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If 27 Parties Are Ready, We Are Also Ready -INEC Reply Jegede
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Saturday governorship election in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede, on Thursday, led protesters to the state office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) demanding for the postponement of the governorship election by four weeks.
Jegede, who was accompanied by mammoth crowd to the office of the INEC office, armed with a letter of request seeking for the postponement of the governorship election scheduled for Saturday, November 26, in order to enable him fulfill and comply with the Electoral Act. (2010) as amended.
Jegede and some leaders of the party, including the State Party chairman, Clement Faboyede, were attended to by the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Segun Agbaje , who told Jegede and his entourage that they were denied entry into the premises of INEC because they staff of the Commission were busy distributing sensitive materials for tomorrow’s election.
Speaking to the REC, Jegede who drew the attention of the Commission to the Section 34, 45, and 74 of the Electoral Act of 2010 said the request became imperative to avoid some loopholes in the election process.
According to him, the PDP flag bearer, the Electoral Act made it mandatory for the electoral umpire to publish the names and addresses and political parties of each candidate contesting the election on the commission’s website and display such in their office.
He also noted that the Commission has not receive the names of his agents for the election saying ” the Electoral Act enjoins each political party to forward the names of its agents in each of the polling units to the commission at least seven days before the day of the election. We also refer to Section 74 of the Act which provides for every result sheet to be countersigned by polling agents.”
He however said ” We want all these corrected. We are asking INEC to shift the election and give me also the opportunity to enjoy the same rights and privileges that other political parties candidate have enjoyed. That is why we are here and that is why we are waiting for INEC response and I do hope they will give us the opportunity to formally make this presentation to him.
He said his counsel had written to the Commission earlier to inform the INEC of some provisions of the Electoral Act and said ” before now my counsel had written INEC to inform the Commission of what is needed to be done in line with the provision of the law . They have till date not reply the letter and we want to know what is the official position of INEC.
He queried INEC over the election saying “are they prepare to give a level playing ground or not? Are they also prepared to give the same opportunity they have given to other political parties and I have heard INEC spoke about conditions for postponement.These conditions are three, Violence, natural disaster or any other emergency but what we have here is legal emergency and it must be attended to. It’s not my fault, it is a legal emergency”
While responding, Agbaje said the Commission had taken notice of all the issues raised by Jegede and PDP and had forwarded it to the Commission headquarters in Abuja, but said the governorship election would go on in the state as scheduled.
Agbaje explained that all the sensitive materials needed for the election have been distributed to all the local government areas of the state, and disclosed that postponing the election would cost the nation a fortune.
He acknowledged receiving the Court order reinstating Jegede’s mandate and said the commission has replaced the Jimoh Ibrahim’s name with Jegede saying “the Commission has taken notice of all these issues, when we have the directive from the National headquarters, we have since pasted the name of the candidate on our notice board and also sent it across to all our office in all the local government “
He said the Commission should not be blamed for the party’s woes and explained the rationale behind dealing with Biyi Poroye’s group, and said the voters register had been handed over to the Jimoh Ibrahim faction.
He said “On the issue of voters register, the soft copy as far as the Commission is concern, was given to the party that the court directed us to deal with on the 28 of last month. When the judgement was given and the officials of the other faction of PDP came here the following day after the judgement, they were duly given, so as far as we are concern. PDP was given.
“This morning when we started the distribution of sensitive materials, the party agents was also among the agents who witnessed the collection and distribution of these materials to the local government areas
“I must be sincere with you that this election must go on and we are going to go ahead with the election on Saturday, the security agencies are ready. It is going to cost Nigeria serious financial implication.”
It is true that the party has crisis but the crisis is intra party crisis, it is not the fault of INEC and we have no control over the Judge that directed us to give the mandate of the party to one faction of the party and now that the Supreme Court had spoken and Appeal court has also given judgement, we have bowed to the order of the superior court”
Agbaje said further “The fact that we have two days in between the election and the fact that today is the last day for the campaign. This is not the fault of INEC but the fault of the party themselves because the first judgement was given in June, so I believe if the two faction had approached the Superior court that time, maybe it would have been something difference today.
