Category: Press Release

ENUGU STATE GOVERNMENT

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUCENMENT

THE INCIDENT AT OGBETE MAIN MARKET

The Enugu State Government received with grave concern the ugly incident at Ogbete Main Market, Enugu, today.

Information available to Government shows that traders whose shops were sealed for non-compliance with Government’s order banning Monday sit-at-home, defied the instruction on how the shops should be re-opened and resorted to self-help by removing the seals. This led to internal squabbles between the market leadership and some of the affected traders.

The ensuing confrontation resulted in a protest, which was infiltrated and hijacked by dangerously armed hoodlums and miscreants, who broke shops and looted traders’ wares.

Attempt by security operatives to restore order and prevent further looting was violently resisted by the imported and armed hoodlums. Government is receiving further briefings on the development.

In the meantime, investigation to unravel the circumstance surrounding the incident, including the reports of casualty, is already ongoing.

Government calls on the people and residents of Enugu to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses, as adequate security measures are in place to secure lives and property in the State.

SIGNED

PROF. CHIDIEBERE ONYIA
Secretary to Enugu State Government( SSG)
Wednesday, July 26, 2023

PRESS RELEASE

POLICE ACADEMY COMMENCES APPLICATION INTO 10TH REGULAR COURSE CADET DEGREE PROGRAMME

…Interested and Qualified Candidates to Register on www.polac.edu.ng

…As IGP Warns Impostors, Fraudsters

The Nigeria Police Force wishes to invite interested and qualified candidates of Nigerian extract to register online for admission into the 10th Regular Course Cadet Degree Programme. The online registration process will run for a period of six (6) weeks (*from 24th July to 3rd September, 2023*) availing both male and female Nigerians of good character the opportunity of serving the fatherland.

The requirements for admission into the Academy include that the applicants must:

i. be of Nigerian origin by birth and possess National Identity Number (NIN), JAMB result (2023 only) with not less than 180 marks, and must have selected Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil as first choice in the JAMB form.

ii. possess a minimum of 6 credits in not more than 2 sittings in WAEC/NECO or its equivalent with credit passes in English and Mathematics.

iii. be aged between 17-21 years by 31st October, 2023.

iv. be medically, physically, and psychologically fit and must not be less than 1.67m tall for males and 1.64m tall for females.

v. have not less than 86cm (34 inches) expanded chest measurement (for males only)

vi. not be married or pregnant at the time of admission.

vii. have a valid email address and phone number.

viii. SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Statements of Results or certificates before 2019 will not be accepted.

The method of application is virtual. All interested applicants who meet the criteria above are advised to visit the Academy’s website: https://www.polac.edu.ng, generate Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) code which would be used to make payment of a non-refundable fee of Three Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (N3,500) only through any commercial bank branch in Nigeria. Successful payment will open up a form that applicants are required to fill out and upload scanned copies of their SSCE results, birth, and state of origin certificate.

Thereafter, applicants are required to print out completed online forms and guarantor forms to be filled and submitted at the Nigeria Police Academy during the physical screening. Automated physical screening exercise will hold at the Academy at a date which will be communicated in due course. Successful candidates will participate in a Computer Based Test (CBT), a subsequent Automated Medical Screening Exercise, and an Automated Interview/Selection Exercise for Final Selection of candidates who will undergo a 5-year academic and police training leading to a Bachelors Degree and commissioning into the Nigeria Police Force as Assistant Superintendent of Police II.

The Acting Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, assures that the process will be conducted in the best tradition of transparency and accountability. He advises the applicants to be wary of online imposters, scammers, and other criminal elements who might want to take advantage of the application process to dupe innocent applicants. The IGP however warns that anyone found wanting in this regard will be arrested and prosecuted.

CSP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra

FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,

FORCE HEADQUARTERS,

ABUJA

Press Release

Obi-Datti Media Release

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25 2023 election, Peter Obi remains the phenomenal political leader of contemporary Nigeria that all good heads wants to hug but devious ones want to de-market, tarnish and if possible, destroy.

