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  • INEC commends Muslim congress on voter sensitisation

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has hailed the leaders of The Muslim Congress (TMC) for sensitising its members for the forthcoming general elections.

    The electoral body gave the commendation during a Political Discourse jointly organised by TMC and Centre for Global Peace initiative (CGPI) on Sunday in Lagos

    INEC Desk Officer in charge of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Mr Luka Buba expressed joy at the massive turn-out for the programme.

    Buba said: “I have attended series of sensitisation programmes organised by different Muslim organisations and mosques, the turn out here today was massive. I am really impressed.

    “Not only did the men come out, their wives and other Muslim women also attended in their numbers. This is what INEC wants and the bodies (TMC and CGPI) should be commended.’’

    He urged the gathering to play active roles in ensuring that their votes count.

    According to him, the first step to take was to collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) which is the only instrument through which they can elect their leaders for the next four years.

    Luka enjoined those that have registered but are yet to collect their PCV to do so.

    TMC Amir (President) Dr Luqman AbdurRaheem, said the programme was put together to sensitive people about their civic responsibility as citizens, educate them on the voting process and to highlight the attributes expected to observe in those vying for public offices.

    The Associate Professor at American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola said good governance could only be realistic when leadership emerge through general consensus.

    “Every effort must be geared towards enlightening the public on active participation in election process. We are focusing on this because it is very important in our religion. When you cast your votes, it means you are bearing testimony and that testimony will be held against you on the day of judgement. So, as responsible Muslim organisation, we need to tell the electorate to think through the voting process before casting their votes,” he said

    AbdurRaheem stressed that in Islamic jurisprudence; the process of electing leaders come with some qualities and characteristics which electorate must look out for.

    These, he said, include faithfulness, integrity, prudence, accountability among others.

    Secretary of the Muslim Community of Oyo State Ustadh Ismail Busary, urged the participants to elect God-fearing leaders who will deliver good governance and ensure peaceful society.

    Busary admitted that not all the contestants have the qualities of good leadership.

    “Some of them fare better than others. Hence, we go for the best candidate of the lot. When you have options, you pick the best,” he said.

  • INEC transfers Ekiti REC

    The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ekiti state, Prof. Abdulganiyu Raji has been moved to Ogun.

    This is coming barely 20 days to the 2019 general elections.

    The State Administrative Secretary, Dr Omoleke Muslim, has taken over on acting capacity.

    The Public Affairs Officer of INEC in the state, Alhaji Taiwo Gbadegesin, told NAN that there was no external motive behind the transfer of the REC.

    “It may be as a result of his well-acknowledged outstanding election performances in the past.”

    NAN reports that while performing his first function in Ado Ekiti at the opening of a two-day Training Session for security agencies ahead of the election, Muslim, urged them to be above board.

    He charged the security agents not to dance to the whims and caprices of any political party or individual.

    Muslim said that INEC in the state was fully ready to conduct free, fair and credible polls.

    He gave the assurance that all the 2,445 polling units in the state would be manned by security agents to curb electoral malpractices such as vote-buying, vote-selling and other inducements.

    He said that 10,426 ad-hoc staff and 365 regular staff of the commission would man the exercise on Feb. 16 and March 02, stressing that they have been given the required training for the task ahead.

    He warned politicians and their followers to desist from wooing the staff with either money, food, fuel, accommodation or gifts.

    Muslim disclosed that election materials would start arriving the state in a few days’ time through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    He enjoined residents to steer clear of activities capable of throwing hitches to the electoral process.

    NAN

     

  • Group, lawyer sue INEC over IDPs’ right to vote

    The Forum for Transparency and Integrity in Leadership and a lawyer Samuel Adeniji have asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to determine whether the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can allow internally displaced persons (IDPs) to vote without complying with the law on voter registration.

    They are praying the court to determine whether INEC has the power to conduct 2019 election in IDP camps without compiling and maintaining a register of voters in respect of eligible voters in the local government areas of origin of the IDPs in question.

