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Tag: Ibrahim Tanko

  • Don’t issue Certificate of Return to Ihedioha, 20 political parties, Imo youths tell INEC

    YOUTH Sunder the aegis of Imo Youth Council (IYC) have petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Ibrahim Tanko, to wade into the “constitutional crisis brewing in the state over the outcome of the general election.”

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP), Emeka Ihedioha as the governor-elect.

    But in a petition signed by the National President and National Speaker of the IYC, Comrade Ikechukwu Obiora and Hon Samuel Godstime Chukwubuikem respectively, the youths urged the CJN to prevail on INEC to observe and respect the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution as it applies to the emergence of a winner in a governorship election.

    They posited that the declaration of the PDP candidate as the governor-elect is a clear violation of the constitution and should be reversed before it escalates into full-blown constitutional crisis.

    According to the youths, INEC as an institution should not operate outside the provisions of the constitution or laws establishing it, adding that no person or institution is above the constitution.

    The petition reads in part, “We the youths of Imo State and other well-meaning Imolites have observed with grave concern, the flagrant disregard of the Nigerian Constitution by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the governorship election of Imo State.

    Read also: Gbenga Daniel for minister!

    “INEC returned the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Emeka Ihedioha as governor-elect in a reckless  violation of Section 179 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which stipulates  that a candidate for an election to the office of the governor of a state shall be deemed to have been duly elected where, there being two or more candidates; he has the highest number of votes cast at the election, and he has not less than one-quarter of all the votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the local government areas in the state.

    “The statistics of the result of the governorship election showed that the PDP candidate did not score the percentage of vote required to be declared as governor-elect. We are therefore as concerned youths of Imo State soliciting your intervention to prevail on INEC to withdraw the purported declaration and order a fresh election to avoid impending constitutional crisis”. “We are therefore demanding that a date be fixed for a fresh election in the state and if a winner emerges in accordance with the provisions of the constitution,  we shall gladly accept the verdict as the collective will of the people of the state, but we will employ all legitimate means to ensure that the illegality foisted on the people of the state by INEC does not stand.”

    Meanwhile, 20 political parties have also called on INEC not to issue Certificate of Return to the PDP candidate because according to them, no winner has emerged yet in the March 9 governorship election.

    The candidates described the declaration by the state Returning Officer for the governorship election,  Prof. Francis Otunta, as shocking and an aberration, adding that,  “as a Professor of Mathematics,  he should have known what 25% of 2-3rd vote cast in the 27 local government areas”.

    They strongly contended that the declaration was not in tandem with the provisions of constitution.  At a press conference in Owerri, the state capital, the governorship candidate of Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN), Jerry Iheanacho, who spoke on behalf of others, said that they had individually decided to challenge the outcome of the governorship election at the election Petitions Tribunal.

    Iheanacho, noted that the declaration of Ihedioha as the winner of the election was “a rape of our constitution”.

    The governorship candidate said ” it is not about Ihedioha but it is about what the constitution says. From the results as announced by INEC, the PDP candidate didn’t meet the constitutional requirement to have been declared the governor-elect.”

  • Imo youths petition CJN over declaration of Ihedioha as governor-elect

    …urges INEC to respect the Constitution

    Youths under the aegis of Imo Youth Council (IYC) have petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Ibrahim Tanko, to wade into the Constitutional crisis brewing in the State over the outcome of the general election.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Emeka Ihedioha as the governor-elect.

    But in a petition signed by the National President and National Speaker of the IYC, Comrade Ikechukwu Obiora and Hon Samuel Godstime Chukwubuikem respectively, the youths urged the CJN to prevail on INEC to observe and respect the provisions of  the Nigerian Constitution as it applies to the emergence of a winner in a governorship election.

    They posited that the declaration of the PDP candidate as the governor-elect is a clear violation of the Constitution and should be reversed before it escalates into full blown Constitutional crisis.

    According to the youths, INEC as an institution should not operate outside the provisions of the Constitution or laws establishing it, adding that no person or institution is above the Constitution.

