Category: News

Babajide Sanwoolu, the governor of Lagos State, has condemned the act of thuggery and ethnic bigotry that has became more amplified in Lagos State in the lead up to the general election.

In an interview with ARISE News on Monday, Sanwoolu spoke on the issue of bigotry and ethnic baiting that has characterised campaigns ahead of elections in the state.

“We should not even ventilate it, we should not give it anything to hold a space in us… It is not something I will push for.”

He however, appreciated the fact that some of these people are only trying to preserve their cultures and traditions in these areas, saying that for some, it was simply an issue of respect.

Speaking on thuggery, the Lagos governor stated that it was a highly condemnable act, and that security operatives should be able to properly handle the matter.

He further said, “No leader worth his salt will indeed allow a state to be run by people that we cannot even identify, so it is that condemnable.”

Babajide Sanwoolu then spoke on the End Sars protests and its aftermath, explaining his role in the protests and how he contributed to those who had many grievances during this period.

He then emphasized that he was not in charge of the police or the military, and therefore, could not have ordered the shootings that took place at Lekki Toll gate on the 20th of October, 2020.

He said, “It wasn’t a flash incident, it was an incident that had piled up for three weeks…I don’t control the police, I don’t control the military.”

He also addressed the matter in which Bola Tinubu, the president-Elect of Nigeria, did not get the required votes to win the polls in Lagos State, saying that the party has been able to identify the reasons for this loss, saying that it is a democracy, and nobody could be faulted for any loss.

He however, acknowledged that the voter turnout for Lagos State during the presidential election was low, and encouraged the citizens of Lagos to vote in the upcoming gubernatorial elections.

(Arise News)

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Peter Mbah, has felicitated Enugu women and young girls on the 2023 International Women’s Day globally marked today, Wednesday 8, 2023.

In a statement personally signed by the foremost governorship flagbearer, Dr. Mbah lauded women for their invaluable and indispensable role in building the state through their strong moral values and pursuit of a just and peaceful society.

While pledging to partner with women across the state to solve their challenges, the governorship hopeful assured that his administration, if and when elected, would be gender friendly, bridge gender imbalance through empowerment and education, provide robust healthcare system to enable women access healthcare needs at little or no cost and enhance their skills in technology, entrepreneurship and other innovations.

Mbah, who described the theme of this year’s celebration; “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality” as apt and in consonance with his manifesto and social charter for the state, added that women are assets that must be strengthened with education, especially in digital technology.

“Our programmes, incidentally, place much emphasis on moving our economy from bricks and mortar to a digital economy driven by Fintech and e-commerce where our people can operate seamlessly and make more money without necessarily opening shops.

“While we were proposing our manifesto, we had our women, our mothers, our wives and our ebullient young ladies in mind and we have vowed to create an enabling environment for them to thrive and fulfill their potentials.

“Today, the world is fast migrating from traditional mode of communication, access to healthcare facilities, transaction to the digital through the help of innovation. We want to move together to that future as a family. In doing this, we have made arrangements to provide special training and education for the upskilling of our women.

“We shall be providing them with internet facilities, workstations, innovation-incubation centres and funds for their businesses.

“It is our strong desire to work with our women, give them full representation in our administration, protect their interest and treat them as equal partners in this our journey of greatness and the journey to the tomorrow that is here,” the statement reads in part.

Dr. Mbah further extended his appreciation to the women for taking ownership of the election campaign, urging them to come out in large numbers on Saturday and vote for him as the most competent candidate for the job.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday issued Certificates of Return to winners of the February 25, 2023 Senatorial elections in Nigeria

The Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu made the presentation at the National Collation Centre (the International Conference Centre) in Abuja.

Yakubu had on Saturday said winners were declared for 423 legislative seats, indicating that supplementary elections would be conducted in 46 other constituencies.

The elected legislators include 98 out of 109 Senate, and 325 out of 360 House of Representatives seats. Seven parties won in the Senate, while eight parties won House of Representatives seats.

House of Representatives-elect are expected to receive theirs on Wednesday at the same venue.

In terms of party representation for the 10th Assembly, the INEC chief said APC won 57 Senate seats; the PDP, 29; LP, 6; SDP, 2; NNPP, 2; YPP, 1; and APGA, 1. For the lower chamber, the electoral chair said the APC has 162 seats; PDP, 102; LP, 34; NNPP, 18; APGA, 4; ADC, 2; SDP, 2; YPP, 1.

