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SERAP Urges INEC To Investigate Govs, Deputies Over Election Violence

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INEC Officials Held Captive Over Missing Declaration Form

 

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to quickly appoint an impartial legal representative to look into accusations of electoral violence and other electoral crimes, such as bribery, against state governors and their deputies during the recent general election.

In addition, SERAP also urged Professor Mahmood Yakubu to take swift and decisive action in carrying out the investigation.

The organization further emphasized the need for the identification of suspected perpetrators and their sponsors, and ensured their effective prosecution, without regard for their political status or affiliations.

In a letter signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, dated March 25, 2023, the organization stated that by allegedly participating in electoral violence and other electoral offences “in so blatant a fashion” suspected perpetrators and their sponsors have unequivocally violated constitutional provisions, international standards and the Electoral Act.

SERAP pointed out that Section 52 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act grants INEC the authority to request the appointment of an independent counsel to investigate allegations of electoral violence and other electoral offences, including bribery, that may have been committed by state governors and/or their deputies.

The organization further urged INEC to collaborate with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other law enforcement agencies to promptly identify any politicians and their sponsors who are suspected to be responsible for electoral violence and other electoral offences during the elections.

“Identifying, arresting, investigating and prosecuting those suspected of perpetrating electoral violence and other electoral offences during the 2023 general election would act as a deterrent against electoral violence in future elections.

“We would be grateful if immediate steps are taken to implement the recommended measures within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel INEC to comply with our request in the public interest.

“Acting swiftly to address the brazen impunity and reports of electoral violence and other electoral offences during the 2023 general election would also send a strong message to politicians that INEC under your leadership would not tolerate any infringement of the electoral process,” SERAP said.

SERAP emphasized that electoral violence poses a significant threat to free and fair elections, and is incompatible with the principles of democracy, the rule of law, transparency and accountability. The organization further stated that it is unacceptable for politicians to allegedly resort to violence as a means of disrupting the electoral process.

As reported by the Centre for Democracy and Development, violence and/or fighting occurred in multiple polling units across the country during the elections.

SERAP asserted that the violent incidents during the elections were frequently concentrated in political strongholds of the opposition or perceived opponents.

This pattern of violence suggests that the use of Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) – which is designed to prevent overvoting – may have resulted in a more coordinated effort to prevent citizens from casting their votes in opposition strongholds.

“Similar incidents of intimidation were reported in all geo-political zones,” it added.

 

 

 

 

 

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2027: Tinubu Will Beat Atiku, Obi by Wide Margin, Says Bwala

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Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has predicted that President Tinubu will defeat his major challengers by a wide margin in the 2027 presidential election.

Bwala made the prediction on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he discussed the political strength of the Tinubu administration and the state of the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said the margin of victory for Tinubu would be so wide that Nigerians would be surprised.

SEE ALSO: Tinubu Celebrates Adviser Daniel Bwala On 50th Birthday

“Let me tell you, and let me say it categorically, and I’ll be happy to come back. The margin of gap that President Bola Tinubu will give each and every one of these candidates will be so much that you won’t believe it,” Bwala said.

Explaining the basis for his prediction, Bwala pointed to the number of governors he said had aligned with the president, arguing that governors control important political structures within their respective states.

“No, I am saying—you asked me to give data now. So this is data. You used to conjecture, I speak to data,” he said.

“Since then, President Bola Tinubu has got how many governors on his side? How many governors have joined him? The governors are the chief executive officers of their respective states. They coordinate the structures of the state. They won their own election to be governors.”

Bwala said the support of the governors would translate into political structures, resources and goodwill for Tinubu ahead of the election.

“These people say, ‘We are putting our goodwill, our resources, our structure, and our support to the President.’ You multiply that by the number of people that have come to him, then you stretch it further by the people who are impacted positively by his… what do you call it? By his policy,” he added.

The presidential aide also cited what he described as progress under Tinubu since 2023.

“Then you look at how his… Before he became President, the Naira… you couldn’t trade with the Naira around the world. You can do it now!” he said.

“So these are facts, verifiable data to suggest that President Bola from 2023 to now has made a marked progress.”

Bwala Claims Atiku, Obi Have Lost Key Supporters

Bwala also turned his attention to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, who are among the prominent opposition figures expected to feature prominently in the 2027 presidential contest.

He claimed Atiku had lost a significant number of key political figures who previously worked with him.

“But in terms of the other candidates who said he will not win: Atiku Abubakar lost close to 35% of key people that you know around him,” Bwala said.

“All the governors that worked for him that time are not going to be with him, I need you to know that in case you don’t know.”
Bwala also claimed Obi had lost most of the critical figures who supported his 2023 presidential campaign.