    The petition read in part, “We the youths of Imo state and other well-meaning Imolites have observed with grave concern, the flagrant disregard of the Nigerian Constitution by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the governorship election of Imo State.

    “INEC returned the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Emeka Ihedioha as governor-elect in a reckless  violation of Section 179 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which stipulates  that a candidate for an election to the office of the Governor of a State shall be deemed to have been duly elected where, there being two or more candidates; he has the highest number of votes cast at the election; and he has not less than one-quarter of all the votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the Local Government Areas in the State.

    READ ALSO: Okorocha to Ihedioha: Get sworn in before issuing directives

    “The statistics of the result of the governorship election showed that the PDP candidate did not score the percentage of vote required to be declared as governor-elect.  We are therefore as Concerned Youths of Imo State soliciting your intervention to prevail on INEC to withdraw the purported declaration and order a fresh election to avoid impending Constitutional crisis”.

    “We are therefore demanding that a date be fixed for a fresh election in the state and if a winner emerges in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution,  we shall gladly accept the verdict as the collective will of the people of the state, but we will employ all legitimate means to ensure that the illegality foisted on the people of the state by INEC does not stand”.

    Meanwhile twenty political parties have also called on INEC not to issue Certificate of Return to the PDP candidate because according to them, no winner has emerged yet in the March 9 governorship election.

    The candidates described the declaration by the State Returning Officer for the governorship election, Prof. Francis Otunta as shocking and an aberration, adding that,  “as a Professor of mathematics,  he should have known what 25% of 2-3rd votes cast in the 27 Local Government Areas”.

    They strongly contended that the declaration not in tandem with the provisions of Constitution.

    At a press conference in Owerri, the state capital, the governorship candidate of Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN), Jerry Iheanacho, who spoke on behalf of others, said that they had individually decided to challenge the outcome of the governorship election at the election Petitions Tribunal.

    Iheanacho, noted that the declaration of Ihedioha as the winner of the election was “a rape of our Constitution”.

    The governorship candidate said “it is not about Ihedioha but it is about what the Constitution says from the results as announced by INEC, the PDP candidate didn’t meet the constitutional requirement to have been declared the governor elect”.

  • Imo youths petition CJN over declaration of Ihedioha as governor-elect

    Youths under the aegis of Imo Youth Council (IYC) have petitioned the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Ibrahim Tanko, to wade into the Constitutional crisis brewing in the State over the outcome of the general election.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Emeka Ihedioha as governor-elect.

    But in a petition signed by the National President and National Speaker of the IYC, Comrade Ikechukwu Obiora and Hon Samuel Godstime Chukwubuikem repectively, the youths urged the Acting CJN to prevail on INEC to observe and respect the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution as it applies to the emergence of a winner in a governorship election.

    They posited the declaration of the PDP candidate as the governor-elect is a clear violation of the Constitution and should be reversed before it escalates into full blown Constitutional crisis.

    According to the youths, INEC as an institution should not operate outside the provisions of the Constitution or laws establishing it, adding that no person or institution is above the Constitution.

    The petition reads in part, “We the youths of Imo state and other well- meaning Imolites have observed with grave concern, the flagrant disregard of the Nigerian Constitution by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the governorship election of Imo State.

    “INEC returned the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Emeka Ihedioha as governor-elect in a reckless violation of Section 179 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which stipulate that a candidate for an election to the office of the Governor of a State shall be deemed to have been duly elected where, there being two or more candidates; he has the highest number of votes cast at the election; and he has not less than one-quarter of all the votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the Local Government Areas in the State.

    “The statistics of the result of the governorship election showed that the PDP candidate did not score the percentage of vote required to be declared as governor-elect.

    “We are therefore as Concerned Youths of Imo State soliciting your intervention to prevail on INEC to withdraw the purported declaration and order a fresh election to avoid impending Constitutional crisis”.

