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Ban on NGOs, poor security will hamper polls – Women group

Marcus FATUNMOLE
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Ban on NGOs, poor security will hamper polls – Women group

THE Nigerian Women Trust Fund Gender and Election Watch (GEW) Room has said the ban on non-governmental organizations in Adamawa State and poor security in some states would negatively affect the governorship and House of Assembly election holding on Saturday, March 18.

In a statement signed by its Chief Executive Officer for Gender and Election Watch Room, Mufuliat Fijabi, and mailed to The ICIR on Friday, the group urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do better than it did during the last presidential election.

The group said it mobilized 350 accredited observers across the six geopolitical zones to observe the gubernatorial and state Assembly elections from a gender perspective in the following states, Lagos, Oyo, Kano, Rivers, Adamawa and the State House of Assembly elections in Kogi and Anambra.  

“The security situation is generally calm but for the perceived threat of violence. For example, our observers reported that only a few local government areas in Anambra State (Nnewi North, Amawbia in Awka South and Ihiala) have security personnel patrolling. This is also the case in some parts of Lagos State.

“The ban on the operations of NGOs in Adamawa State is worrisome because INEC has accredited observers in line with the Commission’s guidelines who are already present in the state, and the ban will cause a strain on their operations.”

The ICIR reports that the Adamawa State government suspended the activities of all local and international NGOs in the state after it got information that they engaged in vote buying during the last presidential election. 

According to the women’s group, its observers would provide feedback through an electronic gender-based checklist. “The analysis of this feedback forms the basis for NWTF GEW statements on the conduct of the elections on March 18 2023, especially around the participation of women and other vulnerable groups. “Additionally, NWTF’s GEW Room will closely observe the election day performance of voters, candidates, and electoral officials from a gender perspective. NWTF’s GEW will also pay attention to adherence to the operational guidelines for the elections.”

Meanwhile, the group said INEC recorded remarkable distribution of materials across all the states where it (NWTF GEW) has observers. 

It commended the effort and urged that it translates into the early deployment and opening of polls. 

“Women remain committed and look forward to participating in the gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections, but some underlying security fears remain for women in Kano and Rivers. Aside from the general security concerns in Lagos, the conduct of cultural rites in some parts has created additional worries.”

 The group noted that security agencies must be non-partisan in discharging their duties and allay the fears of voters, especially women, throughout the elections. 

“That the safety of all INEC accredited observers be guaranteed in Adamawa State as the blanket ban on NGO operations around the election is counterproductive.

The Gender and Election Watch (GEW) Room is an initiative of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, an organization founded to close the gender gaps in governance in Nigeria. GEW is an election observation tool from a gender perspective. The GEW observed the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly Elections of February 25, 2023. 

INEC to conduct two NASS elections alongside state polls

Sinafi OMANGA
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INEC to conduct two NASS elections alongside state polls

TWO National Assembly (NASS) elections suspended by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on February 25 will hold alongside the March 18 governorship and state assembly polls.

INEC said the NASS elections to hold in Edo and Enugu states are not supplementary polls as reported by some media platforms.

The Commission made the clarification in a statement issued by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, in Abuja on Friday, March 17.

He said, “The Commission has not scheduled the conduct of supplementary elections arising from the February 25th Presidential and National Assembly elections.

“For clarity, the supplementary elections will take place on a date to be announced by the commission immediately after the governorship and state assembly elections.”

Festus Okoye

Explaining further, Okoye said “first is the Enugu East Senatorial District election which was countermanded to allow the Labour Party conduct a fresh primary election to replace its deceased candidate in line with the provision of Section 34(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.

“The second is the Esan Central/Esan West/Igueben Federal Constituency of Edo State following issues with the ballot paper for the election.

“These are not supplementary but main elections that could not be held earlier.”

The electoral umpire, therefore, urged the public to disregard any report insinuating the conduct of supplementary elections alongside the Saturday state elections.

