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In Rivers State, Obi’s Supporters Stopped From Voting, Lagos Too

By
The Source
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Peter Obi supporters been threatned at Polling Units

By Charles Igbo

Obviously based on instructions, allegedly,  given by Governor Nyesom Wike, voters are being chased out if “You want to vote for Peter Obi” in Rivers State.

The same scene is being played out, openly, in some areas in Lagos State where Nigerians of Igbo extraction are being prevented from voting.

In Fehintola Giwa Street, Aguda, the gate to voting centres were locked, while one man stood, telling voters:,”If you no fit vote for APC, go your house. Here na APC. Nobody force you come for here.”

And it was the same thing in  Okota, Ikate Elugishi, Lekki suburbs.  At one polling station, one man threatened,  before Security Agencies: ” I am here if you say you be Igbo, Igbo born you, come here and vote let me see you.”

At Ikate Elugushi, Lagos, the Oba came out and asked the voters to go because he couldn’t recognize their faces as those who live in the area.

The most disturbing is Rivers State where voters who “are here to vote for Obi, will not be allowed to vote.”

At Unit 18, Rumigbo, voters were physically attacked, and told: “If you want to vote for Peter Obi, go home.”

That was followed by chasing them away.

Why I Cut Off Communities In Kogi Central – Gov Bello

By
Ayodele Oni
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Yahaya Bello Blocks Road in Kogi State

By Ayodele Oni

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has admitted destroying major roads leading to the hometown of the Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) for Kogi Central Senatorial, Natasha Akpoti, on the eve of crucial Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.

Akpoti, in a viral video Friday, accompanied by some residents cried out over the complete cut off of some communities in Kogi central, apparently to prevent movement of electoral materials to them.

The excavation on election night, according to Ms Akpoti, has political motives and deliberate attempt to prevent Electoral Officials from getting to the five Local Government Areas in her Senatorial District.

Ms Akpoti further asserted that the excavation would make it difficult for security personnel to reach and rescue her in the event of an attack.

The Governor defended the act as a preemptive measure to stop terrorists from unleashing havoc on the people of Kogi State, citing a bomb blast that occurred on December 29, during a visit by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“One of the measures arrived at was to restrict the number of routes to the flashpoints to enable security agents properly mount effective surveillance on the other access roads for the safety of the people.”

A statement signed by Kingsley Fanwo, Commissioner for Information and Communications explained that the act was intentionally carried out by the Governor.

Mr Bello is not on the ballot but hopes to secure majority votes in Saturday’s poll for candidates of his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party.

The Kogi Governor had, on several occasions, pledged his allegiance to Bola Tinubu, the Presidential candidate of the APC.

The road has been fixed by Ms Akpoti to the excitement of residents of Ihima.

High Voter Turnout But Slow Delivery Of Materials Reported Across The Country

By
The Source
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Peter Obi and Voters on Election Day

The Presidential and National Assembly Elections kicked off as scheduled today with unprecedented voter turnout across the country but the late arrival of materials in some areas.

Reports show late voting, In Abuja, some polling units started voting as late as 10 am while the voters were mobilized as early as 6 am.

In some voting areas in Anambra, some South Eastern states, and some areas in Lagos the materials arrived late. At the polling station of the Director General of the World Trade Centre in Isingwu Umuahia, Materials had not arrived by 11.00am, and no INEC official was on hand.

Some voters were also finding it difficult to locate their polling units as INEC rejigged some centers without prior information to the voters.

In Federal Housing Estate, Nyanya in FCT, the Labour Party agent insisted on being shown the accredited result to avoid over-voting. The NYSC electoral office tried to resist but was overwhelmed by the voters who sided with the agent. 750 voters were registered to vote in the unit and they had 700 electoral materials because 100 voters did not collect their PVCs.

In the North, security operatives battle agents with cash to buy votes. In Abuja, it was a free fight as agents of a political party fight over money in a hotel.

In Lagos, the same logistics challenge was reported in some areas.

Meanwhile the Presidential candidates of three major political parties, Peter Obi, LP,  Atiku Abubakar, PDP, Bola Tinubu, APC, have voted, with their spouses at their polling Units.

