Politics
HUDU SAVED INEC FROM NATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT
HUDU SAVED INEC FROM NATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT
Sahara Weekly Reports That about one week now, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Adamawa State, Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, attracted the news headlines for declaring the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Dahiru Binani, the winner of the supplementary governorship election.
While Hudu’s action under the circumtance is seen by many Nigerians, including lawyers, as legal and within his powers as the State’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), the PDP and INEC questioned his authority.
For those who are condemning Hudu’s action, I dare say that the REC saved INEC from a repeat national embarrassment of the Commission in the 2019 governorship election of the same Adamawa state.
Just like in 2023, INEC declared the 2019 governorship election inconclusive. INEC embarrassed itself when the returning officer (Prof. Andrew Haruna) in the 2019 governorship declared the election inconclusive by relying on the provision of the number of registered voters (40,988) being higher than the margin of lead(32,476 votes) by one of the candidates not to declare a winner or make a return.
With the use of PVC as the only identity of a voter to be eligible to vote, INEC ought to have relied on the number of PVCs collected out of the registered voters of 40,988 in the polling units where the election did not hold or was canceled. The number of PVCs collected out of 40,988 registered voters, which INEC ought to have relied upon to arrive at the right decision in the 2019 governorship election, was 31,027.
What this means is that the 2019 governorship election should not have been declared inconclusive by INEC since the margin of lead was 32,476 while the PVCs collected for the rerun were 31,027. Yet INEC went ahead to conduct a rerun election when the number of eligible voters (with PVCs) for the election was less than the margin of lead in the election.
The Commission’s flawed judgment cost the federal government human and material resources that were avoidable. A later amendment to the Electoral Act is the result of INEC’s embarrassment in handling the 2019 Adamawa governorship election.
It is a repeat of this national embarrassment by INEC in the 2019 governorship in the Adamawa state that Hudu wanted to avoid in the 2023 election by being proactive and decisive. Like in 2019, there was no reason to have declared the 2023 election inconclusive if the issue of the multiple results from Fufore was courageously resolved.
Reports had it that the result that was used by the returning officer to declare the governorship election inconclusive was one of the multiple results from Fufore. It was the result that was allegedly declared under duress by the electoral officer. Agents of the state government along with security agents were said to have laid siege on the INEC office of the Fufore Local Government and forced the electoral officer to declare the result that was eventually used by the state returning officer.
A rerun election was ordered. Hudu knew very well that a particular authentic result from Fufore that would have brought the election to a conclusion was ignored. Hudu could not have stopped the rerun election after it was pronounced by the returning officer.
However, the REC, as a lawyer, located his powers under Section 149 of the Electoral Act and decided to act even before the end of the collation of the results of the rerun election. He used the correct result from Fufore, which showed that Sen. Binani won the election with 428, 173 votes against her opponent’s 422,303 votes.
Like in 2019, if the correct thing was done, the 2023 governorship election wouldn’t have been declared inconclusive. Hudu is the hero and not the villain in the 2023 Adamawa Governorship election. We expect INEC to take a look at the role of RECs as the State Chief Returning Officer in the governorship election.
Signed;
Martins Yanatham Dickson.
Member, Media Committee Binani Governorship Campaign Organisation.
*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.”
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.
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
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