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Tag: Independent National Electoral Commission

  • INEC seeks partnership with stakeholders for successful, credible elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed for partnership of election stakeholders to achieve a successful, fair and credible in the forthcoming 2019 General Elections.

    INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr Emeka Ononamadu, made the appeal in Enugu on Friday while officially issuing the Notice of Election and commencement of electoral activities for 2019 General Elections to stakeholders.

    The stakeholders present at the issuing of the notice of election included: political parties, the media, traditional rulers, business community, transport unions, security agencies and electorates.

    Ononamadu said that the essence of issuing out the notice on time was to allow stakeholders in the electoral process to prepare early enough; adding that with the recent move, the issue of discrepancies in the timetable had been laid to rest.

    According to him, with the notice of election, the coast is clear for INEC to conduct a successful 2019 General Election.

    “In terms of administrative plans, we are ready for the election. We have notified the people especially our stakeholders that the dice is cast.

    “INEC is committed as a matter of patriotism to better the electoral process come 2019; even as our staff had braced-up for greater dedication and more work.

    “INEC offices are open to the public including the media to seek information on any aspect of the commission’s preparation as well as make valid inquires and complaints,’’ he said.

    Ononamadu noted that INEC recently shifted the date for the closure of the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) to Aug. 30 to accommodate more Nigerians willing to register.

    Read Also: APC to INEC: investigate PDP’s plan to rig elections

    On internal preparation of the Enugu State INEC office, he said that virtually all staff including cleaners in the commission had been given training on the electoral process, how registration is done and other specialty of different departments.

    “We have up-graded our ICT centre and made it more conducive for staff to spend hours working there; built a drivers office lot and run a 24-hour hotline centre,’’he said.

    Responding, Comrade Austin Okonkwo, who spoke on behalf of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), commended INEC for the progress made in the ongoing CVR in the state as well as releasing the election time-table on time.

    “With early preparation and consultation with critical stakeholders, I know we are going to have a free, fair and credible elections in 2019,’’ Okonkwo said.

    Speaking, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, Chairman of Enugu State Traditional Rulers’ Council, lauded the REC for his innovation and hard work to ensure that more residents register in the ongoing CVR and collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).

    Agubuzu, who lauded INEC for extending the CVR for two weeks, urged residents of the state that are eligible but have not registered to use the two weeks of grace to do that as well as ensure they collect their PVCs.

    “We have seen the hard work and innovation the REC, Ononamadu, had brought to Enugu State; thus, making the state to make much progress in the ongoing CVR registration and PVCs collection.

    “I appeal to our people to vote on the D-Day and ensure that credible leaders continue to lead the state and nation for us to get the development we deserve,’’ he said.

    The highpoints of the event was the unveiling of the time-table posters and its pasting in strategic locations and billboards of the commission.

    In the 2019 General Elections Time-table, the Presidential and National Assembly elections will be held on Feb. 16, 2019; while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will be held on March 2.

  • Court suspends hearing in suit filed against INEC Chairman

    The Federal High Court Abuja on Thursday suspended hearing in the contempt suit against the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu pending the hearing of an appeal in respect of the suit.

    Justice Stephen Pam, in a short ruling at the resumed hearing, said that he was adjourning the matter in view of an order made by the Court of Appeal to stay proceedings.

    “Before me is a ruling from the Court of Appeal dated Aug. 13, signed by Justice Abdul Aboki presiding.

    Read Also:APC to INEC: PDP plans to deploy thugs for Osun guber election

    “In view of the Court of Appeal’s order to stay proceedings, this matter is adjourned to a date to be communicated to both parties, pending the outcome of the appeal.”

    Mr Emmanuel Okorie, counsel to the applicant, Ejike Oguebego had told the court that although the matter was for continuation of contempt proceedings, there was an order from the Court of Appeal to stay proceedings.

    The judge had earlier told INEC’s counsel, Mr Samuel Omale to convey his displeasure to Yakubu’s counsel Mr Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) over the manner in which he was handling the matter.

    “Send my displeasure to Chief Awomolo, I do not like the way he is handling this matter. His attitude to this court is disappointing; he has shown a lot of disrespect to the court.

