TheNewsGuru

Tag: FCT

  • Police, local security outfits rescue 58 kidnap victims in FCT

    Police, local security outfits rescue 58 kidnap victims in FCT

    The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in collaboration with local security outfits, have rescued 58 kidnap victims from some identified kidnappers den in communities contiguous to the territory.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    She said the victims were rescued at Udulu Forest, Gegu LGA of Kogi State, bordering Sardauna Forest, Nasarawa State, and other identified kidnapper’s den in communities contiguous to the FCT.

    According to her, the bandits/Kidnappers on sighting the security team coordinated by the police, engage the security team in a shootout duel.

    “The bandits were overpowered and escaped with various degrees of bullet injuries leaving behind their victims,” she said.

    Adeh said the rescue operation was part of efforts by the command’s leadership to sustain joint operation with other security agencies, vigilantes, and hunters from the various local communities.

    She said the idea was to combat violent crimes in the FCT, rescue victims, and bring perpetrators to book.

    The PPRO pledged the committment of the command at sustaining efforts to prevent threats to safety and security of FCT residents.

    She said the command would also not relent in ensuring the rescue of any resident held hostage by criminals as well as bringing the perpetrators to book.

    Adeh said the Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of the FCT, Mr. Haruna Garba, has called for cooperation from FCT residents.

    She said the CP enjoined the residents to be security conscious and provide credible information to the Police.

    Adeh said one of the kidnap victim, Tama Jonathan, unfortunately, sustained injury during the rescue operation and died on the spot.

    She said the remains of the victim had subsequently been released to his family for burial.

    She said that the other 58 rescued victims were being stabilised in the hospital and would be reunited with their families.

  • No section of our constitution requires a presidential candidate to score 25% of FCT- Senator Osunbor

    No section of our constitution requires a presidential candidate to score 25% of FCT- Senator Osunbor

    … insists the Constitution does not require a win in any particular place, the FCT inclusive

    A Professor of Law and former governor of Edo State, Senator Oserheimen Osunbor has said there is no section in Nigeria’s Constitution that requires a presidential candidate to score 25percent of the Federal Capital Territory FCT.

    Recall that many Nigerians had interpreted the relevant section of the constitution, which has portrayed different meanings that a presidential candidate must win FCT

    But the professor of law and a two term Senator in a statement on Friday which he personally signed declared that there is no controversy as “the Constitution does not require a win in any particular place, the FCT inclusive.

    Hear him:

    “There is no section in our constitution that requires a presidential candidate to score “25% of the FCT”.Some people are simply reading into the constitution what is not there .

    “What the constitution states clearly in section 133 is that to be declared winner the candidate must score at least 25% in “two – thirds of the 36 States of the Federation and the capital Territory” .

    “It did not say 25% in the FCT which is how the legal draftsman would have rendered it if that was the intention.

    He explained that:” In fact, the Constitution does not require a win in any particular place, the FCT inclusive.

    “Ask any secondary school student who knows English comprehension the question, ” Where does section 133 of the Constitution require a candidate to score 25%.

    “The only correct answer would be in two- third of the States of the Federation and the FCT.

    “I have read and listened to some lawyers dwell on the rule of interpretation of statutes and the use of word “and”.

    “The first rule of interpretation is that where the language of the statute is clear (as in this case) you do not need to belabor the issue of interpretation. 25% of two-thirds of the States and the FCT is clear enough. You do not need to go on a voyage of discovery to find what is not missing.

    Stressing that “the language of the section is simple and straightforward.

    “It is a known fact that during National Sports Festivals the medals table shows the 36 States and the FCT. When INEC chairman invites Resident Electoral Commissioners for a meet the REC from the States and the FCT attend. The same thing happens when the inspector General of Police meets with Commissioners of Police from the States and the FCT.

    “Simply put, the 36 States and the FCT go together. It is disingenuous to argue otherwise.

  • Police foil robbery operation, nab suspect in FCT

    Police foil robbery operation, nab suspect in FCT

    Police operatives attached to Apo Division in Abuja, on Wednesday foiled an armed robbery operation and arrested a suspect.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, in a statement, said the operation followed a distress call received from Zone E Extension, Apo Resettlement.

