The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ELECTION

  • PDP, DSS and election matters

    PDP, DSS and election matters

    [dropcap]I[/dropcap]n a syndicated publication in several newspapers and prime-time news-reports in the electronic media, a group known as the Public Interest Lawyers League, accused the Department of State Security (DSS) of intimidating, coercing and detaining vital witnesses of the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting at Abuja.

    Earlier, the same group of lawyers had accused the DSS of harassing the Akwa-Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner, Austin Okojie so that he will acquiesce in the execution of an alleged plot to deny the PDP the governorship seat in the state. Of   course, not to be left out in this DSS-bashing game is a group of senators and members of the House of Representatives from Rivers State under the auspices of Rivers State Caucus, National Assembly, led by Senator George Sekibo (PDP, Rivers South-East Senatorial District), who claim that the secret service is being used to arm-twist the hands of the electoral tribunal hearing the petition against Governor Nyesom Wike.

    A single thread that runs through their protests is the unsubstantiated claim that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has elicited the services of the DSS as a manipulative and arm-twisting tool to reclaim the governorship seats from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa-Ibom and Rivers states.

    In a press statement signed by Abdul Mahmud and Mathew Jibril, President and Executive Director respectively, the Public Interest Lawyers criticized the DSS over what it described as “certain hideous occurrences, outside of the courtroom, that portend clear and present danger to the ends of justice in the election dispute”.

    Similarly, the group claims that the allegations against Okojie “were inappropriate and the APC had no right to conclude that the man’s actions (Okojie) were criminal without any proven evidence”.  Given these protestations, the pertinent question remains:  Are these protests being driven by political considerations or genuine concerns for the promotion of justice in election matters?

    It would appear that the protestations from these groups with regard to the activities of the DSS in election matters border not only on ignorance but on the need to ensure that INEC officials and PDP members accused of the promotion or commission of violent crimes during the governorship elections in Akwa-Ibom and Rivers States are not tried and punished.

    These critics of DSS activities do not seem to appreciate the fact that the same activities by INEC officials could lead to two different outcomes – the one, electoral; and the other, criminal.  For instance, the non-release of election result sheets by a resident electoral commissioner to the polling centres and booths as required by the electoral law could lead to the distorted outcome of the result of an election, as well as the maiming and killing of voters arising from the violent disruption of election proceedings.  In this circumstance, are the police or the DSS expected to keep hands at akimbo and allow injustice to prevail?

    Now, it must be mischievously absurd to suggest that the investigation of a resident electoral commissioner whose activities wittingly or unwittingly led to the death of innocent voters on Election Day is tantamount to the police or the DSS interfering in an electoral matter before an election tribunal or the courts.

    The truth of the matter is that while election tribunals and the courts are meant to redress distorted election results arising from the manipulation of an election process – rigging, the police and the DSS are required by law to investigate, arrest and prosecute all those, including INEC officials, whose actions engendered crises and violent crimes in the electoral process.

    And there is no law that I know in this country or elsewhere in the world which says that election tribunals and security agencies cannot carry out their different constitutional responsibilities in election matters, simultaneously.

    From the benefit of the appraisals just made above regarding the different outcomes – electoral and criminal – that could manifest, for instance, from the single action of a resident electoral commissioner, it becomes clear that almost all the groups or interests using the media to demonize the DSS and its operatives over the election matters in Akwa-Ibom and Rivers states are simply crying wolf where there is none.

    In the light of what we know about the killings on the day of the governorship election in Akwa-Ibom State allegedly arising from the actions or inactions of the resident electoral commissioner, what do we make of the ranting of the Public Interest Lawyers League that the DSS has been unduly harassing Okojie because of “the interest of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Akwa-Ibom’s natural resources”?

    Similarly, in the light of the reported widespread violent crimes and killings that graced the Rivers State governorship election, can any rational mind take seriously the moronic insinuations by the Rivers State Caucus, National Assembly, led by Senator Sekibo that “they have witnessed the modus operandi of the DSS and have come to the conclusion that what’s happening can be best described as dictatorship in a democratic regime”?

    No matter what anybody might like to say to the contrary, the Public Interest Lawyers League and the Rivers State Caucus, National Assembly, among others, are just the public arrow-head of the hierarchy of the corrupt and discredited past PDP henchmen in Akwa-Ibom and Rivers states.

    Their strategy is to cry foul and sound alarmist in order to embarrass the Buhari Presidency in the hope of getting it to interfere and obstruct the DSS from carrying out its constitutional duty to Nigeria regarding the atrocities that were committed by INEC officials, – high and low – in Akwa-Ibom and Rivers states during the 2015 general elections that led to the death of innocent voters.

