Category: Lead

The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC PCC) has faulted the candidates of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi, over the electronic transmission of the result, saying their claim is not supported by law.

The campaign council also frowned at the unguarded utterances of the two opposition leaders, asking them to pursue their grievances in court with decorum.

On Thursday at separate press conferences, Atiku and Obi rejected the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration of APC standard bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 Presidential election.

Putting a lie to all the claims by the two opposition candidates, the APC PCC on Friday at the council headquarters in Abuja, said the claim that the electoral agency did not use the BVAS is false, maintaining that those who voted across Nigeria, including Atiku and Obi, were accredited by BVAS.

Speaking on behalf of the council, Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Dele Alake, flanked by other media directors of the council, argued that the complaint over the electronic transmission of the result has no place in law.

Read Also: APC PCC Okocha faction pledges support for Wike’s governorship candidate

According to him: “The complaint over the electronic transmission of the result is not supported by law.

“Section 38 of the Electoral Acct 2022 referred to by the PDP and LP has nothing to do with the transmission of election results. Section 60, subsection 2 of the Act deals with the transmission of results and it is at the discretion of INEC. The Act does not contain any mandatory provision regarding the transmission of results.

“In any case, the process of transmitting results from polling units, whether real-time, two days later or at any time, cannot in any way change the results that have been announced right after the counting in the presence of the parties’ agents and to the hearing of the voters. It is, therefore, nonsensical to insinuate that time variation in uploading results would cause a change in the figures.”

Describing the February 25 Presidential election as a watershed that has produced unprecedented outcomes and defied conventions, the campaign council noted that the deployment and use of BVAS was the only reason the elections produced these strange outcomes and upsets in many cases.

“The loss of Katsina and Lagos to PDP and LP respectively were contrary to expectations. BVAS brought the intended credibility to voters’ accreditation such that many governors and well-established politicians lost elections in what should be safe bet areas.

“The era of ghost-voting and stuffing of ballot boxes is gone. As the experience in the last governorship election in Osun State has shown, over-voting would automatically lead to outright cancellation of the results of the polling units based on the provision of the new Electoral Act.

“The same PDP that is trying to pull the wool across the face of Nigerians was the culprit in the Osun State governorship election. Did they try to do it this time and it failed? Or did they do it in the areas they unexpectedly won? Did they have a grand plan to hack the INEC server if results were uploaded in real-time? Nigerians will soon find out.”

Warning the two presidential candidates to be mindful of their utterances, the APC PCC told Atiku and Obi of its readiness to meet them in court.

“We want to enjoin the two of them to pursue their grievances with decorum. They should encourage their members, supporters, and ethnic and religious consultants to follow the path of the rule of law.

“We note that both Atiku and Obi are claiming victory, wouldn’t it make sense for them to agree on who the actual winner is before challenging APC in court? Meanwhile, the APC train has left the station as we continue our effort to make Nigeria better for all Nigerians,” Alake said. 

The Supreme Court has ordered that the old N1000, N200 and N500 notes should remain legal tender until December 31, 2023.

 The court, in a judgment on the suit filed against Federal Governments naira swap poly, held that the old naira notes should co-exist with the new notes.

It faulted the directive issued by President Buhari to the CBN governor to limit access to cash and held that it was a violation of the right of the owners of such funds to their property

It proceeded to set aside the cash limit directive given to banks by the CBN.

Read Also: Tinubu’s victory: Naira rebounds at parallel market

The court’s seven-member panel, expressed displeasure that President Muhammadu Buhari failed to obey its February 8 order for parties to allow the old notes to co-exist with the new ones.

It said the conduct was a disrespect of the Constitution and the nation”s democracy, and a drift towards authoritarianism.

The court held that the suit by the states was properly filed and dismissed all the objections raised by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Bayelsa and Edo states.

Details shortly …

The presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi have asked the Presidential Election Court (PEC) in Abuja to allow them inspect materials used for the February 25 election.

Their request is contained in two ex-parte motions they filed at the PEC secretariat at the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

Read Also: We’ll meet in court, APC PCC replies Obi

Both motions, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and two others as respondents, have been listed for hearing today.

While Atiku filed his own on March 1, Obi’s motion was filed the next day.

