title was declared in favour of the two sets of respondents.
“Thereafter,
the appellants stayed away from the trial court and refused to take
steps to fulfil the condition of the appeal for four years until on the
31st of October, 2003 when they deposited the sum of N10,000 on the
prompting of the respondents who wrote and complained to the Chief
Registrar about the appellants’ failure to take steps to prosecute the
appeal.”
At a time when Africa nations are still battling with poverty, some are
still planning to produce pencils, United States government is still
battling its legislators over the Mexico wall which amounts into
trillions of dollars, China is silently developing its nation and making
it the eighth wonder of the world by building the largest airport in
the world which will accommodate, wait for it, 72 million people, that's
about the combination of Ghana, Senegal, Benin Republic, and Niger. And
someone will say these Chinese are human beings right? Let's
continue...
If you are always fond of getting lost in an airport
or sprinting through long terminals to catch your flight, you’re sure to
be out of breath when you visit the Daxing International Airport.
Opening in 2019, and slated to be the largest airport in the world,
China’s newest airport is designed to meet the country’s ever-growing
travel needs, and become the new hub for China Southern Airlines and
China Eastern Airlines.
Beijing
is in desperate need of a second global gateway. The existing Capital
International Airport is hitting full capacity, making it nearly
impossible for airlines to add flights at desirable times. In 2017,
more than 95 million passengers passed through the three terminals of
Beijing Capital, the world's second busiest airport behind only
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta.
The new Daxing airport, designed by
the late architect Zaha Hadid and her Chinese partners, is built for the
future, boasting four runways and a terminal the size of 97 soccer
pitches upon opening of the first phase.
Nicknamed "starfish" by
Chinese media for its shape of five concourses connected to the main
hall, Daxing aims to reduce walking for passengers, long a complaint
against many new mega-hubs.
Travelers
can expect a spacious, open interior filled with civic gardens and
other sustainable elements. These include shading strategies,
high-performance glazing, and roof lights that will optimize the
terminal’s energy performance. All of this is predicted to reduce
overall energy consumption and CO2 emissions by 50%. “The overall
symmetry of the airport,” says the website of Zaha Hadid, the airport’s
late architect, “together with its flowing, interconnected forms, create
a fluid composition which evokes the harmony and balance evident in
Chinese landscapes.”
The airport aims to accommodate 100 million
passengers a year, with a 700,000 square-meter energy-efficient terminal
designed to make navigation as smooth as possible — or, as smooth as
can be expected from one of the world’s busiest airports. With Beijing’s
Capital International Airport currently recognized as the second
busiest in the world, China’s new airport will play an important role in
improving the travel experience to and from Beijing.
The first
phase of the airport project is designed with a target of 72 million
passengers, 2 million tons of cargo and mail, and 620,000 aircraft
movements in 2025, with plans to handle 100 million passengers in the
long term.
ABUJA- PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has warned those planning to snatch
ballot boxes during the elections as he said that those caught doing
that will pay with his or her live.President Buhari who stated this at
the opening session of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Caucus
meeting in Abuja, on Monday, said that such act would be the last
unlawful act the person will engage in. But the governors of Imo, Rochas Okorocha and Ogun, Ibikunle Amosun were conspicuously absent at the meeting.
President
Buhari disclosed that he has ordered security agents to deal ruthlessly
with party thugs that try to snatched ballot boxesBuhari who said he is
confident that he has garnered enough supporters having gone round the
country to campaign, urged party members to reassure their constituents
to come out and vote on the rescheduled dates.
The President urged party agents to watch out for the party interests at the polling units. He
said that he has directed security agencies to identify hot spots and
be ready to move should they suspect any attempts to cause problems by
thugs across the country irrespective of party affiliations. He said
that he was told about the decision of the Independent National
Electoral Commission, INEC to postpone the last Saturday election at
quarter to 5 in the morning of the elections. He said that INEC had all the time and resources, didn’t have to wait six hours to the elections to announced postponement.
“Definitely,
INEC must explain to Nigerians what happened, the constitution and the
law protects INEC but they must not take us for granted. “If we had failed to provide all what INEC wanted, then we would have been held responsible “So at least after the elections we will have to go into details to find out what happened,” he said.
A middle-aged man who could not afford to pay for bail has reportedly died in police custody in Ekpoma, Edo state.
According
to activist, Kola Edokpayi, one Mr. Osifo Okoeguale from Eguare Opoji,
Ekpoma allegedly died in police custody because his sister couldn’t
afford to pay the sum of N20,000 allegedly demanded by the police from
Ekpoma Division.
It all happened on the 12th day of February,
2019 when the man was arrested alongside his 14 years old cousin in
Ekpoma. The deceased elder sister came to the Police Station to
facilitate his bail, the IPO allegedly demanded the sum of N20,000 for
bail.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has resolved to continue with its
campaign in the light of the postponement of the elections.
This
was announced by Adams Oshiomhole, the APC National Chairman, at the
party’s national caucus meeting held in Abuja on Monday.
The
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the
postponement of the elections by one week, respectively, hours before
the presidential and National Assembly elections were scheduled to begin
on Saturday, February 16, 2019.
