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2023 general election

Coalition decry appointment of former APC guber aspirant as Jigawa REC

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***Demands immediate replacement

A Coalition of Civil Society operating under the aegis of ‘Society Watch’ and ”National Peace Campaign’ has demanded that the Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of Jigawa Prof. Muhammad Lawal be relieved of his appointment alleging that the appointment was in clear breach of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended.

The Coalition with strong interest in election monitoring and governance tracking, petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari that the said appointment was also in breach of Electoral Act as amended in 2022, due to his partisanship and involvement in political party, particularly, the ruling All Progressive congress party (APC) in Sokoto State.
Also copied were the National Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’Senate President Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan
The Chairman Public Complaints Commission, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner Jigawa State, Director General Department of State Security.
A Copy of the petition which was signed by Desmond Ebireri National Coordinator SOCIETY WATCH and Valentine Opaluwa of the NATIONAL PEACE CAMPAIGN which was also made available to the Guardian in Abuja reads in part,

“In the course of our research on the newly sworn-in Resident Electoral Commissioners and subsequent postings to their various States of assignments, we have discovered that Prof. Muhammad Lawal’s appointment as Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of Jigawa State was in clear breach of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended.
“It was also in breach of Electoral Act as amended in 2022, due to his partisanship and involvement in political party, particularly, the ruling All Progressive congress party (APC) in Sokoto State.
“Specifically, Prof. Muhammad Lawal had contested Sokoto State governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and was a former Special Adviser to the then Sokoto State governor, Senator Magatakarda Wammako in 2019.
“Hence, he was actively involved in political activities in Sokoto State having participated in political meetings, rallies and conventions up till the time he was erroneously nominated as Resident Electoral Commissioner representing Sokoto State slot by President Muhammadu Buhari.” According to the Coalition, Prof. Lawal’s nomination, confirmation by the Nigerian Senate and his subsequent posting to Jigawa State in the Northwest, undoubtedly, is a violation of Section 14(2a) of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution which provides that “a member of the Independent National Electoral Commission shall be non-partisan and a person of unquestionable integrity.”
“This petition is to draw your attention to the absurdities for quick intervention by immediate sack of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC.

The petition recalled that, the Nigerian Senate, particularly Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headed by Senator Kabir Gaya representing Kano South Senatorial district, which confirmed Prof. Lawal was not fair to the provisions of law.
“The security report which we believed was diligently carried out indicted Professor Lawal as a card carrying member of APC. He is on the APC register in his ward and an active politician who is interested in the office of Governor of Sokoto State.
“Sadly, your Excellency, inhibitions that were supposed to stop the confirmation of Professor Muhammad Lawal were in public domain and widely publicized as could be seen in the Sun Newspapers of 16th May, 2019 and other mainstream media platforms.
“The appointment of Prof. Muhammad Lawal is seen as a slur on the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari at ensuring, a free and credible election.
“The commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in conducting a free, fair and credible election, particularly as he round-off his second tenure of office on May 29, 2023 was the introduction of BVAS and IReV, hence, anyone who is involved in a strategic INEC office as Resident Electoral Commissioner need to be apolitical.”
According to the Coalition the assumption of duty of Professor Lawal on 7th November, 2022, in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital was received with mixed feelings by the electorate as they wondered what has become of INEC act that people who are non partisan shall be the ones appointed to serve as INEC officials.

