Displaying items by tag: INEC

A former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof Charles Soludo, has insisted that he is still in the Anambra State governorship race despite his exclusion from the list of candidates for the November 6 election published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Soludo emerged as the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in a primary election conducted by the mainstream members of the party on July 23.
INEC has now published Chuma Umeoji as the authentic candidate of APGA in the poll based on court order.

Umeorji had emerged as the candidate of the party in a primary election conducted by a factional national chairman of the party, Jude Okeke.
Reacting to the INEC publication, Soludo in a statement by his media aide, Joe Anatune, said he would contest the November 6 election despite his exclunion by INEC.
The statement read, “The Chukwuma Soludo Campaign has been briefed on a publication by the Independent National Electoral Commission where Honourable Chukwuma Umeoji has been published as the candidate of the APGA in the November 6, 2021, gubernatorial election in Anambra State.

“The INEC publication is based on a judgment by a High Court in Jigawa State, and the electoral body sensibly wrote that its inclusion of Umeoji as a candidate in the election is “By Judgment.

“Our millions of supporters in Anambra State and elsewhere in the world are advised not to be dispirited by the publication seriously.
“Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo will participate in the governorship election as the APGA candidate. His nomination was strictly in line with the Electoral Law and INEC guidelines. INEC observed the APGA Congress on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, where he was nominated after winning 93.4 percent of the valid votes cast in a free, fair and transparent manner which was broadcast live on national television networks as part of deepening the democratic process in Nigeria.

“Our team of dedicated and competent legal experts have studied the judgment and are confident of overturning it effortlessly. The party is at liberty to nominate the right candidate so long as due process is followed. Soludo’s nomination followed due process religiously.” 

The statement told supporters to wait patiently for Soludo’s leadership of the state, advising them not to be deterred by the Jigawa State Court order.
INEC had dropped the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ,Valentine Ozigbo and that of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) , Charles Soludo, ahead of the November 6, 2021 governorship election in Anambra State in obedience to orders of the court.

The names of the duo were absent in a publication of Personal Particulars of Candidates for the Anambra Governorship Election, made available yesterday in Abuja, and signed by the national commissioner and chairman, Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye.

Recalls that Ozigbo and Ugochukwu Uba had emerged the PDP’s governorship candidate from parallel primary elections, adding that both are laying claim to the party’s ticket.

Also, it would be recalled that INEC had said there were no factions in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), recognising Dr. Victor Ikechukwu Oye-led APGA on its official website.
With the publication, the hope of Soludo and the ex-TransCorp Hilton Hotel boss, Chief Valentine Ozigbo, to become Anambra State governor may be fading as their names are conspicuously missing from the list.

The nation’s electoral body said the omission of some names was sequel to the order of the Nigerian courts.
The statement reads in part, “The commission also considered and took cognizance of the Judgments/Court Orders served on it in relation to the primaries of the political parties and other processes leading to the election.

“The commission will continue to act in consonance with the Constitution and the law and will continue to obey the judgments and orders of courts served on it.”
Meanwhile, candidates of 15 other political parties made the list, including Sen Emmanuel Nnamdi Uba (Andy Uba) of the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC).and his 53-year-old deputy governorship candidate, Johnbosco Okechukwu Anaedobe.

Others whose names are on the cleared list are Sen Ifeanyi Ubah and his deputy, Dr. Aloysius Ekee of Young Progressive Party (YPP), among others.

Interestingly, Senator Ubah of YPP has cleverly listed National Examination Council (NECO) as his highest qualification apparently to avoid the backlash that some candidates in Nigeria have suffered over the years when the Supreme Court of Nigeria had to overturn some elections on the grounds of educational qualifications of the candidates.