At another conference with
political stakeholders later that Saturday, Professor Mahmood Yakubu,
the INEC Chairman, had stressed that campaigns remained suspended.
However,
the APC has taken a contrary position, insisting that it would continue
with campaigns till Thursday, in line with the provision of the
Electoral Act.
Oshiomhole said: “You know that when you have low
voter turnout, that is when election rigging is most easy. Voter turnout
and voter apathy can result from the confusion. If at our level, we are
sufficiently disturbed, what would be the fate of the ordinary man? I
think we need to remind them across the country that elections have been
rescheduled and they should have trust, faith, and remain determined to
vote. The process of doing that would require that we return to
campaign between now and Thursday this week. Friday is not a campaign
day.
“To ask us as a political party not to go out? The members,
our people, would have forgotten. Some would have assumed that ‘look,
I’m not sure what these people want’. And the result could be very, very
low turnout. That is not good for a party that has huge, huge support
base. It can only be good for a party that is not sure of its level of
grassroots support.
“So, without consulting INEC, we are
proceeding and we are ready to meet them in court. Because they cannot
by administrative fiat amend or distort extra provisions in the relevant
electoral act and those laws are not secret to INEC.”
The French legend is keen to talk seriously about
taking over as boss and turn the Blues into contenders again at home and
abroad with a £200m transfer kitty.
If he were to succeed under-pressure Maurizio Sarri, Zidane has a three-part wishlist:
1) New bumper deal for superstar playmaker Eden Hazard, keeping the Belgian to build a team around.
2) £200m to improve the squad — more if he sells players who are currently at Stamford Bridge but are out of favour.
3) A major say in recruitment alongside Blues director Marina Granovskaia.
SunSport
revealed last week that Chelsea ’s top brass wanted Zidane, who has won
the Champions League three times as manager and once as a playe at Real
Madrid.
Sarri remains in charge for now and has some huge games
coming up — starting with Manchester Unite at home in the FA Cup fifth
round tonight.
The Carabao Cup final against Manchester City on Sunday also feels like a defining moment.
Sources
close to Zizou have told SunSport he is not yet expecting to be given
the job, as he respects that current chief Sarri is still in control of
his own destiny.
He knows if Sarri wins the Carabao Cup — perhaps
even the FA Cup — and qualifies for the Champions League in his first
season as manager, that is no mean feat.
But two defeats to both Manchester clubs this week could prove a fatal blow for the Italian.
Sarri oversaw the humiliating 6-0 defeat to Manchester City a week ago but he has vowed not to change his style.
It takes two to tango… This is one of the most
common relationship quotes people often use. It indicates that a
relationship is all about togetherness.
A relationship will
definitely succeed when both parties are committed to it. However, the
relationship will die a natural death if only one person is putting all
the effort while the other person is less concerned.
Most times,
you may not know that you are putting too much effort into a
relationship. Even though you are putting so much effort in your
relationship out of love, there should be some positive reaction from
the other party. After all, to whom much is given, from him much is
expected.
Even though a successful relationship requires effort,
the relationship itself should worth your effort. Otherwise, you will be
wasting your time. To put it differently, your partner should be
putting an equal amount of effort to the relationship.
Do you
regularly surprise your partner expensive gifts and romantic dates, yet
feel underappreciated? If yes, you are putting too much effort into the
relationship. Below are some of the signs that you are putting too much
effort into a relationship.
7 Signs That You Are Putting Too Much Effort In A Relationship
#1. You Always Feel Underappreciated
An
appreciative partner is worth more than a million dollars. Yes, I mean
it. When your partner appreciates you all the time, it grows the love
and makes you put more effort. But if you constantly feel
underappreciated, it is a red flag that you are putting too much effort
in a relationship.
Well, sometimes your partner may be busy with
work and may not really have time. You should understand situations
like this, especially if it is not always. But if it persists, it is one
of the signs that you are putting too much effort in a relationship.
#2. When Your Relationship Is More Of Work Than Reward
While
there is no such word like “perfection” in a relationship, partners
still share a good time together. It is normal for people to argue,
fight and disagree in a relationship. And these same people will also
have some nice and romantic time together. It is normal.
However,
when the argument, fight, and disagreement outweigh the good and
romantic time you spend together, it is an indication that you are
putting too much effort in a relationship.
Even though building a
relationship requires effort, it should worth all the effort you are
putting. The compromises you make for your partner should give you rest
of mind and happiness in return.
If this isn’t the case in your
relationship, try to reevaluate things and know if your relationship is
still worth your time and effort. If your partner that ought to have
been your source of joy and happiness, has suddenly become a nightmare,
that is a warning sign of exit.
#3. Your Needs Are Not Being Met
Everybody
in a relationship has needs that need to be met. While you put in
effort to make the relationship work, your partner should be able to
meet your need. However, when these needs are left unmet, it is an
indication that you are putting too much effort in the relationship.
#4. Your Partner Expect You To Fit In His/Her Life
It
is common for people to take your effort for granted. When you do
things for them regularly, they expect you to continue. If this is the
case in your relationship, it could be an indication that you are
putting too much efforts in a relationship.
