Rivers gov’ship: Supreme Court upholds judgement nullifying APC primaries

The Supreme Court has upheld the judgement of the High court in Port Harcourt nullifying the primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.

A five-man panel of justices, presided by Jutsice Mohammed Dattijo on Friday dismissed the objection of the Tonye Cole faction of the APC that it had earlier withdrawn from the appeal against the judgement. 

Recalled that an Appeal Court in Port Harcourt on December 12 dismissed the appeal filed by the Rivers State’s All Progressives Congress’ chairman, Flag Ojukaye, challenging the judgement of High Court’s Justice Chinwendu Nwogu over the conduct of the May ward congresses.

The court also dismissed the appeal filled by APC governorship flag bearer, Tonye Cole, challenging the judgement .

The court affirmed the judgment of Justice Nwogu that the state chapter of the APC had no ward, local government and state executives.

The Court of Appeal Port Harcourt Division Special Panel, chaired by Justice Abubakar Yahaya, dismissed the two appeals for lack of merit.

Details later…

STOP THE SENSELESS KILLINGS - Taiga

The President-General of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Worldwide, Olorogun Moses Taiga, has called on politicians of Urhobo extraction to prevail on their supporters to stop the senseless political violence currently going on in Urhobo land. Olorogun Taiga spoke against the background of reported political violence which led to the death of political party supporters in Uvwie and Abraka in Delta Central Senatorial District, Delta State.

“I have said before; do not shed the blood of any Urhobo son or daughter to achieve your political ambition. If you kill the people you are aspiring to serve, who will you serve when you get to power; goats and other domestic animals,” Olorogun Taiga asked rhetorically.

He advised Urhobo sons being used as thugs to be wise and tell their masters to use their own children instead. “Do not endanger or waste your precious life for any politician,” he admonished the youths.

Olorogun Taiga reiterated his earlier call on politicians to go about their campaigns peacefully. “Sell your programmes to the people and let them decide who they want as their representative or governor.” He urged all contestants, especially those of the two major political parties in the state not to upset the fragile peace in Delta State, in general, and Urhoboland, in particular.

He further appealed to candidates in Delta Central to plat politics as refined people and eschew any form of bitterness and rancor. “There is always life after politics; we are all one with a common heritage. Our people in politics should not upset the table today over politics because tomorrow offers greater and bigger opportunities,” he added

The UPU PG maintained that the UPU is the umbrella body of all Urhobos and remains neutral. He, however, urged Urhobos to vote for only politicians who will protect and further the interest of the Urhobo Nation.

NLC to employers: It’s criminal not to remit workers’ pension

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that it is criminal for any employer to deduct workers’ contributory pension from source without remitting same to their Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs).

The President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said this at the Public Hearing organised by the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the activities of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) held in Abuja yesterday.

This was even as the Acting Director General of PenCom, Aisha Dahir-Umar, told the Committee that pension funds are safe and there has not been a single incidence of pension fraud and mismanagement under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

Wabba said the expectation is that employees’ retirement savings would be safely invested in instruments that would yield maximum returns and it is illegal for any employee to deduct such contributions without remittance.

The NLC boss called on the President and the Senate to constitute the board of PenCom to give workers and pensioners more say on how their retirement savings are managed.

He said the interim management of PenCom headed by Dahir-Umar inherited a situation that they did not create as a duly constituted board would end all issues being investigated by the Committee.

The Acting PenCom boss described as “completely incorrect and unfounded” allegations against the Commission for infractions of the Pension Reform Act, 2014.

She said the Commission followed due process in promotion of three deputy general managers to general managers and review of Commission’s staff end of service benefits.

She told the Committee that she acted in line with the Pension Act that required PenCom to report directly to the President in absence of a Board and that the Commission has been reporting to the Secretary General of the Federation as directed by the President.

She also refuted allegation that the interim management in PenCom is stalling appointment and resumption of duty of the members of the Board of the Commission.

She said only the President has power to appoint the Chairman, the Director-General and Commissioners of the National Pension Commission, subject to confirmation by the Senate and that career staff of the Commission do not have any role or influence on it.

The Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, represented by Munir Danagundi told the Committee that the House constituted the Committee to ensure accountability and transparency.

Dogara said, “When this motion was brought to the floor of the House, everybody was concerned because of the magnitude of the asset of this agency, which is over N8.9 trillion, an equivalent of the national budget. It is the concern of every member and citizen of the country to see that the right thing is done so that nothing happens to our pension funds.”

The Committee Chairman, Johnson Agbonayinma, raised concerns on gaps in remittance of pension contributions, which PenCom blamed on occasional irregular remittance of workers’ pension contributions by the Federal Government.

Agbonayinma said the Committee would conduct a transparent probe into activities of PenCom and report to the House in due time.

ASUU: Nigerian students react to suspension of strike

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called for a sincere implementation of the agreements reached between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Mr Adeyemi Azeez, the National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the association, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

The association called on both parties to see the 90 day-strike as the end to the avoidable strike in Nigerian universities.

”The 90-day strike has no doubt consumed a complete semester from the academic calendar of our universities

”NANS calls on the Federal Government and ASUU to implement the reached agreements with utmost sincerity,“he said.

According to the association, the implementation of the agreements will put an end to strikes in the nation`s education sector.

Azeez commended the students for their commitment in the course of the struggle towards ending the strike.

”The National President of NANS, Danielson Akpan, appreciates all well-meaning and intellectual Nigerian university students for their endurance and comportment, all through the just suspended ASUU strike.”

He identified such struggles as Save Education Rally, held nationwide on Nov. 17 among series of protests across the regions of the country.

Azeez also pleaded with the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency address the ongoing ASUP strike in the nation’s polytechnics.

Atiku's Endorsements: Much Ado About Nothing

By Tunde Ajose

If wishes are horses, beggars would ride is one proverb that kept re-vibrating through my mind when I reflect at the level of desperation being employed by our politicians at clinching political posts. It only reinforces the belief that most aren't necessarily interest in serving the masses but rather to rob them.

Or how else can one explain the desperation of Atiku at ensuring every Tom, Dick and Harry are seen endorsing him? Must you become a president to impact the lives of your fellow citizens?

Not considering the unnecessary controversies surrounding his many endorsements, Atiku once had a chance to make his impact when he was a vice president for 8 good years under fmr president, Olusegun Obasanjo, but the records are there for all to see that OBJ, as the latter is popularly called, never approved nor trusted him enough for any leadership position.

Just last year, the former president gave an interview where he told the whole world that God would not forgive him should he support Atiku for anything.

Should we now lose sleep over his recent endorsement of the same Atiku? The answer is no!

There is practically no section of the Nigerian society that has not endorsed Atiku for 2019 election. From prostitutes, to some socio-cultural groups. One of such many endorsements that reeked of desperation is his fancy to spirituality, which his former boss succinctly captured in his book, My Watch, when he mentioned that all Atiku's plan immediately they commenced the administration together back then “...were towards the actualisation of his marabout’s prediction."

Then it was no surprise when Atiku was seen in a video that went viral during the week of being seen with one popular female prophet.

So Obasanjo's endorsement, like many others, is not worth being disturbed about for a government that is focused in ensuring that the dividend of democracy is enjoyed throughout the country, a type we have never witness in the history of this country.

The Buhari's administration should disregard as a fuss and remain focused ensuring that the country and Nigerians are well prepared for the next level of betterment come February 16.

<em>Tunde Ajose is a social commentator who lives in Lagos&nbsp;&nbsp;</em>

Meet the prophet that foresaw Osinbajo's helicopter crash

Precisely, 4th of November, 2018, during a church service, an Abuja based prophet popularly called Humble Prophet I.O. Samuel (JP) of the Shiloh Word Chapel predicted the air mishap involving the Nigerian vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

In a video where the session was recorded, the man of God urged his congregation to pray for the Professor Osinbajo specifically. He said, "There is a prayer. I am seeing disintegration in the leadership of Nigeria; pray for Osinbajo, pray for the vice president of Nigeria, Lord have mercy on him.”

