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No Plans To Postpone 2023 Election – INEC Insist
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, says the commission is not contemplating any adjustment to the election timetable, let alone postponing the 2023 general election.
Yakubu stated this at the presentation of an electronic copy of the 93,469,008 voter register to leaders of political parties on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said that more than ever before, the commission was more prepared for the 2023 general elections and had now successfully implemented 11 out of the 14 activities on schedule for the elections.
“Already, substantial quantities of sensitive and non-sensitive materials have been deployed to various locations across the country.
“The last batch of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has been received while the ongoing configuration of the critical technology in readiness for elections will soon be completed.
“In the last two days, we commenced the airlifting of other sensitive materials to States across the country.
“Already, some of the materials for 17 States in three geo-political zones have been delivered. Furthermore, 13,868,441 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) have been printed, delivered to States and are being collected by citizens as new voters or by existing voters who applied for transfer or replacement of cards as provided by law,” he said.
He added that similarly, following the display of the voters’ register nationwide and the conclusion of claims and objections by citizens, a new national register of voters has been compiled.
“In short, at no time in the recent history of the Commission has so much of the forward planning and implementation been accomplished 44 days ahead of a General Election.
“Therefore, the commission is not contemplating any adjustment to the election timetable, let alone the postponement of the General Election.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, while Governorship and State Assembly elections will hold two weeks later on Saturday, March 11, 2023.
“The repeated assurance by the security agencies for the adequate protection of our personnel, materials and processes also reinforces our determination to proceed.
“The 2023 General Election will hold as scheduled. Any report to the contrary is not the official position of the Commission.’’
On the registered voter, Yakubu said after the cleaning up of the data from the last Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) from June 2021 to July 2022, where 9,518,188 new voters were added to the existing 84,004,084 voters, the preliminary register of voters was 93,522,272.
He said that when the register was presented to Nigerians for claims and objections as required by law, INEC received 53,264 objections from Nigerians to the prevalence of ineligible persons on the register by virtue of age, citizenship or death, which were verified and removed from the register.
“Consequently, the register of voters for the 2023 General Election stands at 93,469,008. Of this cumulative figure, 49,054,162 (52.5 per cent) are male while 44,414,846 (47.5 per cent) are female.
“The distribution by age group shows that 37,060,399 (39.65 per cent ) are youth between the ages of 18 and 34; 33,413,591 (35.75 per cent ) are middle-aged persons between the ages of 35 and 49; 17,700,270 (18.94 per cent ) are elderly voters between the ages of 50 and 69 while 5,294,748 (5.66%) are senior citizens aged 70 and above.
“In terms of occupational distribution, students constitute the largest category with 26,027,481 (27.8%) of all voters, followed by 14,742,554 (15.8 per cent ) Farmers/Fishermen and 13,006,939 (13.9 per cent) housewives.
“The data on disability was not collected for previous registration. However, the cumulative figure of 85,362 persons from the recent CVR indicates that there are 21,150 (24.5 per cent ) persons with Albinism; 13,387 (15.7 per cent ) with physical impediment and 8,103 (9.5 per cent) are blind.”
Yakubu said that the softcopy of the breakdown and analysis would be uploaded to the INEC website and social media platforms shortly.
He reiterated INEC’s commitment to a transparent, credible and inclusive 2023 General Election, saying INEC would continue to take every step to protect the sanctity of the votes cast by citizens and to deal with infractions.
January 11, 2023
Mullti-Party Democracy Better Than Military Regime – Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that multi-party system of government is far better than military rule.
According to him, having served as military head of state and civilian President, he could attest to the fact that multi-party democratic rule is the best form of government.
Speaking Wednesday at the State House, Abuja, while playing host to a delegation of the Universal Peace Federation, the President while delving
into his experience with both military and civilian rule, submited that multi-party democracy is the best system.
He wondered why some African countries were still descending into the abyss of unconstitutional change of government, saying: “I thought we had finally put that behind us.”
On the Peace Summit being planned for Abuja, to bring all African countries together before the end of his administration by May, 2023, President Buhari pledged Nigeria’s support, “relative to resources, to help in stabilizing neighboring countries.”
He decried the problems in the Sahel belt of the continent, lamenting that it is of great concern, as it affects both agriculture and businesses negatively.
The President described the interest of Universal Peace Federation Africa in the continent as “quite genuine,” saying he was very pleased at the development.
Earlier in their speeches, Chairperson of the Federation in Africa, Dr Katherine Rigney and Chairman, Universal Peace Federation International, Dr Thomas Walsh, said they believed the forthcoming summit in Nigeria “will top them all,” having held similar meetings in the past in Niger Republic, Senegal, Sao Tome and Principe, South Africa, among others.
During the Abuja Summit, President Buhari will be given the Leadership and Good Governance Award, “as appreciation of the fantastic results you’ve brought to Nigeria, and a celebration of your anti-corruption credentials.”
January 11, 2023
2023: INEC Present List of 93.4 Million Voters To Political Parties
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu on Wednesday, met with the leadership of the 18 political parties at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
At the meeting, the first this year, the commission chairman presented the 2023 voter register to the parties ahead of the elections as required by the 2022 Electoral Act.
