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Bello-Williams, ADC candidate, denies withdrawing from Kogi governorship race

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Dele Bello-Williams, the African Democratic Congress’ candidate for governor of Kogi State, has sworn not to resign for anyone before the state’s governorship election in November.

The clarification followed claims made in some state-wide circles that Bello-Williams had resigned in favor of Leke Abejide, who is running on the same party platform but under the ADC banner in a different faction.

No one has held negotiations with him, he said in a telephone interview with our Lokoja correspondent on Tuesday, and “nobody can force me to step down for another candidate at this crucial time.” even if negotiations were to take place.

Dele Bello-Williams declared, “I bought my form and contested a legitimate primary election. Other candidates also bought their forms, so I don’t see any reason why I should go and negotiate with someone else and thereby betray the confidence of my supporters throughout the state. Never once did I consider that.

“I’m competing to win. I’m not prepared to leave for anyone yet.

He continued, “I have a grassroots base and supporters; I didn’t show up alone to run.” In order to save the state, my people urged me to run for the position. Because they are greedy, some people specialize in spreading rumors. They are not concerned with aiding the general population. My commitment to bettering the common people’s lives in Kogi State is unwavering.

I strongly believe in God’s will and am a man of principles. Regardless of the haughtiness of supposedly powerful men, God gives power to whomever He pleases. Let the rumor mongers continue in their foolishness; I have my priorities straight. They most likely turned to this rumor-mongering strategy because they were uneasy, perplexed, or unsure of both their candidates and themselves. By accident, they have admitted that I am the most trustworthy contender in this contest.

In order for another candidate to run, he dared anyone or any group to provide evidence that he had resigned. Throughout the campaign, he promised to support his supporters and the state’s citizens and to be completely transparent about all of his team’s decisions.

In order to stay focused on the task at hand, he urged his supporters to ignore “the malicious stories about stepping down in secret.”

Bello-Williams also emphasized the need for Kogi state to have a governor who is knowledgeable about making decisions based on the best available evidence because these decisions will ultimately transform the lives of the state’s residents. He emphasized that effective leadership is not solely about financial gain, stressing the importance of integrity, experience, and commitment to the position. He also noted that he has a strong global brand and reputation for successfully leading teams and projects.

“I am the best candidate to lead Kogi State in the upcoming election. He emphasized, “I haven’t resigned.

 

Missing organs from Kenyan cult deaths – Police

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An additional round of exhumations is scheduled to begin on Tuesday after autopsies on bodies discovered in mass graves connected to a religious cult in Kenya revealed missing organs and raised concerns about forced harvesting, according to investigators.

It has been dubbed the “Shakahola forest massacre” after mass graves were found last month close to the coastal town of Malindi on the Indian Ocean, shocking the deeply religious Christian majority nation.

The majority of the bodies, according to police, are thought to be those of followers of so-called pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, who is accused of ordering their starvation death “to meet Jesus.”

According to the chief government pathologist Johansen Oduor, although starvation appears to be the primary cause of death, some of the victims, including children, were strangled, beaten, or suffocated.

Some of the corpses had their organs removed, according to court documents filed on Monday. Police claim the suspects were involved in forced harvesting of body parts.

The bodies of some victims who had been exhumed had missing organs, according to post-mortem reports, chief inspector Martin Munene stated in an affidavit submitted to a Nairobi court.

Without elaborating, he said that it is “believed that trade on human body organs has been well coordinated involving several players.”

Munene claimed that prominent televangelist Ezekiel Odero, who was released on bail on Thursday after being detained in connection with the same case last month, had received “huge cash transactions,” allegedly from Mackenzie’s followers who had sold their property at the cult leader’s direction.

More than 20 bank accounts belonging to Odero must be frozen for 30 days, according to a Nairobi court’s order.

Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki announced on Tuesday that a total of 112 people had been identified as dead. Kindiki had traveled to Malindi to oversee the restart of exhumations, which had been put on hold last week due to bad weather.

“Search and rescue efforts for persons suspected to be holed up in the bushes and thickets have been going on,” Kindiki stated.

There have been concerns about how Mackenzie, who has a history of extremism and prior legal issues, was able to elude law enforcement.

