LP reports Enugu REC to governorship tribunal( Alleged content)

 The Labour Party, LP, on Thursday accused the Enugu State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Chukwuemeka Chukwu of disobeying a valid order of the governorship election tribunal.

LP made the allegation through its lead counsel, Valerie Azinge, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, during the Tribunal’s sitting on Thursday.

The party and its candidate, Barr Chijioke Edeoga is in court challenging the election of Barr Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The Tribunal had ordered INEC to allow the LP access to the BVAS machines used for the governorship election.

However, Azinge told the Tribunal that every effort by the party to inspect the BVAS machines had been frustrated by the REC in disobedience to the court order.

In a short ruling, the Tribunal led by Justice K. M. Akano asked the petitioners to use their discretion and do the needful.

Speaking to journalists after the Tribunal’s sitting, Azinge was asked what her discretion would be.

She responded: “You will definitely know my answer in a few days' time.”

Also speaking, one of the counsels in Edeoga’s legal team, Barr Ifeanyi Ogenyi said the INEC has refused to respect the Tribunal.

He said the order was made on March 29 “and we served the order on 30th of March.”

He said a letter was also written to the INEC National Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu all to no avail.

“Since then, they have not allowed us. We brought it to the attention of the court because yesterday we went there again but the REC brought PDP members, they said we can’t touch the BVAS, and that we can only look at it.

“But we told them that our forensic expert has to analyze it; even the INEC counsel, Hyacinth Okoli explained to them, but they refused to listen.

“We went again today, the same thing played out. The same PDP members came that we can’t touch the BVAS.”

Ogenyi further revealed that the Tribunal has issued a subpoena that the REC should bring the BVAS to the court.

“The subpoena was served through their lawyer. We expect that the REC should honor the subpoena and appear before the Tribunal. INEC is a government institution, it must obey court order,” he said.

It could be recalled that Edeoga had earlier in a petition he personally sent to the INEC national chairman, Prof Yakubu Mahmood, lamented that the REC refused to allow his legal team and experts access to vital electoral materials despite being directed to do so by the Tribunal.

The letter, which was dated June 26, 2023, and received by INEC on July 3, 2023, reminded the INEC boss that the tribunal had fixed the hearing of the petition for July 7, 2023, urging the electoral umpire to allow them access to the machines.

However, according to Edeoga, following the alleged refusal of REC to grant access, a fresh letter was issued on Monday, July 6, 2023, reminding the INEC Chairman of the need to have access to the materials.

FG tasks ministries, agencies on quality service delivery Story by The Punch

The Federal Government, through the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, has urged Ministries, Department, and Agencies, including the management and staff of the commission, to ensure continuous improvement in Quality Management System in their delivery of services.

The head of the civil service, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, made this call after she received the official presentation of an International Organisation for Standardisation 9001:2015 QMS certificate by the Managing Director, Digital Jewels Africa, Adedoyin Odunfa, on Monday, in Abuja.

In a statement made available to our correspondent on Tuesday, it was stated that the certification came on the heels of the commission’s fulfillment of all requirements of the ISO, as directed by the International Independent Certification Authority, Canada.

In her acceptance speech, Yemi-Esan stated that compliance with the ISO 9001:2015 means that standards are maintained throughout the three-year certification cycle “since certification is not an end in itself, but the means to achieve continuous service quality improvement.”

The statement reads, “Yemi-Esan expressed delight that the OHCSF is the first and only core MDA to achieve this feat of getting ISO certified within the public sector.

“She opined that the certification of the OHCSF’s work processes empowers it to continuously provide quality, innovative, efficient, and people-centered services in accordance with International Standards and Recommended Practices.

“She said that the OHCSF is to henceforth be recognized as a Centre of Excellence globally, saying ISO 9001:2015 QMS certification is the world’s most recognized QMS standard that provides the framework and guidance needed to help organizations consistently meet stakeholders’ expectations, regulatory requirements, as well as demonstrate continuous improvement.

“While urging staff in the OHCSF to take full advantage of the Certification in the realization of its vision and mission of transforming into a world-class Service, the HoCSF encouraged other MDAs to take a cue to move the Service to the expected height.”

The PUNCH reports that the Director ICT in the OHCSF, Dada Adeniyi, was certified as QMS Manager, while seven other civil servants were certified as Team Leads of projects.

10 macheted, scores sustained gunshot injuries as PDP, APC clash in Osun Story by Adeolu Adeyemo – Osogbo.