    Adeh said police operatives from the division swiftly mobilised to the scene, adding that the hoodlums took to their heels on sighting the team, abandoning their vehicle.

    She said the ash-coloured BMW vehicle with Reg. No. ABJ 440 KX contained three plasma television and two laptops they had stolen from one of the houses.

    According to her, a red Volkswagen Golf with Reg. No. LUY 899 KV sighted around the vicinity with its engine running, zoomed off upon the arrival of the policemen.

    “The gallant operatives gave the fleeing vehicle a hot chase and intercepted it at the Games Village Roundabout.

    “The driver was later identified as one Dahiru Muazu ‘M’. The suspect and exhibits recovered are in custody while investigation is in progress to arrest other fleeing suspects.”

    She said that the suspect would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation.

    “The public are enjoined to remain law-abiding, be vigilant, and keep up prompt rendition of distress calls and complaints through the police emergency lines.

    “The emergency lines are: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883, while the Public Complaint Bureau desk could be reached on: 0902 222 2352,” Adeh said.

  • Easter: Police assure FCT residents of peaceful festivity

    Easter: Police assure FCT residents of peaceful festivity

    The Federal Capital Territory Police Command, says it has deployed human and material resources across its nooks and crannies to ensure that residents enjoy the Easter celebration.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Command, SP Josephine Adeh, gave this assurance in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

    Adeh said the Command deployed intelligence and tactical assets at the command’s disposal to reduce crime.

    She said the police were deployed through intelligence gathering to worship centres and social gatherings and they would also be on stop and search duty, intelligence-led raids on black spots, highway, border patrol, aggressive vehicular and foot patrol as well as surveillance, inter-agency collaboration and sundry.

    She said that with the efforts, the Commissioner of Police, FCT, AIG Sadiq Abubakar, wishes to assure the territory of the command’s unwavering commitment to ensure a safe and peaceful environment during the Easter celebration and beyond.

    The spokesperson further said the commissioner, while briefing senior officers from all units and formations of the command on the Operation Order, charged them to ensure that no stone was left unturned in the discharge of their duties in tandem with global best practices and respect for fundamental human rights.

    “He enjoined residents to embrace peace and other virtues in the spirit of the festivity as they join the Christian faithfuls across the world in the celebration.

    “He also called for vigilance and urged residents to take advantage of the Police Control Room numbers in reporting suspicious activities: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883,” she said.

  • Presidential poll petitions: Sticky issue of 25% votes in FCT – By Ehichioya Ezomon

    Presidential poll petitions: Sticky issue of 25% votes in FCT – By Ehichioya Ezomon

    There’s a saying: “If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.”

    This appears to summarise section 299 of Nigeria’s amended 1999 Constitution that designates the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, “as if it were one of the States of the Federation.” That’s, if the FCT mimicks a State, then it’s a State!

    This is one of the knotty issues that Justices of the Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC) are called upon to untie, by not mere application of the laws, but doing substantial justice to all parties before them.

    The main opposition candidates in the February 25, 2023, presidential election have filed petitions in the court, to nullify the return of former Lagos State Governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as winner and President-elect.

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of the Labour Party claim they each won the poll, and should be returned elected and sworn in as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Atiku and Obi’s complaints and prayers are contained in separate filings lodged on March 21 and March 20, respectively.

    Atiku lists INEC, Tinubu and APC as 1st, 2nd and 3rd Respondents, and has option for fresh poll between him and Tinubu.

    While Obi lists INEC, Tinubu, Shettima and APC as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Respondents, he urges that Tinubu be barred from a repeat election.

    Hence their demands vary only in style and language, but both seem to pull the same strings: calls to cancel the prior poll, and order a fresh one, as a last resort.

    Below are some of the claims in which Atiku and Obi ask the court to order the Independent National Electoral Commission to withdraw the Certificate of Return it awarded Tinubu, as winner of the election:

    (1) Tinubu wasn’t validly elected at the APC primaries, as his running mate, Kashim Shettima, violated the laws as a nominated candidate for Senate and President at the same time.

    (2) Tinubu wasn’t qualified to contest having been fined for drugs offences by a U.S. court (3) For reasons of (1) and (2), the votes credited to Tinubu are wasted votes.

