23032019 - Osun Gov Poll: Court nullifies APC’s victory

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6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 23, 2019 Bauchi supplementary polls: Dogara writes ICC, US, EU, UK *Alleges plot by FG, Bauchi govt, security agents to unleash violence on citizenry *Asks int'l community to hold Gov. Abubakar, CP, REC, DG, DSS, others responsible By Levinus Nwabughiogu Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has alleged a massive conspiracy of the political authorities in the country to unleash mayhem on Bauchi citizens during Saturday’s supplementary polls. To this end, the Speaker has alerted the International Criminal Court, ICC, the United States of America, USA, United Kingdom, UK and the European Union, EU governments on a plot which he said was being championed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, Security Agencies and Bauchi State Government. In a letter written to the Ambassadors of US, UK, EU and the Prosecutor of the ICC dated March 22, 2019, Dogara said verifiable information gathered revealed that a directive has been issued to security personnel on March 21, 2019 to unleash violence, rig the supplementary election in the state at all cost, even if they have to kill to achieve their nefarious intentions. A statement by the Speaker’s media aide, Turaki Hassan on Friday stated that the letter read in part, “I will like to bring to your attention, the directive given to security personnel on March 21, 2019 to unleash violence, rig the election at all cost even if they have to kill to achieve their nefarious intentions. This can be verified from some patriotic security agents who received the above orders from their bosses yesterday. “Therefore, I write to draw the attention of the United States authorities to this murderous order given to the security agents in Bauchi state to kill innocent citizens. Should any person in the State lose his life tomorrow (today) in consequence of this fraud called supplementary elections, the responsibility must rest squarely onthe shoulders of the following individuals and institution; namely: Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of Bauchi state whose desperation knows no bounds; Bauchi State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ibrahim Abdullahi; Commissioner of Police Bauchi State; Director, Department of State Services Bauchi State and all security personnel who obey the illegal murderous order to kill innocent citizens.” In the letter, which was also copied to the United Kingdom, European Union and International Criminal Court, titled “Plot to Precipitate Violence, incite political killings in Bauchi State”, Dogara added that they are already compiling incidences of political killings perpetrated by thugs hired and armed by Bauchi state Government before, during and after the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections and March 9th, Governorship and State Assemblies elections. He explained that “The supplementary elections follow the “inconclusive” governorship elections held on March 9, 2019. “Collation of results for Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area has been stalled by the Nigerian authorities, which presupposes that INEC, suspends the supplementary elections pending the completion of the collation exercise as provided for by the Electoral Act and INEC’s Election Guidelines and Regulations. “The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Bauchi State, Ibrahim Abdullahi, working in concert with the Governor of Bauchi state, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar and security agencies have perfected a plan to announce rigged results and in the process use security agencies and their paid political thugs to unleash unprecedented violence on the people of the State with reckless abandon. “Your Excellency, may wish to recall that similar violence was unleashed in Rivers state recently by military personnel, Police and hired political thugs leading to maiming of scores of people and destruction of lives and property of innocent citizens. “Already, hundreds of security personnel and hired political thugs have been deployed and directed to threaten, intimidate and even kill people in order to rig the election at all cost for the incumbent Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar. “We are already compiling incidences of killings perpetrated by thugs hired and armed by Bauchi state Government before, during and after the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections and March 9th, Governorship and State Assemblies elections.” *Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (r) and Chairman of the Nigerian Army Investigative committee on Electoral Violence, Major General Ayibakuro Gagariga during a meeting with the Governor at the Government House Port Harcourt on Friday. Wike to Army Investigative Committee: Interference of Army in 2019 elections worst in nation’s history Rivers State Gover nor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the negative role played by the Nigerian Army during the 2019 general elections was the worst in the history of the country, saying that the Nigerian Army’s political interference in the state was the most unfortunate infraction in the nation’s democratic experience. Governor Wike formally requested for the redeployment of the General Officer Commanding ( GOC) 6 Division, Major General Jamil Sarhem for deliberately subverting the general elections in Rivers State . Governor Wike spoke on Friday when he grant- ed audience to the Nigerian Army Committee on Electoral Violence during the 2019 general election at the Government House, Port Harcourt. He said: “Throughout my experience politically, I have never seen the Nigerian Army play the kind of role they played during the last General Elections. “The Nigerian Army purely made political