    “He cannot sit in his house and expect the court to act based on information gotten from television announcements, I am not on his payroll and he should not treat me as such,” the judge said.

    The court had on Aug. 1, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Yakubu for “flagrant” disobedience of court orders.

    Court of Appeal vacated the arrest order on Monday and ordered a stay of proceedings in the alleged contempt charge pending the determination of the substantive case.

    NAN

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Work begins on N189bn election budget

    As Senate, Reps committees meet INEC boss

    At last, work has begun on the budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2019 general elections.

    The chairman of the INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu on Wednesday defended the commission’s N189.2 billion budget at separate sessions with the Senate and House of Representatives committees on INEC.

    Yakubu, who gave a breakdown of the various components of the budget, told the lawmakers that preparations for the poll ought to have started in earnest by August 15 (on Wednesday).

    Documents submitted to the lawmakers by INEC indicated that election operational cost will gulp N134.4bn; election technology -N27.5bn; administrative cost -N22.6bn; and miscellaneous -N4.6bn.

    The INEC chair explained that there were significant increase in the variables and logistics for the 2019 election, compared to the 2019 poll that gulped N120 billion.

    According to him, the commission will be conducting elections with about 91 political parties on the ballot with over 82 million registered voters.

    The voter population in 2015 was about 70 million with about 40 political parties on the ballot.

    Prof Yakubu said the figures could rise in the months ahead, as the commission still had 140 applications for party registration still pending; while the voter registration exercise had been extended by two weeks, to end August 30.

    INEC will conduct the presidential and National Assembly elections in February. It will be followed by the governorship elections in 29 states across the federation, alongside state assembly election in the 36 states.

    Also included in the budget was the cost of conducting elections into the six area councils in the Federal Capital Territory as the expiration of the tenure of the elected officials coincides with the general elections.

    Also captured in the INEC budget is the Osun State governorship election coming up on September 22. The INEC chair said 48 political parties will participate in the Osun election.

    Read Also: INEC Budget: NASS cannot reconvene now -Saraki, Dogara

    The chairman of the Senate committee, Suleiman Nazif, assured the INEC of the legislature’s desire to expedite action of the budget, considering the time constraint.

    Nazif said the committee members will meet again on Thursday through Friday to fast track the process and refer the documents to the Appropriation committee of the Senate.

    On her part, the chairperson of the House of Representatives committee on INEC, Mrs. Aisha Dukku stressed the need for the parliament to approach the budget proposal from both process and content perspectives

    Addressing the INEC chairman, Dukku said, “It is only by so doing that one can begin to unravel the intricacies of the entire range of issues involved and their interconnectedness.

    “You will agree with me that for a government that promised change for its people, the foundation of this change ought to be evident in the way we plan our elections and electoral processes.

    “The estimates should represent a true picture of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA)”.

    She expressed concerns over INEC’s previous budgets, saying they were neither productive nor effective because of poor planning.

    “It is my prayer and hope that the present administration would address the issues with budgeting, especially as regards funding; unlike the previous budgets that were not productive in the entire planning of elections”, Dukku added.

  • Osinbajo’s sledgehammer

    Last week Tuesday was a day the immediate past Director-General (DG) of the Department of State Services (DSS) Lawal Musa Daura will not forget in a hurry.

    He went beyond his powers and saw the bitter part of the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

    Daura had that Tuesday morning deployed armed and masked security operatives from the DSS to take over the National Assembly complex.

    Initially, there was total blockage as lawmakers, journalists, management and staff were denied access.

    These took place on a day principal officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives were scheduled to meet by 12 p.m. and to be followed by another meeting with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu.

    Daura’s greatest sin on that Tuesday was his failure to get the permission of the Acting President before taking the action, which many Nigerians have described as anti-democracy.

    Shocked by Daura’s action, Osinbajo summoned him and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris to explain the National Assembly blockage.

    Osinbajo didn’t hesitate to hit Daura with the ‘sledgehammer’, termination of appointment.

    Shortly after their meeting, Daura’s appointment as the DG DSS was terminated while Idris exonerated himself from the drama and National Assembly blockage.