    The plaintiffs want the court to hold that IDPs can only vote when they comply with the provision of the Electoral Act by applying to the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the respective states in which the IDP camps are located.

    They sought a declaration that it would be unconstitutional and illegal for INEC to carry out elections in IDP camps without first complying with the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2010 by compiling and maintaining as part of the national register of voters the names of all persons entitled to vote in each IDP camp.

    The plaintiffs, through their lawyer Lekan Idowu of Edgewise Solicitors, prayed for a declaration that they are entitled to view and inspect the voters register, if any, which INEC intends to use in the IDP camps.

    They also prayed the court to declare that it would be unconstitutional and illegal for INEC to conduct elections in IDP camps located in the Niger Republic and the Chad Republic or in any other country or place outside Nigeria.

    Read Also: INEC needs 1.2m personnel for 2019 polls

    According to them, INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu had announced that IDPs in those countries “who left their abodes due to insurgency in the Northeast would not be denied their voting rights”.

    The plaintiffs sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC from conducting any election during the forthcoming general elections in any of the IDP camps without having first complied with the 1999 Constitution as amended and the Electoral Act with regards to having the names of IDPs on the national voters register.

    Additionally, they prayed the court for an injunction restraining INEC from allowing any voting in an IDP camp outside Nigeria.

    In a supporting affidavit, Adeniji, a lawyer and member of the forum, recalled that INEC recently announced that it would conduct elections in IDP camps in the general elections to be held in February and March.

    The deponent said the IDP camps are scattered in different locations in the Northeast and Abuja, adding that he was not aware that INEC has so far enumerated the specific local government areas the IDPs were originally located.

    Adeniji said he was also not aware that the individuals who now reside in the IDP camps applied to be registered or to transfer their registration from their original places of abode to their new locations.

    “I believe that it is in the interest of justice that the reliefs in the originating summons are granted,” he prayed.

    The originating summons was brought pursuant to Section 153, Paragraph 15 (A) and (E) of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended); sections 9, 10 and 13 of Electoral Act No 6 of 2010, Order 3, Rule 1 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009 and under the inherent powers of the honourable court.

    They suit is yet to be heard.

  • Diezani cash: Court jails INEC chiefs for receiving bribe 

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday sentenced a former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Administrative Secretary in Kwara State, Christian Nwosu, to seven years imprisonment.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned him for accepting bribe from former Petroleum Resources Minister  Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    Also sentenced to seven years was his co-accused, a former INEC official, Tijani Bashir.

    EFCC said the defendants conspired to directly take possession of N264,880,000 which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of an unlawful act-gratification.

    Nwosu, who had initially pleaded guilty to receiving a N30million bribe from Mrs Alison-Madueke to rig the 2015 general election results, at his arraignment on April 5, 2017, changed his plea to not guilty when he was re-arraigned.

    Read also:

    Bashir was accused of indirectly taking possession of and retaining N164,880,000 which he reasonably ought to have known forms part of gratification.

    He also concealed N30million, being part of the proceeds of an unlawful act: “criminal misappropriation”.

    The alleged offences were committed on March 27 and April 7, 2015 and violated the provisions of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.

    Justice Mohammed Idris, who concluded the case despite being elevated to the Court of Appeal, had, on Thursday, held that the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.

    The judge, however, could not pass a sentence on the defendants owning to Nwosu’s absence occasioned by ill-health.

    Giving the final verdict yesterday, Justice Idris sentenced Nwosu to seven years imprisonment on counts one and two and five years on counts three and four.

    He sentenced Bashir to seven years on count five and seven years on counts six, seven and eight.

    Justice Idris sentenced them both to seven years each on count nine.

    The judge also ordered the forfeiture of a property in Asaba, the Delta  State capital, worth N25million, as well as N5million cash seized from Nwosu.

    Bashir is also to lose his Abuja property.

    The sentences are to run concurrently, the judge held.

    Justice Idris said: “The convicts were officials of the INEC and were expected to conduct themselves as impartial umpires in carrying out their activities.