Details shortly…

Dozens of people have been killed by an explosion that occurred at a pipeline tapping point in Rumuekpe community, Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State.

Persons reported dead were said to be engaged in the business of illegal refining of stolen crude oil.

The Executive Director, Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), Fyneface Fyneface, confirmed the incident through the centre’s Crude Oil Spill Alert System (COSAS).

Fyneface said the explosion happened at about 2am on Friday when a driver kicked the ignition of one of the buses loaded with stolen crude oil.

The bus was being used to transport the siphoned crude oil to the location of the illegal refineries.

The explosion caused inferno that reportedly burnt dozens of people including women beyond recognition.

Read Also: Disregard fake video, audio clips tarnishing Wike’s image – Rivers

The incident, which occurred along the Trans-Niger Delta Pipeline (TNP),  also burnt many vehicles and tricycles to ashes.

It was gathered that persons around the tapping point, who had either loaded the crude or waited for their turns were all killed by the explosion.

Soldiers and police were said to have rushed to secure the scene.

YEAC-Nigeria has been campaigning against crude oil theft, environmental pollution and leading the advocacy for the provision of alternative livelihood opportunities for artisanal refiners in the Niger Delta for the past 12 years through the promotion of modular refineries promised by the Federal Government.

Details Shortly…

The Supreme Court has shifted to 10 am the delivery of its judgment in the cases filed by some States to challenge the propriety of the naira swap policy of the Federal Government.

Read Also: ‘Naira redesign, cash crunch hurt businesses’

An official of the court announced the shift in time, a moment ago, to a packed court.

The official was silent on what informed the shift from the 9am usual sitting time of the court.

Details shortly…

• Party chair defends poll’s integrity
• U.S., UK hail Tinubu’s victory

President-elect Bola Tinubu’s mandate is pan-Nigerian, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu said yesterday.

He described the outcome of last Saturday’s presidential election as “the triumph of democracy”.

Adamu believes Tinubu’s victory demonstrated that he was the preferred choice of millions of Nigerians.

The former Lagos State governor, he said, commanded nationwide support as reflected in the voting pattern and result.

“Jagaban is the informed choice of the electorate. He won fair and square. 

“I offer him my very hearty congratulations,” the party helmsman said.

Tinubu came first in the Northwest, Northcentral and Southwest (his base).

He came second in the Northeast, Southeast and Southsouth. 

His opponent, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), came first only in one zone – Northeast (his base) and second in two zones – Northwest and Southwest. 

Labour Party’s Peter Obi came first in two zones – Southeast (his base) and Southsouth and second in the Northcentral. 

Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) came third in the Northwest.

Adamu said: “Power belongs to the people and the people must be allowed to exercise it in the best way they choose in instituting the government of their choice.”

Flanked by members of the National Working Committee (NWC), Adamu spoke at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja. 

He said: “As the national chairman of APC, our victory is a humbling, but proud experience for me. 

“The people were loud and clear. Their judgment was informed and supreme.

“The choice they made is the choice they can live with. We salute them. We salute their free and fair decision.

“We accept the victory of our presidential candidate and the party with humility and gratitude to the Almighty God and the entire people of this great nation. 

“We, of the National Executive Committee and the NWC of our great party join millions of our compatriots in congratulating the president-elect and indeed, all our members in celebrating the resounding victory of our party at the polls.”

Adamu said the party was set to re-enact its winning streak in the March 11 governorship/state assemblies election.

He said: “By the grace of God, just as we won the presidency, we’re going to win again. I wouldn’t say all (the states) because APC is not a greedy party. 

“We will win all the ‘winnable’ and will make some sacrifices where necessary so that democracy can flourish.”

Reminded that the party lost in some of its strongholds, including the President’s home state, Katsina, and Tinubu’s Lagos, Adamu said lessons have been learnt.

He added: “We have learnt some basic lessons on what has happened, but we appreciate the fact that we cannot win some states of the federation that ordinarily, we would have wished we won.

“We will do what we need to do and will not hesitate to do what we must do to ensure success in the governorship and House of Assembly elections.

“It’s the nature of things; you win some you lose some,” he said.

Adamu said the fact that APC lost some major states like Lagos, Kano, Katsina and even Nassarawa and Kaduna showed that Nigeria’s democracy was maturing.