    The members of these groups are no democrats interested in protecting the peoples’ mandate.  They are simply the fronts for PDP politicians in Akwa-Ibom and Rivers states interested only in protecting their anticipated loot and underserved privileges they hope to reap and enjoy over the next four years if the PDP governments of Emmanuel Udom and Nyesom Wike are given the oxygen of life by the election tribunals.

    Nigerians must, therefore, resist these characters masquerading as public do-gooders for the peoples of Akwa-Ibom and Rivers states by extending their undiluted support to the DSS in its crackdown and investigation of Okojie and Mrs. Gesila Khan, the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, with regard to their activities during the 2015 general elections that reportedly led to the death of innocent voters.

    After all, there is nothing special about INEC officials to warrant their being treated with kid gloves or as persons above the laws of Nigeria.  The DSS must, therefore, continue its investigation of the activities of INEC officials in Akwa-Ibom and Rivers states, whether or not they are witnesses in the petitions filed at the election tribunals.

    There is no known law in Nigeria, including the Electoral Act that precludes the DSS from doing its work because suspects in the cases its operatives are handling are witnesses in matters before election tribunals and the courts.

    • Nkemjika, is Co-author of “Oil Exploration in Northern Nigeria: Problems and Prospects”.

  • Bid to nullify Saraki’s, Ekweremadu’s election aborted

    •New Senate Rule resurfaces in chamber

    Senator Kabiru Marafa’s bid to nullify the election of Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, of June 9, was aborted yesterday.

    Marafa (Zamfara Central), who is also a member of the Senate Unity Forum, drew the attention of the Senate to what he described as an obvious error by the Senate during the inauguration of the Eighth Senate on June 9.

    The lawmaker, who raised Order 1 (a)and (b) ; 13 1 and 2; and Order 3 (2), said he was guided by the ruling of Saraki on June 24, that the Senate Rules in force is the Senate Standing Order/ Rule 2015.

    He said: “I am guided by your (Saraki) ruling of June 24 that the Senate Standing Rules in force is the Senate Standing Order 2015 as amended.

    “I also rely on the wise counseling of Senator Ike Ekweremadu on the issue

    “Order 1 (a) talks about the proceedings of the Senate in accordance with the book.”

    Marafa said going by the rules of the Senate in force, Order 13 ( 1 ) states that on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays,  Thursdays, Fridays, except the second and third Fridays of the month, committee meetings were to hold between 9:00am and noon.

    He also referred to Order 13 (2), which states that on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, the Senate shall meet at 2pm and unless previously adjourned, it shall sit until 6p.m.

    He added that a substantive motion had to be moved by the Leader of the Senate or a senator acting in that capacity for the Senate to be adjourned, by 6pm.

    Marafa said the Deputy Senate President said the Senate Rules had come in effect and that for it to be amended, it would have to follow Order 110.

    He noted that based on the provisions of the rule, “I want to posit that the activities of the Senate on the June 9, stands because it was covered by the proclamation of Mr. President, which states that the proceedings of the chamber shall start by 10:00am.

    “But all other activities of the Senate from the time, but not limited to the oath of office, is a nullity because it was not done within the timeframe stated in the Senate Rule book.

    “The activities of the Senate on June 23 and 24 are equally a nullity.”

    Saraki, in his ruling, said Marafa came under Orders 1 and 13.

    He ruled that the issue of timing of the proceedings of the Senate that Marafa raised would be referred to the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa.

    He said: “You came under three orders. Orders 1 and Order 13 as regards to the timing of seating will be referred to the Clerk of the National Assembly. Your interpretation of the Order on nomination of principal officers is not in order.”

    He subsequently ruled Marafa out of order.

    But another amended version of the Senate Standing Order/Rule 2015 was yesterday distributed to senators.

    The new rules corrected the timing errors Marafa referred to in his point of order.

    Also yesterday, Saraki directed senators to signify interest in the standing committees they would want to belong to.

    He asked senators to pick a form from the clerk to the Senate and signify interest in the committees they are interested in.

    He added that the committees should be limited to five.

  • Tribunal hears petition against Mark’s election Tuesday

    Tribunal hears petition against Mark’s election Tuesday

    The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Makurdi has adjourned the petition challenging the election of Sen. David Mark (PDP-Benue South) to Tuesday, July 28 due to absence of witnesses.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr. Daniel Onjeh of APC had challenged the election of Mark in the March 28 polls.

