Politics

I want to leave legacy of credible polls in West Africa and not only Nigeria – Buhari

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President Muhammadu Buhari has said that one of the legacies he wants to leave behind is free, fair, transparent elections and smooth transitions.

Buhari who said this on Monday, November 28, at the opening session of the 2022 second ordinary session of the ECOWAS parliament in Abuja, also added that Nigeria is committed to peace and political stability in the sub-region.

He also promised that Nigeria will support efforts that will lead to the restoration of democratic governance in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso.

Buhari was quoted saying in the statement released by his media aide, Femi Adesina;

“We are convinced that the sustenance of democracy and the rule of law should remain the norm in this promising region.

“There will be multiple political activities in some ECOWAS member states, including Nigeria, where general elections are due to be held in February and March 2023.

“Let me seize this opportunity to reiterate my commitment to free, fair and transparent elections and smooth transitions.

“This is one legacy that I want my administration to bequeath, not only to Nigeria but to the region as a whole.

“The vision of the founding fathers of ECOWAS was to have a West Africa that is integrated economically with harmonised policies, enjoying the free movement of persons, goods and services, as well as the seamless right to establishment.

“We must continue to strive harder to attain those objectives.

“Let us take advantage of existing mechanisms and our enterprising population to turn our dreams into reality.

“We have the capacity to do so. Let us collaborate more and remove our outdated physical and psychological boundaries and other colonially-inspired differences so our region can fully attain its full potential.”

Politics, World News

UN urges media to encourage female politicians

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The United Nations Women Representative to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West Africa State, Beatrice Eyong, has urged the media in Nigeria to encourage women candidates in the 2023 general elections through their publications.

She gave this charge during the quarterly media dialogue with Media Executives and Chief Editors on Gender Responsive Reporting held in Lagos on Saturday.

The event was organised by the United Nations Women in partnership with the Canadian government and WFM Radio (Voice of Women).

Eyong lamented that the media has not been fair to female political aspirants and candidates in their reportage compared to their male counterparts.

She appealed to the media to support women’s participation through positive and gender-sensitive reportage.

“I appeal to you once again to harness the power of the media by using your respective media platforms to join this laudable project of supporting women through positive coverage as we move towards campaigns for the 2023 general elections.

I want to encourage ourselves to reaffirm our commitments to gender-sensitive reporting of electoral issues, including the positive portrayal of women to the public.”

Speaking further, the UN chief said the expansion of women’s representation in decision-making positions by ensuring that the rights of women and girls are respected globally.

She said it can be found in the conventions and additional texts and protocols ratified by the government of Nigeria.

“There can’t be sustainable development and peace as long as women are not involved. In all spheres of life they should be involved because if they are not actors, they are accomplices or victims,” she added.

Also, the Chief Executive Officer of Women Radio 91.7, Toun Sonaiya, called for media administrators to showcase and expose women aspirants and politicians through their various platforms.

At the event, a list of female candidates vying for different political seats across the country was presented and shared with the participants.

Lifestyle, Politics

Governor Adeleke sacks monarchs appointed by Oyetola

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Governor Ademola Adeleke has directed security agents to take over the palaces of Owa of Igbajo, Aree of Iree and Akinrun of Ikirun, who were appointed to the position by his immediate predecessor, Oyetola Gboyega.

The New Osun state Governor who had earlier reversed all appointments made by Oyetola in all Osun ministries, departments, agencies, commissions, boards and parastatals after July 17, suspended the monarchs in one of the executive orders he signed on Monday, November 28.

Spokesperson for Osun governor, Olawale Rasheed, who released a statement on the contents of the six orders signed by Adeleke, said all appointments of traditional rulers made by the immediate past administration after July 17, 2022, would be reviewed.

The statement read; “The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has issued six executive orders to take immediate effect.

“The orders signed this morning by His Excellency covered chieftaincy matters, appointment issues, setting up of review panel, staff audit and employment matters.

“Each of the executive orders are reproduced below:

1. Executive order on state bank accounts“I, hereby, order the immediate freezing of all government accounts in all banks and other financial institutions.

2. Executive order number two on staff audit“All Heads of Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions, Boards and Parastatals of Osun State Government are hereby directed to carry out an immediate staff audit of the actual number of government workers in their various Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions, Boards and Parastatals, as of July 17, 2022, and should file a report to the Office of the Chief of Staff to the Governor stating the full details and position/designation of each of the staff on the forwarded list within seven working days from the date of this Executive order using the attached Oath of Fidelity Template.

