Election News Trend October 2024

SourceDateTitleSummary of ReportSubject/CategoryPage No./Weblink
PREMIUM TIMES02-Oct-241st October Protest: Amnesty International demands release of activists detained in KanoAmnesty International has called for the immediate and unconditional release of five activists detained by the police authorities in Kano State ahead of Tuesday’s National Day of Survival protest. The rights group gave this call in a series of tweets on its office X handle on Monday, the eve of the protest, which coincides with Nigeria’s Independence Day Anniversary. The detained activists are Abdulmajid Yakubu Daudu, Yusha’u Sani Yankuzo, Amina Bello, Sani NaRogo, Comrade Anas and Comrade Abdullahi. On Monday, the police in Kano State summoned the five of them for questioning but refused to allow them to return home and confiscated their phones. The activists, who are of the Nigeria Patriotic Front Movement (NPFM), were arrested for championing the 1 October protest, tagged, National Day of Survival protest, in the state. Amnesty International said their arrest and detention show that the Nigerian government is intolerant of dissenting views. “The authorities must guarantee their safety and allow them access to lawyers and family,” parts of the statement stated. The statement also described the arrest as a disturbing pattern of attack on free speech as guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution which guarantees the citizens’ right to freedom. It added that, the arrest of the activists is a mark of “repression against people exercising their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.”AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL; KANO; PROTEST; ACTIVISTSPREMIUMTIMES
THE CABLE02-Oct-24PDP tells Federal Government to review policies suffocating NigeriansThe Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the federal government to review policies causing economic hardship in the country. In a statement on the nation’s 64th independence anniversary, the PDP said Nigeria has never had it this bad. President Bola Tinubu’s policies have driven petrol prices to record highs and depreciated the naira to record lows since he assumed the reins on May 29, 2023. The party asked Nigerians “not to surrender” in the face of “emasculating policies”. The opposition party said Nigerians should “reawaken the spirit of nationalism in defence of our democracy and national sovereignty against the emerging totalitarianism being foisted on our nation by the All Progressives Congress (APC)”. “The Independence Day celebration is not the symbolic marching at parade grounds, taking of salutes, inspection of guards and making of speeches but it is the freedom of the citizens to express themselves, pursue legitimate endeavours and freely participate in the process to choose those who lead them through an unhindered expression of their will at elections,” the statement issued by Debo Ologunagba, PDP spokesperson, reads.PDP; FG; INDEPENDENCE DAY; NIGERIA; HARDSHIP; POLICIESCABLE
THE CABLE02-Oct-24Tinubu to confer national honours on Senate President & House of Reps Speaker, their Deputies and the new CJNPresident Bola Tinubu will soon confer national honours on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN). Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives; Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president; and Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the house; will also be recipients of national honours. While Akpabio and Kekere-Ekun will be conferred with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), Abbas and Jibrin will get Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR). The deputy speaker will receive the Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) title. Tinubu made the announcement during his Independence Day anniversary broadcast on Tuesday. “The Senate President and the Chief Justice of the Federation have been conferred with the honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON),” Tinubu said. “The Deputy Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives have the honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), while the deputy speaker of the House has been awarded Commander of the Order of Niger (CON).”NATIONAL HONOURS; INDEPENDENCE DAY; SENATE; HOUSE OF REPSCABLE
THE CABLE02-Oct-24National youth conference shouldn’t be exploited for political gains,' NYCN tells FGThe National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has commended President Bola Tinubu for the planned national youth conference. On October 1, Tinubu said the conference, which will last for 30 days, will unite Nigerian youths nationwide. The president said the conference will “provoke meaningful dialogue and empower our young people to participate actively in nation-building”. In a statement, Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, NYCN president, warned against exploiting the conference for political gains. “The demand for a National Youth Conference has been a focal point for the NYCN during various engagements, particularly during the #EndBadGovernance protest, a protest that underscored the frustrations, hopes, and aspirations of young Nigerians, revealing the urgent need for a structured platform where their voices could be heard,” the statement reads. The NYCN said it had written to Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser, on the need for a critical national dialogue. “The significance of this conference cannot be overstated. It offers Nigerian youths a vital opportunity to voice their grievances, propose actionable solutions, and actively participate in the governance process,” NYCN said.