“Moreso, other opposition political parties are currently casting doubt as to whether they would be free, fair and credible election. The people of Jigawa are apprehensive that the State REC might be sympathetic to its party, the APC.
“The fear reached its feverish pitch penultimate week by supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is adjudged to be the strongest opposition in Jigawa State. Concerns are that there was destruction of PDP campaign billboards in Hadejia Local Government area of Jigawa State by thugs allegedly loyal to the All Progressives Congress.
“Without being partisan, there have been relative peace in Jigawa State which is occasioned by mild conduct of political parties, until the resumption of the new INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner is now raising serious concerns in the State.
The petition hinged its demand for the sack of Jigawa REC on the need to nip in the bud, anything that would be tantamount to the Global best practices in the conduct of election, particularly that the 2023 PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and Governorship candidate, Mustapha Sule Lamido may have over ninety percent of the people supporting them in Jigawa State.
“The appointment of Professor Muhammad Lawal Bashar as REC for Jigawa State will significantly undermine the neutrality and impartiality of the INEC and it will create mistrust in INEC and Nigeria’s electoral process.
“Even in fairness, a Delta State born personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media, Mrs Lauretta Onochie was rejected by the Senate during her screening in July, 2021 after she was nominated as REC.
“Delta is in the South South, and it seems Professor Lawal wasn’t given the same treatment because he comes from the same zone of the Northwest with President Muhammadu Buhari.
“For avoidance of doubt, the same Senate that rejected Onochie approved Professor Lawal appointment against the provisions of the law.
“For emphasis, Senate decision on Onochie is reproduced below:. “The committee therefore recommended that the presidential aide’s appointment be rejected.
Mr Gaya said she was disqualified based on federal character principles as there is currently a serving commissioner from Delta State, where she hails from.
Nomination of Onochie is in disregard for the Nigerian Constitution which forbids him from nominating partisan individuals for such a position. The president committed a similar blunder in the past when he appointed dead people to boards of federal parastatals.
Section 14(1)(a&b) of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution as amended stipulates that “the…Commission (INEC) shall comprise the following members: a). a chairman, who shall be the Chief Electoral Commissioner; b). twelve other members to be known as National Electoral Commissioners.”
That means that two national commissioners must be drawn from each of the country’s six geopolitical zones.
That was also the part of the law the president referred to when he wrote to the Senate seeking the confirmation of the appointment of Ms Onochie and three others.
“Pursuant to Paragraph 14 of Part I(F) of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, I hereby forward for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of the following four Commissioners for…INEC,” the letter read
“As we toe the part of wisdom which says “a stitch in time saves nine”, we believe that democracy should be saved at all cost.

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2023 general election

2023 polls: Abdulsalami Peace Committee opens up on pressure to ask for cancellation

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Abdulsalami Abubakar

The National Peace Committee (NPC) has opened up on pressure it faced to intervene in the 2023 Presidential Election results. During a report presentation in Abuja, led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the committee disclosed that it received numerous requests to push the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to halt results collation or cancel the election due to alleged violations of the electoral act.

Key issues included concerns about the 25% vote threshold requirement for the Federal Capital Territory, with some advocates calling for a runoff.

The NPC emphasized its role as a moral authority rather than a regulatory body, highlighting its mandate to promote peace and compliance with the law, without the power to arrest or punish violators.
The committee acknowledged a gap in public understanding of its functions and the importance of moral persuasion in fostering electoral integrity and peace.

Before presenting the report to the public, the committee had earlier met with the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and other management staff of the commission where it was briefed on the electoral umpire’s preparation for the forthcoming Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states.

Other members of the committee are Okoh Ebitu Ukiwe (Vice Chairman); Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah (Convener); Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III; John Cardinal Onaiyekan; business icons, Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola; Vanguard Newspapers Publisher, Sam Amuka Pemu; Ameze Guobadia; Idayat Hassan; Dame Priscilla Kuye; Gen. Martin Luther Agwai; Mahmud Yayale Ahmed; Channels TV owner, John Momoh; Roseline Ukeje; and, Fr. Atta Barkindo, its Head of Secretariat.

Part of the report reads; “As the election day progressed, criticisms and counter criticisms became abundant. The NPC was already being faced with a flurry of phone calls and the need to call INEC to order.

“The Peace Committee was flooded with requests for intervention. Both the Chairman of the Committee, General Abdulsalami A. Abubakar, the Convener, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and the Head of NPC Secretariat, Fr. Atta Barkindo, were inundated with calls, requests, and petitions demanding the intervention of the NPC.

“Some of the requests wanted the NPC to prevail on INEC to stop collating election results because there were gross violations and lack of compliance with the electoral act. Others demanded that the tenets of the Peace Accord signed were not adhered to and therefore the Committee should call for cancellation of the election entirely.

“The most significant call was related to the 25% threshold for Abuja as the Federal Capital Territory. Some of the analysts who reached out to the committee asked that the final election result should not be announced because the resumptive president-elect did not score the required 25% as stated in the electoral act. If anything, there should be a runoff.

