National
INEC chairman monitors mock accreditation in Edo
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on Tuesday in Benin, monitored the commission’s mock accreditation exercise ahead of Sept. 21 governorship election in Edo.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the mock accreditation exercise took place at two polling units in Oredo and Ikpoba-Okha local government areas of the state.
Speaking shortly after the mock accreditation monitoring and inspection of INEC local government offices , Yakubu said that mock accreditation was intended to test run the integrity of the systems ahead of the election.
Yakubu stated that the visit to Edo was a routine activity the commission embarked on on the eve of a major off-cycle election.
“This is a readiness assessment visit to Edo and the purpose is to visit some of the local government areas.
“We have visited Oredo, Ikpoba-Okha and Egor local government areas to assess the readiness in terms of the level of preparation, the materials received so far and how they are preparing for the election in the next 11 days.
“We have already visited two centres to observe a mock accreditation exercise intended to test run the integrity of our systems ahead of the election, both for voter accreditation as well as uploading of the results.
“We have observed, and so far, so good in terms of readiness of our local government offices for the election and also in terms of the technology we are deploying for the election, INEC is ready,” he said.
He assured the public of a free, fair and credible election, adding that, INEC was not a political party.
“The responsibility of choosing the next governor for Edo is entirely in the hands of Edo voters.
“Our appeal to all registered voters in Edo is to come out to vote for the party of their choice and the candidate of their choice.
“The commission will ensure the protection of the integrity of the process and uphold the choice made by the electorate,” he added.
He expressed satisfaction with the level of preparation by the local government offices in the three offices visited.
He added that he would be meeting with the electoral officers in all the 18 local government areas with a view to harvesting all their concerns and responding to them ahead of the election.
He used the opportunity to appeal to all stakeholders, including the security agencies, the political parties, candidates, observers and media to cooperate with the commission, stressing that, election was a multi-stakeholders activity.
He noted that funds needed for the conduct of the Edo elections had been made available to the state and the state had made the funds available to the local government areas.
Speaking further, the INEC chairman explained that there was enough backup Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines to be deployed for the election in case any malfunctioned.
“We have inner backup. For instance, all the machines we use for the mock in 12 polling units across three senatorial districts in Edo will not be used for the election.
“ So, the BVAS machines to be used for the election are different from BVAS for the mock. Similarly, the BVAS that are going to be used for training will not be deployed for the election.
According to him, for the off-circle election, there are enough BVAS to go round.
The chairman was accompanied on the inspection among others by Dr Anugbum Onuoha, Resident Electoral Commissioner, Edo, Prof. Rhoda Gamus, the National INEC Commissioner, supervising Edo, Delta and Bayelsa.(NAN)
This decision came hours after the President met with service chiefs and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, in Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State amid the ongoing political crisis in the region.
Tinubu announced the proclamation during a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the State House of Assembly for a period of six months.
The President appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retired) as a military administrator to oversee the state’s affairs for the initial six-month period. Tinubu invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to justify the proclamation. This section defines a state of emergency as a situation of national danger or disaster, allowing the government to suspend normal constitutional procedures to restore order.
A state of emergency grants the President the authority to implement immediate regulations to ensure public safety and maintain order.
For nearly two months, the political feud and power struggle between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and his former political protégé, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, have escalated over control of the political machinery in the oil-rich state. The tension has reportedly led to pipeline explosions, while civil servants have threatened mass protests against the Martins Amaewhule-led faction in the State House of Assembly, which remains loyal to Wike.
Tinubu said, “The latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday and today there have been disturbing incidents of vandalisation of pipelines by some militant without the governor taking any action to curtail them. I have, of course given stern order to the security agencies to ensure safety of lives of the good people of Rivers State and the oil pipelines.
“With all these and many more, no good and responsible President will standby and allow the grave situation to continue without taking remedial steps prescribed by the Constitution to address the situation in the state, which no doubt requires extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order and security.
“In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State and the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State having failed to make a request to me as President to issue this proclamation as required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, 18th March, 2025 and I so do.
“By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months.
“In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate.
“The Administrator will not make any new laws. He will, however, be free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job, but such regulations will need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the President.
President Bola Tinubu will address the nation at 7 pm Tuesday in a nationwide broadcast on the situation in Rivers State.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed this in a statement he signed Tuesday titled ‘President Tinubu broadcasts to the nation.’
“The NTA and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria will transmit the broadcast at 7 pm.
“All TV and radio stations are requested to link up with the broadcast,” it read.
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revoked the land of the Peoples Democratic Party’s national secretariat, which is situated in Abuja.
Wike issued the revocation notice in a letter dated March 13, 2025, titled, “Notice of right of occupancy with file no: MISC 81346 in respect of plot no: 243 within central area district, Abuja,” on Tuesday.
It was signed by the Director, Land Administration (FTC), Chijioke Nwankwoeze.
According to him, the opposition party has failed to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for twenty (20) years, from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2025, despite many publications in several national dailies and electronic media to pay up every outstanding bill and ground rent on its property.
The letter read, “I have been directed to refer to the above Right of Occupancy granted to PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), NATIONAL SECRETARIAT and inform you that the Minister of Federal Capital Territory has in the exercise of powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, revoked your rights, interests and privileges over Plot No. 243 within Central Area, Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja.
“The revocation is in view of your continued contravention of the terms and conditions of grant of the Right of Occupancy by failing to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for twenty (20) years, from Ist of January 2006 to 1st of January 2025. This is despite the many publications made by the FCT Administration since 2023 in several national dailies and on electronic media requesting all allottees of plots in the Federal Capital Territory to pay up every outstanding bill and ground rent on their property.
“You would please note that the said breaches by PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), NATIONAL SECRETARIAT (MISC 81346) run contrary to the provisions of Section 28, Subsection 5 (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act.”
The minister added that the FCTA administration he led will henceforth take immediate possession of the party secretariat until all bills are settled.
More details later…