    “I understand it to be the mission of the INEC to serve as an independent and effective election management body that is committed to the conduct of free, fair and credible election for sustainable democracy in Nigeria.”

    Before the verdict, defence counsel Victor Opara had urged the court to temper justice with mercy, saying Nwosu was a first offender.

    He said the convict served in the INEC for 35 years and is now 64 years and unwell.

    Bashir’s lawyer, K.I. Marcus, also urged the court to consider that his client is a single parent who lost his wife last October and is taking care of four children alone.

  • Court okays INEC’s rejection of Zamfara APC’s candidates

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has held the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) acted within its powers by refusing to accept list of candidates for the next general elections from the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu said it was not the fault of INEC that the APC failed to conduct a valid primary within the period scheduled by the electoral body.

    Justice Onjukwu said INEC’s action was intended to curb impunity among political parties and politicians; ensure that rule of law is adhered to.

    The judgment was on a suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1279/2018, filed in the name of APC by some individuals, who said they emerged from a consensus arrangement adopted by the party in Zamfara State.

    Justice Ojukwu, who dismissed the case for being without merit, noted that evidence presented before the court by parties did not show that the APC conducted its primaries within INEC’s published schedule of activities, which required parties to conduct their primaries and submit list of candidates within August 18 and October 7, 2018

    The judge said the decision of the APC in Zamfara to select its candidates through a consensus option, breached the provision of the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution.

    Read Also:  Zamfara APC: Court okays INEC’s rejection of candidates

    Justice Ojukwu said, by the fact before the court, it could not be held that INEC acted ultra vires by rejecting Zamfara APC’s candidates’ list.

    The judge added that INEC’s decision was to deter impunity and ensure that the right thing was done and the provisions of the law complied with by political parties.

    She said: “The intendment of the law is that due process must be followed. The 1st defendant’s (INEC’s) action was to ensure that the party complies with rule of law.”

    The judge said it was obvious that, as at the close of nomination for the 2019 elections, according to INEC guideline, the party (APC) had no candidates, having failed to conduct legitimate primary.

    Earlier, Justice Ojukwu dismissed the preliminary objection brought against the suit and held that there was no similarity between the case before her court and the one pending before the High Court of Justice, Zamfara State, marked: ZMS/GS/52/2018 filed on December 6, 2018by Alhaji Babandida Abdullahi, Chairman, APC, Gusau Local Government and others against the APC and others.

    While Justice Ojukwu was delivering judgment in the case in Abuja, Justice Muhammad Bello Shinkafi of Court 3, High of Zamfara State in Gusau, also rendered judgment in the suit by Alhaji Abdullahi and held that the APC actually has candidates having conducted valid primaries between October 3 and 7, 2018.

    Justice Shinkafi proceeded to order INEC to accept the candidates produced by the primaries as APC candidates in Zamfara for all positions in the forthcoming general elections.

    Read Also: Gana rejects Appeal Court affirmation of Duke

    A certified-true-copy (CTC) of the judgment certificate signed by an Alhaji Lawali Sanda Kaura (Assitant Director), sighted by The Nation on Friday, indicated that the court granted all the prayers by the plaintiffs.

    It reads in part: “Now, on the strength of evidence adduced by the plaintiff, the evidence elicited from both DWS1 and 2 during cross-examination, as well as the documentary evidence tendered and admitted in evidence, I am satisfied that the plaintiffs have proved their case against the defendants.

    “Consequently therefore, the above issue for determination formulating is hereby. Answered in the affirmative and all the reliefs claimed by the plaintiffs are hereby granted.

    “An order declaring as lawful and valid the primary election conducted by the APC (herein plaintiffs’ party) under the supervision of the 3rd defendant (INEC) and security agents on the 3rd and 7th October 2018 for the purpose of producing candidates to vie for various offices, which produce the plaintiffs, under the platform of the 1st defendant.” The court also order INEC to “accept and accord due recognition to the list of the candidate that emerged as winners” in the primaries of the 3rd and 7th October 2018

    The court also ordered the 1st defendant (APC) to “recognise and accept the list of candidates that emerged as winners” in the primaries.

