Politics

Lagos police warns political parties against violence in forthcoming elections

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The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, has called on political parties in the state to shun electoral violence in the forthcoming general election.

Alabi made the statement on Tuesday, Jan. 17, during an event tagged “Stakeholders Meeting on Election Security,” organised by the Lagos State Police Command in the Ikeja area of the state.

The stakeholders’ meeting involved heads of security agents in the state, representatives of political parties, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, and the police, among other stakeholders in the state.

Alabi said;

“A free and fair election is the hallmark of democracy, and we, as critical stakeholders in the provision of security during the elections, have the responsibility to ensure that it is conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner devoid of rancour, malevolence, brigandage, and thuggery.

“To achieve this, we urge the leadership of all political parties to re-dedicate themselves to undertaking their campaigns and electoral activities within the dictates of the Electoral Act 2022.

“In the same vein, during this electoral process, the police request the political actors gathered here to pledge to denounce electoral violence, hate speech, and other negative tendencies before, during, and after the votes.”

Alabi warned political thugs, cultists and other troublemakers against disrupting the electoral process.

He said: “Parents should equally warn their children to be law-abiding because we won’t listen to anybody when we arrest any troublemaker.

“We want to assure you that no cultists or political thugs would be allowed in the state. We are going to ensure that no political party’s supporters would be intimidated in the state.”

Alabi added that political violence, hate speech, threats, political intolerance, misinformation, and political extremism are potent threats to democracy and national security.

He said;

“I, therefore, challenge the leadership of political parties and candidates, who are critical gatekeepers of our democracy, to demonstrate purposeful and patriotic leadership that will guarantee a peaceful electoral process and to develop a culture of political tolerance and display of political maturity by allowing healthy competition among themselves.”

Politics

2023 elections belong to young people – INEC chairman

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The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has said that the 2023 general election is an election for the young people in Nigeria.

Giving a breakdown of voter registration and collection of Permanent Voter Cards in Nigeria at his address at Chatham House, London, Tuesday afternoon, Yakubu said records on the ground showed that the election would be dominated by the Nigerian youth.

Politics

2023 elections will hold as scheduled – INEC chairman, Yakubu Mahmoud, insists

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Barely four days after raising alarm over a possible postponement or cancellation of the 2023 polls due to the increasing spate of insecurity in some parts of the country, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Wednesday, January 11, made a U-turn saying nothing would stop the conduct of the polls on February 25 and March 11.

Recall that INEC’s Chairman, Board of Electoral Institute (BEI), Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, had on Monday, January 9, warned that the general election faces serious threats of cancellation and postponement if security challenges across parts of the country fails to improve.

Zuru, who represented the commission’s chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, at the validation of election security training resources in Abuja, also expressed concerns that the cancellation or postponement of the elections due to insecurity in some areas would not only hinder the declaration of elections results, but also precipitate a constitutional crisis.

However, in his keynote address at the presentation of the National Register of Voters to the 18 registered political parties in Abuja, yesterday, INEC Chairman, Prof Yakubu, said security agencies have given strong assurances of adequate security and safety of electoral officials to allow for the conduct of peaceful and credible polls across states.

In his words

“The commission is not contemplating any adjustment to the election timetable, let alone the postponement of the general election.

For the avoidance of doubt, the presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Saturday February 25, 2023 while Governorship and State Assembly elections will hold two weeks later on Saturday, March 11, 2023.

The repeated assurance by the security agencies for the adequate protection of our personnel, materials and processes also reinforces our determination to proceed. The 2023 general election will hold as scheduled. Any report to the contrary is not the official position of the commission.”

Politics

PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Admits Using Fasawe, Andy Uba To Syphon Billions Of Naira In Federal Contracts During Tenure As Nigerian Vice-President

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The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has been caught on tape admitting his involvement in a complex conspiracy that for years took advantage of federal contracting expenditures.

This was disclosed in a viral audio shared by Atiku’s former aide, Michael Achimugu where the former vice-president was narrating how he took charge of setting up onshore shell businesses to serve as a conduit for syphoning significant sums from public works contracts for himself and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Obasanjo was Nigeria’s President between 1999 and 2007 while Atiku was the Vice President.

Atiku also revealed how their government designated some funds stolen during the process to political allies to fund their party’s activities without traces.

He said,

“What happened was when we came into office and I advised the president against open corruption.

“I told him to give me three people you trust and I will prepare three companies in which they will be subscribers or rather the directors.

“So that if there is any contract that we give they will act like consultants and they are given a fee. That fee is what we use to fund the party.”