    The tribunal had on July 15, subpoenaed two witnesses from INEC to testify at the commencement of the trial on Monday.

    When the case came up for hearing on Monday, Onjeh’s Counsel, Mr. Tunji Oso, called seven witnesses, and applied for an adjournment to enable him field the subpoenaed witnesses.

    Oso decried the gloomy relationship with INEC, and expressed regrets that witnesses from the commission declined appearances despite substantial notices on them.

    He complained that electoral cases were time bound and wondered why INEC was dragging the matter by not showing up in the court.

    He appealed to the tribunal to compel the subpoenaed witnesses to appear and testify at the next sitting because the petitioner could not continue fielding witnesses without the testimonies of the INEC witnesses.

    NAN reports that the two subpoenaed witnesses were two Directors of the commission, one from its headquarters in charge of Card Readers Information and another from Benue.

    The tribunal Chairman, Justice Mosumola Dipeolu, therefore, urged INEC Counsel, Mr. Lawal Tengi, to assist the tribunal in bringing the witnesses.

    Tengi pledged to ensure the presence of the witnesses in court on Tuesday.

     

  • Hearing begins in petition against Saraki’s election

    Hearing begins in petition against Saraki’s election

    Hearing at the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, began yesterday. The election of Senate President Bukola Saraki of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is being challenged by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

    Saraki represents Kwara Central.

    The petitioner came with a witness, Mallam Oloyin Abdullateef Adebayo, who is his private personal assistant.

    The witness, who was led in evidence by the petitioner’s counsel, Mr. John Obumse, was cross-examined by the respondents’ counsel.

    Obumse told the tribunal that he had an application dated June 17, which was filed on June 29 and thus sought adjournment, based on three grounds.

    He said the date of the printout of the card reader to be collected at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja, meant to be used for the petition, was yet to be obtained.

    The lawyer said Mallam Adebayo was the only witness in court.

    He sought adjournment to move the application. The respondents’ counsel did not object to the motion.

    The tribunal Chairman, Justice Joshua Majebi, adjourned the matter till July 31 for the continuation of hearing of the petition and the hearing of the application filed by the petitioner.

  • Don’t be dragged into election petition cases, group tells Buhari

    Don’t be dragged into election petition cases, group tells Buhari

    A Non-governmental group, Akwa Ibom Ofon-ama Initiative, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to be careful and not allow himself to be dragged into the governorship election petition cases currently going on in the country.

    The group, speaking through its National President, Ambassador Ukai Udeme Emmanuel, commended the president for standing on the side of justice, regarding the Rivers State Local Government election.

    Ambassodor Udeme said,” Without being sentimental, President Buhari is trying hard to govern the country as he promised during his electioneering campaigns and we all must support him to deliver on those promises to better every one’s life in the country.”

    On the Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Delta states Governorship Election Petition Tribunals, Udeme noted that these Niger Delta states are known PDP states and moving their governorship tribunals from these states where the elections took place to Abuja against the provisions of the enabling law is making the region uneasy.

    Udeme said, “Nobody is angry with anybody who may have genuine reasons questioning the result of the elections. But the tribunal should operate where the law prescribes for it to function and should not be controlled by any group.”

    He siad that if not handled satisfactorily, militancy could be resurrected in the region. ” The country today has enough trouble from the North East region of the country. The Boko Haram crisis that the president is trying to address, he should not allow himself to be dragged into unnecessary controversy. If these things are not done properly, trouble might break out from the region.”

    He commended President Buhari for recognizing the expertise in Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State in appointing him as one of the four wise and trusted governors to unravel the rot in the NNPC, assuring that the governor will not disappoint.

  • Council chief’s election upheld

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) election petition tribunal sitting at Wuse Zone 6 Magistrate Court, has upheld election the victory of the chairman of Abaji Area Council, Alhaji Yahaya Garba, of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the duly elected chairman of the council in the March 16, 2013 polls.

    Chairperson of the tribunal, Chief Magistrate Binta Moahmmed, while delivering a three hours judgment, which was read by Magistrate Musa Jobbo, said the chairmanship candidate of the defunct Action Congress Nigeria (ACN), Alhaji Abdulrahman Ajiya, has failed in his petition to prove the allegations of the non-resignation of the council chairman as class teacher before contesting and over voting.

    According to him, the allegation of over voting is not proved by virtue of the provision of section 53 (2) of the electoral Act (Supra), which, he said, provides that the basis of nullification of the results of an election shall be when the number of votes cast is higher than the number of registered voters.