“The fact that we lost these places and we didn’t shed tears or cry foul makes us the real political party in this country.

“What moral justification is there for a party that won Lagos to feel it was a good game and lose a place like Ekiti and say the game is a bad one? It doesn’t make sense.

“With the strategic position of Lagos, strategic in terms of location, population in terms of economy, in terms of political history and prestige, we lost and we didn’t run the street crying, but what’s important is we got what we want; we got the presidency. 

“They are gnashing their teeth, you can all see. It shows their level of immaturity, selfishness and lack of sense of judgment.”

Adamu faulted the post-election reactions of the PDP and LP.

“It is a pity that they take their loss so badly. They ought to be good sportsmen and women in the political arena.

“Their protest walkout from the collation centre was childish, but a calculated attempt to rubbish the elections and impugn the integrity of the electoral umpire.

“Their call for the cancellation of the elections over their unproven allegations of electoral fraud must be the height of diabolical desperation.

“All patriotic citizens of this country who value peace and unity of purpose must rise with one voice to condemn these elements who want to parade themselves in the public space as the guardians of our electoral system.

“Aided by some self-appointed guardians of our nation’s conscience, they wanted to turn the victory of our party into ashes in the mouths of all Nigerians and set the country up for global opprobrium”.

Adamu said those dissatisfied with the outcome should seek legal redress rather than take the laws into their own hands.

He added: “Our laws provide channels for the redress of electoral grievances. 

“We urge those who feel aggrieved to avail themselves of those channels to seek redress. 

“To set the house on fire in pursuit of a rat is not an act of courage or patriotism. It stands condemnable.”

• ‘He took PDP’s votes’
• LP candidate: I’m heading to court

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, did not win enough votes to make him president, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate  Atiku Abubakar said yesterday.

The duo were contenders in last Saturday’s presidential election that was won by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Obi got 6, 101,533 from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). But, the biggest of the votes – 1,960,589 – were secured in the Southeast states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.

The other states won by the LP candidate outside of his Southeast zone are Lagos, Plateau and Cross River, Edo, Delta and Nasarawa.

But the LP candidate lacks the required spread to clinch the presidency. Obi did not win in any of the Northeast and Northwest states.  

Atiku, who spoke at a news conference in Abuja yesterday, admitted that Obi and his LP depleted significant number of votes that would have been won by the PDP, if  he had not defected from the PDP.

According to him, it was the action of the PDP governors that chased Obi out of the PDP, saying that the governors had insisted on producing the party’s presidential candidate, vice presidential candidate and Chief of Staff to the president during deliberations before nominations began.

Atiku said: “Obi took our votes in the Southeast and the Southsouth but that alone cannot make him president. We are ready to dialogue with Obi with a view to forming an alliance.

“Obi was in a rush before the primaries. The PDP governors insisted that they must produce the president, vice president and Chief of Staff among their ranks.

“Peter (Obi) got scared and left the PDP. But, I stood my ground against the governors and fought my way through and got the PDP ticket. If Obi had stayed back, perhaps I would have picked him as my running mate.”

The PDP candidate said he will challenge the outcome of the presidential election in court.

Atiku said the elections were flawed and therefore must be challenged.

He disclosed that the counsel were already studying the outcome of the poll.

The PDP candidate expressed confidence in the nation’s judiciary, saying that he had no cause to doubt that he will get justice at the courts.

Atiku recalled how he instituted a total of 11 cases against former President Olusegun Obasanjo when he served as vice president under him from 1999 to 2007.

The PDP flagbearer said: “I took my former boss to court 11 times and I got judgement against a sitting President in all the cases. In all the 11 trials from the high court to the Supreme Court, I never saw any of the judges that handled the cases.”

When he was asked if he still has confidence in the judiciary under the present administration, Atiku said he would not preempt the judiciary ahead of his upcoming litigation.

“I cannot say anything about the nature or character of the judges when I have not approached the court yet, he said.

On what he would do if he loses his case, Atiku said: “If I don’t get judgement, I will take my case to God.”

In a speech he read at the briefing, Atiku alleged irregularities in the conduct of the presidential election, a development he said, robbed him of victory.

He said: “The dreams and aspirations of Nigerians who braced all the challenges to go and cast their votes on Saturday, 25th of February, 2023, were shattered by the conduct of the INEC, which failed to live up to expectations.