Mr Abubakar specifically stated in the audio that Obasanjo gave him the name of Otunba Oyewole Fasawe, Andy Uba as well as another politician from Borno State whom he said died in a plane crash to serve as fronts.

“I now incorporated companies and put them as subscribers. One of the companies was Marine Float,” he added.

The PDP presidential hopeful further admitted to having collected N100 million bribe from Mr Joshua Dariye, a former Plateau State governor, which was paid directly to Marine Float, one of the three firms he registered.

Dariye was convicted of criminal misappropriation and criminal breach of trust and was found to have looted N2 billion in public funds during his time as governor between 1999 and 2007.

Atiku continued:

“When the governor sent donations, he sent it to Marine Float. It stayed in Marine Float. One of the subscribers of Marine Float was Otunba Fasawe.

That was where the N100 million went to. It did not go to Atiku Abubakar. It went to Marine Float. Marine Float was a special-purpose vehicle,” Mr Abubakar said, adding that that was the way he “handled it”.

Mr Abubakar said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission later probed Marine Float accounts “very well” but still “found nothing” linking him to its fraudulent activities.

In 2007, Nigerian senators accused Atiku Abubakar of diverting more than $100m (£51m) in public funds to private interests.

A Senate inquiry recommended that Atiku should be prosecuted for syphoning off money to companies he was connected to.

The Senate launched the investigation after the then-president, Obasanjo, forwarded charges made by Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency against Atiku.

In a report presented to the Senate, the investigating panel said it agreed with the findings that Atiku helped divert $145m from Nigerian government accounts to banks.

However, nothing came out of the investigation and findings made by the panel.

Politics

Ask politicians to recruit their children if they approach you for thuggery – Governor Tambuwal tells youths

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Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state has asked Nigerian youths to refrain from being used as political thugs in the 2023 general election.

Speaking at a recent rally of the party, Tambuwal told Nigerian youths to ask politicians who want to use them for thuggery, to use their children instead.

He added that they should not allow themselves to be used to compromise peaceful coexistence by perpetrating violence and chaos.

Tambuwal said;

“You should ask any politician who invites you into political thuggery to align you with his sons and daughters.”

Politics

Presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu In Mecca For Umrah

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The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, is in Mecca for Umrah ahead of the forthcoming presidential election in February.

It was reported on Saturday that Tinubu was in Saudi Arabia, after denying meeting with G-5 governors of the Peoples Democratic Party in London.

His media aide, Tunde Rahman, said Tinubu will be back in Nigeria “within the next two days to continue with the campaign”.

Politics

Nigeria will witness transformation under Tinubu – President Buhari

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With the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, as the next President of Nigeria, the country will witness overwhelming transformation, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has assured.

He also expressed optimism that Tinubu’s presidency in 2023 would ensure that the nation moved ahead “from what has so far been achieved throughout the country in the last seven plus years.”

President Buhari, represented by the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, stated these when he visited the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Office in Gusau and expressed confidence in APC’s win in Zamfara in the coming 2023 general elections.

A statement signed by the APC Publicity Secretary in Zamfara State, Yusuf Idris Gusau, said the President also used the opportunity of the visit to attend the closing ceremony of this year’s Musabaka Qur’anic recitation competition hosted in the state.

He was conducted round by the coordinator of Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council in Zamfara State, Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa.

The statement said,

“He commended the arrangement put in place by the coordinator saying that the effort jointly put in place by Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle, former governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar and Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa accounted for the rousing welcome his delegation received while in the state.

“He assured people of the state that with APC’s Tinubu as the next President, the nation will witness overwhelming transformation, moving ahead from what has so far been achieved throughout the country in the last seven plus years.

“The President thanked the people of Zamfara and all Nigerians for the support he has been enjoying in his leadership and urged Nigerians to continue to support the APC by ensuring its victory at all levels in the coming elections.”

Earlier while welcoming the President and his delegation, Governor Bello Matawalle informed him, “Zamfara is the home base of the APC whereby opposition parties seem non-existent.”

The governor who is also the North West Zonal Coordinator of the APC said that the choice of an experienced state campaign coordinator like Senator Marafa has added impetus to and eased his responsibilities as the zone’s coordinator in the state.

Politics

Voter cards now more important than certificates and passports – Gumi tells Nigerians

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Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, says ahead of the 2023 General elections, voter cards are now more important to Nigerians than school certificates and international passports.

Gumi, who said the votes will count in 2023 polls, noted that possessing a voter card is the only way to vote, warning that Nigerians must vote as it is the only way to snatch power and run away with it.

He made the appeal after collecting his voter’s card.