    The court further granted a perpetual order of injunction restraining the defendants and their agents “from taking any steps towards cancelling/rejecting the result of the primary election held on the 3rd and 7th of October 2018 and monitored by the 3rd defendant.”

    Lawyer to the plaintiff in the Zamfara case, Mahmud Magaji (SAN) said, with the judgment of January 25 given in his clients’ favour, INEC cannot afford not to accepts the list of candidates that emerged from the primaries that the court has said were valid.

  • Bayelsa bans use of oil firm’s assets, security details for campaigns, elections

    The Bayelsa State Security Council on Friday prohibited the use of assets, personnel and security operatives attached to surveillance contractors from political activities in the state.

    Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Kemela Okara, said in a statement the council also decided to restrict such personnel and their assets to their oil and gas platforms.

    Okara also said the council comprising the heads of all security agencies and top officials of the state government further banned the use of security operatives attached to very important personalities (VIPs) and political appointees for election purposes in adherence to the stipulated guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He said that it was further resolved the security agencies should not arrest, detain, or restrict the personal liberty of any leader or member of a political party without adherence to constitutional provisions.

    But, Okara said the council decided agencies could arrest any leader of political party found to have been involved in acts inimical to national security with immediate notification to the governor.

    According to him: “The Bayelsa State Security Council at its meeting held on Thursday, 17th January, 2019, resolved, amongst others as follows:

    “All assets, personnel and security operatives attached to surveillance contractors of oil and gas companies operating in the State shall be limited strictly to their designated areas of operations, and specifically within such oil and gas platforms or facilities.

    “Further, that in no circumstance should assets, personnel of surveillance contractors be used or involved in any political activity or electioneering processes.

    “All security operatives attached to VIPs, political appointees, etc, shall in no circumstance be used or be involved in any election processes in accordance with stipulated INEC guidelines.

    “No security agency, acting by itself or by its servants or agents or by any person(s) or authority howsoever described shall henceforth arrest, detain, or restrict the personal liberty of any member, stalwart or leader of any political party in Bayelsa State without recourse to the due process of law and/or court order, between now and the general elections.

    “In Exceptional cases bordering on proven national security breaches or where a person is seen committing an offence in the presence of a member of any security service, he may be arrested and investigated, in which case the Governor shall be notified immediately.”

    He said decisions of the council were meant to assure the Bayelsans of the commitment of the security agencies to be neutral, apolitical and professional in the forthcoming election in accordance with their respective service regulations, ethics and values.

  • INEC needs 1.2m personnel for 2019 polls

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) needs no fewer than 1.2million personnel, including security agencies, to conduct the 2019 general elections, its chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stated on Friday in Kano.

    He said over 360,000 security personnel are needed to man polling units across the country during the elections.

    Yakubu spoke through the chairman Board of the Electoral Institute (BEI) Dr. Sa’ad Idris at the election security personnel training of trainers.

    The training was organised by INEC in collaboration with European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) and the European Union (EU).

    Yakubu further revealed Nigeria is the second largest democracy in the world with 84 million registered voters after the United States of America (USA) with Nigeria the largest in Africa.

    He appealed to security agencies to provide conducive atmosphere for credible elections, urging them, “not to live any stone unturned while performing their duties.

    “Election is supposed to be a civil exercise so you have to conduct yourself in such a manner that the electorate will not be scared of you.”

    According to him: “This training on election security is, therefore, very important as it will serve to equip the security personnel with knowledge of our electoral process, electoral environment, electoral laws and guidelines and the risk elements inherent or associated with them.

    “Therefore, I implore participants to take the training seriously as it will deepen your standard Electoral Operation Guidelines and create a harmonise relationship amongst security agencies on election duty.”