interferences all through. We will show you the visuals of the roles played by the Nigerian Army. If you go to the 6 Division, unless they have moved them out, you will see ballot boxes and electoral materials. The 6 Division served as the take off base for the Electoral Interference. “We formally request that appropriate sanctions be meted out to the GOC of the 6 Division. It has never happened that the Army Division becomes the operational base of a political party. This GOC became actively involved in politics. He has his own Government in Rivers State. He has no respect for civil authority. Highpoint of the meeting was the visual presentation of all the locations to the committee members, while the governor also presented a pictorial overview of the interference of the Nigerian Army in the Electoral Process in the state. I’m alive, El-Rufai tells Buhari Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, on Friday presented himself to President Muhammadu Buhari to show him that he is alive and wasn’t involved in any accident. Governor el-Rufai also said that he was hunting for the peddlers of the news that he was involved in a fatal accident, adding that if located, the person would face criminal charges. The Kaduna state governor who briefed State House correspondents after meeting behind closed doors with the President said that the claim by the former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar that he won the February 23 election could have been in his (Atiku) dream. According to him, “I came to see Mr. President after my re-election as governor because immediately after the election I took a break. I came back to report to him that I was not involved in an accident, I’m alive, I am not in coma and also to discuss other issues related to my state.” On his alleged involvement in an accident, he said, “My advise to everyone in Nigeria is to avoid forwarding stories that have not been verified. Social media provides platform for disseminating information but it is also a platform for dissemination of lies and hatred. “We should be very careful that we don’t use this platform to advance the cause of the enemies of this country. Police arrest 13 over Afuze killing of officers By Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu THIRTEEN days after the deadly attack that left four police personnel dead, the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, Muhammed Dan Mallam yesterday said the operatives of his command have arrested 13 suspects in connection with the killing of DPO and three other officers in Afuze police station in Owan East local government area. He disclosed this while parading 120 suspects arrested for various crimes ranging from kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery, and murder. Damallam said “On the 12 of March 2019, some unknown criminals, cowards who went to hide under cover of darkness, attacked Afuze Police station, killed the DPO and three others. “If you recall my press conference with the executive governor of Edo State, Governor Obaseki, I promised the public that we would do everything within the ambit of the law to apprehend the criminals. We succeeded in the sense that we have 13 suspects in our custody. “They are passing useful information to us and I do not want anything that may jeopardize our investigations. We made the arrest and they have confessed to have participated in the operation where they killed the DPO and the three others”, he said. Enugu CP assures Ugwuanyi of fishing out perpetrators of killings The new Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Com mand, Mr. Suleiman Balarabe, has assured Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi that his Command is “doing everything possible to fish out the perpetrators” behind the killing of a Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Clement Ugwu and the Secretary to the Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Dr. Nnamdi Ogueche. CP Balarabe, who gave the assurance when he paid the governor a courtesy visit at the Government House, Enugu, said that one of the reasons for the visit was to condole with him on the incidents, saying: “My command deeply and sadly condoles His Excellency on these unfortunate deaths”. This came as the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ebere Amaraizu, in a statement made available to the press, disclosed that the perpetrators of the crime were yet to be identified. The police spokesperson stated that “the investigation is still ongoing to unmask those behind the dastardly acts as well as their motives”. Policeman arrested over alleged rape of a woman in a bank in Anambra By Vincent Ujumadu, Awka APOLICE officer, who allegedly raped a 35-year old woman inside a commercial bank in Awka, Anambra State, has been arrested. The woman was said to have gone to make some transactions at the bank’s Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in the night when the policeman employed as a security guard in the bank, approached her and demanded to have sexual intercourse with her. It was gathered that although the woman vehemently refused, she succumbed when the policeman threatened her with a gun and knife. “With her life threatened, and nobody around to rescue her, she submitted and the policeman had his way,” an employee of the bank who claimed to have witnessed the incident from a hideout said. It was further gathered that the victim stormed the bank the following day with some policemen who arrested the suspect. Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Rabiu Ladodo, who confirmed the incident, said the suspect was arrested and was being detained. The CP said: “This is a serious matter and we are not taking it lightly. Soon after the police received complaint of the alleged rape from the victim, operatives were dispatched to the area and the suspect was quickly arrested and placed under detention”..