Going through his Youtube channel, it was also noted he had given many other prophesies in the past that came true.

Humble Prophet  I. O. Samuel (JP) is a graduate of WOFBI (Word of Faith Bible Institute), who was called into full-time ministry in 2010. He has written over 28 books covering various areas of life. As a founder of Samaritan Foundation, a charity organization, Prophet Samuel has impacted the lives of many Nigerians.

Ayade presents N1. 043 trillion 2019 budget to House of Assembly

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State on Wednesday presented an estimated budget of N1.043 trillion to the State House of Assembly and tagged it Budget of ”Qabalistic Densification.’

Ayade, who said the 2019 estimate was spiritual and deserves fervent prayers to enable the state implement it successfully, put the total budget at N1, 043,967,000,000.

The governor, who claimed that the state spends N1.8 billion, monthly to service debts, however, noted that the performance of last year’s budget, which he had tagged: “Kinetic Crystallization,” performed up to 74%.

Ayade said: “This year’s budget is tagged qabalistic densification; it is a magical budget of concentrating all of our ideas and ideals into a cumulative action point that will deliver with escape velocity. The budget seems to address the fundamental thrust of our governance agitation, creating a property direction and pathway.”

He added; “This budget is ambitious but driven by intellectual strength. It is one trillion, forty-three billion, nine hundred and sixty-seven million naira. Out of this, thirty-five per cent will go into infrastructure.”

According to him, “the only way to change a state is by providing production that matches consumption. We are focusing on the realization of the core mandate of this government, shifting Cross River State from third world to first world within eight years. And that can only be achieved by a strategic long term plan and it is to deal effectively with the issue of the active industrialization of every local government area seeking and connecting into the superhighway.”

“Qabalistic densification focuses on the Kinetic Crystallization of what we achieved in 2018. I give you a good example; construction has started in full force on the superhighway, and if you are driving as you are approaching Ikom to the left and to the right, you can see the massive work going on.”

The governor did not say how much he has allocated to recurrent expenditure but only noted that 35% has been allocated to infrastructure.

Ayade pointed out that most budgets are “envelop budget” but that his government was bringing in “intellectual element” into the budgeting process because of the precarious financial allocation the state gets.

“My budget style is different because of our challenges. Currently, we spend N1.8 billion every month to service debts. In terms of allocation, we are number 35 out of thirty-six states. But in terms of paying of salaries and expanding the size of government, we number one in the state,” Ayade stressed.

Saraki’s disobedience to court orders embarrassing – Senator Isaac Alfa

Former Chief of Air Staff and Senator representing Kogi East Senatorial District, Isaac Mohammed Alfa has stated that Dr. Bukola Saraki’s disobedience of Court orders was embarrassing to the nation.

Speaking on the development of the Supreme Court judgement which affirmed him as the Senator representing Kogi East at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, he said, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki was selective in obeying court orders.

He said it was necessary for him to speak out to keep the populace informed of Saraki’s wrongdoings in the National Assembly.

According to him, the Supreme Court Judgement on the 23rd January, 2019 which affirmed him as the Senator passed through 31 judges, yet the Senate President prefers Senator Atai Aidoko.

He wondered at how a lawmaker of Saraki’s standing could do harm to his fellow party man while urging the Senate President to swear him in immediately the red Chambers reconvened on 19th February, 2019.

“I will like to explain the behavioural relationship of the Nigeria Senate with the judiciary to let the whole world know the embarrassing and selective obedience of court orders in the National Assembly by the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and the Clerk of the National Assembly.”

“The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki decides which Court orders to obey and which ones to disobey. ”

“In my case, the Federal High Court ordered on the 13th June, 2018 that I should be sworn in as Senator representing Kogi East Senatorial District.”

“This order was affirmed by the Supreme Court, yet the leadership of the National Assembly refused to obey”, Alfa insisted.

Alfa further explained that Dr. Bukola Saraki has personal grudges against the Igala people and Nigeria Military over perceived wrongs done to his late father, Olusola Saraki.