Gov, House of Assembly Elections: We’re ready – Lagos residents

Marcus FATUNMOLE
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Gov, House of Assembly Elections: We’re ready – Lagos residents

LAGOS State residents are making final preparations for the governorship and House of Assembly election, which will hold tomorrow, Saturday, March 18, with many residents boasting they are ready for the poll.

The ICIR reporter moved around parts of the state on Friday and observed that economic activities went smoothly, though many residents were apprehensive about the election.

Places the reporter visited included Ketu, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi and Ogba.

Posters of major candidates contesting the governorship seat littered bridges and other locations in the state.

The major candidates seeking the Alausa, Ikeja governor’s seat are the incumbent Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party (LP), and AbdulAzeez Adediran of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), about seven million voters are in the state. The state tops others in the number of perrmanent voter cards (PVCs) collected in the country.

Voters will file to the 4,861 polling units in the state, the highest in the country, to elect the governor and members of the state House of Assembly that will lead them in the next four years.

The ICIR noted that three activities stood out in places visited by its reporter on Friday.

Foodstuff retailers sold more wares as residents stormed markets to stock their homes with foodstuff. 

At the Oniwaya Market in Agege, a foodstuff market, residents were seen buying foodstuff as the sellers beamed with smiles.

Fuel stations witnessed higher patronage in the state. According to motorists interviewed, they decided to fuel their tanks should there be any eventuality.

Banks and other outlets where residents could get money saw more crowds than they had seen after the presidential poll, but there was only a little cash to dispense.

Some banks dispensed N2,000 to customers who filed in queues in the scorching sun, while many others did not have the cash to give.

At one of the new-generation banks in Ogba, people who had accounts with the bank got N5,000 each from the automated teller machine (ATM), while those without an account with the bank got N2,000.

“At least, I can have something to hold on to in the next few days,” said one of the residents, who got two pieces of the old N1,000 notes from the bank ATM.

Many residents said the banks in the state didn’t have enough notes to issue, despite the compliance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s government of the Supreme Court ruling that nullified the naira redesign, which had prompted currency scarcity nationwide since February 10.

The ICIR also saw a beehive of activities at the Ikeja Computer Village. “I came to repair my phone here. I must watch all events as they unfold during and after the election,” Kelechi Ifunnaya, a resident, said.

Speaking with The ICIR, a resident, Abiola Yusuf, said of his preparation for the election, “My expectations are not high. I’m not particularly enthusiastic about the elections —  including the recently concluded presidential election.

“For a long time, from one administration to the other, it has been failure upon failure and disappointment upon disappointment from our governments. Consequently, I’m not enthusiastic about it. But, I’m going out to fulfil my civic responsibility tomorrow.

“My preparation is not borne out of enthusiasm but out of fulfilling my civic responsibility.”

Another resident, Oladimeji Awelewa, who spoke with The ICIR from Ikorodu, said there were fuel queues in the area.

According to him, the official petrol price in the state was N190, but some fuel stations were selling for N250 or more. 

Yet another resident, Franklin Adebayo, said he was ready to vote. “I voted at the presidential election. I will still vote in the governorship and House and Assembly elections. My message to Lagosians is that people should go and vote for the candidate of their choice.

“People should vote their conscience. There should be no rancour, regardless of the current apprehension in the state,” he stated. 

The ICIR reported how the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate defeated the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, of the APC, and the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the state, in election conducted on February 25.

On March 16, The ICIR also reported how the state had been tension-soaked as the three leading candidates battling for the governorship seat get set for the election with the state residents. 

 

2023 Governorship Election: MC Oluomo backtracks on threat to Igbo

Marcus FATUNMOLE
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2023 Governorship Election: MC Oluomo backtracks on threat to Igbo

THE Chairman, Lagos State Parks and Management Committee, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, has retracted his threat to Igbos in Lagos State over the governorship and House of Assembly elections holding in the state tomorrow, Saturday, March 18.