Anambra Guber: APGA accepts INEC’s decision to publish Umeoji’s name
The leadership of APGA has accepted the decision of INEC to recognise Hon Chuma Umeoji as the party’s candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State.
With Umeoji’s recognition as the party’s flag bearer, APGA said INEC has again proven its independence and its ability to conduct credible election without fear or favour.
A statement by the spokesman of the party, Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, also viewed this recognition as victory for democracy and the good people of Anambra State who are trusting the party for a credible candidate capable of moving the state forward after winning the November election.

“We urge our teeming party faithful and supporters to keep faith with APGA in the party’s desire to win the election and go ahead to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.
“While calling on all party leaders and members to support and campaign for our candidate, we also urge Hon Umeoji to be magnanimous in victory by bringing all stakeholders on board.

“The task of winning the forthcoming election is one that we must pursue and achieve collectively, ” he said .

 

src |Leadership

The Senior Pastor of House on the Rock, Pastor Paul Adefarasin has described the numbers obtained during Census and elections as fraudulent.

The clergyman who hosts the annual ‘The Experience’ Music concert made this known while giving a sermon in his church.

Pastor Adefarasin blamed Lord Lugard for some of the issues the country faces currently, adding that most of the issues in the country began with him.

He also described that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a fraud.

According to him, the numbers obtained during census and elections in the country are all lies.

”Nigeria is the only country in West Africa and the world where the number of people increases as they move from the ocean to the desert.

”This is the time for the truth to be told and those benefiting from the system should start acting like “Robinhood” and give it all to the poor,” he said.

 

 

Sonny Iroche, a seasoned and infrastructure consultant, supports the concept of zoning and he is of the view that it does not imply that the presidency should be zone to a lame dog.

Iroche said this as guest on CityTalks with Reuben Abati on the topic; Rotational Presidency.

He said that the presidency should be zone with good value, not only a geographical zoning; “it must be ethical, there must be competence and meritocracy should be considered,” Iroche said

On 5^th July 13, 2021 eleven governors and four deputy governors converged in Lagos for Southern Governors Forum meeting and one of their major resolutions, what is also known as the Lagos declaration is for power to shift to the south in 2023.

However, the coalition of the northern group have objected to the “Southern Governors declaration,” they described it as “purely sentimental” and they said the southern governors are making an unconstitutional case.

The coalition of the northern group, therefore argues that the constitution does not say that power should go to a particular part of the country.

The north central are saying that under the democratic dispensation, power should go next to them.

But according to Iroche, “They keep saying that it is not constitutional; have we abided by the letters and the spirit of the constitution when it is in other aspects? No!

“The constitution talks about federal character in employment. Is there federal character in the security aspect of this country? The answer is no!

Is there federal character that is reflective in all other aspect of our national life? The answer is a capital no!

“Why do we pick and choose where it suits us?”

He said that the North East, North West, have produced a President, The North Central has produced Heads of State, the South West and the South South, have produced a President.

He argues that the only zone in the six geopolitical zones that have not produced a President or Head of State is the South East.

According to him, on these bases we believe the once three Rs, Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction.  

He pointed out that the Igbos have been an integral part of this country, making strides nationally and internationally in commerce, finance and in every aspect of human endeavour and dignity.

He said, “we strongly feel that for fairness and justice to reign, justice was embedded in our national anthem that was changed by Olusegun Obasanjo, but the second one also has justice.”

He implied that there will be no peace without justice.

Iroche said that the Igbo’s do not want undue favouritism, by extension every Nigerian.  

He also said, “What every Nigerian want is a level playing field, for us to actualize our God’s ordained potential as a potentially great nation.”

Iroche mentioned further, “What we are saying is to complete the round of the rotation. Eight years in the life of a nation, is not asking for too much. The south easterners have done well in every aspect of life. Why don’t you try them out so that we are no longer the poverty capital of the world, so that we are no longer a laughing stock of companies leaving Nigeria and going to Ghana and other African countries?

 “Why don’t we give it a chance?”

