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PDP demands resignation of INEC Chairman… Charges Police, DSS to Investigate him for alleged electoral offences

by Editor March 10, 2023

written by Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded that the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu immediately step down from office, having abused the confidence and dashed the hope of millions of Nigerians as well as political parties and the International Community for a free, fair and credible election.

Furthermore, the party demanded that the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) immediately commence investigations into the electoral violations and manipulations by INEC with the view to prosecuting Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and other officials of the Commission for electoral offences.

The party, in a press statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba said that the party reviewed the widely-condemned infractions, brazen violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and criminal manipulation and alteration of election results by the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu-led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to subvert the Will of Nigerians in the February 25, 2023 Presidential and National Assembly Elections.

According to the statement, “the PDP has also reviewed the latest scheme by INEC to reconfigure the BVAS devices, erase and destroy evidence of its manipulation of the Presidential election, deny Nigerians and political parties, especially our Party and Candidate access to relevant information required to prosecute our case at the Presidential Election Tribunal.

“From all indications, the INEC under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu was compromised to rig the election by brazenly violating the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 as well as INEC’s Regulations, Guidelines and Manual issued for the election.

“It is also obvious that the Commission under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu deliberately sabotaged the uploading and transmission of results directly from the Polling Units to give room for the criminal mutilation, alteration and switching of election results across the nation in favour of the APC as now abundantly exposed in the pictorial and video evidence of compromised results sheets in many parts of the Country.

“Several evidence abounds in States across the six Geo-Political Zones of the Country where winning figures lawfully scored by the PDP were switched in favour of the APC; where results sheet from polling centers won by the PDP were destroyed and replaced with fake results sheets in which APC was allocated unearned winning figures.

“This further explains why the INEC Chairman rushed to announce and declare manipulated results that were not transmitted directly from the Polling Units to INEC’s Server/Website and ignored the objections and complaints raised during the collation of results in deliberate violation of the provisions of Section 64 (4) (a) and (b), 64 (6) (a)-(d), and 65 (1) (c) of the Electoral Act. 2022.

“For emphasis while Section 64 (4) (a) and (b) expressly require the INEC Chairman as the Chief Returning Officer to announce only results that were transmitted directly from the Polling Units, Sections 64 (6) (a)-(d) and 65 (1) (c) compel INEC, in the case of disputes, complaints or objections regarding a collated result or the result of an election from any Polling Unit, to take steps including the review of collation where they are made contrary to the provisions of the Law, Regulations, Guidelines and Manual issued for the election.

“By flagrantly violating these provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 as well as INEC’s Regulations, Guidelines and Manual for the election, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu is not only culpable of serious electoral offence but also betrayed, thrashed and threw overboard the trust, confidence and hope Nigerians reposed in him and the Electoral Commission to deliver a free, fair and credible election in the country.

“The continuing stay of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu in office as Chairman of INEC is therefore vexatious, injurious to the integrity of the Electoral Commission and an unpardonable assault to the credibility of our electoral process, the sensibility of Nigerians and the International Community.

“Moreover, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s stay in office is capable of paving the way for the suppression, tampering and destruction of critical evidence required to further expose the infractions and violations by the Commission at the Presidential Election Tribunal.

“This fear is evidenced by the desperation by INEC to reconfigure the BVAS devices to erase vital data contained therein.

“Consequently, the PDP demands that the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu immediately step down from office, having abused the confidence and dashed the hope of millions of Nigerians as well as political parties and the International Community for a free, fair and credible election.

“Nigerians no longer have faith in Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s capacity and integrity to manage a democracy institution as sensitive as INEC.

“Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s exit as Chairman of INEC will be the first step towards sanitizing the Electoral Commission and restoring the confidence of Nigerians especially as the nation prepares for the rescheduled March 18, 2023 Governorship and State Assembly elections.

“Furthermore, the PDP demands that the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) immediately commence investigations into the electoral violations and manipulations by INEC with the view to prosecuting Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and other officials of the Commission for electoral offences.

“In the same vein the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should open investigation into allegations that certain top officials of INEC were heavily compromised financially to manipulate the electoral process.

“The PDP notes the reports of various International Bodies in disapproval of actions by the leadership of INEC in undermining democracy in the conduct of the February 25, 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

“In that regard, the PDP calls on the International Community to immediately impose sanctions including travel restrictions on the INEC Chairman and other top officials of the Commission over their roles in compromising democracy in Nigeria.

“The PDP calls on Nigerians to remain calm but very alert as our Party continues to take steps to retrieve our mandate at the Presidential Election Tribunal”, the statement said.

March 10, 2023 0 comment 275 views

News

Presidential poll: Lukman Saadu enjoins Nigerians to elect Tinubu

by Editor January 14, 2023

written by Editor

An Abuja based politician and member of All Progressive Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Alhaji Lukman Saadu has enjoined Nigerians to vote the party’s presidential candidate, Ahmed Bola Tinubu in the forthcoming general election, to ensure overall development of the country and wellbeing of the people.

During a press interview with newsmen in Ilorin, weekend, Saadu who hails from ‘Agbeyangi’ in Ilorin East Local Government Area, said a victory for Tinubu, is a victory for all Nigerians, assuring the people that if elected, the country will turn to a more convenient place to live and shall become the pride of the entire citizens.

He said Tinubu as a reknown progressive politician that is overwhelmingly blessed with leadership experience and knowledge, has the capacity to drive Nigeria to a greater destination of unprecedented development in all sectors of the nation’s economy.

