Television Nigerian

In Saturday’s Area Aouncils election in the Federal Capital Territory, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned political gladiators to avoid vote-buying and has also banned the use of mobile phones (FCT).

Anyone caught breaking the directive, according to the commission, will face the full force of the law.

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC Chairman, issued the warning during a Stakeholders’ Meeting on the 2022 FCT Area Councils Election Tuesday in Abuja.

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“The ban on the use of cellphones and other photographic devices in voting booths remains in effect,” he said.

“I’d like to reiterate that all forms of voter bribery, including vote-buying at polling stations, are illegal.
The parties leadership and candidates participating in the poll accepted to committing to a peaceful and violence-free election and also signed a memorandum to the effect.

According to Prof. Mahmood, voter inducement in all forms, including vote-buying at polling units, was a violation that will be visited with strictness, although he did not say how the commission intends to carry this out given its failure over the years to put such ultimatums to task.

He further explained that “INEC has accredited 58 Observer Groups, will be deploying a total of 2,242 Field Observers, including 45 media organisations, with 340 journalists for the poll”.

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He added that “593 polling units in the FCT are without registered voters, 1,328 polling units with between 1-50 voters, while 546 polling units are with over 1,000 registered voters”.

He however declared that election would not take place at the 593 polling units without registered voters, stressing that materials were not produced for these units and no personnel will be deployed there.

He said that ballot papers have been customised for specific polling stations as a way to frustrating politicians who might resort to rigging.

“The commission reviewed the performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in the recent Anambra State governorship election and we are happy we made progress with that and the lessons learned from the election have been considered in planning for the Area Council poll,” he said.

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Yakubu noted that the BVAS had been configured and ready for deployment for the FCT elections.

I am among those who have expressed delight since Yahaya Bello, the governor of Kogi State, announced his intention to run for president of the country in 2023. My enthusiasm stemmed from the potential of a Yahaya Bello presidency, as well as what the country stands to gain at the end of the day.

We must acknowledge that the country’s challenges necessitate electing a leader with a brave heart and a willingness to confront the issues that have held us back for so long. We also need a leader who can back up his words with deeds and recognizes the urgency of the situation in Nigeria right now.
This is not a time for kid gloving issues regarding putting Nigeria on the path of sustainable growth and development. I would say we have experimented and trivialized the issues at stake. This should be a source of concern for any Nigerian worth the name. We need to reminisce on how the country has descended from its enviable position as the giant of Africa. If we have the above at the back of our minds, then a Yahaya Bello presidency is what the country needs come 2023.

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Taking cues from Kogi State before him and the Kogi State of today, one would indeed agree that a lot of concerted efforts were at play. One would also agree that for Governor Yahaya Bello to be able to turn things around in a once-moribund state speaks volumes about his capacity and his style of governance, which in my opinion, should be replicated across the country.

Those of us in the know of the state of affairs in Kogi State before he assumed leadership are still in awe of how he could achieve tangible results. This is aside from the fact that he indeed stepped on tows and dammed the consequences so long his decisions were in the best interest of the state and not the interests of a select few.

I recall he was very clear about what he wanted from the onset. This much he made clear in his inaugural speech wherein he stated thus: “My Administration shall exist for the sole purpose of serving the superseding interests of the people of Kogi State to the very best of its capabilities. We also undertake to never lend our capacities to servicing the avarice of anyone or group–whether from Kogi State or elsewhere. There is no greater evil than Corruption, and nothing champions that evil more than Impunity…Corruption and Impunity made sure our people repeatedly arrived at a promised future and found it bereft of substance, or the promised better life.”

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This is very apt and has guided his conduct since he assumed leadership of Kogi State. Let us take this position to the centre stage of governance in the country. We would conclude that Kogi state mirrors that larger Nigerian society where the emphasis has been on serving and servicing the avarice of select individuals and groups and the detriment of a population that is fallen deep into despondency.

My argument remains that if he could do it in Kogi state, then doing the same in the country in his capacity as president would not be a herculean task. The country is bleeding, and all we need is that effort from an individual who understands that there is a lot at stake.

This is what the Yahaya Bello presidency represents, in my candid opinion. It behoves all well-meaning Nigerians to wake up from the deep slumber and rally support for a Yahaya Bello presidency that is well-positioned to address our challenges by questioning the norm and insisting on the proper approach governance that would emphasize the collective good.

He might not have a massive war chest like others. He might not be as popular as others that have indicated interest. However, we can’t take away that he is committed, resourceful, and ready for the daunting task of taking the country out of the doldrums.

He is not a fan of the politics of religion or ethnicity. He is a firm believer that what is good for the goose should be good for the gander. I believe the Yahaya Bello presidency is one golden opportunity we must grab with both hands. His enthusiasm is infectious; his desire to set Nigeria on the path of greatness is legendary. And his commitment to step on toes in the interest of the country is not in doubt.