(Channels TV)

A High Court sitting in Imo State has given an order of interim injunction restraining the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Baba Alkali, Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State, CP Sunday Olaleye and the Department of State Security (DSS) or its agents from arresting the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Ebonyi State, Prof Benard Odoh.

Justice I.M. Njaka gave the order on 3rd of March, 2023, in a motion Ex-parte brought before the Orlu judicial division of the Imo State High Court by Prof Odoh.

“Upon reading the motion Ex parte dated on the 1 day of March, 2023 and filed on 2nd March, 2023 Brought pursuant to sections 34, 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) order 11 Rules 1,2,3,4 and 5, order iv Rules 3, 4 and order xi of thee Fundamental Right (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 and under the inherent jurisdiction of this Honorable Court. Together with 20 paragraphed affidavit in supported of the motion paper and written address of the counsel.

“And After hearing the submission of C.K. OKORIE SAN for the Plaintiff /Applicant.

“THE COURT HEREBY ORDERS AS FOLLOWS:- An order of interim injunction is made restraining the Respondents, either by themselves or through their agents, workmen, staff or security men, police officers from further attempting to arrest or detain or inviting the Applicant pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application.

“An order of interim injunction restraining is made the Respondents either by themselves or through their agents, workmen, staff or security men, police officers from taking further steps or staying all actions in connection with the substantive application pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application,” the Court ordered.

Professor Odoh through his lawyer, C.K Okorie SAN, had filed a motion Ex parte dated the 1st day of March, 2023, and filed on 2nd March, 2023, brought pursuant to sections 34, 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) order 11 Rules 1,2,3,4 and 5, order iv Rules 3, 4 and order xi of the Fundamental Right (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 and under the inherent jurisdiction of this Honorable Court.

This matter was adjourned to 8th day of March 2023, for report of service/hearing.

Recall that Ebonyi government had ordered the Nigeria Police to Arrest anyone suspected to have hands in the murder of the traditional ruler of Umuezeokaoha Community, HRH Eze Igboke Ewa.

The deceased Monarch was killed by unknown gunmen last week Monday night.

Following the murder of the Monarch, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State petitioned security agencies and accused APGA Guber Candidate, Professor Bernard Odoh who hails from same community with the Monarch of being behind the incident.

But Odoh had in a statement denied having any link with the murder of the Monarch.

On Monday, the 6th day of March, 2023, the matter took another dimension as the Ebonyi State Police Command declared Professor Bernard Odoh and nine others wanted over the murder of the Monarch.

Other suspects apart from the APGA candidate, include: Samuel Onyekachi Aligwe, Peter Orogwu (aka one boy), Chukwudi Aliewa (aka Ezza), Chika Ezealigbo, Nnaemeka Egede (aka Champaign), Nnabuike Okohu, Ogobuchi Agbom (aka Okiri), Nonso Obasi and Ikechukwu Nwoba (aka Solid).

Barely one week after the National Assembly elections, and with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yet to issue certificates of return to winners, the race for principal offices, particularly, the position of Senate President in the upper chamber, has begun.

A THISDAY Investigation, weekend, revealed that the incumbent President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, and some of the senators-elect, like Orji Uzor Kalu, Barau Jibrin, Godswill Akpabio, Adams Oshiomhole, Abdul-Aziz Yari and Dave Umahi, had started subtle campaigns among their colleagues.

Interestingly, the choice of the next senate president would largely depend on the zoning of the office, among other principal offices, by the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Although expectations are high that the party leadership may zone the office of the number three citizen to the South-east, as part of moves to pacify the Igbo, having missed out from the presidential contest in all the parties at a time the clamour for a president of South-east extraction was high, it is a thinking that is not cast in stone yet.

But if those considerations sail through, the current Senate Chief Whip, Kalu, a former governor of Abia State, has the brightest chance, as a ranking senator with cognate experience from that part of the country in the APC.

There is another school of thought, which presupposes the need to pacify the North West by way of acknowledging their contribution to the emergence of the president-elect, which may well see the likes of Jibrin and Yari in the race for the senate president.

However, there are feelers that the APC leadership, given what is generally being considered the preference of the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, may decide to throw the race for senate president open. Such decision would not only make the post anyone’s call but also engender an intense race to the senate presidency.