    ECES Project Director, Rudolf Elbling who was represented by the ECES Senior Media and Communications Advisor, Paul Anderson, noted that conducting hitch-free and credible elections required a peaceful environment devoid of threats to lives and properties.

    Read Also: INEC chiefs jailed 7 years for receiving bribe from Diezani

    According to him: “Election officials can only discharge their responsibilities of organising elections, including deployment and retrieval of materials in a secured environment.

    “Voters also require a peaceful environment to be able to come out and vote during elections without fear of intimidation and harassment.”

    He said for the 2019 general election to be successful, “security agencies have critical roles to play in securing the electoral process, a role that has become more challenging in view of reported cases of security breaches in certain parts of the country.

    “The issue of security is indeed very complex in a vast country like Nigeria where election personnel and materials have to be deployed across land expanse and some difficult terrain.”

  • Updated: Diezani bribe: ‘Disgraceful’ INEC chiefs jailed seven years

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday sentenced a former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Administrative Secretary in Kwara State Mr Christian Nwosu to seven years imprisonment.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned him for accepting bribe from former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    Also sentenced to seven years was his co-accused, a former INEC official Mr Tijani Bashir.

    EFCC said the defendants conspired to directly take possession of N264,880,000, which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of an unlawful act – gratification.

    Nwosu, who had initially pleaded guilty to receiving N30million bribe from Mrs Alison-Madueke to rig the 2015 general election results at his arraignment on April 5, 2017, changed his plea to not guilty when he was re-arraigned.

    Bashir was accused of indirectly taking possession of and retaining N164,880,000, which he reasonably ought to have known forms part of gratification.

    He also concealed N30million, being part of the proceeds of an unlawful act: “criminal misappropriation”.
    The alleged offences were committed on March 27 and April 7, 2015 and violated provisions of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.

    Justice Mohammed Idris, who concluded the case despite being elevated to the Court of Appeal, had on Thursday held that the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.

    The judge, however, could not pass a sentence on the defendants due to Nwosu’s absence due to Ill-health.

    Read Also; Court convicts INEC chiefs for receiving bribe from Diezani

    Handing the final verdict on Friday, Justice Idris sentenced Nwosu to seven years imprisonment on counts one and two, and five years on counts three and four.

    He sentenced Bashir to seven years on count five, and seven years on counts six, seven and eight.
    Justice Idris sentenced them both to seven years each on count nine.

    The judge also ordered the forfeiture of property in Asaba, the Delta capital worth N25million, as well as N5million cash seized from Nwosu.

    Bashir is also to lose his Abuja property.

    The sentences are to run concurrently, the judge held.

    Justice Idris said: “The convicts were officials of INEC and were expected to conduct themselves as impartial umpires in carrying out their activities.

    “I understand it to be the mission of INEC to serve as an independent and effective election management body that is committed to the conduct of free, fair and credible election for sustainable democracy in Nigeria.

    “These convicts by their conduct acted in breach of these objectives. Their actions were a disgrace to the institution and a threat to democracy.

    “INEC officials must be made to understand that their conduct must be within the ambit of the law and that anyone who breaches the law will be dealt with to the full extent of the law.

    “It must be understood that leadership and governance are serious matters that should be handed over to the most patriotic, best informed minds and the brightest brains for purposes of accountability, responsibility and prosperity of our nation.

    “This country must not be allowed to descend into anarchy, despondency and political infamy by the conduct of an official of government.

    “This country cannot afford an unhealthy electoral body as we go into the forthcoming election. INEC must note that this country deserves a credible election. Anyone that acts contrary to the law will be dealt with.

    “In this regard, the country only needs those with indomitable courage and impeccable political will to perform this duty and those who play ignoble role must be identified.

    “Evil communication, they say, corrupts good manners. In the light of the alocutus, the court will temper justice with mercy to the extent only permitted by the law.

    “Again, a strong message must be sent to INEC that the eyes of the world is on them. The entire nation is watching and those who decide contrary to their code of office will be identified.