As Obi’s political profile continues to soar among Nigerians at home and in the diaspora, the envy, and anger against him by those envious of his positive attributes continue to rise.

Obi-Datti Media office has noted how a worried ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and its Presidential Candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu are even wishing and pleading with the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal PEPC to consider pairing them with ATIKU Abubakar of the PDP instead of Obi and in fact, wants Obi disqualified outrightly and be prevented from participating in the rerun, should there be one.

In their desperation to stop Obi at all costs, they have lined up a series of untoward activities using rogue troll agents that seek to portray him negatively and copiously misrepresent him in public space.

The latest machination is the production of a fake Sunday’s edition of THISDAY NEWSPAPER of July 23, 2023, which they are circulating and purporting in their mischievous lead story that Obi granted an interview which they captioned as him saying: “Tinubu won but disqualify him and set a rerun between ATIKU and I.”

This act is ostensibly to enable them to defend their call that Obi should be disqualified by the PEPC thus seeking a rerun between Tinubu and ATIKU.

Obi-Datti Media recalls that last week the same agents had claimed that Obi granted an interview on Arise Television saying he is willing to take defeat and wait for elections 2027.

All these dubious propaganda is aimed at achieving one mission; to confuse the public, distract and defocus the Justices from their statutory responsibilities.

We, therefore wish to urge the Nigerian public not to be gullible and to disregard the fake THISDAY publication and embrace the correct edition with the lead story, ATIKU: APC Plotting to Manipulate Judiciary, Undermine Democracy.“ They should also watch out for more of these sinister acts of desperation orchestrated by a drowning government that is visibly afraid of justice which must certainly come.

Diran Onifade

Head Media

PRESS RELEASE

The Judiciary should be allowed to do their job-Obi-Datti Media Office

The Obi-Datti Media office has watched with profound concern the orchestration by agents of retrogression to distract and defocus the nation’s Judiciary from the critical national assignment before them.

We find absolutely needless and utterly unacceptable some of the curious happenings around our Judiciary lately, starting with the threat of anarchy and chaos should the ruling party’s candidate be legally removed by the Presidential Election Petition Court (PECP); the allegations of a telephone conversation between the esteemed Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukoyade Ariwoola with some persons, which the Supreme Court has since denied, and most recently, the bizarre fake news claiming that one of the panelists at the ongoing hearing before the PEPC had resigned.

Without a doubt, those behind these strange contrivances have their devious motives, which certainly are not in the national interest. Our Judiciary should not be burdened by these distractions when their entire focus should be on the critical national assignment, which requires their total concentration and everybody’s support and cooperation to conclude.

It’s indisputable that the future of this country is tied to the outcome of the Judiciary’s assignment. Every hand must be on deck to help them pilot the ship of Nigeria State to safety away from perdition.

Obi-Datti Media office, therefore, wishes to call on all patriots desirous of seeing a new Nigeria to desist from any action that may hinder the delivery of justice by their Lordships.

Relatedly, we also want to use this medium to warn these rogue Troll and Fog Machine agents to desist from ongoing attempts to smear or entrap Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed under whatever ploy. We recall at least seven failed fake demarketing and discrediting campaigns against our Principals.

We are all the more concerned about plans to escalate these desperate acts ahead of the PEPC judgment. Nigerians must not be gullible to believe or accept such deep, fake, and dubious ploys, all in the name of partisan politics. While we continue to appreciate our security agencies’ efforts to secure Nigeria, we implore them to ensure that our Principals are safe and secure in their persons, movement and properties as they go about their public and private endeavours.

Obi-Datti Media Office, therefore, wishes to call on all patriots desirous of seeing a new Nigeria to desist from any action that may hinder the delivery of justice by their Lordships or other forms of nefarious activities that may heat up the national polity.

Diran Onifade
Head, Media, Obi-Datti Media Office.

PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE LABOUR PARTY AND OBI-DATTI PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN ORGANISATION ADDRESSED BY THE DIRECTOR GENERAL BALOGUN AKIN OSUNTOKUN

THE FINAL ELECTION OBSERVER REPORTS: A VINDICATION OF A HEAVILY COMPROMISED ELECTION

1. Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen,

2. On behalf of the Labour Party and the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation and also in consonance with the people, I thank you members of the Press, for your dedication and diligence, in continuing to cover the unfolding timeline of the tragic 2023 Presidential Elections, to logical and just conclusion.

3. It is fair to say, that so many of our national problems have gotten worse, because we as a people, have not adequately risen to the challenge of effecting the right solutions, when they recur, to put them permanently in check.

4. Given the extent of fraud, impunity, conspiracy, deceit, financial waste and democratic impediment, orchestrated and effected in the 2023 elections, and the increased interest, awareness and participation of our people in partnering practically, to bring genuine change to our country this time,

5. it is imperative, that we as a people, do not again fall to the complacent hopelessness, that has aided recurrence and deterioration, but that we pursue the required rectification and legal correction required, to ensure that the will of the people, as expressed in the 2023 elections, are firmly and rightly, upheld.

6. While it is often said that government is a continuum, and the administrative formalities following the bizarre declarations by INEC, have been put in place, the election, today remains under legal contest, and cannot be concluded, until the legal processes have been rightly and judiciously exhausted.

7. There is no doubt that these 2023 elections, represent a significant and overwhelming watershed in our country’s electoral, political and development history, and that this time, the entire nation and the international community also, stand determined to ensure, that electoral fraud and the manipulation of the true will of the people, will not stand – as the foundation for bad governance in the past, had been concretised, by the acceptance of such illegality and conspiracy.

8. Having concluded the hearing stage, at the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja, the attention of the people and the international community remains transfixed on the judiciary, and with it, the expectation that the glaring wrongs, as documented by all Observer groups, local and international, will be corrected, for the good of the nation.

9. We commend, in particular, without equivocation, the courage, sense of focus and clarity of thought, expressed by various Election Observer groups, local and international, that were duly accredited to monitor the elections.

10. The Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room, The United States National Democratic Institute (NDI) – & International Republican Institute (IRI) Joint International Election Observer Mission, The European Union Election Observer Mission, Commonwealth Observer Group, The African Union AU, ECOWAS and all other regional and local Observers, all deserve commendation.

11. Their doggedness in field engagement, despite the onslaught of violence, inducement, manipulation and all manner of evil, as witnessed in the elections, will serve not only as an unbiased record of the tragic events, but as motivation for its logical conclusion and inevitable resolution, according to the will of the people.

12. In critically and broadly examining the independent reports of the various Observer missions, the consistency in their experiences and exposition, cannot be overlooked, as each and every Observer group, underlined the fact, that the elections fell short of citizens expectations, legal regulations and moral and international standards.

13. The Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room, the umbrella group for the majority of national NGOs involved in monitoring the elections, described the elections, in its comprehensive report, and I quote, as ‘a missed oppurtunity in Nigeria’s democratic development’.. They further reported, that ‘credibility of the 2023 election was greatly tarnished by numerous pitfalls. The election suffered several lingering deficiencies in election administration, including inefficient management of permanent voters cards (PVCs) distribution, failure of operational and logistical arrangements, malfunctioning of election technology, inefficient handling of results management procedures, lack of transparent results collation and declaration process, and poor crisis communication”.

14. It further underlined that ‘public confidence in the credibility of the electoral process and the capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct elections is gravely shaken, and that extraordinary efforts will be required to re-establish trust’.

15. It further posited that “Yet, on election day, Nigerians were deeply disappointed by the glitches experienced in the use of IReV. Situation Room observed that election officials in many polling units were unable to access the IRev portal and to upload results of the presidential election. There were reports of election officials who either refused or were unable to upload results.”