He lamented that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not support him during the three years legal fireworks, adding that political opponents of PDP might use Saraki’s disobedience against the presidential ambition of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

He was optimistic that he would be sworn in immediately the Senate reconvenes later this month, saying that the world was watching him as a law making officer.

2019: PDP raises alarm, asks international community to place travel ban on El-Rufai over inflammatory remarks

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in reaction to alleged ‘comments, threats and incendiary actions’ by the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it may reconsider withdrawing its signatory in the national peace accord if no action is immediately taken to curb this trend.

It also urged the international community to immediately impose a travel ban on el-Rufai for allegedly issuing death threats to members of the global democratic institutions that are working for the nation’s peaceful, free and fair elections.

The party on this premise asked the National Peace Committee to immediately summon el-Rufai over his inflammatory remarks against peaceful elections in our country.

PDP spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan said this while briefing newsmen and added, “PDP hold that any situation that seeks to allow the APC to abuse the tenets of the accord will definitely force our party to review our signatory to the peace process”.

In his words, “Nigerians are still ia shock over comments by the Governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, who declared on a national television that members of the global democratic institutions that are working for a peaceful election in Nigeria will return to their countries in body bags. What a threat?

Ologbondiyan added that such undemocratic comments were directly inimical to a peaceful, free and fair 2019 polls.

Besides, the opposition party took exemptions to the recent redeployment of CP Kayode Egbetokun to Kwara state as police commissioner.

“Also of particular note is the plot to redeploy tha a former Chief Security Officer to APC leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, CP Kayode Egbetokun, as Kwara state Commissioner of Police”.

PDP alleged that Egbetokun has been handed the instruction to incite the people, cause pandemonium and pave the way for outright rigging in favour of President Buhari and all other candidates on the platform of APC.

Ologbondiyan affirmed that this development was in line with plans by the Buhari Presidency and the APC to effect a mass deployment of top security officers, particularly the police, to intimidate, harass and manhandle Nigerians that will not support the his self-succession bid.

Further, he maintained that Buhari has allegedly instructed security agents to aid APC thugs to snatch ballot boxes and orchestrate violence in the elections.

PDP recalled, “CP Kayode Egbetokun was posted to Lagos state by the disgraced former Inspector General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, to serve the same partisan interest and how that posting was stopped by the new IGP Adamu Mohammed. Now, he is being redeployed to Kwara state for the same ignoble plot.

“It is necessary to state that the PDP is a party of peace and we are committed to the peace accord.

“However, the deployment of the Kayode Egbetokun as Kwara CP directly negates the principle of the Peace Accord and can only hurt the fragile peace that currently exists in Kwara state”.

Also, the party reminded the acting Inspector General, Adamu Mohammed that his acceptability among Nigerians across party line was based on the pedigree, which was presented to Nigerians before his appointment.

PDP, therefore, asserted that Mohammed’s pedigree and exposure placed on him the responsibility to be just, firm, equitable and professional in the discharge of his duties and, not to allow his reputation to be mired in controversial political activities.

It, however, called on the National Peace Committee to note the infractions by the APC and its leaders to the peace accord, including the provocative shut down of all the stadia in Kano state by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, in order to frustrate the PDP Presidential campaign rallies in the state.

EXCLUSIVE: The Real Reasons Saraki Couldn’t Proceed With Onnoghen Case At Supreme Court

Bukola Saraki, Senate President, withdrew the Senate’s suit at the Supreme Court challenging the suspension of Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) because it was clear he was going nowhere with the move, we understands.

On January 28, three days after President Muhammadu Buhari suspended Onnoghen as CJN, the Senate cancelled its sitting for the day and instead filed a suit through Saraki before the Supreme Court praying for, among others, an order reinstating Onnoghen as CJN.

In the suit, marked SC.76/2019, the Senate asked the apex court to declare the suspension of Onnoghen without support of two-thirds majority of the Senate as a violation of section 292(1)(a)(i) of the Constitution.

