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Tag: 2023 Election

  • INEC boss, Prof. Yakubu reveals what could prevent 2023 elections from holding

    INEC boss, Prof. Yakubu reveals what could prevent 2023 elections from holding

    Professor Mahmood Yakubu the  Independent National Electoral Commission, ( INEC) boss has given reasons why 2023 election may not hold.

    Yakubu said the effect of attacking INEC offices by hoodlums may hamper the 2023 elections from holding next year.

    The INEC boss was of the opinion that if the incessant attacks are not checked 2023 general elections may be compromised.

    He issued the warning while addressing the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee Investigating the Attacks on Offices and Facilities of INEC in Abuja yesterday.

    The INEC Chairman stressed that while the Commission was determined to continue with preparations for the elections, the persistent attacks on its facilities constitute a serious threat.

    Although, he vowed that preparations for the election will continue despite the attacks on its facilities but only feared that it doesn’t affect it.

    He said: “However, should such attacks continue at the pace at which they are happening at the moment, the Commission may find it increasingly difficult to recover in good time for the election.

    “If it is about stopping the attacks, yes we can recover, but if the attacks continue, it would be very difficult for the Commission to recover.

    “The attacks have far-reaching implications on preparation for the general elections. First, the facilities that are destroyed, especially offices, would take time to rebuild.”

    Lately, hoodlums have attacked INEC offices in States like Imo, Enugu, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, and Bayelsa States.

  • Ekpa ends Five-day sit-at-home, says south-east will not partake in 2023 elections

    Ekpa ends Five-day sit-at-home, says south-east will not partake in 2023 elections

    Finland based Simon Ekpa, a loyalist to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu has ended the five day Sit-At-Home order he gave few days ago, but says there will be no election in the South-Eastern part of the country in 2023.

    According to a viral video circulating online on Wednesday night, Ekpa said the Sit-At-Home order has ended, describing it as “historic and successful” for Biafraland.

    In the video, Ekpa also hinted that the 2023 elections will not hold in Biafra, saying it’s the sacrifice that must be made by the people of Biafra.

    He also wrote that “ending Nigeria” is a task that must be done by 2023.

    The caption reads, “To end Nigeria in 2023 is a task that must be done! There will be no general election in Biafraland in 2023, it is a sacrifice and a task that must be done by all Biafrans across the globe.

    “I want every Biafran to watch this broadcast and share widely. Don’t miss it…Follow enterbiafra.com to know How IPOB activities delaying Fulanisation of Nigeria.

    “I am Simon Ekpa, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s disciple on Biafra restoration.”

    Recall that IPOB released a statement saying they were not part of the Sit-At-Home order given by Ekpa, asking the southeasterners to disregard it.

    However, there were pockets of violence as hoodlums loyal to Ekpa stormed some places in Enugu and Ebonyi to foment trouble whilst trying to enforce the Sit–At-Home

     

  • 2023 Election: INEC warns against bullying, hate speeches

    2023 Election: INEC warns against bullying, hate speeches

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday warned Politicians and their supporters against bullying, Cyber sleuth and hate speeches during electioneering campaigns.

    Dr Hale Longpet, Kogi Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) gave the warning during the Commission’s engagement with representatives of political parties, traditional rulers, religious and community leaders in Lokoja, Kogi.

    Newsmen reports that the forum was one of series of stakeholders’ engagements and consultations preparatory organised by the commission towards the conduct of the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.

    The commission engaged stakeholders on wide range of issues including Electioneering campaigns, Schedules of PVC distribution, security, election officials’ conduct before and during elections in the state.

    Longpet said that the warning became necessary because INEC was committed to delivering a free, successful and credible elections in 2023.

    “Already, we are prosecuting an election offender arising from use of fowl language and hate speech
    having committing an election offence contrary and punishable under sections 91 to 97 of the new electoral law.

    “As a commission, we will not condone thuggery, use of abusive language and cyber bullying of political opponents during electioneering campaigns for the forthcoming 2023 general elections in Kogi.

    “This commission has been consistent in mapping out measures and procedures that will make the entire electoral process seamless for the voters, ” he said

    The REC said that INEC embarked on an exercise tagged “expansion of vote access to polling units” aimed at ensuring that the Voter has a pleasant experience during the PVC collection and election day.

    He said that the commission has made PVCs distribution so easy by taking them to the Ward level for people to conveniently pick their voters cards without cost of transportation and other logistical problems.

    Longpet pledged to address the issues of terrains in-difficult-to-reach communities in the borderlines in Ibaji local government area, armed conflict in Bassa LGA, alleged misconduct and compromise of INEC electoral officers in the local government areas and inadequate logistics/ bottlenecks.

    Responding, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), expressed satisfaction with the measures taken by INEC towards achieving electoral sanity in the electoral process toward the 2023 polls.

