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Tag: Senate

  • Obanikoro: Senate in shouting match

    Obanikoro: Senate in shouting match

    Attempt to enlist the support of opposition senators for the screening and confirmation of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro as a minister met a brickwall yesterday, it was learnt.

    The Senate started its plenary with a lengthy closed session presided over by Senate President David Mark.

    Sources at the session told our correspondents that top on the agenda was an appeal by Mark that the Senate should maintain its tradition of “bow and go” usually accorded former members of the National Assembly.

    “Bow and go” is the tradition of simply asking a ministerial nominee to bow before senators, who would refrain from asking him questions.

    Mark, it was learnt, told his colleagues that Obanikoro should be given the privilege.

    Opposition Senators and a few Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators were said to have insisted that they should be allowed to grill the former minister of state for Defence because of the circumstances surrounding his nomination.

    He is among those whose voices were taped while planning to use the military to rig last year’s Ekiti State governorship election.

    The opposition lawmakers were also said to have reminded the Senate President that the suit filed against Obanikoro’s nomination was still pending in a Lagos court.

    Those opposed to Obanikoro’s screening were also said to have insisted that it will be sub judice for the Senate to act on a matter that is pending before a court.

    Mark was said to have reasoned that if Obanikoro was made to answer questions, the tradition of the Senate would have been destroyed.

    At that point, a shouting match broke out between those who wanted to maintain the status quo of “bow and go” and those who insisted on drilling Obanikoro especially on his alleged role in the Ekiti governorship poll rigging plot.

    The unruly situation was said to have lasted for over 30 minutes after which Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu reportedly calmed frayed nerves.

    The Senators were said to have agreed to screen some of the nominees and to defer Obanikoro’s screening .

    Some of the opposition lawmakers vowed to resist any attempt to either cajole or cow them to support Obanikoro’s screening and confirmation.

    The nominees screened included Senator Patricia Akwashiki (Nasarawa State), who was asked to “bow and go” Prof. Nicholas Akise Ada (Benue State), Col. Augustine Okwudiri Akobundu (Abia State) and Mr. Fidelis Nwankwo (Ebonyi State).

    The Senate adjourned till Tuesday.

    Apart from Obanikoro, Mrs. Hauwa’u Lawan (Jigawa State), Mr. Kenneth Kobani (River State) and Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya (Taraba State) were yet to be screened.

    After the closed session, Mark merely read out the names of screened nominees and said the Senate would continue the screening of the remaining nominees next week.

  • Corruption: Senate recommends new terms for plea bargain

    THE Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters has recommended new guidelines for plea bargain as part of  efforts to strengthen the nation’s anti-graft war.

    The Upper chamber said henceforth plea bargain must be in national interest and listed nine conditions to define same.

    It has also asked for an amendment to the nation’s criminal laws to assist the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

    These recommendations are contained in the report of the committee on a “Bill for an Act to make provisions for the Administration of Criminal Justice and for Related Matters in the courts of the Federal Capital Territory and other Federal Courts in Nigeria.”

    The new guidelines on plea bargain followed criticisms which trailed the granting of such a judicial reprieve to some Politically Exposed Persons and their relations, who had allegedly looted public treasury in the past.

    Most Nigerians felt the terms of plea bargain were skewed in favour of the accused persons because of the weakness of the nation’s criminal procedure system.

    The critics also alleged that the plea bargain terms were not in national interest.

    Some beneficiaries of plea bargain are ex-Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; ex-Governor Lucky Igbinedion; Mohammed Abacha; a former Managing Director of Oceanic Bank, former Oceanic bank MD, Cecilia Ibru; Julius Berger Plc and six others implicated in the $130m Halliburton bribe cash.

    Apart from recovering about N446.3billion from Mohammed Abacha, the nation raked in over $329million from those implicated in the Halliburton scandal including Julius Berger ($26million); Snamprogetti (SAIPEM)-$30million; Halliburton ($32.5million). Technip ($30million); Shell ($9milion) and Siemens ($40, 619,261.74). Grand total in USD is $168,119,261.74million.

    Concerning the 17.5million Siemens bribery scam, the company paid N6, 052,270 000billion as fines.

    The plea bargain recovery from some of the foreign firms was alleged to be a pittance compared to fines paid to the Securities and Exchange Commission in the US.

    But  the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters has come out with fresh guidelines on plea bargain after collaborating with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke(SAN).