#5. You Are Exhausted
Your
relationship should motivate and energize you. It should give you
endless joy, but when you are still bored and exhausted always in a
relationship, you are putting too much effort.
The danger of
putting too much effort in a relationship is the fact that your partner
takes advantage of it. He or she will take your caring and kindness for
stupidity and ignorance. If this is what your partner is fond of doing,
trust me he or she doesn’t deserve your effort.
#6. Your Partner Doesn’t Make Out Time For You
It
is a common experience in a relationship for your partner to give
excuses of being busy. Oops! This is a scam. The trust is that nobody is
actually too busy, it all about priority.
When your partner
can’t make out time to be with you, it is a glaring sign that you are
putting too much efforts in the relationship. If someone cares about
you, he or she will make out time just to be with you.
It is
foolhardy for you to be the only one putting all the effort in a
relationship, why your partner keeps giving one excuse or the other.
There is no way you can be happy in a relationship when there is no
reciprocity in caring and attention.
#7. When Your Partner Manipulates You
Some
partners are so manipulative in relationship. They always find their
way around and make you unconsciously do things you ought not to have
done. Sadly, most people out there are in a manipulative relationship
without them knowing. You could be one of them.
When you start
questioning your actions in a relationship, it could be an indication
that you are putting too much effort in a relationship.
How To Stop Putting Too Much Effort In A Relationship
Nothing is as painful as your partner taking your kindness for granted. It makes you look foolish…
But
you can still turn things around and be the superhero in your
relationship. It’s all about knowing what to do and how to do it.
The
first thing you should do is to discuss with your partner. Let them
know that they aren’t putting the same amount of effort you are putting.
This could help, but not all situation.
Again, let your partner
know how much you love spending time with him and all the effort you
are putting into the relationship. And inform them that you will feel
appreciated if they can do same.
PDP really missed Deji but he's back and stronger. Twitter
is buzzing with the news that Buhari’s nemesis, Deji Adeyanju has been
released. Anyway, Atiku would have granted him presidential pardon as
soon as he wins.
BREAKING: Deji @adeyanjudeji has been granted bail
Until last month, Nigerian presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar had a
problem. He was persona non grata in the U.S. after cropping up in
connection with several corruption investigations.
Then the
cloud lifted. Years after he’d last been seen in the U.S., Abubakar
surfaced in Washington in January. He held court at the Trump
International Hotel. He met with members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
and Congress. Those meetings were trumpeted to his followers back home
on Facebook and Twitter. The public tour has helped silence opponents
who said Abubakar couldn’t effectively lead one of Africa’s biggest
economies if he wasn’t even welcome in the U.S.
Abubakar had been
blocked from entering the U.S. under a State Department edict applying
to officials linked to foreign corruption, two former U.S. officials
said. One of them said the Nigerian had been seeking a waiver to enter
the country for years and expressed surprise when told that the effort
was ultimately successful.
Abubakar’s rehabilitation was driven
in part by Washington lobbyists and lawyers with links to President
Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential race. Ballard Partners -- run by Brian
Ballard, a fundraiser for Trump’s campaign who now has a deep roster of
clients eager for an inside track to the administration -- helped set up
meetings for the candidate in the U.S., according to people familiar
with the firm’s work for him.
Law firm Holland & Knight
lobbied the State Department, House of Representatives and National
Security Council on Abubakar’s behalf on visa issues, according to a
disclosure filed with Congress. The firm’s lead lobbyist on the effort
was Scott Mason, who previously directed congressional relations for
Trump’s campaign and transition team.
In defusing
opponents’ chief criticism, the U.S. visit and meetings positioned
Abubakar as a stronger challenger, not to mention a potential
international partner to the U.S. should he prevail in Nigeria’s Feb. 16
presidential race. He’s the leading opposition candidate to run
Africa’s most populous nation and top petroleum producer, where wealth
and corruption mix with extreme poverty to create deep concerns about
security and safety.
A member of Abubakar’s communications team,
Boladale Adekoya, denied Abubakar had been banned from the U.S. A State
Department representative declined to comment.
Mason didn’t
immediately respond to a request for comment. Ballard referred questions
to its lead lobbyist for Abubakar’s political party, James P. Rubin,
who said he wasn’t involved in getting the travel visa and was focused
on pushing for fair elections in Nigeria.
Cash in Freezer
Abubakar’s
troubles with the U.S. date back more than a decade. In 2004, George W.
Bush signed a presidential proclamation meant to deny corrupt foreign
officials a coveted luxury -- fluid access to the good life in America
and a safe place to stash ill-gotten proceeds.
Abubakar’s
name surfaced in two criminal cases in the U.S. -- the prosecution of
German engineering giant Siemens AG for paying bribes to officials in
Africa, and the prosecution of former U.S. Representative William
Jefferson.
In the latter case, Abubakar, then
Nigeria’s vice president, gained notoriety for his connection to $90,000
in cash found in Jefferson’s freezer in 2005. In a secretly videotaped
conversation, Jefferson told an undercover informant that the money was
for Abubakar, intended to smooth the way for a U.S. company’s African
expansion. Prosecutors never introduced evidence showing Abubakar
solicited or accepted a bribe, and he was never prosecuted. Jefferson
was convicted, though his case was partially overturned on appeal.