The former taxi driver surrendered on April 14 after police entered Shakahola forest, where about 30 mass graves have now been discovered, acting on a tip-off.

The father of seven, who started the Good News International Church in 2003, is being detained by the prosecution for an additional 90 days while they finish their inquiries.

Yusuf Shikanda, a senior principal magistrate, promised to make a decision on the petition on Wednesday.

 

Lawan asserts that Buhari signed 104 of 162 Senate bills

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The 9th Senate passed 162 bills to the president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (ret. ), who reportedly signed 104 of them. This is according to Senate President Ahmad Lawan.

 

According to Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the 9th National Assembly performed significantly better than the five that came before it since 1999.

The 9th Assembly’s presiding officers also bemoaned how some Nigerians misunderstood and mischaracterized the 9th National Assembly, calling it a rubber stamp body.

The National Assembly management and National Institute for Democratic and Legislative Studies organized a welcome dinner for senators and members-elect for the tenth National Assembly at the Ladi Kwali Hall of the Hotel Continental in Abuja. Speaking separately, the pair said the performance of the ninth National Assembly, which was driven by good governance, resulted from a cordial working relationship with the executive branch of government.

In particular, the Senate President stated in his speech that as of July 2022, 874 bills had been introduced at the first reading stage, of which 162 had passed to the third reading and 104 had received the concurrence of the House of Representatives and the President.

“From the beginning, the 9th Senate was conscious of the detrimental impact of ongoing conflict with the Executive and the consequent impact on legislative activities,” he said. We both understood that effective and efficient service delivery to the public depends on having a good working relationship.

“As of July 2022, the Senate had received a total of 874 bills, of which 162 had been passed. Interestingly, President Muhammadu Buhari has signed 104 bills from the 9th Senate, which is much higher than the previous assemblies’ totals of 31 for the 4th Assembly, 98 for the 5th Assembly, 52 for the 6th Assembly, 60 for the 7th Assembly, and 74 for the 8th Assembly.

“This method of communicating with the executive has given rise to misunderstandings, which have caused many to label the 9th National Assembly as a “rubber stamp” body. However, our goal in favoring a harmonious and collaborative relationship with the executive was to better serve Nigeria by creating a secure environment for national development.

“There is no question that this has worked out well for the clients we serve. The 9th National Assembly has made more laws than its predecessors, which can be attributed to the smooth working relationship between the executive and legislative branches of government.

According to Lawan’s well-articulated legislative agenda, the 9th Senate gave security, corruption, youth employment, poverty alleviation, education, access to health care, gender equality, economic growth and diversification, and oil and gas production top priority.

He claimed that in order to address the numerous issues facing Nigeria, they focused on various timely legislative interventions.

The 9th National Assembly overcame conventional challenges by forging political consensus and deft political brinksmanship, breaking numerous “jinxes” and accomplishing numerous “firsts.”

Lawan pointed out that the 9th Senate had concentrated its efforts on legislation that would improve the lives of Nigerians.

 

House of Reps moves its plenary to May 16

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The House of Reps has announced that its plenary, which was scheduled to start today, May 9, 2023, has been postponed.

The House meeting has been rescheduled for May 16th.

This information was made public in a statement made on Monday night and shared on the House’s official Twitter account (@HouseNGR). The statement was signed by Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, the clerk of the House.

The delay is necessary to give House members a chance to take part in the 10th National Assembly’s ongoing induction program.

“This is to inform all Hon. Members and the general public that the House of Representatives will not resume plenary on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, as previously adjourned. The following postponed date is Tuesday, May 16, 2023.

“This change is meant to make it possible for Members to actively participate in the 10th National Assembly’s ongoing induction program. We sincerely apologize for any inconveniences, the statement said.

 

Ahmad: Lauding An Uncommon Trailblazer at REA

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By Philip Agbese

The country of Nigeria is currently undergoing a period of reawakening. The country’s younger population has been very vocal about their desire for a generational leadership change. The agitation is real, and the majority of political parties have methodically responded to it by capitalizing on its reawakening. The slogan is extremely prevalent. The preparation of the people is complete, and the manifestation is currently taking place.

