| Source | Date | Title | Summary of Report | Subject/Category | Page No/Web link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Cable | 15th February 2023 | Old naira deadline: We’ll make our position known after s’court ruling, says presidency | The presidency says its position on the deadline for old naira notes will be made known today. The governments of Zamfara, Kaduna, and Kogi had asked the supreme court to stop the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from ending the timeframe within which the old N200, N500, and N1000 notes would cease to be legal tender. In its ruling, the court restrained the federal government from implementing the February 10 deadline for the validity of the old naira notes pending the hearing of the matter on February 15. Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation, had also said the federal government would obey the supreme court order. But despite the court’s order, Godwin Emefiele, governor of CBN, insisted on the deadline. “The situation is substantially calming down since the commencement of over-the-counter payments to complement ATM disbursements and the use of super-agents,” Emefiele had said. But Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, in a statement on Tuesday, said it was untrue that the government took a preemptive action on the legality of the old naira notes. “We wish to state that it is not true that the Federal Government or the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN have taken a preemptive action on the legality of currency as a legal tender in view of the pendency of the case before the Supreme Court,” Shehu said. “The position of the government and the CBN will be made known upon the determination of the suit coming up tomorrow.” | Naira Scarcity, Position of the Federal Government, Supreme Court on Naira, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi | http://bit.ly/3XzCTNz | 4 | |
| The Nation Online | 15th February 2023 | Tinubu will deliver as president, Buhari tells supporters at Imo rally | All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Asíwájú Bola Tinubu yesterday promised to build on the legacies of President Muhammadu Buhari, if elected.He spoke at a rally in Owerri, Imo State capital, which was attended by President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Governors Hope Uzodinnma (Imo), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi) and Babajide Sanwo-olu (Lagos) and Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege. Tinubu said the good work of the president, particularly in the area of infrastructure revolution, revamping agriculture, road and railway network, would be sustained. President Buhari said Tinubu would be the next president of the country. He said he had accompanied Tinubu to the state to sell him to the people, expressing gratitude for the massive turnout at the rally. The president had earlier paid a courtesy call on traditional rulers in the state at their council chamber where he had also canvassed support for Tinubu’s election. The Chairman of the Traditional Council in the state, who received Buhari, Eze Udo, Dr. Eze Okeke, conferred on the president the chieftaincy title of Nwanne Dinamba, meaning (a brother in The Diaspora). | APC Rally in Imo State, APC Presidential Candidate, Bola Tinubu, President Muhammadu Buhari, Endorsement | https://bit.ly/3lwHZNb | 4 | |
| The Nation Online | 15th February 2023 | Legal giants knock Emefiele for disrespecting S’Court | Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele should be jailed for contempt of the Supreme Court, an eminent professor of law, Itse Sagay (SAN), said yesterday. He believes spending some time behind bars will make the CBN helmsman realise the enormity of the “merciless pain” the naira crisis has subjected Nigerians to. Sagay, chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), urged affected parties to initiate contempt proceedings against Emefiele at the Supreme Court. He insisted that an order by the highest court in the land, rightly or wrongly made, must be obeyed by all until set aside. Last Wednesday, the Supreme Court, in a case filed by Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states, barred the Federal Government, acting through the CBN or any other agent, from enforcing the February 10 deadline for the use of old naira notes. In a unanimous ruling by a seven-member panel, led by Justice John Okoro, it held that the “interim injunction” will subsist “pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiffs/applicants’ motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.” But yesterday, Emefiele said there was no extension of the February 10 deadline for the old N1000, N500, and N200 banknotes to stop being legal tenders. Other Senior Advocates of Nigeria, who spoke with The Nation, including Chief Ajibola Aribisala, Mr Ahmed Raji and law teacher Wahab Shittu, as well as Femi Falana who spoke on Channels, said the Supreme Court order must be obeyed. Three other SANs – Dr Olisa Agbakoba, Abiodun Owonikoko and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, as well as Dr Fassy Yusuf, were hopeful the Supreme Court would help end the state of confusion. | CBN Governor, Governor Godwin Emefiele, Supreme Court Ruling, Itse Sagay SAN, chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, PACAC | https://bit.ly/3jXcECS | 4 | |
| Punch Online | 15th February 2023 | Resist interim govt temptation, Afenifere tells Buhari | THE pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has again called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to resist any temptation or pressure to foist on Nigeria any form of change of government that is not a product of democratic practice. Afenifere, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, on Tuesday, said the latest call was necessitated by a disclosure by the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that some elements within the Presidency were scheming to have the President foist an interim government on Nigerians. Ajayi said, “They were doing this by way of contriving an atmosphere that would be purported to make free and fair elections difficult if not impossible. “According to Tribune Online, El-Rufai had, on a Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme, alleged that some elements in the Presidency were using the lingering fuel and naira scarcity to frustrate the conduct of the elections because their preferred candidate is not in the race. The Governor reiterated this position in an interview with Premium Times as published on Monday, February 13, 2023. “We are making this call because of the sacrifices we, along with many other Nigerians, dead and alive, have made to ensure that we have civil rule. We are happy that we have had about 24 years of civil rule and six transitions between one civilian administrations to another since 1999. There is no doubt that we can have better administrations and that we are desirous of having a change. But that change must be through democratic means as enshrined in our constitution. It is in this respect, anything that could prompt the change of government through any other means is unacceptable.” | Pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Interim Government, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai | http://bit.ly/3Xv6o3a | 4 | |
| Punch Online | 15th February 2023 | U-turn: INEC to keep sensitive election materials with CBN | The Independent National Electoral Commission has said that sensitive materials for the 2023 general elections are in the custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria. This was disclosed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC, Festus Okoye, to our correspondent on Tuesday. It would be recalled that individuals and groups in 2022 raised serious concerns about the sanctity of elections materials kept with the CBN, after news about the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, indicating interest to contest for the country’s presidential seat trended. As a result, the Chairman, INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, on June 4, 2022, said sensitive electoral materials would in the meantime no longer be routed through the CBN. The INEC chairman noted that the electoral body had never had an issue with the CBN since the partnership started, but due to “current circumstances”, an alternative would be found. However, Okoye stated that the commission has printed and delivered most of the sensitive materials, such as results and ballot papers, and kept them with the CBN for movement to the commission’s local government offices across the country. He also noted that INEC had almost concluded the delivery of the non-sensitive materials across the country. Explaining the delivery of sensitive materials ahead of the forthcoming elections, Okoye said, “The commission is ready for the February 25 and March 11, 2023 general elections. The commission has taken delivery of the full complement of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System for the 176,846 polling units in Nigeria. The BVAS will be deployed to all the polling units except the 240 polling units that have zero voters. The commission has taken delivery of the redundancies for the 8, 809 Registration Areas and the 774 local government areas of the country. | INEC, CBN to keep sensitive materials, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC, Festus Okoye | http://bit.ly/3xqef7i | 4 | |