    (4) Tinubu didn’t score majority of lawful votes (5) Tinubu didn’t comply with the laws, as he failed to secure one-quarter (25%) of the votes cast in at least 24 States and the FCT, Abuja.

    (6) INEC breached the relevant laws, regulations and guidelines by failing to transmit results from the polling units electronically, and in real time.

    (7) INEC reduced the votes of the petitioners, and added votes to Tinubu’s scores, which they pledge to prove with polling unit results and Forensic reports during court proceedings (8) The election was marred by corrupt malpractices.

    In the results announced by INEC, Tinubu won the poll in 12 states, scored 8,794,726 votes, and secured one-quarter (25%) of the votes cast in 27 of 36 States – that’s three States more than the 24 required by law.

    The INEC Chairman and Chief Returning Officer for the poll, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, declared Tinubu winner and President-elect.

    But Atiku, who won in 12 states, polled 6,984,520 votes, and secured 25% in 17 states; and Obi, who claimed 11 states, scored 6,101,533 votes, and secured 25% in 15 states, disagreed with INEC’s returns.

    They argue in their petitions that Tinubu didn’t meet requirements of the law, viz: 1999 Constitution (as amended), and Electoral Act 2022.

    Among the issues raised is a potential boobytrap for a candidate not securing one-quarter of votes cast in at least 24 States and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    What does the Constitution say about election of two or more Presidential candidates? Let’s look at section 134(2)-(4) that deals with the scenario of February 25. “134(2) A candidate for election to the office of President shall be deemed to have been duly elected where, there being more than two candidates for the election–

    (a) he has the highest number of votes cast at the election; and

    (b) he has not less than one-quarter of the votes cast at the election in each of at least two-thirds of all the States in the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    (3) In default of a candidate duly elected in accordance with subsection (2) of this section, there shall be a second election in accordance with subsection (4) of this section at which the only candidate shall be–

    (a) the candidate who scored the highest number of votes at any election held in accordance with the said subsection (2) of this section; and (b) one among the candidates who has a majority of votes in the highest number of States, so however that where there are more than one candidate with a majority of votes in the highest number of States, the candidate among them with the highest total of votes cast at the election shall be the second candidate for the election.

    (4) In default of a candidate duly elected under the foregoing subsections, the Independent National Electoral Commission shall within seven days of the result of the election held under the said subsections, arrange for an election between the two candidates and a candidate at such election shall be deemed to have been duly elected to the office of President if–

    (a) he has the highest number of votes cast at the election; and

    (b) he has not less than one-quarter of the votes cast at the election in each of at least two-thirds of all the States in the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”

    Going by INEC’s declaration, Tinubu secured not less than 25% in at least 27 States. But he secured 19% in the FCT, which Obi, who scored 59% there, places heavy weather on.

    The implication of this is that if the court pronounced the FCT as a State, and Tinubu scored 19% of votes there, his victory would be annulled, and a second poll organised between him and Atiku, who’s runner-up to Tinubu.

    In that case Obi – the second runner-up – would be out of the race. This may explain his plea to bar Tinubu from any fresh poll, so he (Obi) and Atiku would duke it out.

    That circumstance would present two candidates appealing to ethnic and religious sentiments, with Atiku guaranteed the Presidency without breaking any sweat. Inevitably, power would elude the South – and remain in the North – after President Muhammadu

    Buhari would’ve completed his eight-year tenure on May 29, 2023.

    This brings us to the burning issue: Is the FCT, Abuja, a State – as defined by sections 2(2), and 3(1), (3) of the 1999 Constitution?

    While section 2(2) states that, “Nigeria shall be a Federation consisting of States and a Federal Capital Territory,” and section 3(1) lists the 36 States (excluding the FCT); section 3(3) states that, “The headquarters of the Government of each State shall be known as the Capital City of that State…”

    If the FCT, Abuja, is a State, what’s the name and location of its Capital City in the Territory?

    Proponents easily refer to Section 299 of the Constitution, to justify their claim that the FCT is a State.

    Section 299 states that: “The provisions of this Constitution shall apply to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja as if it were one of the States of the Federation…”

    Section 299(a) states that all legislative, executive and judicial powers vested in the House of Assembly, the Governor and the courts of a State shall, respectively, vest in the National Assembly, the President and in the courts… established for the FCT, Abuja.

