Few Hours To Gov. Election: Rivers Opposition Accuse Wike Of Arrest, Intimidation Of Supporters

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March 17, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

There is apprehension in Rivers State. On Friday, less than 10 hours to the conduct of the Governorship/House of Assembly Elections tension and fear reign in the State.

This follows protests by some Governorship candidates of opposition political parties whose supporters are allegedly being harassed.

The Candidates stormed the State Police headquarters, Friday, to protest against alleged intimidation by Governor Nyesom Wike.

The candidates who protested are Senator Magnus Abe of the Social Democratic Party, (SDP), Tonye Cole, All Progressives Congress, (APC), Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, Accord Party, (AP) and Tonte Ibraye, African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Their grouse is an alleged harassment and arrest of members of opposition parties by Security Agents working for Governor Wike.

They also demanded for the immediate release of all those arrested within this political period on the order of the Governor.

There are fears that violence is likely to be the order of the day during the Governorship/House of Assembly Elections in the State.

Delta: Oil Producing Communities Blame Continued Pollution On Obsolete Pipelines

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Ayodele Oni

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March 17, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

Some oil producing Communities in Warri South-West local government area of Delta State, have protested the continued neglect by oil companies despite continued pollution of their rivers due to oil exploration.

The communities, numbering 42, also condemned the failure of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL) and the Neconde Energy Limited to transparently implement the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

They warned that their failure within 21-days ultimatum to begin the implementation process may lead to shutdown of their operations in the area.

The Forum frowned at the failure of NEPL /NECONDE to halt incessant oil spills in the area as well as the companies award of communities-based contracts to their top management staff in direct contravention of the Nigerian Local Content Act.

These were contained an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, and signed by the representatives of the communities.

They lauded President Buhari for the move to end oil pipelines vandalism, bunkering and pollution in the area through the award of surveillance contract to Government Ekpemupolo known popularly as Tompolo, but lamented the incessant pollution caused by expired pipelines that needed replacements instead of sectional repairs by the companies.

The letter reads: “First, we want to sincerely thank and appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR for saving the lives of our people through the awarded pipeline surveillance contracts to Tantita Security, a private and indigenous security outfit, owned by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo.

“It is pertinent to state that Tantita Security Services has contributed immensely to the preservation of our environment and the ecosystem, as illegal bunkering activities, pipelines vandalism and pollution of our water bodies has been drastically reduced.

“Mr President, we are constrained to bring to your notice reported plans by NEPL/NECONDE to embark on repair work on sections of the Trans Forcados Pipelines (TFP) which runs from OML 42 to Forcados Terminal in Burutu LGA of Delta State, without recourse to its negative implications to communities and the environment.

“TFP Pipeline was constructed since early 1960s, and have outlived its useful lifespan long ago leading to continuous pollution of our environment and destruction of our ecosystem, thereby creating hardship for the locals.

“We are strongly appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to save our lives and direct the GCEO NNPC Limited to compel NEPL and NECONDE to commence full replacement of the said pipeline, rather than sectional repair works that will not stop further leakages.

“This line TFP is one of the major lines destroying our environment because it has expired and cannot withstand the pressure of crude oil on the line.

“Therefore, we vehemently reject the section repair works as concurrently contemplated by the NEPL/NECONDE which will continue to leak and continue to destroy our environment that is gradually recovering, thanks to operations of Tantita Security Services.

“Mr President, it will interest you to note that all communities-based contracts are being awarded to top management staff of NEPL and Neconde Energy Limited, using their cronies as community vendors thereby depriving indigenous contractors of patronage.

“Sir, in line with the Nigerian Local Content Act, all community-based marine and other services contracts should be awarded to indigenous community-based contractors to develop their capacity and expertise to enable them contribute meaningfully to operations of the oil industry particularly OML 42 in Delta State.”

Delta Decides: Fear Of Terror Grips Residents Over Okowa’s Allege Release Of Hardened Prisoners

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James Orji

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March 17, 2023

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By Akinwale Kasali

Francis Oborevwori, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate in the governorship election slated for this weekend, needs to clear an allegation that he’s working in cahoot with the Governor of the state, Ifeanyi Okowa to unleash terror on the state during the governorship and state house of Assembly election slated for this weekend.

Oborevwori is the current Speaker of the State House of Assembly.

The allegation comes barely 24 hours to the March 18 Governorship election, even as opponents have also accused Okowa and Oborevwori of desperation to win the election at all cost.

Oborevwori is allegedly working with some disgruntled leaders and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in the State, NURTW, with the backing of the Emperor of Owa-Alero, to unleash terror in parts of Delta Central, Isoko, Ndokwa Nation, Oshimili and Aniocha area, thereby creating an air of insecurity which will, in turn, discourage voters from coming out in large numbers to cast their votes.