| Punch Online | 15th February 2023 | Expulsion: Nnamani sues PDP, Ayu, restates backing Tinubu | A former governor of Enugu State and senator representing Enugu East Senatorial District, Chimaroke Nnamani, has sued the Peoples Democratic Party over the disciplinary actions taken against him for alleged anti-party activities. PUNCH correspondent gathered that Nnamani filed the suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja on February 7, 2023, few days before his expulsion from the party. The PUNCH reports that Nnamani declared support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, which had led to his initial suspension from the PDP. The former governor of Enugu State said his support for the APC candidate was because he could not support a northerner to become President after the eight-year tenure of the current President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.). On February 10, 2023 the PDP expelled Nnamani alongside some other key party members for anti-party activities. In the front page of the court document obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday, those listed as defendants in Nnamani’s suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission, the National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, Samuel Anyanwu on behalf of the National Working Committee members of the PDP. In the suit, Nnamani asked the court to determine whether it was proper for the party to take disciplinary actions against him without giving him fair hearing. Meanwhile, despite being punished by his party, the senator has not relented in his support for Tinubu of the rival APC. In a statement on Tuesday, Nnamani hailed Tinubu for improving the health sector significantly in Lagos State, when he was governor between 1999 and 2007. He said, “It is to Tinubu’s credit that HIV/AIDS prevalence in Lagos State decreased from 6.7 per cent to 3.5per cent between 1999 and 2007 while more than 2,000 women received prevention of mother to child transmission in 10 PMTCT centres set up to prevent the disease.” Nnamani said Tinubu’s performance in Lagos made him the best candidate to lead Nigeria at a time like this. Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday extended the order restraining the PDP from suspending or expelling the Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, who was also sanctioned by the party for anti-party activities. The court extended the interim order it made on February 2, which restrained the PDP and its leadership from making suspension or expulsion moves on the governor. | Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, Court Suit, Alleged anti-party activities, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, Endorsement of Bola Tinubu | http://bit.ly/3lDPSR5 | 4 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 15th February 2023 | Polls: Kaduna, Imo, Oyo, Others Named As Violence-Prone States | The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) on Tuesday named six states prone to violence ahead of this year’s general elections. The states are Oyo, Imo, Rivers, Kaduna, Benue and Borno states. The CISLAC said violence usually occured in those states during elections, saying that was why the organization was spreading its peace building initiative to stem and reverse the ugly trend in this year’s elections. The Executive Director of the CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), made these remarks while addressing journalists at the end of the stakeholders meeting and press conference held at the Kakanfo inn, Ibadan, Oyo State. His statement was read by Mr. Okeke Anya – Manager, Democratic Governance of CISLAC alongside Lovelyn Agbor-Gabriel, Manager, Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) CISLAC and other stakeholders. Tagged ‘Media briefing on peaceful 2023 General Election in Oyo State,’ Rafsanjani said CISLAC joined CSOs and the people of Oyo State to commend the leadership of the 15 out of 18 political parties in Oyo state who demonstrated commitment towards a non-violent 2023 elections in the state by signing the peace accord in late 2022. Rafsanjani said the peace initiative had become imperative, most especially with the report of violence happening in the buildup to the 2023 general elections across the state and country at large. | Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, States prone to election violence, mo, Rivers, Kaduna, Benue and Borno States | http://bit.ly/3lBEGo6 | 4 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 15th February 2023 | 10 Days To Go: No Cash Yet For Elections – INEC | Ten days to the February 25 presidential and National Assembly election, cash for the mobilisation of ad-hoc staff for the polls is yet to be made available to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Daily Trust reports. Nigerians have been battling with the scarcity of naira notes following the redesign of N200, N500 and N1000 notes by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will today continue hearing the suits by three state governments challenging the implementation of the currency swap deadline. The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had penultimate Tuesday met with the governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele, where he requested concessions regarding the naira redesign policy with specific reference to the limitations placed on cash withdrawals and the need to make some cash available for some peculiarities that cannot be met with electronics transfer of monies. Emefiele had while responding, said he would ensure the CBN is not seen as an agent used to thwart the forthcoming general election, assuring that the apex bank would provide INEC needed naira notes as required. But, an indication emerged that the new notes have not been made available to the electoral body ahead of the election when the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Yahaya Bello, raised the issue. Bello said the ability of the INEC to conduct the general election may be hampered by the CBN’s cashless policy. Speaking in Abuja at the North-Central stakeholders’ roundtable on the 2023 general elections, organised by the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), he said the commission needs cash to enable it to coordinate security and logistics, and that the scarcity of the naira may affect this. He said that if nothing was done to address the cash crunch caused by the policies, INEC in the FCT and across the country would find it difficult to deploy staff and materials for the election as most of the services required cash to obtain. He, however, said that apart from the cash challenge, the commission was prepared for the elections as it had taken delivery of 80 per cent of materials for the polls and trained staff ahead of the February 25 and March 11 elections. “Before election day, we are going to deploy the service providers. On the night of Friday (the day before the election) in the FCT, we have more than 12, 000 ad-hoc staff that we are going to give cash to. “None of them will receive a cheque or accept a transfer. I am talking about FCT (12,000), which will require about N5,000 (each) cash on Friday night. Also, those who are going to transport our men, materials and security to the polling units will need cash to do that. Also, you will not take a security person to a polling unit from morning till evening without giving him money to eat and I don’t think you expect him to go to the POS to withdraw the N1,000 you are going to give him,” he said. He, however, said that INEC was in discussions with the CBN to see how the problem could be addressed. | CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, Effect of Naira Scarcity on Elections | http://bit.ly/3lAXweW | 4 | |
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| The Cable | 9th February 2023 | We’re not seeking postponement of elections, says APC | The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it is not seeking the postponement of the forthcoming elections. The ruling party was reacting to claims by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that it was seeking a shift in the date for the polls. The PDP presidential campaign council had asked the APC to shelve its demands for the postponement of the elections. “The Atiku/Okowa Campaign counsels Tinubu to face the reality of his looming defeat and stop the shenanigans of seeking to introduce dangerous forms of contraption into our polity,” Kola Ologbondiyan, its spokesperson, said. In a statement on Wednesday, Felix Morka, APC spokesperson, said elections should not be a subject of speculation in the media because of their importance. Morka said President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to leave a legacy of a credible, free, and fair general election is “unshakable”. The report is blatantly false and reckless and bears no iota of credibility. Beyond its loud headline, the report offers no substantive justifying content aside from its intended purpose of misleading and causing needless anxiety and speculations regarding the upcoming elections,” Morka said. Our general election is a matter of extreme national importance bordering on national security and corporate integrity of our country. It is not and should not become a matter for idle, rash, or insensitive speculation by the media or any institution for that matter. It bears reiterating that the underlying report is fake news". | APC, 2023 General Elections, Allegations | http://bit.ly/3XkzMJf | 3 | |