“Your vote counts therefore get your voter’s card as it is the only way left to ascension to power or in other words: to ‘snatch power and run away with it’

“Your voter’s card. Alhamdulillah! I got mine. please go and get yours. Without exaggeration, it’s the most important document one can hold now, more important than an international passport or even certificates. It’s the card that empowers you to choose your leader and you don’t need to be lectured on the importance of leadership which cannot be overemphasized.

“Insecurity, bad infrastructures, poor health services, dwindling economy, civil strife, and disunity squarely depends on leadership. There are nations more diversified in all facets of human dimensions than Nigeria, India as an example, that have developed and have relative stability and security Nigerians can only dream of today.

“It’s not our diversity that is the problem. It’s our parochial leaders, whether; regional, sectional, religious, or sectarian that amplify our differences for the narrow-minded benefits of themselves as well as their families and cronies. Your voter’s card is your God-given weapon to fight the enemies of progress.

“In democracy, it’s your numbers that matter; therefore, your voter’s card is the scarecrow that humbles the politicians to succumb to your demands.“Your voter’s card is your vanguard. You should not be intimidated by regional, sectional, religious or sectarian bigots to submission. Vote your choice without coercion, fear, or blackmail.

“You cannot get a perfect candidate or Party. Look at your overriding interest and vote. Don’t waste your precious vote except where it matters. It only matters where there are numbers and higher probability. But most important don’t be bought, compelled, or blackmailed, and be proud of your choice. May Allah see us through the elections peacefully. Amin.”

Politics

Christian-Christian ticket coming, says Tinubu’s wife

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The wife of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has said the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the party will set a new tone in the country’s political landscape after 2023.

Tinubu’s wife stated this on Wednesday during the APC South-West women’s presidential rally held at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos.

She said;

“As regards the Muslim-Muslim ticket, this one will set the tone for the future. Sometime in the future, we will have a Christian-only ticket. What God has done in our land is marvellous.

“I bring you warm greetings from the First Lady, Her Excellency Aisha Buhari. She sends love to Lagos and wishes you well, as does the governor who is making things work in Lagos State.

“We thank you for coming out in large numbers despite the challenges. My coming here is another homecoming. About 23 years ago, God blessed my husband to become the governor, and I supported him as the first lady.

“I want to thank the people of Lagos Central for sending me to represent them. I am the first woman to emerge as a senator three times. This is a fantastic opportunity, and I have been working for the good of our people since 2007 when my husband left office.”

Lifestyle, Politics

In my administration ASUU won’t strike —Peter Obi

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The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, on Tuesday said that Academic Staff Union of Universities won’t go on strike if he becomes the next president of the country.

Obi speaking at a state rally in Owerri, Imo State, said that his administration would dialogue with ASUU leadership to ensure that universities won’t be locked.

The Labour Party presidential candidate said his administration would work with students and invest hugely in education, health and agriculture.

Obi also reiterated his commitment to providing jobs and turning the country from consumption to production, adding that himself and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, had clean records in academics and public service.

He added that the people of Imo State could begin to export palm seeds if he becomes the next president.The ex-Anambra State governor said that rural people across the country would feel the impact of his administration if he wins the February 25 presidential election.

Obi said;

“If you make me your president and Datti my vice, ASUU won’t go on strike. We will dialogue with them. We will work with the students. The future of any serious country is dependent on their education and health sectors. I will invest hugely in those sectors if you elect us.

“We want to go back to Agriculture. That is why we want to turn Nigeria from consumption to production. We will create jobs and export, export and export.

“I and Datti are not corrupt. Our records are clean. Datti was a senator and I was a governor in Anambra. If you want to check my record, go to Anambra State and verify.

“As the governor of Anambra state I didn’t allocate a plot of land to myself, my wife here or my children. If you see any land I allocated to myself or any member of my family I will quit from this race,” he added.

Politics

Imo Assembly Labour Party candidate is dead

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Chukwunonye Irouno, a Labour Party candidate for Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State House of Assembly is dead.

The popular master of ceremony in Owerri and a former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs and Entertainment to a former governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, died on Monday night December 5, in his house in Owerri.

Irouno who was called up to be the official MC for Peter Obi’s rally in Owerri on Tuesday, December 6, died after he and other Labour chieftains finished inspecting Kanu Nwankwo sports stadium in Owerri, the venue for Obi’s campaign rally.

His death was confirmed by chairman of the local Organizing committee for the rally, Kingsley Onunuju.

After Onunuju announced Irouno’s death and called for a minute silence in his honour, the crowd erupted in shouts.

Politics

Obi Meets UNOWAS Deputy Special Representative

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The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has met with Giovanie Biha, the Deputy Special Representative of United Nations Office For West Africa and Sahel, in Abuja.