    Also, traditional rulers, religious and community leaders, pledged to convey INEC’S message of peace to the voters in their domains and expressed their shared resolve to end the culture of violence associated with previous elections geared towards peaceful elections in Kogi.

    12 political parties under the banner of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), traditional rulers, religious and community leaders as well as Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) attended the interactive session

    The political parties in attendance include Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), NRM, Accord Party, APGA, APN; PRP; APC; APP; SDP; Action Alliance (AA) and Africa Action Congress (AAC) amongst others.

  • 2023 Elections: INEC accuses politicians of purchasing PVCs

    2023 Elections: INEC accuses politicians of purchasing PVCs

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has alleged that some politicians have purchased Permanent Voter Cards, (PVCs) in order to rig and mar the credibility of the forthcoming general elections coming up in 2023.

    Recall that INEC pronounced the collection of PVCs by prospective voters across the 774 local government areas across the country.

    INEC started the process on the 12th of December and it will run till the 27th of January 2023.

    The Acting Chairman of INEC and National Commissioner overseeing the FCT, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Plateau states, Mohammed Haruna, raised this alarm on Monday during the launch of #YourVoteMatters project by an election observer group, NESSACTION, in Abuja.

    Haruna also added that the commission convicted two persons in Kano and Sokoto states for  the illegal possession of PVCs.

    He explained further that buying and illegal possession of PVCs for whatever reason is criminal and a punishable offence by law.

    “Some of you are aware that only recently, INEC managed to convict two people who were found guilty of illegally possessing PVCs in Kano and Sokoto. So, I urge people to collect their PVCs, keep them safely, and make sure you go out there and cast your votes on the election day because you cannot vote without your PVCs.” He said.

  • 2023: INEC begins distribution of 98,890 PVCs in Jigawa

    2023: INEC begins distribution of 98,890 PVCs in Jigawa

    The Jigawa office of INEC has commenced the distribution of 98,890 Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) in the state, ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Prof Muhammad Lawan, made this known at a news conference in Dutse on Monday.

    Lawan said the exercise would be conducted simultaneously at the INEC offices in the 27 local government areas of the state, between Dec. 12 and Jan. 22, 2023

    He added that the distribution will be extended to all ward level (INEC Registration Areas) across the state.

    The REC, who added that the exercise would be conducted between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily, warned residents against collection of their PVCs by proxy.

    According to him, the commission has made adequate arrangement to ensure that all the PVCs were distributed to their rightful owners within the stipulated period.

    “INEC has made provisions for individual voters to come and collect their PVCs by themselves.

    “So it will be a neglect on the part of the voter if he cannot collect his PVC at this given time.

    “This is because we’ve reached out to owners through social media and other means and notified them to check online if their PVCs were ready for collection.

    “Therefore, voters have between today up to Jan. 22 to collect thier PVCs,” Lawan.

  • ADC has no pact with any political party – National Chairman

    ADC has no pact with any political party – National Chairman

    African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed the report that it has opted to work with another political party for the 2023 general elections because it no longer has candidates.

    National Chairman of the party, Chief Ralph Nwosu, made this known at a news conference on Monday in Abeokuta.

    He described the report as “false in its entirety”, saying that all the party’s candidates were still in the race.

    According to him, the purveyors of the reports are only riding on the party’s temporary challenge to hoodwink members and lie to the public that ADC had joined them.

    “We have been inundated with calls and reports from some quarters that ADC has opted to work with another political party in the state for the coming election and that the party no longer has candidates.

    “This is false in its entirety and we use this medium to state that all our candidates remain as they are. We have no pact or working relationship with any political party.

    “We are going to contest the general elections and fix Ogun back. No political party should ride on our temporary challenge to hoodwink our members or lie to the public that ADC has joined them.

    “Let me state unequivocally that ADC is united, formidable and prepared to provide the credible alternative to the failing, clueless, inhumane administration in Ogun,” he said.

    The national chairman expressed optimism that the party was coming back stronger and that it would win at the appellate court.

    NAN reports that the Federal High Court in Abeokuta had repudiated the validity of ADC candidates after a motion filed by Labour Party over alleged non-compliance with Electoral Act in the conducts of its primaries.

    “We respect the court’s decision and will not query the veracity of those judgments.

    “However, it is the considered opinion of our legal representatives that the judgments were drenched in advertent inaccuracies, especially when interrogated with existential contexts, points of law and even recent precedence.

    “Consequently, we have filed for redress at the Court of Appeal and we are confident that the orders of the lower courts shall be overturned and all our candidates will be revalidated,” he said.

    Nwosu called on party faithful to keep hope alive and continue working assiduously for ADC’s victory at the forthcoming polls.