16. The Civil Society Situation Room, also emphasised “that NO presidential election result was uploaded to the IReV portal as at 8.00 pm on the election day. In instances where upload occurred, the results were not legible or was defaced. Some uploads were not relevant as pictures of individuals or scenes on the location were uploaded.”

17. Going further to state that, “The seemingly highhanded manner, in which the Chairman of INEC, who served as the National Collation Officer for the Presidential Election, handled proceedings during the results collation exercise, further eroded public confidence in the elections. The failure of the Chairman of INEC to properly consider appeals for review of results from some states, in the light of the malfunction of IReV, as well as the apparent haste with which the collation process was concluded in an unusual hour, provided the basis for some observers to question the credibility of the collated results”

18. The NDI-NRI International Election Observer Mission, whose parent bodies had, prior to the elections, deployed resources in voter education and so many other areas, in aid of a credible outcome, in their own report, submitted, and i quote “the 2023 elections in Nigeria fell short of citizens’ legitimate and reasonable expectations. Significant logistical, technological, and communications failures by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), divisive rhetoric by political parties, political violence, regional disparities in electoral integrity, instances of vote manipulation, and marginalization of key populations, marred the electoral process and disenfranchised voters negatively impacting on key aspects of the election process”.

19. It went on to report that “the portal was not in compliance with open election data principles and did not provide the information in a complete, bulk, or machine analyzable format, limiting the ability of citizens to verify results at the LGA, state and national level or to fact check contradictory narratives. A significant percentage of the results uploaded to the IReV were unreadable. Furthermore, at the time of publication, INEC had still not uploaded more than 9,000 presidential polling unit results to the IReV and did not clarify how many of these units were canceled.”

20. In conclusion, the NDI-NRI Observer Mission held that ” INEC’s lack of transparency and communication regarding the cause and extent of these problems, undermined confidence in the process, especially in those zones and among parties that considered those areas their strongholds.”

21. The NDI-NRI also recommended that “INEC, the police, and the courts, should identify and prosecute those responsible for electoral violence or manipulation, during the 2023 election. Further recommending that, “The international community should sanction and name government and party officials who orchestrated, tolerated, or encouraged electoral violence or manipulation during the 2023 cycle.”

22. The European Union Election Observer Mission, also presented a most comprehensive and analytical report. It stated clearly and i quote, “The 2023 general elections did not ensure a well-run, transparent, and inclusive democratic process as assured by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Public confidence and trust in INEC, were severely damaged during the presidential poll and was not restored in state level elections”.

23. It went further to state that “Abuse of incumbency by various political office holders distorted the playing field” and that “Public confidence gradually decreased and was severely damaged on 25 February due to its operational failures and lack of transparency.” and that “multiple missteps and lack of transparency before the polls, compounded by severely delayed display of presidential result forms, dashed the public trust in election technologies used. INEC failed to give a timely and comprehensive explanation for the failures on 25 February”..

24. The EU OM report further underlined and i quote “On 25 February voting was critically delayed by the late arrival of sensitive materials, and during the early stages of the collation, presidential result forms from polling units were not displayed real-time on the IRev as committed to by INEC and anticipated by all stakeholders. A critical failure in the entire election process manifested at collation stage on 25 February, due to widespread disorganisation, a lack of adherence to prescribed procedures, and an unsuitable environment. By the time of the declaration of presidential results, one quarter of result forms were still missing from the IReV, and a significant percentage of the forms uploaded on IReV, often needed for comparison with manual results, were not legible”.

25. Finally, in Paragraph 17, page 7 of its own report, the ECOWAS Election Observer Mission stated that “incidents of violence, killings and disruption, were recorded in several states. The mission deplores the unfortunate incidents that occurred in the lead up to E-day, leading to loss of life in some parts of the country. These include the murder of the Labour Party Senatorial Candidate for Enugu East, alongside five of his supporters.”

26. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, I have gone into detail, in highlighting the consistency in the observations of different independent Observer groups, and the severity of their condemnation of the election process, because of recent mischievous attempts to discountenance the uniformity of all reports, on the level of manipulation and illegality executed at the last elections.

27. The Labour Party and the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation condemn vehemently, the negative and jaundiced responses on the EU Report and other Election Observers’ reports, by the Spokesperson of APC administration and other ill-informed persons, which are totally in discord, with the mood of the nation, at this time, and which also, present an embarrassing contrast, to their selective celebration of the 2019 Election reports, from these same Observer groups.

28. We advice that those who have deployed hired ‘protesters’ to the offices of the EU, in respect of their election report, desist from any further wastage of public funds, as the objective of intimidation is without basis, and has failed, from the beginning – because indeed, the irregularities in the election, were so excessively glaring, with bitter personal and reported experiences, by the overwhelming majority of Nigerians.

29. The EU Election Observation Mission, as well as the Civil Society Situation Room, NDI -IRI, YIAGA etc are all INEC accredited observer groups, as well as very credible and long standing international and local stakeholders, in the Nigeria democratic process, whose reports are an essential contribution towards strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.

30. We would like to point Nigerians, to the fact, that the EU Observer group report, is in tandem with the reports of other international and domestic observers, duly accredited by INEC, and also in tandem, with public opinion and the experience of the majority of Nigerian citizens, who participated in, or observed the 2023 general elections.

31. At this juncture, there is no doubt that Nigerians and the International Community expect the Judiciary, to critically examine the evidence, the law, and the processes of these flawed elections, in arriving at a legally correct, and overwhelmingly acknowledgeable verdict.

32. We urge the people of Nigeria – youths, elders, voters and all citizens, to continue to follow the legal process patiently, keenly and peacefully.. to final resolution.

33. In conclusion, we commend the International Community and Civil Society, for their continued support, in growing and consolidating our democracy. It is now only logical, bolstered by the final Observer Group reports, that the International Community take immediate and appropriate punitive action against Prof Mahmud Yakubu, Barrister Festus Okoye and other top administrative and field staff of INEC, directly complicit, in the desecration of these elections.

34. We also demand unequivocally, the immediate dismissal from Office and prosecution of Prof Mahmud Yakubu, and the commencement of forensic financial investigation, into the expenditure of budgeted disbursements and Donors’ funds received by INEC not least of which is the N300 billion appropriated from the National purse, as well as other funds and materials, received from International Donor Agencies.

35. Once again we thank you, the Media, in all facets, for your continued dedication in reporting this extended resolution, and Nigerians all over the world, for their alertness and steadfastness.

36. On February 25th 2023, we came out to draw the line, and halt our country from the putrid domination of bad governance… by voting for vision and for competence.

37. A New Nigeria is possible.

38. Thank You for your time.

Count Us Out of This Media Rascality Against Gov Mbah

Enugu professional online media practitioners, condemns in its strongest term, the futile effort by some faceless group using fictitious online medium to change the agenda and what transpired at our meeting with the Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Peter Mbah, on Friday 8th July, 2023.

The Governor met with the media practitioners in the state in line with his campaign promise to hold a quarterly media chat as part of his open governent policy. He also used the opportunity to seek their support in the resolve of his administration to put a stop to the illegal sit-at-home that has impacted the state and South East very negatively.

At the meeting, both online Media Practitioners, members of correspondent chapel and reporters of private radio stations, among others, were present. The Governor pointed out that the promoters of the illegal sit-at-home had been routed out, but that they had resorted to media warfare, using fake and old videos and pictures to instill fear in the people. He called on the media practitioners to do due diligence in their reportage and not give media oxygen to the propaganda the hoodlums keep spreading to intimidate the people.

