2023: No going back on use of technology – INEC
By Ezeocha Nzeh
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said that it will continue to deploy full election technology in the conduct its elections as a test to prepare itself total deployment during the 2023 election
There has been growing concern from stakeholders that President Muhammadu Buhari may for the second time, withhold assent to the reworked Electoral Bill which was transmitted to him last week by the National Assembly
The commission insisted that it will also deploy the use of technology in next weekend’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, who made the disclosure at the stakeholders meeting organised by the FCT Administration ahead of the poll, emphasised that both the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which has already been configured and INEC Result Viewing portal (IReV) will be use at the polls
“With regard to election technology for voter accreditation, the Commission has reviewed the performance of BVAS in the recent Anambra State governorship election. Lessons learnt from that election have been considered in planning for the Area Council elections. The BVAS have been configured and ready to deploy for the election.
“We have also made adequate arrangements for technical support and transportation to speedily respond in the unlikely event of glitches on Election Day. Similarly, election results will be uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing portal (IReV) in real-time when voting ends and votes are counted at polling units on Election Day,” he said.
While frowning at the various litigation that have trailed the eligibility of candidates for the election, Prof Yakubu said: “The 2022 FCT Area Council Election is not without its fair share of litigations. Right now, there are eight cases in court challenging the nomination or educational qualification of candidates. Some of the cases are already before the Supreme Court.
“However, contrary to the Commission’s experience in previous elections around the country, there are no conflicting judgments or orders by courts of coordinate jurisdiction anywhere on the forthcoming FCT elections.”
Prof Yakubu also commended the political parties, stressing: “The Commission is happy with the behaviour of parties and candidates in the FCT. So far, there are no adverse reports of clashes between supporters of different parties and not many incidents of hate or inciting speeches as they canvass for votes,” he stated
2023: We have not zones Presidential ticket – PDP
By Myke Uzendu
Following speculations that the leading opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has thrown it’s Presidential ticket open, the party has disclosed that no such decision has been taken.
The media had reported that PDP had adopted the report of it’s committee led by Gov. Bala Mohammed on the circumstances that led to the loss of the 2015 general election. Despite the deafening clamour that power should rotate to the South, the committee chairman a
nd governor of Bauchi State in his report recommended that the party should throw it’s Presidential ticket open to enable all candidates including northerners have a bite at the slot.
The committee, in its report had recommended that “in line with certain unwritten conventions of the nation’s history, many people think that, for fairness and equity, the North-East and South-East geo political zone that have had the shortest stints at the presidency, should be given special consideration in choosing the presidential flag bearer of the party, for the 2023 elections.
“However, we should not lose sight of the fact that Nigeria is endowed with many capable and very experienced leaders in every part of the country. Moreover, the exigencies of the moment demand that nothing should be compromised in choosing the leader with the attributes to disentangle the country from the present quagmire.
“Therefore, we think that every Nigerian, from every part of the country, should be given the opportunity to choose the best candidate, through a credible primary election as a way of institutionalising a merit-based leadership recruitment process for the country.”
However, the issue of throwing the Presidential ticket of PDP has been gaining momentum following the interest expressed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Governor of Bauchi State Bala Mohammed, Governor of Sokoto State Aminu Tambuwal, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), former Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki and other array of notherners for the number one position.
But speaking with NNS in a telephone conversation on Thursday, National Publicity of the PDP Hon. Debo Olugunagba said that the party is yet to take decision on the zoning of it’s Presidential ticket.
He said that the party has not taken any position on zoning and that before it does that, it must consult all the organs of the party, listen to all the sections and stake holders in the country and also relying on the provisions of it’s constitution and above all ensure that whatever decision it takes at the end if the day will be for peaceful coexistence of all the citizens of this country.
He said, “The party as at today has not taken a position on zoning. The party is governed by rules and regulations and of course by law especially the constitution of the party.
“And above that, the organs of the party will have discussion and deliberation on every issue that concerns the party including the issue of zoning.
“Now what we do is that, the various organs will discuss: the governors forum, the NWC, the caucuses in different zones at it concerns them. All these discussions will be sent to NEC and NEC will make a pronouncement as to the position of the party. When that happens, we will communicate to the whole world through your platform.
“The party believes that anybody who has the intention and is qualified is free to indicate interest”.
Some of the aspirants from the South that have indicated interest in the number one position under the umbrella include former Senate President Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, Publisher of Ovation Newspaper Dele Momodu and Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa while the former Anambra state Governor, Peter Obi said that he is waiting for the ticket to be zones to the South East before he will make his intentions known.