3. Executive Order number 3 on Employment“All employments in the service of Osun State Government made in any capacity into any capacity in all the Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions , Boards and Parastatals after July 17th, 2022 be and are hereby nullified.

4. Executive order four on appointments

“All appointments in the service of Osun State Government made in any capacity into any capacity in all the Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions, Boards and Parastatals after 17th July, 2022 be and are hereby reversed.

5. Executive order number five on chieftaincy affairs and appointment of traditional rulers.

“All appointments of traditional rulers made by Osun State Government after 17th July, 2022, are hereby ordered to be reviewed to ensure there was strict compliance with due process of chieftaincy declarations and native law, custom and tradition relating to such chieftaincies.

In the case of Ikirun, Iree and Igbajo, to avoid further breakdown of law and order, the appointments of Akinrun of Ikinrun, Aree of Ire and Owa of Igbajo are hereby put on hold pending review. Subsequently, the palaces of Akinrun of Ikirun, Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo should remain unoccupied, while security agencies are hereby ordered to take charge.

6. Executive order number six setting up review committees.

Politics

Adeleke directs LG heads to replace sacked chairmen

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Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has directed career heads of local government areas and Area Councils Development Areas in the state to take control and charge of their councils from the sacked council chairmen and councillors.

The directive is contained in a statement issued by Adeleke’s Spokesperson, Malam Olawale Rasheed.According to the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday, Adeleke says the directive is with immediate effect.

“Governor Adeleke also directed the most senior career heads across all the local government areas to take charge of their councils.

“This is in compliance with the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo that sacked the council local government chairmen and councillors,” the government said.

NAN reports that Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, on Friday, declared the local government election conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission as null and void.

Justice Ayo-Emmanuel delivered the judgment based on a Peoples Democratic Party suit, asking the court to stop the OSIEC from conducting the Osun October 15 local government election.

The judge, in his judgment, stated that the local government election that was subsequently held by OSIEC was held in contravention of sections 29 and 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022.

Reacting to the ruling, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria in Osun, Mr Abiodun Idowu, called on its members to remain calm and peaceful.Idowu said the leadership of their party – the All Progressives Congress and all the chairmen across the 69 LGAs, ACDAs had filed a ‘Notice of Appeal and Stay of Execution’ against the ruling.

Lifestyle, Politics

Presidency advices Nigerians to leave the country if migrating legally is good for them

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The presidency has insisted that the recent increase in migration from Nigeria is not peculiar to the country alone or a new development.

Appearing on a Channels Television program on Sunday, November 27, presidential aide Femi Adesina stated that the average Nigerian have always wanted to leave and people should not equate it to something being wrong.

Adesina said;

“The average Nigerian had always wanted to leave. And it is not just in Nigeria. It is in most countries of the world, particularly in the third world.

“They always believe that it is greener on the other side.

“You see, the truth is that if you have an opportunity to better yourself in any part of the world, there is nothing wrong with it. If you think migrating legally is good for you, all well and good. By all means, go!

“But you cannot now say that because people are leaving, then it is a sign that something is fundamentally wrong.

“There are Nigerians who would never leave the country no matter how things are”.

Adesina also spoke about the country’s security, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration would hand over a safer country.

He added;

“No doubt about it. He would leave a safer country. When he came in 2015, you could not be sure Nigeria would exist in the next one month. As of 2015, what was happening was that nobody could confidently say that Nigeria would be on the map in the following next week, month or year. But we saw that he came and took the battle to the insurgency.

“When he came, the insurgency was the main thing and he took the battle to them. Then, it became hydra-headed – banditry, kidnapping for ransom, cultism, and separatist agitations joined. How many challenges can one administration really confront? That’s the issue with the Buhari administration. From day one till now, it was from one challenge to the other.”

Politics

Governor Adeleke freezes Osun government’s accounts, sacks Oyetola’s appointees

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Ademola Adeleke carried out some executive actions shortly after being sworn-in as Governor of Osun state.

Adeleke ordered immediate freezing of all accounts of the state and also reversed all appointments Adegboyega Oyetola, his predecessor, made from July 17, 2022, till he left office.

The new Osun state Governor who revealed that he would constitute a committee that would review all appointments and make recommendations, also reversed the Osun appellation from “The State of the Virtues” to “The State of the Living Spring”.