In attendance at the meeting include leaders of the All Progressives Congress, the Peoples Democratic Party, the Labour Party, the New Nigeria People’s Party, amongst others.
The commission presented a register containing 93,469,008 voters for the 2023 general elections.
The voter distribution also reveals that 44,414,846 registered voters are females, and 49,054,162 are males.
Of the total registered voters, the number of young people between the ages of 18 and 34 stood at 37,060,399, representing 39.65% of total registered voters while the elderly between the ages of 50 and 69 stood at 17,700,270, representing 18.94% of total registered voters.
The INEC chairman said with the presentation of voter register, the commission has successfully implemented 11 out of the 14 activities scheduled for the 2023 general elections.
According to him, every other arrangements are going on smoothly including the distribution of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).
Accordingly, the commission does not contemplate any postponement of the election date.
January 11, 2023
Domestic Violence: NDLEA to conduct drug test on intending couples
By Odo Ogenyi, Uyo
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Akwa Ibom has said it would conduct drug test for intending couples to reduce domestic violence in the state.
State Commander of NDLEA in the state, Mrs Obot Bassey, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Uyo on Wednesday on the activities of the Agency in the outgone year and projection for 2023.
Bassey also disclosed that in the year 2022, NDLEA siezed 460.344kg of hard drugs and arrested 348 suspects.
She said the suspects comprised 302 males and 46 females, while the hard drugs siezed were 231.377kg of cannabis Sativa, 2.611kg of Cocaine, 0.919kg of Heroine, 0.032kg of Meth, 92.803kg of Amphetamine and 133.196kg of psychotropic substance.
The state commander said that during the period the command secured 58 convictions, rehabilitated 15 persons and counselled 265 cases.
She added that within the year under review, the command destroyed by burning to the glare of the public, a total of 2.786 tonnes of drugs exhibits siezed.
“Of spectacular notes were the arrests and siezures of 90kg Amphetamine with street value of N2.5 billion and 2.4kg of Cocaine by the State Command.
“Who knows what great damage these drugs if un-intercepted would have done to our immediate families, community and the State,” Bassey said.
According to her, out of the 31 Local Government Areas in the state, Uyo LGA is the highest area of drug abuse, closely followed by Ikot Ekpene LGA and Itu LGA.
She said that the command was in dire need of operational vehicles to effectively and efficiently cover the 31 LGAs, operational boats for the marine unit to patrol the waterways and barracks for safety of personnel.
The commander appealed to multinational organisations, philanthropists and all individuals to join hands with the NDLEA, to reduce drug abuse and trafficking to the barest minimum in the state.
“So, I am using this medium to tell the entire Akwa Ibom people to look for all substances that are not supposed to be consumed and keep the NDLEA posted on these substances.
“They must also report any suspected environment or neighbours doing any illicit drug trading or abuse to the agency,” she said
The Official said the agency was disturbed by the influx of new drugs like Fentanyl into Nigerian market, stressing that fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to Morphine, Heroin and Codeine and 50 to 100 times more potent.
Bassey added that the command had a robust relationship with other securuty agencies in the state and would continue to in the year ahead to enhance its performance.
On her projection for 2023, the NDLEA commander said the command’s mandate remains to dismantle drug cartels in the state, prosecute offenders and intercept the deadly illicit substances from being consumed in the society.
She emphasised continued sensitisation of the public on what drug is, drug abuse and misused as the 2023 elections draws near.
The commander warned drug peddlers and dealers in the state to give up their illicit business or face the full wrath of the law.
She commended Akwa Ibom State Government for their support and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for ensuring the completion parameters fencing of the command office.
January 11, 2023
Gbajabiamila mourns AMAA CEO Anyiam-Osigwe
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has described as shocking, the death of the founder and CEO of the Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA), Peace Anyiam-Osigwe.
The Speaker said the Nigerian and indeed the African movie industries have lost one of its finest and committed members.
Gbajabiamila recalled that the late Anyiam-Osigwe touched many lives positively during her lifetime, using her network of friends and associates across the continent.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, the Speaker said the late AMAA founder would be remembered for her humanitarian services and positive impact on the industry.
Gbajabiamila prayed to the Almighty God to grant her eternal rest and give her family and many associates the fortitude to bear the loss.
January 11, 2023
2023:APC insists on Akan Udofia as A’Ibom Guber Candidate
By Odo Ogenyi, Uyo
The APC has said it has already fowarded the name of Obong Akan Udofia to the Independent National Electoral Comnission, INEC as the gubenatorial candidate of the party in Akwa Ibom in next month’s elections.
The declaration by Minister of Niger Delta Mr Umana Umana at a stakeholders meeting in Uyo recently would bring some relief to supporters who have become apprehensive over the continued inability of INEC to recognise Udofia.
Udofia had defeated about five others in the gubenatorial primary of the party last year but several court cases instituted by some of the defeated aspirants have stalled his recognition by the electoral body.
The Minister had notified stakeholders that the National Executive Council of the Party had presented the name of Udofia to INEC as its guber candidate but only awaiting confirmation by the court for INEC to do the needful.
