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The Elections Of February 25

March 5, 2023

Mary Beth Leonard - US Ambassador to Nigeria

By Mary Beth Leonard

Commends Atiku, Obi

The people of Nigeria demonstrated their dedication to democracy on February 25, but there are many angry and frustrated Nigerians as well as many who are celebrating victories they believe were hard-fought and well-earned.

In the coming days, it will be important for the future of this country that Nigerians not let their differences divide them, and that the legally established process for resolving challenges to the election be allowed to take its course.

We commend Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Mr. Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party for their recent statements committing to take this path, and Mr Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, who INEC declared the president-elect under Nigeria’s electoral framework, for acknowledging their right to do so.

The United States is no stranger to election-related controversy and conflict. As much as it can be unsatisfying to end an electoral process in a courtroom, in a constitutional democracy bound by the rule of law, that is where electoral conflicts may appropriately conclude.

It is clear that the electoral process as a whole on February 25 failed to meet Nigerians’ expectations. As I said numerous times prior to the elections, Nigeria has accomplished much in just the two-plus decades since the return to democracy, and a gradual improvement in the quality of its elections in that time constitutes one of those accomplishments. We recognize that Nigerians want that positive trend to continue, including through the use of new technology intended to make the process of reporting results more transparent. We thus reiterate our call on INEC to address promptly the challenges that can be resolved ahead of the March 11 gubernatorial elections and to undertake a broader review of the problems that transpired during the last elections and what can be done to fix them. In all cases, INEC should share with the Nigerian public information about the actions it is taking.

I also want to highlight some of the remarkable results from this past election that show how Nigeria’s political landscape is indisputably changing. In more than half of the states – 20 – the winning candidate represented a different party than that of the incumbent governor. Twelve of these states are led by APC governors.

For the first time, four presidential candidates won at least one state, and the top three each won 12 states based on these initial results. In the National Assembly elections, even with results still incomplete, we already know that changes are afoot: seven sitting governors lost in their attempts to win election to the Assembly; the Labor Party has won at least seven seats in the Senate; the NNPP has won at least 11 seats in the House of Representatives.

The Nigerian people have made clear their desire for responsive and inclusive governance, and we strongly support their ability to express that desire. The United States and Nigeria are the two largest presidential democracies in the world and longtime partners. As Nigeria goes through these next weeks and months, we stand with you.

Leonard is the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria

India-bound Businessman Arrested With 9.40kg Heroin At Lagos Airport

The Source

March 5, 2023

“As NDLEA nabs another at Abuja airport, intercepts skunk consignments at Tincan, meth in soap bars at courier firm; seizes 778, 190 pills of tramadol, others in Taraba”

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a businessman, Kingsley Celestino at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, over 9.40 kilograms of heroin concealed in false bottoms of his two travelling bags.

A Press Release by Femi Babafemi, the Agency’s Director, Media & Advocacy, said Kingsley, a business class passenger on Qatar Airline flight, was arrested at Terminal 2 of the MMIA on Saturday 4th March on his way to India. Though a native of Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, the 49-year-old was travelling with a Guinean International Passport.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect frequently travels to India on business class tickets. He claimed he deals in clothing business between Nigeria and India. It was further established that he obtained the Guinean International Passport in Guinea Bissau, where he said his mother came from.

In the same vein, a 24-year-old passenger travelling to Oman, Etounu Monday, was intercepted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Monday 27th February

during the outward clearance of Ethiopian Airline flight ET 950 while attempting to export 1.924kg of skunk concealed in cream tubes.

At the Tincan seaport, Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Friday 3rd March, recovered 244 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 79 kilograms concealed in medium size wooden sound system speakers packed inside two out of four used vehicles in a container marked CRSU9258348 coming from Toronto via Montreal, Canada. The imported vehicles used as cover for the drugs are a 2009 Jeep Wrangler and a 2009 Honda Ridgeline.