    The bill reads in part: “The prosecution may enter into plea bargaining with the defendant with the consent of the victim or his representative during or after the presentation of the evidence of the defence,  provided that all of the following conditions are present: (a) the evidence of the prosecution is insufficient to prove the offence beyond reasonable doubt; (b) where the defendant has agreed to return the proceeds of the crime or make restitution to the victim or his representative; or (c) where the defendant in a case of conspiracy has fully cooperated with the investigation and prosecution of the crime by providing relevant information for the successful prosecution of other offenders.

    “Where the prosecutor is of the view that the offer or acceptance of a plea bargain is in the interest of justice, the public interest, public policy and the need to prevent abuse of legal process, he may offer or accept the plea bargain.

    “The prosecutor may only enter into an agreement contemplated in subsection (3) of this section: After consultation with the police responsible for the investigation of the case and the victim of his representative, and

    “With due regard to the nature of and circumstances relating to the offence, the defendant and public interest.

    The committee listed nine factors which could guide the court to determine what constitutes public interest.

    The report said: “Provided that in determining whether it is in the public interest to enter into a plea bargain, the prosecution shall weigh all relevant factors, including:

    • The defendant’s willingness to cooperate in the investigation or prosecution of others;

    • The defendant’s history with respect to criminal activity;

    • The defendant’s remorse or contrition and his willingness to assume responsibility for his conduct;

    • The desirability of prompt and certain disposition of the case; • The likelihood of obtaining a conviction at trial and the probable effect or witness;

    • The probable sentence or other consequence if the defendant is convicted

    • The need to avoid delay in the disposition of other pending cases; and • The expense of trial and appeal.

    • The defendant’s willingness to make restitution or pay compensation to the victim where appropriate.

    “The presiding judge or magistrate shall ascertain whether the defendant admits the allegation in the charge to which he has pleaded guilty and whether he entered into the agreement voluntarily and without undue influence and may where:

    “Satisfied that the defendant is guilty of the offence to which he has pleaded guilty, convict the defendant on his plea of guilty to that offence, and shall award the compensation to the victim in accordance with the term of the agreement which shall be delivered by the court in accordance with section 308 of this Act or

    “He is for any reason of the opinion that the defendant cannot be convicted of the offence in respect of which the agreement was reached and to which the defendant has pleaded guilty or that the agreement is in conflict with the defendant’s right referred to in subsection (6) of this section, he shall record a plea of not guilty in respect of such charge and order that the trial proceed.

    “The presiding Judge or Magistrate shall make an order that any money, asset or property agreed to be forfeited under the plea bargain shall be transferred to and vest in the victim or his representative or any other person as may be appropriate or reasonably feasible.

    “Notwithstanding the provisions of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act, the prosecutor shall take reasonable steps to ensure that any money, asset or property agreed to be forfeited or returned by the offender under a plea bargain are transferred to or vested in the victim, his representative or other person lawfully entitled to it.

    “Where a person is convicted and sentenced under the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, he shall not be charged or tried again on the same facts for the greater offence earlier charged to which he had pleaded to a lesser offence.”

    The new law also makes it mandatory for the Nigeria Police Force to assume the  responsibility of notifying the next of kin or relative of the suspect of the arrest at no cost to the suspect.

    The report added: “In making an arrest, the police officer or other persons making the arrest shall actually touch or confine the body of the suspect in a manner that is not degrading to human dignity, unless there is a submission to the custody by word or action.

    “A suspect or defendant not be handcuffed, bound or be subjected to restraint except(a) there is reasonable apprehension of violence or an attempt to escape or (b) the restraint is considered necessary for the safety of the suspect or defendant; or ( c) by order of a court.

    “Provided the authority having custody of the suspect shall have the responsibility of notifying the next of kin or relative of the suspect of the arrest at no cost to the suspect.”

    END

     

     

  • LCCI backs Senate’s tinkering with 2015 draft budget

    LCCI backs Senate’s tinkering with 2015 draft budget

    TheLagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( LCCI) has hailed the outcome of the deliberations of the Senate on 2015 Draft Budget, the Medium Term Expenditure Framework [MTEF] and the Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP).

    LCCI President Alhaji Remi Bello said at the weekend that many of the decisions were consistent with current realities, which called for  spending for national development priorities.

     He said: “We commend the Senate’s decision to cut the 2015 National Assembly budget by 25 per cent (N37.5 billion) from N150 billion to N112.5 billion. This will definitely free up resources to finance other priorities.

    “The increase of the capital budget from N633 billion to N700 billion is good news. However, this figure remains grossly inadequate in the light of the huge infrastructure deficit in the country and the urgent need to build a robust and sustainable non-oil economy.”

    He praised the Senate’s decision to reduce the recurrent expenditure by N116 billion from N2.61 to N2.5 trillion as a welcome development.

