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  • Speakership Race: Betara remains unbeatable, says Gudaji

    Speakership Race: Betara remains unbeatable, says Gudaji

    Leading aspirant for the Speakership seat of the House of Representatives, Hon Muktar Aliyu Betara remains unbeatable in the race for the Speakership of the House of Representatives.

    A member of the House of Representatives, Hon Mohammed Gudaji Kazaure in a goodwill made this known during the unveiling ceremony of the Speakership aspiration of Hon Yusuf Adamu Gagdi held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

    He described Betara as a man with tremendous goodwill that could easily sweep the race for the Speakership of the 10th Assembly.

    The Jigawa born politician recalled that Betara singlehandedly influenced the votes that led to the emergence of Yakubu Dogara and his successor, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila as Speakers of the House of Representatives in the 8th and 9th Assemblies.

    He maintained that Betara who chairs the House committee on Appropriation remains indispensable as far as the race for the speakership of the 10th Assembly is concerned.

    He advised Gagdi to strike a deal with Betara to decide on which of them would succeed the outgoing Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.

    He said: “The truth is Betara is the major contender in this race. If he is with Gagdi, he would win 100 percent. They understand each other. They Know each other. Betara is a good man, he is a very gentleman who is always calm and silent. The only thing with him is that he doesn’t know how to say no.

    “For me, we need a Speaker who would say no. I advice members to vote for Gagdi. I am planning to go and meet Betara and tell him to come and join Gagdi. Betara deserves the Speakership seat which he is now trying to take.”

    Kazaure who warned the APC leadership against imposition of Speakership candidate on the House described Betara as the father of the House that is well liked and admired by the entire members of the House of Representatives.

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  • Court of Appeal quashes another suit challenging Gov-elect Oborevwori’s qualification

    Court of Appeal quashes another suit challenging Gov-elect Oborevwori’s qualification

    The Court of Appeal sitting at Abuja, has quashed a pre-election appeal filed by Chief Ikie Aghwarianovwe, seeking the disqualification of Delta State Governor elect, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.

    Chief Ikie had filed a suit sometime in October 2022, alleging that Rt. Hon. Oborevwori submitted false documents to INEC to aid his qualification for 2019 House of assembly election in Delta State. Chief Ikie further claimed that as a result of the alleged forged documents, Rt. Hon. Oborevwori was not qualified to contest the Delta State 2023 gubernatorial election.

    The suit was initially assigned to the Hon. Justice Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, but subsequently transferred to Asaba, Delta State.

     

    In the Course of trial in Delta State, PDP and Rt. Hon. Oborevwori, in addition to denying the allegation of forgery, also raised objection that the suit is statute barred, as documents submitted to INEC in 2018 towards the 2019 general election, cannot be a ground for disqualification of a candidate in 2023.

    The trial Court upheld the Defendants’ objection and went further to pronounce that Chief Ikie failed woefully to substantiate the allegations of forgery.

    Aggrieved, Chief Ikie appealed to the Court of Appeal, sitting at Benin City.

    In a unanimous judgment, the Court with the Honourable Justice Peter Olabisi Ige, JCA, sitting at Abuja, delivering the leading judgment agreed with the trial court and resolved all the issues for determination in favour of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.

    The Court specifically found that Chief Ikie’s case is moribund and cannot be revived under any guise. The Court of Appeal came down heavily on the Appellant, Chief Ikie, for alleging falsification without calling the institutions that issued the certificates to Rt. Hon. Oborevwori.

  • [BREAKING] SPEAKERSHIP: Betara emerges as consensus candidate

    [BREAKING] SPEAKERSHIP: Betara emerges as consensus candidate

    Facts emerged on Friday that the incumbent Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, Hon. Muktar Betara Aliyu has been adopted as the sole Aspirant for the position of the Speaker of the 10th session of the House of Representatives.

    The adoption of Representative Betara Aliyu Muktar, member representing Biu/Bayo/Shani and Kwaya Kusar Federal Constituency of Borno State as consensus candidate for the Office of the Speaker 10th Assembly, one of the APC Chieftains who spoke to Journalists at the ruling party’s Secretariat in Abuja, was taken during a closed door meeting where various factors were considered, including “how best to stabilize the Green Chamber.”