The plot according to a top PDP Chieftain who craved anonymity, who got wind of the plot, said that he decided to distance himself from such plot because he does not want innocent blood on his hand, because the plan which would be executed in stages, is to first create panic on Friday evening in the aforementioned areas considered to be stronghold of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The panic will be orchestrated by armed thugs in vigilante uniforms who will go round some major cities and town in the selected LGA in Delta Central, Delta South and North, shooting into the air, they will also harass people telling them not to come out the next day if they are not voting PDP, sources said.

Apart from the leaders of NURTW and its members that have been allgedly recruited across the state through the help of their leaders in Uvwie, Governor Okowa is alleged to have granted pardons to hardened criminals who are on a life sentence and some awaiting trial for robbery and kidnap, as well as suspects in detentions whom they will arm with military and vigilante uniforms to disrupt election on Saturday.

It was gathered that the allege criminals have been tasked to ensure that election materials to most of the units in Delta Central, Isoko, Burutu, Oshimili, Aniocha and Ndokwa are destroyed and election cancelled.

According to the Source, “Their strategy is to mop up pockets of votes in Ijaw, Itsekiri and Ukwani and large votes from Ika, and other parts of Delta North to secure victory and cause crisis in Delta central, Isoko, Ndokwa and Burutu to suppress opposition votes. Deltans and the security forcrs drafted to Delta should be vigilant to thwart this evil plot by PDP to rig the election.

“To tell you the level of desperation of Okowa’s led Delta government many hardened criminals have been secretly released from prisons around the Warri and Sapele area, on the influence of Okowa and Sherriff and they are kept in Orerokpe, hotels in Osubi and environs and are hiding from people but will be kitted for the onslaught on Saturday.

“The dire consequence of electing Sheriff Oborevwori as governor of Delta state in the coming election of Saturday 18th March 2023, can not be imagined, he has recruited his former gangs of dreaded killers from Delta, Edo and Bayelsa state, this is how Boko Haram started.

“Right now all his friends and business partners who are motor park warlords are arming young men in Uvwie, Ughelli, Sapele, Osubi, Ekpan and Aladja ahead of tomorrow’s election”.

The PDP Chieftain further alleged that Sherriff has a history of violence.

“Sheriff has been alleged to have shed the blood of two persons in Effurun, one in Osubi and and other one along the highway.

“ Sherriff was in court and sent to prison for manslaughter for these killings. Two times he was in court for manslaughter, instead of being charged with murder.

“But every time, he returns home a free man without the court declaring him a free man. We know that it was governor Uduaghan who used his influence as governor to have Sherriff brought out of prison to help him win elections in 2007.

“Everybody in Okpé and Effurun, Uvwie know that Sherriff is a killer. So, if Sherriff Oborevwori is made the governor of Delta state, the blood of his four known victims will be on the head of everyone who voted for him.

“He was well known as a local money lender in Effurun in the early nineties. After giving out loans, he would seize the properties of those to whom he gave loans. It was well known to everybody in Uvwie that he killed one of his loan defaulters which led to his arrest and detention at Orerokpe police station. He was transferred to the homicide Division, Panti, in Lagos where he was sent to Okere prison on a manslaughter charge instead of a murder charge.

“During the period he was at war with the late Friday Ani for the Uvwie Councillorship position, Uvwie and Udu were under Okpe Local Government Area. He was caught red-handed killing and using a man for a ritual. The dead body was recovered by the side of the caravan he used as an office in Effurun.

“This murder sent him back to Okere prison and at the time, he left prison, again without completing the trial, Osubi had been removed from Uvwie and joined to Okpe Local Government Area.

“He moved out of Effurun to Osubi and out of fear of the Sherriff, the people of Osubi made him the Vice-chairman of the Community Youth Association, under the chairmanship of Mr Ukugwere. But as suspected, he used JuJu to destroy the chairman with a stroke and as such became the acting Chairman of Osubi himself.

“His reign as the youth chairman of Osubi led to destructive acts of terrorism in Osubi and so throughout the construction of the Osubi Airport, Sherriff confiscated the land surrounding the airport which even today remains the personal property of Sheriff Oborevwori.

“We have done our job of warning the people of Okpé and Deltans that having a known killer as a governor is walking into danger with our eyes wide open. A leopard can not change his spots,, the source stated.
The magazine’s efforts to get the reaction of Charles Aniagwu, the state Commssioner for Information were not successful. Calls made to his telephone line were not answered, he has yet to respond to text messages sent to him at the time of publishing this report.