    He, however, noted that  a more drastic reduction in recurrent budget was desirable.

    He also  endorsed  the stance of the Senate on the provision for the contentious Service Wide Vote in the draft 2015 budget.

    According to him, the decision to scrap this provision was salutary in the light of the transparency issues that have marred the Service Wide Vote over the years.

  • Senate defers screening of ministerial nominees

    Senate defers screening of ministerial nominees

    ... Opposition mounts against Obanikoro’s nomination

    The Senate on Wednesday deferred the screening of a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and seven other ministerial nominees to Tuesday next week.

    The nominees and their family members, friends and wishers who were already at the National Assembly later left without being screened.

    Although the names of all the nominees which included Obanikoro (Lagos), Senator Patricia Akawashiki (Nasarawa), Prof. Nicholas Akis Ada (Benue), Col. Augustine Okwudiri Akobundu (rtd) (Abia), Engr. Fidelis Nwankwo (Ebonyi), Mrs. Hauwa’u Lawan (Jigawa), Mr. Kenneth Kobani (Rivers) and Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya (Taraba) were listed in the order paper for the day, it was later withdrawn and replaced with another one which did not contain the names.

    A motion in the first order containing the list of the nominees titled: “Confirmation of Nominations” billed to be moved by Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, reads: “That the Senate do consider the request of Mr. President, Commander-In-Chief, for the confirmation of the following nominees as Ministers of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in accordance with Section 147 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.”

    It was not clear why the scheduled screening and possible confirmation of the appointments of all the ministerial nominees had to be put on hold.

    A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the Senate decided to shelve the screening of the ministerial nominees to enable it debate the 2015 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) which is crucial to the passage of the 2015 Appropriation Bill.

    However, the postponement came against the backdrop of mounting opposition against the nomination of Senator Obanikoro to represent Lagos State.

    Those opposed to Obanikoro’s nomination insisted that since there is a case against him pending in court, it would be against the standing orders of the Senate to screen him.

    They said the Senate’s rule forbids the upper chamber from acting on any issue that is pending before a court of competent jurisdiction.

    Spokesman of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) Senate’s Caucus, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, confirmed to our correspondents that two petitions, dated February 12 and 17 respectively are presently before Senate President David Mark against Obanikoro’s nomination by President Goodluck Jonathan to represent Lagos State as minister.

  • Senate screens Obanikoro, seven other nominees Wednesday

    Senate screens Obanikoro, seven other nominees Wednesday

    Former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and seven other ministerial nominees would on Wednesday appear before the Senate for screening and possible confirmation of their appointments.

    Obanikoro, who is a nominee from Lagos State, had resigned his appointment to contest the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primaries in the state and lost to Mr. Jimmy Agbaje.

    President Goodluck Jonathan had forwarded his name to the Senate to be screened and confirmed for reappointment alongside seven other nominees last week.

    Also to be screened are – Senator Patricia Akawashiki (Nasarawa), Prof. Nicholas Akis Ada (Benue), Col. Augustine Okwudiri Akobundu (rtd) (Abia), Engr. Fidelis Nwankwo (Ebonyi), Mrs. Hauwa’u Lawan (Jigawa), ) Mr. Kenneth Kobani (Rivers) and Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya (Taraba).

    Findings by our correspondents indicated that the opposition Senators are spoiling to stop Obanikoro’s nomination due to unwholesome role he allegedly played during the Ekiti State governorship election last year.

    Obanikoro was said to have used his position to unduly influence the military to manipulate the conduct of the election in favour of the PDP candidate, Mr. Ayo Fayose.

  • Senate laments Nigeria’s lack of access to broadband services

    Senate laments Nigeria’s lack of access to broadband services

    The Senate yesterday said that the little broadband access granted the country with the number of undersea cables running across Nigeria is unacceptable.

    This is coming on the heels  of the Executive Vice Chairman,  Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Eugene Juwah’s pronouncement that the Commission has concluded arrangements to present a Bill to the National Assembly on Telecom Critical Infrastructure to tackle vandalism of telecommunication infrastructure and fibre cut.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, Senator Gilbert Nnaji, who spoke at the 2015 budget defence meeting with the NCC, said the telecom operators are complaining that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directive that foreign exchange should be sourced only through inter bank has constrained their efficiency level and hampered their expansionary drive.

    He enjoined Juwah to highlight issues bothering on the development of telecommunication and ICT in Nigeria.

    Nnaji listed some of the issues to include low penetration of broad band and the effect of fallen value of the naira on telecoms’ quality service delivery.