    Osinbajo was said to have particularly taken the action against Daura to prevent derailing of the democratic governance in the country and also to distance the Presidency from Daura’s action.

    The two quick statements issued that day by the Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President, Laolu Akande reads “The Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has directed the termination of the appointment of the Director General, State Security Service, Lawal Musa Daura with immediate effect.

    “Mr. Daura has been directed to hand over to the most senior officer of the State Security Service until further notice.

    “Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has described the unauthorized takeover of the National Assembly complex earlier today as a gross violation of constitutional order, rule of law and all acceptable notions of law and order.

    “According to him, the unlawful act which was done without the knowledge of the Presidency is condemnable and completely unacceptable.

    “By this statement, Professor Osinbajo is consequently assuring Nigerians that all persons within the law enforcement apparatus who participated in this travesty will be identified and subjected to appropriate disciplinary action.” he stated

    Since last Tuesday, Osinbajo’s action has been commended by many stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians.

    Although some Nigerians believed that Osinbajo, who has remained very loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari, who is holidaying in London, must have sought for his opinion on the issue before sacking Daura.

    The response of the Special Adviser to the President on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, to questions from reporters the following day, disclosed that the Presidency, as a whole, supported the termination of Daura’s appointment.

    He said, “What we will like to say for the umpteenth time is that the presidency is one. Whenever the President is proceeding on vacation he transmit power to the Vice President, who then become the Acting President. On this occasion he also did that.

    “So the Acting President has all the powers of a President. Now it’s a matter then of decency and we know that the Acting President is a decent man.

    “There is no tussle for power, there is no tough battle between him and the President.

    “When something like what happened yesterday will happen, there then will be unanimity. There is no way there won’t be unanimity on that kind of decision.

    “It’s not something that will be discussed with the press but know that there was unanimity in the decision.” Adesina stated

    But some Nigerians, who felt that Osinbajo unilaterally took the decision out of frustration from the series of embarrassment to the Government and to his person as a church pastor, feared that his decision may be rescinded when the President returns from holiday in London.

    They based their fears on the recent past when the appointment of the suspended Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf, was reinstated by the President on the 6th of February 2018.

    Osinbajo, who was also the Acting President when President Buhari was in London last year, had approved through the Minister of Heath, Prof. Isaac Adewole, the suspension of Yusuf on 6th of July, 2017 over allegations of fraud.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was alleged to be investigating Yusuf for over N900 million fraud.

    Yusuf, whose suspension was based on allegations of abuse of office, nepotism and insubordination, was accused of buying a brand new Toyota Sports Utility Vehicle with number plate, NHIS 12Y-01 FG, for N58m, without the express approval of the Health Minister  for items above N2.5 million.

    But before EFCC and ICPC could finish their investigations and make their findings public, a letter purportedly issued by the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, reinstated Yusuf on the 6th of February 2018.

    Some of the common factors between Daura’s and Yusuf’s cases are that they are both from the northern part of the country and the two cases happened while Osinbajo was Acting President when the President was in London.

    But while the Yusuf’s case has to do with corruption allegations, Daura’s case borders on national security and threats of truncating democracy.

    The fears that Daura may, at the end of the investigations, get soft landing, were further fueled by last Wednesday’s statement by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The statement issued by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yekini Nabena, reads in parts: “Following Tuesday’s incident at the National Assembly, our investigations have now uncovered the sinister plot hatched by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to foment violence in the legislative chamber all in a bid to stop his impeachment.

    “Our investigations uncovered and noted the following: We are now aware that the timely intervention of the security operatives forestalled the planned violence which could have led to possible deaths, injuries, and destruction of property in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

    “Why did the Senate President mobilise thugs to the National Assembly who almost lynched Hon. E.J. Agbonayinma, the only APC federal lawmaker present but for the timely intervention of security operatives.” it stated

    Will Lawal Daura be recalled soon to head the DSS like Yusuf’s case, or given soft landing or prosecuted for the sins leveled against him?

    Only time will tell how the Lawal Daura story will end.

  • Why National Assembly put of resumption

    More facts emerged on Monday about why the National Assembly will no longer reconvene this week as formerly planned.