Lagos Guber: Oluomo Threatens Igbo Again, Call For His Arrest Intensifies

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James Orji

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March 17, 2023

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For threatening opponents of ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos state not a few have called on the state government to call Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo to order.

In a viral video, Oluomo, the Chairman of the Lagos State Parks Management Committee, has threatened opponenst that they face serious consequences if they fail to vote for his party in the Governorship and House of Assembly elections slated for March 18.

The motor park tout particularly threatened south east residents in the state, to stay at home during the election if they are not going to vote for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other APC candidates in the election.

The close associate of Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, who spoke at a recent party meeting themed ‘Lagos Rising,’, warned Igbo voters in the state to sit in their houses on election day if they were not going to vote for the ruling party.

So far, neither the governor not Tinubu has issued a rebuttal to Oluomo, a situation that is now causing fear among the residents who are not sure of their safety, less than 24 hours to the critical election.

Oluomo who spoke in Yoruba said “Iya Chukwudi, if you do want to vote for us, abeg sit down for home ooo, we have begged you people, don’t come out on election day.”

Reactions have been trailing the video since it went viral on the social media, as many called on the Inspector General of Police, IGP , to order Oluomo’s arrest.

If the theat is allowed to go without any action by the police, not a few insist that many voters who want to cast their votes for other candidate, rather than APC candidates may chose to stay back at home for fear that they may be in danger.

“It’s only in Nigeria that a known thug will be threatening people , and nothing will be done about it. How can you be threatening people that their life is at risk because they don’t vote for your candidate? The IGP should order the commissioner of Police in Lagos State to arrest him for making sure a dangerous and inciting statement, ” a resident of Oshodi told the magazine on Friday.

Another woman who said she has made up her mind to vote for the APC “due to the performance of Governor Sanwo-Olu, described Oluomo ‘s threat as “despicable and at variance with peace environment promised the federal government” during the election.

“It’s my choice to vote for Sanwo-Olu, others too must be allowed to make their choice freely without harassment from a common thug who does not add any value to governance in the state, except causing trouble and violence. The governor must call him to order, as this is capable of reducing the respect some of us have for him, if he fails to do something,” she said.

Two weeks ago during the presidential and National Assembly election, Oluomo was captured in Oshodi, his base, ordering opponents of the party to leave one of the polling centers, vowing to deal with them if they would not comply.

Thus coming after the IGP, Usman Alkali Baba promised a tight security during the Saturday election, not a few are demanding for more security personnel to be despatched to the state, to curtail Oluomo and his thugs from plunging the state into violence.

Oyo 2023: Ladoja, Wife Split Over Makinde; the N120m Car Gift To Ex- Gov

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James Orji

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March 17, 2023

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Former Governor Rashidi Ladoja of Oyo State is not getting the support of his wife, a former First Lady of the state, over his decision to withdraw support for Governor Seyi, the incumbent and former ally who is seeking a re-election.

Makinde and the former governor were close political associates until recently when they parted ways after their party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were roundly defeated by the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, during the recent presidential and National Assembly eletions.

But Mutiya, the wife of the former governor, believed to be a grassroots politician has refused to support her husband who has thrown his weight behind the governorship candidate of the APC, Teslim Folarin.
The decision of Ladoja to dump Makinde for another candidate has polarised the PDP in the state, nonetheless the home of the former governor, because of his wife decision to remain with the governor.
“The former First Lady is solidly behind us. She has remained with the governor since his first day in office, and not withdrawn her support despite the challenges facing the party. She is a loyal, part woman and a grassroots leader who is doing everything to ensure that Govrnor Makinde wins on Saturday,” a source close to the governor said on Friday.

When asked if Governor Makinde can win without the support of Ladoja, the source simply stated “what else does Ladoja want from the governor. The governor has been good to him, including buying him a bulletproof car worth N120 million.”

The former governor who ruled the state between 2003 and 2007 is very popular in the state, therefore, his supoort for the APC candidate has boosted his chances, with many in the state saying that Makinde ‘s loss is Folarin’s gain.

Considering the serious challenges the governor is facing with his former political ally, not a few insist that Makinde will struggle to be re-elected, even though his aides said his performance in terms of providing critical infrastructure for the people of the state, since he came to office in 2019, will work in his favour.

The problem facing the governor started three weeks ago after his party was roundly defeated in the presidential and National Assembly elections.

Apart from losing huge votes to the APC, the PDP could not win any of the three Senatorial seats in the state, while the House of Reps seat mostly fell into the hands of the APC.

Some chieftains of the party had blamed the governor for the woeful performance, citing his decision to join a group of five state governors, led by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state, who failed to work for Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate.