“Peter Obi lost 75% of the critical people that carried his campaign—they’ve all disappeared,” he said.

“And some of them went to Atiku, some of them went wherever they could go to. In terms of the other candidate, they just came to mark presence there.”

‘They Lost the Election Already’

Bwala further accused some opposition politicians of displaying what he described as a “defeatist attitude” ahead of the 2027 election.

“But I’m talking of these people that you think they are making a case—what they have is what we call defeatist attitude,” he said.

“How can you in one breath say you’re winning election, and in another breath you’re already threatening Nigeria will be… there will be no Nigeria, there will be all those things?”

He added: “Even the talking points of their campaign will suggest to you that they’ve lost the victory. They lost the election already.”

Bwala Defends Tinubu’s Policies

The presidential aide also defended the administration’s policies, arguing that they were improving the lives of Nigerians, particularly those in the informal sector.

“See, how can our policy… Our policy is raising a lot of people from the doldrums,” Bwala said.

“Look at the people in the informal sector of the economy, the women… You need to see—some of these your news media have been covering it.”

He also questioned the level of engagement some opposition politicians had with ordinary Nigerians before becoming prominent political figures.

“In terms of these people you’ve mentioned, tell me the last time they were actively involved in caring about the internal… When was the last time Amechi, before today, before he was made Vice President, that he had any engagement with the masses?” he asked.

“So you can come overnight, immediately, and just start talking?”

 

 

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2027: I’ll Bring Petrol Price Down to ₦300, Says Donald Duke

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My Image Being Used As 'Young Tinubu' In Documentaries - Donald Duke

Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate, Donald Duke, has said he would bring the price of petrol down to about ₦300 per litre if elected president in the 2027 general election.

Duke disclosed this on Wednesday while explaining his proposed approach to crude oil production and domestic fuel supply.

ALSO READ: 2027: INEC Must Prove Nigerians Wrong on Election Credibility — Donald Duke

When asked about the realistic price of petrol under his presidency, the former Cross River State governor said his target would be to reduce the pump price to about ₦300 per litre.

“To bring it to about 300 Naira. I’ve told you… it sounds so outlandish, but I’ve given you the arithmetic,” Duke said.

He explained that his proposal would be based on allocating a portion of Nigeria’s crude oil production for domestic consumption and selling the remaining volume.

According to him, if the country’s daily consumption requires 600,000 barrels, that volume would be allocated for domestic use, while the remaining one million barrels would be sold.

“Because I allocate 600,000 barrels if that’s what you consume daily. Allocate that to yourself. The other one million, you can sell,” he said.

His proposal comes as the cost of petrol remains a major issue in Nigeria, with fuel prices having significant implications for transportation, businesses and household expenses.

Duke is seeking the presidency on the platform of the PRP in the 2027 general election.

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2027: INEC Must Prove Nigerians Wrong on Election Credibility — Donald Duke

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My Image Being Used As 'Young Tinubu' In Documentaries - Donald Duke

Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, Donald Duke, has challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prove to Nigerians that it can deliver a free and fair election.

Duke made the call on Wednesday while speaking about the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process and public confidence in INEC.

The former Cross River State governor said the onus was on the electoral commission to convince Nigerians that the 2027 election would be free and fair, noting that previous developments had left many citizens sceptical about INEC.

SEE ALSO: 2027: Donald Duke Reveals Why He Wants to Be Nigeria’s President

“INEC has to prove… the onus is on them actually to convince Nigerians that there will be a free and fair election,” Duke said.

He recalled the postponement of the 2019 general election, which was announced just hours before voting was scheduled to begin.

According to him, the development contributed to Nigerians’ growing distrust of the electoral commission.

Duke said INEC had assured the public of its preparedness for the election before the postponement, which was announced around 4am on election day.

He criticised the explanations given for the postponement, saying the commission should have taken responsibility for the situation.

The PRP candidate, who contested the 2019 presidential election on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), said he was on the ballot at the time but did not participate because his party was involved in court proceedings.

Duke further said the fact that the same electoral institution remains responsible for conducting elections means INEC must now work to restore public confidence.

“That same INEC, the institution still exists, so the onus is on them,” he said.

He added: “The onus is really on INEC. They’ve got to prove the skeptics wrong. But so far, their records in the past, there’s a lot to… expectations are poor.”

Duke also recalled concerns surrounding the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) during the 2023 general election.

“The last election in ’23, the BVAS suddenly stopped working. Now, he says it’s going to work. Let’s see,” he said.

The PRP candidate’s comments come as political parties and candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 general election, with INEC expected to conduct the presidential and National Assembly elections in January 2027.

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