“At the moment we require a president that can fast consolidate and impressively improve on the achievements of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, and that person is the presidential candidate of APC, Bola Tinubu because he has all its takes to govern and transform the country sufficiently.

“We should ensure the revival and prosperity of our dear nation by electing a credible leader like Tinubu who had since expressed commitment and readiness to provide quality governance for the country.

“Perhaps his antecedents and records of achievements overtime speaks loud of his capacity and intelligence to lead well for the benefit of all Nigerians.

“Evidently, as governor of Lagos State, we are all living witness to his developmental strides which now classified Lagos as the best five leading economy in Africa, while his infrastructure and transformation drive was second to none,” Saadu said.

While imploring the electorate to make a good choice in Tinubu and ensure his victory, Saadu who is also a businessman and investment manager said Ahmed Tinubu is the best presidential candidate among other participants in the February presidential election.

He declared, “interms of experience, capacity, readiness, potential, charisma and assemblage of best brains for quality and impactful governance, Tinubu is the most preferred presidential candidate. He will surely revive the already diminishing glory of the nation.”

Saadu, a motivational public affairs analyst, further assured Nigerians that Tinubu is capable of addressing the various challenges hindering the nation’s progress, if elected president.

January 14, 2023 0 comment 417 views

Politics News

2023 presidential polls: APC stalwart sure of Tinubu’s victory

by Editor June 26, 2022

written by Editor

A stalwart of All Progressive Congress ( APC ), Alhaji Saadu Salahu has expressed confidence in the ability of APC presidential flag bearer, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu in securing landslide victory in the 2023 presidential polls, considering his vast experience in Nigeria’s politics and capacity to deliver good governance at addressing the nation’s numerous challenges.

He emphatically declared that Ahmed Tinubu is the man to beat in the forthcoming presidential contest, saying,” the presidential candidate of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is going to win, even landslide as late MKO Abiola did in 1993. ” That is what Nigerians are going to repeat in 2023 general elections for APC all over Nigeria,” Salaudeen added.

The APC stalwart in an interview session with The Herald On Sunday, weekend, described the party’s presidential candidate in the forthcoming presidential election in Nigeria, as a reputable democrat, credible and endearing politician whose track records speaks volume.

Salahu said Tinubu’s political precedence, achievements and contributions to the advancement of Nigeria’s democracy and development of the nation placed him far ahead of other presidential candidates of other political parties in Nigeria.

He said his superlative experience in political movement, meaningful governance, socio – political and economic development shall afford him the opportunity to win the 2023 presidential election with landslide victory to emerge as the next president of Nigeria.

Salahu, a veteran Journalists and Special Adviser to Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Strategy, vehemently declared that Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu is the presidential candidate to beat in the 2023 general elections.

He said Tinubu’s achievements as Lagos State Governor, between 1999 and 2007, made Lagos the city of excellence not only in Nigeria, but in the entire African continent and eventually became the pride of black race all over the world.

The seasoned politician said Tinubu’s vast knowledge of economy and revenue generation drive for sustainable growth and development, gave the ability to kick – started speedy upward movement of Lagos monthly Internally Generated Revenue ( IGR ) from #600 Million to over #45 Billion as at now, thereby fast tracking unprecedented development since 1999.

According to him,” Through this effort,Tinubu succeeded in making Lagos the only state in Nigeria that can survive without relying on Federal Allocation. We can all remember the period when Tinubu as Lagos State Governor, managed the state effectively, even when the Federal Government refused to pay Lagos it’s own share of Federal Allocation.”

Salahu who deliberately called Tinubu the architect of modern Lagos, said his selfless efforts in the enthronement of Nigeria’s latest democracy and progressive governance is most valuable and overwhelming.

” Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential hopeful of our noble party, APC, is being celebrated all over the world as one of the founding fathers of new Nigeria, because he was one of the few Nigerian patriots who ensured that the nation returns to democracy.

” The resilient and focused politician, Tinubu was among the patriots who went on exile as a result of leading a political movement that fought military government and eventually returned democratic rule to Nigeria in 1999. So, he had definitely paid his due by facilitating the enthronement and survival of democracy, as well as good political leadership and governance,” Salahu narrated.

He noted that the APC presidential candidate had not only successfully built formidable bridges of unity and peaceful coexistence across the nation’s geo – political zones, but had sufficiently sow seeds of political mentorship and support which benefitted appreciable number of politicians across states of Nigeria.

He said , therefore the time has come for Ahmed Tinubu to reap the fruit of his sacrifice and selfless service to the socio – political development of the country, adding that his followers and supporters are spread all over Nigeria.

He said his landslide victory at the last APC presidential primary which gave him overwhelming number of votes to have emerged as the presidential flag bearer of the largest party in Africa, is a clear evidence of his popularity and acceptance by the people.

He said Tinubu’s emergence proof bookmakers wrong, the insinuation that the outcome of the APC primary will disintegrate the party became void as a result of Tinubu’s wide acceptability by all the party’s stakeholders, especially the APC serving states governors.

” Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has the support of the overwhelming majority of all the stakeholders across Northwest, Northeast,Northcentral, Southsouth, Southeast and Southwest respectively.” Salahu confirmed.

He urged Nigerian electorates to vote massively for APC presidential candidate and all other flag bearers of the party at all levels, for the meaningful progress of Nigeria.

June 26, 2022 0 comment 383 views