Recall that the G5 governor withdrew there support for Abubakar following the bqxklqsh of the PDP presidential primary held last year, as well as the party’s refusal to sack Iyorcha Ayu, PDP National Chairman as demanded the angry governors.

Since the PDP lost the election, things has not remained the same with the Oyo State chapter of the party, so much so, that few days after Bola Ahmed Tinubu was declared winner, and APC candidates announced as winners of the three Senatorial and House of Representatives seats, supported of Ladoja immediately withdrew their support for Governor Makinde, after blaming him for the defeat the party suffered.

Ex Governor Ladoja would later add salt to the governor’s injury by declaring his support for Folarin. Like his supporters, the former governor accused Makinde for the loses suffered by the party in the state, for instance, he lampooned the governor for not providing financial and logistics for PDP candidates during the election, urging his supporters to punish the governor for being selfish.

Ladoja said, “In the just concluded National Assembly elections, all the three senators under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party lost. And this is not about the history of Oyo State, but also about the history of the person in power. We saw an example of this in Osun State.

”Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, has only been in power for three months, yet he was able to clear all the House of Representatives and senatorial seats for candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the just concluded National Assembly elections. And then, we have to know that Osun State is in a peculiar position because it is the roots of Bola Tinubu, the president-elect.

”After Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, picked the PDP House of Representatives and senatorial candidates to represent the state at the National Assembly, he didn’t offer any form of support to them.

”He didn’t spend money to support them or gave out a word to the citizens for any single one of them. Even God detests actions that are unfair and unjust.

”So when Saturday, March 18 comes, please, leave all you are doing and go out to cast your votes for Teslim Folarin, the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state.

”One of our major mobilisers in the PDP called Olopoeyan recently defected to the camp of APC. Also, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) chapters of Oyo State have adopted Teslim Folarin as their preferred governorship candidate,” he said.

”Some political parties are also considering adopting Folarin already. However, I believe all will be sorted out in the coming days. Please, I am appealing to my loyalists to cast their votes for Folarin in the forthcoming gubernatorial election,” the former governor said.

Enugu Governorship: Edeoga Gets Huge Endorsement From Former Elected LG Chairmen

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The Source

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March 17, 2023

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Before the close of campaigns yesterday March 16, 2023, the Labour Party Governorship Candidate, Hon. Chijoke Edeoga, got a huge endorsement from his former colleagues, Progressive former Elected Local Government Chairmen in Enugu state.

The group even advised his other main challengers, Peter Mbah of the PDP, Uche Nnaji of APC and Frank Nweke Jr of APGA to consider withdrawing for Hon. Edeoga whom they noted has more grassroots support and experience.

In the endorsement letter signed by Hon. Dr. Walter Oji Former Executive Chairman, Udi LGA On behalf of other members of the group said that Hon. Edeoga with his local Government chairman experience, plus his legislative and executive credentials at the state and federal level is more equipped for the job than his colleagues. They however recognized the huge potential of his colleagues at the business and diplomatic levels.

The details of the letter read:

THE PROGRESSIVE GROUP OF THE ASSOCIATION OF THE ELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMEN OF NIGERIA, ENUGU STATE CHAPTER 16 /03/2023

ENDORSEMENT OF ENUGU GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE.

“We as grass root leaders of the Local Government Areas of Enugu state have critically analyzed the political situation as it affects the March 18th Governorship elections in our dear state and arrived at the following conclusions after a thorough appraisal of all the Governorship candidates:

Enugu is blessed with great and wonderful candidates, especially in the four leading parties of APC, APGA, LP, and PDP.
The APC candidate, Uche Nnaji is a business mogul with connections across the nation. It is our wish and advice that he continues in this area and continues to touch lives positively as politics and governance will surely conflict with his business empire.
APGA candidate, Frank Nweke is a sound technocrat whose potential for international/diplomatic services is high and we advise and wish he toes this line and drop his governorship ambition, especially with the very limited spread and scope of APGA in Enugu state.
The PDP candidate, Barr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of the PINNACLE OILGROUP. Enugu and indeed every Wawa man should be very proud of him as our own potential Dangote, Adetola, or Adenuga. We advise that he continues and focuses on this trajectory as governance and his business empire are definitely going to clash and Ndi – Enugu will suffer for it. Also, there are a lot of unanswered questions about the past dealings of this candidate which may constitute an embarrassment to Ndi – Enugu in the future.
Barr Chijioke Edoga of the Labour party – A lawyer, journalist, and politician – He has governed at the grass root level, as an elected Local Government chairman, as Executive arm of both State and Federal government, and at the Federal parliament as an elected member of the House of Representatives and a son of an iconic educationist

Through our every investigation and analysis, we found him most appropriate to govern Enugu State with minimal distraction.