    “The fact that our nation has little access to broadband services even with the number of undersea cables running across the country is worrisome,” Nnaji said, adding, “it is regrettable to note that Nigeria finished 2014 with eight per cent penetration, after stagnating at 66 per cent between 2011 and 2013.”

    He said telecoms operators are also of the view that  CBN’s directive  that foreign exchange should be sourced only through inter bank, has constrained their efficiency level and hampered their expansionary drive with its attendant effect on quality of services.”

    On the 2015 budget, Nnaji said there is a remarkable improvement on capital project proposal of N21.1 billion in 2015 as compared to N15 billion in 2014.

    He noted however that this cannot be said of the total amount proposed for special projects which is N 2.1 billion  in 2015 as opposed to the N3. 4 billion in 2014.

    He explained that while there is a greater emphasis on capital project in 2015 as against 2014, special projects in 2015 do not appear to enjoy the same attention, which the committee is going to look critically into.”

    The Committee Chairman said that of crucial note is the paramount issue of the State Accelerated Broad Band Initiative,(SABI) which falls under special project.

     

     

    He said, “Given each significant role in assisting the private sector to build and run a broadband infrastructure in all state capitals and selected major cities across the country, as accordingly identified in their notes to budget 2015 proposal, the commission’s policy thrust for 2015 is to place emphasis on SABI and other programmes.”

    Juwah on his part told the Committee that the Commission’s policy objectives among others are to ensure qualitative and viable ICT services at reasonable rate, to foster effective communication in Nigeria telecommunication market and to ensure effective legal framework for the commission.

    He said, “Our broadband initiative has started. We have actually awarded two licenses, one for Lagos and one for North Central including Abuja. These are licenses for the provision of metropolitan fibre network.

    “The problem of the allocation is that we normally do not get our budget passed on time, so we have accrued money since this project started from the last budgets we have, so we have looked at our budget requirement and as the project is ongoing, we feel that we have enough funds to cover the project.

    “This project has started for quite some time now and it has been running.

    “The other major focus that we have for 2015 is the issue of quality of Service. Quality of service is made up mainly of two parts.

    “One is an issue that can be controlled by the operators, that is the capacity issue and we have been monitoring their parameters and analysing them or advising them accordingly.

    “The other part is made up of outside their purview and to tackle this issue we have in conjunction with the National Assembly, a bill on Telecom Critical Infrastructure which we hope will be presented to the National Assembly and be given accelerated hearing.

    “We hope that most likely it will be in the interest of telecom members and this committee in particular, if this bill is passed during this parliamentary session.

    “This bill will deal with vandalism of Telecommunication infrastructure and fibre cuts due to road networks, shutting off of services by state governments, planning permit restrictions, right of ways restrictions.

    “We hope that if this bill is passed as federal legislation that all these problems will be reduced and there will be a remarkable improvement in the quality of service.”

     

  • Senate endorses card reader for general elections

    Senate endorses card reader for general elections

    SENATORS yesterday endorsed the use of card readers for the March 28 and April 11 general elections.

    The endorsement came even as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, warned that any further change in the election dates will be unconstitutional.

    The Senate invited Jega to appraise it of what informed the postponement of the elections, which would have been held on February 14 and 28, as well as to demonstrate the workings of the permanent voter card reader.

    The upper chamber also wanted an assurance from the INEC chairman that the commission is prepared to conduct the elections.

    The INEC boss, who was admitted into the Senate chamber around 11.30 am through a motion by Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, told the Senators what led to the shift in the election dates.

    Jega said on February 5, in response to an invitation, he appeared before the National Council of State (NCS) and made a presentation titled: “Preparations for the 2015 general election: Progress report.”

    He told the meeting that although INEC was not 100 per cent ready, “we believe that we could go ahead with the scheduled election for February 14 and 28, except for the new development in which INEC received a letter from the National Security Adviser (NSA) conveying a strong advice from the Service Chiefs for a rescheduling of elections for six weeks.

    He noted that NCS reviewed the situation after his presentation and concluded that INEC should make further consultations and in compliance with its statutory powers, decide on what to do.

    Jega said on February 8, after broad consultations with key stakeholders, the commission decided to accede to the “strong advice” of the NSA and the Service Chiefs to  reschedule the election to March 28 and April 11.

    Jega said that on February 15, the commission met again, reviewed the new development and took a decision on how best to utilise the six weeks extension to add value to its operational and logistical preparations.

    “We believe that the effective utilisation of the period of extension will enable INEC to have a flawless, near perfect conduct of the election,” he said.

    Jega said that the commission acquired 182,000 card readers. Of the lot, 500 failed when they were tested.