It is, therefore, certain that after the Saturday, March 11 governorship election across the country, the electoral battle would shift to the race for Senate President.

Though it is a contest some three months away, permutations and intrigues are already afoot.

But more importantly, according to Party sources, the party leadership is well inclined to avoid another Muslim-muslim Muslim-muslim leadership for the top job in Senate. With that in mind, some of the high flyers currently nursing interest may be edged out of contention.

The President-elect and the Vice President-elect are Muslims, the Party chairman is a Muslim. The APC is keen to avoid being labelled a Muslim party.

For now, below are some of the factors standing for and against each of the potential frontrunners as the battle for Senate President takes off in earnest.

Ahmad Lawan

It was learnt that Lawan was banking on his popularity among his colleagues and the fact that he would be needed to stabilise the polity for the incoming administration of Bola Tinubu with his same page policy, which President Muhammadu Buhari had benefited from in the last four years.

Observers are, however, of the view that the support Lawan enjoyed from a faction of the presidency, which made a failed move to present him as the APC consensus presidential candidate, might work against him. Those that subscribe to this view believe Tinubu’s snide comments after winning the ticket of the party, that Lawan should “go and lick his wounds”, was enough warning for the incumbent senate president to dump his ambition to lead the red chamber for a second term.

But the argument has been waved off by Lawan’s close associates, who claim that the Yobe senator has since fallen in line and that he even, vigorously campaigned for Tinubu in the North-east geopolitical zone.

Orji Kalu

Kalu’s camp is confident that Tinubu would run an inclusive government by bringing on board political gladiators, who are members of the All Progressives Congress (AAPC), from the South-east geopolitical zone. Close associates of the Senate Chief Whip, who was a two-term governor of Abia State, say since Tinubu knows no Igbo person has been president since 1999, he would gladly welcome the idea of a south-easterner becoming the number three citizen.

Investigation revealed that apart from making moves among his colleagues, Kalu has started reaching out to sitting APC governors, whose states produced APC senators in the just concluded National Assembly elections.

For instance, Kalu placed full page advertisements in some national dailies to canvass votes for some APC governors seeking re-election, apparently, as a way to seek their support with regard to his ambition.

Another argument by Kalu campaigners is that apart from being an Igbo, Kalu, being a ranking principal officer, should be favoured because he is a Christian.

One of his supporters, who preferred anonymity, said, “APC lost the presidential election in Christian dominated areas because of its Muslim-Muslim ticket. The best way to win the confidence of the Christians and the south-easterners is to make Kalu the senate president so as to calm their nerves.”

Godswill Akpabio

Those who know Akpabio are aware that the former minority leader of the senate always aims for the top wherever he finds himself.

As a first timer in the eighth Senate, Akpabio displaced a ranking senator, James Manager, to become a principal officer, the position he held until he defected to APC during Bukola Saraki’s tenure as Senate President.

Barau Jibrin

The current Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Barau Jibrin, whose committee is usually considered a very juicy placement in the parliament, is also believed to be in the race for Senate Presidency. The soft spoken and easy-going politician displayed his influence and strength in Kano politics, when he won his election on the platform of the APC in the Kano Central Senatorial District.

He is the only APC candidate, who was able to weather the political tsunami of Musa Kwankwaso’s New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), which won both the Kano South and Kano North Senatorial Districts.

Jibrin had initially wanted to be Kano State governor but lost the ticket to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s preferred candidate. He, however, showed that he was strong enough politically to weather the Kwankwasiya storm by emerging the only APC senator-elect in Kano State.

Adams Oshiomhole

The entrance of Oshiomhole, a former APC national chairman, former two-term governor of Edo State, and erstwhile National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), into the race was surprising to keen watchers of the political game playing out in the National Assembly.

Observers of the development wonder how easy it would be for the first timer to emerge Senate President. However, those canvassing for his emergence insist anything is possible. They maintain that since the rule of the red chamber does not specifically state that only ranking senators can be Senate President, Oshiomhole is eminently qualified for the position.

Some Oshiomhole campaigners believe Asiwaju Tinubu would be more comfortable working with him than anyone else among the current frontrunners because of their age-long relationship and partnership. They think Oshiomhole would not rock Tinubu’s presidential boat.

