News From Nigeria
August 28, 2023
Press Statement
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alerts that Nigeria is asphyxiating, in dire straits and fast grinding to a halt under Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Party laments that Nigeria is at the edge of the precipice under the Tinubu-led APC hold which lacks the acceptability and followership of citizens; a situation that has created an atmosphere and feeling of absence of governance in the country.
Our Party is alarmed that there is a serious disconnection between the government and the citizens arising from ill-planned and hasty implementation of policies that have brought excruciating hardship, horrifying insecurity and a general sense of apprehension that is already threatening the peace, unity and corporate existence of our nation.
The administration’s lack of ingenuity, tact and sensitivity towards the wellbeing of Nigerians in the removal of subsidy and floating of the Naira inflamed unbearable high cost of living, crippled our national productivity, crashed millions of businesses and sparked massive job loss with attendant escalated poverty, hunger, insecurity and hopelessness across the country.
The situation has snowballed into a dangerous loss of investors’ confidence with international companies exiting our nation and leaving millions of Nigerians stranded in the labour market with crippling effect on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which are the real drivers of our national economy.
It is horrifying that in the last two months, over 150 million Nigerians can no longer afford their daily meals with families now going to bed on empty stomach.
It is appalling that the APC government continues to tout their fraud-prone palliative program of a miserable average 1,200 bags of rice to Nigerians in each State of the country. The APC has expanded its capacity to deceive and defraud Nigerians through phony programmes; a situation that has heightened frustration across the country.
Moreover, the PDP describes as distressing that the APC government had turned a blind eye to the plight of Nigerians with no concrete commitment towards the safety of lives of our citizens despite the killing of over 500 Nigerians in Plateau, Benue, Niger, Kaduna and other States of the federation, with many more abducted since May 29, 2023.
The failure of the APC government to decisively act since the abduction of eight corps members who were on their way to Sokoto State for their one-year mandatory national service is another ugly testament of the APC government insensitivity towards the security, safety and wellbeing of citizens.
More disturbing is the recent downing of a Nigerian military aircraft with attendant loss of lives of our brave and gallant military personnel without corresponding reassuring statement from the APC government.
Currently, under the APC, life expectancy in Nigeria has plummeted. Citizens and residents live in constant apprehension and cannot move freely across the country for fear of being killed or abducted.
Instead of protecting Nigerians, the APC government is desperate to plunge our nation into a needless war in Niger Republic over a conflict in that nation that does not constitute any threat whatsoever to our National Interest.
Our Party is concerned that the general sense of despondency, anxiety, distress and disconnection in the country, if not urgently addressed, could deteriorate into a serious crisis.
The PDP charges Nigerians to remain calm, law-abiding and continue to support one another in their quest for a secure and economically thriving nation.
Signed:
Hon. Debo Ologunagba
National Publicity Secretary
STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
COST OF GOVERNANCE: PRESIDENT TINUBU DIRECTS NON-INCLUSION OF FGN OFFICIALS WITH NO DIRECT UNGA PARTICIPATION FROM TRAVELING IN NIGERIA’S DELEGATION
As part of a broader effort to reduce the cost of governance in Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to freeze the processing of visas for all government officials seeking to travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly without proof of direct participation in UNGA’s official schedule of activities.
To prevent any sharp practice in this regard, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria is accordingly guided on official visa processing while Nigeria’s Permanent Mission in New York is further directed to prevent and stop the accreditation of any government official who is not placed on the protocol lists forwarded by the approving authority.
By this directive of the President, all Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies are mandated to ensure that all officials, who are approved for inclusion in the UNGA delegation, strictly limit the number of aides and associated staff partaking in the event. Where excesses or anomalies in this regard are identified, they will be removed during the final verification process.
The President wishes to affirm that, henceforth, government officials and government expenditure must reflect the prudence and sacrifice being made by well-meaning Nigerians across the nation.
Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 28, 2023
RIGHT OF REPLY: SENATOR OMO-AGEGE’S PETITION AGAINST RT. HON. OBOREVWORI REMAINS ROCK-SOLID AND PROVEN; IGNORE THE ROUBLEROUSERS, AS WE AWAIT THE TRIBUNAL’S JUDGMENT
By Aruviere Martin Egharhevwa, Esq
The general public in Delta State and beyond is seeing through the ongoing irresponsible propaganda scheme now activated by Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori’s media handlers to intimidate and harass the Delta State Governorship Election Tribunal to do their bidding. Their sinister and careless plot to run amok with senseless lies, convoluted facts and vain propaganda orchestrated to undermine the judicial process of the Delta State Governorship Election Tribunal that Oborevwori has submitted himself to for impartial adjudication is beyond the pale and must be stopped.
It is often a sign of severe weakness to use underhand attempts to try to avoid a looming judicial loss. This happens where a party or parties to a judicial process plan and use unfounded media propaganda to pressure, harass and coerce judicial officers to do their bidding. It takes excellent legal knowledge by experienced legal minds with a calm spirit to answer to real facts and legal questions laid bare before an election tribunal for resolution, not the sort of fake news recently planted in and spread by Mideno Bayagbon’s TheNewsGuru courtesy of Bayo Millz and/or Pius Mordi (such a confusing authorship) who suggested that Oborevwori has won a case that is yet to be decided by the Honourable Justices of the Delta State Governorship Election Tribunal. Expectedly, to falsely foist Oborevwori on the minds of Deltans and Nigerians as the winner in the ongoing petition brought by the immediate former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), they must and had to lie without shame.
First, Bayo Millz and/or Pius Mordi opened their orchestrated media scheme to pressure the Honourable Justices of the Delta State Governorship Election Tribunal with a nonsensical claim and pitiable cry that Senator Omo-Agege won in only 4 (out of the 25) Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Delta State while suppressing the incontestable fact that the so-called victory of Rt. Hon. Oborevwori in the remaining 21 LGAs came from unlawful and invalid votes which have now been copiously identified by the Petitioners in their petition and the credible evidence they led during the trial of the petition.