On the other hand, an unsung hero has been toiling away in the shadows, doing everything in their power to effect change in the governance system. This young prodigy is reserved and avoids the spotlight whenever possible. The majority of the time, he chooses to remain unnoticed because the thing that is most important to him is completing the task in a way that demonstrates creativity and an approach that is outside of the norm.

Experience life as Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), with all its ups and downs. In 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari made the decision to appoint Ahmad Salihijo to the position of director of the Rural Electrification Agency so that he could contribute his vast experience working in the private sector.

Through the development of off-grid electrification strategies, the REA was established with the goal of expanding access to electricity in rural and underserved clusters across the country. And Ahamd Salihijo came in handy as an invaluable resource thanks to his expertise in renewable energy and his two master’s degrees in development studies and project planning.

Since I joined the REA in 2019, there has been a string of remarkable achievements at the organization. He demonstrated that age was just a number, and he got right to work developing policies and programs that would contribute to the agency’s success in meeting its strategic objectives. This much was supported by industry stakeholders who lauded his management approach and unwavering dedication to the agency’s goals, which was a corroboration of the previous statement.

For instance, one of the ways he has been able to address the numerous difficulties in rural electrification across the nation is by firmly establishing transparency and accountability in the operations of the agency. This has been one of the ways he has been able to do this. Given the circumstances that led to the previous administration of the agency being removed from their positions, this was an extremely important step to take.

After Ahmad was sworn into office, he immediately instituted a code of conduct that placed a strong emphasis on commitment and dedication while also maintaining an environment of transparency and accountability. This strategy was successful as it eliminated all possible opportunities for taking shortcuts or saving time.

For instance, over the course of the past few years, the agency has strengthened its engagements with private sector developers and other key stakeholders in order to deploy off-grid technologies for the purpose of electrification, particularly for the purpose of productive use and socio-economic impact in communities that are not serviced by the grid.

The young CEO stated that agriculture is one of the primary focuses of the company’s attention right now. He says, “We understand that once you provide power in agriculture, you naturally empower people to go into farming, thereby improving their livelihoods.” This is something that we have come to realize. Because of this, in addition to supplying power to communities that are not connected to a grid, we also devote equal amounts of time and resources to the productive use of energy (PUE).”

This strategy was successful, as evidenced by the African Development Bank’s decision to contribute twenty million dollars toward the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), which will be used to fund investments in productive-use equipment and models in off-grid communities.

Read Also: Senior APC lawmakers challenge Tinubu, APC’s consensus for House Speaker

The Energizing Agriculture Programme (EAP), which is designed to increase GDP, accelerate the use of renewable energy, and unlock agricultural productivity in Nigeria, is currently being put into action by the REA agency, which is overseen by him. The Electricity Access Program (EAP) is a three-year initiative that will be activated in 2022 with support from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), the Global Energy Alliance on People and Planet (GEAPP), and the Rockefeller Foundation. Its purpose is to enable market-led solutions while breaking down the silos that separate electrification and agricultural development.

A 100 kWp solar hybrid mini-grid was installed in the Olooji community in Ogun State as part of this initiative. This community serves as an excellent example of the successes that have been recorded as a result of this initiative. Olooji is a community that has been around for approximately 200 years, but thanks to REA’s intervention, it only received energy infrastructure for the very first time in the year 2021.

REA has successfully finished projects in seven different universities as part of their Energizing Education Programme (EEP). Both the World Bank and the African Development Bank have confirmed that they will contribute funding to the EEP, specifically for phases II and III, respectively. These things did not appear out of nowhere. We are obligated to concede that it was a result of the REA, under the direction of Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, exhibiting a high level of leadership during the process.

To address the country’s socioeconomic challenges, leadership is required, and Ahmed has provided us with an excellent model of the kind of leadership that those who hold public office should strive to emulate.

Those who have had interactions with him are likely to attest to the fact that he is a very passionate person who has demonstrated capacity and competence in the performance of his responsibilities. He has successfully disproved the widespread belief that today’s young people are unfit to hold positions of authority.

