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Tag: Candidates

  • Recruitment: NDLEA releases candidates list for final screening

    Recruitment: NDLEA releases candidates list for final screening

    Tnhe National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has released shortlisted names for the final screening of qualified candidates for narcotic officers and narcotic assistants cadres.

    Its Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, announced this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the screening exercise, which was suspended in January due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will now proceed in batches in designated centres.

    Babafemi said the screening for NDLEA headquarters Abuja candidates within the recruitment categories and others, whose names were on the final list should visit its official website, www.ndlea.gov.ng.

    According to him, the names of the candidates are listed on the agency’s website and advised candidates to report at NDLEA headquarters, No. 6, Port Harcourt Crescent, Off Gimbiya Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, as follows:

    “Lawyers May 17, Specialised Courses and Languages May 19, Special Skill Candidates – May 20, and Doctors – May 21, 2021.

    “NDLEA Academy Jos, Plateau, candidates on the general list should report at the Agency’s Academy, Katon Rikkos, Jos, Plateau, for screening in the order of batches specified below:

    “Batch A: Nos 1- 242 (May 17); Batch B: Nos 243- 484 (May 18 ); Batch C: Nos 485-726 (May 19),

    “Batch D: Nos 727-968 (May 20); Batch E: Nos 969-1209 (May 21);

    Batch F: Nos 1210-1450 (May 22).

    “Narcotic assistant cadre candidates on the narcotic assistant cadre should report at the Agency’s Academy, Katon Rikkos, Jos, for screening in strict compliance to the order specified below between May 24 and June 8.

    “Batch A: Nos 1- 300 (May 24); Batch B: Nos 301-600 (May 25);

    Batch C: Nos 601-900 (May 26); Batch D: Nos 901-1,200 (May 27);

    Batch E: Nos 1,201-1,500 (May 28); Batch F: Nos 1,501-1,800 (May, 29).

    “Batch G: Nos 1,801- 2,100 (May 31); Batch H: Nos 2,101-2,400 (June 1); Batch I: Nos 2,401-2,700 (June 2); Batch J: Nos 2,701-3,000 (June 3);
    Batch K: 3,001- 3,300 (June 4).

    “Batch L: Nos 3,301-3,600 (June 6); Batch M: Nos 3,601- 3,900 (June 7);

    Batch N: Nos 3,901-4,165 (June 8),’” he said.

    Babafemi said candidates attending the screening exercise must strictly observe the COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical protocols and should arrive the designated venues on the specified dates.

    He added that candidates must present their guarantors form, and original and duplicate copies of their academic credentials, including birth certificates.

    “Proof of State of Origin, certificate of medical fitness from a Government Hospital, a pair of shorts and round neck white T-Shirts, Canvas and stockings.

    “Any candidate who fails to abide by any of the conditions indicated above will be disqualified instantly, ” he said.

  • AU Appointments: ECOWAS leaders step down their candidates for Buhari’s choice

    AU Appointments: ECOWAS leaders step down their candidates for Buhari’s choice

    The ECOWAS Heads of State and Government have agreed to step down their candidates for Commissioner for Peace and Security in the African Union in favour of a Nigerian candidate as requested by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Nigeria’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama disclosed this to state house correspondents on Tuesday after the closed door virtual extraordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    Mr Onyeama wants Nigerians to recognize the gesture as a sign of the great respect African leaders have for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He also stated that the choice of candidate for the Head of the African Union from the ECOWAS block would also favour the candidate of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Top on the agenda for the meeting was the selection of a chairperson for the African Union for the 2022-2023 tenure and a proposed mechanism for designation of countries in the coming years, a review of the report of the council of ministers on the harmonization of member states applications for positions in international organizations and the status of the implementation of ECOWAS institutional reforms.

  • WAEC withholds results of 215,149 candidates

    WAEC withholds results of 215,149 candidates

    The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) on Monday disclosed that it has withheld the results of 215, 149 candidates who wrote the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Nigeria.

    WAEC said the results of the candidates representing 13.98% of the total number of candidates who wrote the examination are being withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice.

    Patrick Areghan, head of WAEC Nigeria, broke the news at a briefing in Lagos on Monday morning while announcing the official release of this year’s WASSCE results.