He went on: “Having consulted with leaders of our party and Nigerians from different walks of life, I have come to the conclusion that the processes and outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly election of last Saturday was grossly flawed in every material particular, and as such must be challenged.

“This battle to right the wrongs of Saturday is not about me. It is a continuation of my battles to deepen democracy and for a better life for our people. It is about the future of Nigerian youths.

“It is my hope that the judiciary will redeem itself this time around and rise to the society’s expectation as the last HOPE. In the end, who wins is not as important as the credibility of our elections and electoral processes”.

The Supreme Court will today put to rest, the controversy surrounding the naira swap policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The court had on February 22 fixed today for judgment in a suit by 17 states challenging the policy which has for months caused naira scarcity and untold hardship to Nigerians and their business.

This was after constituting a seven-member panel to entertain the suit and directing the plaintiffs ( the 17 states)  to consolidate their briefs. 

The plaintiffs are Kaduna, Kogi, Zamfara, Katsina, Lagos, Cross River, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, Sokoto, Rivers, Kano, Niger, Jigawa, Nasarawa, Plateau and Abia states.

The defendants are the Federal Government, Edo and Bayelsa states.

In their separate cases that were consolidated, the plaintiffs argued that the policy was unconstitutional and should be voided.

Lawyer to Zamfara State Government, Abiodun Owonikoko,  had before then prayed to the apex court to set aside President Muhammadu Buhari’s February 16 directive that only  N200 old note should be in use.

Owonikoko, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN), added that the naira redesign policy was at variance with the provision of Section 17(2)(c) of the Constitution, which says the governmental actions shall be humane.

But Kanu Agabi (SAN), Tijani Gazali (SAN), Kenneth Mozia (SAN) and Audu Anuga (SAN), who represented the plaintiffs,  urged the court to dismiss the suit for want of jurisdiction and for being incompetent.

Agabi,, who argued that necessary parties were not before the court, faulted the exclusion of the governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele as a party in the suit.

He noted that references were made to the CBN 32 times in the plaintiffs’ originating summons and supporting affidavit, while seven reliefs were sought against the apex bank, which was not made a party in the suit.

Agabi, who said his client filed a motion on notice seeking the dismissal of Form 48 issued on the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Emefiele, added that an affidavit to show cause why Form 48 should be set aside had also been filed.

He argued that  Buhari did not flout the order of the court in his February 16 nationwide broadcast, insisting that it was a necessary intervention.

Meanwhile, there appears to be no respite for  Nigerians who have turned to  Point of Sale (PoS) operators as their main sources of cash.

In Abuja, the POS operators yesterday charged N300 for every N1,000; N1,500 for N5,000; N1,800 for N6,000; N2,100 for N7,000; N3,000 for N10,000, N6,000 for N20,000 and N40,000 for N100,000.

An agent, who gave her name simply as Edith, justified the charges and blamed the development on the  CBN.  

Lamenting that cash from the banks “is not always available,” she challenged the apex bank to release cash to banks.

Edith revealed that she deposited N1.2 million with a filling station to get N1 million cash three weeks ago.

Explaining that  N1.2 million for N1 million is the going charge demanded by filling stations,  desperate PoS operators do not hesitate to pay more.

She flayed the CBN for threatening to prosecute PoS agents, arguing that, “anybody who needs cash, pays for it.

“CBN does not know how much we pay to get cash. If the cash was available from CBN we won’t be in this crisis. PoS operators are not to blame, the CBN should be blamed.” 

When The Nation visited most commercial banks in the city, they all had no cash to pay their customers either through their counters or Automatic Teller Machines(ATMs).

In Lagos, an operator in Eleko,   Roseline Okon, said she buys cash from supermarkets, petrol attendants and other people that have high cash turnover.

“My team goes to supermarket owners for cash. We pay N11,000 for N10,000.   Those who come to us  for N5,000 cash transfer N6,500  to us.”

One of the customers of the PoS operator, Michael Adigun, said he decided to buy the cash because of network issues.

“I never planned to buy cash, but it turned out the only option after a transfer I made to a customer failed. I bought N5,000 at N6,500 tenable me settle my obligations,” he said.