We, therefore, as a group, endorse Barr Chijioke Edoga of the Labour Party for the governorship of Enugu State and direct all our teeming supporters and all men of goodwill to vote massively and defend their votes to ensure the victory of Barr Chijioke Edeoga of the Labour Party in the 18th March Governorship elections.

We also reviewed some other endorsements by our former leaders and found them wanting as their previous endorsements did Ndi-Enugu no good as they may have been serving their ulterior personal interest.

Long Live Enugu State

Long Live Nigeria

Signed

Hon. Dr. Walter Oji

Former Executive Chairman, Udi LGA

On behalf of other members of the group

Tinubu Won Fair And Square – Dele Alake

By

The Source

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March 17, 2023

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Text of address by Mr. Dele Alake, Special Adviser to the President-Elect at the interactive session with representatives of International Media Organisations covering Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday, March 16, 2023.

We welcome you to this special interactive session today and we thank you for honouring the invitation. We specifically called for this session with you, who are representatives of international media organisations in Nigeria, to exchange views on the way you report our country generally and the specific matter of the coverage of the last presidential election circle won by our party, All Progressives Congress and then Presidential Candidate now President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In weeks and months leading to the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections, there were a rash of pre-election analysis, news reports, special features and even opinion polls from a number of partisan local pollsters and international media that gave victory to the candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi. Some of the polls were conducted online. Some polls had small samples that were not sufficiently representative of Nigeria’s diverse voting population and did not represent the realities of Nigeria’s political environment and factors that influence electoral behaviour.

But there were some other polls that correctly predicted the outcome, that our candidate was headed for victory. Our internal polls also gave us some measure of confidence. With 21 states under our party’s control, we did not expect a complete change of electoral behaviour, like in the US, where no one expects a blue state suddenly turning red 100 per cent.

With the eventual outcome of the election at variance with some of the Labour Party sponsored pre-election predictions, many international media organisations who took premature position on the basis of these flawed polls, found themselves blind-spotted, leading to some of the skewed reports about the election.

We object to the mischaracterisation of the presidential election by a section of the international media.

Contrary to the innuendos and aspersions being cast on the election by organisations such as Financial Times, Economist, New York Times among others, we make bold to say that the 2023 Presidential election is the most credible, most free and most fair national election in Nigeria since 1999.

The elections into the Senate and House of Representatives were held the same day with the presidential election. They produced an outcome that showed our party winning majority seats in both chambers. None of the presidential candidates assailed the integrity of the elections.

Similarly, the presidential election produced expected outcome.

Anyone who is honest enough and understands the political landscape of Nigeria and the forces at play in electing a President in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society like Nigeria will know that only Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and APC could have won the election.

It must be stressed that only the APC went into the 2023 election intact. Peoples Democratic Party went into the election fragmented into three parts. Five of its Governors under the G5 group worked against their party’s Presidential candidate. Alhaji Abubakar Atiku. The Labour Party candidate, who was Atiku’s running mate in 2019 abandoned the party. In the North, Rabiu Kwankwaso, also a member of the PDP, went solo in the NNPP.

These divisions within the main opposition played out in our favour. It was a repeat of 2015, when some PDP states supported the new coalition of parties called APC and gave President Buhari a resounding victory.

The presidential candidate of PDP at his post-election press conference admitted that the Labour Party swept away his party’s votes from its traditional stronghold in South-East and South-South. He is yet to admit the impact of the rebellion of the G5 governors and Kwankwaso in large voting state of Kano.

For emphasis, it must be stated that no political party or candidate can win a presidential election in Nigeria without strong support from four of the six geopolitical zones in the country. Only the candidate of APC had such support as shown in the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Mr Obi could not have been elected President by winning in South-South and South-East and the Bible-belt states of Plateau, Southern Kaduna, Taraba and Nasarawa. He needed the core northern votes from the North-East and North-West. He needed the South West. Winning Lagos narrowly was not enough to make Mr. Obi President.

These are political realities that have been ignored in post-election reportage by a number of international media.

We consider it unfair and quite uncharitable to describe the last election as fraudulent, manipulated or flawed. All the noise over results not being uploaded on INEC server was misplaced. The election in Nigeria is done at about 176,000 polling units. There results are announced, signed by party agents and sent to collation centres at ward, council and state levels. Results are tallied at state level and announced. All parties after the state results are announced, already have an idea, whether they won or lost. The collation in Abuja is a mere ceremony to sum up all the results from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. It was in realisation of this that in 2015, President Jonathan did not wait for the Abuja collation before conceding defeat to President Buhari.