We are making this bold statement to let the entire world know that the promoters of the propaganda titled “PETER MBAH INVITED US TO GOVT. HOUSE SO WE DO NOT COVER NYSC TESTIMONY AGAINST HIM” are neither our members nor known to us. We find it most reprehensible and malicious. More so WHEN there was no single mention of NYSC or tribunal matter throughout the meeting.

Interestingly, at no point did the Governor ask us to bend reports to the administration’s favour. He only enjoined us to hold facts as sacred and report same.

As professional online media practitioners, we frown at the promotion of propaganda and twisting of the narrative to suit any interest (political or otherwise). We are not politicians. We are professionals guided by the ethics of our profession.

The offensive article, which is riddled with falsehood should be discarded as the handiwork of fifth columnists that are benefiting from the illegal sit-at-home. Else, how can any sane mind turn the interactive session into what it is not?

While we will never attempt to censor our members from reporting the fact in the interest of the public, we wish to reiterate that we are a responsible, professional and patriotic association that will never subscribe to propaganda and spread of falsehood.

Umeh Clinton
Coordinator
Enugu Online Media Practitioners

ENUGU STATE POLICE COMMAND PRESS RELEASE OF FRIDAY, 7TH JULY 2023

PROHIBITED ILLEGAL SIT-AT-HOME ORDER: ENUGU POLICE OPERATIVES DISLODGE SUBVERSIVE CRIMINALS, INFLICT FATAL GUNSHOT WOUNDS ON THEM, RECOVER AK-47 RIFLE, AMMUNITION, PETROL BOMBS AND OTHER EXHIBITS;

…as CP Ammani reaffirms sustained onslaught against the criminals, urges citizens to report individuals sighted with gunshot injuries

In its avowed commitment to ruthlessly deal with unrepentant subversive criminal elements, who may want to enforce the prohibited illegal sit-at-home order in Enugu State, Police Operatives serving in Awkunanaw Division of the Command, in the morning hours of today, 07/07/2023, intercepted armed criminal elements, who were attempting to snatch an ENTRACO branded Sharon minivan from its driver, at One-Day, along Agbani Road, Enugu.

2. The gallant and eagle-eyed Operatives engaged the miscreants in a gun duel, forcing them to abandon the vehicle and narrowly escaped with varying degrees of fatal gunshot wounds, due to the superior firepower of the Operatives. An intense manhunt for the hoodlums is ongoing.

3. The vehicle, with copious blood stains on the seats and other items therein, was recovered, and after a thorough search conducted, the following exhibits were recovered: one (1) AK-47 rifle with a magazine loaded with nineteen (19) rounds of live 7.62 calibre of ammunition, two (2) bottles of petrol bomb, one (1) hammer, one (1) plyer and one (1) Jack-knife. Other items recovered include a pair of canvass with blood stains abandoned by one of the escaping miscreants, fetish objects, one (1) mobile phone, three (3) criminal hoods, one (1) hooded long sleeves, another without a hood and other incriminating exhibits.

4. Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Ammani, fdc, while commending the gallant Operatives, has reaffirmed that the Police and other Security Forces shall remain focused, sustain the ongoing onslaught against the subversive criminals and ensure that the good people of the State continue to go about their lawful businesses without fear of any kind.

5. Accordingly, the Commissioner has called on citizens of the State, especially owners of medical facilities and those residing within the Awkunanaw, One-Day, Topland and Achara Layout axis of Enugu metropolis, to promptly report to the Police, anyone, dead or alive, sighted with gunshot wounds.

DSP Daniel Ndukwe, Anipr
Police Public Relations Officer,
State Headquarters,
GRA, Enugu.

LP PRESS STATEMENT.

APC’s Protest against EU Report, an Embarrassment.

The Labour Party’s attention has been drawn to Friday’s protests by some All Progressives Congress, (APC) hirelings at the premises of the European Union Mission in Abuja and views such protestation as a huge national embarrassment as it shows how antithetical the party is to truth and measures that will grow and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.

