News From Kogi
Group tells INEC to come clean by reviewing Kogi election results
Forum for the Advancement of Development and Democracy (FADD) has challenged the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to come clean by reviewing the November 11 Kogi gubernatoral election unless it is culpable
This is coming after many controversies that dogged the governorship election in Kogi State on Saturday 11th November 2023.
The FADD Legal Officer Oruma Ayuba Musa in a letter to the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) demanded a review of election results.
In what he described as a “new normal”, in view of election results that circulated all over Kogi Central Senatorial District, the FADD Legal Officer said it would mean that the electoral umpire was complicit if they if they failed reviewed the results.
A copy of the letter which was made available to the National Update in Abuja reads:
The Chairman,
Independent National Electoral Commission,
Abuja.
Dear Sir,.
URGENT NEED TO REVIEW THE KOGI GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION.
This off-circle elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi, the first since the Supreme Court affirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has generated a lot of interest and thrown up new issues on the pre-filling of results sheets ahead of voting, particularly in Kogi State. Unfortunately INEC Headquarters, through its National Commissioner that covers Kogi is implicated in supervising this ill fated election in Kogi State, most likely for percuniary reasons.This is the new thing that INEC Headquarters through its National Commissioner now determines outcome of election and not the voting on the field on election day.
The pre-filling of election results sheets is a new thing in Nigeria introduced first in Kogi State under the supervision of Prof Sani Muhammed Adam, SAN. This new development has woken us up from our slumber.
FADD monitored the Kogi REC REC, Professor John Longpet,
closely to see whether he had capacity for fair play as an umpire, and didn’t find him unworthy. It was Prof John Longpet who saved INEC when the list that came from the ICT department from INEC Headquarters Abuja showed a preponderance of people from the Central Senatorial District (over 85%). Prof John Longpet responded to the protest by allowing people who registered online from Kogi East and where available in Lokoja to gate crash and be trained.
FADD notes that the vigilance of the general public has helped to improve the outcry of the people to the new issue of pre-filling of INEC result sheets in Kogi State. INEC Headquarters is clearly an interested party in the Kogi State gubernatorial election on November 11 2023.
FADD has reviewed and studied all the press statements from INEC since the commencement of the Kogi State gubernatorial election, the interviews of Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central Senatorial District and Senator Dino Melaye, the candidate of PDP in the gubernatorial election and wishes to observe as follows;
1. the report of allegation of pre-filling of result sheets is real.
2. in many polling units in some local Government Areas, particularly Okene, Adavi, Okehi and Ajaokuta LGAs where BVAS were used for accreditation the number of alleged voters were in excess of the number of people who were said to have presented for accreditation, and INEC adhoc staff refused to cancel the election as provided by law (Section 51(2)),
and this has created serious acrimony and tension in Kogi State.
3. The so called synchronisation
of accreditation figures for LGAs in Kogi Central Senatorial District alone, barring the West and East Senatorial Districts, on the IREV portal forty eight hours after the return of the election was made, and the reversion accreditation figures to what it was originally after public outcry, has further exposed the complicity of INEC Headquarters.
4. INEC promised to examine the allegation and has not produced any report on the findings but hurriedly made a return of same election.
*RECOMMENDATIONS*
A. INEC review the materials used for the election and cancel results in LGAs were it is established that pre-filling of INEC result sheets took place, or else INEC would have established precedence for future election conducted by INEC to become characterized by pre-filling of result sheets as the new normal.
B. INEC should step down the earlier return made by Prof Johnson Urama and investigate the BVAS records and ensure that section 51(2) is applied across board to all results from polling units across the State.
C. INEC should investigate how the original INEC result sheets got into the hands of politicians, and also determine if fake result sheets were also in circulation, or same person who prints for INEC was hired by Kogi politicians to print for them.
PRAYERS
FADD prays that the issue of pre-filling of INEC election result sheets should not be swept under the carpet by INEC under your leadership.
INEC should condemn in strong terms the new innovation of printing or purchasing INEC election result sheets and pre-filling of same.