Similarly, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, attached to courier firms in Lagos intercepted a consignment of nine parcels of methamphetamine concealed in native black soap, Dudu Osun, heading to Europe.

No fewer than 778,190 pills of pharmaceutical opioids including tramadol and a drum of 270kg Methylene Chloride were recovered by operatives from a suspect, Eric Pepe Yohanna, 33, in Jalingo, Taraba state on Monday 27th Feb following credible intelligence. Also seized from him is a Daylong tricycle used in distributing the illicit substances.

In Adamawa State, the house of a wanted notorious drug dealer, Mamudu Njobdi at Sebore, Gyalla road Dougada ward, Mubi was raided in the early hours of Monday 27th Feb where he was arrested and drug exhibits recovered. The 31-year-old suspect was earlier arrested on Wednesday 22nd Feb at his drug joint in Kolere water board but mobilized thugs to attack NDLEA officers and in the process escaped with exhibits.

While a suspect, Geoffrey Okpani, 31, was arrested at Bukuru area of Jos, Plateau state with 27.45kg of cannabis, Ajayi Tope, 30, was arrested on Saturday 4th March at Area 5 Ile-Ife, in Ife south local government area of Osun state with 18kg of same substance.

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Friday 3rd March raided De-Niche Hotel & Suites, Omole estate, Ojodu Ikeja where 24 suspects were arrested and different quantities of illicit drugs recovered from them.

Reacting to the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers, men and women of MMIA, NAIA, Tincan, Taraba, Adamawa, Plateau, Osun and Lagos Commands as well as DOGI for their efforts. He charged them and their counterparts across the country to intensify the ongoing mop up operations to deny political thugs access to illicit substances ahead of the Governorship and House of Assembly elections this weekend.

Osun: APC Urges IGP, NSA To Check Arms Proliferation

Ayodele Oni

March 5, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun state has drawn the attention of National Security Adviser(NSA), Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Usman Alkali Baba, to massive proliferation of illegal arms in the state.

The party noted that this has led to coercion of people of the state to vote against their choice candidates in the ongoing general elections.

The Acting Chairman of the APC, in the state, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, in a statement in Osogbo, on Sunday, stated that it is disheartening and scary that the whole state has been militarized by some persons recruited by the state government to unleash terror on opposition members.

According to him, the state has been turned to a garrison for the political hoodlums, who are loyal to Governor Ademola Adeleke and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who openly flaunt sophisticated arms and amunitions in the state.

Lawal disclosed that these political thugs, since the inauguration of the administration of Governor Adeleke on November 27, 2022 have turned the entire state into an abattoir for the slaughtering of human beings.

The acting State APC chairman hinted that there have been unjustifiable attacks and killings, stating that no fewer than 30 members of the opposition have been sent to their untimely death by the Adeleke goons within less than hundred days of his administration.

He explained that the PDP and Adeleke have been using the armed thugs to threaten and terrorize members and supporters of his party from casting their votes for their choices of candidates during previous elections in the state.

Lawal stated that before any credible election can be held in the state, there is need for the NSA and the IGP to immediately embark on withdrawal of arms, which has turned the state into Namibia of the 1970’s where incessant killings were the orders of the day.

He reminded both the NSA and the IGP that they owe the inhabitants of the state the duty of statutory protection of their lives and property as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I doubt it if there is any credible, free and fair election that can be held in Osun State under the present heavily militarized condition by the PDP thugs.

“We enjoin your good offices to handle the suggested withdrawal of the illegal arms and ammunition from the PDP political thugs before the House of Assembly elections this Saturday with dispatch.

“What we are saying is that the electorate should be allowed to vote for their choice candidates without coercion.”

Jonathan Felicitates Obasanjo On His 86th Birthday

The Source

March 5, 2023

Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan,ad has felicitated former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on the occasion of his 86^th birthday, wishing him long life in good health and peace of mind as he continues to work for a united and prosperous Nigeria.