    On collection of Permanent Voter Cards, he said the period of collection had been extended for four weeks to March 8. There are efforts to improve collection by voters.

    The INEC boss said he was pleased to say that as at February 17, the collection rate of PVCs nationwide has averaged 75.94 per cent

    Jega spoke of plan to organise mock tests of the card readers in each geopolitical zone.

    He said: “Already, we have conducted some specialised tests with partners in Texas USA and the card reader has passed in all the 13 test categories conducted in terms of its durability and versatility.”

    “In summary, it can be noted that INEC has forged ahead with the preparations for the conduct of the 2015 general elections as rescheduled for March 28 and April 11. We believe that the period of extension has offered us an opportunity to further perfect the electoral process for the delivery of free, fair, credible and peaceful elections to the satisfaction of the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians. We hope that all stakeholders will continue to join hands with the commission to turn this disappointment into a blessing for our country, Jega said.

    “With regards to the card readers, the use of the PVCs and the card reader for the conduct of the 2015 election, we believe, are in accord with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended. They were introduced also, pursuant to the powers granted to the commission by the 1999 Constitution (as amended), INEC is empowered by Section 16(4) of the Electoral Act 2010 to and I quote: ‘wherever it considers it necessary, replace or any voter card for the time being by voters’’

    “The decision of the commission to replace TVC with PVC is in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act as amended. An election is said to be validly conducted if it meets certain basic requirements, including accreditation of voters. An election cannot be said to be properly conducted, if the steps provided by Section 49 of the Electoral Act 2010 are not complied with.

    “This section requires that anybody intending to vote shall present himself with his voter card to a presiding officer who shall certify him or herself that person on the person is on the register of voters before issuing such a person with ballot paper.”

    Jega said that “The use of the card reader for the purpose of accreditation of voters is one of the innovations introduced by the commission to improve the credibility of the electoral process, in particular, the accreditation process. It is not offensive to the Electoral Act or to the constitution. It adds value to the desires of Nigerians to have a credible election in line with international best practice.

    “Whereas Section 52 of the Electoral Act prohibits the use of electronic voting,  the card reader is not a voting machine and it is not used for voting, it is merely an  electronic device introduced to improve the integrity of the voting process. It should be remembered that Section 78 and Section 118 of the constitution grant INEC powers to register voters and to conduct election in Nigeria.”

    Jega spoke of the card reader’s advantages.

    “First, once the card reader is configured, it can only read PVC issued by INEC at the polling unit that it has been configured.  Second, it reads the embedded chip card not the back code.

    “Third, it enables authentication of the identity of the voter by matching his or her finger print with that code on the chip of the card.

    “Four, it keeps a tally of all cards read and all cards verified or authenticated with all their details, including the time when this was done.

    “Five , this information can be send to a central server using an SMS.

    “Six, the stored information on the server will enable INEC to audit results from polling units as well as do arrangement of statistical analysis of the demographics  of voting, something INEC has never been able to do effectively.

    “Seven, the ward collation officer can use this information to audit polling unit result sheets and to determine whether accreditation figures have been altered, a common feature of electoral fraud in our jurisdiction.”

    He continued: “Using the card reader has some challenges.  What if a card reader fails, what if a person is verified and his finger print cannot be authenticated.

    “We have worked together with all political parties and agreed on what to do if any of these arises.

    “In the unlikely event that a card reader fails, we have enough spares to deploy before the end of the accreditation at 1pm.

    “If we cannot replace before the end of accreditation, then the election in that particular point will be postponed to the following day when a new card reader will be provided for election.

    “We agreed with political parties to do this because if you say if a card reader fails we go back to manual voting, we are worried that everywhere we will revert to manual because there are many people who don’t want card reader to be used.”

    He noted that “If a voter’s PVC has been read and the details have been verified but his finger print cannot be authenticated or he or she has no fingers, an incidence form will be written by the presiding officer at the voting point and the voter will be accredited.”

    The INEC boss, who said that the commission hopes to utilise the period of extension to organise more public enlightenment programme and use of the card reader, said that the commission had already done a number of tests.

    He said: “We have tested this card reader in a pilot scheme here in the FCT and some of the states. We have sent national commissioners to supervise the distribution of PVCs and they went with technical officers and the card readers and wherever they went as people were collecting their cards they were also checking to see whether the cards could be read. In general, we are satisfied with the result.”

    Jega insisted that that the likelihood of a card reader failing is slim.

    On whether the use of card reader for the elections violates the Electoral Act Jega said: “We had solid legal advice and we do not believe it violates legal provision.

