Politics
Orbih Harps On Electronic Transfer Of Election Results
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South South has called on the National Assembly to retain electronic transmission of results in the Electoral Act
National Vice Chairman, South South of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, made the call on Wednesday in an interview with newsmen in Benin.
He was reacting to the purported removal of the electronic transfer of result provision from the proposed amendment Act currently being debated by the National Assembly.
“Nigerians should resist the removal of electronics transmission of election results during elections from the electoral Act because it is an invitation to unending electoral fraud.’’
Orbih noted that the introduction of electronic transmission of election results from the polling units to collation centres during elections was introduced by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to halt result manipulation during elections.
He noted that the initiative was well applauded by all concerned, as over the years Nigerians had been concerned about elections being free and fair in the country.
“It seems that at the moment some people have started saying oh, it will be difficult to manipulate the electoral process if the electronic transmission of results is allowed to remain in the electoral Act.
“Some of our leaders who know they have not done well to win back the confidence of Nigerians through the ballot box are now against electronic transmission of results.
“If you ask them, why they are opposed to it, they will not give you any reasonable answer other than this fear of eradicating possible manipulation of results during the elections.
“So for me, I think everything should be done to ensure that the clause is not removed from the electoral Act.
“Everything should be done to improve our electoral system so that people will have the confidence that their votes will count on election day.
“This to a large extent will help us eliminate the manipulation of results in elections in Nigeria.
“Doing that, we will be strengthening our democratic process and improving the electoral process itself,” he said.
The South South leader also said that leaving the jurisdiction of electoral matters solely on the Federal High Court would not be the best for the country.
He noted that most of the election cases were time bound, and must be disposed off within a very short period of time.
“So when you restrict this challenge to Federal High Courts alone, I’m afraid we may have lots of cases just waiting for the Federal High Courts to decide within the short period that they must be taken care of.
“With this scenario, it means even pre-election matters should go to the Federal High Courts. Honestly I don’t know how that will help our system,” Orbih said.
On the gale of defections from the party by some members, Orbih said that selfish interest on the part of those leaving the party was responsible.
According to him, there is no basis for them leaving the party except for selfish and personal gains.
“Those who are leaving us are those who have something to hide and are looking for where to hide.
“They are those who have personal interest not for the good of all, but personal interest to promote and protect.
“I want to borrow the now famous saying of Gov. Nyesom Wike, “that there is no justification for any person to leave hope for hopelessness”.
The South South leader further faulted the proposed 30 per cent for exploration in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
According to him, I have never seen anything in practical terms to capture the wise saying that you cannot rob Peter to pay Paul than this PIB.
“It shows the long term marginalisation of the oil producing communities of the Niger Delta.
“It shows the obvious wickedness of our leaders to continue to deny them adequate compensation over challenges arising from the drilling of oil in these communities”.
He stressed that the agitation of the people of the region had always been over the damage from oil prospecting and processes done to their lands.
“Some of their lands are no longer fertile for agriculture; most of their fish farms can no longer survive the fallout of these processes.
“To know that they don’t have any special compensation for having the land where the wealth of the Nation’s comes from shows clearly that our leaders are insensitive to what these people are going through.
“And now you are saying, you want to take 30 per cent of our oil revenue for exploration in the desert land where nobody has come to tell us whether that oil had been struck, and even if there is whether they are economically viable.
“The ones that were discovered in the Niger Delta, did they take a percentage of our National income to develop them.
“Companies that discovered the viability of these wells paid their fees to be allowed to carry out their businesses.
“So, why are you now taking a percentage to go and develop fields in areas not yet confirmed to even have oil, and you are allocating just three per cent to the producing communities?
“It does not make any sense,” Orbih added
Politics
Rivers Lawmakers’ Defection, ‘Monkey Politics’-CSO
Civil Society Coalition for Good Governance, Budget and Accountability has condemned the defection of the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Executive Secretary, Civil Society Coalition for Good Governance, Budget and Accountability, Amb. Emmanuel Nkweke, who said this in an interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt also described as illegal all legislations passed by the defected lawmakers.
Amb. Nkweke described the defection as “monkey politics’, queried the rational behind the action of the lawmakers few months after being sworn into office, adding that members of the civil society community were yet to be told reasons for the defection.
“Up till now, we are yet to be told why they defected just few months of being sworn into office. For me, that is monkey politics”, he said.
He urged the lawmakers to go back to their former party and beg Rivers people for forgiveness, adding that if that is done, they may be welcomed back.
Amb. Nkweke also cautioned the lawmakers not to allow themselves to be used to do the bidding of an individual, adding that the present administration in the state needs the support of all to move forward.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the group has commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for giving civil societies the latitude to operate freely in the state.
