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PANDEF Knocks INEC Over Shift In Guber Election
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has berated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for shifting the Governorship and National Assembly elections by one week.
PANDEF, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by it’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Robinson, said the manner in which INEC postponed the election less than 12:hours after a High Court judgement, raised further doubts about the commission’s sincerity and honesty of purpose in the electoral process.
The statement reads in part: “Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, says the manner in which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections earlier scheduled for today, March 11, soon after securing the court’s approval, last Wednesday, to reconfigure its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, is rather Machiavellian and raises further doubts about the commission’s sincerity and honesty of purpose in the electoral process.
“PANDEF notes that it was less than 72 hours to the scheduled Governorship and State Assembly elections before the Court of Appeal, Abuja, granted INEC the relieve they sought, on the grounds that if not given they won’t be able to hold the elections and they gave the impression the elections would hold as was scheduled, but after the judgment, they suddenly shifted the elections; this has created room for more misgiving.
“PANDEF recalls that various reputable organizations, both local and international, had scored the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the February 25, 2023 Presidential and National Assembly election as “far below expectations.
“PANDEF cites that reports of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) defects, INEC’s failure to promptly upload results to its Portal from the various polling units across the country, with excuses of technical glitches, undermined the outcome of the electoral process.
“PANDEF insists that these occurrences are totally unacceptable, particularly, given the repeated assurances of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Independent National Electoral Commission of free, fair and credible elections; though the same election has resulted in a national assembly that somewhat reflects the new political outlook of the country.
“Accordingly, with the huge amount of tax payers’ money that was disposed to the process, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, should be personally held responsible for the observed lapses and inconsistencies.
“PANDEF further notes that Forum’s preferred candidate in the presidential election, His Excellency, Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) has also expressed dissatisfaction with the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and is already in court, we shall, therefore, withhold further comments on the subject matter, until a final decision is made by the courts.
“Meanwhile, PANDEF urges all who are dissatisfied with the outcome of the February 25 election to seek judicial redress and not take laws into their hands, in order not to exacerbate tension in the country. PANDEF hopes that the courts would dispense justice without fear or favour. Nigeria is greater than any individual or group.
“Finally, it is pertinent to demand that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should reassure Nigerians of its readiness to ensure that the lapses and inconsistencies observed during the February 25 election will not reoccur in the Governorship and State Assembly elections, now shifted to Saturday, March 18, 2023.”
News
Anka resident commends President Tinubu, Matawalle, CDS Musa for eliminating notorious bandits leader Mati, Others
Residents of Anka Local Government Area in Zamfara State have lauded the
President Bola Tinubu, Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle,and Chief of Defence staff
General Christopher Musa,following the successful elimination of a notorious terrorist commander, Mati, and several of his fighters in a recent counter-terrorism operation backed by the Federal Government.
In a statement signed by the Chairman of Anka community, Muhammed Usman Anka, locals expressed their appreciation to the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, for his role in supporting the operation.
The mission, part of a broader strategy to tackle insecurity in the Northwest, reportedly led to the recovery of a cache of weapons and the dismantling of key terrorist infrastructure.
According to the statement, the offensive was launched under “Operation Munzo,” a government-led initiative aimed at restoring peace to Zamfara and other violence-plagued regions.
Troops began their advance from Bagega in Anka Local Government, clearing the villages of Tibuki and Sabuwar Tunga before storming the heavily fortified camp of Mati.
The battle, described as intense, culminated in a decisive victory for Nigerian forces. Mati—linked to a series of high-profile attacks, kidnappings, and banditry in the region—was neutralised alongside several of his lieutenants during the exchange of gunfire.
Among the items recovered from the terrorist enclave were one PKT machine gun with two belts of ammunition, five AK-47 rifles, twelve magazines, 487 rounds of ammunition, three Baofeng communication radios, and a set of military and police uniforms.
Troops also destroyed three motorcycles used by the militants and recovered several rustled cattle.
All communications equipment found in the camp was dismantled to disrupt future terrorist coordination.
Speaking on the success of the operation, Dr Matawalle praised the bravery and professionalism of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“Operation Munzo is part of our ongoing strategy to dismantle terrorist strongholds and restore lasting peace to Zamfara and neighbouring states,” he said.
“The days of these criminals are numbered. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued clear directives to deal decisively with terrorists and re-establish law and order nationwide.”
Dr Matawalle reaffirmed the Defence Ministry’s commitment to fully supporting the Armed Forces in their efforts to secure the region.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and continue cooperating with security agencies by providing timely and credible information.
“Operation Munzo” remains ongoing, with troops combing through forested areas to locate and eliminate remaining insurgent elements.
Niger’s military government has officially made Hausa the country’s new national language, moving away from its colonial past where French played a central role.
The change was announced in a new charter released on March 31, published in a special edition of the government’s official journal.
According to the document, “The national language is Hausa,” and “the working languages are English and French.”
Hausa is already the most commonly spoken language across Niger, especially in the Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua regions.
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Most of the country’s about 26 million people understand and speak Hausa. In comparison, only around three million people, just 13 per cent, can speak French.
The new charter also officially lists nine other local languages, including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, and Arabic, as “the spoken languages of Niger.”
This language switch follows a national meeting held in February.
During that event, the military government received more support and General Abdourahamane Tiani, the junta leader, was approved to stay in power for five more years.
Since taking over in a coup in July 2023, which removed the country’s civilian president, Mohamed Bazoum, the junta has been cutting off ties with France.
These actions include removing French troops from the country, ending diplomatic relations, and changing the names of roads and buildings that used to carry French names.
Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, which also have military governments and used to be French colonies, are taking similar steps.
They’ve also withdrawn from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, a group similar to the Commonwealth that supports French-speaking nations.
Leaders of the opposition Labour Party on Wednesday marched to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Led by the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, the members were received by INEC National Commissioner, Sam Olumekun.
They asked the electoral body to recognise Nenadi Usman as the LP chairman, days after the Supreme Court set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja recognising Abure as the National Chairman of the LP.
In a unanimous judgment last week, a five-member panel of the apex court held that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to have pronounced Abure National Chairman of the LP, having earlier found that the substance of the case was about the party’s leadership.
The court allowed the appeal filed by Senator Ester Usman, and one other and held that it was meritorious before subsequently proceeding to dismiss the cross-appeal filed by the Abure faction of the LP for being unmeritorious.
Otti read out the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgement as delivered by Justice Inyang Okoro.
“Consequent upon the foregoing, the decisions of both higher court and the court below recognize Barrister Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the first respondent and hereby set aside and suit number FXC is hereby struck out for want of jurisdiction,” Otti said.
“In the same vein, the first respondent, that is labour party under Abure, being an offshoot of the same judgement of the court is hereby dismissed. Before I am done, may I admonish political parties and their members to endeavour to always abide by their constitutions, rules, regulations and guidelines to guide them in choosing their officers as well as candidates?
“That way, incessant internal risks which always find their way to court should be reduced. If the constitution of a political party has prescribed duration for tenure of office of an officer such as this one, such officer should be humble enough to leave at the expiration of the tenure.
“In the final analysis, I find this appeal to be meritorious and is hereby allowed. The party shall bear their respective cost, appeal allowed. This is signed by Honorable Justice John Inyang Okoro, Justice of the Supreme Court.”