    “It is not electronic voting, it is verification. There is a difference between voting and the voting process and there is nothing in the Electoral Act or the Constitution that says you cannot use card reader for an election.”

    He added that “anybody can go to court on anything, but we believe we have not done anything wrong”.

    On why he did not ask for amendment of the Electoral Act to accommodate the use of card reader, Jega said: “We didn’t ask for an amendment to the Act because we thought it was unnecessary.”

    When the INEC boss was asked to demonstrate the workings of the card reader, Jega invited his technical staff who demonstrated the use of the device.

    Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima presented his PVC to test-run the card reader. His biometric details captured in the PVC appeared to the satisfaction of many of the senators.

    Senator Chris Anyanwu’s PVC was also used to demonstrate the workability of the card reader.

    On the sacrosanct of the March 28 and April 11 election dates, Jega insisted that “there are things that are under the control of the Commission and there are things that are not under our control”.

    “What is not under our control, it is futile and fruitless to give guarantee on things not under our control. I think that question should be directed appropriately.”

    Jega said that the alleged purchase of PVCs by politicians is a criminal offence and added that such cards are useless as they cannot be used for the elections.

    He also insisted that “I don’t see how anyone would contemplate shifting the elections now because it is unconstitutional.”

    “Our hope and prayer is that in the next six weeks, things will improve and there would be elections.”

    Senate President David Mark said the interaction was meant to assist Jega to conduct a free, fair and credible election.

    Mark added: “Every body seated here, I can tell you, wants to come back through the back door.

    “As I said at the beginning, it is for us to assist you to conduct a free, fair and credible election and whatever we can do between now and the date you’ve chosen for the election, please, don’t hesitate to come back to us.

    “I believe that this interaction has been very beneficial to all the parties and we believe that INEC will conduct free, fair and credible election.

    Minority Leader Senator George Akume who seconded the motion that Mark should report progress of the interaction, insisted that the Senate should invite Service Chiefs.

    Akume said that since Jega told the Senate that certain things were beyond his control, the Service Chiefs should be invited to clarify some grey areas.

  • Jega to brief Senate over polls’ delay

    THE Senate yesterday summoned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to brief it on the circumstances that made him to postpone the February 14 and 28 general elections. The invitation of Jega, however, attracted sharp criticisms from opposition senators, who said that Service chiefs who were instrumental to the election postponement, should also be invited to explain why they used the issue of security to force postponement of the polls. The Senate also said  Jega would be made to demonstrate the workings and deployment of the card readers This followed a motion by the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba,  who prayed the Senate to invite the INEC chairman to brief the Senate at plenary on the issues and others related to the commission’s preparedness for the conduct of the 2015 elections. According to Ndoma-Egba, the Senate must mandate the commission to demonstrate the workings of the card reader and its deployment to senators. After narrating the background to the election postponement, the senator  pleaded:  “I, therefore, move that this distinguished Senate do invite the chairman of the INEC to brief this distinguished Senate at plenary on the issues and various other issues related to its preparedness for the conduct of the 2015 elections and that secondly, the commission be made to demonstrate the workings of the card reader and its deployment before this distinguished Senate.” But, the Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, who sought amendment of the motion, noted that though they have no objection to the invitation of Jega, Service chiefs, who claimed they could not provide security for the elections, should also be invited. Akume said: “We have no objection to the invitation of the chairman of the INEC on this matter of postponement, which is a very sensitive issue. “But we also want to add that in inviting Jega, we should also invite those who wrote advising him that because of their inadequacy to provide security for the exercise, the exercise should not hold. “It is important because Jega had spoken before that he was ready to go ahead with the elections. Jega was ready until he was overruled. “Mr. President, the National Security adviser, who first started this issue of postponement in London, raised a major issue that the distribution of PVCs was behind schedule and that so many people had not been availed the opportunity to collect the PVCs. “The issue of providing security cover was not the reason advanced for possible postponement. Eventually, this became an issue. I say it is sensitive because time is of the essence. “We want to hear from them why they cannot provide security for an exercise that will last for only a day or two.” Senate President, David Mark, ruled that the Senate should invite Jega in the first instance and hear from him. Mark added that after hearing from Jega, if it became necessary, the Service chiefs would also be invited. The lawmakers thereafter resolved that Jega should appear before the Senate in plenary today by 11 am.

  • Big four in big battle for Senate

    Big four in big battle for Senate

    In the 2011 general elections, the Anambra Central Senatorial District was a straight fight between Dr. Chris Ngige of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the late Prof Dora Akunyili, who contested on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). Now Ngige’s opponents are Chief Victor Umeh of APGA, Hon. Uche Ekwunife and Senator Annie Okonkwo, who are both laying claim to the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). NWANOSIKE ONU x-rays their chances. 