| Punch Online | 9th February 2023 | 900 NNPC stations to serve INEC during polls – Yakubu | With 16 days to the presidential election, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, on Wednesday said the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited will avail over 900 of its mega stations to provide petrol for the movement of its personnel and materials. Yakubu revealed this to State House Correspondents shortly after briefing the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and other members of the Federal Executive Council at the State House, Abuja. He said this was part of efforts to address the challenges of fuel and naira scarcity ahead of the February 25 and March 11 elections. Having received the assurances of the CBN and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Yakubu said the commission is set for the exercise. “I can tell you about the two challenges quickly. The first one is unavailability of petroleum products. We had a meeting with the National Union of Road Transport Workers and they raised that as an issue of concern. “Immediately after that meeting, we interfaced with the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and right now there’s a technical committee working. The idea is for them to avail us the use of their over 900 land mega stations as well as floating mega stations nationwide for the purpose of stocking products to ensure that the commission doesn’t suffer any encumbrances in movement of personnel and materials for the elections. ""The second one is the currency issue. Again, we had an engagement yesterday with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and he assured us that the commission will not suffer an encumbrance on that score. Fortunately for us, all our accounts, national and state, are with the apex bank. So, we raised those challenges and we have found a solution to those challenges. Be rest assured that the elections will be held as scheduled on February 25 for national and on March 11 for the states’ elections,” he explained. | INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, Meeting with NNPCL and CBN, Election logistics | http://bit.ly/3YoGoI4 | 3 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 9th February 2023 | Naira Crisis: FG Files Objection Against Supreme Court Decision | The federal government Wednesday filed a preliminary objection challenging the application by Kaduna, Zamfara and Kogi states against the implementation of the February 10 currency swap deadline. In the objection filed by Mahmud Magaji (SAN), the federal government argued that the suit ought not to have been brought before the Supreme Court as the reliefs sought were against an agency of the federal government, the CBN on its powers to withdraw old banknotes and introduce new ones under the CBN Act, 2007. The federal government argued that the Federal High Court had the proper jurisdiction to entertain such suits under Section 251(1)(a)(p)(q) & (r) of the Constitution (exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court). While contending that the action before the apex court constituted an abuse of judicial process, the federal government said the state governments have no locus standi and reasonable cause of action to warrant the “invocation of the original jurisdiction of this honourable court.” Before the objection by the federal government, the Supreme Court earlier yesterday ordered the CBN to allow the use of the old N1000, N500 and N200 notes beyond February 10 and fixed February 15 to hear the case. A seven-member panel of justices presided by Justice John Inyang Okoro made the restraining order in a unanimous ruling. Arguing the motion, counsel to the governors of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states, Abdulhakeem Mustapha (SAN) said the matter was important and had come with an affidavit of urgency. But Magaji Mahmud (SAN), who announced appearance for the Attorney-General of the Federation, was not heard by the apex court being an ex parte motion. Reacting to the Supreme Court order, a source in the Presidency said: “Generally speaking, it is not a judgment, it is just an order. An ex-parte order is a constitutional leverage specifically given to judges to make an order in exceptional circumstances granting the request of an applicant in a suit in the interim without hearing from the other party. The order is only temporary. The judge will hold a full hearing within a short period of time,” he said. Millions of Nigerians have been thrown into confusion following the mopping up of over 1.7trillion old naira notes and the glaring unavailability of the redesigned notes". | Preliminary objection, Old Bank Notes, Supreme Court | Page 4 | 3 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 9th February 2023 | NIS Alert To Stop Foreigners From Partaking In 2023 Polls – CG | The Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Isa Jere, has said the service will be on high alert to identify and arrest foreigners trying to participate in the forthcoming 2023 elections. Jere said this during an election retreat organised for NIS zonal coordinators and command comptrollers, on Wednesday, in Abuja. He said that the service would ensure that only eligible Nigerians vote. He said that the NIS had successfully confiscated voter and national identification cards in the hands of foreigners, who were promptly repatriated to their countries. The Immigration boss also urged personnel to be nonpartisan, stressing that Comptrollers would be sanctioned if any personnel under their supervision is caught participating in partisan politics. | Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, Isa Jere, Foreigners | Page 8 | 3 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 9th February 2023 | Only 3 States Safe For Elections – CLEEN Foundation | The CLEEN Foundation has said that only three states of Jigawa, Kano and FCT are absolutely safe and peaceful for the conduct of this year’s February 24 and March 11 general elections. Executive Director, CLEEN Foundation, Mr. Gad Peter, said this on Wednesday in Abuja while formally presenting the ‘2023 Election Security Threat Assessment’. He said that 13 states comprising Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Benue, Gombe, Bauchi, Plateau, Nasarawa, Taraba, Edo, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Abia are prone to violence and the remaining 21 states of the federation are currently engulfed in one form of violence or another. According to him, the CLEEN commissioned researchers across the six geopolitical zones to examine the security situation in relation to the elections and make recommendations for the successful conduct of the elections. Some of the recommendations are critical towards minimizing the security threats for a more credible and violence-free elections. Peter said, “The frequent serious attacks on security agencies, installations and infrastructure in recent months are highly worrisome and condemnable. The pattern of recent attacks on security facilities and INEC infrastructure is suggestive that they are facilitated by criminals who are bent on pushing the country off the cliff. He noted that on the positive side, the signing of the electoral Act 2022 into law that enabled INEC to introduce the of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has generated a lot of public interest especially among the youths who turned out to register in large numbers to participate in Nigeria’s forthcoming elections. | Election Security Report, CLEEN Foundation, States safe for elections, Insecurity, BVAS | Page 11 | 3 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 9th February 2023 | MC Oluomo: Atiku Calls on INEC to Remove Lagos REC for Partisanship | The presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately remove its Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lagos State, Olusegun Agbaje, for alleged partisanship. In a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said it was curious that Agbaje was insisting on using the Lagos State Park and Garage Management Committee, headed by transport kingpin, Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo, who he said was a member of the presidential campaign council of All Progressives Congress (APC). Atiku described as watery Agbaje’s excuse that INEC would not be able to use the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) because they had been banned in Lagos State. The statement said, “The law is clear that only a court has the power to proscribe an organisation. That was why the federal government had to go to court to proscribe the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN). “What Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu did in Lagos State was to arbitrarily announce a ban on the activities of the NURTW because the organisation suspended MC Oluomo, the APC’s henchman. INEC must not promote illegality by working with a partisan organisation, which is filled with APC members that are working for Bola Tinubu.” Atiku wondered how such clearly partisan persons could be allowed to handle such a sensitive task, stressing that it is unacceptable. The former vice president said in the statement, “How could such people be given sensitive materials to be distributed across Lagos on election day? This has already undermined the possibility of a free and fair election. INEC must sanction Agbaje for insisting on using MC Oluomo’s committee, despite protests from members of the public.” The PDP presidential candidate recalled that Agbaje was the REC who superintended over the “fraudulent” 2018 governorship election rerun in Osun State which the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union also discredited. He explained, “Recall that it was Agbaje who superintended over the fraudulent and violent Osun governorship rerun which produced Gboyega Oyetola as governor. US Consul General, John Bray was spot on when he stated: ‘We witnessed what appeared to be incidents of interference and intimidation of voters and heard reports of harassment or party monitors, journalists and domestic observers.’” The statement noted that even election monitoring groups, like the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), dismissed the Osun rerun as “fraudulent and anti-democratic”. | PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, NURTW, MC Oluomo, INEC Lagost State REC, Lagos State, Olusegun Agbaje | Page 53 | 3 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 9th February 2023 | INEC Appeals Osun Gubernatorial Election Tribunal Judgement | The Independent National Electoral Commission has appealed against the judgement of Justice T. A. Kume-led Election Petition Tribunal in Osun State on 44 grounds. To that extent, the Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended INEC for initiating processes to appeal a judgement that frontally attacked the importance of the BVAS machines in the election. But the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has also carpeted the PDP over its commendation of the INEC for initiating processes to appeal the judgement, saying the judiciary should not be dragged in the mud. INEC filed the petition yesterday at the Court of Appeal in Akure, through its lawyer, Paul Ananaba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. The electoral body, according to a “Notice of Appeal” made available to THISDAY in Osogbo, sought an order of the Appeal Court to set aside the whole decision of the trial Tribunal and dismiss and/or striking out the Petition for want of competence and jurisdiction. The electoral body