  • [Video] What we need now is not a leader, it’s a deliverer – Oyedepo

    [Video] What we need now is not a leader, it’s a deliverer – Oyedepo

    Bishop David Oyedepo, senior pastor of the Living Faith Church worldwide, has disclosed that Nigeria as a nation does not need a leader, but rather what it needs, is a deliverer.

    He made this known at the ongoing Shiloh program at the church’s headquarters in Ota, Ogun State yesterday.

    Lamenting about the deplorable state of security and economic crises in the country, the clergyman said he warned Nigerians in 2015 that the country was heading for crisis.

    “I think I’m prompted by the spirit we need to pray for this nation. I warned this nation in 2015 that we were heading for crisis and trauma, many were washing their mouth. They are off today.

    God does not require consensus to raise a prophet. I saw a nation going down the drain, I cried. There are many prophets of politicians who speak what they want to hear.

    I have been very silent. What we need now is not a leader, it is a deliverer.”he said

    See video below:

     

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  • TRENDING! Omene takes Omo-Agege to the cleaners, alleges he is a serial betrayer (Video)

    TRENDING! Omene takes Omo-Agege to the cleaners, alleges he is a serial betrayer (Video)

    A video clip has surfaced online showing a top notch Urhobo Chief, Joe Omene slamming All Progressives Congress APC guber candidate, Ovie Omo-Agege as a serial betrayer.

    Omene in the 6.57mins clip trending in the social media networks did not spare the DSP describing him as a politician who has stepped on the toes of those who allegedly helped him to rise politically in Delta State.

    In the clip he said, former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori and Chief Great Ogboru who helped him to climb up the ladder were all betrayed.

    Watch:

     

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  • Oil no longer sufficient to feed Nigeria’s growing population – Obasanjo

    Oil no longer sufficient to feed Nigeria’s growing population – Obasanjo

    Former Nigerian President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the oil and gas sector can no longer feed the growing population of Nigerians.

    Obasanjo spoke at the weekend when the leadership of the apex socio-cultural group in Tiv land of Benue State, Mzough U Tiv (MUT) paid him appreciation and friendship visit at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Penthouse residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

    According to him, only farming and agribusiness could tackle the nation’s growing population.

    Obasanjo called on people to focus on farming and agribusiness as an alternative to Nigeria’s oil-dependent economy.

    “If Nigeria is ready to get it right, the 2023 election should be a turning point. We should not go for emotion that will destroy us,” Obasanjo, who was conferred with the title of a “Great Warrior” of Tiv land by the socio-political group, said.

    Earlier, the President-General of the Tiv body, Chief Iorbee Ihagh demanded the former president’s intervention on the need for the establishment of a fruit juice industry in Benue State, agitation for inclusive national politics, herder’s attack on Tiv land and the power sharing formula.

  • 2023: Senate President urges Nigerians to shun vote buying

    2023: Senate President urges Nigerians to shun vote buying

    Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, has cautioned Nigerians against vote buying in 2023 general election.

    Lawan said this when he received members of an election observation group, Polling Unit Ambassadors of Nigerian (PUAN) on a sensitisation road walk at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.

    The Senate President, who was presented with a red flag against vote-buying and selling, called on Nigerians especially youths to shun vote-buying and selling.

    “I am waving this flag against voter inducement, so I call on all Nigerians especially the Youth to shun vote buying or selling their votes during election.

    “It gives me the opportunity to take this red flag to show it to all potential vote buyers and sellers that vote buying is criminal and its punishable by the Electoral Act.

    “Vote selling is also criminal and its punishable ,if you are a voter, keep your vote and decide who to vote for.
    “When you vote,vote for someone or a political party that will make your life better. If you sell your vote, it’s equivalent to selling your freedom,” he said.

    Lawan said that individuals who engaged in vote-trading stood the chance of being prosecuted, adding that security agencies across the country had been tasked to be vigilant to arrest and prosecute those who got involved in the act.

    Mr Suleiman Dabas, Ambassador General, Polling Unit Ambassadors of Nigeria, called on politicians to shun voter inducement by avoiding vote-selling.

    Dabas also urged voters not to sell their votes but vote for the candidate of their choice during the election.
    He said that the group would closely monitor polling units to expose people engaged in vote buying in 2023 election.

    Mr Osa Osaghe, the Secretary-General, Polling Unit Ambassador of Nigeria(PUAN), said that the group was worried about increasing vote trading and was committed to exposing the perpetrators for arrest and prosecution.

    Osaghe said that the group also handed over of the red flag to INEC an indication that Nigerians were ready to put an end to vote-trading.

    “This is a red flag that says no to vote-buying and vote selling on behalf of all Nigerians who are craving for vote credibility and wishing that in 2023 their votes will count.

    “On behalf of Nigerians who are looking forward to a brighter future for our nation concerning our electoral process, we the members of PUAN are here today to present this red flag to INEC to say vote-buying for 2023 is a red flag,” he said.