Dr. Jonathan described Chief Obasanjo as a sincere patriot who has remained relentless, even in old age, in his commitment to building bridges of harmony, equity and progress in Africa.

In a goodwill message he personally signed, Dr. Jonathan stated: “On behalf of my family, I felicitate you as you celebrate your 86th birthday. Your Excellency, you have lived a life of exemplary loyalty, service and patriotism to Nigeria and Africa, building bridges of harmony and making peace.

“I am delighted that even in old age, you have been relentless in your passion for a peaceful and just Nigeria and a prosperous Africa.

“As you celebrate, I wish you more strength, sound health and peace. On behalf of my family, I wish you a happy birthday. Congratulations, Your Excellency.”

Ikechukwu Eze, S.A. to H.E. Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

CNPP Urges Nigerian Judiciary To Do Better Than INEC, Wants Voters Not To Be Deterred

The Source

March 5, 2023

Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has called on the Nigerian judiciary to serve justice to all electoral petitions by aggrieved parties in the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections, urging the Judges and Justices to do better than the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the CNPP warned that “the current peace of the grave yard in the country must not be abused.”

The CNPP said that it did not want “to rush into joining issues with some selfish individuals and groups who ignored voter intimidation as well as unexplainable failure on the part of presiding officers employed by INEC to transmit election results from their polling units in real-time despite several assurances that electronic transmission of results has come to stay in the country’s electoral system.

“The CNPP recalls that in the build up to the 2023 general elections, INEC had consistently assured that results from the polling units in locations without internet services will automatically be uploaded by the Biometric Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines to the INEC IREV servers as soon as the BVAS is connected to internet network.

“But it is shocking that INEC failed to upload the results to its IREV servers even in urban cities where there were sufficient Internet network connections across the country.

“We believe, like most observers of the process leading to the declaration of the winner of the presidential election, that the delay in uploading the results of the presidential election in real-time as INEC did in Edo, Ondo and Ekiti states in previous elections was deliberate to ensure the emergence of a predetermined outcome through manual collation of the presidential election results.

“We therefore call on the international community and lovers of democracy across the world to hold the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu responsible for the observable manipulations of the collation process, especially the presidential election.

“It is on record that the CNPP stood with INEC leadership during the struggle for the amendment of the Electoral Act 2022 to provide for the deployment of technology to deepen democracy in Nigeria.

“But, it is disappointing to observe that the same INEC, which electronically transmitted results successfully in precious staggered elections, suddenly lost its vigor to do the same during the presidential election, resorting to the old fraud-prone manual collation of the 2023 presidential election results.

“We call on Nigerians not to feel frustrated by the observations suggesting the manipulation of the electoral system in the presidential election and come out en masse to vote for the candidates of their choice in the March 11, 2023 governorship and state legislative elections.

“We urge the Nigerian judiciary to do the needful and reject the usual reliance on technicalities to deny litigants justice in election petitions”, the CNPP stated.

How Sani Abacha’s Son, Abdullahi, Died

Adesina Soyooye

March 4, 2023

By Adesina Soyooye

Abdullahi, a son of late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has died.

Abdullahi died in his sleep on Saturday morning.

Cause of death is not yet public, but his elder sister, Gumsu, who broke the news said Abdullahi died in the early hours of Saturday. He died in Abuja at the Abacha’s Nelson Mandela Street.

Said Gumsu in a tweet: “Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. I lost my younger brother Abdullahi Sani Abacha.

“May Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him jannatul firdous, Ameen. Please, include him in your prayers.”

He was aged 36 years, and was second to the late Head of State’s children with wife Maryam.

This is the second Abacha son to die. The first died in a plane crash when his father was Nigeria’s Head of State.

