Politics
PDP Demands Resignation Of INEC Chairman, Calls For International Sanctions
The Peoples Democratic Party has called for the resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, accusing him of violating the Electoral Act and manipulating the February 25 presidential election results.
The party also urged the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Directorate of State Services to investigate the alleged electoral violations and manipulations by INEC, with a view to prosecuting Yakubu and other INEC officials for electoral offences.
The PDP disclosed this at a press conference held at its headquarters on Friday in Abuja.
Recall that BIZTELLERS had reported how INEC declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, President-elect which the opposition PDP and Labour Party rejected over claims of numerous electoral violations.
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, stated at the press conference that the party demanded an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission into allegations that certain top officials of INEC were heavily compromised financially to manipulate the electoral process.
Ologunagba said, “The PDP demands that the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, immediately steps down from office, having abused the confidence and dashed the hope of millions of Nigerians as well as political parties and the international community for a free, fair and credible election.
“His exit as chairman will be the first step towards sanitising the electoral commission and restoring the confidence of Nigerians especially as the nation prepares for the rescheduled March 18, 2023 governorship and state assembly elections.” He added.
During the press conference, the PDP spokesperson also accused INEC of attempting to reconfigure the BVAS devices to prevent the party and its candidate from accessing vital information needed for their case at the Presidential Election Tribunal.
He claimed that INEC’s chairman also intentionally sabotaged the uploading and transmission of results directly from polling units in favor of the APC. The party provided pictorial and video evidence of compromised result sheets in various parts of the country to support its claim.
He further questioned why the INEC chairman hastily declared manipulated results that were not transmitted directly from the polling units to INEC’s server/website, ignoring objections and complaints raised during collation, in violation of electoral provisions. He specifically cited violations of Section 64 (4) (a) and (b), 64 (6) (a)-(d), and 65 (1) (c) of the Electoral Act 2022.
Ologunagba also noted that the INEC chairman’s violation of the Electoral Act, as well as the commission’s regulations and guidelines for the election, was a betrayal of the trust Nigerians had in him and the commission to deliver a free, fair, and credible election. He emphasized that Yakubu’s actions constituted a serious electoral offense.
He expressed concern that Yakubu’s continued stay in office could facilitate the suppression, tampering, and destruction of critical evidence needed to expose INEC’s infractions and violations at the Presidential Election Tribunal.
He further noted that the PDP had taken note of reports by various international bodies condemning INEC’s leadership for undermining democracy during the conduct of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections.
The PDP therefore called on Nigerians to remain calm but vigilant as the party pursues legal action to reclaim its mandate at the Presidential Election Tribunal.
The party also appealed to the international community to impose sanctions, including travel restrictions, on INEC chairman and other top officials for their role in “compromising democracy” in Nigeria.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has announced the appointment of six new officials to pivotal positions within his administration, effective from November 15, 2024.
The announcement was made public on Friday in a communiqué signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhilor.
The newly appointed officials bring a wealth of experience to their roles and include: Dr. Emmanuel Iyamu as Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
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Dr. Iyamu, an accomplished academic and business leader, holds a Doctorate in Petroleum Resources and an MBA. Prior to his appointment, he served as the CEO of Gabbem Integrated Services Ltd.
Lucky Enehita-Inegbenehi as Managing Director of the State Waste Management Board. Enehita-Inegbenehi is a seasoned professional with expertise in human resources and leadership.
He previously led multiple businesses, including JEI Visions Service Apartments and JEI Visions Iron Metals.
CP Friday Ibadin (retd.) as Corps Commander of the Edo State Security Corps Governance. A former Commissioner of Police with international experience, including an assignment with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, Ibadin is renowned for his security expertise.
Stainless Ijeghede as Managing Director of the Edo State Traffic Management Agency. Ijeghede, a mechanical engineer, previously worked in the petroleum sector with Shell Petroleum, focusing on well engineering and safety.
Lucky Eseigbe as Managing Director of the Edo State Public Building and Maintenance Agency. A legal expert with an LL.B and LL.M from Ambrose Alli University, Eseigbe has vast experience in legislative consulting and legal advising.
Emmanuel Ehidiamen Okoebor as Commissioner for Finance-designate. With over 25 years in the banking industry, Okoebor has held senior roles, including Assistant General Manager at United Bank for Africa (UBA).
He is also a registered member of COREN and the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
As the build up to the Ondo State’s off season gubernatorial election continues, the umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has updated the list of contestants by adding the Labour Party’s Olorunfemi Ayodele Festus.
The umpire made the disclosure on Friday in a statement on its verified handle on micro-blogging site, X, where it made it clear that it was acting in compliance with an order of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.
The statement was issued under the subject, ‘update on the list of candidates for the 2024 Ondo governorship election’.
It reads, “The Commission was yesterday 14th November 2024 served with the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgement of the Court of Appeal which set aside the judgement of the Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja Division. The FHC, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1105/2024 had on 27th September 2024 ordered the Commission to accept Olusola Ebiseni as the candidate of the Labour Party for the 2024 Ondo State Governorship election.
“However, in the appeal with reference number CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024 filed by the Labour Party, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division struck out the judgement of the FHC for lack of jurisdiction.
“In obedience to the court order, the Commission has restored Olorunfemi Ayodele Festus, whose name was first published as the Labour Party candidate for the 2024 Ondo State Governorship election and uploaded same to our website for public information.”
In the quest to ramp up the push against the negative effects of climate change, Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has approved changes in the leadership of the state’s climate change team.
Consequently, Gov Adeleke directed the abolition of the office of Senior Special Assistant on Climate Change and the redeployment of the SSA on Climate Change, Prince Moruf Adedapo, out of the sub sector to the pool of SSAs.
To add bite to the changes, Gov Adeleke also directed the movement of the office of the consultant to the state on climate change and renewable energy from the Ministry of Environment to the Governor’s Office.
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Biztellers reports that with the changes, the consultant, Prof Chinwe Obuaku will henceforth be reporting to Gov Adeleke directly.
A government statement underpins these to “a strategy to give bite to the administration’s push to fast track implementation of adaptation and mitigate climate actions”.
As part of the leadership reforms, Gov Adeleke further directed that liaison between the state government and federal agencies as well as development partners on climate matters should be coordinated by the state consultant.
It was gathered that stakeholders would henceforth be relating with the state consultant on climate related matters as the office of SSA on Climate Change no longer exists.
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