Author: The Nation

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is investigating claims that Permanent Voter Cards were found in the Anambra State forest. This revelation was made by INEC’s National Commissioner, Festus Okoye, yesterday while featuring as a guest on Channels Television’s programme, The 2023 Verdict. Okoye said the investigation was to confirm the authenticity of the claim that PVCs were found in a forest in the state.

The INEC commissioner said “We are aware that there are some people and some forces that want to delegitimize this particular election. Now the total number of registered voters in that particular local government hovers around 250,000 but I watched that video and they were talking about millions of PVCs that were found. Incidentally, in that particular local government, we have almost over 99% of PVCs already collected. Now we have instructed our Resident Electoral Commissioner and Electoral Officer for that particular local government to make a report to the DSS and to the police.

“And then those people responsible for that particular incident must be invited, let them tell us where they found those PVCs, how they found those PVCs because we need to investigate and know whether the PVCs are from the commission or whether some people cloned those PVCs in order to delegitimize the work of the commission and also delegitimize the electoral process,” Okoye said.

Speaking further, he added that “So, if the PVCs were found in millions for a local government that registered just around 200,000 then some people have a question to answer, let those who found the PVCs and the radio station where those PVCs were displayed go to the DSS and police and make a report and if they don’t make that particular report. We have also instructed that the report should be made and they should be called in to come and account for how they found the PVCs because we have not heard of a situation where hunters are now hunting PVCs rather than hunting animals in the forest. So let them come and explain to us how they came about hunting PVCs in the forest.”

A recent statement credited to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), suggesting that some governors and individuals could be tried for treason for opposing the modalities for federal government’s currency notes’ swap, has been condemned as sheer political rascality.

Malami was on Friday taken to the cleaners by the Convener/National Coordinator of Social Rehabilitation Gruppe (SRG), Dr. Marindoti Oludare, who expressed reservations about the competence of the minister. The Attorney General, had while speaking with journalists in Abuja, said the fate of some state governors and individuals being investigated for alleged treasonable utterances over the currency swap would be determined by the security agencies involved.

Some governors led by Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State had openly opposed the President Muhammadu Buhari naira swap policy, asking their citizens not to comply with the expiration of the legality of the old N500 and N1, 000 notes. Malami, speaking for the federal government, thereafter said he noted certain undertones of treason in some of the utterances, and that investigation for treasonable offence could not be ruled out.

He also said that the relevant security agencies would determine if there will be the need for further action. But reacting, Oludare, a US-based Nigerian medical doctor and socio-political activist, replied that “Malami does not even know that Buhari is not the government”. He noted that Treason is a crime against the state and not just having to disagree with the President’s policy. Expressing disappointment with what he described as “poor intelligence quotient in the statement credited to the Minister”, Oludare lamented that most political players at the federal level had drifted away from the fact that Nigeria practices federalism in a democracy, and not dictatorship.

“That statement is political rascality by a rouge administration that should be ashamed of their shambolic, unintelligent performance, but is trying tooth and nail to plunge the nation into a Constitutional crisis The governors, like the President, have immunity; so what was Malami insinuating?” Oludare wondered.

THE Labour Party has called for the postponement of today’s general elections in Ondo State over the absence of its logo on the ballot papers.

It said its logo was missing on the ballot papers to be used for elections into Ondo Central Senatorial District and five House of Representative seats.

The House of Representatives seats where it claimed the  logo is missing are  Akoko Southwest/Akoko Southeast, Ondo East/Ondo West, Akure North/Akure South,

Okitipupa/Irele and Ese-Odo/ Ilaje.

State Secretary of the LP, Abiodun Agbaje, said names of the party’s candidates were sent to INEC but were surprised that the party’s logo was missing from the ballot papers.

“Our representative went to INEC for sorting out electoral materials to be sent to various wards. LP logo was missing for the Senatorial and House of Representatives where we have candidates. INEC should give us an opportunity to participate or postpone the election.

“Our candidates should be given the opportunity to exercise their rights.”

  We are here to express our displeasure. We expect INEC to do the needful. It was a deliberate act. I do not think any agency of government supersedes the judiciary that gave us judgment.

SUSPECTED members of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra(IPOB) have allegedly murdered and burnt an unidentified man  on a bike along Ugbolu/ Illah road, Oshimili North LGA, Delta state.

The killing occurred a few kilometres from the 63 Brigade Nigerian Army Headquarters in Asaba, Delta capital.

The Nation gathered that a policeman and a man were killed by some unknown gunmen. 

It was learnt that the gunmen shot sporadically into the air for several hours, while insisting that elections must not hold in the state.

Ugbolu community hosts a notorious IPOB camp known as “Ugu Nwosu” and it is located on a hill on the banks of the River Niger.

Delta Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Edafe Bright, confirmed the death of only one person whom he said was seen at the crime scene.