The protesters were demanding that the EU should withdraw its final report on Nigeria’s 2023, general election held on 25 February and 18 March 2023, because as they claimed, the report was capable of setting the country on fire.

Labour Party finds it counter-intuitive, awkward and very difficult to comprehend that if after the electoral brigandage of the APC in cahoot with the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), on February 25, Nigeria did not go on fire because of the non-violence disposition of our standard bearer, Peter Obi, it is now that APC thinks the stark truth coming from an unbiased independent body like the EU will set Nigeria on fire.

What the Labour Party expected the APC to do is to lavishly appreciate the European Union for their continued yeoman contributions to the growth of democracy in our country through needs assessment missions and consequent financial, technical, and logistical support, which the 94-page report further underscores.

What the APC government should have done even standing in their epileptic’s position is to borrow a leave from late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who in 2007, after winning the Presidential election perceived by international observers as not sufficiently credible, accepted to make amends by promising to reform the electoral system.

It was the reform of the electoral system started by Yar’Adua and continued by his successor President Goodluck Jonathan after his death that facilitated the victory of an opposition APC defeating an incumbent Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in 2015.

It’s the height of ingratitude and lack of sense of history for the same APC to be protesting against the same EU that had never failed to issue its observation reports after every election since 1999 and shouldn’t have looked away at the worst and most egregiously conducted elections in the history of Nigeria.

What the Labour Party expects the ruling party to do if they can is to discredit the report point by point but where they can’t, they should accept the fact that they are in possession of a stolen mandate, a reality known to all and sundry.

It’s not difficult to understand why such an unbiased forthright report is so discomforting to the ruling party to the extent of hiring protesters because no thief likes to see or hear from anybody coming with evidence that will expose him.

What Nigeria and indeed lovers of democracy globally should do, is to appreciate the EU for its persistent role in growing democratic principles in our land and refusing to be frustrated despite the anti-democratic attitude of our politicians and leaders. Finally, APC should understand fully, that seeking to represent Nigeria with a stolen electoral mandate at various African and international fora, where representatives of smaller countries that were able to conduct credible elections with broadly accepted outcomes are present, will always remain an albatross for our country. As much as the APC may excoriate the EU, its unvarnished report is universally available and cannot be redacted or suppressed.

Obiora Ifo
National Publicity Secretary of LP

PRESS RELEASE

PROSECUTION OF RESIDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER, BARR. HUDU YUNUSA ARI

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) held its regular weekly meeting today, Thursday 6th July 2023, and discussed, among other issues, the progress with the prosecution of electoral offenders.

It would be recalled that at the meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECS) two days ago on Tuesday 4th July 2023, the Commission confirmed the receipt of case files from the Nigeria Police following the conclusion of investigation into alleged electoral offences during the 2023 General Election, including the one involving the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) deployed to Adamawa State, Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari. The Commission also assured Nigerians of immediate action on the matter.

As provided by Section 145(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, an offence committed under the Act shall be triable in a Magistrate Court or a High Court of a State in which the offence is committed, or the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Furthermore, Section 145(2) of the Act provides that a prosecution under the Act shall be undertaken by legal officers of the Commission, or any legal practitioner appointed by it.

Having reviewed the case file from the Police which established a prima facie case against Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, the Commission has filed a six-count charge against him at the Adamawa State High Court sitting in Yola. Consequently, the Court has fixed Wednesday 12th July 2023 for commencement of trial.

Meanwhile, the Commission is working with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the diligent prosecution of other cases.

Festus Okoye

National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee Thursday 6th July 2023

ENUGU STATE GOVERNMENT

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Ban on sit-at-home order stands

The Enugu State Government has monitored and assessed reports of alleged incidents of shooting in parts of the state today, and found them to be mere scaremongering by the enemies of peace and progress, who want to test our resolve to end the illegal sit-at-home order by intentionally spreading panic and fear among the good people and residents of our state.

The peddlers and instigators of the fake news and pandemonium are already being tracked down by government and the security agencies with a view to bringing them to book.

