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Imo, Bayelsa, Kogi guber polls: INEC gets another chance to restore electoral confidence
Just 72 hours before the gubernatorial elections in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states, numerous Nigerians are urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to use the upcoming off-season polls as an opportunity to address the lack of confidence in the country’s electoral process.
These calls have arisen amidst divided opinions and controversies surrounding the outcome of the 2023 general elections. It was reported that one of the grounds on which the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Peter Obi, challenged the declaration of President Bola Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 presidential election was the alleged non-compliance with the 2022 electoral law by INEC.
While Atiku and Obi lost their petitions at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) and the Supreme Court, they argued that INEC did not adhere to the provisions of the 2022 electoral act and its own rules when conducting the election. They contended that INEC failed to follow its regulations and guidelines by not implementing technological devices for voter accreditation, verification, continuation, and authentication as required.
These claims were dismissed by the PEPC and the Supreme Court, but the Supreme Court did acknowledge that the non-functioning of the Result Viewing (IReV) portal of the Electoral Commission could erode public confidence in the electoral process.
Last month, there were concerns when rumors suggested that INEC planned to manually transmit the results of the November 11 Bayelsa governorship election. However, the Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, refuted these rumors, assuring that the BVAS machine would be used for accreditation before and after voting, and the results would be snapped and uploaded on the INEC Election Result Viewing portal.
Yakubu also emphasized the need for INEC staff to remain impartial during the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States. He stressed that INEC’s role is to ensure that the people of these states choose their governors freely.
The National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yabagi Sani, advised INEC to use the forthcoming off-season governorship elections as an opportunity to address the lack of confidence in the country’s electoral process. Sani also called on INEC to urge security agencies to remain independent and avoid financial inducements from politicians.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) warned that the credibility of the off-cycle elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa States is at risk without the use of IReV and BVAS. HURIWA criticized the National Assembly for not amending the electoral act to make electronic transmission of results mandatory.
In an interview, a media and communication scholar at Peaceland University, Enugu, Nduka Odo, advised INEC to establish clear voting and transmission guidelines and adhere to them. He emphasized the importance of not making promises that cannot be fulfilled and the need for INEC to address technical glitches and regain the trust of Nigerians.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has reported that a joint operation involving Nigerian military troops and Department of State Services (DSS) operatives resulted in the elimination of 52 terrorists and the apprehension of a leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Bauchi State.
The ISWAP leader was captured in a sting operation at Tarum, a village outside Bauchi Metropolis, as disclosed by Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, in a statement on Friday.
While the DHQ did not disclose the name of the arrested ISWAP leader, it revealed that the individual held a significant role in the North Central and North West zones.
The military high command emphasized that targeting terrorist leadership is crucial in ensuring the safety and security of citizens, with ongoing operations consistently diminishing the fighting force and capacity of these groups.
Maj.-Gen. Buba noted that Nigerian Air Force airstrikes played a key role in destroying terrorist leaders’ enclaves in the North West and North Central zones in the past week.
The week’s operations resulted in the neutralization of 52 terrorists, the arrest of 204 individuals associated with terrorism, and the rescue of 234 kidnapped hostages. Additionally, in the South-South zone, troops recovered stolen crude oil and illegal refined products, destroyed various equipment and sites used for illegal activities, and seized a substantial amount of weapons, ammunition, vehicles, and other items associated with criminal operations.
Solomon Arase, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, has expressed distress regarding the escalating violence against security personnel, particularly police officers, in the South East region.
The former Inspector General of Police highlighted the growing number of police officers’ wives becoming widows due to attacks by gunmen in the area. In a statement by Ikechukwu Ani, Head of Press and Public Relations, Arase conveyed his apprehension during a courtesy visit by leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, in Abuja.
Arase emphasized that it’s essential to communicate to the assailants that the police are not their adversaries and have committed no wrongdoing. He lamented the loss of numerous serving officers in the South East, urging the perpetrators to recognize the police as friends and cease making widows out of officers’ wives, who are essentially their sisters.
Furthermore, Arase assured that the Commission has addressed the perceived marginalization of the South East in police representation nationwide.
Elder Onwu Arua, the leader of the Ohanaeze delegation, expressed concern about the lack of interest among people in the South East regarding the ongoing police recruitment exercise. He urged the Police Service Commission to devise strategies to address this issue.
On Friday, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) alleged that Governor Peter Mba was facing pressure from “Aso Rock” to discredit the Supreme Court ahead of the judgment on its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, scheduled for December 15. IPOB based this claim on Mba’s characterization of the group as a proscribed organization, a statement he made after visiting President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
IPOB cautioned the governor against making a “costly mistake” by using the group’s name to gain favor from Tinubu’s administration. In a statement by Powerful, a spokesperson for IPOB, it was emphasized that Mba’s comments were deemed reckless and unguarded. The statement alleged that Mba, under pressure from the federal government, accused IPOB of being responsible for the sit-at-home protest and insecurity in the Southeast.
The statement pointed out that Mba had previously condemned Simon Ekpa, who was associated with the enforcement of the Monday sit-at-home. IPOB expressed skepticism about the governor’s motives and suggested that his statements were influenced by the Tinubu administration.
IPOB urged the public to dismiss the governor’s remarks, describing him as a “cowardly governor” making unfounded accusations. The statement reminded Mba that IPOB is not easily intimidated and warned against attempting to use the group’s name for political advantage.
The statement concluded by calling on the Nigerian Supreme Court Justices not to succumb to blackmail, urging the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who was acquitted by the Court of Appeal. IPOB reiterated its commitment to the cause of self-determination and emphasized that the movement would not yield to blackmail or pressure.
Troops kill 52 terrorists, arrest ISWAP leader in Bauchi – DHQ
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