    He added that the allegation of the petitioner of ballot box snatching/stuffing, thuggery, intimidation, allocation of votes, harassment and security threat are criminal in nature, which, he said, require prove beyond reasonable doubt.

    “Finally, we note that the petitioner called only four witnesses. We also note that there are 43 polling units in the 7 wards complained of. This burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt has not in our view being discharged by the petitioner, as this petition therefore failed and is hereby dismissed,” he said.

    Reacting to the judgment, Counsel to the respondent, Mahmud Magaji (SAN) represented by Barrister Chris Kelechi, commended the tribunal for delivering sound and transparent judgment.

    He urged the tribunal to award a cost N500, 000 to the petitioner for the expenses he incurred in prosecuting the case, saying senior advocates were involved in prosecuting the case, which, he said last for two years.

    But counsel to the ACN Mr Y.G Haruna, a lawyer, said the judgment passed by the tribunal did not captured the areas as contained in the petition, saying he would challenge the judgment at the Appeal court.

    On his part, the chairman of Abaji council, Alhaji Yahaya Garba Gawu, who was in court after the judgment was delivered, commended the tribunal for delivering a sound and transparent judgment.

    He said the outcome judgment has proved to his people that he truly won the March 16, 2013 council election, while calling on his opponent to join hands with his administration in order to move the council forward.

    “As the outcome of today’s judgment has brought a big relief to me in order to use the remaining one year left to dividend of democracy to the good people of Abaji area council, ‘’ he said.

    It would be recalled that the ACN chairmanship candidate, Alhaji Abdularahman Ajiya, had filed a petition to challenge the victory of the incumbent council chairman, Alhaji Yahaya Gawu, of the PDP, after he was declared winner in the March 16, 2013 council election.

    Ajiya, alleged irregularities, over voting across the seven wards out of ten wards of the council, alleging further that the chairman did not resign as a class teacher before contesting the election.

     

  • I lost a lot of money during election, says Muma Gee

    I lost a lot of money during election, says Muma Gee

    After losing out in the last General Elections, Nigerian songstress, Gift Iyumame-Eke, aka Muma Gee is back in the studio, even as it appears she is adding beauty business to her art.

    “I have gone back to the studio,” she reveals. “But then, I want to set up a spa/ salon. Apart from music, I love fashion. I am setting my hair line. But that doesn’t mean I have forgotten about politics. I will certainly come back again in 2019.”

    Perhaps the beauty parlour business is also meant to boost her financial status, after spending the made during electioneering campaigns.

    “I lost a lot of money. I am in red now but I know I will recover,” she said.

    She however said there were ‘no elections’ in Rivers State, as the event was full of irregularities.

    “All I know is that there were no elections in my State. I don’t regret that I wanted to salvage the ruins in my community and liberate my people. It was just that somebody robbed us of the chances of doing that. If the people had the privilege to vote, I would be representing them by now. There was so much violence,” she added.

    Muma Gee had contested for a seat in the Federal House of Representatives to represent Ahoada East LGA constituency in Rivers State.

    The actress came to limelight with her song, Kade, which became the title track of her first official album, released in 2006, and received five nominations, including two from the AMEN Awards (Best Picture and Best Costume) and one each from the Nigerian Music Video Awards, the Headies Awards, and the Sound City Music Video Awards.

    Her profile also rose to greater prominence in 2010 as a contestant on the celebrity edition of Gulder Ultimate Search.

    In 2011, she married actor Prince Eke, and gave birth to a set of twins on April 18, 2014.

  • The art of election rigging

    The art of election rigging

    Moniker Williams, an election observer, who monitored the recent governorship poll Akwa Ibom State, examines the danger of election rigging to democracy.

    From the governorship elections that took place on April 11, 2015, it was obvious there was a systemic ploy to ensure incredible results were achieved. With a massive win of 996,071 votes out of 1,122, 836 votes cast(representing a 90% win) one can only admire such phenomenal results. When such great strides are achieved, it is important to study the model used and adopt key lessons in the interest of national development.

    10 key rigging strategies:

    1. Make sure people can’t vote–

    It’s so simple, but it really is pure genius. Across the 31 LGA’s, there were records of missing election materials, especially the result sheets.  As eager citizens arrive, you can either stop them from getting accredited by making sure no PVC card reader arrives at the polling unit or in some cases allow them to get accredited but no stamp to thumb print the election sheet. Better still,you can have the ad hoc staff show that result sheets are missing to really discourage citizens. This will make people feel thatwaking up early to exercise their fundamental human right is a complete waste of time as a lack of result sheet shows how their votes will definitelyNOT count.