said, the election petition tribunal erred in law by failing to consider and rule on the various preliminary objections filed by the 1st respondent challenging the competency of the petition and jurisdiction of the Election Petition Tribunal to hear the Petition but proceeded to determine the merit of the Petition. Former Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), had faulted the declaration of the candidate of People Democratic Party(PDP), Ademola Adeleke, on 17th of July, 2022, by the electoral body as the winner of the July 16th governorship election in the state. Oyetola said APC premised their petition with reference no: EPT/OS/GOV/01/2022, on Adeleke’s eligibility to contest and over-voting and the Tribunal on 27th January, 2023 declared Oyetola as the validly elected governor of the state. But the appellant said the Tribunal totally misconstrued Section 47(2) of the Electoral Act 2022, which must be read purposefully, communally and holistically to arrive at the true intention of the legislature and justice. “The lower Tribunal erred in law, when they failed to consider and rule on the various preliminary objections filed by the 1st Respondent/Appellant challenging the competency of the petition and jurisdiction of the Election Petition Tribunal to hear the Petition but proceeded to determine the merit of the Petition. On the particulars of error, INEC stated that, “It is trite in law that preliminary objections that touch on the competency of the petition and the jurisdiction of the Tribunal is a threshold issue, which must be determined before the Tribunal can assume jurisdiction to determine the merit of the petition. | Appeal of Judgement, INEC, Osun State Governorship Election | Page 1 & 56 | 3 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 9th February 2023 | Naira Crisis: CBN Most Outstanding Threat To 2023 Elections – Senator Bamidele | The Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, on Wednesday declared the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), with its naira redesign policy and the attendant acute shortage of naira notes, as the most outstanding threat to the 2023 elections. Senator Bamidele stated this at a one-day special hearing on “The Extent of Implementation Of The Electoral Act, 2022 Ahead Of The Conduct Of The 2023 General Election,” organised by the Joint National Assembly Committee on INEC and Electoral Matter. The apex bank’s policy had caused acute shortage of naira notes nationwide with protest breaking out in some parts of the country. INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, at a meeting with CBN management on Tuesday, expressed concern over the impact of the naira redesign policy on the successful conduct of the elections, saying situations may arise requiring immediate cash payments for essential services during polls. But the apex bank assured that it would provide INEC with needed naira notes as required. Bamidele, a member of the committee on electoral matter, said the selective cash withdrawal plan the electoral umpire worked out with the CBN on Tuesday, was not assuring as far as smooth conduct of the elections was concerned. The senator said, “The CBN told us at the beginning of the policy that the targets were the so-called moneybags who stashed away billions in their closets. We thought those at the people they want to get at. We have now seen that it is the ordinary man on the streets. They are sleeping in the banking hall because they cannot have access to the little money they have. We must understand the political economy of an electoral process.Are we saying that INEC must rely on the intervention of the CBN for it to perform? If the police run into logistics problems, they would also run to CBN for selective intervention. We are fighting Boko Haram, if the military authorities could not access funds from their banks, they will also need to approach the CBN for selective intervention. These are issues and as a stakeholder, the CBN is the most outstanding threat to these elections holding as scheduled. | Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, Threat to Elections, Shortage of Naira Notes, CBN | Page 10 | 3 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 9th February 2023 | PSC, Police Set Up Separate Monitoring Teams for National Polls | The Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Nigeria Police, yesterday, announced the setting up of separate election monitoring groups as the feud between the two agencies festered. The PSC, however, warned police personnel against misconduct during the election and to avoid being used as conductor for vote buying. A statement by the spokesman of the commission, Ikechukwu Ani, said the commission would deploy staff monitors to the 774 Local Government Areas of the country to monitor the conduct of police officers on election duties during the 2023 general election holding Saturday, February 25th and March 11th 2023. It said the commission had the constitutional mandate to discipline, and exercise control over officers of the Nigeria Police Force except the Inspector General of Police, amongst other constitutional responsibilities. The commission said it “will monitor the conduct of these officers to ensure that they operate within defined rules of engagement prescribed for officers on election duties. “The commission believes that the success or not of the 2023 general elections largely depends on how effective and efficient the police, the lead agency in internal security are, and to maximise the benefits of inter-agency collaboration with other security agencies,” it said. The commission further stated that, “Guidelines on police conduct during the elections will soon be released by the commission to guide policemen, who will be involved in election security. “The commission will also release dedicated telephone numbers where Nigerians will be required to call to complain or commend police officers during the elections.” It warned that police officers found negligent or involved outright in official misconduct would be disciplined in line with the provisions of the law. Police officers are advised to restrict themselves to providing security during the elections and should not engage in serving as conductors for vote buying or other misconducts. The commission will continue to hold the police accountable for its conduct or misconduct during the elections as its contribution to deepening the nation’s democracy,” he said. | Police Service Commission, PSC, Nigeria Police, PSC to set up Election monitoring group | Page 56 | 3 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 7th February 2023 | Yobe North: S/Court Affirms Lawan As APC Candidate | The Supreme Court has affirmed Senator Ahmed Lawan as the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Yobe North Senatorial election. The apex court, in a majority judgement yesterday, sacked Bashir Machina, who was earlier recognised by the Federal High Court in Damaturu and Court of Appeal in Abuja as APC candidate for the election. The split judgement of three to two voided and set aside the judgements of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, which recognised Machina as the APC candidate. The lead judgement by Justice Chima Centus Nweze faulted the procedure for the commitment of Machina’s suit at the Federal High Court in Damaturu, which was by way of originating summons rather than by a writ of summons having raised some contentious issues that require evidence. However, in a dissenting judgement, Justices Adamu Jauro and Emmanuel held that Lawan having not participated in the primary held on May 28, as he withdrew voluntarily to participate in the presidential primary held on the 8 June, 2022, had no right to challenge the outcome in court. The dissenting justices held that the party’s conduct of a fresh primary on June 9, 2022, which produced Lawan, was in breach of Section 84 (5) of the Electoral Act, 2022, and was therefore illegal and unlawful, while the APC appeal lacked merit. The Senate President had lost the APC presidential primary to a former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who later emerged as the APC presidential candidate. Although Lawan did not take part in the Yobe North senatorial primary, the party had sent his name to INEC as its candidate but the electoral body refused to recognise him in line with the Electoral Act. Senate President Ahmad Lawan has hailed the Supreme Court judgement, which recognised him as the authentic candidate of the APC for Yobe North. Lawan had said last year that he would not challenge the decisions of the lower courts, which affirmed Bashir Machina as the rightful candidate of APC for Yobe North. Briefing reporters yesterday in Abuja, Lawan insisted that he didn’t approach the Supreme Court to seek a redress; his party, constituents in Yobe North and political associates did. He said the Ninth Senate under his leadership had been productive and restated commitment to the leadership of the Red Chamber. | Supreme Court, Senator Ahmed Lawan , Yobe North Senatorial election, Bashir Machina, Court Judgement | Page 10 | 2 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 7th February 2023 | Naira, Fuel Crises Could Hamper Nigerian Elections – W/Bank | The World Bank Country Office in Nigeria has disclosed that the incessant fuel scarcity and the inability of Nigerians to access the new naira notes may influence uncertainty ahead of the February 25 and March 10 elections in the country. According to a document, the bank pointed out that the deadline for old notes will socially and economically affect vulnerable people in the country. While politicians have continued to trade blames; and the CBN accusing commercial banks of hoarding the new naira notes to the extent of unleashing security agents on them, Nigerians in many states have ran out of patience and have started taking to the streets to protest the shortage of the naira. Experts said the document released by the World Bank on its website should be taken seriously because the citizens are becoming increasingly overstretched as many could not access their hard-earned money to feed their families. The document said, “The shortage