Adeleke also noted that he’s aware of the expectations of Osun residents, adding that he’ll not disappoint them.

Politics

PVCs and other items destroyed as fire guts INEC office in Ebonyi

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Several Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and other items were destroyed after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State was gutted by fire on November 27.

A statement released by INEC’s National Commissioner & Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said the fire incident occurred around 10.00 am when some unidentified persons set the entire building ablaze.

“Although no casualties resulted from the attack, the main building and all the movable and immovable items inside it were destroyed.

These include 340 ballot boxes, 130 voting cubicles, 14 electric power generators, large water storage tanks, assorted office furniture and fixtures, and yet-to-be-determined quantities of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).”he said

Okoye stated that security agencies have been informed about the most recent incident and that an investigation has started.

“Sadly, this is the third attack on our local government office in less than three weeks following similar attacks on our offices in Ogun and Osun states on 10th November 2022,” Okoye said

Politics

Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, Okowa, Others Head To Osun For Adeleke’s Inauguration

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The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, are on their way to Osun State for the inauguration of Ademola Adeleke as the next governor of the state.

Others accompanying the duo were the PDP national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and others.

Atiku shared photos of him and his entourage at Ibadan, on their way to Osun.

Politics

APC Presidential Rally In Lagos

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The All Progressives Congress, on Saturday held a rally to promote its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

The stadium was filled with supporters of the former Lagos governor.

Politics

Tinubu Bags Chieftaincy Title In Ebonyi

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The Ebonyi State Traditional Rulers Council has conferred a traditional title on the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu.

According to Chooks Oko, an aide to the Ebonyi State governor.

Dave Umahi, the APC candidate was given the title of ‘Dike Di Ora Nma’ which means ‘Hero that is loved by the people.’

The conferment took place during a town hall meeting on Wednesday in the state.

Politics

Presidential candidate Peter Obi and Soludo Meets In Anambra

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The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and the Anambra State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, on Thursday, meet in Akwa.

The duo met at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka during the Thanksgiving mass for Most Rev. Paulinus C. Ezeokafor in celebration of his 70th birthday.

This meeting comes a few days after Soludo bashed Obi and dismissed his chances at the poll.

Politics

Lagos state govt announces traffic diversion ahead of APC presidential and rallies

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The Lagos State Government has announced traffic diversion for the upcoming All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential and gubernatorial rallies scheduled to hold in the state at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, on Saturday, November 26.

The state Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, in a statement released, advised residents of the state to plan their movement around Teslim Balogun Stadium, Funsho Williams Avenue and Alhaji Masha areas in Surulere.

Oladeinde revealed that human and vehicular movement around the affected areas would be regulated as there would be a series of traffic diversions for safety and security management purposes.

He stated that traffic on Funsho Williams/Western Avenue inward Lagos Island will be diverted to the Express Lanes at the Barracks bus stop for people going to Costain, Apapa, Ijora, Victoria Island, Lagos Island, and off to Olumegbon for people going to New Lagos/Surulere areas.

He said the Transport Commissioner said traffic on Funsho Williams/Western Avenue inward Surulere/Ojuelegba will be diverted to the Express Lanes/Stadium Bridge at Alaka bus stop for people going to Mushin, Palm groove, Ikeja, Ojota, Ikorodu areas, and off to Bode Thomas and Eric Moore at Iponri Estate for people going to New Lagos/Surulere areas.

He added that vehicular movement on Alhaji Masha road to Akerele/Shitta junction and Funsho Williams from Olumegbon Junction to Alaka would be totally restricted for safety, as only human traffic would be allowed.

The Transport commissioner further explained that vehicles conveying party members and others with accredited stickers for the rally would be provided free parking with access at the National Stadium only via Alaka into the National Stadium stressing that those from Ojuelegba/Mushin/Palmgrove on Funsho Williams will access the National Stadium via U-turn at Alaka.

Those from Surulere will access the Stadium via Adeniran Ogunsanya/Bode Thomas/Ogunlana Drive/Alaji Masha to connect Alaka inward to the National Stadium.

Directional signs, towing vehicles, and barricades would be made available, also assuring that the Traffic Management Personnel will be on standby to provide assistance and guide motorists/pedestrians during the rallies.

He reiterated that only accredited vehicles, security, emergency, and essential services vehicles will be provided privileged access at the diversion points.

He appealed to residents of the state to cooperate with all the law enforcement officials assigned to carry out their respective tasks.