Abubakar was also the subject of a 2010 congressional investigation, which found that he
and his wife transferred more than $40 million in suspect funds into
the U.S. from offshore corporations. Lawmakers said Abubakar held a
stake in an oil-services company that received hundreds of millions of
dollars in payments from Western companies seeking to do business in
Africa, including when he was vice president.
Abubakar has
attributed his wealth to prudent investments and luck. In an interview,
Edward Weidenfeld, a Washington lawyer who represented Abubakar at the
time of the Jefferson and Siemens cases, said he maintained his
innocence in those proceedings.
Adekoya, the Abubakar spokesman,
said Jefferson had falsely accused Abubakar of being the intended
recipient of the cash. Regarding the $40 million Abubakar brought into
the U.S., Adekoya said it was intended as payment to American University
to launch a school in Nigeria. He added that Abubakar is a “reputable
entrepreneur" and a successful businessman, that his funds were from
legitimate business ventures and that his oil-services stake was held in
trust while he was in office.
Visa Waiver
Once
the State Department bars a foreign official it becomes difficult to
get the ban rescinded, according to the two officials. By U.S. law, the
status of visa applications is confidential. So are the identities of
barred foreign officials. The process by which people get on or off the
list is also opaque.
In certain cases,
the department will grant temporary waivers allowing dignitaries to
visit, often with limits on duration and itinerary. If indeed a ban were
in place, Abubakar may have been granted a waiver to encourage good
relations should he win, one of the officials said.
Holland
& Knight, which was hired at the end of October, disclosed payments
of $80,000 in relation to its visa work for Abubakar.
[/b]Through his spokesman, Abubakar said he applied for and received a visa through the U.S. mission in Nigeria.
[b]Abubakar’s
People’s Democratic Party of Nigeria inked a $1.1 million annual
contract with Ballard Partners last fall, according to foreign lobbying
records filed with the Justice Department. People familiar with
Ballard’s work on Abubakar’s behalf said it included getting him a
meeting at the State Department during his visit and shepherding him to
various events. Rubin, Ballard’s primary lobbyist on behalf
of Abubakar’s party, was an assistant secretary of state during the
Clinton administration. He joined Ballard’s firm as a lobbyist last
year, according to a disclosure filing. (He was also previously an
executive who helped lead Bloomberg’s editorial page, then called
Bloomberg View.)
“My work on behalf of the People’s Democratic
Party exclusively focused on pushing for free and fair elections and did
not involve any consular matter or visa matter,” Rubin said.
Ballard’s Roster Ballard
Partners opened its Washington office in 2017, just months after
Trump’s election. Ballard had previously been as a lobbyist in Florida
for Trump; after the election, he was a member of Trump’s inaugural
committee. The expanding client roster includes household corporate
names such as Amazon.com Inc., Boeing Co., Uber Technologies Inc. and
H&R Block Inc., according to lobbying disclosures filed with
Congress.
Ballard has also attracted a roster of foreign
governments such as Kosovo, Qatar, the Maldives and Azerbaijan. Another
pair of clients, the Republic of Turkey and Turkiye Halk Bankasi AS,
have been implicated in U.S. court proceedings in a scheme to aid
Iranian sanctions evasion, for which Halkbank remains under scrutiny by
U.S. authorities.
The firm has also been expanding and adding
firepower, in recent weeks hiring other Trump loyalists including a
recent White House spokesman, Raj Shah, and the former attorney general
of Florida, Pam Bondi. As attorney general, Bondi declined to pursue
fraud charges against Trump University after Trump’s charitable
foundation gave $25,000 in 2013 to a re-election fund for Bondi.
During
his visit, Abubakar held a “town hall” at the Trump International Hotel
in Washington to meet with Nigerians in the U.S. He also appeared on a
panel at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, stopped at the office of the
Voice of America and met with Representative Chris Smith, a New Jersey
Republican. Abubakar’s campaign broadcast the town hall meeting on
Facebook, and he posted a string of photos of his U.S. visit and
meetings to his Twitter account, including one from his arrival at the
airport putting him back on U.S. soil.
A spokesman for Smith
didn’t respond to questions about the meeting. A Chamber of Commerce
spokeswoman said the roundtable discussion was private.
— With assistance by Greg Farrell, Tope Alake, and Bill Allison
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC,
Adams Oshiomhole has alleged that the Independent of National Electoral
Commission, INEC, and its officials shared the news of planned
postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections with
the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, before taking the action.
Oshiomhole spoke at the emergency caucus meeting of the APC held in Abuja Monday following the postponement of the elections.
The
former Edo State Governor said, “I can put my hands on the quran and
swear that INEC and its officials informed the Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP, before postponing the election.
The PDP were well acquainted with the plans to move to the elections.
“This
is why they did not receive the news with shock. They made us look like
fools, because we were busy preparing for the elections while they were
relaxing.”