    With the calibre of candidates lined up by the various political parties, the Anambra Central senatorial race promises to be a battle of the titans. In the race are the incumbent Senator Chris Ngige of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Victor Umeh of the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the duo of Annie Okonkwo and Hon. Uche Ekwunife laying claim to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket. With the exception of Umeh, all of them have won elections in the constituency at one point or the other and are capable of clinching the senatorial slot. Even at that, Umeh is not a pushover. The former National Chairman of APGA decided to take the gauntlet against Ngige to prevent the APC, which has no doubt become a formidable platform all over the country, from establishing itself in the state.

    Observers say the Anambra Central race may be a replay of the 2011 contest, where Ngige squared up against the late Information Minister Dr. Dora Akunyili in a fiercely-contested election that could not be concluded in the first ballot. It was eventually decided in favour of the APC flag bearer at the second ballot. The Ngige versus Akunyili contest attracted the attention of the international community not only because of the calibre of the contestants, but perhaps also because it was the first keenly contested election in the state since the return to civil rule in 1999. Akunyili had contested on the platform of APGA, while Ngige flew the flag of then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), one of the opposition parties that came together to form the APC.

     

    Ekwunife

    Ekwunife, popularly known as Iyom, is the member representing Anaocha, Njikoka and Dunukofia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. Though, her name is not on the final list published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but the Amazon of Anambra politics has been campaigning vigorously for the contest, believing that the court would eventually award her the ticket. Senator Okonkwo is the PDP candidate recognized by INEC.

    But, political analysts believe that Okonkwo will not make much impact in the race, given the calibre of candidates fielded by the APC and the APGA and that Ekwunife would have been a better option. Okonkwo’s name appeared on the INEC list because the Ejike Oguebego-led faction of the party is the one recognized by the court.

    For now, the PDP still parades other acclaimed candidates for the senatorial race, including Sylvester Okonkwo and Dikeora Obiora Okonkwo in the same Central zone, alongside Ekwunife.

    The division within the PDP may be its undoing. There is a consensus among observers that Ekwunife has all it takes to defeat any of the candidates, but her major headache is the crisis tearing the PDP apart since she dumped APGA for the party.

    She is believed to be the anointed candidate of the national leadership of the party. But, INEC keeps insisting that it had no hand in the party’s primaries that produced her.

    In spite of this handicap, she continues to soldier on, traversing all the wards in the district to sensitise her supporters that she is still in the race. Indeed, Ekwunife has been meeting with all traditional rulers, market leaders, the youth, women groups and faith-based associations in the seven local government areas that makeup the zone. Her billboards and posters adorn all the nooks and crannies of the state. Anambra State Governor Chief Willie Obiano and the state House of Assembly have done everything humanly possible to stop her, but all to no avail.

    The Assembly even went to the extent of passing a law, which was given accelerated hearing by going through the first, second and third readings same day, to discourage her. But, Ekwunife has proved that she is equal to the task.

     

    Umeh

    For Umeh, the election is like navigating in uncharted territory, not having contested election at any level within the constituency before now. He has been at the helm of affairs in APGA for over 10 years. But, his long reign as the National Chairman of the party has been punctuated by one controversy after another. Some of the APGA faithful in the state believe he has done well for the party as its leader, while others insist that he has ruined their party.

    The two biggest obstacles standing before Umeh and the senatorial seat are former Governor Peter Obi and Chief Sylvester Nwobu-Alor, the former APGA National Chairman’s uncle, who is also the national coordinator of APGA Elders forum.

    Umeh’s quest to occupy the senatorial seat is believed to have been prompted by Obi’s decision to quit APGA for PDP, where he has been made President Goodluck Jonathan’s Deputy Campaign Director General in the Southeast.

    Another is Umeh alleged role during the primaries, where the ambitions of many aspirants were shattered. But, some p[arty stakeholders insist that Umeh had no hand in the injustice that were meted out to virtually all the aspirants. They say Governor Obiano, who has taken over as the leader of the party in the state with the exit of Obi, is to blame for what transpired at the primaries. Following the declaration of Umeh as the party’s flag bearer in the Anambra Central senatorial race, some of them vowed that it was payback time.

    But, the effects of such threats remain to be seen, as the former National Chairman is believed to have become a moving train in the politics of Anambra State. So far, his campaign has been attracting overwhelming crowd everywhere he goes.

    He has accorded a rousing welcome in all the communities he visits within the district in the course of the campaign. In fact, he has been offered chieftaincy titles by traditional rulers of most of the communities. Before now, he has acquired more than 25 chieftaincy tittles from different states and communities.