    It was gathered that senators and House of Representatives members concluded that it was practicality impossible for the planned emergency session to hold and approve the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) budget in a single sitting.

    The leadership of the National Assembly had said after a meeting with the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu last week that the two chambers would reconvene today to consider and approve INEC budget and the revilement requested by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Yakubu also told reporters that he was assured that the budget for the 2019 election would be approved this week.

    A competent source however confirmed on Monday that the lawmakers will no longer reconvene in view of latest developments and the practicability of the resumption date.

    He noted that the thinking of many lawmakers was it to consider and approve Buhari’s request would take the National Assembly close to a month at the least.

    He said, “The request by President Muhammadu Buhari is not just a single line item that would just require a one day sitting.

    “The request has variety of committees that would be involved, including the Appropriations, Finance, INEC and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    Read Also: ‘Invasion of National Assembly bad’

    “It is different from a situation whereby the President is asking for an increase in the size of the budget through a change of benchmark.

    “The request by Mr. President is not something that can be done in one day. Even those who are pushing the agenda know it.”

    He insisted that the National Assembly cannot achieve anything even if it was reconvened in for one sitting “because the request has to be passed to the necessary committees and the committees have to meet with relevant MDAs for their input.

    He added, “Besides, there is another issue that has to do with the Constituency projects. The letter is requesting the lawmakers to remove funds from their constituency projects and use the same to fund INEC.

    “Remember that the Constituency projects are not one line items in the budget.

    “You can’t imagine how long it would take the Appropriations committees to sort out that issue with the MDAs.

    Another source noted that “Reconvening the National Assembly will not really work. It would mean that you want to keep the lawmakers around for the next one month, which defeats the idea of the annual recess.

    “The letter by the President is not just requesting for an increase in benchmark, which can be handledin one day through Senate or House resolution. Treating the letter by the President will take two to three weeks or even more weeks.”

    He said that that the logistics of securing a quorum of either the senate or the House was becoming more and more difficult as members are getting deep into their recess.

    He said, “Many of our colleagues have travelled for Hajj. Many are in their constituencies battling the challenges of re-election. If you check even with the APC right now, they can’t get up to 30 Senators and next week is Sallah, Arafat is on Monday and you will have holidays. A number of people have travelled. It is not practicable to reconvene now.”

  • EU, INEC seek stiffer penalties for election offenders

    Dearth of institutional mechanisms to prosecute election offences in Nigeria is responsible for some of the controversies that trail elections in the country, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) have said.

    ECES said that it is imperative to put in place more appropriate institutional mechanism for the prosecution of election offences in Nigeria.

    Projector Director, ECES Rudof Elbling said this yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital at the opening ceremony of two days training programme for INEC legal and police officers on prosecution of election offences.

    The programme was jointly organized by INEC and ECES.

    Mrs. Elbling added that ECES plans to hold workshop with judges of the Court of Appeal and election petitions tribunals and capacity building for stakeholders at the local level.

    She added that election offenders need to be punished according to the law to make the electoral processes ever more credible.

    She said, “Coming at a time when national debate is ongoing for the establishment of the election offences prosecution commission or the establishment of election offences prosecution unit, it is my hope that deliberations at the training will deepen understanding and forge mutual consensus on the imperative and modalities of putting in place always more appropriate mechanism for the prosecution of election offences in Nigeria.

    “Therefore, clear and properly understood and followed mechanism for prosecution of election offences committed by voters, candidates and election officials are necessary to render electoral process the less controversial and contentious possible.”

    Earlier, the Kwara state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC, Mallam Garba Madami said that the training is to intimate and re-orientate the legal officers on the methodology and mechanism to overcome the hurdles against prosecution of electoral offences; to sensitise legal officers on the inefficiency of the criminal investigation machinery in Nigeria; lack of statutory powers of the commission to make arrests; lack statutory power to investigate violations that seriously impede the successful prosecution of electoral offences.

    Mallam Madami added, saying, “This training workshop therefore is expected to produce recommendations on how the participants will overcome the hurdles of delayed outcome of investigations conducted by relevant security agencies during elections.”