Next, the duo of the confused authors of the fake news on Mideno Bayagbon’s TheNewsGuru (that sees no good in anything Omo-Agege for reasons we prefer to ignore) took a flight of fancy to what is not even before the Tribunal when they claimed that the Petitioners “sought refuge on technical grounds relating to pre-election issues” without pointing their readers to a specific portion of the Omo-Agege/APC petition where such is contained.
As a matter of law, an election petition is only competently founded on one or a combination of grounds enumerated in Section 134 of the Electoral Act, 2022. In the instant case, the petition is filed under section 134(1)(b) and (c) that Oborevwori’s election was invalid due to irregularities and noncompliance with the Act in so many polling units where the election is questioned. For this, the Petitioners contend that it was Senator Omo-Agege (NOT Oberevwori) who received the majority of the lawful votes cast and satisfied the spread required by the 1999 Constitution (as altered) to be declared the elected governor of Delta State. Is it not therefore troubling that Bayo Millz and/or Pius Mordi chose to categorise these grounds of the petition as “pre-election issues” when Omo-Agege/APC is not questioning Oborevwori’s qualification to contest the election?
Continuing in their cheap but dangerous propaganda on their choice platform of hate against Omo-Agege and pretending to be the Honourable Justices of the Tribunal, Bayo Millz and/or Pius Mordi declared with a sense of finality and suffocating quackery designed to arrogantly force a fait accompli on the true Tribunal that the Petitioners’ well-articulated case on pervasive overvoting or non-compliance with the mandatory and proper use of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) “could not be proved”. This level of desperation is just unbelievable! Are they not deluding themselves? If not, how can anyone reasonably say this when the evidence before the Tribunal on the BVAS issue is one that none of the Respondents could impeach, having not provided any set of accreditation data different from what the Petitioners and INEC presented?
The fact is that in all the polling units where the Petitioners questioned the non-use or improper use of the BVAS, the Respondents failed woefully to present a scintilla of evidence contradicting the case made out and proved by the Petitioners. For instance, the Petitioners proved without any challenge from the Respondents that the total votes cast in 109 polling units exceeded accreditation with the BVAS machines and that accreditation figures written on result from 27 polling units are totally inconsistent with accreditation evidenced by the voters’ registers presented by INEC. These are places where Oborevwori and PDP received humongous unlawful votes!
Having deliberately told lies in the media to obviously wet the ground to taint a final determination of the petition by the Tribunal that may not suit their jaundiced prejudices, it is necessary to go a bit further to speak fairly to the facts. We are talking of a petition where the evidence led by the Petitioners and even INEC unambiguously confirm that Oborevwori/PDP received almost 130,000 unlawful and invalid votes from over 1,300 polling units where the identities/serial numbers of the result sheets used are unknown, same having not been duly recorded as authentic INEC’s result sheets in the prescribed documents, and this is clearly contrary to the bare and mandatory provision of the innovative section 73(2) operating together with section 137 and paragraph 46(4) (first schedule) amongst other relevant provisions of the Electoral Act. The evidence also confirms that INEC has no documents to justify results in 306 polling units and that documents mandatorily required to be filled before an election could be conducted were not filled in over 200 polling units. Also, the quantities of ballot papers supposed issued to, used and unused in over 500 polling units are inconsistent with what is falsely stated on the results for those units. Additionally, the votes for Oborevwori/PDP in 17 polling units in Oshimili North LGA where just arbitrarily inflated by 11,045 votes. These are the real facts, not mere conjectures.
The issues are even much more and they are just unprecedented, yet those who think the electoral law is a joke are writing judgments for themselves in the media to satisfy their uninformed fancy. Enough said. Whether the Petitioners’ case has merits or not, it is the exclusive duty of the Honourable Justices of the Tribunal to decide, not rabblerousers who know nothing about our electoral jurisprudence. It is manifest on the evidence now before the Tribunal that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege clearly defeated Rt. Hon. Oborevwori with over 14,000 votes and satisfied the constitutional requirements to be declared the duly elected governor of Delta State having scored at least 25% of the votes cast in 24 (out of the 25) LGAs of the State. We will not sit idly by and watch anyone steal the election a second time.
Finally, like all judicial contestations, election petitions are conducted with solemnity in courts before select judicial panels of honourable jurists, not irresponsible conduct on social media, unattractive partisan micro blogs or the internet in general. Election petitions are serious business because their outcomes have far-reaching implications on society. Every well-trained journalist knows that it is irresponsibility that comes within the ambit of criminal conduct to design and activate media schemes to undermine the outcomes of judicial litigations. We advise the likes of Bayo Millz and/or Pius Mordi (if they exist) and their sponsors to tread cautiously in their new found business of writing the judgment of the Delta State Governorship Election Tribunal before the real panel decides the case based on the law, hard facts and unassailable evidence now before it.
SERAP gives Tinubu 48 hours to reverse ban on Vanguard, Galaxy TV, 23 others from Aso Rock
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to use his “good offices and leadership position to immediately reverse the unlawful ban on 25 journalists and media houses from covering the presidential villa and restore the accreditations of those affected.”
SERAP urged him “to publicly instruct the officials in the presidential villa to allow journalists and media houses to freely do their job and discharge their constitutional duty of holding those in power to account.”
According to reports, the Federal Government recently withdrew the accreditations of some 25 journalists from covering activities at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The banned journalists include those from the Vanguard; Galaxy TV; Ben TV; MITV; ITV Abuja; PromptNews; ONTV, and Liberty.
In the letter dated 26 August 2023 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Barring these journalists and media houses from covering the presidential villa is to prevent them from carrying out their legitimate constitutional responsibility.”