2023: INEC Admits Hitches; Insists On BVAS for Guber Election

Akinwale Kasali

March 4, 2023

By Akinwale Kasali

Electoral Umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has admitted that there were hitches in the deployment of the Biomidial Voters Assessment System, BVAS, during the February 25th Presidential and national Assembly Elections across the Country.

This was disclosed by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Saturday, at the meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners in Abuja.

Yakubu told the RECs that it was imperative for the Commission to review their performances from last Saturday’s election.

He noted that the elections were painstakingly done but it came with issues ranging from technology, delay by election officials, attitudes of political parties’ agents among others.

The INEC Chairman stated that a lot of lessons have been learnt from the Presidential Elections ahead of the Governorship and State Assembly elections.

He added that despite the BVAS hitches at the last election, it will still be deployed for the March 11 Governorship Election and State House of Assembly.

Guber Election: “We Shall Physically Confront Riggers” – Tambuwal; Accuses Minister For Police

Akinwale Kasali

March 4, 2023

By Akinwale Kasali

The All Progressives Congress, APC and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Sokoto, are at each others neck, over allegations of plans to scuttle the Governorship election in the State.

The APC alleges that the PDP is conniving with Security agents to scuttle the exercise.

This is coming a week to the 2023 governorship and House of Assembly elections across the country scheduled for 11th March 2023.

The APC, at a press conference addressed by its Chairman, Isa Sadiq Acida accused the PDP of conniving with security agencies during the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections to deploy armed men to the polling units as well as young men with dangerous weapons to attack voters and voting agents.

Acida, who addressed newsmen at the party secretariat, further alleged that it was the same people sent out of the PDP by the Governor Aminu Tambuwal led administration that have turned out to play a significant role in its downfall.

The Party called on INEC to investigate the actions of some of its Ad Hoc and Permanent staff, “who we believe connived with the PDP in the last election to deliberately delay the arrival of voting materials to the polling units and placed artificial clogs to the voting process, in areas where the APC has a large following.

“We also urge the security agencies to investigate incidents of deliberate destruction of ballot boxes, find out who destroyed the boxes, who their sponsors are and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.”

The Party vowed not to tolerate a repeat performance in the Governorship and State Assembly polls and called for people to abide by the principle of one man one vote in the coming elections across the state.

But the Peoples Democratic Party during a stakeholders meeting in the State called on its members across the State to ensure their votes are protected against rigging or manipulation henceforth.

The stakeholders meeting which was attended by the leaders of the party in the state, including Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, his Deputy, Muhammad Manir Dan’iya, the campaign DG, former ministers among many others.

They said that the PDP had thoroughly reviewed all infractions noticed during the Presidential Election and vowed to never again allow the use of foul means to usurp power as it was done in the past.

The party leaders berated the action of Security Agencies, especially the Nigerian police, which they said allowed themselves to be used by the campaign DG of the APC in the State, who is also the Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi.

Speaking further, the State governor, Aminu Tambuwal urged the Security agencies to be professional stressing that any further attempt to intimidate the people in the forthcoming elections would be resisted.

“All of you know what happened last Saturday. We were winning overwhelmingly when the APC thugs invaded the polling units at the watch of security agencies” he stated.

“These thugs rendered most of the election in many polling units inconclusive.

”Our party, the PDP, therefore, resolves that in as much as it remains a law-abiding political party, conducting its affairs strictly within the ambit of our nation’s electoral laws; the party will henceforth resist rigging.

“We will henceforth directly and physically confront and resist the election riggers from always having a field day by truncating our nascent democracy.

“Consequently, the PDP directs all its agents, its officials to be vigilant in all polling units to avoid the repeat of what happened last Saturday.”

He called on President Muhammad Buhari to caution erring security officials.

Zenith Bank: Jim Ovia Chairs New Holding Company

Tosin Olatokunbo

March 4, 2023

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has approved the appointment of Jim Ovia as Chairman of the Zenith Bank Holding company, ZBHC.

This development comes on the heels of the Regulator’s approval for the commercial bank to restructure as a holdco, the bank said in a statement on Friday.

