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Tinubu Won Fair And Square – Dele Alake

March 17, 2023

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

The Source

March 17, 2023

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

The Source

March 17, 2023

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

Akinwale Kasali

March 16, 2023

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.”

Guber Polls: Wike Overshadows Amaechi, As APC’s Campaign Director Dumps Candidate, Says He’ll Vote PDP

Adesina Soyooye

March 16, 2023

By Adesina Soyooye

The immediate past Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and Tonye Cole, the All Progressives Congress, APC, Governorship Candidate, in Rivers State, suffered a set back on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, when Ikenda Ikechi, Assistant Director, Tonye Cole Campaign Organisation, TCCO, dumped Cole for the Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Siminialayi Fubara.

He was not alone. Other APC members who held offices in TCCO, but dumped Cole on Wednesday in Porthacourt include Lucky Ottos, Precious Awuse, Womodi Wosu, Derek Amadi. Kingsley Orji, and Wilson Wopara.

The turn of events is likely to shock Amaechi who, in the past few days, has been campaigning vigorously for Cole.

Explaining why they decided to vote Governor Nyesom Wike’s Candidate, Ikechi gave two reasons. First, they alleged that Amaechi, their leader, directed them to vote Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of the PDP in the February 25 Presidential election, instead of the Presidential Candidate of their Party, All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, and has not rescinded that directive. Based on the directive, he said, they voted PDP, and would like to continue in the same pattern of voting.

His words: “During the first round of election, the former Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, directed Party members to vote the Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, against that of the APC, Bola Tinubu.

“Since then, that directive has remained active, not rescinded. It is, therefore, on the strength of that directive that we salute Rivers people on their support towards our Candidate, Tinubu, during the last elections.

We commend Governor Nyesom Wike on his stance in power returning to the South after eight years of Northern rule. We acknowledge the support of the Governor and the people without whom the Party would have, once again, lost the Presidential election in the State as was the case in previous elections.

“In reciprocity and good faith, we align with a leader of the Party (APC), in the State, Chief Tony Okocha, that the Party returns the favour done by the Governor and people of Rivers State.

“We, the youths of APC, Rivers, hereby, without any form of hesitation, endorse and adopt Sir Siminialayi Fubara as the preferred choice of the Party for the Governorship of Rivers State.

“Fubara answers both the question of riverine Governorship as well as in keeping with the principle of power rotation wherein power should rotate to the Rivers South-east Senatorial Zone, the only Zone yet to produce Governor of our dear State.”

From all indications, it seems that Wike is gradually reducing Amaechi to a nobody, politically, in Rivers State, even in the APC.

In the months running up to the Presidential election, Wike completely overshadowed Amaechi, to the extent that the former Governor was absent at the Presidential Rally of the APC in PH. During the Presidential Election proper, Wike again made Amaechi irrelevant, as he took over and delivered the APC candidate, Tinubu, by hook or crook, allegedly.

The outcome of the Governorship election on Saturday March 18, 2023, will confirm how relevant Amaechi still is in Nigeria and Rivers State politics in particular.

Timi Frank Asks UK High Commissioner’s Apology To Nigerians Over Comments On Presidential Election

Akinwale Kasali

March 16, 2023

By Akinwale Kasali

A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Thursday condemned, in strong terms, a statement credited to the outgoing British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, on the recent Presidential and National Assembly Election.

Laing was recently quoted in media reports to have called on Nigerians to be proud of the 2023 general election despite observed shortcomings.

Frank, in a statement in Abuja, called on Laing to urgently apologize to Nigerians for apparently putting her stamp of authority on an election that has been adjudged fraudulent and having not been conducted in line with due process of law but with the selfish whims and caprices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He called on Nigerians to reject the call in its entirety, because it came from somebody who incidentally is not concerned about their welfare.

Frank said: “Our attention has been drawn to a tendentious statement credited to the outgoing UK High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing to the effect that despite setbacks, Nigerians should be “proud” of the recent Presidential and National Assembly elections.

“This statement coming from the representatives of the British Government in Nigeria could be described as an insult upon injury.

“We have waited for her to deny or dissociate herself from the media report that quoted her to have said Nigerians should be proud of an election where their wish was thwarted by INEC.

“But up till now, no such rejoinder has been published in the media nor the website of the UK High Commission in Nigeria.

“Nigerians have been robbed and you are telling us to be proud. The outcome of the election continues to make Nigerians bitter and angry because their mandate was stolen.. What aspects of the election does she wants Nigerians to be proud of?