Oluomo had, in a viral video, warned residents of the state from the South-East to remain in their homes on the election day if they would not vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party in the state.

Oluomo had said in the video, “Please tell them, we have begged them. If they don’t vote for us, it is not a fight. Tell them that Chukwudi’s mother, if you don’t vote for us, sit down at home. Do you understand? Sit down in your house.”

Reacting to the threat, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, said the command had launched an investigation into the threat.

Speaking on Arise Television, Owohunwa condemned the threat in the strongest terms.

He said the police would not condone any act or statement that could be interpreted as hate speech from anyone, no matter how highly placed.

The commissioner said the law would not spare any troublemaker before, during or after the poll.

But Oluomo said, following a threat by the police boss to probe him, that he was misinterpreted.

He denied threatening the Igbo extraction, who are a large population in the state.

“The meeting I went to yesterday… Iya Chukwudi is like a sister to me. I was actually referring to her in the video. The next thing I saw was people calling me out on social media.

“I’m always on peace (peaceful). If you look at Lagos, you will see there is peace here. Why will I even tell people not to come out to vote? How are we (APC) going to get a vote if people refuse to come out en mass? APC is my party. Count me out of the rumour,” he reportedly said.

The ICIR reports that the major candidates vying for the governor’s seat are the incumbent Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party (LP), and AbdulAzeez Adediran of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), about seven million voters are in Lagos State. The state tops others in the number of permanent voter cards (PVCs) collected in the country.

Voters will file to the 4,861 polling units in the state, the highest in the country, to elect the governor and members of the state House of Assembly, who will lead them in the next four years.

The ICIR reported how the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate defeated the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, of the APC, and the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the state, in the election conducted on February 25.

On March 16, The ICIR  also reported how the state had been tension-soaked as the three leading candidates battling for the governorship seat get set for the election. 

FIRS signs MoU with UK’s revenue agency to grow capacity

Harrison EDEH
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FIRS signs MoU with UK’s revenue agency to grow capacity

THE Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the United Kingdom’s His Royal Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have both signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) geared towards fostering improved collaboration on capacity building between the two tax authorities. 

The two agencies signed the agreement in London, United Kingdom, on March 15.

The event was attended by the Executive Chairman, FIRS, Muhammad Nami, accompanied by some members of the FIRS Board and management, and a Director at HMRC, Jon Sherman, alongside other members of the HMRC Executive Committee.

Nami, who led members of the Board and management of the FIRS, explained in a statement signed by him today that the collaboration was in line with two planks of his cardinal goals for the Service: building a data-centric tax authority and improving the Service’s collaboration and stakeholder relations.

“I am certain that this relationship would equip our officers with the skills of the 21st century tax man.

“Data is the new oil. Its collection, interpretation and consequent application for tax purposes has become crucial if the Service must be ahead of the taxpayer in the times we are in.

“With increased collaboration between the Service and tax authorities the world over — which is one of the cardinal pillars of this current management — meticulous and purposeful management, as well as strategic interpretation of the information we exchange between each other has become a fundamental element of inter-tax-authority relations,” he said.

He added the significance of moving with global trends, while emphasising the importance of partnership with the HMRC.

The FIRS boss, who is also the president of the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA), further explained that with this collaboration, officers of the Service would be better equipped to improve tax revenue collection and, in turn, provide government with the much needed resources to cater for Nigerians.

Commenting further on the collaboration, the Head of Capacity Building at the HMRC, David Yellowly, emphasized that “the MoU between the Nigerian and UK revenue authorities would see the two countries collaborating on capacity building, particularly on issues surrounding country-by-country reporting standards, transfer pricing, exchange of information, data, and audit in the oil and gas industry.

Nami had facilitated numerous collaborative efforts with tax authorities domestically and across the world, in line with his agenda of improving stakeholder relations for improved tax administration.