It also asked the apex court to issue an order restraining the two defendants in the suit – the President and the Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami – from continuing or repeating the violation of the Constitution and disregarding the power of the Senate in respect to the suspension of the CJN.

The Senate made an about-face on Tuesday February 5, citing trust "in the ability of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to resolve the issues". However, we understands that this position was mere public posturing.

The NJC formally took up the Onnoghen case on January 29 at a meeting from which both the suspended CJN and his successor Tanko Muhammad recused themselves. At the end of the meeting, the NJC gave both Muhammad and Onnoghen seven days to respond to the various allegations against them — meaning that if the Senate truly trusted the NJC in full, that was the day to withdraw the suit instead of Tuesday.

But Saraki did not have the backing of the National Assembly to go to court. To file the suit, he would have needed a resolution of the Senate, which he didn’t get. And it became clear this loophole would be exploited when the Senate caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC), comprising 56 senators, applied to the Supreme Court to join in the Senate’s suit.

“As you can see, we already protested and we were asked to be joined in the suit,” an APC senator who didn’t want to be named told SaharaReporters. “The Senate never made a resolution to file that suit; and even if there was an attempt at such resolution, it would have died a natural death as we, who have the majority, are firmly with the president on this.”

Also, public sentiment was beginning to count against Saraki after members of the public were reminded of how he sacked the Chief Judge of Kwara State, Justice Raliat Elelu-Habeeb, in 2009 during his tenure as Governor of the state.

However, the Supreme Court eventually reinstated Elelu-Habeeb, with Justice Mahmud Mohammed, who delivered the judgement of a seven-member panel of justices, holding that when all the relevant provisions of the constitution were read together, it would become obvious that a state Governor could not remove a Chief Judge from office without having recourse to the NJC.

“It is not difficult to see that for the effective exercise of the powers of removal of a chief judge of a state by the Governor and House of Assembly, the first port of call by the governor shall be the NJC,” Mahmud had stated back then.

“From these very clear provisions of the constitution which are very far from being ambiguous, the governors of the states and the houses of assembly of the states cannot exercise disciplinary control touching the removal of chief judges of states or other judicial officers in the states.”

Incidentally, Onnoghen was one of the six other justices, the rest being Christopher Chukwumah-Eneh, Muhammad Muntaka-Coomassie, Olufunmilola Adekeye, Mary Peter-Odili and Olukayode Ariwoola.

Interestingly, Saraki lost the case against Elelu-Habeeb at all levels. When he sacked her, she instituted a case against him at the Federal High Court, where she won. But Saraki appealed to the Court of Appeal in Ilorin. In July 2010, the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of Elelu-Habeeb, and Saraki again appealed at the Supreme Court. On February 2012, the Supreme Court, as expected, reinstated Elelu-Habeed.

Finally, Paul Erokoro (SAN), counsel to the Senate, has been one of the numerous SANs leading the lawyers’ revolt against Onnoghen’s trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). On the opening day of the matter at the CCT — way before the Senate dreamed of filing a suit against the Nigerian Government at the Supreme Court — Erokoro was one of at least 47 SANs who trooped to the tribunal in defence of Onnoghen.

Meanwhile, the decision of the NJC on Onnoghen and Muhammad is being expected soon, as the seven-working-day deadline for their responses to the allegations against them will elapse on Thursday.

Onnoghen: CUPP claims Buhari has ordered EFCC to arrest CJN today

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has claimed that the President Muhammadu Buhari government, has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to arrest the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, today (Wednesday, Feburary 6).

This was contained in a statement forwarded to DAILY POST and signed by the CUPP’s first national spokesperson, Imo Ugochinyere.

It reads: “The Secretariat of the CUPP has uncovered the latest plot by the Presidency to arrest the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen tomorrow being 6th February, 2019 and immediately commence their final descent to infamy by forcing him to resign at gunpoint. The latest recruit in this plot against the CJN being the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been given the mandate to execute this plot and has been told there would be no margin for error as the CJN must resign from office or from life one way or the other.