  • INEC discovers 19 illegal polling units in Akwa Ibom

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has discovered 19 illegal polling units in Akwa Ibom.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Mike Igini, made the disclosure at Enlarged Stakeholders’ Forum in Uyo in Monday.

    The REC said that the illegal polling units were in Obot Akara and Uyo Local Government Areas, adding that that some of the polling units were located in hotels, church, mosques among others.

    He said that INEC found that the polling units concerned were located in violation of its guidelines; therefore there was the need to relocate and rename some polling units in the state.

    Igini, however, urged the people not to see the relocation of the polling units as a creation of new polling units, stressing that that no new polling units had been created.

    He said the essence of the forum was “to enable us see face to face and interact freely. “

    “We are here to present the commission electoral plan and strategic implementation plan, hear from you and carefully consider the concerns and ideas of everyone on how we can serve you better,” he said.

    The REC cautioned politicians who might have plans to rig the 2019 general elections to desist because INEC of today has evolved beyond rigging.

    Igini said INEC had “advanced to a level where everything is tracked.“

    “We must conduct an election that will be accepted by the people without recourse to the tribunals. We have done it elsewhere and we will do it here.

    Read Also: INEC decries low rate of PVCs’ collection in Ebonyi

    “You are going to have little or minimal petitions. Election is a time where the independence and integrity of institutions like INEC, security agencies and judiciary are tested.”

    He also said the forum was organized as an opportunity to engage stakeholders of all political persuasions and have a robust engagement.

    The REC advised leaders of political parties in the state to talk to their party members the need for them conduct ensuring strict adherence to the code of conduct of the electoral acts.

    He stressed the need for political parties to commence the process of identifying committed party members to serve as agents during the general elections.

    Igini assured that the forthcoming election would not tolerate or accommodate thuggery in the state.

    “Campaign messages should encapsulate the principles of accommodation, decency and with strict adherence to the rule of law.

    He emphasized that the best way to win the forthcoming general elections was to mobilize supporters to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    Igini however, noted that collection of PVCs in the state was 50 per cent, a development he described as very low.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, pledged the neutrality of the police to ensure that all forms of intimidation on the electorate were eliminated, during and after the exercise.

    He said that the command had strategised ways to train security personnel on what was required of them before, during and after the elections.

    The police boss warned against any form of intimidation or harm against corps members deployed to the polling units.

    “No youth corps member will be molested, harmed or killed in Akwa Ibom.

    “We are going to view any embarrassment on corps member more seriously than any other offense in the state.

    “If you ferment problem you go in for it, we are going to prosecute all electoral offenders.

    “We must have peace and security and we must not allow any clash of event,” he said.

    The theme of the forum is “Broad outline of 2019 Election in Akwa Ibom, The Road Map.”

    NAN

     

  • INEC gets ten days to investigate Fayose, others for electoral offences

    Lagos lawyer, Kabir Akingbolu has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to, within the next ten days, investigate Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State over alleged electoral offences committed during the June 14 governorship election held in the state.

    Others whom Akingbolu asked INEC to also investigate are the Deputy Governor, Professor Kolapo Eleka and the Acting Chairman of the Ekiti State Broadcasting Corporation, Mr Lere Olayinka for alleged ‘deliberate breach of several provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010 before, during and after the said election’.

    “Take notice that if you fail or refuse to commence the investigation of the serious electoral offences disclosed in the petition before the 15th day of August 2018 we shall not hesitate to apply to the Federal High Court for an order of Mandamus to compel you to carry out your statutory duty forthwith. Having regards to your resolve to prosecute all electoral offenders it is hoped that you will not compel us to resort to any litigation over this petition”.

    In a petition to INEC Chairman on Monday, Akingbolu urged the electoral commission to investigate and prosecute Fayose and others in line with section 150 of the Electoral Act, 2010 in view of the gravity of the electoral offences allegedly committed by the suspects.

    He argued that the prosecution of the Ekiti State governor and others would go a long way to curb official impunity during elections conducted by the INEC.

    To facilitate investigation and envisaged prosecution of Fayose and others, Akingbolu promised to make available all the necessary information and documents to support his petition.

    “Since the immunity of two out of the aforementioned suspects i.e. Governor Ayo Fayose and Deputy  Kolapo Eleka will expire in October 2018 the investigation of the serious electoral offences committed by them ought to commence without any delay”, he stated.