of cash compounds fuel shortages, which have been ongoing for months. There is a clear risk that cash shortages cause hardship and frustration, which could escalate social tensions, especially in a febrile political environment ahead of elections on February 25 (presidential and parliamentary) and March 11 (gubernatorial). The bank further disclosed 45 per cent of Nigerian adults had a bank account, 34 per cent pay or receive money digitally over the past year, while nine per cent made an in-store payment by digital means. It projected Nigeria would not be able to attain a quick increase in digital payment to enhance the shortages of new notes across the country within the stipulated deadline. Amid the alarm by the World Bank, the governments of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states have sued the federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) before the Supreme Court over the currency redesigning and “de-monetisation” policy. They are seeking a declaration that the “Demonetization policy of the federation being currently carried out by the CBN under the directive of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not in compliance with the extant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 and actual laws on the subject.” They are also asking the court to make a declaration that the three-month notice given by the federal government and the CBN under the directive of the president, the expiration of which will render the old bank notes inadmissible as legal tender, is in gross violation of the provisions of Section 20(3) of the CBN Act 2007, which specifies that reasonable notice must be given before such a policy and that the limit cannot be outside that provided under Section 22(1) of the CBN Act 2007. Also, fourteen of the 18 registered political parties have said they would withdraw their participation in the general elections if the CBN extends the February 10 deadline for the use of old naira notes. The National Chairman of the Action Alliance (AA), Kenneth Udeze, on Monday at a press conference by the Forum of Chairmen of Nigerian Political Parties and the Forum of Candidates for the 2023 General Election, said the CBN must not shift the deadline. “We hereby announce our resolution that at least 14 of the 18 political parties in Nigeria will not be interested in the 2023 general election and indeed we shall withdraw all our participation from the electoral process if these currency policies are suspended or cancelled or if the deadline is further shifted,” Udeze said. | World Bank, CBN Exension of old Naira deposit, Kaduna, Kogi, Zamfara States, Buoycott, Threat to withdraw participation in Elections | Page 4 | 2 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 7th February 2023 | Warehoused PVCs Can’t Be Used For 2023 Elections – INEC | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says warehoused Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) can no longer be used during elections as every voter must be authenticated with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). The Director-General of The Electoral Institute (TEI), Sa’ad Idris, said this on Monday in Abuja at the political parties’ polling agent training workshop and Training of Trainers (TOT). According to him, election personnel, including political party polling agents, must be knowledgeable of their roles and what is expected of them. “New innovations in the voting system that polling agents need to be aware of include the BVAS which was introduced into our electoral process during the conduct of some elections in 2021. The BVAS adds facial technology to the existing fingerprint authentication and this will ensure that all voters are authenticated by either of the technologies. With bi-modal authentication, no person can come to vote more than once, as the face or the fingerprints of the person would have been captured during accreditation. This further ensures a one-person-one-vote system. It is necessary to emphasise that warehoused PVCs can no longer be used during elections as every voter must be authenticated with the BVAS. The enactment of the 2022 Electoral Act has also helped the voter accreditation process, as the law now recognises technology (Section 47 (2) of the Act), and there are clear punitive measures for the non-usage of accreditation devices on election day,” he said. Chairman, Board of Electoral Institute (BEI), Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, said INEC was determined to ensure that every valid vote counts and the will of the people prevails in this year’s general elections. | INEC, BVAS, PVCs, Director-General of The Electoral Institute (TEI), Sa’ad Idris, Chairman, Board of Electoral Institute (BEI), Prof. Abdullahi Zuru | Page 7 | 2 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 7th February 2023 | PDP: APC, Tinubu in N22.5bn Naira Swap for Vote Buying | The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged plans by the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu to swap N22.5 billion stashed old naira notes to new ones in Kano State. But the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the APC has challenged the PDP to provide evidence that the ruling party planned to swap such amount of old notes to the new ones. National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement yesterday said the intended swapping of N22.5 billion stashed old naira notes to new ones in Kano State, was part of a desperate move to actualise APC vote buying plans in the elections. He said information available to the party revealed that this act by the APC, which was responsible for the biting cash scarcity was allegedly being coordinated in the North West region of the country by two APC State governors, who ironically have been vocal in the lamentation over the prevailing cash crunch. The main opposition party further alleged that there was intelligence that the arrangement had been concluded by APC leaders to move a substantial part of the old naira notes from Kano to Lagos State between today and tomorrow for the purposes of swapping them with new ones. “The PDP has been made aware that the N22.5 billion in old N1000 notes was allegedly kept in a Kano State Government facility before being moved to a particular old generation and a certain new generation bank, where the regional heads were contacted by the APC Presidential Campaign to swap the old notes with new ones. Further information revealed that the cash is being warehoused by the Tinubu Campaign for vote buying in Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Jigawa and Sokoto States. A particular APC State governor is reported to have taken delivery of N500 million new Naira notes to actualise the vote buying plot,” Ologunagba said. The PDP, therefore, alerted the security agencies and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of this nefarious activity by APC leaders, which it said was bringing untold hardship to Nigerians. Ologunagba added: “Our party demands an immediate action to stop APC in this criminal act as well as to recover the money and make the new Naira notes available to the public.” But replying the PDP, the Director Media and Publicity, APC PCC, Bayo Onanuga, said it was not enough to dish out cock and bull stories in the name of press releases and therefore challenged the party to provide evidence, stressing also that making senseless allegations every passing day has become the hallmark of the PDP campaign. Onanuga noted: “Let them provide the evidence if they uncovered such. It is not enough to dish out cock and bull stories in the name of press releases. Making senseless allegations every passing day, which has become the hallmark of PDP campaign is not how to win election. We challenge PDP to bring out any evidence of their latest allegation otherwise the party of looters should hide its ugly face in perpetual shame.” | Allegations, Vote Buying, Naira Scarcity, Effect of Naira Scarcity on Elections | Page 1 & 9 | 2 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 7th February 2023 | Elections: INEC Commences Training for 1,265,227 Personnel | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it has commenced training for the 1,265,227 personnel engaged to conduct the forthcoming elections. INEC National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye disclosed this yesterday, in Lagos, at the commission’s Voter Education and Publicity Training on Strategic Communication. He said there was no doubt that the training was germane given the assurances by the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, that the Commission was poised to organise free, fair, transparent, verifiable and inclusive election. Okoye said it was also important against the backdrop of the coming into force of a new Electoral Legal Framework for the conduct of elections and the Commission’s commitment to infuse technology in the electoral process. He noted that being Heads of Departments and Public Affairs Officers, it was their responsibility to advise the Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) and Electoral Officers on the best way to communicate policies of the Commission, its technological innovations and issues in the conduct of elections. Okoye stressed that their role, therefore, was important in getting Nigerians to understand the policies, programs and procedures of INEC during the general election and thereafter. Okoye explained that the use of the BVAS for voter verification and authentication was a mandatory provision of Section 47(2) of the Electoral Act and every registered voter must undergo the process of accreditation. He stressed that the Commission would also upload Polling Unit level results (Form EC8A) and the accreditation data to the INEC Result Viewing Portal, which he said was also a mandatory provision of section 50, 60 and 64 of the Electoral Act 2022. Okoye stated: “For the 2023 general election, the Commission will recruit 707, 384 Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers, about 17, 685 Supervisory Presiding Officers, 9,620 Collation/Returning Officer, as well as 530,538 Polling Unit Security Officials, making a total of 1,265,227. “All