    According him, “The cases are being investigated and reports of the investigations will be presented to the appropriate Committee of the Council for determination in due course. The Committee’s decisions will be communicated to the affected candidates through their various schools.”

    He added; “81,718 candidates, representing 5.31% have a few of their subjects still being processed due to some errors on the part of the candidates. Efforts are, however, being made to speedily complete the processing to enable all the affected candidates get their results fully processed and released, subsequently.”

  • #EdoDecides2020: Meet 12 other candidates aside Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu contesting in today’s poll

    #EdoDecides2020: Meet 12 other candidates aside Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu contesting in today’s poll

    Truth be told, Saturday (today’s) governorship poll in Edo State is between two gladiators; incumbent governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Godwin Obaseki and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    However, aside these two, some other candidates have also deployed resources to take a shot at being elected the governor of the state.

    Amongst these 14 candidates, the electorates in 2,627 polling booths would be just one as their governor to lead them for the next four years.

    All political parties have concluded their campaigns while most of the state’s 2,210,534 resident of the State who have picked up their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs would be deploying the small, but mighty civic instrument to decide the fate of the gladiators.

    Nearly 500,000 voters have failed to pick up their PVC from INEC office.

    The election will be conducted in 193 wards in 18 Local Government Areas of the State.

    14 political parties and their candidates made up of 12 males and 2 females are jostling for the Edo State apex job.

    Meet the candidates and their political parties

    Godwin Obaseki: He is from Benin City and the incumbent governor. He is an experienced stockbroker and economist. Although Obaseki came to office on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, he lost the battle for the party ticket in his second term voyage.

    He has since defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to crystalise the ambition. He is standing as PDP candidate in the election.

    Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu: He is the governor’s main challenger and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the election. He was Chief of Staff to former Governor Lucky Igbinedion and once campaign Director General for the reelection of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    Isaiah Osifo Uhun-Ekpenma: The former Chief of Staff to erstwhile Governor Oserhiemen Osunbor is the standard bearer for Labour Party LP. Although not favoured to win the race, he is strong enough to pose a threat to the front runners.

    Obhafuoso Paul will fly the flag of Action Alliance, AA.

    Akhigbe Ehiabhi will stand for the African Democratic Congress ADP in the election.

    Ibio Emmanuel is the candidate for Action Democratic Party ADP

    Lucky Idehen is candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.

    Igbineweka Osamuede for Allied Peoples Movement APM

    Amos Osalumese Areloegbe for All Peoples Party APP

    Agolebun Tracy, one of the two ladies in the race will stand in for the Nigerian People’s Party, NPP,

    Stevie Ozono is for National Rescue Movement (NRM);

    Felix Obayagbon will contest on the platform of Social Democratic Party, SDP;

    Jones Osagiobare will run on the platform of the Young Progressive Party (YPP)

    Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) would field Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena.

  • Ondo guber: INEC releases final list of candidates

    Ondo guber: INEC releases final list of candidates

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of nominated candidates for the Ondo State governorship election slated for October 10.

    A statement by National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, disclosed that four political parties that earlier made valid nominations have substituted their candidates.

    According to the statement, “the Independent National Electoral Commission held its weekly regular meeting on Thursday 20th August 2020 and deliberated on the conduct of the Ondo Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday 10th October 2020 as well as other outstanding elections.

    “It will be recalled that on 31st July 2020, the Commission published the provisional list of candidates for the Ondo Governorship election comprising 17 political parties. In accordance with section 35 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and as provided in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities released on 6th February 2020, withdrawal and substitution of candidates ended at 6.00pm on 18th August 2020”.

    It added that, “four political parties that earlier made valid nominations have substituted their candidates. The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Democratic Party (ADP) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) withdrew and substituted their Deputy Governorship candidates while the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) substituted both its Governorship and Deputy Governorship candidates.

    “Consequently, the Commission has published the final list of nominated candidates in our State and Local Government offices in Ondo State. The list is also available on our website and social media platforms.

    “Political parties, candidates in the election and members of the public are advised to check the final list of candidates and be guided accordingly.”

  • Reps back Okonjo-Iweala’s bid for WTO job, urge Egypt, Kenya to drop candidates

    Reps back Okonjo-Iweala’s bid for WTO job, urge Egypt, Kenya to drop candidates

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a resolution, giving their support to former Minister of Finance, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as she aims for the post of Director-General of World Trade Organisation (WTO) next month.