In February this year, for instance, the FIRS signed an MoU with the Lagos State Inland Revenue Service (LIRS) for collaboration on joint tax audit, exchange of information and capacity building.

PDP, APC, others battle for Rivers governorship seat

Ijeoma OPARA
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PDP, APC, others battle for Rivers governorship seat

IT is a three-horse race between major contenders in Rivers State ahead of the governorship and State House of Assembly elections, slated for Saturday, March 18.

With the current governor Nyesom Wike set to vacate office after completing two terms in government, residents are uncertain about who the next governor might be.

A key contender in the election is Siminalayi Fubara of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Often described as being handpicked by the sitting governor, Fubara is the current Accountant-General of the state and got 721 votes during the PDP primaries. He had defeated more popular and well-known politicians in the party, further fueling beliefs that Wike’s support influenced his emergence.

Although the governor had not campaigned for the PDP during the presidential elections, he had canvassed support for Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.

This is despite the fact that the PDP candidate is currently dealing with a corruption case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as he was declared wanted by the anti-graft agency over a N435 billion fraud.

Other major contenders include Senator Magnus Abe representing the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Tonye Cole, a businessman who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Residents are, however, unsure of who among these candidates will succeed the current governor and during an interview with The ICIR, a cab driver Kenneth Barry described the forthcoming election as unpredictable.

“It is difficult to predict. Personally, I don’t want Wike’s stooge to continue. Wike never did anything in Rivers state. Anything he does for the state, he has personal interest in it. You don’t manage people’s commonwealth to suit your personal interest,” he said.

Barry also noted that contrary to the situation with the presidential polls, the Labour Party was not a strong contender in the state governorship elections.

The party also recorded cases of in-fighting, which may have weakened the chances for its candidate, Beatrice Itubo.

A faction of the party had announced support for the PDP. Shortly after, the Labour Party’s National Chairman Julius Abure dissolved the State Executive Council in Rivers over alleged anti-party activities and corruption in managing the party’s funds.

For some young people who spoke with The ICIR, including a legal practitioner Tammy George, Tonye Cole of the APC is the preferred candidate regardless of the massive support shown by the youth in favour of the LP during the presidential elections.

“It is time for us to have a non-politician in our government, a person who is a businessman, who has actually worked for money in his life, who has created jobs and knows what it is to work. Our current governor, for instance. He was called to bar in 1997 or 1998 and did his youth service. From there, he went off in 1999 to go and become a local government chairman. In 2007, Chief of Staff. in 2011, a minister and in 2015, a governor.

“You cannot expect him to understand the plight of a business man on the road, it is not possible,” George said,

Another resident of the state Abigail Tonye told The ICIR that the ruling party, PDP, had lost the goodwill of the people.

“I think this election is based on who can influence the people. For now, Wike is not in the people’s good books anymore. He has hurt the people and I think they might want to get back at him by voting against his candidate. But I don’t know who will win, politicians always have their way at the end,” she said.

The uncertainty experienced by residents will, however, be resolved following the elections, which are only a few hours away.

Buhari signs amended constitution to allow states generate, transmit electricity

Mustapha USMAN
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Buhari signs amended constitution to allow states generate, transmit electricity

PRESIDENT Muhammad Buhari has signed into law a constitution amendment allowing all states in the country to license, generate, transmit and distribute electricity.​

This was disclosed in a tweet by presidential spokesperson Tolu Ogunlesi on Friday, March 17.

Ogunlesi tweeted: “President @MBuhari has signed 16 Constitution Amendment Bills into Law. By this signing, State Houses of Assembly & Judiciaries now have constitutionally-guaranteed financial independence, while Railways have moved from Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List.

“Another landmark change: By virtue of the Presidential Assent, Nigerian States can NOW generate, transmit and distribute electricity in areas covered by the national grid. Wasn’t allowed pre-amendment. This is genuine, realistic Restructuring — through the Constitution.”