    Read Also: Fayose’s deputy files 700-page petition against Fayemi

    The lawyer listed ten electoral offences allegedly committed during the June 14 governorship election by the Governor Fayose and others.

    He alleged that before the official declaration of the results of the governorship election by the Returning Officer, the governor and others allegedly announced an election result which they knew to be false and thereby declared Professor Kolapo Eleka as the Governor Elect of Ekiti State on June 15, 2018 in contravention of section 123 (4) of the Electoral Act.

    He alleged that in the morning of June 14, 2018 the governor and others allegedly assembled a crowd at the Governor’s Lodge where they prayed and persuaded voters to vote for Professor Kolapo Eleka and that they caused the Ekiti State Broadcasting Corporation to broadcast news which opposed the candidature of Dr. Kayode Fayemi in contravention of section 101 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2010

    Akingbolu alleged that they advanced and paid the sum of N3,000 to every civil servant on Friday June 13, 2018 with intent that such money shall be expended on bribing voters to vote for Professor Kolapo Eleka.

    According to him, Governor Fayose and others campaigned against Dr. Kayode Fayemi and urged voters not to vote for him in contravention of section 129 (c) of the General Act and that their campaign was tainted with abusive language, which injured religious, ethnic and sectional feelings contrary to section 95 (1) of the Electoral Act.

    Akingbolu alleged that the Ekiti State governor and others threatened to make use of force and violence in contravention of section 131 (a) of the Electoral Act and that they prevented all government aspirants, apart from Professor Kolapo Eleka the free use of the Ekiti State Radio and Television station in contravention of section 131 (d) of the Electoral Act.

    Other allegations were that they campaigned for Professor Kolapo Eleka in the Governor’s lodge on June 14, 2018 within 24 hours prior to the polling day in contravention of section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 and that they prevented the Ekiti State Broadcasting Corporation from allotting equal coverage and conspicuity to all political parties in contravention of Section 100 (5) of the Electoral Act 2010.

  • Ekiti election: Fayose’s deputy files 700-page petition against Fayemi

    Urges tribunal to declare him winner of gov. poll

    Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, has dragged the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, before the Election Petition Tribunal.

    Olusola, who was the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the July 14 governorship election, urged the court to declare him winner of the poll claiming that he scored the highest number of lawful votes cast.

    He urged the jury to set aside the victory of Fayemi, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    According to the result declared by INEC, Fayemi polled a total of 197, 459 to defeat Olusola, who received 178, 121 votes.

    Olusola, who was accompanied by his running mate, Mr. Ayodeji Ogunsakin, submitted a 700-page petition at the tribunal registry within the State High Court premises at about 5.30 pm.

    The statutory 21-day grace allowed by the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) to file a petition by any candidate aggrieved with the outcome expired on Friday.

    Olusola explained that the team of lawyers that will defend his petition will be led by an Ilorin, Kwara State-based Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Malam Yusuf Ali.

    Speaking with reporters after filing the petition, Olusola said he was motivated to go to court because of what he described as the “brazen robbery” allegedly carried out by INEC in collaboration with federal security forces.

    He alleged that the poll was manipulated by people he described as “political desperadoes using the instruments of the Federal Government.

    The PDP flag bearer also alleged ballot snatching, ballot stuffing, gross falsification of results and the use of security forces to subvert the electoral wishes of Ekiti people.

    Read Also: Fayemi: Ekiti situation has worsened in four years

    He urged his supporters to keep hope alive noting that he has absolute trust in God and the judiciary to retrieve the alleged stolen mandate.

    Olusola said: “Today, I formally filed the much expected petition against the results of the July 14, 2018 governorship election, which was openly manipulated by political desperadoes, using instruments of the federal government.

    “Like I have maintained, I am challenging the election results not out of desperation to be governor, but for reasons of future and posterity, and largely on behalf of the people of Ekiti, who were taken aback by the outcome of the election.

    “Without doubt, the will of the people was subverted by those who have chosen to take Nigeria back to the dark days of ballot stuffing, ballot boxes snatching and outright falsification of election results and I believe they deserve to get justice.