 

The human right lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) stated categorically that he will not be surprised if the Lawan-led Senate, confirms Lauretta Onochie as a Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Senior Special Assistant on New Media to President Buhari, Lauretta Onochie's nomination has elicited public criticism from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and civil society organizations on the grounds that she is an alleged card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and is not proper to be appointed as an election officer.

Speaking to The PUNCH, Ozekhome said the senate might clear Onochie despite widespread criticism.

He stated that by confirming Onochie, the Ahmad Lawan-led Senate would only be reinforcing itself as “arguably the worst in Nigeria’s legislative history since the golden days of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dr Nwafor Orizu and the 8th National Assembly.”

He stated that Onochie’s nomination for INEC job was faulty, because of her affiliation with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawyer pointed out that the 62-year old female politician is a diehard devotee of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Have they ever read the constitution? Do they know the meaning of the word ‘independent’ attached to our electoral umpire?” Ozekhome asked.

“What would you expect from such a rapidly partisan woman other than outright and unbridled rigging of any elections she presides over, or is involved in?

“She is simply a direct participant and beneficiary in any such elections.

“No one has been known to fail himself or herself in an examination in which such a person is both invigilator, marker, examiner and marks awarder.”

Senator Dayo Adeyeye, a former Minister of State for Works, and ex-spokesperson of the Senate, is the Chairman, Planning Committee, South West Agenda for Asiwaju Tinubu 2023 (SWAGA ’23). 

Senator Adeyeye is of the notion contrary to a former Governor of Ogun State, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Olusegun Osoba, who said that it was too early to zero in on a particular individual to avoid political miscalculation.

Speaking on The Morning Show, aired by Arise Television  on Tuesday, Chief Osoba acknowledged that Tinubu has the right to contest for the office of the President, but it is too early to conclude on a particular Presidential candidacy.

However, "I am in support of the emergence of someone from the South-West geopolitical zone as President in 2023," He said.

In a interview with a news reporter in Abuja, Senator Adeyeye said that, “Chief Segun Osoba could hold his opinion, I will respect him. He is an elder statesman, a highly respected leader and a very successful politician. So, we respect his views and we also believe that on our own part, what we are doing from our own perspective,  is the right thing.”

He said, “There is still a long way to go and that is why we are saying that it is better to start a long journey very early and adequately prepared.

According to him, it was  better to start early mobilising support for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2023 presidential election, to boost Tinubu’s chances.

Adeyeye said, “We are already in January 2021; the election, according to the time table of the Independent National Electoral Commission, will take place in February 2023. That means we only have two years to make necessary preparations.

“We should not also forget that the primaries of political parties will take place next year. So, it cannot be too early to start sensitisation for an individual’s candidacy. If you are really serious, this is the best time to start something in a big, highly diversed, multi-ethnic and multi-religious country like Nigeria with very huge population.

 “We believe we have to start our work immediately. That is why we are starting now because Nigeria is fast becoming a much more complex society.

“Time will tell whether what we are doing is right or wrong. We are not actually campaigning but merely sensitising people to the idea of the candidacy of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. It is not a bad idea to start telling people that he is the best man for the job,” He added.

 

 

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State yesterday spoke to the State House Correspondents after a meeting behind closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on his (Mr. President) position over the agitation among many stakeholders in south East that the “2023 Presidency should be zoned.”

He added that the decision of who flies the Presidential ticket rests squarely with the respective political parties.

He said that, it would be recalled that the Chief Whip of the Senate and the former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu was recently quoted saying that anyone can contest for the Presidency under the All Progressives Congress (APC), since it has not zoned the 2023 ticket to a particular part of the country.

Uzodimma said, “Well, you know the position is not vacant now. There is a sitting President and we are practicing partisan democracy and not tribal democracy. So, the emergence of presidential candidate will come on party by party basis, not tribe by tribe basis.

“But if there are other internal factors that will form part of the considerations for parties taking decision of course, that will be entirely the job of the leadership of those political parties and I think that is the right thing to do,” He said.