ISWAP is bigger threat than Boko Haram, UK, French Defence warn Nigeria *Pledge readiness to join DHQ in eliminating terrorists By Kingsley Omonobi- Abuja. THE Chiefs of Defence Staff of the United Kingdom and France, General Nicholas Carter and General Francois Lecointre respectively have alerted the Nigerian military that the Islamic State terrorist group in the West African region (ISWAP) was a larger threat of violent extremism than Boko Haram. The top Military Commanders of both European Powers have therefore pledged their readiness to join hands with Nigeria to tackle the threat of the spread of violent extremism in the sub region. Speaking when both General Carter and General Lecointre paid an historic visit to Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, the UK CDS commended the professionalism of the Nigerian armed forces in the battle against terror in the North East noting, “We are hugely in admiration of your efforts in getting off terrorism. General Carter said, “This joint visit is a historical moment to Nigeria. It is also symbolic because we (the UK and France) both feel strongly that we need to fight for West Africa and we have a huge appreciation of how Nigeria fits well into the security situation of the region. “We are also impressed with the strong commitments you have shown in providing security to the country, and in areas where you are challenged by the Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province. “The Islamic State is a much larger threat of violent extremism. “We are hugely in admiration of your efforts in getting off terrorism. “Collectively, we look for opportunities to see where we can help and where we can maximise our support to West Africa and Nigeria particularly.” Earlier, the CDS, General Olonisakin said he was happy to receive the two top generals even as he vowed that the armed forces of Nigeria will not rest until criminal elements, vis -a-vis terrorists, killer bandits, armed robbers/kidnappers among others are eliminated and flushed out of the country. Olonisakin said the joint visit of the UK and French CDS and their delegation which is a landmark event, provided an opportunity to interact on all spheres of security and military collaboration particularly as it relates to tackling challenges in both French and English speaking West Africa. According to him, the United Kingdom and France, have over the years remained strong pillars of support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria, through training, equipment support, intelligence sharing and many more. “These (supports) have in no small measures helped us in our effort to tackle the various security challenges confronting our nation especially in our counter terrorism and counter-insurgency efforts in the North Eastern parts of the country.” PANDEF, N’Delta women ask FG to probe polls’ infringement by military, politicians By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor PAN Niger-Delta Fo rum, PANDEF, and Niger Delta women have called on the Federal Government to disregard sacred cows and set up a full-scale investigation into all cases of electoral infractions, violence and killings allegedly perpetrated by the military, politicians and other institutions of state, during the elections. PANDEF, the umbrella body of traditional rulers, leaders and stakeholders of coastal states of Niger Delta, made the appeal in a statement by the National Secretary, Dr. Alfred Mulade, while women From left: Anil Sahgal, Managing Director, Asahi Brands; Gaurav Nalho Tra, General Manager, Bridgestone Middle East Africa; Stefano Sanchini, Regional Director, Bridgestone Limited; and Victor Eburajolo, Deputy Manager, Kewalram Chanrai Group during the unveiling Visco Vis Showroom at Ikota Bus Stop, Lekki Epe Expressway, Lagos`recently. drawn from Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states stated their position in an eightpoint communiqué at a one-day round-table in Port-Harcourt. Omu of Anioma Kingdom, Delta State, HRM Obi Martha Dunkwu, Lolo Hailsham from Bonny Kingdom, Rivers State, led participants, including leaders of Okrika and Ogu/Bolo women, who resisted snatching of ballots by soldiers in the last elections in Rivers State at the colloquium. PANDEF, which dissociated itself from the views, expressed by its spokesperson, Chief Anabs Sara- Igbe on Rivers governorship polls in a recent television programme said, “we will, therefore, use this opportunity to commend the decision of INEC on the Rivers State Governorship and House of Assembly elections.” “We further implore the electoral body to always be guided by subsisting electoral laws and guidelines, and endeavour to remain truly neutral and impartial in the discharge of its duties at all times, no matter the circumstances.” “The show of brigandage allegedly demonstrated in Rivers State by the Army, Air Force, Police and other paramilitary personnel by invading the INEC office in Port Harcourt in a bid to armtwist and intimidate the INEC officials in order to swing the results of the election to a predetermined candidate is very dangerous,” it added. On Chief Sara-Igbe, PANDEF asserted, “Sara- Igbe had laboured so hard with the intent to introduce ethnic coloration into the fragile security situation, wrongly using PANDEF as a vehicle to achieve his aim. “PANDEF represents all the ethnic nationalities in the South-South region of Nigeria, and so, could not have canvassed any position that tends to cause division and rancour among the various ethnic nationalities that have lived peacefully together over the centuries, as Anabs Sara-Igbe would want the public to believe,” it said. The women in an eightpoint communiqué, said, “A panel of inquiry should therefore be set up immediately by both Federal Government and the International community to identify and prosecute the