CNPP Commends Police On Lawmaker’s Arrest

By
The Source
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Chief Willy Ezugwu

Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to key into the ground already prepared by President Muhammadu Buhari for free, fair, credible, safe, and peaceful elections starting from Saturday, February 25.

In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the CNPP urged the commission to ensure that its officials were not compromised in line with the level of neutrality demanded by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The CNPP was reacting to the reported arrest of a federal lawmaker, Dr. Chinyere Igwe, with $498,100 on suspicion of attempted vote buying and money laundering.

The police also recovered a list of suspected beneficiaries of the money, including INEC headquarters in Rivers State.

According to the CNPP, “This arrest is just a tip of how politicians have planned to deploy illicit funds to compromise the electoral process.

“Since they have no access to the volume of cash to deploy for vote buying due to the naira redesign policy of the federal government being executed by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, these corrupt politicians are deploying foreign currencies to perpetrate their evil acts.

“We commend President Muhammadu Buhari, who set the template for credible 2023 elections and the CBN Governor who has followed through the presidential directives of the naira redesign policy aimed at reducing corruption and electoral fraud ahead of the 2023 general elections.

“We therefore call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to key into the anti-election rigging template of President Buhari administration and ensure that the will of the people was not subverted on Saturday.

“It’s time for INEC to demonstrate in reality that their officials have been trained to be neutral in the discharge of their electoral duties during the elections.

“INEC should ensure that electoral offences were diligently prosecuted and its compromising officials named, shamed, and publicly sanctioned in accordance with the laws.

“The police and all the security agencies are commended for their efforts to ensure the safety of voters across the country.

“We urge the Department of State Services (DSS), anti-graft outfits, the military and paramilitary agencies on election duty to remain on high alerts and proactively nip in the bud all acts capable of instigating violence during and after the polls”, the CNPP stated.

Atiku To Nigerians: Ignore Fake Audio In Circulation; Says It’s Last Kick Of A Dying Horse

By
The Source
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0

The Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has described as utter rubbish, an audio clip on social media wherein he purportedly revealed plans by himself, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State to rig the presidential election.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, the PDP presidential candidate, said the latest fake audio clip in circulation was a confirmation of his warning last week that the opposition would deepen its propaganda ahead of the election.

Shaibu said, “We warned last week that as the election approaches, there will be a spike in the rate of propaganda on social media. With barely 24 hours to the poll, we have witnessed propaganda from not just the All Progressives Congress but the Labour Party as well.

“In this latest drivel, a montage of speeches delivered by Atiku, Tambuwal, and Okowa since last year were manipulated and pieced together to give an impression that they were discussing plans to rig Saturday’s election. In this age of artificial intelligence technology, even dead people can be portrayed as delivering speeches. This is nothing new.

“For the record, Atiku has run in two presidential elections and has never been indicted or prosecuted for election violence or vote buying.

“But some people think they can sell a narrative of Atiku manipulating this election. This is indeed the height of desperation, the last kick of a dying horse. The APC and the Labour Party must note that elections are not won on social media but at the polling units.”

Atiku said the audio clip, which had been shared numerous times on WhatsApp, could be identified easily as a fake even from the tone of the purported discussants.

He added, “It is unfortunate that those seeking power will engage in outdated defeatist tactics. How can Tambuwal be referring to Atiku by his full name in a one-on-one private conversation? This is nonsensical, similar to the type of meaningless chatter about President Muhammadu Buhari being dead and replaced by one Jubril from Sudan.”

Atiku also advised his supporters not to engage in the propaganda war, which had become the style of both the APC and the Labour Party. He said they should respond by voting massively for the PDP on Saturday.

He added, “When they descend to the level of baseless propaganda, we will rise above it with dignity and respond with our PVCs. This election is a watershed in Nigerian history. Nigerians must not lose sight of what is most important, which is the need to rebuild this broken system, revitalize the economy, and improve security and the hope of the people in a united Nigeria.”

The presidential candidate called on the police and other security agencies as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain fair and neutral in the polls.