    Section 297(2) vest “ownership of all lands… in FCT, Abuja in the Federal Government,” as if the area is a State, as all lands in a State is vested in the Governor.

    Section 300 says that the FCT, Abuja, shall constitute “one Senatorial district…” (and not one State, as purports section 299).

    Section 301 says without prejudice to section 299 in its application to the FCT, Abuja, this Constitution shall be construed as if–

    (a) references to the Governor, Deputy Governor and executive council of a State… were references to the President, Vice President and the executive council of the Federation, respectively.

    Ditto for (b): that references to the Chief Judge and High Court Judges of a State were references to the Chief Judge and Judges of the High Court established for the FCT, Abuja.

    Section 302 says the President may… by section 147 of the Constitution… appoint for the FCT, Abuja “a Minister who may exercise such powers and perform such functions as may be delegated to him by the President, from time to time.”

    Did the framers of the Constitution truly envisage a President doubling as Governor of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, where Ministers and other officials act as Commissioners and officials of a State Government?

    Despite the posturing, the FCT is akin to a “Protected Area” of the Federation administered by organs of the Federal Government.

    Will the Justices of the Presidential Election Petitions Court arrive at a contrary decision? They certainly have their work cut out for them, to deliver substantial justice to all parties to the petitions!

  • Guber Polls: EFCC to prosecute vote buyers – Uwujaren

    Guber Polls: EFCC to prosecute vote buyers – Uwujaren

    For today’s Gubernatorial and State Assembly election in the country, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, has given its men the go-ahead to storm polling units to arrest and prosecute anyone involved in vote buying.

    The EFCC’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, made the statement on Friday at the Federal Capital Territory FCT

    Uwujaren said the move was to make sure that the elections were devoid of financial malpractice, particularly the inducement of voters.

    He said the teams led by senior officers started arriving at their assigned locations earlier on Friday.

    According to him, a number of them, on arrival, held a consultation with officials of the INEC and other security agencies involved in election security.

    He said, “Officers of Kaduna Zonal Command led by ACEII Mustapha Abubakar, who are on an election monitoring mission to Niger State, also met the Commissioner of Police, J.A Ogundele, to register their presence in the state.

    “They also visited the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Niger State, Ahmed Yusha’u Garki.

    “Officers of the Abuja Zonal Command on election monitoring duty in Nasarawa State, led by ACE II Adeniyi Adebayo, also registered their presence at the Nigeria Police Command Lafia.”

  • Why Tinubu needs 25% votes in FCT to be president – By Anietie Usen

    Why Tinubu needs 25% votes in FCT to be president – By Anietie Usen

    By Anietie Usen

    I am not a lawyer. My first daughter and first son are. But that does not convey to me any scintilla or atom of knowledge of the law and the technicalities thereof. I have two degrees only in political science and have attended many executive leadership courses in Harvard Business School, Oxford Business School, Wharton Business School, Manchester Business School, Boston Business School, and of course our own prestigious Lagos Business School. So I can at least lay claim to common sense. By the way, Common Sense was my nickname way back in my University of Calabar days decades ago.

    Common sense tells me that many premeditated wrongdoings took place on February 25, 2023, during the presidential election in which Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the ruling APC government, was hastily declared the winner. So much has already been said and written in the local and international media about the embarrassingly abysmal performance of the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, and how the hitherto efficient INEC computers and servers mysteriously and disgracefully collapsed in their moment of glory, even as all eyes globally were riveted on Nigeria. The shame is still boldly written on the faces of INEC officials, as they struggled vaguely in vain all week to explain to the world on Cable TV how a phantom computer ‘glitch’ visited them with colossal failure at the edge of their breakthrough.