SERAP said, “Your administration cannot with one broad stroke ban journalists from covering public functions. Citizens’ access to information and participation would mean little if journalists and media houses are denied access to the seat of government.”
According to SERAP, “Media freedom is a cornerstone of Nigeria’s democracy and journalists must be able to hold the government to account. This is a matter of public interest. The government cannot cherry-pick journalists to cover its activities.”
The letter, read in part: “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 48 hours of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”
“Nigerians may consider the expulsion of the journalists from the presidential villa as your government’s ambivalence towards media freedom, and citizens’ rights of access to information and participation in their own government.”
“The legal obligations imposed on your government to ensure and uphold media freedom and human rights, and facilitate public access to the presidential villa as a public trust outweigh any purported ‘security concerns and overcrowding of the press gallery area.’”
“Media freedom, access to information and citizens’ participation in the affairs of their own government are the sine qua non of a democratic and rule of law-based society.”
“The withdrawal of the accreditation tags of these journalists directly violates media freedom and human rights including access to information and the right to participation. It would have a significant chilling effect on newsgathering and reporting functions, and may lead to self-censorship.”
“The withdrawal of the accreditations of the journalists would construct barriers between Nigerians and certain information about the operations of their government, something which they have a constitutional right to receive.”
“Media freedom, access to information and the right to participation are necessary for the maintenance of an open and accountable government. These freedoms are so fundamental in a democracy that they trump any vague grounds of ‘security concerns and overcrowding of the press gallery area.’”
“The effective exercise of media freedom, access to information and citizens’ right to participation in their government would preserve and contribute to a free and democratic society, something which is consistent with your constitutional oath of office to defend the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended].”
“Allowing the media to cover the presidential villa would improve the reliability of information available to the public and serve the public interest.”
“Your government reportedly justified this grave constitutional infraction on the pretext of ‘an internal attempt to reduce bloated number of print photographers and overcrowding in the State House.’”
“Your government also cited alleged ‘security concerns raised by State House officials and visiting dignitaries concerning the overcrowding of the press gallery area that blocks the walking path to the President’s Office.’”
“According to our information, your administration on 18 August 2023 withdrew the accreditation tags of some 25 journalists and media houses from covering activities at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.”
“The banned journalists reportedly include those from Vanguard newspaper; Galaxy TV; Ben TV; MITV; ITV Abuja; PromptNews, ONTV, and Liberty. Other media personnel affected by the withdrawal are mostly reporters and cameramen from broadcast, print, and online media outlets.”
“The affected journalists were simply told at the main gate of the presidential villa to submit their accreditation tags.”
“SERAP is concerned that the withdrawal of the accreditations of 25 journalists covering the presidential villa is a grave violation of the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international human rights obligations.”
“Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended]; and the country’s international obligations including under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.”
“Under section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution, the mass media including ‘the press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people.’”
“Section 14(2)(c) of the Constitution provides that ‘the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.’”
“Similarly, Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights provides that, ‘Every individual shall have the right to receive information. Every individual shall have the right to express and disseminate his opinions.’”
“Article 13 of the Charter also provides that, ‘Every citizen shall have the right to participate freely in the government of his country. Every citizen shall have the right of equal access to the public service of his country. Every individual shall have the right of access to public property and services.’”
“Articles 19 and 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights contain similar provisions.”
“SERAP also urges you to take meaningful and effective steps to ensure respect for the rights to media freedom, access to information and citizens’ right to participate in their own government.”
Kolawole Oluwadare
SERAP Deputy Director
27/8/2023
Lagos, Nigeria
Emails: info@serap-nigeria.org; news@serap-nigeria.org
Twitter: @SERAPNigeria
Website: www.serap-nigeria.org
For more information or to request an interview, please contact us on: +2348160537202
South-South women on Sunday criticized calls for the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio to resign.
They also described the Niger Delta Women League (NDWL), former Deputy National Spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Timi Frank and other critics of the Senate President as idle talkers and a bunch of worthless wimps.
‘’We must speak out for reason and balance. Anyone taking a thoroughly objective look at the views of the Niger Delta Women League (NDWL) has to be dismayed and shocked. All sense of logic and balance has been lost’’.
A statement issued in Port Harcourt by the South-South Women Vanguard (SSWV) applauded Akpabio for working towards the common good of the country, putting Nigeria in the right perspective and placing the interests of Nigeria ahead of his own.
‘’Senate President Godswill Akpabio is dedicated, honest and devoutly religious. He understands the country’s problems, has a good grasp of what needs to be done to resolve them and is working to make the necessary changes. Nigerians are turning to him to solve their problems’’.
The women hailed Akpabio for his morals, values and respect for Nigerians, particularly his colleagues.
‘’Desire for perverted materialism and government hand-outs are the two things motivating some traitorous individuals and groups in the country’’ the statement said.
The statement signed by Dr Margaret Ani underscored strong leadership, Akpabio’s hatred for greed and corruption.
The highly respected women in the zone described calls for Akpabio’s resignation by Niger Delta Women League (NDWL), former Deputy National Spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Timi Frank and other individuals as foolish.
‘’Senator Godswill Akpabio is the epitome of success and a stumbling block to the plans of self-interest groups’’ the statement added.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to use his “good offices and leadership position to immediately reverse the unlawful ban on 25 journalists and media houses from covering the presidential villa and restore the accreditations of those affected.”
SERAP urged him “to publicly instruct the officials in the presidential villa to allow journalists and media houses to freely do their job and discharge their constitutional duty of holding those in power to account.”
According to reports, the Federal Government recently withdrew the accreditations of some 25 journalists from covering activities at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The banned journalists include those from the Vanguard; Galaxy TV; Ben TV; MITV; ITV Abuja; PromptNews; ONTV, and Liberty.
In the letter dated 26 August 2023 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Barring these journalists and media houses from covering the presidential villa is to prevent them from carrying out their legitimate constitutional responsibility.”