He asked them to go after those behind the audio tape in line with Section 123(c) of the Electoral Act which provides that any person who before or during an election publishes any statement to the personal character or conduct of a candidate calculated to prejudice the chance of election of the candidate or to promote or procure the election of another candidate and such statement is false and was published without reasonable grounds for belief by the person publishing it that the statement is true, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum of N100,000 or imprisonment for a term of six months or both.

APC: “Orji Kalu Not Suspended, PDP Responsible For Fake Story”

By
The Source
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0

The All Progressives Congress, Abia State, has dismissed reports that it has suspended its Abia North Senatorial Candidate and Chief Whip of the Senate,  Orji Uzor Kalu.

Denying the report, the Party’s Spokesperson, Hon. Chief Okey Ezeala,  described it as the handiwork of the People’s Democratic Party.

In  a statement signed by Ezeala , the party distanced itself from the report, stating that there is no iota of truth in it. The party identified a Reprter in a National Newspaper, as a paid agent of Kalu’s PDP opponent Mao Ohuabunwa.

Ezeala said that the malicious write up is occasioned by the PDP’s fright to accept imminent defeat at the February 25, National Assembly Elections. According to the party, Senator Kalu remains its candidate as both the party and his constituents are satisfied with his performance.

The APC said it issued no letter on February 21 to Kalu  as peddled by the reporter neither were the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Paul Nwabuisi; State Secretary, Chief Chidi Avajah, and the State Chairman, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu privy to such a letter.

On the allegation of  anti-party activities and other offenses, the party labeled the accusations as entirely false , stating that Orji Kalu has always remained a committed member of the party and its progress.

The party’s Spokesperson added that there is no record of Orji Kalu campaigning against any its candidates nor has the Senate Chief Whip campaigned for any other political candidate besides those of the APC.

The statement reads:

”The attention of the Abia All Progressives Congress (APC)  has been drawn to a fake letter purported to have been signed by Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Paul Nwabuisi; State Secretary, Chief Chidi Avajah, and the State Chairman, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu privy of such a letter and mischievously claiming that our Senatorial  Candidate in Abia North has been suspended from the Party.

”The APC states in clear terms that Orji Kalu  remains the Senatorial candidate of the party in Abia-North Senatorial District for tomorrow’s 2023 general elections, February 25.

“He is not suspended from the party and the party has no contemplation in that regard and there are no issues whatsoever to warrant such,” he said.

“Neither did Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Paul Nwabuisi; State Secretary, Chief Chidi Avajah, and the State Chairman, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu or any party executive sit or agree to issue such a letter.

“The party urges the general public to disregard the report,  Orji Kalu remains a not just our member but a committed stakeholder of the party and has remained committed to the victory of our candidate.

“We consider this as the handiwork of the People’s Democratic Party who are scared of defeat.”

Election: Rage In Kogi As Agents Of Govt Block Access Roads To Communities

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Yahaya Bello Blocks Road in Kogi State

By Ayodele Oni

There is rage and protest in some parts of Kogi State following blockage of linking roads to communities opposed to the politics of Governor Yahaya Bello.

The people, led by Natasha Akpoti – Uduaghan,  came out of their homes to discover that all major roads leading to the communities have been severed from the rest of Kogi State.

Today’s election may likely be marred, as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) may not be able to access the affected Communities.

In a viral video, Akpoti, with other residents trooped out to show to the entire world their plight in the hand of a Governor that has taken politics to the extreme.

Akpoti said one of the agents of the governor, who happens to be the Chairman of Saving Local Government, escorted an  escavator to the road and dug a deep gully.

“What this means is that INEC officials will find it difficult to reach here and if Yahaya Bello and his APC goons decide to attack me, the DPOs will not be able to reach here.”

Another viral video showed Akpoti leading other residents to cover up the affected areas to ensure easy access to the affected areas.

CBN Limits Bank MDs Tenure To 12yrs

By
James Orji
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0
CBN Gov Emefiele

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has pegged the maximum tenure of Managing Director of commercials and deposit money banks in the country at 12 years.