    They continued: “We are therefore demanding that a date be fixed for a fresh election in the state and if a winner emerges in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, we shall gladly accept the verdict as the collective will of the people of the state, but we will employ all legitimate means to ensure that the illegality foisted on the people of the state by INEC does not stand”.

  • Breaking: NJC to decide Onnoghen, Muhammad’s fate Wednesday

    The National Judicial Council (NJC) has fixed February 13 for its possible decision on the petitioners against the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen and the Acting CJN, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad.

    The body, which rose a moment ago from its emergency meeting, elected to constitute a Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee in accordance with its Regulation 17, to consider the responses from Onnoghen and Muhammad.

    The NJC, in a statement by its spokesman, Soji Oye, also forwarded a fresh petition from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Onnoghen to him for his response.

    The statement reads: “The National Judicial Council reconvened today in an Emergency Meeting to consider the responses of Hon. Mr. Justice W.S.N. Onnoghen, GCON and Hon. Mr. Justice I.T. Muhammad, CFR to the three petitions written against them.

    Read Also:  CCT insists on Onnoghen’s appearance

    “Members resolved to constitute a Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee, in accordance with Regulation 17 of the National Judicial Council Judicial Discipline Regulations, 2017 and report to Council on the 13th of February 2019.

    “The Council will reconvene on Wednesday, 13th February, 2019.

    “Council also received a new petition written by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Hon. Mr. Justice W.S.N. Onnoghen, GCON and forwarded it to him for his response within seven (7) working days.

    “Council reaffirmed its confidence in Hon. Mr. Justice Umaru Abdullahi, CON and continues under his Interim Chairmanship.”

  • Updated: NJC queries Onnoghen, Muhammad

    The National Judicial Council (NJC) rose from its emergency meeting a moment ago with a decision to allow suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and the acting CJN, Justices Walter Onnoghen and Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad seven days to respond to petitions pending against them.

    The petition against Onnoghen relates to the allegation of violation of the code of conduct for public officers in relation to his alleged failure to declare his assets.

    The petition against Muhammad relates to his alleged misconduct in allowing himself to be sworn-in in manner that breach existing law, tradition and constitutional provisions.

    NJC’s Director, Information Soji Oye, said, in a statement that the council also elected to refer petition against CCT Chairman, Danladi Yakubu Umar to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).

    It was learnt that Onnoghen and Muhammad were absent from the meeting, which was eventually chaired by retired Court of Appeal President, Umaru Abdulahi.

    The case against Umar, The Nation learnt, relates to his alleged abuse of judicial authority of breach of constitutional provisions by the orders he made in the course of proceedings in the charge against the suspended CJN.

    One of such orders is where the CCT rejected to be bound by orders given by High Courts, directing it to stay proceedings.

    Another is the ex-parte order the CCT made, on which President Muhammadu Buhari claimed to have relied in suspended Onnoghen and inaugurated Muhammad in acting capacity.

    It was also learnt that the NJC chose to abridge the usual 14 response time to seven, in view of the weighty issues involved in the petitions against Onnoghen and Muhammad.

    NJC adjourned to reconvene on February, 11 this year.

    Read Also; Onnoghen: NJC members in move to save Judiciary

    The statement reads: “The National Judicial Council held an Emergency Meeting today and considered four (4) petitions filed at its Secretariat. The petitions are:

    “Petition against Hon. Mr. Justice W.S.N. Onnoghen, GCON by Zikhrillahi Ibrahim of Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civil Education;

    “Petition against Hon. Mr. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, CFR by Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative;

    “Petition against Hon. Mr. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, CFR by Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, OON; and

    “Petition against Hon. Danladi Yakubu Umar, Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal by Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative.

    “Council referred the petition against Hon. Danladi Yakubu Umar to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) which is the appropriate constitutional body empowered to deal with it.

    “In line with its procedure, Council also forwarded the petitions against Hon. Justices W.S.N. Onnoghen, GCON and I. T. Muhammad, CFR to them for their responses.