    Another factor that has worked in his favour is the APGA battle cry of protecting the interest of Ndigbo. Hate him or love him, many people believe that Umeh is the type of person who will not allow what belongs to Ndigbo to elude them at the Senate.

     

    Ngige

    Since he mounted the saddle of leadership in Anambra State as governor between 2003 and 2006, Ngige has not looked back. Today, he represents Anambra Central on the platform of the APC.

    The battle he fought in 2011 to clinch the senatorial seat at the expense of the late Akunyili is still fresh in the minds of the people. Indeed, some people refer to him as Anambra’s political oracle. He is one of the leading lights politically in Igboland today. He was one time the president of Aka-Ikenga, an Igbo socio-cultural organization, in Lagos.

    His followers see him as prudent, but his opponents describe him as “tightfisted”. He is still very popular among the masses. As one of the pillars of the APC in Anambra State, Ngige is a beneficiary of the growing popularity of the party in the state. The recent presidential campaign of the party in Awka, the Anambra State capital, was an eye opener to many about the growing popularity of the party.

    The crowd was awesome, even those who do not belong to the party marvelled with many others from different parties wearing the APC colours, singing and praising the APC standard bearer, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    But, Ngige’s only challenge is that his popularity appears to be limited to Anambra Central. Nevertheless, one of the things he has going for him, as he campaigns for his re-election in the Senate is the life scholarships he gave to over 5,000 students in secondary and tertiary institutions in the zone.

    He is also credited as being instrumental to the near constant power supply in Awka and the communities within the Central senatorial district. This was made possible through the provision of transformers to several communities.

    Besides, many people still remember how Ngige opened up and linked many communities with good roads during his reign as governor of the state. Many political analysts believe that he has done well for Ndi-Anambra and should be backed by the electorate for a second term.

    Thus, the APC strongman stands the chance of retaining his seat, with many of the aggrieved members of other political parties working underground for him.

     

    Okonkwo

    The business mogul-turned politician grabbed the PDP senatorial ticket in the zone as published by INEC. But, observers believe he is merely playing the role of a spoiler in the race. Such observers say his mission is to split the Idemili North and South votes with Ngige and that he still bears grudges against the APC chieftain, following the manner he left the APC.

    Okonkwo’s candidacy does not appear to have the backing the masses, who prefer the more colourful and charismatic Ekwunife. They believe that the PDP would have been better off, if it were her that is on the INEC list.

    Many of the stakeholders are disenchanted with Okonkwo’s snobbishness attitude, which has led to some of his ex-allies working against his ambition. He is leaning towards the enfant terrible of Anambra politics, Chief Chris Uba, to assist him.

    Given the presence of Ngige and Umeh in the race, Okonkwo is not likely to make any appreciable impact.

  • I did well in Senate, says PDP candidate Folarin

    I did well in Senate, says PDP candidate Folarin

    Oyo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Senator Teslim Folarin has described his scorecard at the Senate as commendable.

    The PDP candidate said he did not believe in making a show of his projects because they were built with the government’s money.

    He said the projects were the right of his constituents.

    Folarin addressed reporters yesterday in his Ibadan home.

    The PDP candidate urged Oyo State residents to vote for the party in this month’s general elections to enable them enjoy dividends of democracy.

    The former Senate Leader said he facilitated the construction of a comprehensive hospital at Olode and Pade, in Egbeda Local Government Area.

    He said the hospitals were well equipped, adding that the state government had not maintained it well.

    Folarin said besides the hospitals, 7.5 kilometres of road was tarred in Sanusi Ishola to link Oyo and Ogbomoso road through his influence.

    The senator said he facilitated the construction of many other roads in that community, including the Awe-Ilora road and the Olubadan-Gbagi-Monatan expressway, which links Iwo Road and Olode in Ibadan area.

    Folarin said he built many classrooms in his constituency, adding that the projects were on ground for the people to verify.

    The PDP candidate said over 100 communities enjoyed his boreholes and over 52 communities also benefited from his electrification project.

    He said he donated 500KVA transformers to 15 communities and tarred many roads and fitted them with streetlights in Egbeda Local Government Area.

    Folarin said he built classrooms in the 11 local government area under his constituency and gave bursary to some students.

    He said: “I did a lot of projects when I was in the Senate. The state government does not have the kinds of hospital we influenced here.

    “Olode used to be a remote area without a health centre before we facilitated a comprehensive hospital there. Pade is a village of a former governor. Another hospital was also cited there with full facilities. Go and confirm these.”