Edafe said details of the killing were sketchy. He said investigations are ongoing.

NO fewer than 105 persons have been trained for the purpose of combating fake news and disinformation in the forthcoming general elections.

The 105 fact checkers were trained by the Nigeria’s Civic group, Safeguarding Online Civic Space (SOCS), with funding from the United States (US) Agency, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The fact checkers have been saddled with the responsibility of exposing fake news and disinformation and also countering them.

They are expected to flag down fake news and disinformation online in order to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.

Chair, SOCS group, Funmi Akinyele said the digital civic space must be safeguarded to enhance the integrity of the electoral process, especially with the introduction of digital tools.

Akinyele disclosed this in Abuja at a press briefing aimed at engaging members of the press in dialogues on how to combat misinformation and disinformation in Nigeria, particularly as the 2023 elections are held from today.

She said, “The Safeguarding Online Civic Space (SOCS) group is a loose cluster of mostly youth-led Civil Society Organizations and Business Membership Organizations from diverse areas within the social sector. The SOCS Group is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through the Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement Project.”

Consultant for the SOCS group, Austin Aigbe said they would not just be stopping at flagging fake news and disinformation but would openly name and shame peddlers of such news.

He added, “The point of this is to build a massive movement of people who will be able to spot fake news. We have a group of people who will make sure that fake news is not spread as much because they will be able to spot it with the digital tools that they have received.”

“So part of what we’re doing is putting together a critical mass of young people who can stop the peddling of disinformation through videos, including fact checking.

• Amoured vehicles, Tucano jets, others deployed

ASSISTANT Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone II, Abiodun Alabi has warned politicians seeking to buy votes during the elections to desist or face arrest.

Specifically, the police chief said the service had joined forces with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to arrest and prosecute vote buyers and sellers.

He spoke after a joint security meeting held at the zonal headquarters at  Onikan.

Agencies that attended the meeting were the Army, Navy, Air Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Federal Fire Service, Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), among others

Addressing journalists after the security meeting, AIG Alabi said that already, the air component of the election security team had received two Tucano jets to boost air surveillance within Lagos and Ogun states.

The fighter jets, The Nation reports, were in addition to Maritime patrol helicopters from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Logistics Command, the Nigerian Navy (NN) Air Station as well as police helicopters from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).

Alabi said: “This meeting was convened for us to rub minds together and discuss certain issues as it relates to the coming elections.

“I will not let you know our strategic plan because that will be bad. I can only assure you that we (security agencies) are on the same page. It is about security and ensuring that election is peaceful credible and fair.

“That is exactly what we are going to do tomorrow and thereafter. We are together here, our waterways are secured with marine police supported by the Navy.

“Even our Air Force has assured us that they are going to handle air fighters for area surveillance. They have just taken delivery of two Tucano jets. So, we can see that we are prepared. The border is well controlled, you can see the Customs and immigration officers here as well.”

Continuing, Alabi assured residents of the zone that no one would stop the electorate from exercising their franchise, adding that security would commence strict enforcement of restriction on movement.

“You will see a lot of police officers and the military on confidence building patrol to allay fears. We are good to go.

“I want to advice law-abiding citizens to obey the laws, go out to cast their votes peacefully. Do not form or join any gang to disrupt election. There won’t be any room for troublemakers to operate.

“I do not think there are going to be much issues on ground, they have party agents who are going to sign the document there, so I don’t see any problem at all.

“Everybody is secured under our watch. There is no discrimination at all. So, the issue of non-indigenes does not arise. We have a role to play, so we are providing comfort for everybody there should be no issues at all.

“Nobody should tell another who to vote for. Your vote is your personal choice and it is very wrong to take pictures,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Lagos and Ogun Police commands have announced restriction of movement from midnight on Friday till 6pm on Saturday.

In separate statements released Friday evening, the police commands said the restrictions were in line with security architecture put in place for the general elections.

They also warned state owned security outfits to stay off as they were not allowed to be part of election duty, stressing that anyone caught would be arrested and prosecuted.

Spokesman for the Lagos Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin said the restrictions were across all roads, airways and waterways.

“In the same vein, security aides of public and private individuals, who have already been scaled down in accordance with the Electoral Act 2022, are not allowed to escort their principals to polling units and collation centers armed.

“Except for essential duty vehicles such as ambulances, fire trucks, patrol vehicles of Federal Government security agencies, the use of sirens at or around polling units and collation centres is totally banned.”

Today, Saturday the 25th of February, 2023, Nigerians are trooping out to vote in a presidential election that is expected to produce the successor to President Muhammadu Buhari who is finishing his second term of four years in office. Assistant Editor, ‘Dare Odufowokan, presents the profiles of some of the candidates.

Bola Tinubu (APC)

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The Lagos-born politician is a former two-term governor of Lagos State in the southwestern geo-political zone and he is adjudged to have performed creditably well while in office for eight years after being elected on the platform of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 1998.

