Politics

And The Campaign of Blackmail and Calumny Against INEC Continues

Published

1 year ago

September 13, 2023

And The Campaign of Blackmail and Calumny Against INEC Continues

INEC– Following the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal judgement of 6th September 2023 which affirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) was duly and validly elected in a ruling that was detailed, diligent, logical, intellectual and based on the provisions of the law as stipulated, after dissecting all the points raised by the petitioners and counter arguments of the respondents, the losers and their supporters have now changed gear again in their campaign of blackmail and calumny to INEC.

Immediately after the conduct of the successful and credible 2023 presidential elections and before the declaration of the results and the winner by the electoral umpire, the two major losing candidates having seen the handwriting on the wall, jointly addressed a world press conference where they both called for the cancellation of the election on the grounds that the election was characterized by fraud and malpractice.

And The Campaign of Blackmail and Calumny Against INEC Continues

But surprisingly, in a 360% turn around, both the 2nd and 3rd placed losers candidates again changed the music as they went their different ways, but this time, both the 2nd and 3rd placed losers claimed differently that they won the election and called on INEC to declare each of them separately as the winner.

This new twists to the claims of the 2nd and 3rd placed losers can best be described as the theatre of the absurd because if you both claim that an election was rigged and should be cancelled, how can you in the same breadth turnaround and claim victory in the same election that you both claimed was flawed? How dishonourable and criminal can one be in trying to claim ownership of the proceeds of a flawed process?

Having failed in their shenanigans, both losing parties and candidates approached the presidential election petition tribunal which is statutorily established by law to adjudicate on grievances arising from the election, petitioning their complaints which was the right thing to do instead of their naked dance of shame.

As expected, the labour party and it’s candidate continued to cry all over the public space that their mandate was stolen at the presidential election and that they were going to retrieve it at the presidential election petition tribunal based on a new found ground of the winner not scoring 25% in Abuja which is mandatory according to their own law and not the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

To actualize their plots in tandem with their campaign methods of abuse, curse, bully, intimidate and threaten violence on political opponents and supporters, the labour party and it’s supporters changed the object of their campaign of blackmail and calumny from INEC to the judiciary like never witnessed before our political history.

After listening to all the parties in the presidential election petition tribunal proceedings, the parties were directed to file and adopt their final written addresses, consequent upon which counsels were told that they would be notified of judgement day.

Thus 6th September 2023 was scheduled as judgement day. On the judgement day, Nigerians and the rest of the world watched for over 13 hours how the honourable Justices of the Presidential election petition tribunal painstakingly dissected the issues and ruled on points of law that all the petitioners grounds for petitioning the tribunal over the conduct of the 2023 presidential election was vague, unspecific, nebulous, generic and lack merit.

The tribunal even highlighted the fraud of the petitioners in subpoening “experts” who were exposed during cross examination as card carrying members of the petitioners party and were intended to mislead the panel. In the landmark courageous, thorough and law based ruling, the judges dismissed 10 out of the 13 witnesses testimonies of the labour party, the peoples democratic party witnesses also suffered similar fate for being biased, unworthy and unreliable witnesses.

A known and shameful exposure of the fraudulent claims of the petitioners especially the labour party by the tribunal was that, the labour party in challenging the victory of the duly and validly declared winner, claimed to have deployed 133, 000 party polling agents to polling stations nationwide on election day, but in order to be clever by half, it deliberately refused to produce not even one of it’s party polling agent or a polling station result sheet form EC8A to buttress it’s allegations because it knew that doing so, will damage it’s case beyond repair.

Sadly, the losing parties, candidates and their supporters have now changed gear again even when they have rejected the PEPT judgement and stated that they were going to the supreme court for redress, by making INEC the scapegoat for their misadventures at the polls and in the PEPT.

They are now on a fresh round of campaign of blackmail and calumny against INEC, that it was it’s failure to transmit the results electronically that resulted in their electoral loss at the polls and the tribunal even when the judgement of the court vindicated INEC of complying substantially with the provisions of the law. Yet this was the same LP and PDP that refused or failed to produce just one results sheet form EC8A of just one polling station from its 133, 000 party agents deployed to polling stations nationwide on election day to buttress it’s lies, falsehood and misinformation of electoral manipulation against INEC.

As they continue in this rigmarole of campaign of blackmail and calumny against INEC for their electoral and judicial waterloo, let it be stated emphatically that every anti democratic elements trying to imperil our democracy by whatever means, are on an exercise in futility.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Thank you.

Yours Sincerely,

Nelson Ekujumi,

[email protected]

Politics

Go out and vote, it’s your right – Ogun APC charges electorate

Published

6 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Go out and vote, it’s your right – Ogun APC charges electorate

As the party campaigns for the 2024 Local Government election in Ogun State draws to a close midnight of today (Thursday), the All Progressives Congress, APC, has charged registered voters in Ogun State to go out and exercise their fundamentals rights on Saturday “without any fear whatsoever”.

Addressing the grand finale of APC in Odogbolu Local Government, the Publicity Secretary of the party in Ogun State, Tunde Oladunjoye said, “APC has done very well under the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun, and we are poised to win the chairmanship and councilorship elections overwhelmingly come Saturday”.

Oladunjoye, who is also Senior Media Consultant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Media, thanked the Odogbolu people for showing massive support to the APC in the local government.

“With what I have seen here, victory is sure. I want to thank you on behalf of the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON and the Chairman of APC in Ogun State, Chief Yemi Sanusi. “Come out and vote peacefully on Saturday. It is your constitutional duty and obligation.”