It should come as no surprise that the REA was responsible for more than 95% of the NEP’s impact between 2020 and 2022. The NEP-SHS component is one of the components being implemented by the agency that is growing at one of the fastest rates. These projects have also sparked socioeconomic activity throughout the communities that are receiving benefits from them. The NEP program, which is now recognized as a leading example of off-grid models in sub-Saharan Africa, has successfully established approximately 6.7 million connections, which has had an effect on nearly 10 million Nigerians living in rural communities across the country.

The commendations have been forthcoming in sufficient quantity. Stakeholders in the industry have referred to him as a messiah because of his tireless efforts, which have resulted in increased access to electricity in rural areas. He was successful in removing the barriers that were preventing the electrification of rural areas across the nation. Some people who are familiar with the inner workings of the REA have hinted that the Managing Director has consistently placed an emphasis on accountability and transparency ever since he joined the team.

Read Also: Abbas Tajudeen explains why Tinubu wants him to be House Speaker

From the many leadership steps that this trailblazer has taken, there are many valuable lessons to be learned. The first is that today’s young people are prepared to take on leadership roles, and the second is that if there is a will, there is always a way to get something done. Ahmad Salihijo has provided young people in the country with a reason to have renewed hope. He is a visionary and a model for leadership in every sense of the word. This is something that the young people should applaud. I applaud his bravery as well as his consistency.

This article was written by Agbese, who will soon be serving in the Federal House of Representatives. He did so from Abuja.

NIMASA advises Nigerians abroad to invest in maritime sector

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Dr. Bashir Jamoh, the director general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, has urged Nigerians living abroad to make investments in the maritime industry of their home nation.

Jamoh made the call in Abuja, Nigeria, at the Global African Diaspora Symposium’s closing ceremony, which had as its theme “Building stronger connections between Africa and the global diaspora.”

Jamoh, who was represented at the event by Mr. Isichie Osamgbi, Director of Special Duties, NIMASA, called the maritime industry the next big thing and said it was full of resources that would help the economy grow.

He declared, “We see the maritime sector as the country’s future oil because it is an untapped gold mine. The maritime sector, or “blue economy,” has more resources than you can possibly imagine. So, in our opinion, it is a worthwhile investment. In Nigeria, money invested in the maritime industry is thought to be well-invested.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Director General of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, the symposium’s organizers, earlier thanked NIMASA for their support of the program and urged participants with questions about the maritime sector to get in touch with the organization for clarification.

Abbas Tajudeen explains why Tinubu wants him to be House Speaker

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Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, one of the leading candidates for the position of Speaker of the incoming 10th House of Representatives, has provided an explanation as to why the President-Elect favored him over the other candidates running for the position.

The lawmaker who was born in Zaria was under the impression that the President-elect chose him because of his pedigree and his dedication to his responsibilities in the lower legislative chamber.

According to him, “I want to believe, first and foremost, that he is impressed with the legislative contributions that I have made.” I told him that I’ve been a member of the National Assembly since 2011 and that I’ve now been a member there for almost 12 years in a row. I’ve also contributed to the sponsorship of a significant number of bills.

“During the 8th Assembly, I was ranked number one in terms of those who sponsored bills because I was the primary sponsor of 43 pieces of legislation. And during the 9th Assembly, I had the distinct honor of serving as a sponsor for 74 different pieces of legislation, of which 21 were approved by the President and are now in effect across the nation.

Read Also: Banks supporting unlicensed foreign companies will face CBN sanctions

“Other than that, I went to tell him where I come from, my academic background, as well as the fact that I was a teacher in elementary school. Between the years of 1989 and 1993, I served as the head of the accounting department at a polytechnic. Between the years of 2003 and 2005, I also held the position of head of the banking and finance department at another polytechnic. I was the first person to hold the position of accounting department head at Kaduna State University.

“I explained to him that I had previous experience working in the private sector and that I had held the position of marketing manager at the Nigerian Tobacco Company, which is now known as British American Tobacco. I told him about my journey there up until the time when I became the general manager of a subsidiary company before I resigned and went back to teaching in 2001. I told him about my journey up until the time when I became the general manager of a subsidiary company.