    However, Nigerians and the international community are no longer in doubt of the identity of the or ‘glitch’ or ‘glitches’ at INEC, on a day the entire hope of a nation was pinned on the electoral umpire. ‘Glitch’, we now know, is not rocket science or anything hi-tech. Based on video evidence and the plethora of similar complaints from a multitude of Polling Units across the country, the ‘glitch’, many now know, must have been a man and woman in INEC, who simply strolled into the Server Room of INEC and switched off the servers that were connected to the portal of the presidential elections result. In virtually all cases, the Polling Unit officials were able to upload the results of the National Assembly elections stress-free, but curiously they could not upload the results of the presidential elections. I call it ‘selective glitch’, defined as a veritable equivalence of selective amnesia, during which attempts to pull a wool over the eyes of Nigerian electorates floundered.

    In any case, the big question for me is: at whose expense should INEC’s so-called ‘glitch’ be? At my expense? Who pays the price for the blundering and fumbling at INEC? The candidates who traversed the length and breath of the country and their constituencies at great cost to persuade electorates? Or the poor innocent electorates who laboured for hours on end at polling units to cast their votes and their votes were not electronically counted nor transmitted to INEC as required by law? Who pays the high price for the failure or sabotage or both at INEC? Should Nigerians simply look the other way and celebrate the historic failure that INEC and its paymasters wrought? INEC and its cohorts must pay for this mess. Or must the weather-beaten, battered and beleaguered Nigerians continue to pay everyday for every mess of their leaders?

    This is however not the subject matter of my interrogation. My concern is that in declaring Tinubu as the president-elect, someone obviously dropped the ball and left a fly in the ointment. Tinubu was fortunately or unfortunately denied the required 25% votes in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, as required by the Constitution of Nigeria. He is the first ever president-elect in Nigerian history to score below 25% in the FCT. This put a bold question mark not just on his popularity but also his electability.

    Specifically, Section 134 (2) of the Constitution says: “A candidate for an election to the Office of President shall be deemed to have been duly elected where, there being more than two candidates for the election: (a) he has the highest number of votes cast at the election; and (b) he has not less than one-quarter of the votes cast at the election in each of at least two-thirds of all the states in the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja”.

    This section of the constitution is written in very simple English. But Nigerians are bracing up for their lawyers to split hairs over it and smile their way to the banks in the process. But common sense tells us that our constitution certainly requires 25% of votes in the FCT for Tinubu or any presidential candidate, to be declared president-elect. To say that the constitution does not require 25% votes from the winner of a presidential election in FCT as some have argued, is to say that citizens and residents of the FCT do not matter in determining a Nigerian president. It means they are irrelevant in such an important democratic responsibility. It may also cast the FCT people and residents in the image of outcasts, second class citizens or perhaps strangers, with no stake in determining the leader of their country.

    The question then is: If their votes are irrelevant in the determination of who rules Nigeria, why for God sake, were they required to register and vote in the presidential election. If their votes would not count in the final verdict, why did INEC provide polling units, ballot materials, election officials and security to ensure that they voted in the presidential election. Why were FCT citizens and residents allowed to spend upwards of 12 hours under sun and thunderstorms just to cast a ceremonial vote? For me, this ought to be the ultimate injustice and insult to FCT indigenes and residents, if the Nigerian courts are talked into and arm-twisted to rule against the fundamental right of its people.

    There are more questions than answers to this attempt to disenfranchise bona fide Nigerians in the FCT. Who disqualified the good people and residents of the FCT from being heard? The constitution? Or is someone telling us that FCT indigenes are partial and half-Nigerians after they had sacrificed their God-given land, their livelihoods and their unique identity to host the seat of power in Nigeria. Are they about to be deprived of their equal rights with other Nigerians to matter in the election of their president? Nigerians want to know whether the FCT votes of February 25, 2023, was a mere ceremonial exercise in futility? Why would the votes of other parts in Nigeria be quantified and pecked at 25% and FCT votes would be discarded? Common sense tells me that if there is any part of Nigeria that more than requires these irreducible minimum percentage of votes, it must be the FCT, the seat of the federal government, from where the president rules the rest of the country.

    I also believe that if the constitution did not intend a 25% vote for the winner of the presidential election in FCT, it would have been so expressly stated that 25% votes does not apply to the FCT. Instead, the constitution expressly stated and grouped the FCT along with 24 States (two-thirds Of 36) in the same sentence, in the same section of the constitution. It simply means that 25% votes in FCT is a constitutional requirement that Tinubu must meet to be declared the president-elect. And he did not.