HOW TO KNOW A PROGRAMMED OR MANIPULATED CARD READER....
Party agents should take note of the following as they get to the polling units.
1.
Agent must arrive to your polling units as early as possible, at least
before accreditation begins. Once accreditation begins, you won't be
able to detect a manipulated card reader.
2. Upon arrival to your
polling units, agent must verify the card reader brought to your unit
for the election. Identify the Presiding Officer (PO) for your unit, and
request him to present the card reader to the agents onground.
3.
Request the PO to put on the Card Reader (if it is not already on), and
request him/or her to click on "query icon" on the smart card reader.
4.
Check that the card reader shows zero "0" upon clicking the query icon.
If it shows zero, it is okay to be used for accreditation. If it shows
any other figure before comencement of accreditation, the card reader
has been pre programmed.
5. If confirmed that a figure other than
"0" is displayed, agent should raise alarm and inform agents of other
parties, and no accreditation should take place in that unit until the
card reader is cleared.
Please this is very important as rigging in any election starts from the polling unit.
Agents should be smart enough not to miss these Steps...
Lagos / Abuja – Pressure from the international community, especially
the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), and the European Union (EU)
saved Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC), from being relieved of his job following
the sudden postponement of the 2019 general elections, Daily Independent
has gathered.
The INEC chairman had cited “logistics and
operational problems” to postpone the February 16 presidential and
National Assembly elections to February 23, while the governorship and
House of Assembly elections will now take place on March 9.
It
was gathered that President Muhammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of
the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who was apparently
disappointed by the postponement had in a meeting in Aso Rock
contemplated replacing Yakubu whom he believed had “demonstrated gross
incompetence” in the handling of the electoral exercise.
According
to our source, “The pressure from the international community and some
civil society organisations saved the INEC chairman. They believed that
sacking him at this point will have huge negative impact on the conduct
of the elections and its results.
“Though they felt the pains of
the president and Nigerians, they believed that since the INEC chairman
has promised to get everything done to have a successful election in one
week, he should be allowed to carry on with the exercise. Appointing a
new chairman now will no doubt give the elections credibility problems”.
Speaking
with our correspondent, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) Chairman of the
Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), said calls
for the sack of the INEC boss are unreasonable.
According to him,
given the logistic challenges experienced by the electoral commission
in some days before the elections such as delay in budget passing and
burning of sensitive materials, the best option available to INEC is to
postpone the exercise in order to have a free, fair and credible poll.
He,
however, faulted the timing of the announcement, saying it would have
been done few days before the elections so that Nigerians who traveled
far to vote wouldn’t have done so.
“Sacking the INEC chairman
because of the postponement of election will be unreasonable. We have
heard various things that have been happening. Card readers were burnt
in different states, some never arrived as bad weather prevented
aircraft from landing, therefore, prohibiting distribution of electoral
materials.
“Also, there was the case of the delay by the National
Assembly in passing the budget of INEC. So, the decision to postpone is
better so that we can have a flawless election.
“My only blame
is the lateness of the announcement. If INEC had announced it maybe two
days before so that people will not travel from one point to the other
or close their offices. The inconvenience caused by the last minute
announcement is totally uncalled for.
“In fact, some people were
already at the polling stations. That is where I blame the INEC
chairman. So, postponing the election is the best option in the current
circumstance. I don’t think he can be blamed for that”, he said.
In
a related development, INEC will today meet to deliberate on whether
political parties can resume campaigns before February 23, the new date
for the rescheduled elections.
Following the postponement,
political parties felt it will be wrong to stay mute for a week, as it
may affect voter turnout for the rescheduled general elections.
It
would be recalled that INEC, weekend, said there was no more room for
political campaigns in spite of the postponement of elections by one
week.
Confirming the meeting of INEC on the issue, Rotimi
Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the chairman of the commission, said
that “on campaigns, the commission will meet tomorrow and take a
decision.”
Buhari To Attend APC Emergency Caucus Meeting Today
Meanwhile,
President Muhammadu Buhari has given hints that he would attend a
caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scheduled to hold
today at the party’s secretariat in Abuja.
The meeting, according
to sources, within the presidency, may not be unconnected with the
postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections.
Even
though stakeholders have called on Nigerians to be patient with the
electoral umpire and wait for the February 23 rescheduled date, the APC
appears to be unsettled over the postponement.
Buhari had shortly
after learning of the postponement, expressed his reservations against
INEC management, saying he was disappointed by the agency.
The
development had also compelled him to cut short his stay at his home
town Daura, Katsina State, where he was expected to exercise his
franchise.
Buhari had stated, “I am deeply disappointed that
despite the long notice given and our preparations both locally and
internationally, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
postponed the presidential and National Assembly elections within hours
of its commencement.
“Many Nigerians have traveled to various locations to exercise their right to vote, and international observers are gathered.
“INEC
themselves have given assurances, day after day and almost hour after
hour that they are in complete readiness for the elections. We and all
our citizens believed them.
“This administration has ensured that
we do not interfere in any way with the work of INEC except to ensure
that all funds were released to the commission.
