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2023 & Certificates Saga: You Must Be Guided, HEDA Tells INEC
…Threatens Legal Action on any Infract
Amidst controversies surrounding the availability, validity or otherwise of certificates of Political candidates who are seeking different political positions across levels in the country, the Human & Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to adhere strictly to the provisions of the electoral Act 2022 and its Guidelines.
In a letter addressed to the Chairman of INEC (Prof. Mahmood Yakubu), the Chairman of HEDA, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, called on INEC boss not to be distracted nor intimidated by anybody or corporate who falls short of the requirements and provisions of the Electoral Act ahead of the general elections.
According to HEDA’s Leader, Nigeria’s political class are fond of duplicitous and deceptive rhetorics during elections and are bent on deploying different machinations and schemes to achieve their personal aims, as Nigerians are in doubt of the veracity of what the Politicians claim to possess.
“We are not unaware of every crooked game plan and shenanigans by some Politicians regarding their eligibility or otherwise to run for different positions. We have seen different unfounded moonlight tales by either elected or appointed persons about the whereabouts of their credentials and how the court adjudicated those matters.
“As a leading Anti-Corruption Organization and Non-partisan Human Rights and Development league with the mandate to protect and promote universally recognized human rights, public accountability, transparency and environmental justice in Nigeria and Africa, in accordance with International best standards, we call on INEC to be guided by the provisions of Electoral Act 2022 and its guidelines.
Suraju urge the Commission to reject the submission of affidavits in place of certificates by candidates due to the several controversies around swearing to affidavit which are well known to the Commission. He noted that an affidavit cannot replace an institution’s certificate, hence; an affidavit only contains facts believed by the deponent to be true which cannot stand in place of primary evidence.
“We have been keenly following the developments around submission of candidates’ names and credentials list for the 2023 general elections by political parties, and the most recent news of candidates claiming their school certificates are missing. Nigerians cannot be cowed by malicious and mendacious claims emanating from the political class.
“We believe that the Commission’s guidelines towards preparation for the 2023 general election to political parties and the public are clear enough on presentation of certificates.
“We kindly refer Section 115(1)(c) of the Electoral Act to the Commission which provide thus:
“A person who – (c) delivers to an electoral officer any nomination paper or result from knowing it to be forged – commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum term of imprisonment for two years.”
The anti-corruption crusader maintained that no one is above the law and everyone, irrespective of his or her social class, is expected to strictly comply with provisions of the law. He stressed that It is general knowledge that anyone who claims to have misplaced his/her certificate could always apply to the awarding institution for the issuance of another copy or Certified True Copy of the certificate or his transcript.
“We demand that your Commission communicate the invalidity of affidavits as submitted by some candidates in the forthcoming elections to all affected candidates and their parties. Failure to undertake this statutory responsibility will leave our organisation with no other option than to approach a competent court of jurisdiction for an order restraining your Commission from recognising such candidates.
He appreciated the Commission for listening to public outcries regarding extension of registration of new voters, which is a demonstration of the Commission’s resolve to a free and fair election wherein the largest number of eligible voters are freely allowed to exercise their franchise.
“We commend the INEC and re-iterate our commitment to ensuring good governance in Nigeria and assure the Commission of our unflagging support in ensuring a free and fair election in Nigeria,” he added.
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
Less than 24 hours after former Kaduna Central Senatorial District lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, openly declared support for Governor Uba Sani’s re-election bid, former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, officially resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Sources reveal that the recent return of prominent politicians such as Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, Senator Danjuma Laah, former Governor Ramalan Yero, and others to the APC has unsettled El-Rufai.
Senator Shehu Sani, in his declaration, stated that his main political objective for 2027 is to ensure Governor Uba Sani’s re-election.
Unwilling to face the emerging political dynamics, El-Rufai announced his resignation from APC in a Facebook post, stating:
“Today, 10th March 2025, I have submitted my resignation letter to my ward in Kaduna, effective immediately. Before this decision, I consulted extensively with my mentors, colleagues, and loyalists across the country about the future. I have now decided to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as the platform for our future political engagements.
“As a member of the SDP, I will focus on engaging and persuading other opposition leaders and parties to join us. Together, we can unify under a strong democratic platform to challenge the APC in upcoming elections and by-elections before 2027, by the grace of God.
“I, therefore, call on all our supporters and those concerned about Nigeria’s future to join us in SDP as we work towards making Nigeria a beacon of hope for Africa and the Black race.”
In reaction to El-Rufai’s defection, Shehu Sani dismissed the move, saying it would have little impact.
“Leaving APC for SDP makes no difference for someone with no political relevance anymore. But one thing is certain—President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani will be re-elected
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
Former governor of Sokoto State and now Senator, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal while flagging off distribution of ramadan fast assistance to the people of the state, Monday reassured that, his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will Reclaim their mandate come 2027.
Tambuwal, who divulged that the Ramadan gesture is targeted at 30,000 households in the state, added, “‘it is aside the thousands of other foodstuff and multiple assistance given by all lawmakers elected under the platform of the PDP in the state”.
According to him, the PDP lawmakers both at he state and federal levels are equally flagging off the distribution of thousands of bags of rice and other grains to all youth and women led organizations to help compliment their ease of fasting.
“”As you aware, many people have lost their lives and they are no more with us. It is by His grace that we are alive and here observing another Ramadan and witnessing the distribution of foodstuff to our people once again.
“We continue to pray to Allahi to grant us continued good health and longevity, for us to witness many more of this blessed month.l of Ramadan. I also would like to take disadvantage of this opportunity to thank our chairman and the leaders of our party in the state for their continued hard work in organizing the party, in mobilizing the people and making sure that our party remain strong and united in Sokoto
“”We are one big united family. And we shall continue to work together towards reclaiming what has been taken away from us. As you know, in the last elections, our mandate was forcefully stolen. But now, we are restrategizing and organizing.
“”And by the grace of Allah, what has been taken away, will be given back to us by come 2027″”. Tambuwal assured.
Speaking earlier, Sokoto state PDP chairman, Comrade Bello Goronyo expressed heartfelt appreciation to all members of the PDP in Sokoto for keeping hope alive and faith with the party, saying the PDP is the only party that truly meant well for the generality of Nigerians.
This according to him could be proven by the current hardship been experienced by Nigerians which where hitherto not the case when the PDP held sway.
Comrade Goronyo therefore appealed to the people of the state and Nigerians to liberate themselves from the grip of APC’s mis- governance come 2027.
US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said on Monday that the United States was cancelling 83 per cent of programmes at the US Agency for International Development.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January demanding a freeze on all US foreign aid to give his administration time to assess overseas spending, with an eye to gutting programs not aligned with his “America First” agenda.
“After a six-week review we are officially cancelling 83% of the programmes at USAID,” Rubio said on social media platform X.
“The 5,200 contracts that are now cancelled spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed), the core national interests of the United States,” he added.
USAID distributes US humanitarian aid around the world, with health and emergency programs in around 120 countries.
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The State Department, which oversees USAID, announced on February 26 its intention to cut 92 per cent of the agency’s program funding, identifying 5,800 grants to be eliminated.
Rubio on Monday notably thanked the Department of Government Efficiency, which billionaire Elon Musk is leading in a drive to slash costs and cut jobs across government departments.
Trump and his allies have argued that foreign assistance is wasteful and does not serve US interests.
But aid groups argue much of the assistance supports US interests by promoting stability and health overseas, and warn that cutting aid threatens the lives of vulnerable people.
AFP