Politics
KANO UNDER-AGE VOTERS: INEC, STOP THESE DENIALS AND FIX THIS MESS By Ikenna Asomba
Barely nine days after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, set up a 9-man fact-finding team to probe the alleged underage voting in the February 10, 2018 Kano Council poll, promising to make its report public in two weeks, the apex electoral umpire has made its ‘Findings’ public.
True to the postulations of some discerning minds, INEC has cleared itself or the Kano Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC of any wrong doing in the February 10, 2018, Council polls held across the 44 Local Government Areas of the state.
Members of the INEC fact-finding panel included: Abubarkar Nahuche (chairman), May Agbamuche-Nbu, Mike Igini, Kassim Geidan, Yakubu Duku, Rukayat Bunmi, Paul Omokore, and Jude Chikezie (secretary).
Just three days ago, this panel met with KANSIEC and before we could say Jack Robinson, the INEC fact-finding team on alleged underage voting in the last Kano council poll is saying it has not received any evidence of under-age voting.
According to the Chairman of the committee, Abubakar Nahuce, from his team’s interaction with civil society organisations and media, no evidence of underage voting has emerged.
Hear Nahuce: “From all what we have seen and discussed with you media men, none of you has seen any underage voter in the line or voting.
“All what we saw were from social media and they are not verifiable… some of them (pictures and videos) are not even from Nigeria, some are from Kenya elections but people are attributing them to Nigeria.”
Sincerely, INEC should stop these barefaced lies and denials and immediately fix this mess going into 2019.
Despite these denials, fact remains that under-age voters are not new to Northern Nigeria.
Members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, who served in Northern Nigeria, and were INEC ad-hoc staffs just during the last 2015 Elections that brought General Muhammadu Buhari to power can attest to this fact.
If you don’t register these under-age voters, see you in Heaven. If you don’t allow them to vote, see you in Heaven. This is a common knowledge up North. So, these pretences and denials by INEC must stop.
INEC must immediately begin to weed its Voters Register particularly in the North of under-age voters. If not, this portends a recipe for chaos in the North as the 2019 election would be between “us” and “us.”
The 2019 Presidential Election is no longer between a Muslim Northern candidate and a Christian Southern candidate or between a ‘Religious’ man and an ‘Infidel.’
Look, the photos and videos of under-age voters which hit the internet on February 11, 2018, are from Kano, Northern Nigeria and not from any so-called Kenya as claimed by INEC.
An investigation with Google image proves that the first time these photos appeared on Google was on February 11, 2018. So, needless this new Halleluyah songs.
More so, having done a critical evaluation of the photos, it’s apt to state that in Kenya, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), responsible for the conduct of elections, has a different logo and the design of their ballot boxes differ from the photos allegedly emerging from Kano on February 11, 2018.
Even the discordant tune from Mohammed Garba, Kano State commissioner for information, that the images were taken during the 2015 general election shows these are #LiesFromThePitOfHell.
I have spoken to a Kenyan lawmaker, a Taita Taveta Women Representative, Joyce Wanjala Lay, and she had just laughed off the claim by INEC as comical.
It’s imperative to state that our own Jide Ajani, Sunday Editor, Vanguard Newspapers, in many special series before the 2015 General Elections exposed to Nigerians and the world, how INEC under Professor Attahiru Jega was committing a lot of frauds with INEC Voters Register up North.
So many concerned Nigerians called for Jega’s sack but former President Goodluck Jonathan never listened.
Today, Professor Mahmud Yakubu, the new INEC boss has continued from where Jega stopped.
I reiterate, ahead of 2019, and if we are to record any Transparent, Free and Fair elections, INEC Voters Register, up North must be investigated and these under-age voters cleared off. We can’t continue to run this country like this.
Attached are Kenyan Ballot boxes in pix 2 and 3. Dear Nigerians, please, compare and contrast with the Kano photo in pix 1 and judge if INEC is not lying!
Ikenna Asomba, a Social Commentator writes from Atlanta, Georgia.
*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
-
Business6 months agoMaxwell Opara Goofed Says AAS Investors As They Stand By Jesam Michael, Demand For Justice
-
society6 months agoExposing The Many Lies Of Wanted Cyber Bully, Dorcas Adeyinka + Her Failed Attempt To Blackmail The Odegbamis
-
society6 months agoAlleged Assault In Court: Setting The Record Straight, Jesam Michael is The Victim, Not Maxwell Opara
-
Politics6 months agoNiger’s Journey of Redemption Under Governor Bago* By Paul Dickson
You must be logged in to post a comment Login