NIGERIAN YOUTH; NYCN; FG; DIALOGUECABLE
THIS DAY02-Oct-24MORE PROMISES: Governor Douye Diri says he will build 1,000 housing units in 8 LGAs and tackle water supply challenge before the end of his second tenure as Bayelsa marks 28 years.Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has promised that his administration would construct no fewer than 1,000 affordable housing units across the eight local areas of the state. Governor Diri also assured of provision of pipe-borne water in Yenagoa, the state capital, and environs in his second term in office. The Bayelsa helmsman stated this on Tuesday in a state broadcast to commemorate Nigeria’s 64th independence and 28 years of the state’s creation. He said his administration was committed to building a new Bayelsa where every citizen had access to quality education, affordable healthcare and to create economic opportunities to improve the general well-being of the people. The governor who noted it was his first broadcast to the state since his inauguration for a second term, expressed gratitude to Bayelsans for overwhelmingly re-electing him and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo. He expressed the commitment to pursue development issues as well as address environmental challenges like soot pollution, flooding, and oil spillage that had plagued the state. His words: “We are filled with renewed optimism and a steadfast commitment to building a new Bayelsa. A Bayelsa where every citizen has access to quality education, healthcare is affordable and reliable, economic opportunities abound, jobs are plentiful, businesses flourish and communities are empowered to achieve financial security and well-being.” He stated that in the past four years, his administration had made significant strides, particularly in peace and security, sports, education, healthcare, road infrastructure, human capacity building, empowerment and skills acquisition. “These are all a testament to the power of unity, cooperation, and a shared vision for development,” he further stated, adding that in his second term, the administration continued to embark on key projects, which include building an iconic state secretariat to give Yenagoa a facelift as part of its urban renewal agenda.
BAYELSA; DOUYE DIRI; APC; PDP;THISDAY
DAILY TRUST03-Oct-24Rivers LG Election: Governor Fubara declares Thursday & Friday public holidays to allow residents travel for the electionGovernor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has declared Thursday and Friday as public holidays to enable residents of the state to travel to their various communities ahead of the Saturday local government elections. The governor also announced restriction of vehicular movement from midnight on Friday, October 4 to 5pm on the election day. Governor Fubara made the declaration in a statewide broadcast from Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday. He said following the expiration of the three-year tenure of the chairmen and councilors of the 23 local government councils on June 17, 2023, he lawfully instituted caretaker committees to temporarily administer the councils pending when the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) would conduct the LG election in the state. The governor said as a move to entrench sustainable democracy and good governance in the country’s local government system, “the Supreme Court by its judgement in SC/CV/343/2024: A-G Federation v A-G Abia State and 35 Ors delivered on 11th July 2024 effectively outlawed the administration of our local government councils with unelected officers and made several orders including the immediate stoppage of statutory allocations to Local Government Councils without democratically elected local government councils.” He said following Mr President’s intervention, the period for compliance with the Supreme Court’s judgment was graciously extended by three months, which will expire on October 31, 2024. He said, “On the strength of these positive developments, I directed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to take definite steps to conduct local government elections for the 23 local government councils of Rivers State. “Acting per this directive the RSIEC has since fixed and concluded all arrangements to conduct the local government council elections on Saturday, 5th October 2024.RIVERS; LGA; PUBLIC HOLIDAY; FUBARADAILYTRUST
DAILY TRUST03-Oct-24Is defection the cost of promotion at NASS? - Eyebrows raised as Chris Nkwonta defects to APC and immediately becomes Chairman of the South East Dev. CommissionMember representing Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency Abia state, Rep. Chris Nkwonta, has defected from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Following his defection, he was made the Chairman of the newly constituted House Committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC). Earlier, Tajudeen Abbas, the speaker, announced defection of the lawmaker but did not give any reason. As members of the APC welcomed him into their fold, the Deputy Minority Leader, Rep. Aliyu Sani Madaki (NNPP, Kano), raised a point of order. Madaki asked the Speaker to declare Nkwonta’s seat vacant, citing Section 58 of the 1999 constitution as amended which he said provides that, a member can only leave the party on whose platform he was elected platform if there is crisis, However, Abbas ruled him out of order saying that, based on the information available to him, there is a faction in the PDP.PDP; APC; NASS; SOUTH EAST; NASSDAILYTRUST