    As a matter of fact, the constitution of Nigeria provides not just for the election of a president by the FCT indigenes and residents. It also provides for election of a Senator and two members of the House of Representatives , HoR, by the same FCT indigenes and residents. These three members of the National Assembly from the FCT, says the Constitution, should be elected by a ‘simple majority’ of votes. This same provision of ‘simple majority’ applies exactly to the election of National Assembly members in all 36 States of Nigeria. In other words, the rules that apply for the election of senators and HoR members in the 36 States also apply 100% to FCT. Why would the same constitution turn around to make a separate rule in the presidential election to exclude the FCT? Why would the constitutional requirement for the election of National Assembly members in FCT be exactly the same across the country and the case of the presidential election would not be the same across the country? It is certainly the same. A presidential candidate must win at least 25% in the FCT.

    For me, this is a matter of common sense, with fundamental consequences and implications for our rights and privileges as Nigerians. The truth and sincerity of Nigerian justice is also at stàke here. A lawyer friend of mine once told me authoritatively that there are three types of truth; first the truth, secondly the whole truth and thirdly nothing but the truth. Well, I told him he was wrong because he excluded the gospel truth.

    The gospel truth is that Tinubu failed to meet the constitutional requirement to be president-elect of Nigeria. To complicate matters for him, the ruling APC government and INEC, in their determinant counsel and hurry to force him on Nigeria, left a lot of trails which our judiciary should be able to trace, all the way to justice. Trace the trails and justice shall be done in no time.

    *Anietie Usen is a multiple award-winning journalist, author, and technocrat.

  • Agbakoba SAN writes INEC for ‘correct’ interpretation of electoral laws

    Agbakoba SAN writes INEC for ‘correct’ interpretation of electoral laws

    Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN, has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, requesting the “correct” interpretation of certain sections of the 1999 constitution that determines who wins a presidential election.

    He noted that Section 134 of the 1999 Constitution prescribes a presidential candidate meet the requirements to become the president of Nigeria.

    “The Electoral Act, 2022 states that “…the result (in an election to the office of the President or Governor) shall be ascertained by counting the votes cast for each candidate and subjected to the provisions of sections 133, 134 and 179 of the Constitution, the candidate that receives the highest number of votes shall be declared elected by the appropriate returning officer,” he stated.

    In a letter, Agbakoba said he is worried that there can be multiple interpretations of section 134 of the 1999 Constitution, which prescribed the requirements to be met by a presidential candidate to become the president of Nigeria.

    Does this mean the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja is incorporated in the 24 States? Or…does it mean that the presidential candidate must also score not less than one-quarter of the votes cast at the election at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja?

    In his words: “In case of an election with only two candidates, Section 134 (1) of the 1999 Constitution states that a presidential candidate shall be deemed to have been duly elected where he has “the majority” of votes cast at the election, and has not less than one-quarter of the votes cast at the election in each of at least two-thirds of all the States and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    “But in a case where there are more than two presidential candidates, Section 134 (2) states that a candidate shall be deemed to have been duly elected where he has the ‘highest number’ of votes cast at the election and has not less than one-quarter of the votes cast at the election each of at least two-thirds of all the States in the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”

    Agbakoba SAN writes INEC for 'correct' interpretation of electoral laws

    Arising questions
    Agbakoba asserted that the constitution describes the winner in two different languages. “One, the winner must score the majority of votes [in section 134 (1)] and the other, the winner must score the highest number of votes [in section 134 (2). This is confusing,” he wrote.

    The Senior Advocate of Nigeria also said this section of the law wasn’t explicit enough as to whether the two-thirds votes a candidate must secure as mentioned in the law, would include or exclude the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    “if to be declared winner of the presidential election, a candidate must win a quarter of votes in 24 states– which makes up the two-thirds– as well as the FCT, or without the FCT.

    “Does this mean the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja is incorporated in the 24 States? Or…does it mean that the presidential candidate must also score not less than one-quarter of the votes cast at the election at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja?

    “Can a candidate that scored not less than one-quarter of the votes cast at the election in 36 States of the Federation but failed to score one-quarter of the votes cast at the Federal Capital Territory, be duly elected as President of Nigeria?” he queried.