Oladunjoye added that people should learn from the chairmanship candidate of the party in Odogbolu local government, Dr. Babatunde Oyetola Diya, who vied for the office about three and half years ago and did not get it, but remained faithful in the party and continued to reach out to people with his humanitarian efforts.”

Politics

Anthony Ojo congratulates Gov Okpebholo, confirms Edo Central Senate aspiration

Published

12 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Anthony Ojo congratulates Gov Okpebholo, confirms Edo Central Senate aspiration

Influential Edo State politician, Anthony Ojo has congratulated Senator Monday Okpebholo after being sworn-in as the new Governor of the State.

In his congratulatory message, Ojo expressed confidence in the abilities of Gov Okpebholo to bring the dividends of democracy close to the people of Edo State.

“The people of Edo State have total trust in your five-point agenda, capacity as a leader, and this is evident with their immense show of love. We have no single doubt that under you, this state will progress to the promised land,” the statement reads.

Meanwhile, Anthony Ojo has confirmed his aspiration to contest the Edo Central senatorial seat under the flagship of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a position previously held by Senator Okpebholo before he was elected governor.

He cited that sharing the same leadership ideologies with Governor Okpebholo, and the keen desire for transformative human and capacity developments in Edo State are the reasons behind his ambition.

He promised to work closely with the Governor to provide succour to Edo citizens.

Politics

Appeal Court Further Affirms Udeze-led NEC Of Action Alliance As Valid, Authentic

Published

1 day ago

November 13, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Appeal Court Further Affirms Udeze-led NEC Of Action Alliance As Valid, Authentic

ABUJA – The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has further affirmed Chief Barr. Kenneth Udeze-led National Executive Committee (NEC) of Action Alliance (AA) elected on 14th March 2021 National Convention of the party as valid and authentic.

Action Alliance, in a statement by its National Secretary, Vernimbe A James said, “the court of appeal Abuja Division today in Appeal Number; CA/ABJ/CV/1163/2024 in a lead Judgement delivered by Hon.Justics Abba Mohammed which was concord by the other two Justices dismissed the appeal filed by Adekunle Omoaje faction through one Miller C.Orgwu ( on behalf of himself and all NEC Members Elected at Action Alliance Elective National Convention of 7th of October,2023, held at OOPL Abeokuta, Ogun State ) against 1, INEC, 2, Kenneth Udeze,3, James Vernimbe, 4, Akinuli Fred Omolere.

“The Court also awarded N400,000 cost against the appellants in favor of the Respondents.

The appeal was about the validity of the powers of Action Alliance NEC under Chief Kenneth Udeze led executive to conduct the party Governorship primary in Ondo State for the upcoming Saturday 16th November 2024, Governorship Election.

“The Federal High Court Abuja Division had earlier In Suit Number; FHC/ABJ/ CS/626/2024 Between Miller Orgwu and others (Omoaje faction) claiming to be authentic NEC of the party against 1, INEC, 2, KENNETH UDEZE,3, JAMES VERNIMBE, 4, AKINULI FRED OMOLERE presided by HON. JUSTICE JOYCE O.ABDULMALIK on 24th, September 2024 dismissed their Claim and validated the Ondo State Governorship Primary Election Conducted by Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led Action Alliance NEC as valid and authentic, thereby Confirming the Ondo State Governorship Candidate of the party AKINULI FRED OMOLERE as the valid Candidate of the party for the 16th, November 2024 Governorship Election in Ondo State.”

The statement further said: “On 28 March 2022, the FCT High Court Abuja had affirmed and validated the Action Alliance National Convention held on 14th, March 2021 wherein Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led NEC of the party were elected.

“Dissatisfied with the said Judgement, one Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others were granted leave of the court of appeal to appeal same Judgement.

“On the 26th, January 2024, the Court of Appeal Abuja Division in Appeal Number; CA/ ABJ/ CV/ 955/22 Between Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others and Chief Uzewuru Nwachukwu and others further Affirmed the FCT High Court Judgement that earlier validated the Action Alliance National Convention of 14th March,2021 wherein Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led Action Alliance (AA) NEC of the party was elected.

“Dissatisfied with the appeal court Judgement one Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others have appealed the Judgement to the Supreme Court of Nigeria in appeal Number: SC/ CV/162/2024 Between Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others and Chief Uzewuru Nwachukwu and others, the matter is still pending at the Supreme Court of Nigeria which he has abandoned but desperately looking for how to come through the back door to claim the leadership of Action Alliance.”

The statement also explained that “INEC has since Complied with the Judgements validating the 14th, March 2021 National Convention of the party wherein Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led Action Alliance NEC of the party was elected and uploaded on its website the Name of Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze- National Chairman, Vernimbe A James -National Secretary and other Elected NEC of the party as authentic.

“There is no court ruling or Judgement that Affirmed or validated any other National Convention of Action Alliance (AA) held on any other date apart from the 14th, March 2021 National Convention of the party which Courts have already and variously validated.”

Ezenwa Ibegbunam, who is the Counsel to Chief Fred Omolere, the governorship candidate of the party affirmed by the Court, noted that the judgment has further restated the correct position of the law and a vindication of the previous decision of the Court of Appeal which had earlier affirmed Chief Udeze led executive as the authentic leadership of the Action Alliance.

On his part, Chief Kenneth Udeze has praised the Court of Appeal as a citadel of justice and urged the party members across the country to remain focused.

He further noted that the Judgment has cleared the way for the victory of the party in the Ondo State gubernatorial election.

Source: Daily Independent