DAILY TRUST03-Oct-24House of Reps decry alleged discrimination In National Honours as they demand GCON for Speaker AbbasThe House of Representatives has expressed dissatisfaction with what it described as discrimination against the Green Chamber. This followed the conferment of national honours on the leadership of the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu. During plenary on Wednesday, the House said it is unacceptable for Tinubu to confer the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), while reserving Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) for Abbas. The House passed the resolution following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the Deputy Spokesperson of the House, Rep. Philip Agbese. According to the motion, there is an ongoing and inappropriate culture of discrimination against the House of Representatives, often portrayed as inferior to the Senate, through language that consistently refers to the Senate as the “upper chamber” and the House of Representatives as a “lower chamber.” It said, “This terminology misrepresents the legal status of both chambers and diminishes the House’s standing... This discriminatory practice was once again evidenced during the recent conferment of National Honours on the leadership of the National Assembly by Mr. President. While expressing our gratitude to Mr. President for recognising and honouring the leadership of the National Assembly. “We note that the conferment of the title of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on the President of the Senate and the conferment of the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) on the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Deputy President of the Senate perpetuates the inappropriate subordination of the Speaker to the President of the Senate.

GCON; CFR; NASS; NATIONAL HONOURDAILYTRUST
PREMIUM TIMES03-Oct-24PDP says voters are threatening to destroy PVCs over 2024 Edo election resultsAn official of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that many residents of Edo State are threatening to destroy their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) over the alleged “manipulation” of the 2024 governorship election result in the state. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the off-cycle governorship election held on 21 September in the South-South state. The PDP and its candidate have since rejected the election results. In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday night, the PDP State Collation agent, Tony Iyoha, said many residents of Edo were threatening to destroy their PVCs because the poll was allegedly rigged in favour of the APC. “I have travelled across the state since the results were declared. A lot of people are threatening to destroy their voters’ cards. This means that they won’t vote any more. They saw it (electoral malpractice) in 2023. This is 2024,” Mr Iyoha said. The PDP agent said the Edo people were not celebrating the election outcome because INEC “declared as winner who they did not vote for.”PDP; APC; #EDO2024; EDO GUBERNATORIALPREMIUMTIMES
PREMIUM TIMES03-Oct-24Constitution Amendment: Atiku writes Senate seeking rotational presidency, single term of 6 years for President and more.Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has proposed a series of amendments to the 1999 Constitution, including the rotation of the presidential power among the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. A statement by his media office on Wednesday said Atiku made the proposals in a memorandum dated 30 August to the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Constitution Review. The statement said the memorandum also contains recommendations like procedures for the educational qualification of candidate(s) in elections and internal democracy in political parties. The presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election seeks the amendment of Section 130 (1) of the constitution to read ” “the office of the president shall rotate among the six geopolitical zones of the Federation on a single term of Six Years flowing between the North and South on the single term of Six Years respectively.” He also wants the amendment of Section 135 (2) of the document to read “subject to the provisions of the subsection (1), the President shall vacate his office at the expiration of a period of Six Years commencing from the date.”CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT; PRESIDENT; ROTATIONAL GOVERNMENT; SENATEPREMIUMTIMES
THE CABLE03-Oct-24Crowd besieges PDP secretariat in Rivers State over LG polls, chanting: ‘Say no to LGA election. RSIEC must obey court judgment. SIM must obey court judgment’.A crowd has besieged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, ahead of the local government election slated for October 5. There is snarling traffic on the route to the secretariat and on adjoining roads. Security operatives have also been deployed to the scene to prevent a breakdown of law and order. Some of the protesters are wielding placards and banners, while chanting solidarity songs and slogans along the busy highway. There has been palpable tension in Rivers due to the prolonged turf war and supremacy battle between Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers; and Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT). The local government election is now being viewed in both camps as a referendum on who really controls the grassroots. The Wike camp is seemingly opposed to the conduct of the election on Saturday. On September 30, a federal high court in Abuja barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the 2023 voter register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). On October 2, INEC said it had not released the voter register to RSIEC for the conduct of the election, in deference to the judgment of the federal high court. However, Fubara has vowed to proceed with the election and has declared Thursday and Friday as public holidays.
