The Nation Newspaper

Tag: fresh election

  • FIBA calls fresh election into NBBF

    Federation of International Basketball Associations (FIBA) has ordered for a fresh election into the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation NBBF.

    In a letter signed by FIBA Secretary General, Patrick Bauman and addressed to affected parties said the decision became necessary as the June 12 and 13 elections held in Kano and Abuja respectively failed to meet its statutes.

    It will be recalled that,  on Febuary 4th 2018, three -man FIBA Fact Finding delegation arrived Abuja to find out what led to leadership crisis in the NBBF.

    The three-man delegation includes; Secretary General of regional director FIBA Africa, Dr Alphanso  Bile, FIBA Sports Director and deputy chairman, technical chairman, FIBA chairman Mr. Lubomir Kotleba and Mr Fode Amara Conde.

    In addition to its fact finding mission that would culminate in them preparing a report which it will submit to FIBA’s Executive Committee for its consideration at its next meeting billed for March 10, 2018.

    Arising from its February 10 meeting held at FIBA secretariat in Switzerland, the body noted that, “In the absence of an amicable solution between the parties, the Executive Committee has decided that new elections shall be held.”

    FIBA which maintained its earlier stance of not recognizing both elections pointed out that it will work with relevant stakeholders to amend and develop the NBBF statutes so that such statutes fully comply with all relevant and applicable regulations, primarily the FIBA General Statutes, and guarantee complete independence of the election with no influence from third parties.

    “FIBA will determine when the NBBF statutes are compliant per the above and reserves the right to oversee parts or the entirety of the elections process”, the letter continued.

    Meanwhile  Tijani Umar  has hailed the decision of FIBA for fresh election into the board of  NBBF and ready to work with the world basketball  governing body to have free and fair election without interference from third party.  He also added that the ruling of FIBA on this matter is a victory for  basketball stakeholders and lovers of the game.

  • PPA candidate wants fresh election in Kogi

    Governorship Candidate of the Progressives Peoples’ Alliance in in Kogi State, Emmanuel Enesi Ozigi has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election instead of the planned supplementary election.

    Ozigi alleged in an interview in Abuja that the entire election in the state was marred with malpractices, pointing out that the statement credited to the Attorney General of the Federation that the APC should replace its candidate while the election be concluded was not encouraging.

    He said: “I would like the whole world to know that the Kogi election was marred with malpractices. Rather than 91 polling units being cancelled, the election in the whole state should be cancelled.

    “It’s quite unfortunate that we lost one of our strongest opposition in the person of Prince Abubakar Audu. It is unfortunate and I feel very sorry about that and my heart goes out to the family and the entire people of Kogi state and the nation as whole.

    “But I don’t think it is right for the Attorney General to say the late candidate should be replaced just like that without seeking to know the implications surrounding the pronouncement. The fact that he represents the Federal Government means that he should not be partisan.

    “There should be a level playing ground for everybody, so I expect that the government will look at this issue holistically, because there are cases even within APC and even within all the parties that participated in this election.

    “Another person who is a face in that party might not have gained this mileage the late Prince Abubakar gained. So, if you are bringing somebody in now, I am afraid I do not know what is going to be the outcome of the supplementary elections. That is why I am saying for us to have a level playing ground, we should all go back to the drawing board and have a fresh election.”

  • Lagos lawyer urges court to order fresh election

    Lagos lawyer urges court to order fresh election

    Activist-lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to compel Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election in Kogi State.

    He sued the Attorney-General of the Federation, INEC, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    Adegboruwa is contending that under section 181(2) of the 1999 Constitution, a fresh election is required if the winner of an election dies or becomes incapacitated.

    “Whatever makes it impossible for the winner of an election to take benefit of his mandate, whether by reason of death, illness or otherwise, the constitutional dictate is to conduct fresh elections,” he argued.

    According to him, the Constitution does not recognise any arrangement whereby votes will be preserved in memory of a dead candidate.

    He said the Constitution has no provision for the transfer of a mandate to a newly nominated candidate and who was not part of the previous election that has been declared inconclusive.

    Adegboruwa is challenging the AGF’s (Abubakar Malami) statement that the APC can substitute governorship candidate at the November 21 election, the late Abubakar Audu.

    The lawyer is praying the court to determine among other things:

    • Whether the late Audu, being the governorship candidate of APC in the gubernatorial election held on November 21, was duly elected in accordance with Section 179(2) of the 1999 Constitution to entitle the APC to substitute him through a supplementary election.
    • Whether when a nominated candidate dies in an inconclusive election that is yet to be declared or authenticated by INEC, such an election can still be concluded with a substituted candidate who did not canvass for or was part of the inconclusive election.
    • Whether the governorship ticket for the election of a governor in a state is the exclusive preserve of the political party, or a joint ticket of the political party and the candidate nominated such as when the nominated candidate dies in an inconclusive election, the political party will be entitled to nominate another candidate to conclude the election.
    • Whether when a nominated candidate of a political party dies in an inconclusive election, INEC is entitled to proceed with the said election with liberty to the political party of the dead candidate to substitute him in the inconclusive election.
    • Whether INEC should not conduct a fresh election to determine who will occupy the position of the Governor of Kogi State, given the death of Audu, the governorship candidate of APC.

    Adegboruwa sought a declaration that the election, having being declared inconclusive by INEC before Audu’s death was announced, the commission has no right to proceed with the inconclusive election.

    He urged the court to hold that by virtue of sections 33, 36 of the Electoral Act (as amended) and Section 181(2) of the 1999 Constitution, the death of a nominated candidate for an election that has been declared inconclusive, before the declaration of the winner, INEC is not entitled to continue with the election but to order a fresh poll.

    The plaintiff also sought a declaration that a political party is not entitled to substitute a dead candidate nominated for an election that has been declared inconclusive.

    He prayed for an order directing INEC to conduct a fresh election to determine who occupies the offices of governor and deputy governor of Kogi State.

    The case, numbered FHC/L/CS/1786/2015, has not been assigned to a judge.

     

  • Okitipupa NBA demands fresh election

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Okitipupa branch, Ondo State, at the weekend urged its National leadership to dissolve its current executives and conduct a fresh election.

    The branch’s Vice-Chairman, Mr. Segun Lema, accused the Chairman, Mr. Amuwa Benson, of handling the election matter with levity.

    But Benson attributed the delay to the planned reception organised for Justice Tayo Ikujuni of the State High Court, who is a member of the association.

    He also said members, particularly the aspirants, have not been attending meetings.

    Lema, a former secretary of the association, said the executive’s continuous stay in office after the expiration of their tenure is illegal.

    He said their tenure expired about six months ago but Amuwa refused to conduct election.

    Lema alleged that Benson’s “refusal” to conduct the election was political.

    He threatened to relinquish his position, if the chairman fails to conduct the election in the next one month.

    Lema said the association’s interest supersedes individual interest and urged the national body to interevene.

    Benson said he had convened three meetings to discuss plans for the election, but the attendance was low.