these categories of staff are undergoing training and the training of others will commence in a few days.” | Training for election Staff, INEC, INEC National Comissioner for Voter Education, Barr. Festus Okoye | Page 8 | 2 | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | 7th February 2023 | Intersociety writes INEC to brief Nigerians on preparedness for credible elections | International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enumerate measures in place for credible and transparent elections. It noted that the gateway to popular, credible and inclusive polls is “massive enfranchisement of citizens of voting age.” The group, therefore, advised the electoral umpire to ensure enfranchisement of all prospective voters “without discrimination as to ethnicity, religion, place of birth, gender and class of the citizens of voting age.” In a petition to INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, which was routed through the commission’s National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, Intersociety demanded the state by state breakdown of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) distributed across the federation from December 12, 2022 to February 5, 2023. In the request dated February 6, the rights group further inquired: “How many of the 20 million uncollected PVCs since 2019 (as disclosed on May 31 2022 by Mohammed Haruna, INEC National Commissioner for FCT, Nasarawa, Plateau and Kaduna) and 9.5 million uncollected PVCs since 2022 were distributed across the country as at February 5, 2023? “How many of the newly printed four million PVCs for registered citizens, who newly transferred their PVCs, were distributed across the country on state by state basis as at February 5, 2023? What is the total remaining number of the uncollected PVCs since 2019 and those of 2023 in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory as at February5, 2023? What is the ethno-religious and gender percentage of the distributed PVCs and their remainder as at February 2023?". | International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, intersociety, INEC, Petition | Page 4 | 2 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 7th February 2023 | EFCC Arrests Abuja Bank Manager For ‘Hoarding N29m New Notes’ | The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a bank manager for allegedly hoarding new naira notes. There has been crisis across the country over the scarcity of the new notes as thousands of Nigerians spend hours across ATMs and banking halls, just to withdraw money. While announcing a new deadline for the circulation of old naira notes, Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said the apex back was being sabotaged. He also disclosed that the bank had enlisted the services of anti-graft agencies to checkmate saboteurs. While announcing a new deadline for the circulation of old naira notes, Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said the apex back was being sabotaged. He also disclosed that the bank had enlisted the services of anti-graft agencies to checkmate saboteurs. The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) had last announced the arrest of a bank manager frustrating the circulation of the new naira. On Monday, Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman, announced that the agency sent its men across banks in Abuja and the manager of bank was arrested for refusing to allow loading of new notes into the bank’s ATM despite having N29million of the new notes in the bank. According to Uwujaren, when the discovery was made, EFCC officials ensured that the money was circulated among customers who had spent hours in queues without getting the new notes, while the manager was arrested. He said, “This discovery, which indicates a sabotage of the government’s monetary policy by some banks, was made by the EFCC in continuation of the ongoing surveillance and visit to banks across the country to access their vaults and verify whether they were deliberately refusing to dispense the redesigned Naira notes. “More than five bank branches were covered today by the operatives in Abuja. Similar exercises were ongoing in Zonal Commands across the country. The operation will continue until normalcy is restored to the banking system. Nigerians finding it difficult to access their funds at any bank and suspects foul play should contact the commission, for immediate intervention.” | EFCC, Arrests for hoarding new Naira notes, New CBN policy | Page 5 | 2 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 7th February 2023 | 5 Injured As Thugs Attack PDP Meeting In Gombe | At least five persons were injured on Saturday night following an attack on the residence of a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe, Alhaji Salisu Abdulaziz, alias Mr B. Abdul’aziz was a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) before he defected to the PDP. He convened a meeting for women and youths in his residence in the Jekadafari area of Gombe metropolis when thugs invaded and dispersed the gathering. Narrating the incident yesterday to newsmen, Abdul’aziz said the thugs “attacked women, youths and men attending the meeting. They vandalised my house, broke my gate and all electrical bulbs, as well as my windows. We were lucky that the police were quick to intervene and calm the situation.” When contacted, the Gombe police spokesman, ASP Mahid Mu’azu Abubakar, confirmed the incident, saying at least five people were injured and were evacuated by the police to the hospital. He added that the police were yet to make any arrest, saying the case was still under investigation. Similarly, thugs on Monday disrupted an All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign in Omuma LGA of Rivers State. It was gathered that the thugs, in the early hours of Monday, stormed the Umunachi community rally ground and pulled down canopies and vandalised vehicles and chairs. Witnesses said the few police officers on ground were overpowered by the thugs. The state’s APC campaign organisation spokesman, Sogbeye Eli, in a statement, accused a prominent member of PDP in the area of sponsoring the thugs. However, the PDP in Rivers State denied claims by the APC that its members were behind the disruption of the proposed rally. The party, through its spokesman, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, urged the public to disregard the unsubstantiated allegation, saying the crisis, which was community-based, was triggered by the unlawful arrest of a young man who was not a politician. Also, the home of PDP’s Social Organising Secretary in Akpabuyo LGA of Cross River, Elder Francis Ekeng, was vandalised by thugs who also stabbed his gateman. The incident happened on Sunday evening when the politician and his family members were yet to return from church service. Witnesses said the thugs were armed with machetes, planks, irons and guns. A family source said, “They forced open Ekeng’s gate, manhandled the gateman and stabbed him all over. We doubt if the gateman will survive.” Phone calls to the state’s police spokesman, Irene Ugbo, were not responded to as at the time of filing this report. | Electoral Violence, Gombe State, Rivers State, Attacks on PDP, Attacks on APC | Page 11 | 2 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 1st February 2023 | INEC Takes Delivery Of Materials In Benue, Nasarawa | Ahead of the general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has commenced the distribution of non-sensitive materials to all the 13 local government areas of Nasarawa State. The commission on Tuesday also confirmed receiving sensitive and non-sensitive materials for the elections in Benue State. Nasarawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Uthman Ajidagba, while inspecting the vehicles hired for conveying the materials from INEC state headquarters in Lafia on Tuesday, stated that the items were expected to arrive at the local government offices of the commission early enough before the elections. He explained that the deployment of the non-sensitive materials which is the second level was to allow timely distribution to Registration Area Centres as well as Electoral Wards across the state. Dr Ajidagba disclosed that the non-sensitive materials include mats, ballot boxes, voters’ cubicles and election bags. In Benue state, INEC’s Public Affairs Officer, Terkaa Andyar, while responding to questions from journalists in Makurdi said: “We have received ballot boxes and sleeping mats which will be used in Registration Area Centers, (RACs). “We have also received the voting cubicles and other consumables such as ink pads, stamps, and calculators among others. We have received the Biomodal Voter Accreditation System, (BIVAS) and other forms that will be used before and on election days.” | INEC commences distribution of non-sensitive materials, Benue State, Nasarawa State | Page 10 | 1 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 1st February 2023 | Bauchi Guber Campaign: One Dead, Another Injured From Gunshots – Police | The Bauchi State Police Command has confirmed that one person was shot dead while another was injured as a result of gunshots allegedly fired by the escort in a convoy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate on Monday. But the APC denied carrying out the shooting. Police Public Relations Officer (PPR), SP Mohammed Ahmed Wakil, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with newsmen in Bauchi on Tuesday. He said: “What happened last Monday around 8:30 pm was that the gubernatorial candidate of the APC Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar was on his way from Dambam to Akuyam for a campaign. On reaching Akuyam town his entourage was attacked and his escort opened fire where two persons Saleh Garba 35 old and Yakubu Yunusa 20-year-old all from Akuyam Village were shot and were evacuated to Federal Medical Center Azare for treatment. Wakil further said: “Today (Tuesday) we received a confirmation that one of them was dead while receiving treatment,” adding that the Commissioner of Police Aminu Alhassan ordered for discreet investigation of the incident. But reacting to the incident in an interview with journalists, the Director, of media, and communications to Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, Alhaji Salisu Barau, said that they did not attack anyone, adding however, that “it was the opposition that attacked us.” “I was not there but from the information we gathered, we were able to confirm from the incident that our people were attacked and about 15 to 20 cars were smashed. Some people from our own side got injured.” he said. | Bauchi State Gubernatorial candidate of the APC Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, Election Violence | Page 10 | 1 | |