     

    2. Compromise the Resident Electoral Officer(REC) –

    This falls in line with best practice of the top-down approach in a system where decision-making is highly centralized. This provides an overall and clear direction for all tiers of the electoral hierarchy from the Electoral Officers to the Ad-hoc Staff to ensure a seamless execution of the plan for a successful election.

     

    3. Abduct over-zealous ad-hoc staff–

    This is for those who will insist on doing their duty or due to a gap in communication from the Supervising Presiding Officer (SPO) may not have received the order of the day. So, to avert any confusion, simply abduct the young ad-hoc staff before they arrive at their assigned polling units. It saves from the drama of snatching ballot boxes in front of crowds as you can intervene just in time while you leave citizens waiting aimlessly at the polling unit. Also, it’s just a few hours, as they will be released just in time to submit their election materials in tact at the collation center while they wait to receive their appreciation envelope for the night. It is very important that both the top-down and bottom-up approach is deployed for optimal performance and best results delivered. Using the top-down approach provides focus, direction and performance conditions, but if used in isolation can be ineffective. Such a system with several moving parts must provide some level of independent thinking to allow for quick responses when things don’t go as planned. For instance, we observed a level of ingenuity, such as the few places where election results sheets where not missing, fake result sheets were made available. This shows the creativity some electoral officials displayed. This also creates a medley of problems, which makes election reportage of actual events overwhelming and implausible.

     

    4. Use violence where necessary–

    The use of violence in one area can have a ripple effect that will reverberate across the entireState, thanks to the use of mobile phones and social media. This is great as one does not have to use a huge amount of force as seen in prior elections but just enough to remind people of how being democratic can land you in the gutter with dismembered body parts. In this election we saw a more organized approach using white buses with decent looking thugs who came to cart awayballot boxes. They shot in the air using guns several times to disperse the crowd of eager citizens willing to vote. Unfortunately the violence did result in a few people being killed but it is important to note it appeared it was used more as a deterrent than a direct use of force against the Akwa Ibom people.  In a country ridden with insecurity from a terrorist group in the North, 8 people getting killed and over 30 cases of severely injured people will definitely not get any media attention.

     

    5. Control the media–

    To achieve absolute success you cannot afford for the media to be let loose in the State, they tend to have a mind of their own, desirous of reporting real happenings in real time. Ensure this freelance approach to the media is not condoned. They must be told to stay away and for those in the State they must be controlled. In a case where the brown appreciative envelope does not suffice, you have touse coercion by threatening to burn down their houses with their family in it. Of course, that should temper down any bright ideas on election reportage and ensure they are where the main actors of the State are to cover a seamless process of accreditation and voting in the 30% of the State that seemed to vote. This will of course be a stark difference from what International observers and some local observers will report but fortunately no one has a wide reach like the local media.  Those observer reports are really just for those academics that aspire to be a resource for election monitoring in developing countries.

     

    6. Compromise some observers–

    Again maintaining balance is key. It would be a shame to have such a flawless plan of robbing people of their right to vote by leaving observers to wander around freely reporting a very different reality you have worked so hard to create. In this case, invite them to your house for lunch, welcome them very warmly to the State House and ensure you have discussions of how greatly you have performed and how ecstatic the Akwa Ibom people are to vote 100% for continuity. Do let them know that you are a product of democracy and you will continue to ensure these dividends flow even after you’re gone as governor. Again thank them for their good works and don’t forget the brown appreciative envelope, this time dollars must be the currency usedas some observers are sophisticated. This ensures they have a great time in Akwa Ibom and for some male observers they can now afford to experience the ‘ladies of the night’ in their hotel rooms as they return with a fist of full of dollars. As they report, you’ll be pleased to see them use the buzzwords such as ‘peaceful’ and ‘perfect’ to describe the successful election.

     

    7. Strategic use of security forces–

    Ensure you have heavy security presence in your opponents strong areas. As much as 22 policemen were present in one polling unit in EniongOffot and none were present in other “less” threatening areas where violence erupted. This anomaly will secure the plan inareas easily controlled. While on the other hand, keep any opposition and their thugs from running amuck as they witness their grand plans to vote or cause their own brand of trouble thwarted before their very eyes. Also you’ll need to ensure the security forces across all levels are on your side. This is for post-election purposes when annoying citizens who actually get upset about their inability to vote, gather to peacefully protest the announced results. You must ensure that none of such revolutionary activities are tolerated. For the few bold citizens that are undeterred by the violence they heard or witnessed during the election process you must make sure as soon they gather, you disperse them. Release fire trucks, helicopter and army tankers to display an unrelenting show of force for those who will try to prove a point about their right to vote.