    “When they are identified, they will be prosecuted and if found guilty will be punished severely.”

    Before the verdict, defence counsel Victor Opara had urged the court to temper justice with mercy, saying Nwosu was a first offender.

    He said the convict served in INEC for 35 years and is now 64 years and unwell.

    Bashir’s lawyer K.I. Marcus also urged the court to consider that his client is a single parent who lost his wife last October and is taking care of four children alone.

     

     

     

  • Breaking: Zamfara APC: Court okays INEC’s rejection of candidates

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has held that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) acted within its powers by refusing to accept list of candidates for the next general elections from the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, in a judgment on Friday, said it was not the fault of INEC that the APC failed to conduct a valid primary within the period scheduled by the electoral body.

    Read Also: Trial of CJN: Court of Appeal orders CCT to stay proceedings

    Justice Onjukwu said INEC’s action was intended to curb impunity among political parties and politicians; ensure that rule of law is adhered to.

    The judgment was on a suit filed in the name of APC by some individuals, who said they emerged from a consensus arrangement adopted by the party in Zamfara State.

     

    Details later.

  • INEC, ACPN kick as Ezekwesili ends presidential aspiration

    Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Buhari Campaign Organisation (BMO) are picking holes in Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili’s decision to end her presidential aspiration few days to the election, report Tony Akowe,Vincent Ikuomola and Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja.

    Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) presidential candidate Oby Ezekwesili yesterday incurred the wrath of her party, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and others yesterday.

    INEC rejected the withdrawal, noting that it was done outside the window of opportunity granted to political parties contesting in the 16th February 2019 presidential poll.

    73 candidates were listed for the election which is just 21 days away.

    Besides, the commission said her withdrawal contravenes Section 35 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, which stipulated that a candidate can only withdraw from election 45 days to the poll.

    Ezekweaili declared her intention to run for president last October.

    The Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, said her decision was also outside the commission’s timetable and schedule of activities for the general polls.

    He said: “It is impossible for any presidential candidate to withdraw from the race now. According to the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2019 General Elections, the last day for withdrawal by candidates or replacement of withdrawn candidates by political parties was 17th November, 2018 for Presidential and National Assembly Elections.

    “Therefore, the deadline for Ezekwesili or any candidate in that category to withdraw or be replaced has passed.”

    Her party also disowned her, saying she merely wanted to use the party platform and ticket to lobby her way into a ministerial appointment in the next political dispensation.

    The party also announced that it was endorsing President Muhammadu Buhari as its candidate for the February 16 Presidential election following the withdrawal of its candidate from the race without consultation with the leadership of the party.

    The party’s National Chairman, who also doubles as the Vice Presidential candidate, Alhaji Ganiyu Galadima, also said Mrs. Ezekwesili should come and render account of the money she received while flying the party’s flag.

    The party threatened to sue her if she refused to return all the party material and donations she received within the little time she was in the party.

    The former minister yesterday morning announced her withdrawal from the presidential race to devote her time in building a coalition that would the defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Galadima said the former minister did not inform the party of her decision before making it public. He accused Ezekwesili of not showing any seriousness in her campaign.

    ”The reason for calling this press conference is to let the world know about the presidential aspiration of Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, which in actual fact, is not the truth.

    ”I have been put into confidence by one of her aide named Iyinoluwa Aboyeji that she only wanted to use the platform of the ACPN to negotiate to be Nigeria’s finance minister.

    ”This is why she does not deem fit to inform the party whose mandate she is holding. If you observe, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili is the only presidential candidate who was so militant in her campaign without any tangible thing on ground to indicate any seriousness in the prosecution of her campaign.

    ”No campaign secretariat, billboard or great commitment on ground to indicate any seriousness. It is on this ground that the ACPN is withdrawing support for her presidential aspiration and endorsing the second term bid of President Muhammadu Buhari to take Nigeria to the next level. We may take her to court during her brief sojourn.