| This Day Live | 1st February 2023 | Lingering Fuel Scarcity may Negatively Impact Polls Arrangements, Says INEC Chair | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that the lingering fuel scarcity may affect the arrangements of the commission negatively especially on election day. The National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this Tuesday at a sensitisation meeting on the implementation of the commission’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and other unions ahead of the forthcoming elections. He said the meeting with the unions was aimed at achieving two objectives – first is to put finishing touches for the implementation of the MoU signed between the commission and the unions about two months ago and to conclude the modalities for the certification of vehicles by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), in the light of the emphasis placed on the safety of election personnel and materials. The chairman noted that the issue of logistics has been a perennial problem in election administration in Nigeria, adding that that was why for three electoral cycles, INEC has collaborated with the road transport unions to address the problem. His words: “For the 2023 general election, the commission has included the Marine Workers Union of Nigeria for efficient maritime transportation. The time has come to stop all excuses and provide effective logistics to ensure hitch-free arrangement for the 2023 general election. Nigeria should not wait for the arrival of personnel and materials at the polling units. Rather, we should be there waiting for the arrival of voters. “We believe that this is achievable. Recent elections have shown that working in partnership with the unions and other stakeholders, we can achieve these objectives. And this is our patriotic duty and we should all make the necessary sacrifices in the national interest.” Yakubu noted that the commission was aware that the task was enormous, stressing that election is the largest deployment a nation periodically undertakes and mobilization of vehicles for election is a large and complex exercise. Happily, your members are spread across the country. Therefore, vehicles conveying personnel and materials will not travel long distances. In fact, all movements should be within a state and preferably within local government areas. There should be no interstate movement.” Yakubu noted that the commission shared the concern of the unions about the lingering fuel scarcity. His words: “The commission shares your concern about the fuel situation in the country and its impact on transportation on election day. The truth is that our arrangements may be negatively affected by the non availability of products. “For this reason, the commission will this afternoon meet with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited to look into ways to ameliorate the situation.” The chairman assured Nigerians that it would engage every national institution for the success of the forthcoming general election. | National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Effect of fuel scarcity on Elections | http://bit.ly/3WSE4aG | 1 | |
| Daily Trust Newspaper | 1st February 2023 | TikTok Launches Nigerian General Elections Guide In-App | As Nigeria gears up for its general elections on the 25th of February, TikTok, in partnership with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has launched product features that support its long-term vision to help Nigerians and other global users access factual and authoritative information about the Nigerian general elections. It teamed up with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and Africa Check on the project. According to the platform, the efforts are part of TikTok’s commitment to curb election misinformation and ensure that election news is disseminated responsibly by its community. Commenting on their contribution to the election hub, Ayodele Aluko, Director of Voter Education and Publicity at INEC said, “Part of INEC’s commitment in the Electoral process is to engage young people who constitute a larger part of the voting population. This collaboration with TikTok to create an election Hub where Nigerians can access credible information will help mitigate some of the greatest threats to credible elections. We strongly believe that this initiative will assist to counter misinformation, disinformation and fake news”. TikTok said it believes collaboration with various stakeholders to help strengthen its efforts to protect against harm and misuse on its platform, which is why the entertainment platform works with an array of experts and organisations to help promote safety on TikTok. “As part of the initiative to foster a safe community during this period, TikTok is committed to providing access to trustworthy and relevant information for our community through voter education resources in-app provided by the NOA.” Commenting on these combined efforts, Director General National Orientation Agency Dr Garba Abari said, “The exponential growth of the use of online platforms has led to tremendous business opportunities for influencers, brands and organisations. However, this growth has also led to challenges like fake news, hate speech, misinformation and disinformation etc. If these challenges are left unchecked, it poses a threat to the credibility of the elections and our national security and development. It is, therefore, imperative that all safety measures are put in place to protect users at this crucial time in our Nation’s history, which is why The National Orientation Agency is partnering with TikTok to promote a safe and factual space for each and every Nigerian online”. | Ayodele Aluko, Director of Voter Education and Publicity at INEC, TikTok partners on fake news for elections, Director General National Orientation Agency Dr Garba Abari | Page 14 | 1 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 1st February 2023 | INEC, NNPC Meet Over Impact of Fuel Scarcity on Elections | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said the lingering fuel scarcity may affect the movement of election materials and personnel on election days, if not addressed. The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this at a sensitisation meeting on the implementation of the commission’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and other unions ahead of the forthcoming elections. n a related development, INEC has said it would be mobilising about 100,000 vehicles and 4,000 boats for the deployment of personnel and materials to 176,846 polling units spread across 8,809 Registration Areas or electoral Wards in 774 Local Government Areas nationwide in the forthcoming elections. Yakubu disclosed this yesterday, at meeting with the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) held at the NNPC Towers, Abuja, The commission also demanded the use of NNPC land and floating mega stations nationwide to service election duty vehicles and boats. He said: “However, this objective cannot be fully accomplished without the guaranteed supply of petroleum products to facilitate the movement of vehicles and boats. In all, 93,469,008 registered voters are expected to elect a president, 28 state governors and 1,462 legislators (109 Senators, 360 members of House of Representatives and 993 members of State Houses of Assembly). The commission is mobilising about 100,000 vehicles and 4,000 boats for the deployment of personnel and materials to 176,846 polling units spread across 8,809 Registration Areas (or electoral Wards) in 774 Local Government Areas nationwide.” Yakubu restated the commission’s effort to mobilise every national institution to give Nigerians a pleasant experience on Election Day, the Commission believed that the NNPC was one of the critical institutions that could facilitate the attainment of the objective. The chairman stressed that the commission was aware of the efforts of the NNPC to ease the current situation in earnest. But the electoral body appealed to NNPC to consider the following proposals: “The use of the NNPC land and floating mega stations nationwide to service our election duty vehicles and boats. We will bear the cost of the products. By doing so, there will be guaranteed supply for elections. A special arrangement with other marketers in locations where the NNPC may not have dedicated stations; and consider other options to support our seamless operations on Election Day.” | Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Effect of fuel scarcity on election, NNPC, Mega fuel stations | Page 1 & 10 | 1 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 1st February 2023 | Again, Tinubu Attacks Buhari’s Govt, Says ‘They Met Exchange Rate at N200/$1, Now It’s N800/$1’ | The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, at the party’s presidential campaign rally in Calabar, Cross River State, slammed the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government over the depreciation of the nation’s currency. This comes few days after Tinubu criticised the government. According to Tinubu, when the government took over, the naira/dollar exchange rate was about N200 to a dollar, but it has depreciated to about N800 to the dollar on the parallel market. “Today, they moved the exchange rate from N200 to N800. If they had repaired it, if they had arrested this, we won’t be where we are today, we will be greater. “They don’t know the way, they don’t know how to think, they don’t know how to do,” the former Lagos governor said. Tinubu recently in Abeokuta, Ogun State, had attacked the federal government for the lingering