To further support our view on the credibility of the entire electoral process, we recommend three reference materials that can further enrich better understanding of how the election panned out. Number one reference material is a well-articulated Editorial commentary by Premium Times on the just concluded Presidential election. Premium Times is an independent and well respected newspaper in Nigeria.

The second material is the well-informed analysis on the electoral outcome by Professor Ebenezer Obadare, a Fellow of Council of Foreign Relations in Washington DC. Professor Obadare’s article was quite illuminating. The third reference material is an opinion piece published in Thisday Newspaper by Mr. Mahmud Jega, a respected Nigerian syndicated columnist and also an adviser to the President-elect. His article provided a clear and dispassionate review of the election and why APC/Asiwaju Tinubu prevailed against other contenders.

Gentlemen of the press, we called this parley, primarily, to appeal for a shift and a change of mindset in the way the international media report issues in Nigeria and Africa generally.

You are the ones on ground here, you understand the political environment and the nuances better than your bosses in Paris, London, Johannesburg, New-York, Beijing, Istanbul and Tehran. You are in a much vantage position to educate your bosses on how to exercise better editorial judgement on matters relating to Nigeria.

Our country, is the biggest black nation on earth with a population that is estimated to be over 200 million. Though it is the biggest economy in Africa, it is a poor country with institutions of state that are still growing.

We seek the cooperation of the global media to project our country as the new frontier of economic growth, best destination for foreign investments because of our large market and guaranteed profitability for investors. As a country, we don’t need news reports that stoke political tensions and exacerbate crises that can set off unrest and instability.

We are very mindful of the sophistry of the opposition elements and Labour Party candidate going on TV and Radio Stations to cite reports from Bloomberg, Financial Times, Economist, Washington Post etc as clear evidence of electoral fraud in Nigeria, as if these reports are the gospel truth, as if those reports were not products of a tunnel vision.

As we move through this transition period to inauguration on May 29, through the next four years when our party will remain in the saddle of leadership, we want to appeal to you to make your reports more balanced, accurate and factual and also remove the tendency for negative slants in news reporting and analysis.

We thank you for your time.

Presidential Polls: “Atiku, PDP, On Course To Reclaim Their Mandate At The Tribunal” – PDP

By

The Source

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March 17, 2023

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The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has debunked reports that its Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has withdrawn its case against the declaration of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Candidate, Bola Tinubu, as the President-elect.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the Party said neither it, nor Atiku withdrew any case. On the contrary, he said, they are looking forward to reclaiming their mandate at the Election Petition Tribunal.

Said the Party, “The said report is false and a reprehensible fabrication by the mendacious APC which is disconcerted by the overwhelming evidence against it and our tenacity to reclaim the mandate freely given to the PDP and Atiku Abubakar by Nigerians on February 25, 2023.”

The full text of the statement where the Party gave a chronicle of the state of its case, so far, follows:

“Our attention has been drawn to the mischievous report claiming that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar have withdrawn the petition filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Election Tribunal.

“The said report is false and a reprehensible fabrication by the mendacious APC which is disconcerted by the overwhelming evidence against it and our tenacity to reclaim the mandate freely given to the PDP and Atiku Abubakar by Nigerians on February 25, 2023.

“The PDP states in clear terms that our Party and Atiku Abubakar did not withdraw our petition against INEC, APC and Tinubu at the Presidential Election Tribunal.

“However, to set the record straight and for the benefit of our teeming members, supporters and the general public, the PDP clarify as follows;

“On Monday, March 13, 2023, the Legal Team of Atiku Abubakar led by J.K Gadzama, SAN was in court to move a Motion Exparte accompanied by an Affidavit of Urgency (CA/PEC/12M/2023), seeking Orders directing INEC to allow us observe/participate in the process of sorting out the ballot papers used for the Presidential, Senatorial and House of Representatives elections conducted on February 25, 2023 across the country.

“The Court directed that all parties should be put on notice and asked that we amend our Motion Exparte to Motion on Notice, to serve same on the parties (INEC, APC & Bola Ahmed Tinubu) and return on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, for hearing of our Motion on Notice.

“On Tuesday, March 14, 2023, our Legal Team had a conference meeting with the Legal Team of INEC, and the Commission gave its assurance to cooperate with our Team during the inspection and sorting out of ballot papers, and to also provide election materials needed to file our petition.

“On account of this agreement with and assurance by INEC, there was no longer need to proceed with the hearing of the Motion on Notice (CA/PEPC/13M/2023). Consequently, our Team filed a Notice of Discontinuance of the said Motion.