SERAP said, “Your administration cannot with one broad stroke ban journalists from covering public functions. Citizens’ access to information and participation would mean little if journalists and media houses are denied access to the seat of government.”
According to SERAP, “Media freedom is a cornerstone of Nigeria’s democracy and journalists must be able to hold the government to account. This is a matter of public interest. The government cannot cherry-pick journalists to cover its activities.”
The letter, read in part: “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 48 hours of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”
“Nigerians may consider the expulsion of the journalists from the presidential villa as your government’s ambivalence towards media freedom, and citizens’ rights of access to information and participation in their own government.”
“The legal obligations imposed on your government to ensure and uphold media freedom and human rights, and facilitate public access to the presidential villa as a public trust outweigh any purported ‘security concerns and overcrowding of the press gallery area.’”
“Media freedom, access to information and citizens’ participation in the affairs of their own government are the sine qua non of a democratic and rule of law-based society.”
“The withdrawal of the accreditation tags of these journalists directly violates media freedom and human rights including access to information and the right to participation. It would have a significant chilling effect on newsgathering and reporting functions, and may lead to self-censorship.”
“The withdrawal of the accreditations of the journalists would construct barriers between Nigerians and certain information about the operations of their government, something which they have a constitutional right to receive.”
“Media freedom, access to information and the right to participation are necessary for the maintenance of an open and accountable government. These freedoms are so fundamental in a democracy that they trump any vague grounds of ‘security concerns and overcrowding of the press gallery area.’”
“The effective exercise of media freedom, access to information and citizens’ right to participation in their government would preserve and contribute to a free and democratic society, something which is consistent with your constitutional oath of office to defend the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended].”
“Allowing the media to cover the presidential villa would improve the reliability of information available to the public and serve the public interest.”
“Your government reportedly justified this grave constitutional infraction on the pretext of ‘an internal attempt to reduce bloated number of print photographers and overcrowding in the State House.’”
“Your government also cited alleged ‘security concerns raised by State House officials and visiting dignitaries concerning the overcrowding of the press gallery area that blocks the walking path to the President’s Office.’”
“According to our information, your administration on 18 August 2023 withdrew the accreditation tags of some 25 journalists and media houses from covering activities at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.”
“The banned journalists reportedly include those from Vanguard newspaper; Galaxy TV; Ben TV; MITV; ITV Abuja; PromptNews, ONTV, and Liberty. Other media personnel affected by the withdrawal are mostly reporters and cameramen from broadcast, print, and online media outlets.”
“The affected journalists were simply told at the main gate of the presidential villa to submit their accreditation tags.”
“SERAP is concerned that the withdrawal of the accreditations of 25 journalists covering the presidential villa is a grave violation of the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international human rights obligations.”
“Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended]; and the country’s international obligations including under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.”
“Under section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution, the mass media including ‘the press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people.’”
“Section 14(2)(c) of the Constitution provides that ‘the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.’”
“Similarly, Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights provides that, ‘Every individual shall have the right to receive information. Every individual shall have the right to express and disseminate his opinions.’”
“Article 13 of the Charter also provides that, ‘Every citizen shall have the right to participate freely in the government of his country. Every citizen shall have the right of equal access to the public service of his country. Every individual shall have the right of access to public property and services.’”
“Articles 19 and 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights contain similar provisions.”
“SERAP also urges you to take meaningful and effective steps to ensure respect for the rights to media freedom, access to information and citizens’ right to participate in their own government.”
Kolawole Oluwadare
SERAP Deputy Director
27/8/2023
Lagos, Nigeria
Emails: info@serap-nigeria.org; news@serap-nigeria.org
Twitter: @SERAPNigeria
Website: www.serap-nigeria.org
For more information or to request an interview, please contact us on: +2348160537202
By Aruviere Martin Egharhevwa, Esq
The general public in Delta State and beyond is seeing through the ongoing irresponsible propaganda scheme now activated by Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori’s media handlers to intimidate and harass the Delta State Governorship Election Tribunal to do their bidding. Their sinister and careless plot to run amok with senseless lies, convoluted facts and vain propaganda orchestrated to undermine the judicial process of the Delta State Governorship Election Tribunal that Oborevwori has submitted himself to for impartial adjudication is beyond the pale and must be stopped.
It is often a sign of severe weakness to use underhand attempts to try to avoid a looming judicial loss. This happens where a party or parties to a judicial process plan and use unfounded media propaganda to pressure, harass and coerce judicial officers to do their bidding. It takes excellent legal knowledge by experienced legal minds with a calm spirit to answer to real facts and legal questions laid bare before an election tribunal for resolution, not the sort of fake news recently planted in and spread by Mideno Bayagbon’s TheNewsGuru courtesy of Bayo Millz and/or Pius Mordi (such a confusing authorship) who suggested that Oborevwori has won a case that is yet to be decided by the Honourable Justices of the Delta State Governorship Election Tribunal. Expectedly, to falsely foist Oborevwori on the minds of Deltans and Nigerians as the winner in the ongoing petition brought by the immediate former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), they must and had to lie without shame.
First, Bayo Millz and/or Pius Mordi opened their orchestrated media scheme to pressure the Honourable Justices of the Delta State Governorship Election Tribunal with a nonsensical claim and pitiable cry that Senator Omo-Agege won in only 4 (out of the 25) Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Delta State while suppressing the incontestable fact that the so-called victory of Rt. Hon. Oborevwori in the remaining 21 LGAs came from unlawful and invalid votes which have now been copiously identified by the Petitioners in their petition and the credible evidence they led during the trial of the petition.
Next, the duo of the confused authors of the fake news on Mideno Bayagbon’s TheNewsGuru (that sees no good in anything Omo-Agege for reasons we prefer to ignore) took a flight of fancy to what is not even before the Tribunal when they claimed that the Petitioners “sought refuge on technical grounds relating to pre-election issues” without pointing their readers to a specific portion of the Omo-Agege/APC petition where such is contained.