Among other numerous feats, he is credited with attracting foreign investment, improving public transport and scaling up the internally generated revenue of the state. He has also been applauded for his efforts in improving the education, health and business sectors of the state while he was governor. His contributions to the infrastructure development of the state are still being lauded.

He is credited to have reformed the civil service of the state and strengthened the formal and informal sectors of the economy while in office. He was earlier elected a senator in 1992 on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), during the aborted 3rd Republic. He is contesting the presidential election for the first time, on the ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He chose Kashim Shettima, former governor of the north-eastern state of Borno as his running mate upon his nomination as the APC presidential flag-bearer last year. Tinubu left his lucrative job at Mobil to venture into active politics in 1992, emerging as a Senator of the Federal Republic Nigeria to represent Lagos West Senatorial District on the platform of SDP.

A trained accountant, his involvement in the activities of the pro-democracy National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) group, brought him into collision with the then military junta and he was forced to flee into exile. He suffered many arrests and detention, harassments and constant threats to his life which forced him to flee Nigeria for his personal safety.

Atiku Abubakar (PDP)

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, is the presidential flag-bearer of the leading opposition party in the country; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). An indigene of Adamawa State in the northeastern part of the country, who is running for the presidency for the sixth time, Atiku was a civil servant for most part of his career before venturing into politics.

His first attempt was in 1992 when he sought the presidential ticket of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Though he won the Adamawa State gubernatorial election in 1998 on the platform of the PDP, he did not take office as he was nominated as the vice presidential candidate of the party. The businessman cum politician served two terms as vice president of former President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007.

Their administration was characterised by a fierce political disagreement that ran through all the tenure. He nominated as his running mate, Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa. The nomination caused an unending crisis within the party that has pitched Atiku against five governors elected on the platform of the PDP. Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State leads the pack.

Peter Obi (LP)

The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate is a former governor of Anambra state in the south-eastern part of the country. He lays claim to a track record of frugality while in office. He was the vice-presidential candidate of the PDP alongside Atiku Abubakar in 2019 which they lost to President Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling APC.

He contested for the governorship of Anmbra State in 2003 on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). His campaigns showed him as a popular contestant.  But, Chris Ngige of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Dissatisfied, Obi had recourse to the court, insisting that he won the election.

After three years of litigation, Ngige’s election as governor was overturned by the Court of Appeal on March 15, 2006 and Peter Obi was sworn in as governor on March 17, 2006. However, on November 2, 2006, he was impeached and his deputy, Virginia Etiaba, took over as the governor, thus becoming the first female governor in Nigeria.

Obi returned to the courtrooms to fight his impeachment which he declared illegal and unacceptable. After a rigorous legal battle that went on for months, he was reinstated by the Court of Appeal on February 9, 2007 and he again took over the reins of power. His administration as governor, especially in his first term, was a troubled one.

Upon the emergence of the wealthy businessman with a reputation for being stingy as the LP presidential candidate after joining the little known opposition party from the PDP last year, Obi started enjoying an active support base on social media buoyed by a large young following. His running mate is Yusuf Baba-Ahmed, a former senator from Kaduna State.

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (NNPP)

The Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) is Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State in the north-western geo-political zone of the country where he is credited with introducing free education for local residents during his two terms. He was governor of the state between 1999 and 2003.

His attempt to seek re-election after his first term failed as he was defeated by the candidate of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau during the 2003 gubernatorial election in the state. Kwankwaso went on to serve as Minister of Defence from 2003-2007. He also served as the senator representing Kano Central District between 2015 and 2019.

Earlier in 1992, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso had contested and won the National Assembly election into the House of Representatives to represent Madobi Federal Constituency of Kano State. At the House of Representatives, he was elected the Deputy Speaker of the House in 1992. He held the position until the demise of the Third Republic.

The 66-year-old, known for his trademark red cap, had previously been in both of Nigeria’s biggest parties – the PDP and APC – before joining the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), last year. This is the third time he is seeking to become the president of the country. His first two attempts were stopped at the primary elections of his parties. His running mate is Odiri Idahosa.

AN Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure has sentenced one Oluwaseun Olabode to death by hanging for killing his pregnant wife, Adaeze Olabode.

The family of the deceased had testified that continued attack by the convict led to her death.

The convict was said to have beaten his wife with a blunt object on the right side of her abdomen while she was heavily pregnant.

Father of the deceased, Anya, testified during trial that his late daughter had attempted suicide and left a suicide note due to maltreatment but that he waded into the matter and brokered peace.

He stressed that their entire family were aware of the maltreatment.

“After my daughter’s death on April 14, 2020, her corpse was abandoned at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Owo, until the intervention of my immediate younger brother,” he stated.

Presiding judge, Justice A. Adebusoye, ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

He found Olabode guilty as charged and sentenced him to death by hanging.