“Nigerians will recall that few hours after we leaked information of their evil plot against the CJN, of forcing him to resign at gunpoint, threatening the workers on his farm and harassing his lawyers, they have moved forward their plot and have resolved to get him out of office before the 11th February, 2019 so as to bring to a nullity any decision that may be taken by the NJC at its next meeting on the 11th February.

“The EFCC has also purchased a Magistrate Court Order to detain the CJN for 14 days. It will interest Nigerians to know that from the Interim Investigation Report personally submitted to the Presidency by the EFCC Chairman, which we hereby attach, it will be discovered that the Federal Government is still groping for evidence of any infractions whatsoever against the Chief Justice. They are shopping for just anything. Justice Onnoghen owns only one house which he declared. There are no 55 houses in choice areas nationwide. There are no billions of Naira stashed anywhere in any of the accounts. The report shows just how much that is in the accounts.

“Indeed the Presidency from what can be deduced from the report just directed investigative agencies to find anything just to remove the CJN. It also proves that the Vice President Pastor Yemi Osinbajo lied to the entire nation when he declared that the President did not know about the prosecution of the CJN and that he did not interfere in the functions of the investigative agencies. The report of the EFCC vindicates the Chief Justice. It also makes it clear that the Presidency is engaging in a political war against the CJN solely for the purpose of the 2019 elections. President Buhari knows fully well that Justice Onnoghen will call any judgment through the middle like he did in the legendary minority judgment he delivered in favour of the President during the 2007 Supreme Court judgment following the 2007 Presidential election.

“If Justice Onnoghen was corrupt, was it President Buhari that paid him in 2007 to give judgment in his favour? If Justice Onnoghen was corrupt would the EFCC not have found at least a strand of evidence having investigated him as ordered by the President before his eventual appointment as CJN. It is clear the Presidency know the impeccable character of the CJN and have not found anything with which to put a leash on his neck to blackmail him to do their bidding, they have resolved to force him our of office so as to get a pliable and malleable justice to sanction their planned rigging of the elections.

God forbid they succeed! God forbid the ruin the Nigerian judiciary! God forbid! God forbid! God forbid!

“Nigerians are called upon to arise and wedge these invaders and political buccaneers from destroying our democracy. They are not stopping! They are determined. Hence we make our clarion call again.

“They have arrived at the last door of democracy and they want to pull it down.”

Buhari last month suspended Onnoghen and immediately appointed Muhammed as acting CJN.

Explaining his reason, the President said he suspended Onnoghen, following an order from the CCT, asking him to wield the big stick.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has already slammed Buhari’s decision to suspend Onnoghen, describing it as an, “attempted coup against the Nigerian Judiciary”.

GANDUJE ORDERS SHUTDOWN OF KANO STADIUMS, BEFORE ATIKU’S CAMPAIGN RALLY, BEN BRUCE FUMES

Senator Ben Murray Bruce has reacted to reports that Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, has ordered the immediate closure of the two major stadiums in the state for renovation.

The order was reportedly given by the governor on Tuesday, just as Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is preparing for his campaign rally in the state in February 10.

TheCable, however reports that A government official told it that the shutdown of the two stadiums – Sani Abacha Stadium situated at Kofar Mata and Kano Pillars Stadium at Sabon Gari – was intended to frustrate the campaign rally of  PDP.

Although spokesman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Abatti Sabo revealed that the shutdown of the stadiums was for renovation purposes only – Ahead of the 2019-2020 Nigeria Premier League.

“As far as I am concerned, this directive doesn’t have a political undertone. The state government was advised to renovate the stadium, ahead of the NPL season.

“The government had now heeded to the advice and ordered for the commencement of the project in order to have smooth conduct of the league. As you can see, the facility is in need of repair and the government has now answered the call for its renovation.”

In his reaction, the senator representing Bayelsa East expressed his disappointment over the shutdown of the stadium, which was used by Ptesident Muhammadu Buhari for his reelection campaign last week.

Speaking via Twitter on Wednesday, Mr Bruce wrote:

I‘m disappointed in Kano’s Government for closing the Sani Abacha stadium on the excuse of renovation. It is a further shame that Buhari watches this. A leader does what is right, not what is easy. We must stop thinking about the next election and think of the next generation.