    “In view of the gravity of the matters involved, Council abridged the usual response period from fourteen (14) to seven (7) working days for the Hon. Justices to respond.

    “Hon. Mr. Justice W. S. N. Onnoghen, GCON and Hon. Mr. Justice I.T. Muhammad, CFR recused themselves from the meeting. Consequently, Council elected Hon. Mr. Justice Umaru Abdullahi, CON, former President of the Court of Appeal as Interim Chairman to preside over the meeting.

    “Council will reconvene on the 11th February, 2019.”

     

     

  • Buhari departs for Ibadan for APC `Next Level’ message

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday departed Abuja for Ibadan, Oyo State, to resume his re-election campaign after a day break on Friday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that before the break, the president and members of the Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were on Thursday in Anambra and Enugu states to launch the re-election bid.

    Buhari had on Friday, during the break, signed the Executive Order 007 of 2019 on Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.

    The scheme was part of the administration’s commitment to the provision of critical road infrastructure across the country.

    He also swore-in the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko, to replace Justice Walter Onnoghen, who has been suspended pending final determination of the cases against him.

    While in Ibadan, Buhari would meet with traditional rulers at the Chiefs Secretariat before moving to the venue of the APC campaign rally in the state.

    The president and members of the Presidential Campaign Council are expected to address the rally and deliver the `Next Level’ messages to the people of the state.

    Buhari is also expected to take his campaign train to Osogho, Osun state, later in the day.

    NAN

     

  • Photos: Buhari swears in Ibrahim Tanko as acting CJN

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday swore in Ibrahim Tanko as the new acting Chief Justice of Nigeria to replace embattled Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    Read Also: Buhari signs Executive Order 007

  • Hajj: 2,700 pilgrims return in Zamfara

    Hajj: 2,700 pilgrims return in Zamfara

    No fewer than  2,700 pilgrims out of  the 4,793  that performed the 2017 Hajj exercise from Zamfara  have so far been transported back home.

    Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, the Chairman of  the  State Transportation Committee on this year’s Hajj, stated this while receiving the fifth batch  of the pilgrims at the State Camp in Gusau on Tuesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the fifth flight,  which conveyed pilgrims from Kaura-Namoda, Anka and  the remaining pilgrims from Maru and Bungudu Local Government Areas, arrived  at the Sultan Abubakar lll International Airport, Sokoto,  at 3.30 a.m.

    According to him, the pilgrims later arrived Gusau at about  10. a.m.

    Tanko, who is also the Chairman of  Gusau Local Government Council,  said the pilgrims were transported by Max Airlines, adding that all of them were in good health.

    “We are expecting the sixth flight between today and tomorrow Insha Allah; we are hoping to complete the transportation of all our pilgrims before the deadline given by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON),” he said.

    Tanko said that  the transportation exercise of this year’s hajj was moving on successfully while  the pilgrims in the state  had  behaved remarkably well during the Hajj .

    He thanked the state government, NAHCON, Max Airlines, State Amirul Hajj Committee and the media for their support.

    Tanko also thanked the State Mass Transport Service, security agencies, the Federal Road Safety Commission  and various volunteer groups for their support.

  • INEC staff caught with thumb printed ballot papers in Niger

    INEC staff caught with thumb printed ballot papers in Niger

    An ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was arrested on Friday night in Sambo ward, Rijau local government area of Niger State, in possession of thumb printed two booklets of ballot papers.

    The INEC staff, a supervising presiding officer, Ibrahim Tanko was arrested with the ballot papers in favour of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate,  Mohammed Gado Nasko.

    A source in the town said the electoral officer after collecting all election materials went back to complain that there was a short fall in the ballot papers given to him.

    Unknown to Tanko, some people had seen him hiding the two booklets in a car purportedly owned by a former minister in the state.

    The suspect was immediately arrested and handed over to the Divisional Police Officer in the town.

    Contacted on phone, the head of Voter Education Unit in the state INEC office, Malam Mohammed Wase, confirmed the incident, saying investigation to ascertain those involved in the incident was ongoing.