He shared pictures from the visit via his Twitter handle on Monday.

Obi wrote;

“Earlier today, I received Giovanie Biha, Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and the UNOWAS delegation.

We exchanged views on national, regional and global issues.

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

Lifestyle

Inspector General of Police orders distribution of weapons for 2023 elections

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The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has ordered the distribution of weapons for officers across the country in preparation for the 2023 general election.

He also ordered all Commissioners of Police in the country to activate the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security to engage stakeholders in evolving strategies for mitigating threats to the elections.

The IG noted that political violence, hate speech, threats, political intolerance and misinformation were all potential threats to national security interests.

In a statement on Sunday, the Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the IG charged the CPs to ensure adequate and strategic deployment of officers and assets to ensure the safety and security of INEC personnel and materials before, during and after the 2023 general elections.

Adejobi said, “Similarly, the IGP has ordered a fresh distribution of gadgets, anti-riot gears, and personal protective equipment for police officers across the federation in preparation for the 2023 general election security management duty.

“The items include non-lethal weapons such as electro-shocks, rubber bullets, water cannons, tear gas, riot guns etc., for crowd control and to minimise casualty risk in eventual confrontations with subversive elements.

“The IG reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to the protection of our democratic heritage and national security interests, while he called on other security agencies and stakeholders who constitute ICCES, as well as members of the public to deliberately aid the NPF in its drive to ensure the safety and security of all and sundry before, during, and after the 2023 general elections.”

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

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.”

Lifestyle, World News

NIS retrieves over 500 national ID cards and PVCs from foreigners in Katsina

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says 513 national identity cards and permanent voter cards (PVCs) have been retrieved from foreigners in Katsina.

Kelechi Ekeoba-Jones, NIS controller in the state, who disclosed this to NAN on Monday, November 14, 2022, during a media briefing at the newly established Jibia border command.

He said the special border command in Jibia recovered 202 PVCs and 311 national identity cards from non-Nigerians in the state.

“Some foreign nationals were found in possession of the Federal Republic of Nigeria voter cards and national identity cards issued to them in various states of the country,” he said.

“A total of 513 voter and national identity cards were retrieved from them in various formations of the command.

“Therefore, we are soliciting the support of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to engage us whenever a voter registration exercise is going to be conducted again.

“Only the immigration officials can identify foreigners through our techniques whenever they come to register at any registration centre across the country

“We are calling on INEC, at any point of registration, they should solicit the help of our people to avoid registering foreigners.

“So also, the body responsible for the national identity card registration, it should engage more of our officers whenever the exercise will commence because it’s very important” he added.

Politics

2023 Election: INEC insists BVAS can’t be hacked

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reassured Nigerians that data on the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System will not be compromised.

Appearing on a Channels Television program on Wednesday, November 9, INEC’s Deputy Head of ICT Lawrence Bayode said they’ve loose end towards ensuring that the BVAS is safe tightened every loose end towards ensuring that the BVAS is safe.

He said;

“I want to say again that we have done everything to ensure that the BVAS is not compromised. The data on the BVAS will be secured.

“After the poll, when the data is transmitted to our backend server, the data in transit will be secured. By the time the data gets to our backend server, the data will also be secured there.

“We have looked at the machine, and we looked at a lot of things. As I said earlier, you cannot build such a system and would not fortify the system to solidify it.

“Whether we like it or not, people will try a lot to beat this system. But the more they try, the more they meet a brick wall.

“I can say categorically that we have taken care of every surface attack vulnerability on this system, and we have also tried our best to ensure that the system cannot be hacked into on election day and I can say again that BVAS cannot be compromised.”

Lifestyle, Politics

FG using uncompleted projects as bait for next year’s elections – Adegboruwa

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Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has accused the federal government of using uncompleted projects as bait for next year’s elections.

Appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily to discuss issues related to INEC and the elections on Tuesday, November 8, Adegboruwa asked why the federal government is taking so much time to complete certain projects.

He said;

“The federal government is using projects as bait to tie the hands of Nigerians so they can get continuity which is wrong.

“They promised to complete the Second Niger Bridge in 2022, we are already in December and it’s still there. How long will it take to complete a Lagos-Ibadan expressway that is about 200 km?

“I’ve been on that road and nearly lost my life. You see people sandwiched between trucks and inhaling fumes. I know people who have died and have various degrees of health challenges from using that road.

“This is the longest project anyone has embarked on in the world. Being probably the busiest road in Sub-Saharan Africa, it shouldn’t take up to the time it has taken now. Anyone who has suffered a health challenge should take the FG to court because they are liable.”

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