As a matter of law, an election petition is only competently founded on one or a combination of grounds enumerated in Section 134 of the Electoral Act, 2022. In the instant case, the petition is filed under section 134(1)(b) and (c) that Oborevwori’s election was invalid due to irregularities and noncompliance with the Act in so many polling units where the election is questioned. For this, the Petitioners contend that it was Senator Omo-Agege (NOT Oberevwori) who received the majority of the lawful votes cast and satisfied the spread required by the 1999 Constitution (as altered) to be declared the elected governor of Delta State. Is it not therefore troubling that Bayo Millz and/or Pius Mordi chose to categorise these grounds of the petition as “pre-election issues” when Omo-Agege/APC is not questioning Oborevwori’s qualification to contest the election?
Continuing in their cheap but dangerous propaganda on their choice platform of hate against Omo-Agege and pretending to be the Honourable Justices of the Tribunal, Bayo Millz and/or Pius Mordi declared with a sense of finality and suffocating quackery designed to arrogantly force a fait accompli on the true Tribunal that the Petitioners’ well-articulated case on pervasive overvoting or non-compliance with the mandatory and proper use of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) “could not be proved”. This level of desperation is just unbelievable! Are they not deluding themselves? If not, how can anyone reasonably say this when the evidence before the Tribunal on the BVAS issue is one that none of the Respondents could impeach, having not provided any set of accreditation data different from what the Petitioners and INEC presented?
The fact is that in all the polling units where the Petitioners questioned the non-use or improper use of the BVAS, the Respondents failed woefully to present a scintilla of evidence contradicting the case made out and proved by the Petitioners. For instance, the Petitioners proved without any challenge from the Respondents that the total votes cast in 109 polling units exceeded accreditation with the BVAS machines and that accreditation figures written on result from 27 polling units are totally inconsistent with accreditation evidenced by the voters’ registers presented by INEC. These are places where Oborevwori and PDP received humongous unlawful votes!
Having deliberately told lies in the media to obviously wet the ground to taint a final determination of the petition by the Tribunal that may not suit their jaundiced prejudices, it is necessary to go a bit further to speak fairly to the facts. We are talking of a petition where the evidence led by the Petitioners and even INEC unambiguously confirm that Oborevwori/PDP received almost 130,000 unlawful and invalid votes from over 1,300 polling units where the identities/serial numbers of the result sheets used are unknown, same having not been duly recorded as authentic INEC’s result sheets in the prescribed documents, and this is clearly contrary to the bare and mandatory provision of the innovative section 73(2) operating together with section 137 and paragraph 46(4) (first schedule) amongst other relevant provisions of the Electoral Act. The evidence also confirms that INEC has no documents to justify results in 306 polling units and that documents mandatorily required to be filled before an election could be conducted were not filled in over 200 polling units. Also, the quantities of ballot papers supposed issued to, used and unused in over 500 polling units are inconsistent with what is falsely stated on the results for those units. Additionally, the votes for Oborevwori/PDP in 17 polling units in Oshimili North LGA where just arbitrarily inflated by 11,045 votes. These are the real facts, not mere conjectures.
The issues are even much more and they are just unprecedented, yet those who think the electoral law is a joke are writing judgments for themselves in the media to satisfy their uninformed fancy. Enough said. Whether the Petitioners’ case has merits or not, it is the exclusive duty of the Honourable Justices of the Tribunal to decide, not rabblerousers who know nothing about our electoral jurisprudence. It is manifest on the evidence now before the Tribunal that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege clearly defeated Rt. Hon. Oborevwori with over 14,000 votes and satisfied the constitutional requirements to be declared the duly elected governor of Delta State having scored at least 25% of the votes cast in 24 (out of the 25) LGAs of the State. We will not sit idly by and watch anyone steal the election a second time.
Finally, like all judicial contestations, election petitions are conducted with solemnity in courts before select judicial panels of honourable jurists, not irresponsible conduct on social media, unattractive partisan micro blogs or the internet in general. Election petitions are serious business because their outcomes have far-reaching implications on society. Every well-trained journalist knows that it is irresponsibility that comes within the ambit of criminal conduct to design and activate media schemes to undermine the outcomes of judicial litigations. We advise the likes of Bayo Millz and/or Pius Mordi (if they exist) and their sponsors to tread cautiously in their new found business of writing the judgment of the Delta State Governorship Election Tribunal before the real panel decides the case based on the law, hard facts and unassailable evidence now before it.
The Federal Government has described Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, the country’s leading engineering construction company as unbeatable in technical quality, and also matchless in project delivery speed.
The remarks were made by the Honourable Minister of Works, a meritorious, seasoned and reputable engineer by vocation. The Minister who was also the immediate past Executive Governor of Ebonyi State is worthily, substantively reputed to be a consummate developmentalist whose interventionist infrastructural works in Ebonyi State stand visibly strong and functional as a lasting testimony to his qualitative engineering professionalism.
Speaking during his inspection visit to the ongoing Abuja-Kano Road works, Engr. Umahi both at the project site in Kaduna, as well as at the Kaduna State Government House (Kashim Ibrahim House) said: “No one can beat Julius Berger on engineering construction quality, and no one can also beat Julius Berger on the speed of project delivery when funding is available for a project. Let us give that to them. From what I have seen, the contractors (Julius Berger) are doing a great job on the project.“
The Honourable Minister, amongst others, was accompanied on the visit by Distinguished Senator Lawal of Kaduna State and senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Works. The Ministry officials included the Director of Highways construction and Rehabilitation, Engr. Folorunsho Esan; the Director, Highways, North West, Engr. Taiwo W.A; the Director, Highways, North Central, Engr. Aganaba; the Deputy Director, North West Zone, Engr. Goni Mohammed; Federal Controller of Works, Kaduna State, Engr. Ibrahim Nmadu; and Federal Controller of Works and ER, Engr. Yakubu Usman.