  • PDP, LP lose scores of members to APC in FCT

    PDP, LP lose scores of members to APC in FCT

    Barely 48 hours to the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) have lost scores of members to APC in the FCT.

    According to reports, the defectors were received into the fold of APC on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Dr. Hawa Iyatu-Bagu, the National Coordinator, National Mass Movement for Better Orientation (NAMMBO), a frontline Tinubu support group, said the development was an indication of APC’s victory in the Feb. 25 elections.

    Iyatu-Bagu said that the organisation had been in touch with the defectors for a very long time, saying ” today those that accepted the truth have decided to follow the winning team.

    She said: “We have been going round canvassing for votes and most of them here are only the leaders, because if all of them will be here, this place cannot contain them.

    ”So, we now ask their leaders and some of them to come here and make it public about their decision to dump PDP and LP and declare their readiness to vote for Tinubu and Shettima.

    “With this development and what we have seen so far in the course of our campaigns across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, Nigerians, especially the women are ready to vote for the duo.”

    The coordinator also stated that the youths were ready to ensure the landslide victory of Tinubu, assuring the defectors of equal treatment.

    According to her, the APC presidential candidate will reciprocate any gesture to be done to him with quality leadership.

    Also speaking, the Deputy National Coordinator of NAMMBO, Ibrahim Umar, lauded the Tinubu support group for attracting the defectotrs into the fold of APC.

    Umar, who said that the chances of Tinubu of winning the presidential election were very bright, saying that Nigerians were eager to vote for Tinubu and Shettima.

    Earlier, Mr. Titus Musa, former PDP Youth Leader in Gwarinpa Ward, Abuja Municipal Area Council, who led defectors said they decided to defect to APC to vote Tinubu.

    He said: ”This is due to his record of excellent service in Lagos and his contributions to national development.

    ”We are convinced with APC manifesto titled, the Message of Hope. APC is the way to go and Tinubu has something to offer Nigeria.

    “We have seen the light in Tinubu and we are ready to join hands with him to move our country to the desired level and I believe the way Tinubu transformed Lagos if given the mandate, he will do a lot for the country.

    ” Therefore, we decide to defect from PDP to APC together with our teeming supporters compromising youths and women.”

    On her part, the former Labour Party Women leader in Gwarinpa Ward, Ms Zipporah Bitrus, said that they left LP to APC as Tinubu and Shettima were the best for the country.

    ” Tinubu is a person that is always concerned about the uplifting the ordinary citizens. He had mentored many Nigerians and that is why we see reasons we pitched our tent with APC.

    The high point of the event was the presentation of the APC flags to the defectors symbolising their formal integration into the party’s larger family.

  • Election: FCT minister of State intensifies campaign for Tinubu

    Election: FCT minister of State intensifies campaign for Tinubu

    The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, has continued to drum up support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidates, Bola Tinubu, and his running mate, Sen. Ibrahim Shettima.

    Mr Austine Elemue, Special Assistant on Media to the minister, in a statement on Saturday, said Aliyu who spoke at the APC Presidential Campaign Council mega rally in Abuja, called on the residents to come out in large numbers to vote for APC candidates from top to bottom.

    The minister and other top party members, youths and women in attendance, explained that the mega rally was not only to drum up support for the candidates but also to emphasise the importance of the 2023 General elections.

    She used the occasion to highlight Tinubu’s achievements as a former governor of Lagos State and his commitment to the development of Nigeria.

    “Bola Tinubu is a visionary leader who has a proven track records of delivering results for the people. He has transformed Lagos State into a thriving hub of economic activities and has always put the needs of the people first.”

    The minister assured that as the election draws near, the APC would continue to reach out to the people, giving reasons why Tinubu is the right leader to take Nigeria forward.

    In his remarks, Tinubu thanked the people of the FCT for their support and urged them to continue to work together to build a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.

    Tinubu, who stressed the importance of a peaceful and transparent election, called on all Nigerians to uphold the principles of democracy and ensure that their votes are counted.

    The APC rally in the FCT was a resounding success, with the party’s message of hope and change resonating with the people.

    The rally was well attended by top APC party members, including former governors, ministers, senators, and members of the National Assembly.