RIVERS; LGA; PUBLIC HOLIDAY; FUBARA; APC; PDP; APPCABLE
THIS DAY04-Oct-24What is the possibility of the Rivers State LG elections holding tomorrow? Tension rises as Fubara accuses Police of breaking into RSIEC Office in failed attempt to cart away materialsRivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has revealed an attempt by the officials of Nigerian Police to cart away materials meant for the October 5 Local Government elections. In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Chukwudi Nelson, Governor Fubara alleged that the operation was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), to take over the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) at about 1am on Friday. According to the statement issued Friday morning, Fubara said “The rogue policemen were said to have attempted to scale through the gates and strongroom of the Commission to cart away sensitive Electoral materials meant for the conduct of Saturday’s local government election in the State. “The deployment was said to have been ordered by the Inspector-General of Police. However, the evil plots of the rogue policemen and DC Ops were botched when vigilant security officials alerted principal officers of the Commission and relevant government authorities, who immediately informed the Governor of the development”. Fubara disclosed that immediately the information got to him, he led a team of government officials, lawmakers from the National Assembly and State House of Assembly, top political stakeholders, and other leaders to storm the facility.RIVERS; LGA; ELECTIONS; FUBARATHISDAY
THIS DAY04-Oct-24Soludo swears in the 21 newly elected Local Government ChairmenAnambra State Governor, Professor Chaukwuma Soludo, has sworn in the 21 newly elected local government chairmen of the state. The chairmen, who are all from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), were last weekend elected during council elections that was conducted by Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC). Soludo, while swearing them in at the Executive Chambers of the Anambra State Government House in Awka charged them to ensure the development of their respective council areas. He said: “I charge you to champion and deepen development at the grassroot level. “I congratulate you on your election victories, and I emphasise to you all the need for collaboration between the state government and the local governments to ensure that the state continues to experience its current growth and progress trajectory. “You must focus on providing basic amenities to the people and improving the lives of the citizens in your various constituencies. “Of course, you know the importance of accountability and transparency in the handling of public resources. I advise you to avoid corrupt practices and ensure that public funds are used judiciously to benefit the people.”ANAMBRA; SOLUDO; LOCAL GOVERNMENTTHISDAY
THIS DAY04-Oct-24Grass to Grace? - Kwankwaso receives throngs of defectors from APC to NNPP, says 2027 will have state captors running helter skelter.Former presidential candidate of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said the wind of change is gathering momentum, and it would chase away bad leaders in the 2027 elections. Kwankwaso made the assertion yesterday, when he received many defectors from All Progressives Congress (APC) to NNPP at his residence in Kano. He said the security operatives and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would run helter-skelter at the dawning of the new Nigeria. While stating that the people had suffered enough because of bad governance, Kwankwaso said, “Nigerians and northerners, in particular, have suffered enough and no amount of pressure, fear and deceit will prevent them from changing the situation. “Regardless of their belief that they would use security and INEC in the forthcoming elections, Nigerians are fed up with them and will surely fight to change the narrative. “When the wind of change blows, you will see those who think they have security and INEC running helter-skelter, and Nigerians will make the right choice of those who will address their unfortunate situation.” The former governor told the new NNPP members, “I am glad that you have now realised the imperatives of leaving your former party, having experienced the prevailing unfortunate happenings in the country, such as insecurity, poverty, hunger and starvation.NNPP; APC; 2027 ELECTIONS; KWANKWASOTHISDAY