Tinubu is very good at using his clout to get his way. Since the issue of preference for ranking senators in relation to principal offices is a matter of tradition, rather than law, the president-elect may double down on having Oshiomhole as Senate President. He may insist on the former Edo State governor, if only to vent his oft-iterated feeling that he won despite unimaginable obstacles put on his way, even by some of his own party men.

Abdulaziz Yari

Another aspiring candidate for the office of the Senate President in the 10th National Assembly is a former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari.

Yari lost the opportunity of becoming Senator in the 9th National Assembly, because of a landmark Supreme Court verdict, which sacked all elected politicians on the platform of the APC following a face-off between his faction and that of Senator Kabiru Marafa.

Yari and Marafa, who are now, both senators-elect, were recently singled out for commendation by the president-elect, Tinubu, during his acceptance speech after he was handed his Certificate of Return by INEC, for their contributions to the success of the APC in the presidential election in the country.

Yet, as a first time senator, albeit not in the Senate rules, it may not be as easy for Yari to get the ticket, when other ranking senators with cognate experience abound.

David Umahi

The outgoing governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, is one of the first term senator-electjostling to be Senate President from the South East geopolitical zone, banking on the possibility the office would be taken to the East.

Umahi, against all odds, defected to the APC in his bid to contest the presidential ticket of the party. He later stood down for Tinubu and decided to try his luck in the National Assembly for the sole purpose of contesting the Senate President seat.

He stands a good chance of becoming the Senate President but would have to convince his colleagues and the ranking senators that he has the capacity and requisite legislative skills to lead the red chamber.

However, none of the aspirants has formally signified intention to vie for the qnumber one position in the senate, but the weeks ahead will be interesting in the federal legislature.

No fewer than 13 former governors have been cleared by INEC as members of the forthcoming Senate whenever the 10th National Assembly is inaugurated.

About 93 senatorial seats out of the 109 contested for by various candidates across the political parties have so far been announced by INEC.

Before the February 25 National Assembly elections, at least 55 of the current 109 senators in the ninth Senate either failed to secure return tickets from their various political parties or aspired to contest governorship elections in their respective states.

Five senators contested the APC presidential primary. They included President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, (APC, Yobe North); Rochas Okorocha, (APC, Imo West); Ibikunle Amosun (APC, Ogun Central); Ajayi Robert Borrofice (APC, Ondo North), and Akpabio.

Three others who resigned included Senators Abdullahi Adamu, (APC, Nasarawa West), who is now National Chairman of APC; Abubakar Kyari (APC, Borno North), who is the current Deputy National Chairman of the party; and Hassan Mohammed (APC, Zamfara Central), who became Deputy Governor of Zamfara State.

From the list of winners, APC has won 54 seats so far, while the Peoples Democratic Party has 27 seats.

Others are Labour Party with six seats, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) two seats, Social Democratic Party (SDP) two seats, while the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have one seat each.

Based on the results declared so far by INEC, about 30 sitting senators would retain their seats.

Senators who are re-elected include Senate President Ahmad Lawan (APC, Yobe North), Chief Whip of the Senate Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North); Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South); Elisha Abbo (APC, Adamawa North); and Binos Dauda Yaroe (PDP, Adamawa South).

They also include Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP, Anambra South); Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West); Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South); Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South), Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe (PDP, Cross River North); Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central); and Francis Fadahunsi (PDP, Osun East).

The list of the returnees also include Senators Sani Musa (APC, Niger East); Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North); Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central); Adamu Aliero (PDP, Kebbi Central); Jibrin Isah (APC, Kogi East); Lola Ashiru (APC, Kwara South); and Sadiq Suleiman Umar (APC, Kwara North).

Others are Senators Adetokunbo Abiru (APC, Lagos East); Godiya Akwashiki (SDP, Nasarawa North); Francis Fadahunsi (PDP, Osun East); Abdulfatah Buhari (APC, Oyo North); Barinada Mpigi (PDP, Rivers South East); Aliyu Wammako (APC, Sokoto North); Sahabi Ya’u (APC, Zamfara North); Ibrahim Shekarau (NNPP, Kano); Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Ogun West) Ibrahim Gaidam (APC, Yobe East); and Shuaibu Isa Lau (PDP, Zamfara North).

