POLITICS
Edo Guber: PDP Accuses INEC of Doctoring BVAS to Conceal Rigging
By Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja
National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday condemned the refusal by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo State to grant it and its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, access to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines and other materials used in the September 21 Edo State Governorship election against the order of court.
The PDP accused unnamed compromised INEC officials in Edo State of using the ploy of waiting for “directives from above” to allegedly allow thugs allegedly recruited by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and some unidentified police operatives to invade the INEC office in Edo State so as to cause confusion and frustrate the PDP from accessing these sensitive materials.
The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, said that INEC’s refusal to release the materials was in brazen affront of the Order of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal Holden at Benin City, dated 29th day of September, 2024 which ordered the Commission to grant it and its candidate “unfettered access to and open up for inspection all electoral documents or any document in the custody of the National Chief Electoral Commissioner or any officer of the Commission.
The statement listed the documents and materials as the Voter Registers, Ballot papers, the BVAS machines, Forms EC25B, EC25B (i) Forms EC40A and Forms EC40C which were utilized for the conduct of the Edo State Governorship election held on the 21st September 2024.
It said the action of the INEC in Edo State “validates reports of criminal connivance of some INEC officials with the APC to obstruct the course of justice and suppress evidence of the manipulation and doctoring of election results which was clearly won by the PDP and its candidate.
“Information available to the PDP indicates that the heavily compromised INEC officials and the APC are working to alter the data in the BVAS machines, results sheets, ballot papers and other vital information in favour of the defeated APC candidate,” the statement said.
It said INEC has continued to present itself as a threat to democracy against its mandate to promote democratic principles of free, fair and credible elections in line with the Constitution and extant electoral laws.
The PDP added that since the 2023 elections INEC had proven to be in active connivance with the APC to manipulate the outcome of every election in favour of the APC in total disregard and contempt to the expressed will of the people and the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022 and INEC Guidelines for elections.
“This manipulative and provocative action by INEC and the APC is already causing apprehensions with the possibility of a breakdown of law and order as Nigerians are increasingly getting frustrated with the Commission.”
The leading opposition party called on the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to redeem the image of the commission by ensuring the immediate release of the BVAS machines, the results sheets, ballot papers and other vital materials used for the election for inspection by the PDP and its candidate in compliance with the order of the tribunal.
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The All Progressive Congress (APC) Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial district, Sen. Sunday Stephen Karimi, has disbursed over N24 million to support LG electioneering campaign activities across all the seven local government areas in his constituency.The seven local government areas include: Kabba/Bunu, Ijumu, Yagba East, Yagba West, Mopamuro, Kontokarfi/Kogi and Lokoja.
According to a statement by the Senator Karimi media team (DSSK), the fund is meant to support all the Chairmanship Candidates and their Vice, as well as all the Councilorship candidates in over 70 wards across the seven LGAs of Kogi west, towards the October 19th LG elections in Kogi State. It said N1 million was disbursed to each of the seven Chairmanship candidates, N500,000 to each of the Vice chairmanship candidates, and N200,000 to each of the over 70 councilorship candidates across the 7 LGAs in Kogi west senatorial district.The DSSK media team described Sen. Karimi as true people-centric Lawmaker who is committed to championing good governance and improving the well-being of his constituents especially at the grassroots.The DSSK Media team said: “Distinguished Senator Sunday Karimi’s generous contributions to the 7 Local Governments in Kogi west are highly commendable, especially in preparation for the forthcoming Local Government elections on October 19th.”These donations demonstrate Senator Karimi’s commitment to empowering local leaders and enhancing community development in Kogi West.”As a lawmaker representing Kogi West, senator Karimi has promised good representation, good roads, good medical facilities, empowerment, and many other dividends of democracy ¹.”His leadership and philanthropy have made a significant impact in the communities, and it is very clear that he is dedicated to serving humanity.”May Almighty God continue to guide and guard Senator Karimi’s path as he serves the people of Kogi West”.It would be recalled that Sen. Karimi handed over a newly built and well equipped military base to the Nigerian Army in Egbe, Yagba West LGA, to address rising kidnapping and banditry, and improve security in Kogi and some areas in Kwara State.The military forward operating base (FOB) was commissioned on Saturday in Egbe, by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
The leadership crisis rocking the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been resolved by the party’s Governors Forum and the Board of Trustees (BoT).This development was announced by the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Mohammed, who fielded questions from Journalists at the Private Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on his way to Ondo State for PDP governorship campaign, added that all members of the NWC have been directed to revert to the status quo before the crisis erupted last Friday. According to the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, “The crisis is over. The governors, Board of Trustees, and other organs have resolved that the NWC should revert to the status quo. They are now united.”The governor, accompanied by the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, while travelling to Ondo State for a PDP gubernatorial campaign rally, announced that suspensions from both factions had been lifted.Also speaking, Damagum confirmed that the crisis is over, adding, “The party is united, and no members of the NWC left before.”The mutual suspicion among PDP NWC members over alleged anti-party activities of the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum and the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwun boiled over last Thursday when some member almost engage in physical fight during the NWC meeting.Few hours later the National Publicity Secretary, Hon Debo Ologunagba announced the suspension of Damagum and his replacement with Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as the new Acting National Chairman.Damagum reacted by directing the National Publicity Secretary and the National Legal Advisor to “step aside” and to face a disciplinary panel.Daily Asset gathered on Tuesday that final decision in the leadership logjam in the party will be laid to rest when the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meet on October 24.The camp of the Acting National Chairman is believed within the PDP circle of working to ensure the meeting did not hold over possibility of NEC appointing a substantive National Chairman from the North Central.The PDP BoT at its meeting last Thursday advised the NWC to ensure the October 24 NEC meeting is held as earlier agreed by various organs and leaders of the party.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Radio Benue Chapel, has given an award to Chairman, Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), Mr Richard Tombowua, for conducting credible local government elections. The chapel conferred the prestigious award of the ‘Defender of Democracy in Our Generation’ on Tombuwua on Tuesday in Makurdi.