sponsors and perpetrators of violence during the 2019, elections in the Niger Delta, more especially the role of the military during the elections.” They agreed to mobilize and organize women across political and ethnic divide to form alliances and build capacity for preventing electoral and other forms of violence in communities of the Niger Delta. SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 23, 2019 — 7 Osun Gov Poll: Court nullifies APC’s victory Continued from Page 5 act beyond Section 69 and INEC cannot act outside the provision of Section 179 of the Electoral Act. "In this case, INEC on its own constituted an election petition tribunal and began to juxtapose and cancel election results", Ikpeazu added. He therefore urged the tribunal to allow the appeal and grant all the reliefs sought by the petitioners. Meanwhile, INEC, Oyetola and the APC, who were cited as Respondents in the matter, urged the tribunal to dismiss the appeal on the premise that the petitioners failed to prove that the election was not free, fair and credible. The Respondents were represented by Mr. Lasco Pwahomdi, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, and Chief Akin Olujimi, SAN, respectively. INEC urged the tribunal to hold that the petitioners failed to establish the petition as required by law, saying it should be dismissed with substantial cost. On his part, Oyetola's lawyer, Chief Olanipekun, SAN, alleged that the petitioners had in their written address, not only admitted that they were complicit in the alleged electoral malpractices, but also presented a different case from what was contained in their pleadings and reliefs they sought before the tribunal. Jubilation in Osogbo, Ede The tribunal verdict yesterday elicited wild jubilation in Osogbo the state capital and Ede, the country home of Senator Ademola Adeleke. The jubilant crowd started dancing from the palace of Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Adesola to the heart of the town where other people joined them as they danced through the major roads of the town before they ended up at the residence of late Isiaka Adeleke where the event was turned into carnival. Adeleke's supporters and well-wishers gathered at the late Isiaka Adeleke' house to celebrate the tribunal victory amid drumming and dancing. The supporters also gathered at different strategic locations in Ede celebrating the victory. Speaking, the elder sister of Senator Adeleke, Mrs. Dupe Adeleke Sanni who dedicated her brother's victory to their late brother, Isiaka Adeleke said his spirit would also come alive in his grave with the victory. She praised the judiciary in Nigeria for its courage in adjudicating with the fear of God, saying it is now clear that judiciary can save the nation from imminent trouble. She appreciated the people of Osun State, especially her town, Ede, for the love they have for the Adeleke family. She said, "we are very happy for the judgment, we appreciate the people of Osun, especially Ede for their love, support and steadfastness. Today's judgement is an indication that judiciary can save this nation from imminent trouble. I know my late brother would be very happy in his grave. I dedicate this victory to God and to the memory of my late brother", she said. Meanwhile, Osun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed delight at the victory of its governorship candidate in the 2018 governorship election. The party's Chairman, Soji Adagunodo in a chat with newsmen in Osogbo, said the victory was an act of God. Adagunodo said that he knew from the outset of the party's struggle for the mandate that God Almighty would do justice and had done it. He dedicated the victory to God Almighty and the people of the state. "I thank God Almighty for the victory and we dedicate it to Him. It is a victory for the people of the state. It is a victory for all," Adagunodo said. " I commend the good people of Osun for their faith in the PDP and Senator Adeleke." He also commended the Nigerian judiciary, saying that they did a good job by standing on the truth. The PDP chairman also expressed confidence in the judiciary, saying: "The judgement shows that the people in the judiciary are people of impeccable character." "They are the last hope of the common man and have proved themselves as such. I give kudos to the judiciary. Adagunodo, however, said that the party was ready for ap Continues on page 45 Aboh gets new traditional ruler By Julius Oweh, Asaba A new Iyasele (traditional Prime Minister) has been installed in the ancient town of Aboh, headquarters of Ndokwa East local government areas of Delta State. The Iyasele is High Chief Charles Ifeanyi Odili, a retired civil servant. In a ceremony marking the installation held in Aboh, last week, High Chief Odili pledged to work with the traditional ruler and chiefs in the community to advance the progress and development of the community to the next level. He also used the occasion to call on the state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to complete the failed portions of the Ashaka/Aboh road to make it motorable in all seasons. The Iyasele, while commending the Okowa administration for its achievements, solicited more social amenities for his people as the town was known for its peaceful nature. He also called on the sons and daughters of Aboh to always identify with the developmental aspirations of the town, adding that home will always remain home. In brief remarks, the president general of Aboh Development Union, Engineer Ajie Ogwu congratulated the new Iyasele, saying that he was full of high hope that the reign of the Iyasele shall usher in peace and prosperity in the community.
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23032019 - Osun Gov Poll: Court nullifies APC’s victory

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