The Enugu State Government, therefore, urge members of the public to disregard the falsehoods and fake images being spread on social media and go about their businesses, as security measures are fully in place to enforce law and order as well as safeguard lives and property.

We must not succumb to the evil machinations of those, who have no stake in our state; those who mostly live, work, and educate their children overseas, while destroying the economy of our people and the education and future of our children at home.

The government hereby reiterates that the ban on sit-at-home in Enugu State stands and will be enforced to the full extent of the law. All offices, markets, business premises, schools, among others, remain open and fully functional. Those who want to test the collective resolve and strength of Ndi Enugu will not only be defeated, but will be meted the full wrath of the law.

Signed:
Professor Chidiebere Onyia
Secretary to the State Government

Wednesday, July 5, 2023

Frank Nweke’s advisory on insecurity in Enugu State

 July 5, 2023

In the past one month, we have witnessed a disturbing trend in criminal activities across the State, and particularly across the city of Enugu. As we navigate this political season, I would like to point out that security remains a paramount issue that must not be politicised, downplayed, or used as a tool for propaganda in the media.

I strongly condemn the attacks on children, women, workers, and all residents of Enugu State for going about their daily business. The determination to keep our people in a stranglehold of fear does no good for anyone, including those perpetrating, patronising, and promoting these movements. The realisation of a Southeast that works for her citizens and residents can not be achieved by stifling the run of business and social life.

On June 6, 2023, I released a statement acknowledging the need to put an end to the sit-at-home phenomenon while highlighting the need to approach its execution with tact and broad based stakeholder engagement. Insecurity in Nigeria and specifically in the South East can not be decreed out of existence.

The security of lives and property in Enugu State remains a collective responsibility of both the government and the citizens at large. Therefore, while I charge the government and security agencies to deploy their entire machinery to debunk the perception that non-state actors can undermine public safety without consequences, I must also reiterate that the following must immediately be facilitated by the sitting administration:

1. Stakeholder engagement across all levels must be a priority, alongside covert intelligence gathering operations. These crimes are not perpetrated by ghosts, nor are the criminals without a source of funding or arms. It is critical that close engagement happens at all levels in our communities to intercept the actions of criminals and their sponsors. Decisive actions must then follow.

2. The introduction of a new Distress Rapid Response Squad is commendable, and it is essential that they are fully supported for improved strategic, tactical, and combat operations. There must be a strategic prioritisation of key areas to cover for patrol operations.

3. The protection of our children is of high importance, and security personnel must be deployed to schools across the city, especially the public schools that have been mandated to stay in session. The Universal Basic Education Commission and the Post-Primary Schools Management Board must also put in place a security protocol through which primary and secondary schools can escalate security breaches as they occur.

4. In consideration of the sub-optimal police to citizen ratio, the administration must immediately embrace the upgrade or creation of State controlled security outfits to be trained by the statutory security agencies and work in collaboration with them toward the fulfilment of all adopted security measures.

5. As noted in my initial communiques on security, it is also critical that a Situation Room is immediately set up with adequate personnel to monitor security activities in the state and keep track with security agencies across the board.

6. While working with whatever is available at the moment, there must be ongoing investments in technology as it remains a key factor to securing lives and properties in the state.

7. The governments of the southeast states must understand and embrace the need for close collaboration to tackle the political, economic and social challenges that fuel the actions of non-state actors such as IPOB, ESN and the so-called unknown gunmen.

8. Residents must be addressed directly and frequently by the administration via the radio, television, and other social platforms, sharing as much honest information as is allowed for state security.

Finally, I would also encourage the current administration to embrace transparency and open communication with the public. It is important to keep citizens calm and confident, and denials about the reality of the situation, as I have seen on several platforms, will not help this cause in the long run.

The security of lives and properties is of utmost importance for our social and economic growth, and I hope that we can see good progress in the shortest possible time.

God bless Enugu State.