“He is impressed with my credentials, the places that I have worked, particularly in the public and private sectors, and also with the modest contributions that I have made while serving in the National Assembly. I am confident that the reasons he cites for his satisfaction with me are due, in large part, to the experiences I’ve had and the qualifications I’ve earned.

He noted that he believed “the president-elect and the party will come up with an acceptable zoning that will be in the mutual interest of each and every Nigerian.” He stated that he believed that the president-elect also prayed for the other aspirants that visited him. He said that he believed that the president-elect also prayed for the other aspirants that visited him.

Following the conclusion of the zoning arrangement for the party, he stated that “every zone will have something to take home.” That much is certain on my end. I am confident that the party will not give up on any one region or any one zone for any reason.

Rep. Abbas responded that there was no basis for anyone to accuse the National Assembly of being a rubber stamp because working harmoniously with the Executive arm should not be misunderstood as being weak. When asked if the House would be a rubber stamp if he emerges as speaker, Rep. Abbas said that there was no basis for anyone to accuse the National Assembly of being a rubber stamp.

Read Also: Senior APC lawmakers challenge Tinubu, APC’s consensus for House Speaker

“What gives them the impression that I am vulnerable? The fact that you don’t publicly insult anyone else’s intelligence? The fact that you are a good member of a team, that you get along well with everyone, and that you live in harmony with everyone else in the house? You have no enemies; the only people in your life are your friends. The fact that you give more money than any other member of the 9th Assembly does this mean that? That you are qualified based on your experience gained in both the public and private sectors? Does that make me weak?

“Look, what the people need to understand is that they need to go and look at the pedigree and antecedents of each and every member of the organization. The problem of being a rubber stamp has nothing to do with either this or that.

If you recall in 2019, was it not the president-elect then, Muhammadu Buhari, that pushed for Femi and the Senate President, Lawan, to become the candidates of the party? Do we still maintain, after nearly four years, that those individuals are merely the Executive’s vehicles for stamping out decisions? No.”

 

10th NASS: Gbajabiamila tasks Senators-elect, Members-elect to impeachable debate

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Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has urged Senators-elect and Members-elect of the 10th National Assembly to participate in discourse that must be beyond reproach.

He made the announcement on Tuesday in Abuja, declaring the induction of the first batch of new representatives into their positions.

Gbajabiamila, while congratulating the members on their election victories, called on them to justify the offices they held by the quality of their efforts while serving in that office.

“What this means for those of us who serve in the legislature is that the standard of our legislation and advocacy, the caliber of the services we provide to our constituents, the rigor with which we carry out our oversight responsibilities, and the substance of the debates we have within the chamber must be beyond reproach.

“It is with great pleasure that I greet you at this extraordinary juncture in the annals of our nation’s history when the skills, perspectives, and commitment of all of our political leaders are required to guide us through the challenges we face today and hopefully towards the success we deserve.

“As you prepare to enter the 10th Assembly, I want to stress the importance of keeping in mind that nothing of consequence can be accomplished in the legislature through the efforts of a single individual.
Either you will succeed together or you will fail individually.

“In addition, you have the significant responsibility of developing a productive working relationship with the executive arm of the organization. Your responsibility for overseeing executive actions does not constitute an open invitation to conflict simply for the sake of conflict.

He went on to say that the General Elections that took place in 2023 were the ones that were the most fiercely contested and competitive ever since the country had returned to democratic rule in 1999.

“Assumptions about electoral performance that were based on historical antecedents were proven to be incorrect in this election.

“Deeply ingrained political parties and interests were uprooted in locations where this had been proven impossible for the previous two decades.

“Persons who had never aspired to political office or whose previous aspirations had failed, succeeded this time,” said the winning candidate.

“The playbook for our national politics has been completely rewritten. We have entered a new era in the history of democracy in Nigeria. The people of Nigeria have recently become aware of the immense power that lies within their votes.

Read Also: Banks supporting unlicensed foreign companies will face CBN sanctions

“The days of an officeholder’s membership in a particular political party conferring on them a virtually automatic guarantee of reelection have come to an end as a result of this election.”