The Chapel Chairman, Mr Paul Mandeun, commended the chairman for conducting a free, fair, and credible election on October 5. Mandeun stated that people should always try to celebrate an outstanding performance by the umpire and not just be quick to condemn when they feel the body has done wrong. The chairman acknowledged the spiritual eyes of Gov. Hyacinth Alia for appointing Tombuwua to head the commission.“We deem it expedient to acknowledge the spiritual eyes of Alia who figured out this achiever among many citizens for the onerous task that has shaped the history of democracy in Benue State,” Mandeun said.“We are here to inform you that we have watched keenly all the electoral processes.“It was under our watch that materials were deployed; we were at the polling units, not just at local government areas, with a critical eye looking out for compliance with the standard of conducting elections in an ideal democratic setting.“We are here today to affirm and pass its verdict after monitoring all the processes before, during, and after the polls. “You were not found wanting and also not short of best practices anywhere in the world.“On these bases, we authoritatively pass a vote of confidence on you for living far above board in conducting an election that is a model for other emerging democracies to emulate,” he said.Tombowua thanked the leadership of NUJ, Radio Benue Chapel, for recognising his worth and work during the election.He said he never knew that certain persons, like the media, which were critical stakeholders in society, were watching the conduct of the election.The chairman disclosed that they insistently followed the timeline amidst calls for postponement, saying that BSIEC remains independent at all times and nobody could interfere in the conduct of the election.He therefore wondered why people who were not home during and after the election were the ones alleging that there was no election in the local government areas.“We followed due diligence in the conduct of the election, ensuring that all results were collated before the declaration of the final result,” the chairman affirmed.He promised that the umpire body would continue to do its best, saying that the award was a source of encouragement and would spur them to do more.(NAN)
LG Polls: Sen. Karimi Support APC Campaign with N24m
ShareFrom Joseph Amedu, Lokoja The All Progressive Congress (APC) Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial district, Sen. Sunday Stephen Karimi, has...
PDP: Governors, BoT Resolve Leadership Crisis
ShareBy Mike Odiakose, Abuja The leadership crisis rocking the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has...
CBN Briefs Reps on New Policies to Address Inflation, Strengthen Economy
ShareBy Ubong Ukpong, Abuja The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso on Tuesday, outlined the apex...
FIRS Dispels Fears of New Tax Introduction as Senate Commends Agency
ShareBy Eze Okechukwu, Abuja The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) yesterday dispelled fears of Nigerians over the possible introduction of...
Ogun Distances Self from Challenging Constitutionality of EFCC in S/Court
ShareFrom Ekundayo Idowu, Abeokuta Ogun State Government yesterday dismissed several reports in the media indicating that it had joined some...
Journalists Raise the Alarm over Poor Telecom Services in Kogi
ShareFrom Joseph Amedu, Lokoja The Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kogi State Council has frowned at...
Kogi to End Student Extortions, Unethical Practices
ShareFrom Joseph Amedu, Lokoja The Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones has vowed to put an end to any...
Foundation Takes Environmental Campaign to Women in Mining Communities
ShareFrom Jude Dangwam, Jos A non-profit organization known as Youth for Environmental Sustainable and Development has engaged over hundred women...
NOA Flags-off Nationwide Campaign on National Anthem
ShareFrom Jude Dangwam, Jos The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has officially launched the nationwide sensitization campaign focused on the National...
Nigeria Inflation Rises to 32.70 Percent in Sept – NBS
ShareBy Tony Obiechina, Abuja National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) yesterday disclosed that Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 32.70% in last...