     

    8. Compromise heads of security forces–

    Again, it is not enough to use the top down approach only with the electoral staff, it must be used for the security forces as well in combination with the bottom-up approach. Remember it is the combination of both that delivers effective results. You must positively influence the commissioner of police so that every time he gets on the news to discuss the elections he uses buzz words such as  ‘peaceful’ and ‘perfect’ to describe the elections. When asked how about the pockets of violence being reported, he’ll react in a super confident way to play down such reports and make lackluster statements such as ‘there’s no violence, but I’ll look into it’. He’ll stick to the narrative of perfect elections like white on rice. This will null informal news from miscreants on social media as the main security agent has spoken and his word is bond.

     

    9. Announce results as fast as you can–

    In this case; you have to seek balance again because it’s a bit tricky. You can’t afford to announce too early, as it will cause eyebrows to be raised so make sure you are not the first or second State to announce results but ensure you are top seven. At least a good 12 hours after elections is usually a good time to announce the pre-written results. Since you have achieved rule number one by stopping 70% of the citizens from voting, you can skip the arduous task of actually collating results from Ward level to LGA level to State level. There is no need for the manual labour of counting and deciding how many votes will be rendered invalid to guarantee the pre-determined winner. The pre-generated computer results is what you’ll have the REC write on the result sheet to be announced by the Returning Officer usually a Professor assigned from INEC who also plays his role of announcing results ‘as is’ without any questions.

     

    10. Media appearances–

    It is important to select key state actors from Government House, House of Assembly, former and current National Assembly Members and NGO organizations (heavily linked to these state actors)as media emissaries. You’ll need to ensure all media emissaries sing the same song of how the state has always voted one way and will always vote that way forever and ever. You also need to make sure all emissaries use the same buzzwords ‘peaceful’ and ‘perfect’ election. They cannot deviate from the script or attempt to sound realistic by admitting to any reports of slight violence or election fraud. They must not generalize or relate to the fact that Nigerian elections are far from perfect. They must keep their realism to themselves. Finally, these media emissaries need to dismiss anycounter narrative from the public as the agents of the opposition parties. It is befitting to label the opposition parties as sore losers who failed miserably in their collective bid to even garner 10% of the votes in the State. Remember to thank the Akwa Ibom people for their steadfastness in delivering incredible election results giving the winner a landslide victory that is enviable by national and global standards. When pictures of protest emerge, tell the audience that those images are imaginary and the real march was a victory march around the State celebrating this glorious win.

    The above steps are how to win an election Akwa-Ibom Style, real democracy from the great doctrine of Akpabiosm. Hope this serves as a useful guide in winning elections and nation building.

  • Gowon Estate CDA sues Lagos council over election

    The Gowon North Community Development Association (CDA) in Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area of Lagos State has instituted a suit against the council to stop it from conducting election into the association’s executive committee.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suit was filed on behalf of the community by their counsel, Mr Ogidiagba Muobosa, at an Ikeja High Court.

    No date has been fixed for hearing.

    Joined in the suit are the council’s Executive Secretary, Head of Agriculture Department and the State Commissioner for Rural Development.

    The claimants are praying the court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants and their agents from conducting or supervising any election into the CDA’s executive committee scheduled for June 6.

    They want the status quo to be maintained pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

    In a 40-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Mr Dauda Oyebanji, the CDA’s Public Relations Officer, the claimants insisted that the CDA was a creation of the Lagos State Community Development Law 2008.

    Oyebanji averred that claimants had embarked on various self-help projects which included rehabilitation and maintaining of access roads within Gowon Estate in Egbeda.

    According to him, the only body empowered to conduct elections into the CDA is the Community Development Council.

    He said election into the executive committee was a biennial event (once in two years), adding that the tenure of the last executive expired in 2013.

    Oyebanji said there was no election into the offices because it was found out that most of the executive members were not eligible to run for elective positions, but only the current chairman was eligible.

    “A resolution was, therefore, passed on February 1, 2014 at the claimants’ monthly meeting that executive positions should be thrown open to all members, who indicated interest to run.

    “The election into the executive positions of the claimants was held on March 1, 2014 and officials were duly elected to fill the positions as advertised,” he averred.