    ”She must return whatever money she collected from people on behalf of the party, because whatever is given to her belongs to the party. Don’t forget that at the end of the day, as a party, we must render account to INEC, this is mandatory and it is in the Electoral Act.

    ”We want to use this medium to tell her that we are not unaware of the various accounts that herself and her personal aide have opened to generate funds.

    “We are aware that monies were coming to her in droves but we didn’t know the successes of this funds, she should please come and render account to us.

    ”She should please come and render account to us and to come and give back to the party all that belongs to it, because without the party, nobody will give her any fund or donate anything to her,” he said.

    Ezekwesili had said in a statement that her decision was the outcome of “extensive consultations with leaders from various walks of life across the country over the past few days. I deem it necessary for me to focus on helping to build a veritable coalition to ensure a viable alternative to the #APCPDP in the forthcoming elections.

    “It is my ardent belief that this broad coalition for a viable alternative has now become more than ever before, an urgent mission for and on behalf of Nigerian citizens. I have therefore chosen to lead the way in demonstrating the much needed patriotic sacrifice for our national revival and redirection.

    “I wish to state that over the past three months, I have been in private, but extended talks with other candidates to birth a coalition that would allow Nigerians to exercise their choice without feeling helplessly encumbered by the evil twins of #APCPDP.

    “While the deliberations continued, I never hesitated for a moment in my willingness and determination to sacrifice my candidacy in order to facilitate the emergence of the envisaged strong and viable alternative that Nigerians could identify with in our collective search for a new beginning.

    “My commitment to this promising political recalibration has been consistent and in consonance with my agreement, at the request of candidates under the Presidential Aspirants Coming Together (PACT) arrangement in 2018, when I consented to supervise the internal selection process as an outside observer passionate about building an alternative force.

    “However, despite resistance from the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria on these and other issues, I have decided that it is now necessary to show by action and example my determination on this issue by stepping down my candidacy so as to focus squarely on building the coalition to a logical conclusion.

    Read also: Police to ban vigilance groups on election days in Kwara

    “We have no right to allow citizens give in to despair. We will #Fight4Naija together and prove to all that the mess, which the political class has now become, should not be allowed to destroy our spirits and nation. We are also determined to ensure that the message keeps resonating that our beloved country deserves better, and that we will get the best that we deserve.

    “From last year, when I joined the presidential race, I made it clear to Nigerians that the country has always had a 20-year cycle of change – 1959, 1979, and 1999. As such, 2019 begins another 20-year cycle, and together with all Nigerians of good will, I stand ready to play my part to ensure that we do not miss this golden opportunity to sing a new song.”

     

    Galadima’s allegations

    baseless, says Ezekwesili

     

    Ezekwesili described allegation by Galadima that she was never really serious about her presidential ambition as baseless.

    In an interview with News Agency of Nigeria, her media aide, Mr Uzoma Ubabukoh, said Galadima’s claim that she was contesting to negotiate to be Minister of Finance was a figment of his imagination.

    She claimed she withdrew from the race after due consultations with Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora.

    Ezekwesili added that her decision to quit the race was informed by the need to help and build a coalition to stop the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from winning.

    She said neither APC nor PDP could provide the kind of governance needed to reposition the country.

    Few hours after Ezekwesili’s withdrawal from the race, Galadima called a news conference, saying Ezekwesili had not shown the commitment to be President from the beginning.

    He alleged that the former minister was just in the race to negotiate to be Minister of Finance and that she had kept the party in the dark about her real intention.

    Galadima added that the candidate had used the platform of the party to get funds from donors, which she had not spent to show commitment to her ambition.

    He said the candidate’s decision to withdraw from the race was taken to sacrifice her personal interests for the country’s interest.

    “All these allegations are figment of his imagination. They are baseless. The decision to withdraw from the race is in the interest of the nation. It should be the nation first before anything,” Ubabukoh said.

    He said it was curious that Galadima, less than three hours after Ezekwesili’s withdrawal, endorsed Buhari and added that the action showed the ACPN Chairman had long had a personal agenda and never believed in the idea to disrupt the status quo in country.

