The campaigns are over as it is now the eve of the highly-anticipated 2023 presidential election. Since Nigeria’s return to democracy 24 years ago, this will be the seventh time the electorate will be trooping out to elect a new president. What is even more interesting is that this is the second time a new president will be elected through the ballot, meaning that there is no incumbency factor for those desiring a breath of fresh air to contend with. The presidential race due for tomorrow, February 25, has proven to be too close to call. For the first time in years, Nigerians are being treated to an election this is not a two-horse race. The emergence of a third-force (or even a fourth-force) candidate has created a plurality of options before the electorate.
The same Saturday, there will also be the election of 468 National Assembly members, barring the Enugu East senatorial seat which will not be contested due to the gruesome murder of the Labour Party candidate. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has avowed its commitment to midwife Nigeria’s most credible poll ever. Law enforcement agencies and the military are so ready that they have threatened troublemakers with a bloody nose and maximum force. The question begging for answers then is this: are Nigerians ready to troop out en masse and enthrone the right leadership for the country? With over a century, since the first general election was conducted, the country and its people have come a long way since 1922 when Nigerians got to elect members of the Legislative Council under the Clifford Constitution.
That’s the crux of the matter as far as this festival of democracy goes and Nigerians had better been well-appraised of their leverage. This is one time when they assume the position of the employer of those who eventually run their lives and make policy decisions that greatly impact them. It doesn’t matter that this employer is just one out of the tens of million of others who will be deciding who emerges as President. Although the majority will always have their way in a democracy, the value of one vote cannot be underestimated. While the people may not know this, the politicians do, particularly as it is the simple majority rule that applies.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has rejected the appeal filed by suspended DCP Abba Kyari seeking the dismissal of an earlier ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja refusing his request for bail.
Delivering judgement on Friday, Justice Stephen Adah, while reading the unanimous judgment, held that Kyari’s appeal was without merit.
By the nature of the charges pending against Abba Kyari and others before the trial court, the judge said such request for bail needed to be handled with caution.
According to the Appeal Court, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who earlier rejected bail to Kyari, appropriately exercised his discretion in refusing to grant Kyari bail.
Naija News recalls that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is prosecuting Kyari, a former head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police Force, and four members of the IRT – ACP Sunday J. Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirgba and Inspector John Nuhu – before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu has reportedly sent special messages backed with personal phone calls to traditional rulers, leaders in various fields and captains of industry in an effort to beat the odds in winning the presidential election in Lagos State.
A reliable source revealed in confidence to the Whistler that the decision was borne following the result of two different opinion polls which showed the APC candidate lagging behind the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.
Naija News learnt that the margin, which cut into Tinubu’s strongholds in Shomolu, Agege, Okokomaiko, Maryland, Ikeja and few other places were worrisome.
A member of the party in the state while retaining some optimism said, “we hope the news on the street would not translate into actual votes against us,” adding that, “yes, the odds were stacked against us but we will see.”
Although he said whatever polls were undertaken were for inhouse consumption and not public, he could not categorically state which polls gave defeats to the APC in the state.
“We had a few polls, some in our favour, some definitely not but which polls went against us, I can’t say,” he said.
“But to ensure victory is secured at least in Lagos, traditional rulers have been tasked in last minute efforts to ensure necessary things are deployed to sway voters to Asiwaju’s side.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has intercepted the sum of thirty-two million, four hundred thousand Naira allegedly suspected to be used for vote buying in Saturday’s election in Lagos.
The anti-graft agency in a statement via Twitter stated that the suspects involved was taken into custody for questioning.
EFCC further implored the general public to report anyone trying to buy or sell votes during the elections tomorrow.
The statement reads: “The massive operation by the EFCC to deter vote trading and other financial malfeasance ahead of tomorrow’s presidential and national assembly elections may have begun paying dividends…
“…with the interception in Lagos of the sum of N32,400,000 (Thirty-two Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira) allegedly suspected to be used for vote buying in Lagos. The recovery was made by operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Commission. The suspect involved has been taken into custody for further questioning.
“The Chairman of the Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa has implored all personnel of the Commission deployed for election monitoring duties to show courage and not give room for unscrupulous persons to undermine the integrity of the elections through financial inducement.
“Tactical teams of operatives are currently on ground in all the states of the federation and the FCT. Telephone hotlines have already been circulated through social media for members of the public to share information regarding financial malpractices with agents of the Commission
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has insisted that there’s no crack within the ranks of the G5 Governors heading into the 2023 presidential election.