There was a bloodbath in Ile-Ife, the cradle of the Yorubas, on Monday evening when members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) engaged themselves in a fiercely battle where dangerous weapons, like guns, cutlasses, charms, axes, and other injurious anti-human instruments were freely used by the violent party members.

Fewer than 10 persons reportedly macheted and axed during the fracas, while scores sustained gunshot injuries in a pandemonium that lasted about two hours.

It was gathered that the duo groups engaged in a gun duel.

The two political parties, however, denied being the architect of the trouble that threw the entire ancient town into a state of confusion.

The incident, which happened at, the Ita-Akogun area of the town around 6.00 P.M of the day, left residents, shop owners, traders, motorists, and other road users to keep off the scene and hurriedly escape to different locations to avoid being dealt with by the party warring members who went berserk and took the law into their hands.

As PDP accused the APC of invading their gathering to disturb their campaign rally for the town's presidential and Senate election scheduled for February this year, the APC accused the PDP of starting the scuffle.

Meanwhile, the injured ones from both sides were said to have been taken to different hospitals for medical attention, while the intervention of the police was said to have laid the unrest to rest.

Speaking on the development, the Vice Chairman, PDP More ward, Ile-ife, Segun Adefioye, accused the APC of disturbing their peaceful gathering with weapons and wounded their members before the PDP members retaliated and l d to pandemonium.

In his own comment, the PDP Chairman, Dr. Adekunle Akindele, blamed the APC for the attack saying their trademark is violence and pandemonium, and called on the appropriate authorities to call them to order not to disintegrate the peace in the society.

Also, A Chieftain of the APC and the party spokesperson, Chief Kola Olabisi, maintained that the PDP attacked the APC members and injured them.

He, however, called on the state police command to get to the root of the matter through thorough investigations and bring the perpetrators to book.

In its reaction, the state police command said there was trouble in Ife, but normalcy had been restored in the town.

The police spokesperson, Mrs. Yemisi Opalola, while speaking with our reporter, charged members of the public to conduct themselves lawfully and allow harmony in the society.

Tinubu’s visit to Osun will be morale booster ― APC Chieftain Story by Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare

 

 

Bola Tinubu

Following last week’s tribunal judgment declaring Gboyega Oyetola as the winner of the 2022 gubernatorial election in Osun State, the people of Osun are in high expectations of the visit of the presidential flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on February 2.

A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress in the state, Kayode Sowade, made this known on Monday, “for our people, the visit by Tinubu will be an icing on the cake of the judgment restoring Oyetola as Governor of the state.

People are particularly expectant that the man who they feel can do the job of restoring the country from its state of chaos is coming to the state. Looking at the tricky situation in the country and the leading presidential candidates of all political parties, it is evident that only Asiwaju can handle the situation.

“From Asiwaju’s comments in Abeokuta, where he spoke on the hardship on the people in terms of new naira notes and fuel being politically orchestrated, things are already looking up especially looking at the extension of the deadline for the exchange of new messages. This shows he understands the pain of the people, and we in Osun are proud of him and expectant of his visit because the people know he is the best man for the job.

“His coming around will boost the morale of the average electorate in Osun, and it is not about the party now, but about a good leader irrespective of religious or ethnic sentiment; he is the best candidate. So the average Osun resident is happy that Asiwaju is coming to the state,” Sowade said.

The APC presidential candidate of APC is scheduled to be in Osun state on Thursday.

 

When Omisore rekindled hope in the invalid Story by Nigerian Tribune

 

New Year's Day across many homes is a time for celebration and exchanging gifts for many people across the globe. It is the day when families, relatives, and friends come together to dine and wine out of sheer excitement for being alive to witness the dawn of another year.

On this important day, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Iyiola Omisore, always ensures that those who would ordinarily not be chanced to celebrate because of ill health do so in style.

In a demonstration of love beyond his immediate and extended families, symptomatic of a compassionate heart that cares greatly for the downtrodden in society, Senator Omisore often visits significant hospitals and health centers within and outside Osun State to celebrate the day with patients on admission. Usually, on such occasions, he would donate items and settle the bills of those who could not afford to pay. He has been doing this for the past 19 years, and the reason for this philanthropy, according to him, is not just to give back; it is a necessary value he was taught by his parents and which he has imbibed right from his childhood days.

“Charitable giving drives everything I do,” he explained. “It defines my values and guides my humanity.”

For the 19th edition held on January 1, 2023, one of the hospitals the former Osun State deputy governor visited was the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile-Ife, where, as usual, he brought good tidings to the patients on admission. He smiled as he shared gifts and other essential items with the medical staff and patients.