Briefing the Minister on the progress of works on site, all relevant officials of the Federal Ministry of Works ascribed the delay of works, particularly within Section 1 of the project between Kaduna and Abuja to, amongst other compelling factors, earlier serious security challenges, Right of Way issues as well as the onset of the rains. The security challenges, however, have been significantly mitigated by Government‘ intervention as the contractors are now fully back on site and working progressively on the project.
Speaking on behalf of the Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, who was out of the country during the Minister’s visit, the MD’s representative, the Project Manager of the Abuja-Kano Road works, Engr. Finn Drosdowski thanked the Honourable Minister and his entourage for coming on the inspection visit. While thanking the Federal Government for the project awarded to Julius Berger, Drosdowski assured the Minister that all things being equal, Julius Berger’s usual reliability to deliver the road project is a foregone conclusion. “The works are progressing and the project will be accomplished,“ he said. Engr. Drosdowski also thanked the Honourable Minister for his kind words regarding Julius Berger’s attested premium technical quality, operational effectiveness and project delivery speed. “These historical corporate values remain the driving force behind the company’s engineering work on the Abuja-Kano Road project, as indeed in all of the company’s projects, he said.
Minister Umahi who expressed his satisfaction at the excellent quality of work being executed by Julius Berger on the project, however expressed his concern about the pace. He promised to look into any factors that may be impeding the pace of the works. The Minister added that he would speak with the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) which is the funding agency for the project to see how funding can be improved for the project. According to the Honourable Minister, “…We will look into all issues affecting the pace of the works, including funding. No contractor can work at a requested pace on a project without commensurate or properly structured funding.
Engr. Umahi said he was instructed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to physically tour and inspect the the ongoing works to factually see and report on the progress and status of the project. The Minister emphasized that “President Tinubu seriously wants this project accomplished for the beneficial use of the Nigerian people.“ Engr. Umahi added that the Tinubu Government is determined to work with the contractors to get the project completed and delivered even in 2024, and with some portions to be implemented with concrete paved with asphalt. “We (the Federal Government) will will work with the contractors and that goal will be achieved,“ he said. Umahi also said he will continue to visit the project until it is successfully completed and delivered for the beneficial use of the people.
The Julius Berger team that received the Honourable Minister of Works and his delegation to the Abuja-Kano Road site comprised of the Project Manager, Engr. Finn Drosdowski, the Commercial Manager, Fabian Schneider and the company’s Head of Media Relations Office, Prince Moses Duku, Fnipr.
The Lagos State House of Assembly, on Wednesday, rejected 17 out of the 39 cabinet nominees sent by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for screening.
Those rejected by the House include Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, Prof. Akin Abayomi, Mr Yomi Oluyomi, Mrs Folashade Ambrose, Ms Barakat Bakare, Mr Gbenga Omotosho, Engr. Olalere Odusote, Dr Rotimi Fashola, Mrs Bolaji Dada, Mr Sam Egube, Mr Olalekan Fatodu, Mrs Solape Hammond, Mr Mosopefolu George, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye, Mr Seun Osiyemi, Mr Rotimi Ogunwuyi, and Dr Olumide Oluyinka.
The confirmed nominees include Layode Ibrahim, Mr Mobolaji Ogunlende, Dr Dolapo Fasawe, Bola Olumegbon, Mr Idris Aregbe, Ms Abisola Olusanya, Mr Moruf Fatai, Mr Kayode Bolaji-Roberts, Engr. Abiola Olowu, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, Dr Oreoluwa Finnih-Awokoya, Mr Yakub Alebiosu, Mr Lawal Pedro, Mr Tunbosun Alake, Mr Gbenga Oyerinde, Dr Adekunle Olayinka, Dr Jide Babatunde, Mr Afolabi Ayantayo, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, Mr Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, Mr Jamiu Alli-Balogun, and Mr Abdulkabir Ogungbo.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, who presided over the day’s plenary, said the confirmation followed a rigorous and detailed screening of the nominees by an ad hoc committee led by the Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Fatai Mojeed.
Obasa commended the committee for its effectiveness and urged the confirmed nominees to always remember that they are in office to serve the people of the State and not individuals.
He also promised that the House would continue to do its best in the interest of the State.
The confirmation was done through a voice vote as Obasa mentioned the name of each of the nominees.
An aide to former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday reminded Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike the basis needs of the residents of the nation’s capital.
“The basic needs of the residents of the FCT are; affordable healthcare facilities; access to good education facilities, clean sports and recreational centers, affordable transport services system, efficient and workable street light in the city Centre and the suburbs; and finally, security’’ Atiku’s Aide, Bwala Daniel said in a social media post
.
He advised the former Rivers State governor not to create chaos in the city.
‘’You came with a bullish and vendetta spirit venting fire and brimstone about demolition and revocation of titles. Abuja is not Port Harcourt. If you create chaos in the city, you will jeopardize your principal’s interests and he will be forced to sacrifice your job’’ the aide to the People’s Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, said.
‘’ You will learn humility on the job” the legal practitioner added.
STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS IN TWO AGENCIES AND DIRECTS OUTGOING NIMC DG/CEO TO COMMENCE 90-DAY PRE-RETIREMENT LEAVE
President Bola Tinubu directs the commencement of 90-day pre-retirement leave for the Director-General/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Aliyu Abubakar Aziz, with effect from August 24, 2023, leading to his eventual retirement from service on November 24, 2023.
The President approves the appointment of Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote to serve as the Acting Director-General/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for a 90-day period, with effect from August 24, 2023, after which, a full term of four years will begin as the substantive NIMC Director-General/CEO, beginning on November 24, 2023.
