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Tag: KWASIEC

  • KWASIEC chairman bags public administrators’ fellowship 

    KWASIEC chairman bags public administrators’ fellowship 

    Muhammad Baba Okanla, the Chairman of the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC), has been honoured with the prestigious Fellow award by the Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration of Nigeria (CILGPAN) in recognition of his dedication to public administration.

    The award was presented during the 22nd Investiture of Associates, Members, and Fellows Awards ceremony on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at the Distance Learning Institute, University of Lagos (UNILAG), chaired by Prof. Muhammed Usman, Director of UNILAG Consult & Distance Learning Institute (DLI).

    Prof. Usman, who lauded Baba Okanla’s professionalism and unwavering commitment to public service, highlighted his active membership in CILGPAN, regular participation in seminars and workshops, and timely payment of annual dues. 

    The award was given in recognition of his significant contributions to public administration.

    Expressing his gratitude, Baba Okanla said, “I am truly honored and humbled to receive this award. I want to believe that it is a testament to my dedication to serving humanity”. 

    “True to the saying that the reward for hard work is more work, I am deeply honored by this Fellowship and inspired to channel my knowledge and skills toward making meaningful contributions to the field of public administration.”

    Baba Okanla joins a distinguished group of individuals who have been recognized by CILGPAN for their outstanding contributions to Local Government and Public Administration.

  • Council poll: Kwara govt, KWASIEC ask court to dismiss PDP’s contempt claim suit

    Council poll: Kwara govt, KWASIEC ask court to dismiss PDP’s contempt claim suit

    Kwara State Government and the state’s Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) have objected to a motion by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing them of being in contempt of an order made by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

    The PDP claimed, in the motion filed by its lawyer, Ademola Abimbola that the KWASIEC was in disobedience of an interim order made on July 29 by Justice Peter  Lifu, restraining parties from taking any step pending the determination of a suit filed by the PDP against plans to conduct local government election in Kwara State on September 21.

    In their response, Kwara State Government and KWASIEC denied the allegations and argued among others, that the motion was “incurably defective, fatally incompetent and maliciously filed.”

    They prayed the court to dismiss it, as it constituted a distraction.

    Arguing the motion yesterday, Abimbola alleged that the KWASIEC, through a letter dated August 28, addressed to the state’s chairman of the PDP, invited the party to a peace meeting despite the pendency of the court’s order restraining parties from taking any step, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    The PDP lawyer argued that such act constituted contempt of court, which should be penalised.

    Lawyer to the Kwara State Government and KWASIEC, Johnson Usman (SAN), argued that the electoral body was not in contempt of court as claimed by the PDP.

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    Usman contended that the pendency of a case should not prevent KWASIEC from fostering peace.

    He faulted the competence of the motion by the PDP, which he argued, was neither personally served on the alleged contemnor nor served on it through substituted means.

    Usman, who also queried the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case, noted that the allegation was based on an order that his clients had already applied to be set aside.

    Justice Lifu adjourned till September 17 for ruling.

    In the substantive suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1061/2024, PDP is contending among others, that the KWASIEC was in grievous contravention, breach and violation of sections 9, 28, 29 and 106 of the Electoral Act 2022, Sections 20 (1) and 21 (1) of Kwara State Local Government Electoral (Amendment) Law, 2024.

    PDP claimed that all the conditions and precedents stipulated in Local Government Electoral laws in Kwara State were allegedly deliberately ignored by KWASIEC under unacceptable circumstances.

    It alleged that KWSIEC had applied to INEC for the register of voters in Kwara to use the same in the conduct of the local government polls.

    The party said the action was in breach and violation of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, Electoral Act, 2022, as well as Kwara State Local Government Electoral (Amendment) Law, 2024.

  • LG poll: Kwara govt, KWASIEC fault PDP’s contempt claim

    LG poll: Kwara govt, KWASIEC fault PDP’s contempt claim

    The Kwara government and the state’s Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) have objected to a motion by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accusing them of being in contempt of an order made by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

    The PDP claimed, in the motion filed by its lawyer, Ademola Abimbola that the KWASIEC was in disobedience of an interim order made on July 29 by Justice Peter  Lifu, restraining parties from taking any step pending the determination of a suit filed by the PDP against plans to conduct Local Government election in Kwara State on September 21.

    In their response, the Kwara state govt and the KWASIEC denied the allegations and argued among others, that the motion was “incurably defective, fatally incompetent, and maliciously filed.”

    They prayed the court to dismiss it as it constituted a distraction.

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    Arguing the motion on Wednesday, Abimbola alleged that the KWASIEC, though a letter dated August 28 addressed to the state’s Chairman of the PDP, invited the party to a peace meeting despite the pendency of the court’s order restraining parties from taking any steps pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    The PDP lawyer argued that such an act constitutes contempt of court, which should be penalised.

    Lawyer to the Kwara State govt and KWASIEC, Johnson Usman (SAN) argued that the electoral body was not in contempt of court as claimed by the PDP.

    Usman contended that the pendency of a case should not prevent KWASIEC from fostering peace.

    He faulted the competence of the motion by the PDP, which he argued was neither personally served on the alleged contemnor nor served on it through substituted means.

    Usman, who also queried the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case, noted that the allegation was based on an order that his clients have already applied to be set aside.

    Justice Lifu has adjourned till September 17 for a ruling.

    In the substantive suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1061/2024, the PDP is contending among others, that the KWASIEC was in grievous contravention, breach, and violation of sections 9, 28, 29, and 106 of the Electoral Act 2022, Sections 20 (1) and 21 (1) of Kwara State Local Government Electoral (Amendment) Law, 2024.

    The PDP claimed that all the conditions and precedents stipulated in Local Government Electoral laws in Kwara State were allegedly deliberately ignored by KWASIEC under unacceptable circumstances.

    It alleged that KWSIEC had applied to INEC for the register of voters in Kwara to use the same in the conduct of the LG polls.

    The party said the action was in breach and violation of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the Electoral Act, 2022, as well as Kwara State Local Government Electoral (Amendment) Law, 2024.