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The ball is now in our court; we can play right or wrong. However, we must be ready for the consequences of our actions. We can elect to stay with the norm or request a new order where every citizen of our great country, regardless of their religion or ethnicity, would have a say in the governance process in the country.

The Yahaya Bello revolution is real. It behoves all well-meaning Nigerians to join forces towards the actualization of an ambition for the country’s good. I can bet that those who desire the country remains in its present state would constitute themselves into clogs in the wheels of our progress by engaging in smear campaigns against Yahaya Bello. The public space would be filled with all manner of derogatory attributes in the bid to blackmail him into jettisoning his presidential ambition. But if only they knew how thick his skin is.

Lest I forgot, one of the attributes of Governor Yahaya Bello is the ability to stay focused and go for whatever he believes is in the best interest of the country. He doesn’t suffer fools gladly.

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The future of Nigeria is important, and we march towards the 2023 general elections; the choice is ours to take the bulls by the horns in ensuring that the country moves forward. How would this be possible? A Yahaya Bello presidency suffices.

One hundred political and thought leaders gathered in Lagos to’rescue Nigeria’ and map a new consensus for national rebirth, including 14 current governors, 13 former governors, and three former Senate Presidents.

Under the aegis of ‘The 2022 Committee,’ the leaders stated that before Nigeria can have candidates for political offices in 2023, the country must be secure, peaceful, and united.

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This was revealed in a statement released on Wednesday, which was co-signed on behalf of the conveners by Nduka Obaigbena, Publisher, and Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, Borno-born politician and Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
According to the statement, the leaders met from February 4 to 6, 2022. It, however, did not reveal the names of the 100 leaders who met in Lagos but It was gathered that top chieftains from both the ruling All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party attended the event. The participants also comprised southern and northern leaders.

Some of those in attendance that our correspondent could confirm included a former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former Senate President and Secretary to the Federal Government of Nigeria, Anyim Pius Anyim, who is also a PDP presidential aspirant; ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki, also a PDP presidential aspirant; former Governor of Imo State; Ikedi Ohakim, former Governor of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke and former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

In the statement released on Wednesday, Obaigbena and Ibrahim-Imam said the leaders worked in three sub-committees of national security, the economy and Nigeria in transition, noting that “the participants recognised that there is an urgent need to seek common ground and irreducible minimum actions to stabilise the polity at this critical time of transition.”

The statement was titled, ‘Eminent Business, Political, Society and Thought Leaders Meet in Lagos to Build Consensus for National Rebirth’.

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It partly read, “The meetings will continue, as we work with Federal and State Governments, current and future political leaders of all political persuasions, as well as other eminent patriotic citizens, for the greater good of the Nigerian people.

“Whilst The 2022 Committee is interested in the quality of leadership that will emerge in Nigeria at all levels, we consider attempts to link the Committee with candidates or political parties for the 2023 elections as an unwarranted and unnecessary distraction – candidates are only chosen by political parties and we are not a political party.

“All the 100 leading lights of the 2022 Committee have the capacity for national leadership; indeed, amongst the very active participants in the work of the Committee are over 7 persons, from 3 or more political parties, who have already publicly declared their aspiration to lead the country but are desirous of working with other patriots for non-partisan greater national goals. We must have a secure, peaceful and united nation before we can have candidates for political offices.

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“The Committee believes that what Nigeria needs today is for all patriots to come together to rescue our nation from all political, economic and security threats, and promote the unity of Nigeria. We call on all patriotic volunteers, who are willing and able, to join this collective effort to stabilise the system so we can all build a new Nigeria we can all be proud of.”

The Adamawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has begun distributing nomination forms to all APC members who want to run in the state’s upcoming local government elections.

The Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission (ADSIEC) has set the date for the election of chairmen and councillors for the state’s 21 local government areas on April 9 this year.

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The APC has provided aspiring members with the necessary nomination forms, the party said on Wednesday, following the release earlier of the full election timetable by ADSIEC.

Chairman of the committee handling the intra-APC nomination exercise, Alhaji Mustapha Atiku Ribadu, who is also the State Organizing Secretary of the party, disclosed this to newsmen in Yola, saying the party was out to stop the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state from appropriating the councils to itself.

“Our party has gone out to sensitize our people in the grassroots on the need for us to come out and participate in the election,” Mustapha Ribadu said, declaring that APC would not condone acts of rigging.

He added, “If the ruling party tries anything funny, we will match them with whatever they come with before, during and after the election.”

Ribadu said all APC members with nomination forms will be treated fairly and all those who emerge eventually as candidates in different LGAs will be encouraged to participate and win in the April 9 election.

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He announced that the APC agreed to give a 50 per cent waiver for women and people with physical challenges.