Umana who called for collective support for the oil mogul urged party stakeholders to cease dwelling in the past and rather look at the bigger picture that the future holds for the party in the state.
“Let us move away from petty bickering and wrangling over the past. Now, we are to focus on the APC presidential rally while strategic steps are being taken to peacefully redress the protracted challenges in our party.” He said.
Also, a former Presidential aspirant of the party and immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom Chief Godswill Akpabio who commended Umana for the meeting maintained that Udofia was the duly elected and recognized guber candidate of the party and called on all supporters to rally round him.
Akpabio who sued for peace and unity said he was personally ready and focused on achieving peace for the party.
On his part, the governorship candidate, Obong Akan Udofia commended the resilience of members who have remain faithful and committed to the party and thanked stakeholders for their doggedness and loyalty to the party.
“I am a man of peace and a child of destiny. I have come in peace to build with you. Let’s work together to prosecute the coming general election. Let us bury all the court cases that has held the party back.
“Our challenges and frustrations stems largely from poverty, hunger and lack that has enveloped majority in the state. I dare say that if we unite to win the election, we shall barnish poverty and hunger in our state.” He said.
January 11, 2023
Two Bankers bag three years jail term for N9.4m ATM card fraud in Makurdi
Two bankers identified as Agbo John Agama and Edoh Steve were today, Wednesday, January 11, 2023, convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment by Justice Mojisola Olajuwon of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, for conspiracy, aiding and abetting fraud to the tune of Nine Million Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N9, 400,000).
The bankers were prosecuted on one count charge by the Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC.
The charge reads
“That you, Agbo John Agama “M” and you Edoh Oga Steve “M” while being employees of Access Bank Plc Makurdi Branch and others now at large, on or about the 8th day of January, 2021 at Makurdi, Benue State of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, used an unauthorized access device to wit: a primed ATM Card on Account No. 30041040648 being operated by one Mejuru Chibueze Gospel with Access Bank resulting a loss of Nine Million Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N9,400,000) Only to him, thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 33(2)(b) of Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same section of the Act “
The defendants pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against them. In view of their plea, prosecuting counsel, Mary Onoja asked the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Olajuwon convicted and sentenced them to three year imprisonment each. They were also ordered to pay a fine of N100,000 each to the Federal Government of Nigeria and restitute the victim in the sum of Two Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira each.
January 11, 2023
Boko Haram Was Fraudulent, A Plot To Destroy Nigeria – Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday said Boko Haram was just “fraudulent” and “a plot to destabilize Nigeria”.
The president stated this on Wednesday when he hosted Buhari hosted members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the State House in Abuja.
“Boko Haram was just fraudulent and a plot to destroy Nigeria. You can’t say people should not learn; the people need to grow intellectually,” Buhari asserted.
He told the delegation that the gains recorded in security will be further consolidated, promising that more attention will be given to the economy before the May 29 handover date
He said security had improved over the years, particularly in the Northeast where the focus had shifted to rebuilding infrastructure.
The president said during his visit to Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States, the people confirmed the situation got better since 2015.
He told the Bishops that the government will continue to rebuild infrastructure in parts of the country affected by terrorist attacks
January 11, 2023
Traders Mourn As Fire Raze 86 Shops In Yobe
A fire outbreak has destroyed 86 shops in Patiskum main market in Dogo Nini ward, Patiskum Local Government Area of Yobe State.
The Chairman of Traders Association in the Market, Alhaji Nasiru Mato, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the phone on Wednesday.
He said the disaster which occurred on Sunday around 8:36pm destroyed property and goods worth N40 million in the market.
According to him, the cause of the fire had yet to be ascertained, but said it was not caused by electric surge.
January 11, 2023
Court Stops Sen. Elisha Abbo From Contesting APC’s Senatorial Election
A High Court in Yola has sacked Elisha Abbo as the senatorial candidate for Adamawa North in the forthcoming general election.
It also restrained the All Progressives Congress (APC) from recognising him as such.
In the judgement delivered on Monday, Justice Danladi Mohammed ruled that Senator Abbo is not entitled to seek re-election since he has been expelled by the party.
Justice Danladi held that the embattled Senator and APC are bound by the resolution of Mubi North local government executives of the party dated, 7th October 2022, which expelled the lawmaker thus he is not entitled to enjoy any right or privilege accorded to APC members.
It further restrained Sen. Abbo from parading himself as the candidate of the party for the zone.
But Senator Abbo has faulted the ruling, describing it as a cash-and-carry judgement. He told Channels Television that the Court is said to be the last hope of the common man but claimed that where it becomes cash and carry affair, it cannot be described as such.
According to him, it is a bought-over judgement because those who purportedly expelled him from the party are not local government party executives and therefore have no jurisdiction to do so.
He claimed that only the ward executives of the party, according to the APC constitution, have the right to punish any erring member and not the local government or even the state exco.
Senator Abbo argued that the presiding judge had once issued a restraining order on the local government exco from parading themselves as such. The lawmaker said he will take the case to the Court of Appeal and also called on his supporters to disregard the ruling.
January 11, 2023