The speaker also mentioned that the democratic process in Nigeria was still in its infancy when compared to other countries around the world and even other countries in Africa.

“This dreadful turn of events places an urgent obligation on all of us political leaders to speed up the democratic dividends for all of the people in our nation; either that, or we risk the complete loss of legitimacy, which can only result in negative outcomes.

“In order for our democracy to live up to the reasonable expectations of the people of Nigeria, the institutions of our government need to become significantly more effective than they are right now.”

As he opened the ceremony, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, stated that the 9th Senate had been mindful from the very beginning of the potentially damaging effect that persistent conflict with the Executive could have and the subsequent impact that it would have on legislative activities.

“However, we were also fully aware that a positive working relationship is not only desirable but absolutely necessary in order to accomplish the goal of providing effective and efficient service to the people.

“As a result of this, the 9th National Assembly, which I presided over, took a cordial but businesslike approach to relations between the executive branch and the legislature.

“The primary goal here was to cultivate a harmonious working relationship based on mutual respect, consultation, cooperation, collaboration, and partnership.”

“Because of the way in which engagement with the executive branch has been handled, many people have the wrong impression and misunderstanding that the 9th National Assembly is nothing more than a “rubber stamp” assembly.

“Yet, our goal in favoring an engagement with the executive that is based on harmony and collaboration has been to better serve Nigeria by creating a secure environment for the growth of the nation,”

According to Lawan, the 9th Senate had an extremely successful session in terms of the quantity and quality of bills that were introduced, passed, and signed into law.

“As of the month of July 2022, a total of 874 bills have been presented for consideration in the Senate, of which 162 have been approved.

“Remarkably, President Muhammadu Buhari has given his approval to 104 of the bills that were passed by the 9th Senate.

“As a result of this, it was significantly higher than those of previous assemblies,” the author writes, “which recorded 31 for the 4th Assembly, 98 for the 5th Assembly, 52 for the 6th Assembly, 60 for the 7th Assembly, and 74 for the 8th Assembly.”

Also speaking was Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), who stated that the institute possesses the experience, tools, and expertise to support the new members in the drafting of bills and motions, as well as the analysis and scrutiny of bills, among other things.

Sulaiman urged the legislators to engage with the public, civil society, the media, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and other stakeholders on a regular basis and in a constructive manner in order to improve the legislation.

On her part, acting British High Commissioner to Nigeria Bill Atkinson stated that the commission was proud of the long standing partnership with the National Assembly. Atkinson made this statement on behalf of the commission.

Read Also: Presidential Polls: Tribunal warns against using technicalities, delay strategies

She predicted that the tenth Assembly would be one of the most diverse in history, with seventy percent of its members being brand new.

At the same time that Atkinson was encouraging the new members “to hit the ground running,” he urged them to learn from the mistakes made by their predecessors.

Senior APC lawmakers challenge Tinubu, APC’s consensus for House Speaker

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Senior members of the ruling party in Nigeria have vowed to contest their party’s selection for Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Tajudeen Abbas (Kaduna) has reportedly been chosen by the ruling APC to serve as the Speaker of the 10th House, which will be inaugurated next month. This announcement was made on Monday. The APC claimed that Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, had been consulted before making the decision.

Five high-ranking APC lawmakers, who had also declared their candidacy for the position, however, announced on Monday that they would team up to oppose their party’s nominee.

This was said on Monday at Muktar Betara’s official announcement for the position by the current Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, who is also a candidate. The occasion took place at the Transcorp Hotel in Abuja.

Five of the candidates, according to Mr. Wase, have decided to unite in opposition to the APC’s consensus plan. He mentioned himself, Mr. Betara, Sada Soli, Alhassan Doguwa, and Ahmed Jaji as the five.

The candidates came together at the event on Monday to express their unity in the face of Mr. Abbas’ open endorsement.

Yusuf Gagdi and Miriam Onuoha were present at the declaration but refrained from publicly criticizing it.

According to earlier reports, the ruling party selected Ben Kalu, a lawmaker from Abia State, as deputy speaker and Tajudeen Abbas, a lawmaker from Kaduna State, as the consensus candidate.