Elections: INEC hires over 300 boats in Bayelsa

Ahead of the forthcoming general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission has so far hired over 300 boats to transport its officials and election materials to riverine communities in Bayelsa State.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Tom Udoh, told journalists yesterday that this was to ensure that all votes count.

He said: “I want to reassure the people of Bayelsa State that everyone’s vote will count in these elections. We are making arrangements with the boats’ owners association for their services; and so far, we have hired over 300 boats to transport our officials and logistics to the hinterlands to make sure that all votes count particularly in the riverine communities of the state.”

Udoh also said over 80 percent of the Permanent Voter’s Cards in the state had so far been distributed.

He said: “As at today, the percentage of PVCs collection is more than eighty percent, what is left is small, this is due to the level of voters’ education the commission has carried out in the state, the collection rate has been impressive and our staff have been working hard to ensure that all PVCs get to the rightful owners.”

Groups urge women to shun violence during election

As the 2019 election is fast approaching, women have been enjoined to deviate from violence during the electoral process.

Speaking at a women national rally on violence free elections Tuesday, the National Coordinator Women Situation Room, Dr Joy Ada Onyesoh, called on all women to stand for peace as the elections is getting near.

She said they are saying NO to vote buying and violence and also calling on all parties to ensure that there is peace during the election.”
Dr Onyesoh who advised all the citizenry to wake up to their responsibility by collecting the PVC so as to enable them to vote on Election Day also said, ‘we know that a lot of women lost their positions during the party primaries, we still don’t want them to be discouraged, but wait to contest in the next four years, 2023 is just around the corner and we will begin to strategise.”

The Director, Centre for Democracy and Development, Idayat Hassan also urged Nigerian women to vote for the right candidates adding that they want all the political parties to do the right thing while also enjoining all members of the society not to engage in violence during the elections.

She said the percentage of women that registered for the election is high and there is need for full participation while adding that Come 2023, they want to see women taking strategic position during the political process and they will start the involvement from now on, and not wait till the last minute.”

The President, Women in Politics Forum, Ebere Ifendu also called on all Nigerian women to come out enmasse and vote while emphasising that there should be no display of violence during the forthcoming elections.

“We want INEC, the security personnel, and government to guarantee peace during the period of the elections. There should be no fighting, killing and maiming of citizens both during and after the elections. The women need to be assured that they won’t be attacked when they come to vote and assurance should also be given that our children will not be used as thugs.”

Ganduje Orders Shut down of Kano stadiums ahead of Atiku’s rally

Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano state, on Tuesday ordered the immediate closure of two major stadiums in the state.
This is coming five days to the campaign rally of Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Atiku’s rally is scheduled for February 10 while the renovation is expected to end on February 18.
The proposed general renovation works include the installation of the new score board, the running track and provision of sources for steady water supply to all parts of the stadiums.
A government official who spoke off the record told TheCable that the shutdown of the two stadium — Sani Abacha Stadium situated at Kofar Mata and Kano Pillars stadium at Sabon Gari — was intended to frustrate the forthcoming campaign rally of the PDP.
But Abbati Sabo, spokesman of the sports commission, said the closure was not targetted at the presidential rally of the PDP presidential candidate.
He added that the renovation work was as a result of the 2019-2020 Nigeria Premier League (NPL) season.
“As far as I am concerned, this directive doesn’t have a political undertone. The state government was advised to order for the renovation of the stadium ahead of the NPL season,” he said.
“The government had now heeded to the advice and ordered for the project in order to have smooth conduct of the league. As you can see, the facility is in need of repair and the government has now answered the call for its renovation.”
President Muhammadu Buhari used the Sani Abacha stadium for his reelection campaign last week

POLLS: MOBILISE FOR BUHARI, SANWOOLU'S TOTAL VICTORY-APC WOMEN LEADER

Women in Lagos State has been urged to mobilize their neighbors, friends and family members to vote en masse for the Al progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming general elections in the country