Politics

Governor Wike, Ortom, Other G5 Govs Meet In Aba

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The G5 governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, are in Aba, Abia State, hosted by their colleague, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

The visit of the governors were captured in pictures shared by the Chief Press Secretary to the Abia governor, Onyebuchi Ememanka, via his Facebook page on Thursday.

Ememanka captioned the pictures, “G5 Governors Group. Welcome to Abia, the home of fashion! Welcome to Aba, the headquarters of garment business and fashion business in Nigeria.”

Politics

INEC reacts to the federal high court’s order to resume voter registration

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reacted to the federal high court judgement which ordered it to resume voter registration.

Speaking on a Channels Television’s program on Tuesday, November 22, INEC National Commissioner and Director of Voter Education, Festus Okoye said it would be constitutionally and legally impossible to resume voter registration before the 2023 elections.

Okoye who further revealed that INEC is working on improving the voter registration process for future elections, also suggested that voter registration ahead of the 2023 elections was more or less over.

He said;

“It would be constitutionally and legally impossible for the Commission to resume the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.”

Politics

Nasarawa Gov Presents N148.9bn 2023 Budget Nasarawa State

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Governor, Abdullahi Sule, on Tuesday, presented a N148.9bn budget to the State House of Assembly for the 2023 fiscal year.

Sule stated that his administration would continue to focus on transparency, accountability, and the rule of law for the overall development of the state while presenting the budget titled ‘Budget of Economic Consolidation and Continuity’.

Politics

I Will ‘Recharge’ Lake Chad If Elected, Tinubu Vows

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The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, has vowed to ‘recharge’ Lake Chad if elected president in the forthcoming 2023 presidential election.

Tinubu disclosed this on Tuesday at at the inauguration of the first drilling of crude oil at the Kolmani Oil Field in Bauchi State.

Politics

Gunmen abduct Imo APGA Assembly candidate

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Gunmen have kidnapped Nduka Anyanwu, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for the Ahiazu Mbaise constituency in next year’s election into the Imo State House of Assembly, The Sun reports.

Anyanwu was abducted on Tuesday morning, November 22, 2022 while on his way to finalise arrangements for his booth agents in Ahiazu.

Sources close to the party told the publication that some gunmen waylaid the APGA candidate on his way to see his booth agents.

“We call on security agents to track them. We call on the public who might have any useful information to inform any nearby police station. Just happened around 9.00am today, Tuesday, 22nd November 2022,” the source said.

According to the source, efforts are being made to secure his release.

Politics

Court orders INEC to resume CVR until 90 days to election

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Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately resume the continuous Voter Registration (CVR) until 90 days before the 2023 general elections.

The court gave the order while delivering judgment in a suit filed by one Anajat Salmat and three others against INEC.

The plaintiffs argued that INEC cannot stop the CVR contrary to the stipulated provisions of the constitution.

In a judgment delivered today November 22, the judge directed INEC to ensure that eligible Nigerians are not deprived of the opportunity to have the voter’s card for the forthcoming poll.

According to the judge, it was the constitutional responsibility of the electoral umpire to make adequate provision for the exercise in accordance with the Nigerian laws.

“The case of the plaintiffs succeeds on merit.” the judge ruled

Politics

Supreme Court orders retrial of Ogun PDP governorship lawsuit

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The Supreme Court in Abuja has ordered a retrail of the dispute which ensued from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election in Ogun State.

Jimi Lawal, a governorship aspirant had filed a lawsuit challenging the emergence of Oladipupo Adebutu as the governorship candidate of the party.

He had asked the court to cancel the purported primary election of 25 May and also order that another one be conducted with the authentic ad-hoc delegates.

A federal high court had on 29 July, declined to hear Mr Lawal’s case on its merit. The court insisted that PDP’s primary election was a domestic affair.

Mr Lawal approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja with a prayer that the decision of the High Court be nullified, citing miscarriage of justice.

A three-man panel of Justices of the Court of Appeal in their judgment delivered on 30 September agreed with Jimi Lawal, set aside judgment of the high court and ordered that the suit be heard on its merit. After the PDP approached the supreme court to uphold the federal high court’s judgement, the apex court agreed with the Court of Appeal in Abuja that the High Court has jurisdiction under section 285 of the 1999 Constitution and section 84 [14) of the Electoral Act 2022 to hear the suit on its merit.

It also ordered that the case be remitted to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja for determination by another judge other than Taiwo Taiwo who declined to entertain the case.

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