He alleged that civil societies were caged in the last eight years, adding that there was no breathing space for civil societies in the last eight years in the state.
Amb. Nkweke described civil society as the engine room of democracy as it engages in sensitisation on the policies and programmes of government, regretting, however, that their inputs were never taken into considerations.
“Civil societies give signals, civil society creates the awareness and sensitize the people towards achieving a reliable democracy.
‘’i want to let you know, very frankly, that civil society space in Rivers State, for the past eight years, was suffocated. There was no breathing space, they didn’t breathe. Civil society was dead completely”, he said.
Amb. Nkweke said the situation also affected upcoming activists as some of them had to operate from hideouts.
By: John Bibor
Politics
Sack Incompetent Officials In Your Govt, NANS Urges Tinubu
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on President Bola Tinubu not to condone incompetent personalities in his government.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, NANS President, Comrade Pedro Obi, expressed concerns about the competence of the Minister of State for Youth Development and the SSA to the President on Student Engagement.
Comrade Obi, after staging a peaceful protest at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), reiterated that the NANS will not be intimidated and will continue to fight for the interests of Nigerian students.
He said, “The message is very simple, we have incompetent people who have been appointed to offices. It’s unfortunate and it’s not the President’s fault, of course he believes in Nigerian youths and has also given us the opportunity to showcase our capacity in various roles that he has given us.
“We have the SSA to the President on Student Engagement, who has shown incompetence. He cannot continue to hold that office and we are calling on Mr. President that he should be sacked with immediate effect.
“Also we have the Minister of State for Youth Development. We are also calling that immediately he should be sacked, because he has left what he ought to do and has dabbled into the affairs of NANS.
“These people have displayed incompetence and are destroying the youth community. There are so many competent youths that President Tinubu can pick from.
“NANS can never be intimidated. This is an organisation that we grew up to meet and we will continue to protect the dignity of this organisation.”
Receiving the NANS on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office in the SGF, Dr. Maurice Nnamdi Mbaeri, assured the NANS of relaying back their complaints to the SGF which he said will land on the listening ears of President Tinubu.
According to him, “I have listened to the complaints you raised. I assure you that your complaints will get to the listening ears of Mr. President.
“Let me assure you that I’m happy this was also re-echoed in the NANS President’s speech that President Tinubu has indebt love for the youths of Nigeria and also for the students of Nigeria. This has been demonstrated by polices that (has) been put in place for the youths.
“I want to assure you that the President has your concerns in his heart and he’s always ever ready to attend to your needs.
“With this, I am going to report back to my boss the SGF, who will take up the matter with the President. I urge you to continue to maintain peace and tranquillity. Don’t do anything that will make Mr. President feel bad about you.”
Politics
Ayu Withdraws Case Against PDP Ahead NEC Meeting
Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyiorchia Ayu, has withdrawn the court action he instituted against the party over his controversial removal from office barely two years into his four year term.
His action has removed legal impediments likely to militate against the emergence of his replacement from the North Central.
Several meetings have been held and being planned following this new development.
On Tuesday, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) passed a vote of confidence on the Ag. National Chairnan, Amb. Umar Damagum, whom members said has discharged his functions creditably.
It was gathered that the North Central Caucus of the party had long before now started mobilizing to ensure that the zone produces Ayu’s replacement to complete his tenure which expires in 2025.
In a related development, Amb. Damagum has held series of meetings with various groups to perhaps shore up his chances of retaining his seat as acting chairman.
He led the members of the NWC on Wednesday to interact with the PDP National Ex-officio ahead of the NEC meeting.
Immediately after the meeting with them, he led the NWC members to another meeting with the State Party Chairmen from the 36 States, including FCT, Abuja.
The meetings were held at the NEC Hall, PDP National Secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, in Abuja.
-
Oil & Energy4 days ago
Electricity Tarrif Is Flexible – Power Minister
-
Niger Delta4 days ago
Community Lauds NDDC, Cleric On Project Execution
-
Editorial1 day ago
Governor’s Pension Law Repeal, Otti’s Example
-
Rivers1 day ago
Monarch Lauds Fubara Over Solicitor-General’s Appointment
-
Education5 days ago
2023 UTME Notification Slips: Police, JAMB Raise Alarm Over Fraudulent Sites
-
Sports4 days ago
Athletics: Ofili, Nathaniel Qualify For Paris Olympics
-
News4 days ago
Fubara Restates Support For Tinubu
-
Sports1 day ago
Quest For Second Treble Motivating Man City