    Oyebanji said it was, therefore, surprising that the second and third defendants issued a notice to the new executive indicating interest to conduct fresh elections on June 6.

    According to him, the defendants do not have the power or right to conduct the elections or dissolve the already elected executive.

    Oyebanji urged the court to grant the application in the interest of justice to avoid a possible breakdown of law and order within the community.

  • How to rig an election Akwa Ibom style

    How to rig an election Akwa Ibom style

    From the Gubernatorial elections that took place on April 11, 2015 it was obvious there was a systemic ploy to ensure incredible results were achieved. With a massive win of 996,071 votes out of 1,122, 836 votes cast(representing a 90% win) one can only admire such phenomenal results. When such great strides are achieved, it is important to study the model used and adopt key lessons in the interest of national development.

    Below are 10 key ways to achieve absolute election success:

     

    1. Make sure people can’t vote

    It’s so simple but it really is pure genius. Across the 31 LGA’s there were records of missing election materials especially the result sheets.  As eager citizens arrive, you can either stop them from getting accredited by making sure no PVC card reader arrives at the polling unit or in some cases allow them to get accredited but no stamp to thumb print the election sheet. Better still,you can have the ad hoc staff show that result sheets are missing to really discourage citizens. This will make people feel thatwaking up early to exercise their fundamental human right is a complete waste of time as a lack of result sheet shows how their votes will definitelyNOT count.

     

    2. Compromise the Resident Electoral Officer(REC) –

    This falls in line with best practice of the top-down approach in a system where decision-making is highly centralized. This provides an overall and clear direction for all tiers of the electoral hierarchy from the Electoral Officers to the Ad-hoc Staff to ensure a seamless execution of the plan for a successful election.

     

    3. Abduct Over-Zealous Ad-hoc Staff–

    This is for those who will insist on doing their duty or due to a gap in communication from the Supervising Presiding Officer (SPO) may not have received the order of the day. So to avert any confusion simply abduct the young ad-hoc staff before they arrive at their assigned polling units. It saves from the drama of snatching ballot boxes in front of crowds as you can intervene just in time while you leave citizens waiting aimlessly at the polling unit. Also, it’s just a few hours, as they will be released just in time to submit their election materials in tact at the collation center while they wait to receive their appreciation envelope for the night. It is very important that both the top-down and bottom-up approach is deployed for optimal performance and best results delivered. Using the top-down approach provides focus, direction and performance conditions but if used in isolation can be ineffective. Such a system with several moving parts must provide some level of independent thinking to allow for quick responses when things don’t go as planned. For instance, we observed a level of ingenuity, such as the few places where election results sheets where not missing, fake result sheets were made available. This shows the creativity some electoral officials displayed. This also creates a medley of problems, which makes election reportage of actual events overwhelming and implausible.

     

    4. Use Violence where necessary–

    The use of violence in one area can have a ripple effect that will reverberate across the entireState, thanks to the use of mobile phones and social media. This is great as one does not have to use a huge amount of force as seen in prior elections but just enough to remind people of how being democratic can land you in the gutter with dismembered body parts. In this election we saw a more organized approach using white buses with decent looking thugs who came to cart awayballot boxes. They shot in the air using guns several times to disperse the crowd of eager citizens willing to vote. Unfortunately the violence did result in a few people being killed but it is important to note it appeared it was used more as a deterrent than a direct use of force against the Akwa Ibom people.  In a country ridden with insecurity from a terrorist group in the North, 8 people getting killed and over 30 cases of severely injured people will definitely not get any media attention.

     

    5. Control The Media–

    To achieve absolute success you cannot afford for the media to be let loose in the State, they tend to have a mind of their own, desirous of reporting real happenings in real time. Ensure this freelance approach to the media is not condoned. They must be told to stay away and for those in the State they must be controlled. In a case where the brown appreciative envelope does not suffice, you have touse coercion by threatening to burn down their houses with their family in it. Of course, that should temper down any bright ideas on election reportage and ensure they are where the main actors of the State are to cover a seamless process of accreditation and voting in the 30% of the State that seemed to vote. This will of course be a stark difference from what International observers and some local observers will report but fortunately no one has a wide reach like the local media.  Those observer reports are really just for those academics that aspire to be a resource for election monitoring in developing countries.