“It is not the fault of INEC, if 27 parties are ready and we are also ready for the election and by now sensitive materials have gone out, even the chairman cannot call them back again because it means the government is going to spend millions of Naira to produce new set of sensitive materials.
“On the issue of party agents, as at about an hour ago about 17 local government have been received by our office and I am sure that the Electoral Officer must have given instructions to them on how to receive them in a very transparent manner.”
Similarly, the state Party Chairman, Faboyede, has asked INEC to postpone the election in order to give room to equity and fair play in the election.
Faboyede urged the Commission not to run foul of the electoral laws in the election, noting that the party has not submitted the names of the agents in the election while the voters register for the election has not been receive by the party
The PDP chairman who said that INEC is not ready for the election, said ” we don’t want to waste our time and energy on illegality, INEC should follow and employ Electoral Act and guidelines as stipulated by the electoral laws.”
Meanwhile, the Coalition of INEC Accredited Domestic Observers, has also called for the postponement of the Ondo state governorship election to ensure fairness, moral considerations and level playground.
Speaking on behalf of the group, the Coordinator, Kalu Igwe said the call became necessary following the last minute Court judgement that affirmed the authentic candidate of PDP, Jegede.
The group urged INEC to consider postponing the election to enable the candidate of the PDP that was just cleared by the court to minimally prepare for the election.
Igwe said “The postponement of the election will douse political and security tension created by Justice Okon Abang Kangoroo judgement against Eyitayo Jegede’s candidature for the election. A judgement that threw the state into serious chaos; dividing the judiciary, our electoral system and the political class.
“While we have confidence on the commitment on our dear President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR in strengthening our democratic values, we urge him to see reasons with the good people of the State who are threatening to boycott the election should INEC go ahead with the election on Saturday and call the commission to order by postponing the election in consideration to the demands of the people.”
The group noted that some few hours to the election, politicians in the state have commenced buying of voters card in some areas of the state while it said ” It has also been reported that thumb-printing of ballot papers is ongoing in a local government within the coastal area of the state.
Also yesterday, the National Chairman of the Inter Party Advisory. Council of Nigeria Hon Muhammad Lawal Nalado called on political parties, contestants and the electorate to maintain high sense of civility and decorum in the course of their last minutes campaigns.
Addressing newsmen in Akure, Nalado advised against selling their votes noting that doing so is ” mortgaging the future of your unborn generation and denying you the moral right to hold the winner accountable.
He pleaded with INEC and security agencies to conduct a credible and acceptable election and to perform their constitutional duties without bias
The chairman called on the electorate to vote for candidate that have articulated the numerous economic, social and political problems. And proffer solutions.
However, the state government has declared tomorrow as Public Holiday to enable workers prepare for Saturday’s governorship election.
This was contained in a statement issued by the state Head of Service, Toyin Akinkuotu, who directed all heads of MDAs to inform workers in their offices.
TINUBU IS THE WISEST MAN EARTH -PROPHET IKURU.
by Collins Nkwocha
Nigerian prophet, prophet Godwin Ikuru of Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry, Lagos magnetized everyone’s attention when he referred to the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the wisest man on earth regarding the appointment of Daniel Bwala as special Adviser on policy communications.
Speaking to reporters today in Lagos,
Prophet Ikuru applauded the president for choosing him and enunciated that he’s capable of delivering effectively and marketing the Renewed Hope Agenda of the president and urged Nigerians to stop the criticism because of what he said in the past “I’m personally happy with his appointment and I urge Nigerians to forget about the past, forget about what he must have said about the president some years ago which people are now disseminating on the social and taunting him a betrayal that lacks integrity, Nigerians should forget his past because he’s the best choice”.
Prophet Ikuru insisted that Bwala saw the sincerity and genuity of the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda and he decided to partake in it “even if he criticized the president, it was in the past, he saw the sincerity in the Renewed Hope Agenda and decided to join in nation building ,the president is ready to unite everyone in order to build Nigeria,that’s why someone like Wike is in his government,Bwala has what it’s required to be successful under Mr.president, as a wise man, the president saw it and decided to harness it ”
Finally, he praised Tinubu and referred to him as a great leader who is ready to involve everyone in his government, he maintained that his wisdom is magnanimous ,Baba is truly the wisest man on earth.