This is contained in a new guidelines released by the Godwin Emefiele-led CBN, on Friday.

The guidelines also specifies the tenure of Deputy Managing Director and Executive Directors of commercial banks.

For instance, the apex bank said in the guideline that the maximum tenure of any chief executives of banks should not exceed 12 years cumulatively.

The CBN said:, “The tenure of Executive Directors (ED), Deputy Managing Directors (DMD) and Managing Directors (MDs) shall be in accordance with the terms of their engagement approved by the Board of Directors of banks, subject to a maximum tenure of ten (10) years

“Where an Executive who is a DMD becomes the MD/CEO of a bank or any other DMB before the end of his/her maximum tenure, the cumulative tenure of such Executive shall not exceed twelve (12) years.

“However, for an Executive (ED) who becomes a DMD of a bank or any other DMB, his/her cumulative tenure as ED and DMD shall not exceed 10 years.

“Non-Executive Directors (NEDs), with the exception of Independent Non-Executive Director (INED), shall serve for a maximum period of twelve (12) years in a bank, broken into three terms of four years each.

“EDs, DMDs and MDs who exit from the Board of a bank either upon or prior to the expiration of his/her maximum tenure, shall serve out a cooling-off period of 1 year before being eligible for appointment as a NED to the Board of Directors.

“NEDs who exit from the Board of a bank either upon or prior to the expiration of his/her maximum tenure of 12 years (3 terms of 4years each), shall serve out a cooling-off period of 1 year before being eligible for appointment to the Board of Directors of any other DMB.

“The cumulative tenure limit of EDs/DMDs, MDs and NEDs across the banking industry is 20 years.”

Meanwhile, the magazine learnt that the latest CBN action, coming more than 20 years after it limited the tenure of chief executives of banks to 10 years, is meant to further strengthen government’s control on commercial banks as well as promoting global best practices in the nation’s financial service sector.
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CBN: Abdulmumin In, Nwanisiobi Out As Spokesperson

By
James Orji
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0

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has appointed Isa Abdulmumin as it’s new spokesman.

Though in acting capacity, Abdulmimin is taking over from Osita Nwanisobi who is exiting the government bank as Deputy Director, Corporate Communications.

Nwanisiobi retired from the bank on Friday barely three years after he was appointed into the position.

Recall that he took over from Isaac Okorafor in 2020.

Nnamani Optimistic Of Victory Despite Postponement By INEC

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Chimaroke Nnamani

By Akinwale Kasali

Senator Chimaroke Nnamani representing Enugu East Senatorial  District at the Senate has said that he is unperturbed by the postponement of the Senatorial District Election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, following the gruesome murder of Labour Party, LP, senatorial candidate, Oyibo Chukwu and five others.

Nnamani said that he remains optimistic of coasting home to victory as the election earlier slated for tomorrow, February 25th to March 11th.

Oyibo, a former Chairman  of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, was killed and set ablaze at Amechi-Awkunanaw in Enugu South Local Government Area on Wednesday after gunmen opened fire on his convoy during an ambush.

His personal assistant also died in the incident.

Following this development, electoral umpire, INEC, in a Statement today in Abuja, the nations Capital, announced that the Enugu East senatorial election which was scheduled to hold this Saturday will now be held on March 11 alongside the governorship polls.

The former Enugu State Governor in a Statement said he welcomed the decision of the electoral umpire.

He said, “We welcome any opportunity for the Independent National Electoral Commission to postpone the Enugu East senatorial election.

“While we strongly condemn the senseless killing of the LP senatorial candidate and others by yet-to-be-identified gunmen, I deeply sympathise with all the bereaved, and urge the security operatives to fish out the perpetrators.”

Nnamani added that the deceased stand no chance in defeating at the poll, though, his death is so painful and condemns the senseless killing in his entirety.

“Any suggestion that the deceased was favoured to win the election is ridiculous, to say the least.

“It is only a party that thrives on deception and social media stunts that would claim it was about defeating a sitting senator and past two-term governor of the state.”

“Indeed, the postponement will allow for a fair contest and for peace to reign in the area,” he concluded.

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