Mr. Wase stated in his speech that he was opposed to any kind of consensus that was reached without the input of the House members. All legislators must fight to preserve the parliament, he claimed.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a candidate for the APC presidency.
incoming president Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He claimed that four of the disgruntled candidates met and decided to challenge Mr. Abbas. Later, Mr. Doguwa, the current majority leader, joined the group, according to Mr. Wase.

“We are here to support the parliament’s independence. to make sure our family works together. I have never seen a moment like the one we are witnessing today in the parliament. Every member of parliament must therefore rise to the challenge and defend the institution. In light of this, the five of us sat down and decided to work together to stop the parliament from being taken over and turned into a lame duck.

“We won’t let this parliament be tarnished. We won’t let this parliament be taken over. Prior to being loyal to our party or to our people, we are loyal to our country. When you say you have a consensus candidate, the language for consensus is very simple, as my leader (Doguwa) did mention. This indicates extensive consultation. For consultation, people have been brought to the table. We are hearing rumors and speculation that some people have been chosen as consensus candidates in this case, the speaker said.

He declared, “We will defeat those forces who believe Nigeria is in our pocket.”

Speaking as well, Mr. Doguwa argued that lawmakers should be in charge of choosing the parliament’s leaders, not outsiders who did so without their input.

“We should only be concerned with the business of choosing our leaders. Respect must be shown for members who are on an equal footing.

 

When someone else, under any pretense, tries to decide how, where, when, or who should form leadership without consulting us, that ought to be viewed as a mere failure. Includement is crucial. Everyone should use his father’s name until then, but I’m open to suggestions,” he said.

Mr. Soli, a lawmaker from Katsina State, spoke in a straightforward manner. He stated that everyone must uphold the sacredness of the parliament. He claimed that the legislative body would be doomed based on the reports the lawmakers are receiving about the consensus agreement.

 

In his speech, Mr. Betara expressed his willingness to cooperate with the other candidates for the position in the parliament.

The institution is being reclaimed by the group, according to Mr. Betara.

All of the candidates who spoke explicitly stated that they are still vying for the speakership.

Legislators elected on the platforms of minor parties also announced Monday that they would challenge the APC for the position of speaker, which is a sign of the intense campaigning to come in the upcoming weeks.

In a statement on Monday, the lawmakers-elect, drawn from the seven minor parties, stated that they would use their numerical advantage to elect the lower House’s presiding officers.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and the Young Progressive Party (YPP) are the parties.

“History beckons on us to constructively, and creatively, chart the path towards the deepening of our nation’s democracy,” they said. “Since emerging as the “Greater Majority,” with a combined members-elected tally of 183, as opposed to the APC’s total of 177.

Presidential Polls: Tribunal warns against using technicalities, delay strategies

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The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), which met yesterday under tight security, issued a warning to all parties not to use technicalities and delay tactics that might impede the timely resolution of the five petitions it was considering.

Justice Haruna Tsamani, the five-member tribunal’s chairman, issued the warning during his inaugural speech to formally begin the pre-hearing session.

180 days are given to the tribunal to complete its task.

Justice Stephen Adah, Justice Monsurat O. Bolaji Yusuf, Boloukuromo Moses Ugo, and Justice Abba Mohammed are additional panelists.

Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) garnered 8,794,726 votes, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to win the election. With 6,984,520 votes, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) finished second, and Peter Obi received 6,101,533 votes. Atiku and Obi had petitioned the tribunal to have Tinubu’s victory overturned because they were unhappy with the outcome.

Read Also: NASS: Kalu writes APC NWC and incoming senators

At around 9:15 am, Justice Tsammani made an opening statement to the court pre-hearing, assuring everyone that they would be happy with the decision made at the conclusion of the case and advising attorneys to avoid making frivolous requests that might cause delays in the court’s proceedings.

“Let’s refrain from making sensational remarks as we begin hearing the petitions. Let’s keep in mind that the country’s safety and interests come first.

“We should avoid pointless applications and objections to free up time for the case’s actual merits rather than pointless technicalities.

“Let’s work together so that everyone can feel confident that justice has been served.”

Lead attorneys for the various parties vowed to work with the tribunal to see that the justice in the petitions before it is done.