Furthermore, President Tinubu approved the appointment of Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub to serve as the Director/CEO of the Directorate of Technical Aid Corps (DTAC).
This follows the recent expiration of tenure of the former DTAC Director/CEO, Dr. Pius Osunyikanmi.
This appointment takes immediate effect.
Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 22, 2023
Tilije appointed Finance Commissioner, Uduaghan gets Girl Child Entrepreneurship, Humanitarian Support Services as Aniagwu, Izeze pick Works
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has approved the assignment of portfolios to newly sworn-in Commissioners in the state.
The approval for the assignment of portfolios was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu on Tuesday evening.
The statement listed the Commissioners and their portfolios as follows:
STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
President Bola Tinubu directs the commencement of 90-day pre-retirement leave for the Director-General/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Aliyu Abubakar Aziz, with effect from August 24, 2023, leading to his eventual retirement from service on November 24, 2023.
The President approves the appointment of Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote to serve as the Acting Director-General/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for a 90-day period, with effect from August 24, 2023, after which, a full term of four years will begin as the substantive NIMC Director-General/CEO, beginning on November 24, 2023.
Furthermore, President Tinubu approved the appointment of Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub to serve as the Director/CEO of the Directorate of Technical Aid Corps (DTAC).
This follows the recent expiration of tenure of the former DTAC Director/CEO, Dr. Pius Osunyikanmi.
This appointment takes immediate effect.
Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 22, 2023
Tilije appointed Finance Commissioner, Uduaghan gets Girl Child Entrepreneurship, Humanitarian Support Services as Aniagwu, Izeze pick Works
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has approved the assignment of portfolios to newly sworn-in Commissioners in the state.
The approval for the assignment of portfolios was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu on Tuesday evening.
The statement listed the Commissioners and their portfolios as follows:
STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
President Bola Tinubu on Monday charged the 45 newly inaugurated Ministers of the Federal Republic to prioritize the interests and welfare of the entire nation and its diverse population, above any regional or state-specific considerations.
Speaking at the inauguration of new members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the State House Conference Centre, the President underscored the immense responsibility the ministers now bear in shaping policies that will significantly influence the lives of hundreds of millions of Nigerians.
“You are not a minister of a particular state, colony, region, or ethnic nationality. You are a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” President Tinubu declared, setting the tone for his directive to the new ministers.
“This is all about the cohesion and work of a great team, and I believe we now have it. It is an honour to be chosen to serve as a minister in the Federal Executive Council, and such a high honour comes with tremendous responsibility. In this moment of abundant promise and peril in equal measure, all of you that have been sworn in have been called to distinguish yourselves. Nigerians are highly expectant of excellence in service delivery, accountability, and transparency,” he said.
The President also reminded the new ministers that they can not disappoint Nigerians, who expect them to serve with integrity, dignity and competence to actualize the Renewed Hope manifesto of the administration—failing which he will not hesitate to take necessary remedial measures.
“As your country honours you today, you must each work to make yourselves worthy in the eyes of God and our entire nation’s people. Your highest obligation is to restore public faith in government so that our people can once again believe that government can be a positive force for transformation and a vehicle for collective progress of all citizens of this great country,” President Tinubu said, while congratulating each of the ministers and welcoming them to “the Administration of Renewed Hope.”
He further affirmed that the newly appointed ministers were selected based on their track records of excellence in both the public and private sectors, noting their effective representation of the rich diversity present within Nigeria.
Expressing his wishes for the success of the cabinet members in the discharge of their duties, the President invoked a metaphor of a journey, in which he is the driver of a vehicle, along with all Nigerians as passengers.
“In this new assignment, we are in this boat together, even if it is a vehicle, I am the driver. The entire nation sits watchful, as you and I navigate this vehicle. We must hold each other responsible. We have to do the job to meet the expectations of all Nigerians. God be with you, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 21, 2023
STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
President Bola Tinubu has approved the redeployment of Engr. Abubakar Momoh from the Federal Ministry of Youth to the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Development.
The Federal Ministry of Youth is to be re-assigned to a Minister-Designate soon.
The Ministers-Designate allocated to the Federal Ministries of Transportation, Interior, and Marine & Blue Economy have been reshuffled as follows:
(A) H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola is redeployed as the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy
(B) Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo is redeployed as the Honourable Minister of Interior
(C) Hon. Sa’idu Alkali is redeployed as the Honourable Minister of Transportation
Furthermore, both Ministers of State in the Oil & Gas sector are now domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources with the following designations:
(i) Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri is the Hon. Minister of State (Oil), Petroleum Resources
(ii) Hon. Ekperipe Ekpo is the Hon. Minister of State (Gas), Petroleum Resources
The President approves the renaming of the Federal Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management as the Federal Ministry of Environment.
All aforementioned changes take immediate effect by these directives of the President.
Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 20, 2023
Gbajabiamila pledges FG’s commitment to South East development
The Chief of Staff (CoS) to President Bola Tinubu, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has urged stakeholders of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State to embrace peace and unity to entrench the party in the state and the southeast in general.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Levinus Nwabughiogu in Abuja.
Gbajabiamila spoke on Saturday, when he received Abia APC stakeholders in his house on a thank-you visit on the election of Hon. Benjamin Kalu as the deputy speaker of the 10th House of Representatives and other Abia indigenes which included Hon. Nkiruka Onyejiocha, the incoming minister of State for Labour and Employment and Hon. Sam Onuigbo who was appointed a member of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) by President Tinubu.
According to Gbajabiamila, unity was a sine qua non to achieving the lofty ideals of the party in the south East as he assured that the doors of the federal government under President Tinubu were open to them at all times.
He however enjoined the stakeholders to work assiduously to make APC the number one party in the south east, assuring that it will boost the fortunes of the region in no small measures.
