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.

Lifestyle, Politics

I don’t read social media anymore, they abuse the hell out of me – Tinubu

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APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has said that he doesn’t use social media anymore because users “abuse the hell” of out him.

Tinubu said his children and workers send posts about him on social media once in a while and when he’s had enough, he tells them to stop.

In his words;

”I don’t read social media anymore, they abuse hell out of me. If I read it, I get high blood pressure, I get angry. I don’t read it.

If I want to hear anything, my children or any of my workers will tell me this one said this. If I am tired I say please forget it.”

Politics

2023 Election: Niger Delta ex-militants vow to disrupt campaigns over unpaid stipends

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Former militants under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) have vowed to stop presidential campaigns of any political party in the Niger Delta region over their unpaid stipends.

The former militants who staged a protest at the secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists in Yenagoa over the de-listing of 2,952 beneficiaries and refusal of the amnesty office to pay them the monthly stipends of N65,000 monthly, threatened to lead a protest to occupy PAP office in Abuja and tactical distruption of presidential campaigns of political parties within the nine states in the Niger Delta region.

Daily Trust reported that the former Militants said the refusal of the amnesty office to return the affected 2,952 beneficiaries to the payroll and immediately pay them their stipends will create tension in the region.

National Chairman of phase two beneficiaries of the amnesty programme, Aso Tambo, also gave the amnesty office one week ultimatum to commence immediate payment of those delisted from the payroll of the programme.

Tambo added that despite the achievements recorded by the Interim Administrator, Major General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (rtd.) in the area of security commitment from the head of service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the area of employment for beneficiaries, the refusal to pay the 2,952 beneficiaries will provoke tension and destroy the existing fragile peace in the region.

He said;

“We have all met and adopted our strategy against the refusal of the amnesty office to pay 2,952 beneficiaries.

We want them to pay those affected within one week or else we will mobilise and occupy the presidential amnesty office in a strategic manner.

If it is not still paid, we will not allow a peaceful conduct of presidential campaigns within the nine states of the Niger Delta region.

“If they feel we are dogs that bark and can not bite, they should dare us and see the consequence. They should consider the monthly stipends important and know that such payment will lead to an unimaginable crises of not paid immediately.”

Politics

Tinubu says those criticising him for choosing Shettima wanted to be his running mate

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The All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, has said those criticizing him for choosing Kashim Shettima as his running mate are doing so because they wanted that position but he denied them the opportunity.

Tinubu said some of those criticizing his choice of Shettima as running mate were his close friends whom he turned down.

He disclosed this during an interactive session with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Abuja, led by Archbishop Daniel Ukoh.

Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and close ally of Tinubu, had condemned the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket.

He described it as “a disastrous error.” Also, an erstwhile Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, urged Christians to vote against the APC following Tinubu’s decision to settle for a Muslim-Muslim ticket. Speaking during the session, Tinubu said:

“People have reacted harshly to my selection. They are my friends, they lobbied me and wanted to be my running mate but I bluntly rejected them.”

Politics

Over 300,000 PVCs are uncollected in Imo – INEC

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Imo State has said that over 300,000 permanent voter cards (PVCs) are yet to be uncollected in the 27 local governments of the state.

INEC’s spokesperson in the state, Dr. Chinenye Chijioke-Osuji who confirmed this, urged residents of the state to pick their PVCs in other to participate in 2023 general election.

She also appealed to the citizens to take advantage of the ongoing display of the preliminary register of voters to cross-check the register and put in their claims and objections where necessary.

The INEC spokesperson added that this would enable INEC come up with a clean register for the elections.

The statement added;

“INEC in Imo State craves the indulgence of the citizens, please, as this is a civic responsibility we owe ourselves.”

Lifestyle, Politics

You can’t prosecute me for fraud – Ondo Speaker tells EFCC

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Following his arraignment over alleged misappropriation of N2.4m belonging to the state assembly, Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker, Mr Bamidele Oloyeloogun, has told the state High Court, sitting in Akure, the state capital, that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission cannot prosecute him for alleged corrupt practices.

Oloyeloogun is facing trial alongside another lawmaker, Mr Bankole Felemu-Gudu, and a staffer of the Assembly, Mr Olusegun Kayode.

The speaker is accused of signing off the money for a seminar which the lawmaker and the civil servant were supposed to attend but allegedly did not.

Kicking against his prosecution, Oloyeloogun’s lawyer, Mr Femi Emodamori told the court that his client can’t be tried for fraud by the EFCC as the state already had its own Public Complaint Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption Commission Law passed into law and signed by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in January this year.

Emodamori noted that the charge against his clients was that they committed financial crimes involving the finances and assets of the state, and since the state had its own version of the law, the EFCC should leave the prosecution of the case.

Counsel for the EFCC, Mr Fredrick Dibang, objected to this, saying the court had jurisdiction because the law enacted by the state assembly was contrary to the acts of the National Assembly that established the EFCC.

Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye fixed the hearing for the objection and counter-objection to November 25, 2022, after listening to the arguments.

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