INEC should cancel the results of all the polling units that were manipulated and declare the candidate with the highest number of lawful votes as winner.
FADD assures you of the highest regards of it’s esteem.
Thank you very much, Sir.
Oruma Ayuba Musa Esq
Legal Officer, FADD
Abdul Azeez Atta Memorial College, Okene (AAAMCO) has received a face-lift following the rehabilitation carried out by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central senatorial district.
She did not stop at that, she equally flagged off the construction of new schools in Osara for the Hausa/Fulani community.
Natasha’s wisdom in not only embracing all ethnic groups within her senatorial district but meeting their developmental needs has a reference point to prove that with the right leadership, Nigeria can progress in peace and unity.
The senator indicated that the reconstruction and remodeling of AAAMCO is aimed at elevating the school to one of the most advanced secondary schools in Nigeria.
Additionally, a 0.7 km road network within the school premises, perimeter fencing, streetlights, water supply, and total rehabilitation of the hostels are part of the project. The school will also be upgraded to a smart school with electrified classrooms and digital learning devices for every student.
AAAMCO is one of the first secondary schools in Northern Nigeria established in 1927 as the Central School Okene before changing its name to Provincial Secondary School Okene, after which it became Government Secondary School Okene and lastly AAAMCO.
The institution groomed very respected personalities like President Ibrahim Babangida, Professor Jerry Gana, Professor Lai Mohammed, Alhaji Babagana Kingibe amongst many notable alumni.
The lawmaker also promise to replicate the gesture in other schools in the senatorial district in a bid to them into smart schools.
Furthermore, Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan flagged off the construction of primary and secondary schools in Osara for the Hausa/Fulani community, fulfilling her campaign promises to them.
Once completed, the new schools in Osara will include blocks for primary and secondary schools, administrative buildings, libraries and laboratories, staff quarters, a clinic, sports facilities, and boreholes.
According to her, the reconstruction and the remodelling was approved by the federal government.
“Education is extremely important. I wouldn’t have been here if there was no school for my father to acquire an education and give me the best education I have.
She added that similar attention would be given to other schools in the senatorial district, promising to remodel them into smart schools.
Thee senator indicated that the flag off of primary and secondary schools in Osara for Hausa/Fulani community is a fulfilment of her campaign promises to them and an answer to their request when they met with her before the 2023 senatorial election.
Speaking on behalf of Hausa/Fulani community, the Youth leader, Miyetti Allah Kogi State chapter, Dr Nuhu Abubakar Jalido, said the gesture is an opportunity for Hausa/Fulani children to have access to quality education at their doorstep.
“This is the first time a senator in Kogi is building primary and secondary schools with the necessary facilities in a Hausa/Fulani camp. Your actions show you are different.
“This will change our people’s ideology and enable them to acquire quality education and contribute meaningfully to the country’s development,” he said.
***Pledges to recalibrate security architecture with emphasis on Safe School Initiative
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
KOGI State Government has announce the rescue of the remaining eight students of the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, abducted on Thursday May 9.
Mr Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Lokoja, had earlier announced the rescue of a total of 21 students and death of two others.
According to the Commissioner, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has directed full support towards the recovery of the rescued students and their parents, while modalities are being put in place to make Kogi State safer for all.
The State Government used the occasion of the rescue of the students to expresses profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for directing the mobilization of resources to ensure the rescue of the kidnapped students.
Kogi government thanked the National Security Adviser (NSA) and Security Chiefs as well as the Director-General, DSS; Inspector General of Police (IGP) for their commitment to the release of the students and the general security of the State.
The State Government also commended the Kogi State Command of all the security agencies, Police, DSS, NSCDC and “our local hunters are also highly appreciated for their efforts towards this feat.”
According to the statement, Governor Ododo also expressed gratitude to his Kwara State counterpart, AbdulRahmam AbdulRazak for his personal commitment, cooperation and support towards the success of the operation that led to the rescue of the remaining kidnapped students.
He said that Governor AbdulRahmam AbdulRazak had shown capacity and exhibited the force behind his effective leadership of the Nigerian Governors Forum adding, “His actions have also reinforced the Kogi-Kwara cooperation and unity of purpose.”