The new comers are Ned Nwoko (PDP, Delta North); Ede Dafinone (APC, Delta Central); Thomas Onowakpo (APC, Delta South); Chief Benson Agadaga (PDP, Bayelsa East); Shehu Buba (APC, Bauchi South); Kaila Dahuwa Sumaila (PDP, Bauchi North); Pastor Jide Ipinsagba (APC, Ondo North); Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South); Adeniyi Adegbonmire (APC, Ondo Central); Aliyu Wadada (SDP, Nasarawa West); and Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo (PDP, Nasarawa South).

Senators, who had served in the red chamber in the past and were re-elected are Godswill Akpabio, former Deputy Senate Leader, Abdul Ningi, and Victor Umeh.

Former and serving governors elected for the first time are Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North); Abdul-azeez Yari (APC, Zamfara West); David Umahi (APC, Ebonyi South); Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo (PDP, Gombe North); Gbenga Daniel (APC, Ogun East) Ibrahim Shekarau (NNPP, Kano Central); and Governor Sani Bello (Niger North).

Former governors in the ninth Senate, who were re-elected are Senators Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Adamu Aliero (Kebbi), Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe), and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom).

Five serving governors, namely Simon Lalong (Plateau State), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia State), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State) and Ben Ayade (Cross River) contested the National Assembly elections but lost to their opponents.

None of the current six female senators would make it to the 10th Senate because they either lost their elections or did not contest at all. Those who lost their re-election bids are Senator Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti South); Senator Stella Oduah (Anambra North); and Senator Uche Ekwunife (Anambra Central).

Senators Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central), Senator Nora Ladi Dadu’ut (Plateau South), and Senator Akon Etim Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom South) did not seek re-election.

(Arise News)

A federal high court in Lagos has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to electronically transmit results during the March 11 governorship and house of assembly elections in the state.

The order was issued on Friday by Peter Lifu, the presiding judge.

The judge mandated the electoral body to use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to upload a scanned copy of the EC8A to INEC’s result viewing portal (IReV).

According to the judge, the results must be uploaded immediately after the completion of voting in all polling units, adding that the results sheet should be pasted in each PU after voting in the state.

The judge also issued a mandamus order mandating INEC to enforce Section 27(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 in the distribution of election materials by hiring impartial, qualified, and dependable logistic companies that are not partisan.

Lifu made the orders while ruling on a motion ex-parte marked: FHC/L/CS/370/2023.

The motion was filed by the Labour Party, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, its governorship candidate in Lagos, and 37 others.

The applicants had approached the court through their lawyer, Abass Ibrahim.

The substantive matter is fixed to be heard on March 7.

(Arise News)

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has banned all categories of its staff found to be negligent during the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections from participating in the March 11 governorship and state assembly elections.

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this yesterday in Abuja at a meeting with the commission’s resident electoral commissioners (RECs).

“As we approach the governorship and state assembly elections, we must work harder to overcome the challenges experienced in the last elections. Nothing else will be acceptable to Nigerians.

“All staff found to be negligent, whether they are regular or ad hoc officials, including collation and returning officers, must not be involved in the forthcoming elections.

“RECs must also immediately initiate disciplinary action where prima facie evidence of wrongdoing has been established,” Yakubu said.

Yakubu said he appreciated the sacrifice and doggedness of Nigerians and the dignity and maturity displayed by political leaders, even in the context of divergent views about the election.

He said a lot of lessons had been learnt, and that of immediate concern to the commission is how the identified challenges can be addressed as the country approaches the concluding phase of the general elections involving the largest number of constituencies, being 28 state governorship election and 993 state houses of assembly seats.

The INEC boss insisted that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would once again be deployed for voter accreditation and result management.

“The deployment of BVAS has gone a long way to sanitise voter accreditation as can be seen from the result of recent elections. Since last week, the commission has intensified the review of the technology to ensure that glitches experienced, particularly with the upload of results, are rectified.

“We are confident that going forward, the system will run optimally,” Yakubu said.

He said the commission appreciated the patience and understanding of Nigerians, and that it did not take this for granted.

(Daily Trust)

President-elect, Bola Tinubu, has thanked world leaders, groups, and individuals for the flurry of congratulatory messages since his victory at the February 25th polls.

Seven states under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Taraba, and Sokoto – which filed a suit against the Federal Government at the Supreme Court challenging the declaration of All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as president-elect, have discontinued the suit.