fuel scarcity in the country as well as the naira redesign project which the Central Bank of Nigeria carried out with the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari. However, the former Lagos governor had denied that the outburst wasn’t targeted at the president, but the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar. Also at the Calabar rally, Tinubu promised that Cross River State woulf be converted to the tourism hub of Nigeria if he becomes the president of Nigeria after the February 25, 2023 presidential election. The APC presidential candidate said as president, he would create prosperity, create jobs and create a much stronger economy for the country. | APC Presidential Candidate, Bola Tinubu, Campaign, Cross River State, Exchange Rate | Page 1 & 10 | 1 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 1st February 2023 | Catholic Bishops Demand Probe of Alleged Plot to Manipulate Voters’ Register | The Catholic Church in Nigeria has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate alleged plot to manipulate the electoral register in different parts of Nigeria. The church urged the federal government and security agencies to work with the commission to deliver a free, fair and credible general election. The Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, while addressing journalists during the 2023 Media Parley organised by the Church in Abuja, yesterday, Very Reverend Fr Zacharia Samjumi charged political parties and their candidates to understand that elections are not do or die affair. Speaking on the issues being raised ahead of the election, Samjumi said INEC should ensure that it clears any doubt about the efficient use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the santity of the voters’ register. He said: “In order to guarantee a level field of participation for all voters, INEC has a huge burden to guarantee that BVAS will work on election day in all the 176,846 polling units across the country, as well as the efficient electronic transmission of results from the polling units. This will engender transparency and ensure trust in the electoral process. We are aware of credible allegations of manipulating the electoral register in different parts of Nigeria. “We implore INEC to investigate these allegations diligently and to ensure that to the extent that they are well-founded, anyone implicated is brought to account in a timely fashion. Furthermore, it has been discovered that multiple registrations happened alongside willful and incorrect entries of voters’ information; we implore the Commission to ensure that the necessary due diligence is observed in the accurate documentation and cleaning up the voters’ register”, he added. Samjumi said the church had observed that rather than marketing a party’s agenda and a candidate’s manifesto through issue-based campaigns and discipline of language, some political parties’ campaigns were often characterised by the use of intemperate language, the issuance of threats, character assassination and the spread of misinformation. ""We urge all Nigerians, especially politicians and their agents, to be civil, decent, and respectful in their utterances as they canvass for votes and debate the country’s future. The political parties and candidates should understand that elections are not a do-or-die affair and remember that no one is so good enough to lead another without his/her consent. The candidates should stick to their signed peace accord and call on their followers to shun violence and thuggery. Only a peaceful election can guarantee the peaceful Nigeria we desire to live in”, the Catholic church said. To this end, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria has released a Pastoral letter on the 2023 General Elections in Nigeria, focusing on the decorum and discipline required for the free, fair and credible conduct of these elections. In their document, the Bishops remind all men and women of goodwill in Nigeria that Democracy cannot thrive in any society where the rule of law is frequently breached. | Catholic Church in Nigeria, Call to investigate alleged manipulation of voters' register, INEC, BVAS, 2023 General Elections , Pastoral Letter | Page 39 | 1 | |
| This Day Newspaper | 1st February 2023 | Canada Condemns Violence against Female Politicians in Nigeria | The Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Jamie Christoff, has strongly condemned what he described as the increasing violence, harassment and intimidation targeting politically-active women in many parts of the country. The diplomat, who stated this in Abuja during the launch of a new report on “Election Security Assessment: A Gender Perspective”, said there were alarming acts of violence, harassment, and intimidation targeting politically-active women in many parts of the country. He lamented that, “This is unfortunately becoming a regular occurrence, and Canada condemns these actions in the strongest terms, of course, and with only 25 days to the general election. The safety of women as critical stakeholders in Nigeria, and the democratic process cannot be overemphasised. “This is why we strongly believe in our partnership with a lecture under the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives Programme. The High Commission of Canada is proud to partner with elector in our efforts to mitigate violence against women in the context of elections and raise public awareness on these issues as well. So, today, we look forward to reflecting on how we can collectively take action and put an end to the cycle of violence targeting politically active women, both candidates and electorates.” On the new report on “Election Security Assessment: A Gender Perspective”, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a non-governmental organisation (NGO), ElectHER, which anchored the report, Ibijoke Faborode, revealed that Nigeria has the lowest representation of women in politics compared to the rest of the world. Faborode, who spoke at the report’s launch ahead of Nigeria’s elections, said despite the progress that had been made in promoting women participation in Nigerian politics over the past decades, there were still substantial gaps to be filled. She disclosed that the factors that prevent women from participating in the electoral process were complex and required purposeful and realistic collaboration across diverse stakeholders in the country. The report revealed that failure of decision-making structures to guarantee safety and security of the female gender posed a significant threat for women in the upcoming elections. | Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Jamie Christoff, Violence, harassment and intimidation on women in politics | Page 41 | 1 | |
| This Day Live | 1st February 2023 | Elections: NBA Warns Judges, Lawyers against Professional Misconduct | The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has warned judges and lawyers against professional misconduct during litigations that may arise from the conduct of the forthcoming general elections. President of the NBA, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, gave the warning in a, “State of the Nation” address he delivered yesterday in Abuja. Maikyau observed that besides the need to guarantee the security of the lives and properties of Nigerians as they troop out to vote in the general election, the ultimate outcome of the election would largely depend on the interface between the Bench, the Bar and the Political gladiators. The NBA president was of the opinion that members of the legal profession, serving either on the Bench or at the Bar, owe Nigerians sincere and honest participation in the process. “We must do all that is legitimately within our abilities, motivated by the desire to serve the course of justice, to ensure that the relevant laws and rules, properly interpreted and applied, remain the guiding principles for our involvement in the process. While we shall stand with the courts and do everything legal to protect the integrity of the Bench against any form of intimidation by the political class, any person or group of persons, we will not hesitate to call out and pursue disciplinary action(s) against erring judicial officials. Similarly, members of the Bar who misconduct themselves while participating in the resolution of electoral disputes will face disciplinary action at the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) and the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), where Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) are involved,” he said. Meanwhile, the NBA has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for all it was doing to deliver a free, fair, and credible election to Nigerians. He urged the electoral umpire to maintain its independence while declaring the bar’s unequivocal support in helping to ward off any attempt to undermine the integrity of the electoral process and neutrality of INEC. Maikyau, however faulted the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the NBA for endorsing a candidate in the forthcoming election, stressing that NBA as a body remains neutral in the election. ""I want to say in no unclear terms that we condemn the action of the few members who embarked on such despicable and disgraceful conduct using the platform of the NBA. That declaration was not made for or with the authority of the NBA. It is disgusting and I have already instructed the First Vice President NBA who is leading the NBA Election Monitoring Group, to immediately exclude all the branches of the NBA in Akwa Ibom State from participating in the monitoring of the forthcoming election. This exclusion will be communicated to INEC forthwith and members involved in this conduct will also face disciplinary action as may be determined by the NBA. NBA is not partisan; we are not a political party, we are representatives of the people, we remain neutral and must be seen to maintain our neutrality at all times – we belong to everyone and to nobody”, he added. | Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, President of the NBA, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, Handling election disputes | http://bit.ly/3HJyLov | 1 |