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2023 general election

EU reports: LP says FG is feebly adopting face saving measures

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***EU only hit the nail on the head

The leadership of the Labour Party has countered the Federal Government of Nigeria for discrediting the European Union’s conclusion on the 2023 General Election wherein it faulted the modalities by which the conclusion was reached.
It reiterated what it believed as the accurate testament of the European Union’s conclusion on the 2023 general elections which merely hit the nail on the head.
A statement by the National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh said,
“Eropean Union’s Conclusion on the 2023 general elections are nit Jaundiced but accurate Testament of the outcome of the FG and INEC alliance to change the will of the electorate.”
“We see this face-saving measure by the Federal Government which is coming days after the submission of the report as feeble and medicine after death.

“It will interest the government to note that the European Union’s report is only one out of numerous submissions by other international Observers who have described the outcome of the election as a sham and an exercise that did not reflect the will of the majority of Nigerians.

“Labour Party stands by the position of the EU observation mission. We have always said that this election was massively rigged in favour of the APC and their candidate.
“What the FG is saying is just an afterthought and a shameless effort to mask the obvious. Even the blind can see, the deaf can hear and they know this election was manipulated.
“Huge pieces of evidence abound for even the deaf and the blind to hear and feel. We are only hoping that the judiciary will dispense justice without fear or favour in the interest of the nation and posterity.
“Nigerians already know the true winner of the 2023 presidential election and no amount of slandering, denial, or rebuttal can change the fact that the party in power has no mandate of the electorate.

“We must also note that whatever position the INEC has taken is with active connivance with the Federal Government to deny the electorate and it clearly shows that INEC is not in any way independent.
“The Commission’s action is at the whims and caprices of the government and we know it. But Nigerians looking to the Judiciary for justice. That’s where we stand.”

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2023 general election

FG tackles EU over report on 2023 general elections

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The Federal Government has countered the European Union’s report on the 2023 general elections, describing the conclusions therein as “jaundiced”.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy gave the indication in a statement on Sunday.

“We urge the EU and other foreign interests to be objective in all their assessments of the internal affairs of our country and allow Nigeria to breathe,”
According to him, the February 25, 2023 presidential election was “clearly and fairly” won by Tinubu, the then candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC).

He also advised that the EU allow Nigeria to breathe and not meddle in the affairs of the country.

“We find it preposterous and unconscionable that in this day and age, any foreign organisation of whatever hue can continue to insist on its own yardstick and assessment as the only way to determine the credibility and transparency of our elections,” he said.

He said the presidency was not unaware of the “machinations of the European Union to sustain its, largely, unfounded bias and claims on the election outcomes”.

Alake further stated that there is no substantial evidence provided by the EU or any foreign and local organisation that is viable enough to impeach the integrity of the 2023 election outcomes.

“We would like to know and even ask EU, how it reached the conclusions in the submitted final report with the very limited coverage of the elections by their observers who, without doubt, relied more on rumours, hearsay, cocktails of prejudiced and uninformed social media commentaries and opposition talking heads,” he stated.

“We have many reasons to believe the jaundiced report, based on the views of fewer than 50 observers, was to merely sustain the same premature denunciatory stance contained in EU’s preliminary report released in March.

“We strongly reject, in its entirety, any notion and idea from any organisation, group and individual remotely suggesting that the 2023 election was fraudulent.”

The media aide said Nigeria has put the elections behind, and Tinubu is facing the task of nation-building.

“As a country, we have put the elections behind us. President Tinubu is facing the arduous task of nation-building, while those who have reasons to challenge the process continue to do so through the courts.”

On June 27, 2023, the EU presented its report on the 2023 elections in Nigeria to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The EU said the election exposed enduring systemic weaknesses and therefore signaled a need for further legal and operational reforms to enhance transparency, inclusiveness and accountability.

The EU also identified six areas for improvement in Nigeria’s electoral process moving forward.

Some of the key areas listed by the Mission are ambiguities in the law, the establishment of a publicly accountable process for the selection of the INEC members, ensuring real-time publication of results as well as access to election results.

It also highlighted the need for protection for media practitioners while decrying the discrimination against women in elective and appointed positions as well as impunity regarding electoral offences.

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