THIS DAY04-Oct-24Tinubu presents 4 Tax Reform Bills to National Assembly -- seeks to rename FIRS to Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), provide a consolidated fiscal framework for taxation in Nigeria, provide a concise legal framework for the administration of tax laws and establish the Joint Revenue Board, Tribunal & Ombudsman officePresident Bola Tinubu yesterday sent four official communications to the two chambers of the National Assembly, requesting the federal parliament to consider and approve his tax reform bills. One of the requests sought the renaming of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) as the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS). The request was contained in Tinubu’s letter read during plenary by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. Titled: “The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, the proposed legislation, according to Tinubu, “seeks to repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, No. 13, 2007 and establishes the Nigeria Revenue Service, to assess, collect and account for revenue accruable to the government of the federation.” The letter also contained another request titled: “The Nigeria Tax Bill which seeks to provide a consolidated fiscal framework for taxation in Nigeria.” It also contained “The Nigeria Tax Administration Bill,” which seeks to provide a clear and concise legal framework for the fair, consistent and efficient administration of all the tax laws to facilitate ease of tax compliance, reduce tax disputes and optimise revenue.”TINUBU; TAX REFORM BILLS; NATIONAL ASSEMBLYTHISDAY
PREMIUM TIMES04-Oct-24#EndBadGovernance: Three more protesters charged with treason have been released as efforts deepen to facilitate the release of othersThree of the 10 persons charged with treason over the August #EndBadGovernance protest have been released from detention, after weeks of arduous efforts to meet the bail conditions imposed on them by the trial court. The trio, Michael Adaramoye aka Lenin, Mosiu Sadiq, and Opaluwa Eleojo, were released from the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Kuje, Abuja, on Thursday, after fulfilling their bail conditions and completing all necessary paperwork. They joined three other co-defendants who were released earlier. Their lawyer and human rights activist, Abubakar Marshall of Falana and Falana chambers, confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday. Mr Marshall noted that “efforts are being made to get the remaining five persons released,” who include one other individual later charged separately in connection with the protest. One of the newly released defendants, Mr Adaramoye, told PREMIUM TIMES that he was happy to be out, and was “looking forward to the freedom of the remaining five comrades.” “The struggle continues, as we look forward to the release of Daniel Akande and the remaining four others,” Mr Adaramoye added. The defendants were detained for weeks in police custody before their arraignment before the Federal High Court in Abuja on 2 September, following which the court ordered them to be remanded in the Kuje prison. They were in the Kuje prison up till 11 September when the trial court granted them bail in the sum of N10 million each. None of the defendants could immediately meet the bail conditions.
TREASON; #ENDBADGOVERNANCE; PROTESTERSPREMIUMTIMES
DAILY TRUST04-Oct-24Media goes awash as sacked APC Chairman in Rivers brazenly admits to election rigging.Chief Tony Okocha, sacked chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, has publicly admitted his involvement in rigging local council elections during the administration of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Okocha, who served as Amaechi’s Chief of Staff from 2007 to 2015, revealed this while appearing on Channels TV. He said he should be compensated for blowing the whistle on the issue rather than prosecuted. He claimed that the newly reinstated chairman of APC in the state, Emeka Beke, was also involved in ballot manipulation. According to him, “On the issue of whether I rigged the election, I did not hide it. I should be praised as a whistleblower”. However, when he was interrupted that election riggers should be in jail, Okocha exclaimed, “If you are an armed robber yesterday, and today you came to confess that you stole something somewhere yesterday. Are you saying that the law will now take a retroactive effect? The answer is no”. He further explained that his public admittance to active involvement in election rigging was to prevent others from using the same tactics. “When you have an idea of a thing and you see the other person also wants to use the tactics that you already know. You will shout. That is the reason why we went to court”.APC; RIVERS CRISIS; ELECTION RIGGING; LOCAL GOVERNMENTDAILYTRUST
TRIBUNE ONLINE04-Oct-24NASS LP caucus demands withdrawal of LG Joint Account Bill in Anambra StateThe Labour Party Caucus in the National Assembly on Thursday expressed grave displeasure over ongoing moves by Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State to enact joint State and Local Government joint Account law, in circumventing the landmark judgement delivered by the Supreme Court on Local Government financial autonomy. The Caucus led by Senator Tony Nwoye who spoke during a press briefing in Abuja, also tasked the Speaker and members of Anambra State House of Assembly to toe the path of honour by stopping forthwith further consideration of the obnoxious Executive bill for posterity’s sake. The federal lawmakers who spoke in turns argued that the provisions of the proposed Bill titled: ‘Anambra State Local Government Administration Law, 2024’ currently at the Committee stage, is subservient to the landmark Supreme Court rulings as well as extant provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).LG AUTONOMY; NASS; LP; ANAMBRATRIBUNE