Earlier in their separate remarks, the stakeholders through their leaders, Senator Adighije, Senator Nkechi Nwogu, the former minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Nwogu and a member of APC National Caucus, Chief Sam Nkire expressed gratitude to Gbajabiamila for facilitating Kalu’s election, the appointment of Onyejiocha and Onuigbo amongst others.
While applauding Gbajabiamila for mentoring Kalu, the leaders recalled with nostalgia that the mentorship started in the early days of 9th House of Representatives when the Chief of Staff as the then speaker gave Kalu the opportunity to move the first motion on during the plenary session.
They said it was no surprise that Gbajabiamila later appointed Kalu the spokesman of the House, a position, they said prepared him for his current office.
The leaders also appealed to the chief of staff to use his good office to attract more appointments for both the state and the region, pledging their loyalty to the Tinubu led government.
Sunday, 20th August, 2023
Press Release
ISESE DAY 2023 – Elegushi praises government’s recognition
The traditional ruler of Ikate Kingdom, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi has praised the Lagos State Government and other state governors who accorded recognition to the traditional festival celebration, Isese Day, saying that such recognition will promote inclusion and equality.
Oba Elegushi, who was speaking at the celebration of the day in his palace, said the recognition was long due, as traditional worshipers, are part of the society, they belong to the same community as other faiths and it is only appropriate they get their own holiday as a mark of respect to their beliefs as it is with Christianity and Islam.
Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the traditonal ruler, Temitope Oyefeso, quoted the king as saying he his happy that after years of making the calls to the government, the date is now on the calendar and recognized by the Lagos state government and some other governors in the south west.
The king also appealed to the federal government to ensure that the date becomes a national holiday, adding that believers who are not of the two known faith, also contribute to the peace and progress of the country.
Isese day, a day set aside to recognize and celebrate traditional religion worhisp is celebrated annually on the 20th of August.
Signed:
Temitope Oyefeso,
Special Assistant, Public Affairs to HRM
—
‘Tope Oyefeso (Mr.)
Special Assistant, Public Affairs
Office of The Elegushi of Ikateland
08023839100
ARE MUSLIMS SHORTCHANGED IN SANWO-OLU’S CABINET LIST?
We, concerned Lagosians, have watched in the past few days with keen interest the unfortunate attempts by some groups of individuals, Muslim clerics and organizations to discredit the list of Cabinet nominees of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.
The aforementioned interests have criticized the proposed cabinet composition, alleging marginalization of Muslims. The clerics have resorted to various rough tactics to malign the image of the Governor by dangerously using the media with indiscretion to paint him in the colour of what Mr Governor is not.
It is of note that in the true spirit of a true leader and a genuine “omoluabi”, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has displayed remarkable calmness and confidence in the face of all this provocation, knowing well that the peace, progress and prosperity of Lagos are his primary focus.
We view all the actions so far, including a protest march on the House of Assembly, as uncharacteristic of the progressive people of Lagos, whose major preoccupation is peaceful cohabitation, growth and development.
For the records, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is a completely detribalised individual and a man with an open heart whose religion is humanity. He has run Lagos for over four years now without any form of discrimination whatsoever.
Specifically, the claim by these groups of persons and interests about the number of Muslims in the proposed cabinet is not correct. It has no backing in facts; nor in logic. It is all sentiments and emotions that are unworthy of all we stand for as Lagosians. We will never be proud of such potentially destructive and divisive tendencies.
The claim, obviously out of ignorance, in many media reports is that there are only 8 Muslims among the 39 nominees. This is FALSE. There are 16 Muslims on that list, which is out there for anyone to check.
For the records, of the 7 Special Advisers (non-Cabinet) recently appointed, four are Muslims and 3 are Christians.
The newly composed Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board has seven members; six of them are Muslims and one a Christian. There are three Distinguished Senators from Lagos State, all of whom are Muslims. Of our House of Representatives members, the majority are Muslims, same with the House of Assembly and the Local Government Chairmen.
The truth is that to achieve the excellence that Lagos is famous for, the government, in our view, looks out for competence. The task of running a mega city like Lagos State deserves more from the driver’s seat than religion and other divisive and destructive tendencies.
If such retrogressive seeds are sown and allowed to grow and blossom in our dear state, we will lose our vision and leadership in the comity of states.
Imagine traditional worshippers with all their special groups, such as Ifa, Ogun and Obatala adherents, also protesting that they are excluded!
We would like to appeal to all Lagosians, especially some sections of the Muslim community, who are pushing the discrimination narrative, to allow the State to continue to enjoy the peaceful coexistence of all religious groups and not sow any seed of discord among residents who only crave for service, not minding the religious affiliation of whoever renders such service.
To those who feel genuinely aggrieved (without checking the facts), we implore them to show deep understanding; that is what these times require.
We are making history everyday. Those who want to plunge our peaceful and cosmopolitan state into a religious crisis should retrace their steps. It is uncivilized and dangerous. Lagos and Lagosians will not join such an empty campaign.
SIGNED:
Campaign for Dignity in Governance;
Humanity Services Project;
Campaign Against Impunity and Domestic Violence;
Women Integrity Forum.
Women Grassroots Network;
Centre for promotion of Work ethics and Values;
Islamic Unity Network;
NATIONAL Engagements and Interactive Network
KOGI STATE CARETAKER COMMITTEE (KGSCC)
The National Working Committee (NWC) of our Great Party, the PDP, after extensive consultations with the Kogi State Stakeholders, has approved the appointment of the following as the *KOGI STATE CARETAKER COMMITTEE* to run the affairs of our party in the state following the expiration of the tenure of the then-elected State Working Committee.
The composition of the KGSCC is:
MRS. MARIA ADEYEMI – ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY
The Committee shall be inaugurated as follows:
Date: Monday, August 21, 2023
Venue: National Executive Committee (NEC) Hall, Wadata Plaza, Abuja FCT
Time: 10AM
Hon. Umar M. Bature
National Organizing Secretary