“We now urge INEC
to ensure not only that materials already distributed are safe and do
not get into wrong hands, but that everything is done to avoid the
lapses that resulted in this unfortunate postponement, and ensure a free
and fair election on the rescheduled dates.
“While I reaffirm my
strong commitment to the independence, neutrality of the electoral
umpire and the sanctity of the electoral process and ballot, I urge all
political stakeholders and Nigerians to continue to rally round INEC at
this trying national moment in our democratic journey.
“I,
therefore, appeal to all Nigerians to refrain from all civil disorder
and remain peaceful, patriotic and united to ensure that no force or
conspiracy derail our democratic development.”
APC, Buhari’s Govt Sabotaging INEC— PDP
The
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday revealed that facts available
to the party confirmed that elements of the Federal Government and the
All Progressives Congress (APC) have been sabotaging the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) in a well-orchestrated plot to
engineer a staggered presidential election.
This, according to
the party, is contrary to simulated stance by the Buhari presidency and
National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole.
PDP further
alleged that it has been reliably informed that Amina Zakari and another
high-ranking INEC commissioner, played a pivotal role in assisting the
APC and Buhari presidency in sabotaging the operations of INEC and
scuttling the February 16 elections.
PDP, in a statement by its
spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said, “Nigerians will recall that the PDP
had vehemently protested the continued retention of President Muhammadu
Buhari’s relation, Mrs. Amina Zakari, in INEC. We have been reliably
informed that the same Amina Zakari and another high-ranking INEC
commissioner played a pivotal role in assisting the APC and Buhari
presidency in sabotaging the operations of INEC and scuttling the
February 16 elections.
“The reason for this is that President
Buhari is determined to have a staggered election where he can use
security agencies to subvert the will of the people at the polls.
“These
APC elements in INEC engineered actions that affected the distribution
and delivery of INEC sensitive materials to designated locations,
thereby frustrating the electoral process.
“We also have details
of how a hired team of data hackers corrupted the voters register, with a
view to cause mass confusion and voters’ suppression on election day.
“Nigerians
would have been shocked that many registered voters in possession of
their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) would have arrived their polling
centers on election day only to discover to their amazement that their
names have disappeared from the register in their units.”
The
party also revealed how the Buhari presidency infiltrated the
distribution system and ensured that sensitive election materials do not
arrive at the designated locations, adding that there was a deliberate
swapping of sensitive election materials between different states and
local governments so as to muddle up the process and stall election in
affected areas.
PDP's Presidential candidate Atiku's daughter,
Asamau Atiku Abubakar who reacted to claims by the APC that PDP controls
INEC, has stated that if they like, they should insult her and her
father till 2023.
Asamau who stated that the blackmail against
the PDP by the APC, will not work because Nigerians are not stupid. Read
tweets from Atiku's daughter below;
A show of power looms between the Federal High Court, Abuja and the Code
of Code Tribunal (CCT) over the latter’s arraignment and trial of the
suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen.
Onnoghen was docked by the CCT last Friday for non-declaration of
assets, which also granted him bail on self-recognition.
But,
the matter has taken a new development as a contempt charge has been
filed against the CCT chairman, Mr. Danladi Umar, before the Federal
High Court, Abuja over his trial of the suspended CJN.
The suit
is at the instance of the incorporated trustees of the Centre for
Justice and Peace Initiative which filed a notice of consequence of
disobedience of court order against Umar.
According to the
notice, the CCT chair allegedly disobeyed the order of Justice N. E,
Maha of 14th January, 2019, which ruled that parties should maintain
status quo until January 17.
The contempt charge reads: “That
unless you obey the command/order contained in the order of Hon. Justice
N. E. Maha of the Federal High Court dated 14th January, 2019 (which
was duly served on you and copy thereof as attached to this notice), you
will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed
to prison.”
Also, an affidavit of service, deposed to by the
court bailiff, Mr. Bright Adesiyan, indicated that the order was duly
served and received by one Friday Ebute.
While ruling on two
separate ex-parte motions, Justice Maha ordered that the defendants
should be served with all the papers filed and they should appear in
court at the next hearing.
Maha, in his ruling, on the two suits,
filed by incorporated trustees of the Centre for Justice and Peace
Initiative, and the incorporated trustees of the International
Association of Students Economists and Management, ordered the CCT to
halt Onnoghen’s trial pending the determination of the matter before
him.
One of the two suits marked FHC/ABJ/CS/27/2019, filed by
incorporated trustees of the Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative,
joined as defendants, the attorney-general of the federation and
minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), Umar, the National
Judicial Council (NJC), the acting IGP, Mohammed Adamu, and the Senate
President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
Despite Federal High Court ruling, the tribunal proceeded with Onnoghen’s trial.
Umar
and one other member held that the order of the Federal High Court and a
similar order by the National Industrial Court were not binding on the
tribunal and as such could not stop the CCT from carrying out its
constitutional duties.
“The issues before the two courts are hereby discountenanced and have no binding effect on the tribunal,” Umar said.
The
third member of the tribunal, who gave a contradictory ruling, argued
that the CCT is bound by the orders of the Federal High Court and the
National Industrial Court.