     

    BMO: she lacks capacity

    to understand politics

     

    The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has said the sudden decision of former minister of education to pull out of the presidential race barely 23 days to the election is a clear indication that she lacks the capacity to understand the dynamics of Nigerian politics.

    The group said the former minister must explain to Nigerians her real intention of joining the presidential race when she knew she had to capacity and intention to see the election through.

    In a statement signed by Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, the group commended the ACPN on whose platform she was running for the Presidency for endorsing President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office.

    The group said: “We are not surprised that she has opted out of the race because it was clearly out of her depth as a pseudo- activist and opportunist without real political clout and pedigree.

    “Just like her former party acknowledged, the short-lived stint she had as a presidential candidate showed that she had nothing substantial to offer or contribute to political discourse beyond on-line rants and thoughtless invectives

    “And because some of these invectives are often retweeted or liked by some of her 836,000  twitter followers, she began to delude herself as an alternative to a President that has a track record of integrity, consistency in patriotism, honesty and performance to prove his status as a true statesman and leader.

    “Her forays into the real world of politics on the streets even saw Nigerians chanting Sai Buhari during one of her rare campaign outings.

    “So it would be ideal for Ezekwesili to take a second look at the situation and throw her weight behind the President’s re-election bid rather than embarking  on another hopeless exercise of  building a coalition  against President Buhari that so far failed woefully.”

    On ACPN’s decision to support President Buhari as its Presidential candidate, the group described it as a realisation of the values represented by the President and his efforts at putting the country firmly on the path to greatness.

    It added that the party leaders including Ezekwesili’s erstwhile running mate Ganiyu Galadima have, through their action, shown that there is still honour among members of the political class in our great country.

    The group said: “The party knows that there is no viable alternative to a President that has in only three and half years turned Nigeria into a large construction site after completing dozens of infrastructure project that were fraudulently abandoned by previous governments with impunity

    “We don’t take this endorsement lightly as ACPN leaders could have offered to trade off their support for the type of filthy lucre that some portfolio political parties under a shadowy coalition got by endorsing a Presidential candidate that is not getting  favourable support from even his home  state of Adamawa, let alone from across the country.”

    BMO said it was particularly elated that Galadima, who is also the party’s National Chairman, said he and his colleagues were joining the President to take the country to the next level and assured them that they would not be disappointed.

    The pro-Buhari group also urged undecided Nigerians to take a cue from ACPN and reject plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stage a return to power at the centre and get another chance to create economic mess and social chaos among the people.

     

    Planned coalition is

    impossible, says DG VON

     

    Voice of Nigeria (VON) Director-General Osita Okechukwu described the step taken by the presidential candidate of the ACPN as expected.

    He said Ezekwesili’s planned collation to dislodge the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Poeples Democracy Party (PDP) would fail.

    Okechukwu said the former Minister of Education belongs to a missionary political party not aiming to win power.

    The VON boss said: “What Oby Ezekwesili doesn’t know is that in democracy like this. The successful ones are multiparty system with two dominant political parties. And that two party system. Her political party is regarded as missionary party. This is what the missionary parties do.

    “She did not do anything different from a missionary party. I do not know the coalition that she is going to build that will dislodge the All Progressives Congress (APC), or the Poeples Democracy Party (PDP). It is not possible. If you go to Britain, it is a multiparty system with two dominant political parties. In the United States of American (USA), it is a multiparty system with two dominant political party. Go to Pakistan, it is the same thing. Brazil, India, they are all the same.

    “If she had said that, she is going to build a coalition with the PDP, I would have said that she is trying to win political power. But since she singled out the two dominate political parties, then she is still taking missionary. She is missionary more than political.

    “She did not do anything that is strange. But I congratulate her for her stand on making the society better. And that is what President Muhammadu Buhari is saying. He is investing on food production, adequate electricity supply, modern transportation, construction of federal roads. What all the missionary parties are saying is what President Muhammadu Buhari is doing.”