    He assured that there’s an ongoing discussion with the President-elect and other relevant stakeholders.

    According to him, the APC National Working Committee’s decision to keep to the chest the resolution was to ensure that necessary steps are taken to pacify various Actors to harmonise positions and put the interest of the country and the Party first, above personal interests.

    “It is true that power is not given, it is also true that he who the cap fits, should wear it.

    “The unfolding events prior to the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, and the jostle for the Office of the Speaker of same, it has become obvious where the pendulum is swinging to and our findings are pointing towards one direction and it’s no other than the person of Representative Betara Aliyu Muktar.

    “In the light of the aforementioned, we humbly urge the ruling party, APC and the other parties, to unanimously adopt this great mind, a solid character, a firm believer of fairness and equity, a man with the fear of God, a bridge builder and most importantly, a man who has come to leave legacies, that will stand the test of times in the legislative business.

    “This man called Rep Betara Aliyu Muktar (OON), will showcase quality Leadership, he will deliver on his promises to his Colleagues by ensuring a more robust and effective legislature thus giving the Nigerian people quality laws,” the source said.

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  • Keep faith with Nigerians as Tinubu takes over leadership baton – Betara advises Members-elect

    Keep faith with Nigerians as Tinubu takes over leadership baton – Betara advises Members-elect

    A leading aspirant for the position of the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, Hon Aliyu Muktar Betara has called on Members-elect to keep faith with Nigerians, as President President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu prepares to take over leadership from President Muhamadu Buhari.

    Hon. Betara who gave the charge via a statement issued by his Media Office, applauded all the Members-elect for their resolve to serve their respective Constituents across the 360 Federal Constituencies in the next democratic dispensation.

    He expressed appreciation towards the overwhelming support received from the Members-elect and Nigerians at large across party lines, urging stakeholders to disregard all forms of misgivings being disseminated through the social media and some National dailies.

    Betara reiterated commitment towards healthy engagement of all the Members-elect ahead of the inauguration of the 10th Assembly and assured various stakeholders of his commitment to the Nigerian Project and democratic Institutions.

    According to him, the People’s Parliament remains the beacon of hope for all the citizens irrespective of religion, tribe, race and political affiliation.

    “We must all be resolute in our quest not only as Parliamentarians, but as a united people to do all within our capacity to defend the democratic Institution of the National Assembly,” he said.

    The statement added that Hon. Betara’s Speakership aspiration is driven by Nigerians, APC Members and colleagues.

    He assured that the 10th Assembly under his watch, will be one united, indivisible legislature that will work harmoniously with all arms of Government.

    “Honourable Muktar Betara Campaign Organization wishes to refute in very strong terms the ill-motivated, sponsored, bile intentioned and untruth publication which sought to create disaffection across the nation.

    ” We will not be deterred by unidentified distractors from pursuing our course to a logical conclusion”

    “Hon Betara has not and will not veer off this course.

    “It need be clearly stated that his joining the 10th Assembly Speakership raceh is not fuelled by personal ambition, therefore lacks any iota of desperation that will inform working at variance with normal expectations of his political party.

    “The Organization wishes to reiterate Betara’s commitment to his party, the All Progressives Congress, that he joined hands with many party faithful to work hard to build leading to the victory for the President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    “The Speakership race is a national one, that will naturally attract interests of many compatriots across all divides and inclination, definitely not excluding the Honourable Members-elect from other parties who also will have a say according to the fine details and principles of democracy.

    “The ultimate purpose and vision is to ensure that the 10th House of Representatives will be one united, indivisible Assembly that will work harmoniously with all arms of Government, particularly the Federal Government led by His Excellency, the President- Elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to enable us meet the huge expectations of our countrymen and women.

    “The 10th House of Representatives God willing under Hon Betara, will promote a legislative dispensation that will accommodate all opinions in the larger interest of all Nigerians, in our journey to a stronger, more prosperous, indivisible, and united nation starting from the parliament.