Meanwhile, the contempt form (Form
48), which was dated 12th February, 2019 but filed on the 14th February
has not been successfully served on the CCT chairman.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the CCT chairman is yet to accept service of the charge.
A source familiar with the matter noted that the plaintiff would approach the court for an order of substituted services.
“Since
he appears to be dodging service, the plaintiffs may approach the court
this week for an order to serve him the charge by substituted means,”
he said.
POLICE operatives in Abia State have arrested three
officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission for allegedly
being in possession of over 10,000 Permanent Voter Cards.
It
was gathered that one of the suspects, simply identified as Stella, was
arrested at a checkpoint at INEC head office in Umuahia, the state
capital.
Stella was said to have stuffed the PVCs in the booth of her Honda Accord saloon car with Registration No.AKD 953 FN.
It
was gathered that the suspect was arrested while trying to move the
PVCs illegally to a location where they were to be used to rig elections
in favour of some politicians in the last Saturday’s postponed
presidential and National Assembly elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Prof. Joseph Iroh, confirmed that the suspects were employees of INEC.
He said they were on an official assignment in Ikwuano Local Government Area before they were arrested.
Iroh
added that the INEC office in the state was not contacted to properly
clear them before they were taken to the police station to make
statement.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer
in the state, Mr Geoffrey Ogbonna, also confirmed that the suspects were
arrested by the police.
He said one of the suspects claimed
that she was reportedly returning the uncollected PVCs to the INEC head
office before she was arrested by the police.
Senator representing Nasarawa South Senator Solomon Adokwe says that the last
minute postponement of the general election by the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) has “crippled” and rendered the party
“broke”.
Senator Adokwe told journalists in Lafia that the
Commission’s action was a calculated attempt to make sure that the
opposition party has no funds to mobilise logistics to its members.
He said that there was pressure on the Commission by the ruling APC party to conduct multiple-day elections in the country.
Their
plan, he said, was to use enough security agencies in an election
intended to run over multiple days to pepetuate themselves in office,
even though it is clear that Nigerians were going to reject them in a
free and fair election.
Senator Adokwe, who accused the electoral
body of bias against the PDP said “most states in Nigeria, including
Nasarawa State, were earmarked to frustrate the process so that they
have staggered election. I believe it is God that is working; now you
have the whole week to prepare and address all the challenges, no
excuses any more,” he said
Senator Adokwe accused the Commission
of being partisan, saying that “the integrity and credibility of INEC to
conduct free and fair elections is questionable.
“The APC are
quick at saying it was done in the past. Even if you say Jonathan did
it, the Commission under Jonathan gave two weeks notice, but this INEC
gave just few hours notice when we have already used our little resource
to mobilise logistics for the process.
He went on to add that,
“They did that to frustrate PDP. It was a calculated attempt at making
sure that PDP is broke since they can easily go back to Central Bank to
get funds. It is an attempt to make sure we are crippled and broke, but
they will be shocked at the resilience of PDP; we are going to bounce
back right into their faces.”
Despite the frustration, Adokwe
said that his supporters were fully prepared for the election, noting
that the postponement would not deter them from troopping out next
Saturday to cast their votes for him.
The candidate expressed
disappointment over the action of the Commission, noting that since the
advent of democracy in Nigeria, this was the first Commission to give a
long period notice in preparation for an election.
“They released
their timetable eight months ago and commenced the process immediately.
Their actions have raised a lot of room for one not to trust them. You
cannot look at a Commission that is speaking from both sides of the
mouth and believe that they will do the right thing, ” he said.
Senator
Adokwe is running for the fourth time to represent Nasarawa South,
contesting against APC candidate and incumbent governor Umaru Tanko
Al-Makura.
Chief Sunny Onuesoke, a former governorship
aspirant, is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta
State. In this interview, he accuses the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) of conniving with the ruling All Progressives Congress
(APC) to postpone the general elections in order to avoid defeat .
TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI brings the excerpts:
What is your take on the sudden postponement of the 2019 general elections by INEC?
It is the height of irresponsibility on the part of INEC and the All
Progressives Congress (APC)-led government. They are taking Nigerians
for granted. In a saner clime, the INEC boss would have been sacked by
now or the President would have resigned, having displayed such a high
level of irresponsibility and abdication of responsibility. They had
over 48 months to prepare for this election, only for them to call for
postponement less than six hours to the kick-off time, citing logistic
problems. They are being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians who have
gone through stress to exercise their right only for them to wake up on
election morning and be greeted by the coup of INEC in connivance with
the ruling APC.
Elections were postponed in 2011, 2015 and now. Do you think this is becoming a pattern every Election cycle?
In 2015 the elections were postponed mainly because of the activities
of the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents in the North- East. That made it
practically impossible to conduct election in that part of the country
then; hence there was a need to shift the elections. But today, the
excuse given by INEC for the postponement is mischievous. They said for
‘logistics reasons’. Are you telling me that for over 48 months, INEC
could not get adequate logistics in place? What a flimsy excuse to put
Nigeria on this hard lane! It is obvious to me that there are lots of
questions begging for answers with regards to the postponement of the
election.