    The motion to back the former finance minister and one-time Managing Director of the World Bank was moved by the Minority Leader of the House, Mr Ndudi Godwin Elumelu (People’s Democratic Party – Delta State).

    In his motion titled In Support for Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), he stated that it was only right for Mrs Okonjo-Iweala to get the legislature’s backing after she had been formally nominated by the Federal Republic of Nigeria to “vie for the position of the Director-General of the WTO for the period of 2021 – 2025 and if successful will be the first female and first African to have occupied the office”.

    He said, “President Buhari having put into consideration her outstanding academic and professional background, as well as, her long years of managerial experience at the top echelons of multilateral institutions, her reputation as a fearless reformer and excellent negotiator graciously endorsed her as the nation’s candidate for the WTO job”.

    According to him, “With the COVID-19 pandemic at hand and many countries faced with difficult choices and critical moments, the WTO has a vital role to play in hunting for trade solutions and building trust amongst member states.

    “Hence the need for a capable hand that can make the WTO fit to thrive in the 21st century, there is no gainsay that Dr Ngozi Okonjo-lweala has the requisite capacity and experience to handle the challenges of WTO at this critical moment”.

    He said it was, “The perfect time for Africa to assume leadership at the WTO and all concerned stakeholders, must unanimously commit to achieving this”.

    He then expressed concerns that apart from Mrs Okonjo-lweala, Africa has two other candidates from Egypt and Kenya also in the race for the plum job.

    He said that with three candidates from Africa, the continent’s votes will be split, a move he said can cripple the prospect of a United African front for the WTO position.

    He called on the House to urgently reach out to the governments of Egypt and Kenya on the need to rally round a single candidate for the continent in the person of Mrs Okonjo-lweala.

    He recalled that, “In the past, Nigeria has staunchly supported the candidatures of other Africans to the leadership position at multilaterals, including the candidacy of late Boutros Boutros Ghali, an Egyptian national, to become the Secretary-General of the United Nations,” adding that, “A good turn deserves another and we must now unite the African continent and ensure cooperation amongst our countries to put the continent first”.

    According to him, “Having a Nigerian as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, will further enhance the image of the country amongst the comity of Nations, hence the need to massively support this bid”.

    The motion found support from the Speaker of the lower chamber, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, as the House resolved to unanimously endorse the candidature of Mrs Okonjo-Iweala for the position.

    They commended the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)’s Authority of heads of states and governments for their strong endorsement and urge the President to further rally other African leaders to support her bid as the Director-General of WTO.

    The lower legislative arm of government also urged the pan African parliament to follow suit, as it also urged the federal government to discuss with the governments of Egypt and Kenya to step down their candidates in the spirit of African oneness and reciprocity.

  • JAMB results of another 450,000 candidates out

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released another JAMB results of about 450, 000 candidates who sat for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on Tuesday.

    Head of Media and Information Dr. Fabian Benjamin disclosed this yesterday in a statement.

    He urged candidates who sat for the examination on Tuesday to check their results by sending ‘RESULT’ to 55019 and not on the board’s website.

    Benjamin said the board has not cancelled the jamb results of its examination conducted last Saturday as being speculated on the social media.

    He said that the results of the first day of the examination were placed on its website, adding that some fraudulent individuals were copying and manipulating them to deceive unsuspecting candidates.

    The JAMB spokesperson said this made the board to move the results to the mobile platform for candidates to use “their unique phone numbers used in registering for the examination to access their results.”

    He urged the candidates to disregard rumours making the rounds that the results have been cancelled.

    The statement reads: “The result of the over 450,000 candidates who sat for the exam on Tuesday will also be released before noon today. (Wednesday).

    “To check their results, candidates are to send ‘RESULT’ to 55019 and not on the board’s website.

    “We urge the public to always cross check information provided on the social media.

    “Results of the examination will continue to be released as examinations are taken. In a few days from now, we will be concluding the 2020 exercise and we urge all candidates to be vigilant, as fraudsters, who couldn’t operate successfully, given the security measures put in place to secure our system, would want to use every opportunity of information gap to defraud or mislead unsuspecting candidates.”

    Acting Registrar of the National Examination Council (NECO) Dr. Abubakar Gana has petitioned commissioners of Education in the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory to notify them of the alleged extortion of students for the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) by schools in their domain.