“It appears that Laing is unaware that most local and international election observers, including her counterpart in the U.S., and even Chatham House (a UK body) identified massive irregularities during the elections and faulted INEC.

“The Commission on its part admitted that it did not adhere to the Electoral Act 2022 and its own guidelines during the conduct of the elections. Yet she asks Nigerians to be proud of such a sham.

“A US Senator has called on the American President not congratulate the President-elect because of the highly compromised election process. Yet she says Nigerians should be proud.

“We dare say that it is because of appointees like Laing that UK has not been getting real facts about the true situation in Nigeria.

“Her comment during the visit to Lawan is a complete diplomatic fiasco bordering on total deviation from her brief as a diplomat.

“We call on her to immediately apologize to Nigerians over the highly unprofessional, undiplomatic and unfortunate remarks credited to her in the media.”

Frank who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, insisted that Laing and officials like her are among those who encourage corruption in Nigeria by helping corrupt elements to warehouse their ill-gotten wealth in the UK to the benefit of the UK’s economy.

He said: “In the first place, her farewell visit to Lawan was not only misplaced but shows her condescension and support for illegality.

“This is a man who never contested the APC Senatorial Primary Election but was illegally awarded a ticket by the courts to return to the 10th Senate.

“Yet, Laing who has been in Nigeria and is abreast with all these issues of illegalities surrounding Lawan chose him as one of those derserving of her farewell visit.

“It is most unfortunate that Britain appears to condone and allow proceeds of crime from Nigeria to be invested in buying properties in their country but yet they will turn around to say Nigerians are corrupt.

“They are not afraid to enter the UK but scared to go to the US because they know their stand concerning proceeds of corrupt.

“America is stopping corrupt elements and cancelling their VISAs. Let the UK show a list of Nigerians looters they have banned from their country.

“Let them stop encouraging corruption in Nigeria or telling Nigerians to be proud of an election that has been adjudged fraudulent by both local and international observers.

“UK as a former colonial masters of Nigeria should allow Nigerians to develop at its own pace rather than telling them to accept what cannot be accepted in their own country.

OPINION: INEC Server and Other Election Day Stories

The Source

March 16, 2023

By Azu Ishiekwene

For the third time since 1999, I voted at a general election on February 25 and did so without much hassle. I knew my candidates would lose at the unit where I voted, but that didn’t matter. Voting mattered more.

The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) processed me so quickly it was almost like magic. I had no reason to suspect my experience would not be the norm that day.

As I walked away from the booth a family friend who had just voted caught up with me.

“Thank God that I have voted,” she said. “What gives me even greater joy is that my vote has gone directly to the INEC server, unlike the last time.”

I was puzzled.

“How do you mean?” I asked.

She explained that the last time she voted in 2019, a manual register was used to accredit her. The process was so long and time-consuming, she said, it left her drained.

“Yet, even as I was voting on that day,” she recalled, “I knew that my vote could be tampered with very easily. But it was different today. My thumbprint went straight to the INEC server, as I pressed the ballot paper.”

I was even more puzzled now.

Where did she get that from? The bimodal voting machine first used on a limited scale by Nigeria’s election management body (INEC) in a state election in 2021 is capable of fingerprint and facial identification. After capture, the information is then uploaded from the polling unit along with the result sheets to INEC’s server.

Even with the bimodal machine, however, ballot papers will still have to be sorted, collated, counted and the results recorded manually, signed by agents and the polling unit officer, before the result sheet can be uploaded.

This educated, middle-class female voter and friend had stretched INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s promise of result upload and transmission to its elastic limits, confusing it with electronic or internet voting.

The anger, frustration and disappointment from the February 25 election appear rooted not only in the feeling that INEC had betrayed its promise, but also in the betrayal of the personal fantasies which that promise had spawned in many.

For the fourth time in 12 years, general elections have been postponed either mid-vote or just on the eve. This is the third time, however, when postponement on this scale would be as a result of unanticipated technical difficulties by the election management body. We had similar situations before in 2011 and 2019.

Perhaps given the difficulty that INEC faced after the February 25 election, especially the multiple legal challenges by the political parties, postponing the governorship election earlier scheduled for March 11, was the most practical thing. It might have been suicidal not to do so.

Yet the jury is out on how this devil’s alternative might affect the outcome of Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly polls in 28 out of the country’s 36 states.

Perhaps one of the biggest concerns is voter turnout, which reached a record low of 26.7 per cent on February 25. Will voters who turned out in their numbers in defiance of threats and violence in some places still brave the odds and turn out to vote again on Saturday? Or will they be so disappointed and frustrated with the outcome of the presidential and National Assembly polls that they won’t bother?