According to Ortom, there is no truth in certain reports claiming the other members of the G5 are in sharp disagreement with Governor Nyesom Wike over the choice of presidential candidate to support.
Naija News reports the G5 Governors – Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikepazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) had refused to campaign for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
The aggrieved Governors however did not publicly announce another candidate they’ll be supporting in Saturday’s election but reports have it that they have different individual differences and would be supporting different candidates.
While Ortom had publicly declared support for Labour Party’s Peter Obi, Wike is reportedly backing the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Tinubu.
Following the development, certain reports claimed the difference has caused a sharp division among the Governors.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended the Senate Chief Whip, and Senator representing Abia North, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu less than 24 hours to the National Assembly election.
The ruling party announced the development via a letter conveying Kanu’s suspension.
Naija News reports that Kalu has been at loggerheads with the leadership and members of Abia APC over the allegations the former Abia Governor has been undermining and sabotaging the party in the state.
According to the letter dated February 21, the former Abia Governor was suspended for “acts of disobedience and gross anti-party activities”.
The letter which was jointly signed by the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Paul Nwabuisi, State Secretary, Chief Chidi Avajah, and the State Chairman, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu, added that Kalu who has been at loggerheads with many APC chieftains in Abia, “has remained unrepentant and without remorse despite several warnings”.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it can’t give a specific number of hours or days it will take before the official results for the 2023 presidential and national assembly are declared.
INEC however assured that everything would be done to ensure the results are declared speedily as the commission understands Nigerians would be anxious to get the results.
The assurance was given on Friday in Abuja by the INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu during a press breifing ahead of Saturday’s elections.
“I just want to say that we will ensure that it (result declaration) will be done speedily. I can’t put a finger on the number of days or number of hours it will take, but it will be done speedily. We are aware of the anxiety and the need for us to conclude the process quickly, it will be concluded quickly,” he said.
The Finnish police have revealed why the factional leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Ekpa was arrested on Thursday.
Naija News had earlier reported that Ekpa was arrested at his residence in Lahti and eventually released by the authorities after hours of grilling.
There were questions as to why the Finnish police arrested Ekpa on Thursday and why he was released.
According to Premium Times, an official statement released by the Finnish embassy in Nigeria revealed that Ekpa was arrested as part of an investigation by Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation into a suspected money collection offence.
The statement reads, “The National Bureau of Investigation has started a criminal investigation into a suspected money collection offence committed by a man living in Lahti. The suspect was apprehended in Lahti yesterday on 23 February.”
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has alerted Nigerians of another deadly virus, Marburg Virus Disease, recently confirmed in Equatorial Guinea.
Note: According to World Health Organization (WHO), the Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) is a highly virulent disease that causes haemorrhagic fever, with a fatality ratio of up to 88%. The disease is found to be in the same family as the virus that causes the Ebola virus.
While there are worries currently in Equatorial Guinea over the outbreak of the disease, the NCDC is concerned that the dangerous disease might find its way into Nigeria anytime soon due to the gatherings and travel associated with upcoming national elections.
The health organization stressed that the likelihood of importation to Nigeria is high due to the direct flight between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea and the country’s proximity to Nigeria.
Naija News understands that the first case of the Marburg Virus Disease was confirmed in Equatorial Guinea on February 13, 2023.
The viral infection is said to have also killed nine persons in the country. According to WHO, preliminary tests after the deaths of at least nine people in the country’s western Kie Ntem Province turned out positive for viral haemorrhagic fever.
The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has announced the suspension of the Enugu East Senatorial District election.
Naija News reports that the INEC Chairman made this known at a media briefing on Friday in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
According to him, the decision to halt the election in the senatorial district became necessary with the gruesome murder of the Labour Party (LP)’s senatorial candidate for the district, Oyibo Chukwu.
Yakubu said the Labour Party reached out to the electoral body to convey its intention to provide a replacement and go ahead with the poll at a new date.
Recall, gunmen killed Chukwu and burnt the senatorial candidate with five supporters who were with him inside his car in the Eke-Otu Amechi-Awkunanaw area of Enugu.
Speaking on Friday, the INEC chairman said the Labour Party will replace Chukwu.
He said, “The party also conveyed its intention to participate in the election for that constituency by replacing its deceased candidate. This request is in line with the provision of the law – Section 34, Sub-Section 1 of the Electoral Act 2022.”
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