    He alleged that some schools were charging above the Federal Government-approved fee of N9,850 as registration fee for the 2020 SSCE.

    Gana, who noted that this was against the directive of the government, vowed to sanction any school found guilty.

    He spoke when he received members of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Services at the Abuja office of the council.

    The members, led by their Chairman, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, were on an oversight visit to the examination body.

    The registrar said: “Not quite a month, we wrote to the commissioners of education, highlighting that some schools, both public and private, are overcharging candidates. While the NECO fee is N9,850, some are even charging N20,000 in the name of administrative charges.

    “Most of these schools are ‘miracle centres’ and what they do there is that they perpetrate malpractices. Candidates who are lazy and don’t have confidence can go to the extent of paying N50,000 to register so they can have their way.

    “We are on it. You too have a very critical role to play. We will make sure that in all our activities, we will make you part of the monitoring team so you can see what is happening and at your own convenience, write a report to us.”

    He said the council would engage members of the committee to monitor its examination and urged them to report any infraction that would guide the council on appropriate actions to be taken.

    Gana appealed to the members of the National Assembly for a review of NECO’s budget, lamenting that the examination body had not embarked on any capital project for the past three years.

    Ihonvbere said the Senate and the House of Representatives would approve a review of NECO’s budget to enable it execute its mandate.

    He noted that the committee had a lot of confidence in NECO and those managing it.

    “We believe that the role you have played, the only way to better appreciate it is to imagine a Nigeria without NECO,” Ihonvbere said.

  • Its undemocratic for courts to impose rejected candidates on electorates – Oshiomhole

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on Tuesday said it was undemocratic for the courts to award electoral victories.

    He said victory should be based on the poll outcome, and where necessary, re-run should be ordered.

    Oshiomhole spoke with State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said the APC would push for an amendment of the Electoral Act.

    Oshiomhole said: “The court should not impose. If the court finds out that the preferred candidate did not win, for me, the only democratic option, the legal option will be to repeat the exercise.

    “Nothing should empower the court to impose a man rejected by the people on the people. That goes to the heart of democracy and it destroys the fabric of our democratic process.

    “So, in amending the Electoral Act, one of the things I’ll like to see the Parliament do, and we are going to make a representation, is that in the unlikely event that the people have voted in good faith for a candidate that was validly put before them by INEC, if anybody has any issue with that one that the people prefer and has won, the court cannot impose the person that was rejected.

    “The very best the court can do is to order that the exercise be repeated because in a democracy, nobody, other than the people, can choose who governs them, not the courts.

    “For me, this is fundamental when it comes to who actually won the election.”

    The APC National Chairman said the Supreme Court’s refusal to reverse its judgment on the Imo State governorship election was “not unexpected”.

    Oshiomhole said: “I think they are just being consistent with the position they took in previous cases.

    “Of course, as a party chairman, APC members and indeed, all democrats and all those who believe in the rule of law, we believe that as imperfect as the Supreme Court can be, they remain supreme.

    “We are happy and we thank God that the whole litigation process has come to an end.”

    Also on Tuesday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the APC disagreed on the Supreme Court ruling.

    The PDP said the ruling amounted to an endorsement of electoral fraud.

    In a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party praised Justice Chima Nweze for his dissenting opinion.

    PDP said: “Our party abides completely by every word of the judgment of Justice Nweze as treated facts, which are truly sacred.

    “Justice Nweze’s pronouncement, which went straight into the substance of our application, represents a universal view about the travesty of justice that occurred in the Imo State governorship election judgment.

    “It is indeed, unfortunate that the Supreme Court had the wholesome opportunity to redeem itself and correct its errors, but chose to hide behind a technicality to justify and endorse an electoral fraud.

    “What Nigerians expected of the Supreme Court, since the error in its earlier judgment had been fully established, was to summon the courage to affirm its infallibility by correcting the errors and handing over victory to the rightful winner. Sadly, it failed to do so.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, what the Supreme Court had done in this judgment is to uphold and legalise the writing of election results by individual contestants against the will of the people as expressed at the poll.

    “As a party, we hold that on this judgment, all election stakeholders must rally to create remedies for this pathetic situation created by the Supreme Court in the Imo governorship election before our entire electoral process becomes vanquished.”

    But, the APC congratulated Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma on the ruling.