    Nation building is my utmost priority, he stressed

  • APC electoral victory, a difficult reality for opposition parties – Garba Shehu

    APC electoral victory, a difficult reality for opposition parties – Garba Shehu

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, has described the electoral victory of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) candidates in the 2023 general elections as a difficult reality for the opposition parties.

    The presidential aide stated this while receiving members of the “Arewa Young Lawyers’ Forum (AYLF),” the umbrella body for all young lawyers in the Northern part of Nigeria, on Thursday in Abuja.

    According to him, the victory of the President-elect and Vice President-elect, Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, respectively, and the established control of the APC in 21 out of 36 states, had firmly established the party as a dominant national political party.

    ‘‘This is a difficult reality for the opposition parties,’’ he said.

    Shehu said opposition victory in the general election would not only have been a career ending moment for many APC leaders but would also have had negative consequences for the various programmes of the Buhari administration.

    He noted that these programmes empowered marginalised groups and remedied much of the nation’s infrastructure deficit.

    “APC victory in the election is a watershed moment for the Buhari government, its orientation, its programmes and projects.

    ‘‘In the hands of the opposition, many of the laudable programmes of the Buhari administration would have been sabotaged or unimplemented.

    “An important and overlooked aspect of the Tinubu/Shettima victory is that it ensures, not only an orderly transfer of power from the outgoing administration to the incoming one, but also the safety of policies and programmes of the outgoing government.

    ‘‘For this, we remain grateful to the Almighty, and to citizens of Nigeria for sticking with our party,” he said.

    In accepting his appointment as Grand Patron of the Arewa Young Lawyers’ Forum, the presidential spokesman urged members of the association to be at the vanguard of promoting the study and practice of legal profession in the northern states.

    “To build and secure democracy in our communities, you need lawyers and journalists as its guardians and protectors. Without one, the other will not be successful,” he admonished them.

    The Chairman of AYLF, Mr Olayinka Jimoh, craved the support of the Presidency in giving strategic training to young wigs to enhance their leadership roles in the society.

    Other members of the forum at the meeting were Audu Umaru, National Welfare Director (Borno); Ahmad Khalil, National Treasurer (Yobe); and Paul Gbande, Director of Publicity (Benue).

  • Reps ask INEC to clean up voter’s register

    Reps ask INEC to clean up voter’s register

    The House of Representatives on Thursday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to clean up the voter’s register by removing names of dead people.

    This followed the adoption of a motion by Mr Leke Abejide (ADC-Kogi) during plenary.

    Moving the motion, Abejide alleged that the register was full of names of dead people.

    He said that the 2023 general elections revealed that names of people that were long dead were still in the voter’s register.

    “Even the name of my own deceased father who passed on long ago was still on displayed on the board.

    “Apart from dead voters, there are millions of fictitious voters who do not exist anywhere on this planet earth but have their names on INEC registered voters.

    “It is believed that this was as a result of multiple registration by Nigerians who had or have intention of rigging elections.

    “However, the advent of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) these faceless individuals can no longer vote,” he said.

    Mr Ben Igbakpa (PDP-Delta) also alleged that palm kernel were used to thumbprint during registration and voting.

    He claimed that such fictitious registrations contributed to the state of the voter register.

    The lawmakers recommended that names of individuals who didn’t vote in two election cycles back to back should be deleted from the register, while they should be made to register again in future elections.

    In his ruling, Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase mandated the House Committee on Electoral Matters to ensure compliance.

  • Develop mechanism to delete fictitious names, dead people from voter’s register-Reps direct INEC

    Develop mechanism to delete fictitious names, dead people from voter’s register-Reps direct INEC

    The House of Representatives has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to develop a mechanism to delete from its system (voter’s register) of dead and fictitious registered voters.

    The House also urged INEC to design a software application where families who lost their loved ones can report the demise of a particular Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) number so that it can be duly deleted from the commission’sr register, polling unit, and ward.

    It further requested to include voter verification during Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) to identify those on the register who are still alive as well as fish out those with fake registration.

    These resolutions were sequel to a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Leke Abejide from Kogi state on Thursday at plenary.

    Moving the motion, Abejide said INEC’s register is full of millions of people who are dead and non-existent persons.