     

    6. Compromise Some Observers–

    Again maintaining balance is key. It would be a shame to have such a flawless plan of robbing people of their right to vote by leaving observers to wander around freely reporting a very different reality you have worked so hard to create. In this case, invite them to your house for lunch, welcome them very warmly to the State House and ensure you have discussions of how greatly you have performed and how ecstatic the Akwa Ibom people are to vote 100% for continuity. Do let them know that you are a product of democracy and you will continue to ensure these dividends flow even after you’re gone as Governor. Again thank them for their good works and don’t forget the brown appreciative envelope, this time dollars must be the currency usedas some observers are sophisticated. This ensures they have a great time in Akwa Ibom and for some male observers they can now afford to experience the ‘ladies of the night’ in their hotel rooms as they return with a fist of full of dollars. As they report, you’ll be pleased to see them use the buzzwords such as ‘peaceful’ and ‘perfect’ to describe the successful election.

     

    7. Strategic Use of Security Forces–

    Ensure you have heavy security presence in your opponents strong areas. As much as 22 policemen were present in one polling unit in EniongOffot and none were present in other “less” threatening areas where violence erupted. This anomaly will secure the plan inareas easily controlled. While on the other hand, keep any opposition and their thugs from running amuck as they witness their grand plans to vote or cause their own brand of trouble thwarted before their very eyes. Also you’ll need to ensure the security forces across all levels are on your side. This is for post-election purposes when annoying citizens who actually get upset about their inability to vote, gather to peacefully protest the announced results. You must ensure that none of such revolutionaryactivities are tolerated. For the few bold citizens that are undeterred by the violence they heard or witnessed during the election process you must make sure as soon they gather, you disperse them. Release fire trucks, helicopter and army tankers to display an unrelenting show of force for those who will try to prove a point about their right to vote.

     

    8. Compromise Heads of Security Forces– Again, it is not enough to use the top down approach only with the electoral staff, it must be used for the security forces as well in combination with the bottom-up approach. Remember it is the combination of both that delivers effective results. You must positively influence the commissioner of police so that every time he gets on the news to discuss the elections he uses buzz words such as  ‘peaceful’ and ‘perfect’ to describe the elections. When asked how about the pockets of violence being reported, he’ll react in a super confident way to play down such reports and make lackluster statements such as ‘there’s no violence but I’ll look into it’. He’ll stick to the narrative of perfect elections like white on rice. This will null informal news from miscreants on social media as the main security agent has spoken and his word is bond.

     

    9. Announce Results as fast as you can–

    In this case; you have to seek balance again because it’s a bit tricky. You can’t afford to announce too early, as it will cause eyebrows to be raised so make sure you are not the first or second State to announce results but ensure you are top seven. At least a good 12 hours after elections is usually a good time to announce the pre-written results. Since you have achieved rule number one by stopping 70% of the citizens from voting, you can skip the arduous task of actually collating results from Ward level to LGA level to State level. There is no need for the manual labour of counting and deciding how many votes will be rendered invalid to guarantee the pre-determined winner. The pre-generated computer results is what you’ll have the REC write on the result sheet to be announced by the Returning Officer usually a Professor assigned from INEC who also plays his role of announcing results ‘as is’ without any questions.

     

    10. Media Appearances–

    It is important to select key State actors from Government House, House of Assembly, former and current National Assembly Members and NGO organizations (heavily linked to these State actors)as media emissaries. You’ll need to ensure all media emissaries sing the same song of how the State has always voted one way and will always vote that way forever and ever. You also need to make sure all emissaries use the same buzzwords ‘peaceful’ and ‘perfect’ election. They cannot deviate from the script or attempt to sound realistic by admitting to any reports of slight violence or election fraud. They must not generalize or relate to the fact that Nigerian elections are far from perfect. They must keep their realism to themselves. Finally, these media emissaries need to dismiss anycounter narrative from the public as the agents of the opposition parties. It is befitting to label the opposition parties as sore losers who failed miserably in their collective bid to even garner 10% of the votes in the State. Remember to thank the Akwa Ibom people for their steadfastness in delivering incredible election results giving the winner a landslide victory that is enviable by national and global standards. When pictures of protest emerge, tell the audience that those images are imaginary and the real march was a victory march around the State celebrating this glorious win.

    The above steps are how to win an election Akwa-Ibom Style, real democracy from the great doctrine of Akpabiosm. Hope this serves as a useful guide in winning elections and nation building.

    *NOTE: Please ignore the fact that the discrepancy on accredited voters between the announced result sheet (1,158,624) and the INEC server per the card reader (437,128) was 721,496. Leave the fact for your enemies to argue amongst themselves as you coast onto victory to be inaugurated as Executive Governor on May 29th.