2023: Okorocha visits Buhari, says cowards behind his EFCC ordeal
By Chesa Chesa
Former governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, on Thursday met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja, where he notified the president of his intension to contest the 2023 presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress
The former Governor, who is also the senator representing Imo West senatorial district, also blamed what he described as his “unjust harassment” from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on cowards wgo are afraid of him.
The former governor had earlier accused the Governor of Imo state, senator Hope Uzodimma of beingn behind his EFCC ordeal
Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting with President Buhari, Senator Okorocha said he formally notified the president on his decision to vie for the 2023 presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the 2023 elections.
He said: “I also used this opportunity to intimate Mr President of what is going on between me and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the harassment and intimidation that I’m getting from the EFCC, literally on daily basis, and to inform him that I have court judgment and two court orders for different judgments at different forums, which stop the EFCC from harassing and intimidating me. EFCC has refused to obey the law.
“And so I have to inform Mr President that EFCC should be made to obey the law that established it. And without the law, there wouldn’t be an EFCC. And the desperation with which they go about any affair that concerning me, should stop.
“And I reminded Mr President that recall that sometimes ago, the EFCC had claimed that they recovered the sum of N5.9 billion from my account, which the court found out to be untrue.
“In other words, they were biased and they prejudged me. On that basis, the court ruled and ordered that they should not further interrogate and harass me. This has also not been obeyed.
“The court ordered the EFCC to release my international passport, the EFCC has refused to obey. The court gives damages to me for some N500million for EFCC to pay. EFCC has not paid that. “Rather than doing that, on the day of my declaration, EFCC went on the press to announce that I’m being prosecuted for some criminal charges of N2.9billion and no more than N5.9billion.
“So, I said as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and one that stands on the side of the law, he should bring this to the attention of the EFCC.
“And despite the efforts by the Office of the Attorney General to make the EFCC see reasons and obey court judgment, to release my travel documents, and stop the harassment, they have refused.
“So, I think that is some kind of desperation on the side of EFCC. And I don’t know who might be causing this, but it is appropriate that I do let them know of the injustice that is going on with me as regards the EFCC.”
Asked if reporting the EFCC to the President was to stop the corruption allegation against him, he said that he had not requested President Buhari to stop him from being investigated but to get the anti-graft agency to obey the law.
According to him, “One of the duties of a president is to protect the law of the land. And when an issue comes to an issue of judgment the duty is incumbent on the government of the day to ensure that justice is done.
“I came to demand for justice that you should prevail and as the custodian, as the leader of our nation, he should be made to know that such is going on.
“I didn’t come here to say, I don’t want to be investigated by the EFCC. That’s not the issue, that there’s judgment on the ground. There’s judgment and there’s the order of the court that I’m asking Mr President, who appointed the EFCC to recall that there was the law that established the EFCC.
“And if that law is good to make somebody EFCC that law should be obeyed, too. So, I’m not asking Mr President, to speak on the matter.”
He revealed that “the President said he would take up the matter, especially when he saw the judgment. He said we’ll take up the matter and find out what is actually happening. And I hope he will do so. And I believe he will do that.”
Okorocha said while he informed the president of his ambition, he counselled him on the need to ensure that elements of the legacy political parties that formed the APC are carried along in the affairs of the ruling party.
The former governor further said: “Mr President is a leader of the party, the APC, because he’s the president of Federal Republic of Nigeria, which office that I intend to handle after 2023. And again, I used the opportunity to discuss issues relating to our party especially how the party was formed.
“President Muhammadu Buhari, then former head of state-led the CPC into the merge of what became today APC, followed by Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu who led the ACN, and myself, Rochas Okorocha who led the APGA and other leaders of ANPP. This is the four legs upon with the party today called APC is standing.
“I used the opportunity to remind Mr President, of how it all started, and for us to keep the history of this party alive.
“I also made him understand that in the coming convention, these four pillars should be carried along in all our decisions. For without these pillars, there wouldn’t have been anything called the APC today and the victory that followed after.”
Confusion as Reps adjourn plenary abruptly
The House of Representatives was forced to abruptly adjourn Thursday’s plenary over the non-availability of order paper for the day’s plenary.
The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, after taking his seat for the business of the day at about 11:15 am, discovered that the order paper, which usually contains the agenda for a sitting, had not been made available.
A furious Gbajabiamila, who was visibly angered by the development, asked for the immediate removal of whoever was in charge of order paper in the Committee on Rules and Business of the House.
ÇçThe Speaker consequently adjourned sitting till Tuesday, summoning all those concerned to a meeting at his office.