    “I am challenging the election results not out of desperation to be governor, but for reasons of future and posterity, and largely on behalf of the people of Ekiti, who were taken aback by the outcome of the election.

    “Without doubt, the will of the people was subverted by those who have chosen to take Nigeria back to the dark days of ballot stuffing, ballot boxes snatching and outright falsification of election results and I believe they deserve to get justice.

    “As law abiding citizens of our country, the only path of honour to take in a situation like this is the process that we have initiated today, to seek redress against the use of security forces and other instruments of the federal government to suppress the will of our people.

    “Sadly, the desperation of the APC to take over all States in the country, especially those under governors like Dr. Ayodele Fayose perceived as uncompromising has destroyed all the gains made by the PDP government regarding free, fair and credible elections.

    “The mood of Ekiti people when the beneficiary of the electoral robbery was declared winner and up till today is a pointer to the resolve of the people not to accept the subversion of their will and we have answered their calls to use the judiciary to get back their mandate.

    “In doing this, we have presented overwhelming discrepancies in the results declared by INEC to the tribunal to adjudicate upon and I am confident that the popular mandate of the people of Ekiti will not go unrestored. I therefore want Ekiti people to keep hope alive, remain strong and resolute in their belief in God.

    “While we go through this judicial walk to exposing the electoral thievery of July 14, 2018, we urge the good people of Ekiti State, especially my teeming supporters to remain calm, peaceful and prayerful, bearing in mind that those who stole their mandate will not enjoy the benefits for long.

    “I also want to use this opportunity to condemn the indefinite closure of the State Radio and Television stations. No doubt, the closure of the radio and television stations was part of the grand plan to sustain the inglorious use of naked force to rob Ekiti people of their democratic rights, but the people will triumph ultimately”.

    A member of Olusola’s legal team to the petitioner, Mr. Ola Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate, said what the petitioner was asking for is outright nullification of the election that produced Fayemi and declare their client winner of the poll.

    Olanipekun said: “By the time the hearing begins, we are going to prove cases of falsification of results, ballot snatching, ballot stuffing and use of powers to subvert the will of the people.

    “By the time we do this, the whole world can judge whose the actual winner was. We are confident that justice will be done in this case, we are sure that our client shall get justice.

  • Ex-INEC chiefs’ forfeit N387m allegedly received from Diezani

    Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday ordered the temporary forfeiture of N387 million found in the bank accounts of four former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials.

    He made the order based on an ex-parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The anti-graft agency said the respondents allegedly benefitted from N23 billion which a former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke allegedly shared to influence the 2015 general election.

    They are Victor Chukwuani, Okesiji Adeniran, Gabriel Oke and Torgba Nyitse.

    In a supporting affidavit, an EFCC investigator Usman Zakari said the former INEC officials received the money through a non-governmental organisation, West Africa Network of Observers (WANEO).

    They were said to have formed the NGO to monitor the 2015 general elections.

    According to Zakari, WANEO had a former INEC Chairman Prof Maurice Iwu as National Coordinator.

    Read Also: Court orders forfeiture of Diezani’s N325.4m land

    “Although WANEO was formed under the guise of monitoring the conduct of 2015 election, distribution of Permanent Voter Cards, sensitisation of voters, delimitation of electoral constituencies, etc, its primary objective was to ensure the victory of the PDP candidate in the presidential election,” the investigator said.

    Zakari said through WANEO, the former INEC officials allegedly facilitated the disbursement of N510million received from Diezani to some persons in Osun, Ogun and Oyo states.

    “After the conduct of the 2015 presidential election and in order to conceal the sources of the money collected by Ogun, Osun and Oyo states, the remainder of the money was fraudulently laundered,” the investigator added.

    Zakari said the EFCC recovered N387million out of the N510million from the four.

    EFCC’s lawyer Nnaemeka Omenwa urged Justice Hassan to order the money’s temporary forfeiture in line with Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, No. 14, 2004.

    Justice Hassan granted the ex-parte application as prayed.

    He ordered that anyone interested in the money should to appear before him within 14 days to show cause as to why the N387million should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

    He adjourned until August 6.