Chief Wole Olanipekun, the president-elect’s attorney, assured the court of the full cooperation of his team and argued that the issue needed to be resolved without resorting to pointless technicalities.

Chief Chris Uche, the leader of the legal team defending PDP and Atiku presidential candidates, similarly stated that they would do everything in their power to aid the court in carrying out its duties.

When it comes down to it, I am very confident that the petitions will have an impact on Nigeria’s jurisprudence and constitutionalism, said Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, who is speaking on behalf of the LP and its candidate, Mr. Peter Obi. We will make every effort to help your Lordships.

Through its attorney, Mr. Abubakar Mahmood, INEC expressed its confidence in the court’s ability to fairly decide all of the petitions that are before it.

Mahmood said, “My lords, we are confident that justice will be served in the end.

The Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Peter Obi & Labour Party (LP) petitions, each designated CA/PEPC/01/2023, CA/PEPC/02/2023, and CA/PEPC/03/2023, were the three petitions scheduled for hearing at the tribunal’s preliminary session.

The petition the AA filed against INEC and Tinubu of the APC was withdrawn, which was the session’s high point. The legal counsel for the party, Chief Oba Maduabuchi, had asked for the petition’s further development to be halted. The senior attorney informed the court that a withdrawal notice was submitted on May 3 to that effect. As a result, Justice Tsamani dismissed the petition after learning that the respondents had not raised any objections to the withdrawal.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Bola Ahmed Tinubu are the three respondents to the Action Peoples Party (APP) petition, which is also scheduled for the pre-hearing session.Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, who spoke on behalf of the APC, Mr. Obi, and chieftains from different parties were present for the opening proceedings.

Protesters request that the Tribunal halt Tinubu’s inauguration.

Drama was present during the session as a group of protesters, claiming to be a coalition of civil societies, pleaded with the court to halt the inauguration on the grounds that there were still a number of unresolved matters involving the APC candidate. However, after briefly gathering outside the Court as proceedings inside the tribunal continued, they were dispersed by security personnel.

•Atiku, PDP wants proceedings to be broadcast live

In a petition dated May 5, Atiku requested that the court issue an order instructing the parties and the court’s registry on the guidelines for allowing media professionals and their equipment into the courtroom.

In their application, their team of attorneys, led by Mr. Chris Uche, argued that because the electoral dispute in question had a peculiar constitutional dimension and involved millions of Nigerians, it was of public interest and that they had a constitutional right to receive.

In order to fulfill its constitutional obligation to hold proceedings in public, courts may choose to grant the public access to them in person or online.

The maxim that justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done is in line with the enormous and tremendous technological advancements and developments in Nigeria and beyond, including the current trend by this court towards embracing electronic procedures, virtual hearing, and electronic filing. Accordingly, a departure from the rules to allow a regulated televising of the proceedings in this matter is in accordance with this maxim.

Television coverage of court proceedings is not unusual for this court and will boost public trust.

Similar recommendations were made in the communique issued by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) following its National Executive Committee meeting in Birnin Kebbi on March 23. The NBA had pleaded with the court system to permit live broadcasting of court proceedings on election petitions, especially the presidential election cases.

The initiative had also received support from a group operating under the auspices of Leaders of Thought and Legal Icons.

Nigerians were encouraged to sign an online petition in support of the project by the group.

A human rights attorney named Mr. Femi Falana supported the calls for election petition trials to be broadcast live.

The application hearing date has not been set.

The project had also received support from a group operating under the auspices of Leaders of Thoughts and Legal Icons. In order to achieve this, the group issued an appeal on commonbliceng, an unbiased online forum, asking Nigerians to support the project by signing up.

In a similar vein, prominent constitutional lawyer Prof. Ben Nwabueze and key members of Project Nigeria Movement (PNM), a group of eminent thinkers in the nation, have backed calls for live broadcasting of election petition trials. PNM is led by leading human rights attorney Femi Falana.

In a similar vein, Prof. Tonnie Iredia, a communications expert and former director general of the Nigeria Television Authority, called for the telecast of election petition proceedings in Nigeria in accordance with the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) in an incisive paper that was published.

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