Politics
Osun election: INEC Chair releases six bullet points
- It is my honour to join the convener of the National Peace Committee (NPC), Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, to welcome you to this occasion. Let me also appreciate the Chairman of the NPC and our respected former Head of State, His Excellency General Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar GCFR, whose commitment to peace and democracy in Nigeria is beyond reproach. Each time we turn to the NPC under his leadership for support, it has always responded positively. Although he is not here physically today, his message to this occasion is a further affirmation of his commitment to peaceful and credible elections in Nigeria.
- Many of you here may recall that when the NPC initiated the signing of Peace Accord by Chairmen of political parties and candidates ahead of the 2015, the focus was on Presidential elections to the exclusion of other elections. However, after the 2019 General Election, INEC and other well-meaning Nigerians appealed to the NPC to devolve the laudable initiative to major off-season elections at State level.
- In response, the NPC organized the signing of the Peace Accord ahead of the Edo State Governorship election on 15th September 2020. This was followed by the Ondo State Governorship election on 10th October 2020, the Anambra State Governorship election on 6th November 2022 and, most recently, the Ekiti State Governorship election on 18th June 2022. Despite the palpable tension in the build-up to some of these elections, they all passed off peacefully and the process adjudged to be free, fair and credible. I am glad that the NPC has sustained its support to peaceful elections and we are here again for the signing of the Peace Accord by political parties and candidates ahead of the Osun State Governorship election on Saturday 16th July 2022.
- However, the success of the Peace Accord depends on the continuous support and commitment of political parties and candidates, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies. Speaking for INEC, I wish to reiterate our commitment to transparent and credible elections. The Commission has taken every step to ensure a credible Governorship election in Osun State this weekend. As I said repeatedly on similar occasions in the past, without peace, our deployment plans; recent innovations in voter accreditation and result management; the safety of voters, election duty personnel, observers and journalists; logistic arrangement; and, ultimately, the credibility of the polls will be undermined.
- I would like to appeal to all parties, candidates and other actors to play their part in supporting the Peace Accord. It is not enough to simply sign the Peace Accord. What is more important is to abide by its letter and spirit. This is the best way to show your commitment to the implementation of the Peace Accord and appreciation for the work of the Peace Committee.
- I thank you all and may God bless the efforts of the National Peace Committee.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the outcome of the Ondo State governorship election, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of electoral malpractice, including vote-buying and result manipulation.
This was disclosed during a meeting of the PDP Governors’ Forum on Saturday in Jos, Plateau State.
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The forum, chaired by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, criticized the conduct of the election, which saw APC’s Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa secure a landslide victory for another four-year term in Alagbaka, Akure.
“We are still reviewing documents from the Ondo election, where the APC openly bought votes and manipulated results,” Mohammed said.
He urged the judiciary to “save Nigerian democracy” and called on the National Assembly to strengthen electoral laws to prevent what he described as “institutional sabotage of the people’s will.”
The PDP governors also condemned the September governorship election in Edo State, describing it as a “rape of democracy.”
The forum accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of colluding with the APC to declare its candidate the winner despite claims that the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, had secured the majority of lawful votes.
“INEC blatantly manipulated the results in favor of the APC candidate. This undermines the credibility of our electoral process,” Mohammed said.
Beyond electoral grievances, the governors urged the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) to convene a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting by February 2025.
They emphasized the need for broader consultations with stakeholders to resolve the party’s internal leadership crisis and strengthen its position as the main opposition party.
The forum reiterated its commitment to democratic values and vowed to push for electoral reforms that would restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
The Ondo governorship election has sparked a renewed call for transparency in the country’s electoral system, with the PDP vowing to challenge what it views as a subversion of democracy.
Following his observations that ‘the momentum was strong’ Matt Gaetz whom 47th POTUS elect, Donald Trump nominated for Attorney General has withdrawn.
Biztellers reports that this follows his meeting with Senate and the feedback, which included two women, represented by their attorneys, who accused him of having paid for sex.
Consequently, Gaetz placed on record his full commitment to seeing “that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history.”
His withdrawal according his statement on micro-blogging site, X, was based on his conviction that “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle”.
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In is view, “Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1”.
Gaetz wrote, “I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback – and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.
“I remain fully committed to see that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history. I will forever be honored that President Trump nominated me to lead the Department of Justice and I’m certain he will Save America.”
His backers have promptly encouraged to take his seat in the House of Representatives, having been elected to the house under the flag of the Republicans to represent Florida.
The Executive Governors from Nigeria’s South West have unanimously nominated Senator Ademola Adeleke as the chairman of the zone on the National Economic Council (NEC).
Adeleke is the Executive Governor of Osun State, southwest, Nigeria.
This, according to the Spokesperson to Governor Adeleke, Olawale Rasheed, transpired on Thursday, at a meeting of the NEC.
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He noted that the meeting reviewed the state of Nigeria’s electricity sector and resolved to engage subnational structures to address current challenges in the sector.
“The meeting particularly sought to build on the devolution of the electricity sector and its movement into the concurrent legislative list which empowers state governments to regulate the sector in their respective areas,” he stated.
Consequently, the NEC, therefore set up an ad hoc committee to review actions in the sector by state governments and explore ways to ramp up activities through coordination, Rasheed highlighted.
The full list of members of NEC’s Ad-hoc Committee on National Electrification:
- Governor of Cross Rivers State, Bassey Out – Chairman, South-South
- Governor of Katsina State, Mallam Dikko Umaru Radda – Chairman, North-West
- Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya – Chairman, North-East
- Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke – Chairman, South-West
- Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma – Chairman, South-East
- Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang – Chairman, North-Central
- Hon. Minister of Finance, Wale Edun
- Hon. Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu
- Special Adviser, NEC and Climate Change, Rukaiya El-Rufai
- Special Adviser, Power Minister, Hon. Bolaji Tunji
- MD/CEO Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu
- MD/CEO Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Jennifer Adighije
- Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazak
- NEC Secretariat
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