    The lawmaker noted that in the last general election, it was glaring and crystal clear that people that were long dead had their names still displayed in the voters’ register.

    According to Abejide, even his own deceased father who passed on long ago still has his name displayed on the board (voter’s register).

    He noted that: “Apart from dead voters there are millions of fictitious voters who do not exist anywhere on this planet earth but have their names on INEC registered of voters.

    “It is believed that this came to being as a result of double or multiple registration by Nigerians who had or have intention of rigging elections but the advent of Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) these faceless individuals can no longer vote anymore.

    While adopting the motion, the House urged INEC to conduct vigorous public enlightenment for all Nigerians to be much aware of what makes the voters register bogus which is the numbers of dead and fictitious persons.

    The lawmakers also urged that whoever does not vote in two election cycles back to back be deleted from INEC register as non-existing human beings.

    The House adopted the motion and mandated its Committee on Electoral Matters to ensure compliance.

  • Implement Affirmative Action For Women, stakeholders urge President-Elect, Tinubu

    Implement Affirmative Action For Women, stakeholders urge President-Elect, Tinubu

    Stakeholders advocating for gender equality have called on the incoming administration to ensure the implementation of the National Gender Policy (NGP), in order to bring on board a greater number of women in the governance process.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Gender Dynamix Consult LTD, Joyce Ahmadu led the call during PUBLIC CONSCIENCE, an anti-corruption radio programme, produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG, Wednesday in Abuja.

    The Affirmative Action (AA) policy has been around in Nigeria since 2006, with successive governments failing to implement it. The policy, which was revised in 2022, demands that 50 per cent of women be involved in all governance processes, whether by election or appointment.

    Ahmadu specifically urged the incoming government not to ensure the activation of affirmative action that will guarantee females to get 50 per cent representations in government as contained in the revised NGP, noting that adequate inclusion of women by the incoming administration has the propensity of reducing public sector corruption.

    She tasked the President-elect, Ahmed Bola Tinubu to be deliberate about including women in his administration and emulate former President Goodluck Jonathan who appointed women into sensitive positions in his administration.

    “The President-Elect has to be much more deliberate.
    “How does he see women in decision making? Does he see value in it? President Goodluck Jonathan made some achievements in improving women participation in governance. He went as far as including gender budgeting where some key ministries had specific budgets for women participation. Those are the kinds of things a leader who values women in governance would do.

    “For the incoming government, I don’t know how gender sensitive he is, we need to see practical actions on the table. We believe that if we bring quality women on the table, they can change the dynamics. I will start by asking the president elect’s perspective in terms of gender mainstreaming. The President elect needs to be intentional about gender mainstreaming to promote gender equality,” Ahmadu averred.

    On his part, PRIMORG’s Media & Communications Officer, Chidozie Ogbonnaya also urged the incoming administration to follow through with the provisions of the revised National Gender Policy and ensure it runs an all-inclusive government.

    Ogbonnaya noted that Nigerian women are doing exploits in the private sector and have also shown capacity before now in public service which should encourage any administration in carrying them along, while appealing to Tinubu administration to implement the revised NGP
    His words: “when you inherit a government, you inherit whatever policy is on ground, so the revised NGP is on ground.

    “The incoming government can look at the NGP and increase the number of women in his cabinet, because in the current Buhari’s administration, there is low representation of women and I believe Tinubu should raise the bar. So, I’m urging him to come in and raise the bar and assuage the complaints and the fact that many women were not able to get into leadership positions through elections”.

    Public Conscience is a syndicated weekly anti-corruption radio program used by PRIMORG to draw government and citizens’ attention to corruption and integrity issues in Nigeria.
    The program has the support of the MacArthur Foundation.

  • SDP Exco members dump Gbagi, embrace Oborevwori +Photos

    SDP Exco members dump Gbagi, embrace Oborevwori +Photos

    … say they’re not part of any litigation against Delta Gov-elect

    …as Oborevwori dedicate his victory to all Deltans

     

    Members of the Exco of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Delta State have dumped the gubernatorial candidate of the party in the 2023 general elections, Chief Kenneth Gbagi and embraced the State Governor-Elect, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori.