He added: “Now that the Bills have been assented to, and have become Acts of Parliament, the next step is for “gazetting” to happen – the process by which the assented Acts are published in the Official Gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Three Nigerians charged with drug offences in Indonesia risk death sentence

Oghenekevwe UCHECHUKWU
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Three Nigerians charged with drug offences in Indonesia risk death sentence

INDONESIAN anti-narcotics operatives have arrested four foreigners who attempted to smuggle drugs into Jakarta, including a Nigerian man who had swallowed dozens of capsules filled with more than a kilogram of methamphetamine.

A police spokesperson said during a press conference that a Brazilian and three Nigerian men were arrested separately between January and March at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and several apartments in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital.

Indonesia is a major hub for drug trafficking in Southeast Asia and has strict drug laws, with convicted smugglers most often executed by firing squad.

Jakarta Police Director of Drug Investigation Mukti Juharsa believed the arrested suspects were from an international syndicate.

He added that the suspects would be punished according to law, which includes a maximum death sentence.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says Indonesia is a major smuggling hub in part because international drug syndicates target its young population.

Guber poll: EFCC deploys operatives to nab vote-buyers

Theophilus ADEDOKUN
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Guber poll: EFCC deploys operatives to nab vote-buyers

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has deployed operatives to nab vote-buyers and sellers during the March 18 governorship and state assembly elections.

A statement released on Friday, March 17, by EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren said the move was aimed at checking vote trading and other financial malpractices that could compromise the integrity of the elections.

The statement stressed that the operatives led by senior officers began arriving at their assigned locations on Friday, March 17, with a number of them consulting with the other security agencies involved in election security and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

The team for Ebonyi State also met with the Commissioner of Police and the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the State (REC) to register their presence.

The statement also stated that the officers posted to Niger and Nasarawa states had met with the necessary stakeholders to ensure a free and fair election.

The ICIR had reported that thugs and hoodlums attacked operatives of the EFCC who were monitoring the Saturday, February 25  Presidential and National Assembly elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Imo State.

How governorship election results will be transmitted – INEC

Theophilus ADEDOKUN
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How governorship election results will be transmitted – INEC

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed how results from polling units will be transmitted during the Saturday, March 18 governorship elections across the states of the federation.

Speaking on Arise TV on Friday, March 17, the Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said the Commission had learnt worthy lessons from the Presidential and National Assembly polls.

Okoye stressed that the law has prescribed a dual mode of either transmission of results or transfer of results.

He explained that the Presiding Officer who superintended the polling unit would enter the scores of the various political parties in form EC8A which is the polling unit-level result after the conclusion of elections in various units.

He explained that presiding officers must sign that particular and copies must be given to relevant stakeholders.

“The PO will sign that particular result sheet and stamp it, the PU agent or party agent if available will also countersign and copies will be given to them and the police.”

Okoye added: “That original result will be what will be scanned and uploaded to our INEC Result Viewing Portal for public viewing. Not only that, the accreditation data that has arisen from that polling unit will also be uploaded, but the physical result and the BVAS itself will also be taken to the Registration Area Collation centre.”

He also stressed that the Collation Officer would be able to verify the original results, the BVAS, have the benefit of looking at the accreditation data as transmitted and the result sheet as transmitted from the polling unit.

“That is the dual mode which the law has prescribed for the Commission and that is the mode that we’re going to use for the purpose of this election,” he said.

Okoye further stated that results would be transmitted on IREV as soon as the polls closed from various polling units.

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“The Commission is determined to improve on its previous performance. What we have done is to learn valuable lessons from previous elections that we conducted, and we’re going to put those lessons into our planning purposes and processes, and into our deployment purposes.”

Okoye added that INEC is prepared to conduct the 28 governorship and 993 state assembly constituency elections.

“It’s a huge election and INEC will be paying very close attention to what is going on in the various states.”

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