The Acting Chief Medical Director of OAUTH, Dr. Muyiwa Owojuyigbe, who received him and his entourage, gave glowing testimonies on how the annual philanthropic outreach has dramatically assisted many patients in the hospital.

He said: “You are here today because of your vision. And because you decided to extend your gesture to the underprivileged in society. Doing a particular thing for 19 years is not a joke, as a child born 19 years ago would have left the university by now. But you have not limited your kind gesture to only Ile-Ife, but you have extended it to the entire South-West. In short, almost all the federal institutions in the entire South-West have benefited massively from this annual giving outreach.”

Owojuyigbe acknowledged other contributions of Omisore to the teaching hospital and what he described as his exceptional commitment to the health institution.

“You have been so committed to this hospital, and it shows you have so much passion for the hospital. Anytime you visit, you will ask: ‘Acting CMD, what can I do to bring further development to this hospital? And I can list so many examples. What about the consistent phone calls, most of which would ask me to send a list of our urgent needs. And likewise, on all the major roads in Ile-Ife, your influence has been glaring. We are indeed very grateful for all you are doing,” the Acting CMD added.

While expressing his appreciation to the senator, one of the patients, Olu George, said he had been on admission to the hospital since October., adding that Omisore had given him hope by footing his substantial medical bills. “I came from Efon-Alaye, and have been here since October last year. Though there are hospitals in Efon-Alaye, I was told this place is the best. And I appreciate you for the gifts and donations and for clearing my medical bills. May the Lord bless you,” George prayed.

It was not only the invalid that benefited from Omisore's grand gesture. Market men and women also benefited greatly as he donated the reconstructed Oja Tuntun Market to them.

The Promise and Peril of Nigeria’s 2023 Elections Post by Michelle Gavin.

All eyes are on Nigeria as it prepares for its general election in early 2023. Has the government convinced Nigerians that their votes, and lives, will be secure?
A woman presents a paper to an INEC worker collecting permanent voters cards at the INEC office in Abuja, Nigeria on December 13, 2022, REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde Blog Post by Michelle Gavin.

December 22, 2022 11:37 am (EST)

Nigeria’s 2023 general election is just weeks away. With incumbent President Mohammadu Buhari term-limited, the country will choose a new leader. That new president will immediately confront an exhausting array of challenges, from multiple, complex security crises to a disastrously mismanaged economy. In a recent Afrobarometer survey, nearly 89 percent of Nigerians felt that the country was heading in the wrong direction, and 77 percent were dissatisfied with the way their democracy has been performing.

There are some reasons for optimism that the upcoming polls will improve the 2019 election. First, President Buhari has strongly signaled that he wants a credible, transparent electoral process to be an essential part of his legacy. Legal reforms enabled earlier planning, and new technology has been deployed to improve voter accreditation and the transmission of results. A surge of new voter registrations, especially among young people, suggests that Nigerians believe the 2023 elections are a process worth their time and energy.

But political violence continues to bedevil the country. Among its most worrisome manifestations are the attacks on offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which aim to undermine the electoral process. History has primed observers to be concerned about post-election violence. But the prospects of disarray due to attacks on election infrastructure or significant numbers of Nigerian voters determining that it simply is not safe to vote on election day are also scenarios that call for urgent attention. Choosing Nigerian leadership is up to Nigerian voters. Still, external actors, including the United States, should continue to make it clear that anyone weaponizing fear to undermine democracy could be subject to targeted sanctions.

Moreover, elections alone don’t translate to accountable, democratic governance. The rule of law, applied to all citizens, is equally essential. But impunity has thus far rendered new laws around campaign financing and transparency moot. That same impunity led to zero accountability for the 2020 Lekki toll gate killings and, for years, has enabled the theft of resources that could have been used to serve the Nigerian people. No matter how well the election goes, any newly elected government will have to address this massive challenge to create the kind of democracy that can deliver accurate results for Nigerians.

All this matters to the rest of the world. The stakes are high for Nigerians and the region, where military coups and democratic backsliding have undermined regional governance norms. Nigeria has been internally focused for over a decade, unable and unwilling to wield the kind of decisive regional influence that it did years ago. But Nigeria is inescapably critical to the future of the continent. The sheer size of its economy and population, alongside the power and reach of its cultural and creative industries, means that even with a desultory foreign policy, Nigeria’s trajectory will affect societies far beyond its borders.