    A statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, reads: “As a law-abiding party, we believe in the sanctity of the rule of law and will always accept the decisions of the apex court, whether favourable or not.

    “The APC will never choose the route of impugning on the integrity of our Judiciary, undermining other public institutions and threatening our democracy with unpatriotic utterances and actions.

    “However, recent developments in the polity have made electoral and judicial reforms a matter of urgency and necessity.

    “These are the tasks before the ninth National Assembly as it embarks on the constitution review exercise.

    “We are confident the Imo people have chosen the right man for the job. Our congratulations, therefore, go to the good people of Imo State as they begin a new journey into prosperity under the capable watch of Governor Uzodinma.”

    Also on Tuesday, Governor Uzodimma hailed the Supreme Court for re-affirming his election.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser, Oguwike Nwachuku, the governor said: “The judgment represents the expectation of the mandate of the people.

    “We give God all the glory that at the end of the day, the truth came out. We commend the wisdom of the Supreme Court in standing by the truth.”

    Uzodimma reiterated his resolve to take the state to the next level.

    He called on all Imo sons and daughters, both at home and abroad, to contribute their quota to the development of the state.

    To his opponents, the governor said: “In this business, you must show the spirit of sportsmanship. It’s not every time you win, it’s not every time you lose.

    “When you win, you carry the losers along; when you lose you follow those that won. My plea to my opponents is to bring their ideas. Let us team up and create a synergy that will develop Imo State and bring succour to our people.”

    “As a lawyer, I commend the noble judges for a sound and legal judgement. It’s a victory for the rule of law.

    “The integrity of the Supreme Court has been upheld by this judgment,” he stated.

  • UTME: JAMB gives update on candidates who registered in blacklisted centres

    UTME: JAMB gives update on candidates who registered in blacklisted centres

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has called on candidates who registered for the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in some recently blacklisted centres that there is nothing to worry about.

    The Board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.

    He said that there was no need for the candidates to panic or consider going for another registration as this would automatically disqualify them from participating in the board’s forthcoming examination.

    NAN reports that the JAMB announced recently, that it had blacklisted 41 centres out of 692 accredited so far for the exercise nationwide, over issues bordering on registration cyber fraud, extortion and technical deficiency.

    “We want to call on all candidates who registered in all of these affected centres not to panic or start considering going for another registration elsewhere.

    “This will amount to double registration and with this, they stand automatically disqualified for this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. Their biometrics will indicate this on the day of the examination.

    “We want to let them know that indeed, they have nothing to fear, as the security agents are already verifying the culpability of all those involved and at the appropriate time, we will do the needful,” Benjamin said.

    Giving an update of the total number of candidates that had registered so far, he said that about 1.1 million have so far been captured at the exercise that commenced on Jan. 13.

  • Recruitment: NDLEA appeals for calm among candidates

    National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has appealed for calm among candidates undergoing the aptitude test for its recruitment nationwide.

    A statement on Monday in Abuja by its Principal Staff Officer, Public Affairs of Agency, Jonah Achema, said this followed the management’s assessment of compliance of prospective candidates towards the recruitment.

    It reads: “The agency is aware of little hitches in the ongoing Computer-Based Test (CBT) with particular reference to Abuja Centre, and is determined to ensure that the integrity of the recruitment process is maintained in the selection of suitable 1,000 narcotic officers in the first phase of the recruitment.

    “We are not unaware of the complaints by those excluded by computer from the ongoing exercise on grounds of age, improper documentation at the time of application and/or failing to upload relevant documents in support of their application.

    “These are the pre-qualification requirements for the recruitment exercise. Some may have been excluded on account of their own carelessness, having left the email address and telephone number used for the application dormant or replaced, and consequently could not be reached.

    “The management reinstated that this recruitment, which is the first phase of the recruitment for 15,000 personnel, is to recruit 5,000 personnel and is targeted majorly at the lower rank personnel (4,000 out of the 5,000) in order to address the current personnel gap in the agency.

    “The agency is happy with the successful completion of the aptitude test in all the centres, except Abuja, where impatience and unruly behaviour of some applicants has led to the rescheduling of the aptitude test for applicants who were unable to write the test.

    “The test for Abuja Centre has been rescheduled to hold from Friday, December 27, to Monday, December 31, 2019. The affected applicants are being contacted through emails and SMS.”