U.S. Courtroom Shock: Funke Ashekun, Husband Collapse as MFM Wins
Had FFK Faced Mehdi Hassan, Nigeria Would Have Spoken With Fire
By Mohammed Bello Doka
In politics, timing is everything. In diplomacy, character is everything. And in moments of national importance, leadership must be entrusted to individuals who possess not only experience but courage, intellect and an unshakable commitment to the nation they represent.
It is for this reason that the appointment of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode as Nigeria’s Ambassador to a foreign nation stands out as one of the most consequential diplomatic decisions in recent years.
Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, better known in the South as “FFK” and in the North as “Sadauki”, is one of the most brilliant, experienced, accomplished, vocal, respected, educated, profound, intellectual, patriotic, disciplined, well-read, historically literate, versatile, forceful, persuasive, sophisticated, cosmopolitan, charming, eloquent, courageous and resilient men in Nigerian politics and he has paid his dues and proved his worth over the last 35 years in politics and political discourse.
In each role he has played he has excelled and succeeded even when he was in opposition.
His friends value him as a great and loyal defender and his traducers and political adversaries fear and respect him because when he goes to war he is utterly relentless, takes no prisoners and literally spits fire.
How I wish it was him that was interviewed by Mehdi Hassan of Al Jazeera and not the young and inexperienced Daniel Bwala because he would have not only humbled Hassan but also done Nigeria proud.
He played Bwala’s present role in the Presidential Villa 23 years ago as President Olusegun Obasanjo’s spokesman and not only brought the then President’s domestic enemies to their knees but also had a series of very hot exchanges with foreign Government officials like America’s Under-Secreatary of State for Africa Jendaye Fraser and the White House over the Charles Taylor issue and Liberia.
Tinubu decision to appoint him as an Ambassador for our nation was a wise one because he will fight for and protect the interests of Nigeria and the Nigerian community whetever he goes and will never sell his soul or bow to foreign imperialist interests.
His appointment is not about just rewarding loyalty for the key role he played in Tinubu’s presidentiel campaign organisation as Director of New Media and Special Operations in 2023 and the staunch support he has given the President over the last three years but also about putting a square peg in a square hole.
If you want to put Nigeria first Sadauki is the one to do it.
If he runs the Nigerian Mission in the country that he is sent to in the same way he ran the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Aviation when he was Minister to each of them one after the other twenty years ago he will do very well and both our nation and whichever nation he is posted to itself will benefit from his efforts.
History teaches that diplomacy is most effective when nations deploy individuals who possess both intellect and courage.
As the American statesman Henry Kissinger once noted, “Diplomacy is the art of restraining power.”
To do so successfully requires deep historical awareness and strategic clarity—qualities that have long defined Fani-Kayode’s political career.
Sending a politically seasoned voice like FFK to any nation that is a key partner to Nigeria signals that Bola Ahmed Tinubu intends to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic posture with confidence.
Throughout more than three decades in the political arena, Fani-Kayode has remained one of the most resilient and outspoken figures in Nigerian public life despite numerous challenges which would have broken and destroyed lesser men.
Regardless of all that was thrown at him he continues to pull through and come out victorious which is why many refer to him as the “Akanda Eledumare” and the “Ayanfe Oluwa” which mean “the strange one of God” and “the beloved of the Lord”.
There appears to be a divine dimension to his life that makes him unstoppable and irrepressible even though his enemies are legion.
One wonders what sets him apart and makes him so different.
There is no doubt that his education played a part in it and this set him apart from most.
He never went to school in Nigeria but was educated from the age of eight in England starting off at Holmewood House School in Kent, one of the UK’s best and most famous Preparatory schools, after which he attended the famous Harrow School just outside London which is, together with Eton College, an institution that is the exclusive preserve of high society in the UK, one of the two best private schools in that country where only the ruling elite, the rich, the well-to-do, the famous and only a tiny proportion of those in British high society can afford or even qualify to attend.
No less than eight British Prime Ministers, including the great Sir Winston Churchill, and countless British cabinet ministers attended Harrow and so did many leaders, diplomats and top politicians from many foreign countries.