There’s still a lot to play for. The suffocating hold of state governors over Nigeria’s politics, for example, appears to have been broken. For the first time in decades, the ruling party lost nine states, while seven sitting governors failed to make the Senate, their new retirement home.

Also, 20 winning candidates emerged from political parties other than those of the incumbent governor in the February 25 poll, significantly redrawing Nigeria’s electoral map. These gains weaken the argument of widespread rigging by the opposition.

Unfortunately, the trope has gained ground among the party faithful as flame-throwing by politicians has worsened. One unintended consequence of the prolonged grieving is further loss of faith among voters who braved the odds to vote on February 25. This is the last thing the opposition needs at a moment of promise and significant electoral gains.

Voters have sacrificed a lot for this moment and it would be a shame if politicians mismanage it. Two voters who symbolise the February 25 historic vote were Jennifer Efidi Bina who defied beatings by thugs and knife stab wounds to vote at Surulere Local Government in Lagos; and Chiedu Francisca-Oye, mother of a three-year-old baby, who carried her baby on her shoulder and also dragged her husband around Abuja until she finally voted.

These two voters and millions like them didn’t turn out for an electoral one-night stand. Francisca-Oye, in fact, told me after going to three different wards without finding her name, that whatever the difficulties she encountered on that day, she was determined to vote. Neither technical glitches nor thugs nor even the blazing noonday sun would prevent her.

“I will not give up,” she said, with beads of sweat forming on her brow and her baby on her left shoulder swaddled in a white linen.

If either she or Jennifer or anyone of the millions of voters who turned out to vote on February 25 are reluctant to come out again on Saturday, it would not only be because INEC’s server let them down. It would also be because politicians who ought to help them deepen faith in the process have been clutching at straws.

They have a right to seek redress and INEC should respond forthrightly. Yet it’s fair to say that these politicians have looked for scapegoats everywhere except in the mirror where it would have been obvious that more than anything else their own poor choices, especially internal divisions, have landed them in this misery.

A viral joke described how in 2015, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) formed an alliance of four main parties to defeat the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the time. In 2023, however, instead of using the APC’s playbook against it, the PDP waged a war against itself and splintered into four miserable parts, each part hoping to win.

There have been challenges in this year’s election: Underperformance by the electoral management body; attacks by thugs and threats to life; bank note misery in the midst of an economy in chaos; severe petrol shortages; and on top of it, politicians who after causing their own defeat choose to look for catharsis in scapegoats!

Yet, daunting as the odds may be, sometimes it’s useful to look back to remind ourselves how far we have come. In 19th century Britain, for example, politicians in cahoots with the church used to lock voters up in boroughs close to polling centres ahead of polls, after corning them, just to make sure they voted in a certain way.

This election season gimmickry included a range of self-serving schemes intended to bend voters’ will. According to Susan C. Stokes and others in Brokers, Voters and Clientelism, politicians continued in this perversion for years until the material condition of voters began to improve.

Nigerian voters may have left the 19^th century voter detention camps, but our politicians are not significantly better than the brokers of that British era who will go to extremes to exact the electoral outcomes they to want to see. The worst thing voters can do on Saturday, is to surrender by staying away.

The last straw that broke the camel’s back was not one stroke. It was, instead, a gradual accumulation of strokes, just before the final blow. Voting this Saturday, may well be one more strategic stroke that brings the back of this monstrous electoral camel near breaking point.

It’s not a job to leave for politicians.

Ishiekwene is Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP

Family, Ondo Police Command, Go To War Over Death Of Detainee

Ayodele Oni

March 16, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

The sudden death of a man shortly after his release from police cell has set his family against the Ondo State Police Command.

It was gathered that the deceased was among some persons that were raided during police patrol in Ore, Odigbo local government area of the state.

He reportedly died a day after he was released from the police cell in Ore.

Unconfirmed report claims that the deceased was tortured while in police cell before he was released.

A source said the deceased who hails from the Eastern part of the country and others were raided on Saturday night at Evergreen Hotel, Akinjagula.

He was later released on Tuesday on bail.

It was further gathered that the Police after, allegedly, torturing the deceased, realized that his health condition has been affected negatively, and immediately granted him bail at the sum of N5000 Naira.

The source also said, “Every other person raided alongside the deceased was granted bail with the sum of N20,000 which was paid through a PoS machine at the police station.”

The family of the deceased after securing his bail on Tuesday took him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead after he complained of pains all over his body.