He said, “Now that the remaining students have been rescued, our administration will continue the drive to recalibrate our security architecture and pay an uncompromising attention to the Safe School Initiative.
“As the State with the lowest out of school children in the North, we have put structures in place to keep our schools safe to ensure every child is not deprived of his or her right to Education.
“Kogi has domesticated the Child Rights Act and we will defend the right of our children to quality Education. In Kogi State, Education is free up to the Secondary School level.
“We also pay the registration fees for our students to write all internal and external examinations with a budgetary allocation that is way above the UNESCO benchmark for education.
“We do all of these to educate our children and make them responsible contributors to the economy of Nigeria”, he said.
The Governor urged Kogi citizens to always volunteer intelligence to security agencies to enable them to prevent crime saying that it was safer, cheaper and better for us all.
He said, “All of us must come together to defeat banditry, kidnapping and any form of criminality in our society.” (Ends)
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State has been urged to give accelerated assent to the state HIV/AIDS Anti-stigma and discrimination Bill when passed by the state House of Assembly.
Initiative for Grassroots Advancement in Nigeria (INGRA), leading a coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working on HIV/AIDS in Kogi made the appeal during a Public Hearing on the anti-stigma Bill at the Assembly Complex in Lokoja.
Executive Director, INGRA, Mr Hamza Aliyu,
said that there was need for the Governor to quickly assent to the Bill to give persons living with HIV and AIDS in Kogi State a respite from the deluge of discrimination that they have been facing.
The Bill is titled: A Bill For A Law To Provide For The Prevention Of HIV And AIDS Based Discrimination And Protection Of The Rights And Dignity Of People Living With And Affected By HIV And AIDS And For Other Related Matters, 2024.
Aliyu said that the Bill was sponsored by Hon. Bin Ebaiya Shehu Tijjani, Member representing Lokoja I State Constituency and supported by INGRA and AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria/International.
According to him, the bill was presented to the Assembly on March 28th and had its First Reading on Wednesday, April 24th and the Second Reading, May 7, paving way for the Public Hearing and eventual passage.
After this stage of legislation of the Bill, the House is expected to consider it clause-by-clause at a Committee of the Whole before the Third and final reading.
According to the Executive Director of INGRA, the objectives of the Bill include prevention of acquisition of the dreaded HIV and its disease (AIDS) and curtailment of its spread in cases where it is already acquired.
Other major objectives of the bill are elimination of discrimination and protection of the rights and dignity of those living with or affected by the virus and or its disease.
Aliyu said that the One-day Public Hearing was organized by the House Joint Committees on Health and Justice/Judicial Matters to provide stakeholders and citizens the opportunity to make inputs and reviews into the HIV/AIDS Anti-stigma legislation.
Several Memoranda as well as oral presentations were made by the various stakeholders on issues around the Bill.
Aliyu who noted that Public Hearing remains a Constitutional requirement for all proposed legislations, said adherence to the provision as in this case was a further confirmation that the 7th Assembly in the state was well capacitated.
He said that the House of Assembly under the Speakership of Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, had capacity and was in tune with the yearnings and aspirations of the citizens especially the most vulnerable in the society.
“We wish to appreciate his democratic predisposition of ensuring that the voices of the people are heard in laws that affect them. This is what good governance should be about.
We also wish to appreciate the Chairmen of the Committees on Health and Justice for their efforts at bring about this engagement”, he said.
Present at the Pubic Hearing were the Speaker and his Deputy, Rt Hon. Comfort Nwuchiola Egwuaba; chairmen of the House Committees on Justice and Judicial matters, and Health, Hon. Halidu Usman Adejo (APC-Idah) and Hon. Ochidi Usman Shehu, (APC-Dekina/Biraidu).
Also in attendance were representatives from HIV/AIDS Patient communities (People Living with HIV and AIDS organizations), CISHAN, AONN, KONGONET, KOSACA, Kogi Justice Ministry, Office of the Public Defender and Citizens Rights and JNI among others. (Ends)
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