The change of the bank’s structure to a Holder also came barely a week after the CBN fixed the maximum tenure of commercial bank chief executives and directors at 10 years maximum.

On Thursday, the Deputy Managing Director of the bank, Adaora Umeoji resigned her appointment in effect to the CBN’s new tenure guidelines having spent the maximum 10 years as one of the directors of the leading deposit money bank, DMB in the country.

The implication of this, is that, the bank has now joined the league of other banks such as the FCMB, Access, First Bank, GTCO, and others which had since been operating a holding structure following the approval of the Godwin Emefiele-led apex bank.

“The CBN has granted approval-in-principle for Zenith Bank to operate a non-operating financial holding company structure.

“Furthermore, the CBN approved Mr Jim Ovia as the Chairman of Zenith Holdco Plc (in-formation and for Mr Jim Ovia to also continue as the Chairman of Zenith Bank until the commencement of Zenith Holdco,” the bank stated in a statement signed by Micheal Otu, the Company Secretary, on Friday.

Naira Swap: Akeredolu Calls For Quick Implementation Of Supreme Court Judgement

Ayodele Oni

March 4, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has charged that compliance with the Supreme Court judgement on naira swap policy should commence immediately.

The Governor, in a statement he personally signed warned that the state will go to court if the judgement is not complied with by the federal government and Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN).

Akeredolu’s statement reads : “The Government and the people of Ondo State received the news of the ruling of the Supreme Court on the punitive implementation of a monetary policy, hurriedly packaged to achieve a pernicious end by Mr Godwin Emefiele, with great relief.

“The position of the apex Court is in tandem with our press releases on the subject matter.

“We salute the industry and courage of the Justices of the Supreme Court for the well-considered ruling.

“The CBN Governor and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice misadvised the President to assume powers of an Emperor answerable only to himself and no other authorities as enshrined in the law.

“It is deplorable to witness small businesses collapse with unbelievable rapidity. We have been regaled with tales of the dehumanisation of ordinary Nigerians who have been forced to strip themselves naked in banking halls weeping to be given their monies kept with the banks.

“Some have lost their lives, needlessly, for being unable to access their deposits in the banks upon demand.

“The Governor of the CBN acted most irresponsibly when he claimed to be exercising powers, which the CBN Act does not invest in his office.

“He was quoted as saying that he was fighting corruption, money laundering and vote- buying. He acted, ultra vires, goaded by his political permutations.

“The AGF equally misled the President to act beyond the limits of his executive powers. Nigerians have been punished unduly.

“As the Supreme Court has pronounced, the law must be allowed to rule. There are statutory functions allotted to bodies in the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

“These bodies must be allowed to exercise those functions. Anyone purporting to act in contravention of the extant laws does so, either ignorantly or mischievously.

“The letters of the law are simple and understandable if the people in authority embrace less mischief.

“We enjoin the Federal Government to obey the ruling of the Supreme Court immediately as there is no other alternative open to it.

“We congratulate the States which challenged this obnoxious policy implementation and hope that our banks will release the deposits of Nigerians in their custody upon demand forthwith as there will be grave consequences for continued seizure of the hard-earned monies of citizens.

“There is no gain asserting the obvious. The whole policy may have been well conceived. Its implementation has been politically driven.

“The CBN Governor is a partisan of injustice and oppression. Most Governments, perhaps with the exception of a negligible few motivated by the possibility of deriving unexpressed political advantages, cannot meet simple obligations to their citizens. It is most unfortunate.

“As we enjoin the officials of the Federal Government who may be directly involved in putting into effect the spirit and the letter of the Supreme Court ruling to do so immediately, the Ondo State Government will not hesitate to proceed against persons and institutions whose activities impede its ability to discharge statutory obligations to the people.

“There is no justification for the pains to which our people have been subjected for obvious political reasons.”

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