“On Wednesday, March 15, 2023, our Legal Team returned to Court to inform the Court of the resolution reached with INEC and formally discontinued the Motion on Notice against all the Parties (INEC, APC & Bola Ahmed Tinubu).

“The PDP is therefore on course and we are determined to pursue the case to its logical conclusion, which is the retrieval of our Presidential mandate at the Tribunal.

“The PDP appreciates the concerns of millions of Nigerians over the false report. Such concern further points to the fact of the overwhelming support of majority of Nigerians for the PDP and Atiku Abubakar at the February 25, 2023 Presidential election.”

Both the PDP and the Labour Party, along with their Candidates Atiku and Peter Obi, are challenging the process of the Election, and the declaration of Tinubu as the President-elect. They insist the exercise was froth by fraud, and that they have solid evidence to prove it.

Peter Obi Writes Nigerians, Says :”A New Nigeria Is Again Possible On The 18th Of March

By

The Source

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March 17, 2023

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On the 25th of February 2023, millions of Nigerians from all walks of life, across generations and backgrounds, from Bornu to Lagos, Port Harcourt to Sokoto, Kano to Enugu, Taraba to Ondo voted strongly and resolutely to take back their country. They voted for Labour Party; they voted for a New Nigeria!

I most sincerely continue to thank all Nigerians for their genuine belief and commitment that a New Nigeria is possible through us. And indeed, it is possible and has started!

During the campaigns, we travelled across this our most blessed and beautiful country Nigeria. We interacted, listened and learnt from you and were most humbled by the millions of young Nigerians who passionately invested their resources, time and life to our call and demand for a Nigeria that works for all.

We met very genuine and patriotic Nigerians who eagerly volunteered and gave whatever they can for a New Nigeria. Their genuine and emotional commitments were not based on religion, tribe, gender, class or any of the sentiments that divide us. It was based on the honest desire and belief for a New Nigeria where the freedoms and potentials of our greatly endowed country and its youths will be supported to create an inclusive, sustainable, growing and progressive Nation.

With increasing poverty, insecurity, corruption, unemployment, failing educational and health systems, the general state of our dear country and economy is troubling.

What INEC did with the WILL OF NIGERIANS on the 25th of February is even far more troubling. It will only serve to exacerbate our sad situation, frustration of the people and the deterioration of the country.

As we are directed to go to court, we call on INEC to provide all the required materials and access to our legal and technical teams to do their job. INEC should not be a hinderance to the efforts to get justice for a New Nigeria!

History has taught us that the destruction of a society can be gradual or sudden through deliberate manipulation of the rule of law and suppression of the will of the people. However, rather than dampen our spirit, we are doubly inspired by the creativity, passion, patriotism, and relentless optimism of Nigerians particularly our youths on the need and urgency of a New Nigeria. It is a demand that its time has come.

While we are all aware and can see the deliberate and unpatriotic efforts to stop our march to freedom, please be assured that while we can be delayed, a New Nigeria Will Never be Denied!

I, particularly, salute young Nigerians who braved the challenges, withstood all kinds of difficulties and other contrived obstacles to cast their votes and make their voices heard. It was very loud and clear to Nigeria and the Global Community! Through your dynamism, creativity, optimism and passion for a New Nigeria, we derive our inspiration.

For instance, undaunted amidst all odds, Yusuf Alabi stood in front of my moving car with his two hands fully stretched! I was tired that day but in him I was re-energized.

As he gazed at me, I saw hope, determination, love and passion. My belief in the need and urgency of a New Nigeria was strengthened. Please note that he didn’t stand so radically and bold because I am his uncle, an Igbo Man or a Christian! He stood because in us, he is convinced and believe that a New Nigeria that will better his life is indeed possible! His desire which represents the appeal and prayer of majority of Nigerians must be achieved and sustained.

He, like many other Nigerians, defied all odds and demonstrated to those that said we had no structure, that our unity of purpose, courage, love, commitment and resilience are the ingredients for the most powerful structure in our country.

This is why the victories we won on 25th February must be repeated on 18th March 2023. Our victories are not for Datti Baba-Ahmed and I but for Nigeria and Nigerians, especially the youths who desire a better future of unlimited opportunities.

I am, especially, gratified by the fact that many of you were voting for the first time, and you have demonstrated, without question, your capacity to shape your country and its destiny. I salute your courage, resilience and resolve.

All of us, including many local and international observers, lamented the poor conduct of the Presidential Election on the 25th of February. It is very obvious that it was deliberately conducted in gross deviation of the agreed rules and regulations.