    The Delta State Chairman of the SDP, Ambassador Oke Idawene, speaking on Wednesday, when he led Exco members of the party on a courtesy visit to the State Governor-Elect, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori in his office in Asaba, made it clear that that they had nothing to do with Chief Kenneth Gbagi, saying he was on his own.

    According to him, they were not part of any litigation brought against the state Governor-Elect, Hon Oborevwori by the SDP Governorship Candidate, adding that Chief Kenneth Gbagi imposed himself on members of the party in the State.

    While saying that the dream of making Oborevwori as a Governor has been realised collectively, Ambassador Idawene said that: “We want to let you know that we are not part of any litigation against your emergence as Governor-Elect of Delta State.

    ” This visit is calculated to tell the world that we did not do it in hiding , we did it to say that before SDP, there was a Delta State and that you are the Governor-elect and in few days, you will be sworn in as the Governor of Delta State and not PDP. The entire Exco here is saying that everything we will do to ensure that Hon Sheriff Oborevwori succeed in Delta, we will do it”.

    “We are Deltans, we are doing what Delta State stands for and not party affairs, our members will be in the tribunal as agents of the party to say that Chief Kenneth Gbagi was never ready for elections, he did not pay one single agent and that we have rejected him body, soul and spirit.

    “During the elections nobody here voted for SDP, we all voted PDP, we also voted for our Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa for Presidency . Having said so, we can testify from Olomoro there was zero vote in SDP in my unit. We are identifying with this coming administration in Delta State”, the SDP Chairman said.

    He added:”You are leading us for eight years and not four years. All litigations will go away, we are not going to say you are for someone else tomorrow whether PDP, SDP, APGA, there is a Delta State and that is what we stand for. From now on, we stand with you by the grace of God and we will not defer, like I told you earlier, we will never leave you. Delta State must move forward”.

    Responding, Delta State Governor-Elect, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, expressed gratitude to the SDP members for the visit, saying that; “I have told our people that I want to be Governor for all Deltans.

    ” I want to use this opportunity to thank all Deltans for the organic love because in all, we were able to win 21 local governments out of the 25 local governments in the state by the special grace of God with a margin of 119,880. I believe Deltans have spoken and the victory is for all of us”.

    The Governor-Elect who is also the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and National Deputy Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria added that; “I have told Deltans that I am a Pan-Deltan, I want to serve Deltans. You can see that the transition committee is all about inclusiveness, comprising of the youths, Christian community, public and private sectors which shows that the government that is coming is for all of us. I want to serve, I want to be a servant leader”.

    “Thank you for coming, we will continue to work together to see how we can take Delta State to an enviable height and I know by the time we are done with our first tenure by the special grace of God , Deltans will be very happy and Nigerians will be very happy as well. Thank you for coming for this show of love. God will continue to bless SDP, PDP and other political parties in Jesus Name, Amen.


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  • Arrest of REC Ari a massive move towards justice – Adamawa Govt

    Arrest of REC Ari a massive move towards justice – Adamawa Govt

    Adamawa State Government has welcomed the arrest of suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, describing it as a massive move towards justice.

    A statement released to newsmen Tuesday evening said Governor Ahmadu Fintiri views the arrest as a big relief and proof that the long arm of the law will always catch up with a felon.

    Signed by the Director General of Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mr Solomon Kumangar, the statement said while Hudu was at large, he had continued to stoke the embers of discord, misinformation and half truths about the real motive for his actions and his role in the event of March 16th April, 2023 “when he tried to force an unpopular choice on the citizens of Adamawa State by way of a ‘civilian coup’.”

    According to the government, its demands have always been for justice to run its full course and for everyone involved in the false declaration of winner of the state governorship election to face the full wrath of the law.

    “The arrest of Yunusa-Ari is an important first step in maintaining the sanctity of the electoral law and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the government said.

    It added, “We hope that a new Nigeria is possible and welcome the arrest of Hudu and ask the police and all relevant investigating agencies to ensure due diligence in the prosecution of this case to its logical conclusion.”