On hearing of the death of the deceased, the family took the corpse to the Police station on Wednesday morning to express thier grievances over his death.

It was also gathered that, the Police, however, shot sporadically into the air to scare them away in order not to cause another scenario at the station.

While giving its own side of the incident, the State Police Command through the spokesperson, Funmilayo Odunlami -Omisanya, stated that “On Monday 13th of March, 2023, the Police was informed that suspected political thugs were in town and lodged in different brothels within Ore and its environs.

“On the strength of this information, Policemen attached to Ore division embarked on a routine raid of black/flash points and brothels fingered to be where some of the miscreants were lodged.

“Suspects arrested were diligently screened and released on bond the next day.

“However, on Wednesday,15th of March, 2023, one of the Managers operating a Brothel in the area called the DPO to inform him that some people brought a Lifeless Body to his office claiming he died a day after he was released.

“These same set of people invaded the Police Divisional Headquarters of Ore that they will destroy and burn down the station but they were dispersed by the men on duty.

“It is pertinent to state that Ondo State Police Command does not handle issues relating to Police Brutality / Incivility to the members of the Public with kid gloves as we are committed to upholding the primary duty of the job.

“We urge the good people of the state to disregard this fake news as we will continue to work tirelessly to build trust and foster positive relationship between the Police and the Public we serve.”

“Why I’m Confident In The Judiciary” – Obi; Says He Will Be Shocked If Nigeria “Goes On With The Rascality Of Criminality”

The Source

March 16, 2023

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi has explained why he has remained confident in Nigeria’s judiciary despite the controversy around their rulings on some matters.

Obi, speaking as a guest at the Channels Television’s Sunrise Programme on Thursday, said his confidence is drawn from the fact that the Justices are Nigerians and are aware of how bad the situation has been in the country and only truth and justice will save this country.

“They, the Justices, desire a better Nigeria for themselves and their children and that can only come through doing the right thing and telling the people the truth of any situation.

“For me, I have no cause to doubt the Courts, it’s we, the politicians that are bent on corrupting every aspect of our national life”.

On what his reaction will be if the nation decides to go on with the situation, Obi said he would be shocked if the country goes on with the rascality of criminality.

The former Anambra state Governor said it’s disheartening that the giant of Africa cannot deliver a simple election when small nations like Ghana can deliver with a small error margin and big nations like India also delivers with less than a five percent error margin.

Obi reiterated his earlier position that what the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared is false, pointing out that he’s challenging the process and the declaration.

“My trust in INEC has evaporated with what they did on February 25, setting out a rule for the election and abandoning it in the middle of the game. He said that the majority of Nigerians have declared a vote of no confidence on INEC because everybody saw that they promised so much and could not deliver even the minimum.

The LP standard bearer likened what INEC did on February 25 to a restaurant promising a sumptuous meal, serving the a la carte but failing to bring the main meal.

On his message to his supporters for Saturday’s gubernatorial and state Assembly elections, Obi said they should vote for Labour Party candidates in their states, and where there is no candidate they should vote with a new Nigeria in mind, looking out for competence, character, capacity, and capabilities.

Untrue! Igbo INEC Staff Not Transferred From Lagos

James Orji

March 16, 2023

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has described as false, report that it’s employees from the south east and south south are being transfered out of Lagos ahead the Governor and House of Assembly elections.

The state is the stronghold of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, which lost the votes to Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party, LP, during the presidential election on February 25.

Obi is from the south east region, and much of his votes were believed to have come from Igbo and people from the south south region.

The ruling party is said to be doing everything to ensue that it takes back the state in the guber and state house of Assembly election slated for this weekend, and bribery of officials of INEC officials by the party has been prime in the allegations against it.

Therefore, when a social media user Omotayo Williams tweeted that some INEC staff from the south east and south south, have been transferred out of the state, and replaced with new ones, the report quickly went rival.

“#JUSTIN: The @inecnigeria office in Lagos has removed all Igbo and South-South staff in the State from sensitive election duties for the March 18th election,” Williams wrote in a tweet.

Adding that “They did not give any reason, but it was said that the INEC leadership which takes directives from the Tinubu political group said they do not trust the Igbo/SS staff to do as they will want them to do at the election.”

He noted that the alleged act of INEC should not be tolerated because it has the tendency to compromise the upcoming governorship election.

Responding INEC said the report should be dismissed as a fake, misleading news, as the commission will not do anything that’s capable of affecting the integrity of the election.

Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman who spoke to journalists in Abuja, the nation’s capital on Wednesday urged Nigerians to dismiss such insinuation.

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