Expectedly, the results were most condemnably manipulated to suppress and subvert the will of the people. It is being generous to say that the elections fell far short of minimum acceptable standards of procedural integrity and democratic practice.

Let me reiterate that our team is taking up all these issues through all available legal and peaceful channels and I continue to urge all of you to remain peaceful and law abiding. Despite these setbacks we are undaunted and remain resolutely committed to the fight for a New Nigeria as it is an idea whose time has come.

Datti Baba-Ahmed and I, therefore, implore you my dear brothers and sisters, that March 18th is another day and opportunity to birth a New Nigeria.

The Governors and State House of Assembly members will be elected, and I urge you all to use the same burning passion and commitment to troop out and vote for Labour Party- the character and competence you can trust. Vote for a new set of dynamic and people-oriented leaders to birth a New Nigeria. We have the patriotism, love, unity and power to defeat the forces of division and prejudice as they represent a brand of politics that has expired and cannot take us into the future.

As we are counselled, we may differ in tribes and tongues, but we profess our unity in love and brotherhood to recreate a Nation where no Nigerian will be oppressed and where peace, fairness, justice, equity and prosperity will reign.

Irrespective of what INEC announced, we do know that in several States across our dear country, Nigerians massively voted for a New Nigeria on 25th February, for a new direction, for a new leadership, for a better life, for new opportunities that will see them compete with the best in the world.

They voted for a transition from consumption to emphasis on production, they voted to have a country, strong and respected within the comity of nations. They did not vote based on religion, tribe, class and other sentiments of division. They voted for a New and United Nigeria led by Labour Party, they voted for brotherhood.

I implore you to do the same on the 18th March 2023. Vote for a new set of dynamic, committed and competent leaders. That is the spirit that led to the emergence of Rishi Sunak as UK Prime Minister; Sadiq Khan as Mayor of London and many others like Barack Obama, former US President.

It is time to put in place a Government that we will all participate in forming, that will be accountable and deeply committed to a New Nigeria, a Nigeria that is inclusive and sustainably growing for the benefit of all. That is the kind of Government we want across all States of Nigeria.

Over these years, you will agree that every time the possibility of progress and a new Nigeria has arisen, the forces of retrogression have attacked it with weapons of division, violence and prejudice. The same thing is happening now. We must all, in unity, say no and totally condemn those that are invoking tribal prejudice, hatred and violence. Killing and attacking people, burning markets and properties, suppressing people from a section of the country must stop and should not define our politics.

We continue to pray for our brothers and sisters that lost their life in this struggle and for those that were attacked and injured, May God heal and strengthen you all.

Our Security Agencies must ensure that the perpetrators face the law and that all Nigerians are fully protected irrespective of their political affiliations.

Like in other states, in Lagos for instance, Nigerians of all tribes, religion, culture and backgrounds voted for Labour Party and other parties. Their desire to repeat this their fundamental right on Saturday 18th March must be respected and protected. The New Nigeria we are pursuing, and desire is not based on tribe, religion, culture or class. It is based on a Nation that is inclusive and works for all.

To those that did not vote for us at the Presidential election, I say to you, ‘we bear you no grudge. We are fighting for you so that we will hand our children and youths a country and banner without stain, where justice, peace, love and prosperity will reign. Join us as we are one family – a Family of a New Nigeria That is Possible! All of us that believe in equity, justice and fairness and in a better country must no longer be a silent majority.

A New Nigeria is not only possible, it is already being born and Nigeria will prevail and rise! God bless you all and The Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Mr Peter Obi, Labour Party Presidential Candidate

President Buhari Orders Manhunt Of Perpetrators Of Kaduna Killings

By

Akinwale Kasali

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March 16, 2023

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By Akinwale Kasali

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered Security Agents to launch a manhunt for the perpetrators of the recent attack in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, that left at least 10 people dead and several others injured.

The President in condemning the attack said it is unacceptable and promised the Presidency would get to the root of the gruesome murders.

In a statement signed by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari said the return of terrorist attacks in the region was shocking.

Around 09:00 pm on Wednesday, gunmen raided Langson community in the Atyap Chiefdom of Zangon Kataf, killed over 10 people and injured many others.

The attackers who shot sporadically also looted a shop in the area before they were repelled by mobile policemen.

It is one of several attacks by armed militias that have killed thousands of Kaduna South residents in the past seven years.

It also comes three months after terrorists killed 40 residents in Mallagum and Sogwon communities in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Reacting to the development, the President said “There is a concerted attack on innocent citizens in the state and the security and law enforcement agencies must take serious action to put an end to this.”

He commiserated with the families of the deceased saying “my deepest condolences to the families of those killed in these horrific attacks. May their souls rest in peace.”