After finishing at Harrow he attended some of the top universities in the world, including London University (SOAS) and Cambridge University (Pembroke College) where he did so well.
As a matter of fact his great grandfather, Rev. Emmanuel Adelabi Kayode, attended Furrough Bay College which at that time was part of Durham University and graduated with an MA (Hons.) in Theology in 1893. His grandfather Justice Adedapo Kayode attended Cambridge University (Selwyn College) where he studied law and graduated in 1922. His father Chief Remilekun Fani-Kayode attended Cambridge University (Downing College) where he studied law and graduated in 1943. Sadauki himself graduated in law at Cambridge University (Pembroke College) in 1984 whilst his daughter Folake Fani-Kayode graduated from Durham University in 2009.
No African family has an uninterrupted streak of 116 years of Oxbridge-level university graduates except for the Fani-Kayode’s which is something that both his family and every patriotic Nigerian should be proud of.
It therefore makes perfect sense that a man from such a distinguished pedigree and intimidating lineage and that has such an extraordinary intellectual heritage should represent Nigeria on the international stage.
There is also his role in the debate on Gaza which made him a hero in the eyes of millions of people in the Global South both amongst Christians and Muslims.
He spoke out consistently about what he described as the genocide being committed against the Palestinians and he was prepared to put his life and career on the line for this cause even though most Nigerian leaders and politicians refused to say what he was saying publicly out of fear of the Zionist lobby and the Jewish state.
His sense of patriotism is unquestionable and nothing reflects this better than his series of essays written against Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Opposition Conservative Party and his write up against one Ben Llewelyn-Jones, who at that time was the Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, when the former consistently sought to insult and denigrate Nigeria and the Nigerian people and the latter attempted to interfere in our internal affairs by making statements in support of Peter Obi and his Obidients in the 2023 presidential elections.
Sadauki successfully put them both in their place and when American Senator Ted Cruz, President Donald Trump, Congressman Tim Riley and other American politicians began to peddle the false narrative and fake gospel of Christian genocide and persecution in Nigeria Sadauki, a devout Christian himself, rose to the challenge and more than any other Nigerian wrote about the issue in a series of essays pointing out the fact that as many Muslims were being killed as Christians by the terrorists in our country and that Christians were not being persecuted by our Government and are in fact faring better when it comes to positions in the security apparatus and governance under Tinubu than they did in the previous administration.
He also spoke out boldly against President Trump and his administration when they accused the Government of South Africa of indulging in genocide against the white minority population in their country and pointed out the fact that South Africa, like Brazil, was a shining example of a successful multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural nation that was treating its white minority population with the greatest respect. Few Africans said a word to defend South Africa at the time even though they knew that Trump was wrong but Sadauki did so without thinking twice.
He is clearly a strong Pan-Africanist and a believer in the importance of the African Union, African solidarity, the BRICS coalition and the Global South alliance comprising of China, Russia, South Africa, India, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and other emerging world powers.
This is commendable and it reflects his courage and disdain for those that display ignorance, disdain and contempt for our nation and people and that seek to denigrate and misrepresent us.
Sadauki is not the type that bows and quivers before Westerners like so many other Nigerian leaders and politicians but rather takes pride in his Nigerian culture, race, heritage and identity and is prepared to defend us and speak for us no matter whose ox is gored and who is involved.
In an increasingly competitive global environment, Nigeria requires diplomats capable not only of negotiation but also of defending national interests with conviction.
If the energy, eloquence and intellectual fire that have defined Fani-Kayode’s political life accompany him to the country to which he has been posted, his tenure may well become one of the most consequential chapters in Nigeria’s modern diplomatic engagements.
I wish him well and I thank God that he is back in the saddle of public office after so many years.
What more could any of us ask of this great and noble son of Nigeria?
This is undoubtedly the quality of personnel and leaders that we need on the international stage.
I hope and pray that in his endeavours and during the course of his work he meets with Mehdi Hassan in a debate and prove to him and the rest of the world that Nigeria still has men that can not only match them but that can also remove their trousers in any verbal encounter. Bwala put us to shame but FFK can redeem us before the eyes of the world.
(Mohammed Bello Doka, the author of this essay, is the publisher of Abuja Network News and can be reached via [email protected])
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