Who do you think should be blamed for this, INEC, FG or National Assembly?
The
APC- led Federal Government in connivance with INEC should be blamed
for this coup against Nigerians. The APC having realised that the
elections are tilted towards the PDP and seeing that Nigerians have
rejected them, with an imminent defeat at the polls before their very
face, they opted to execute a coup Against Nigeria less than six hours
to being kicked out of Aso rock. They saw the writings on the wall that
no matter their attempt to rig the election, Nigerians have resolved in
their mind to kick out this failed and dysfunctional government.
INEC is actually acting the script of the failed ruling party. It is a
desperation on their part to cling on to power since they realised
that they have lost the election even before today. It was obvious to
all that, no matter their rigging plan, Nigerians were very determined
to send them packing; hence they opted to stage a back door exit by
postponing the election so as to pave the way for them to perfect their
rigging plans. But be rest assured that they can’t escape from the
onslaught against bad governance which has been the hallmark of the
ruling APC. If they like, they should carry the elections to the moon,
they will certainly meet defeat.
Retired Group Capt. John Ojikutu, a security expert, has said 60 per
cent of INEC staff that superintended the past elections which were
equally postponed might still be in the system.
“It is high time
they were identified and weeded out of the system,” Ojikutu said in his
reaction to the postponement of the general elections by INEC.
According to him, from 2011, 2015 and 2019, the reasons for rescheduling of elections had always been logistics.
He
said, “It has always been logistics problems since I can remember way
back in 2011 when Jega came on board. Has INEC learnt any lessons from
the experiences of the past including the 2015 experiences?” he asked.
“There
could still be no less than 60% of these in the systems; Who are those
that were managing the INEC logistics in the past and how many of them
are still in the process? Are there any intelligence about any from the
experience of the past? What has INEC done to attend to these
experiences?
The leftovers in the systems that were part of the
experience of the past could still be the clogs in the process; why
would INEC not identify them and remove them,” he asked.
As an election observer a Kenyan Governor who left her country and
arrived Nigeria has express disappointment following the last minute
postponement of the election, Brainnewsradio.com report.
Charity
Ngilu, a Governor of Kitui in Kenya, among international observers for
the Nigerian General Election left stranded after the exercise which was
kick off on Saturday, February 16, was postponed has expressed deep
dissatisfaction with the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC).
The Governor, Ngilu who had arrived at a polling station
was caught off guard by the last minute cancellation of the exercise by
the electoral commission just five hours to opening of the polls at 6am.
The
governor expressed shock at how the populous West African nation
trivialized an important occasion as a presidential election.
Below is her post;
“Ready
at 6am for our observer mission but alas, the election was postponed at
2am. Five hours to opening of the polling stations. Really sad for
Nigeria and democracy in Africa,” she lamented.
The electoral
agency chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, said they reached the decision to
postpone for the public good premised on free and fair polls.
These are political thugs arrested by the police in
Obot Akara Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state on the eve of the
rescheduled presidential election.
They allegedly set ablaze vehicles at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC office in the local council.
Upon
interrogation, they indicted two members of the State Executive Council
and a member of the House of Assembly, as their sponsors.
On
Friday night, two persons were shot dead and about thirteen vehicles
destroyed after some hoodlums attacked INEC office in Obot-Akara Local
Government Council of Akwa Ibom State.
According to a report, there was a brief clash among
some party members who boarded a private aircraft at Abuja airport with
over 15 bags of cash filled with both Naira and dollars. This
reportedly happened yesterday, hours to the proposed elections.
The
allegation was made known by content developer and political analyst,
Benny Umoren, who said that the party members involved belong to the
ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who are ready to buy votes during
the forthcoming elections.
Read below what she shared on Facebook earlier today; Let me tell you what played out in Abuja airport yesterday. APC will open CBN this coming week to meet up for more vote buying.
So yesterday this private aircraft operated by petrowest, Registration is N404SA.
This
aircraft was to carry a particular group of APC to Edo state with cash,
and they didn't come on the agreed time.... So the captain agreed to
carry another APC group that was looking for an aircraft to katsina
state, at this process the first group that this aircraft was waiting
for came and the both group started arguing, this first group loaded the
aircraft with 15 Ghana must go full of cash biggest size and four
suitcase all with dollars and the aircraft nose up and hit it tail on
the ground..... One of the bag tore and the cash splashed on the floor
(tamac) pictures below for the scene.
The started fighting and
when they both discovered they were on the same assignment they calmed
down but before then Efcc was called and they came and coverered up the
whole thing and the aircraft took them to Edo.
Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani Kayode
was recently Interviewed on the 'Underground', a program organized by
top Foreign Television, RT, where he revealed that the Former President
of the United States, Barack Obama backed President Muhammadu Buhari in
the 2015 Elections despite several warnings.
FFK revealed that
Obama alongside the former president of France, Francois Hollande and
the former UK Prime minister, David Cameron all backed Buhari despite
warnings. He disclosed that they have all realized their mistakes owing
to the President's poor performance over the last 4 years.
The
fiery political leader also commented on the recent 'body bag' threat
issued by the Governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-rufai.