Politics
Periscoping 2020 (2)
On Thursday, February 6, 2020, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), de-registered 74 political parties, leaving, only 18 as duly recognised political parties in Nigeria.
Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu who broke the news to journalists in Abuja at a press conference, said the decision of the commission was in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).
According to the commission, those that are qualified to exist as political parties include: Accord Party (AP), Action Alliance (AA), African Action Congress (AAC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Congress (APC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Allied Peoples Movement (APM). Others are: Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), National Rescue Mission (NRM), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Prof. Yakubu said INEC de-registered the 74 political parties for failing to satisfy the requirements to operate as contained in the Fourth Alteration to the constitution and also fixed the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo on September 19 and October 10, 2020, respectively.
The Nigerian Senate, on Thursday, February 6, 2020, constituted a 56-member Constitution Review Committee to handle all bills seeking alterations in the provisions of the 1999 constitution.
Dr Ahmad Lawan, President of the Senate, said eight principal officers of the senate will serve as steering committee within the larger committee with the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege as chairman.
In the House of Representatives, the lawmakers passed for second reading, a bill seeking to give local government full financial and administrative autonomy.
After seven months in office, the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, for the first time, presided over plenary on Thursday, February 6, 2020, after the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan sought to leave the chambers to attend to other matters outside.
For the second time in three weeks, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), took its protest to the embassies of the European Union (EU), United Nations (UN) and France, condemning among other things, what it termed ‘threat to democracy’ by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, February 11, 2020.
The protest which took off from the party’s National Presidential Campaign headquarters, Maitama, Abuja, attracted key members of the National Working Committee (NWC), led by the National Secretary of the party, Senator Ibrahim Tsauri.
The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, February 11, 2020, affirmed the Bayelsa State governor-elect, David Lyon, as the valid candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last governorship election in the state.
A five-man panel of the court led by Justice Mary Peter-Odili unanimously dismissed the appeal filed by Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who had instituted his case, seeking to be declared the valid winner of the September 4, 2019, primary election of the APC in Bayelsa.
The Supreme Court, on Thursday, February 13, 2020, sacked the governor-elect of Bayelsa State, David Lyon and his deputy, Biobarakumo Degi-Eremieoyo.
The apex court, in a unanimous decision by a five-man panel of Justices led by Justice Mary Peter-Odili held that Degi-Eremieoyo presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
It held that the Form CF 001 Degi-Ermieoyo submitted to INEC for the purpose of the November 16, 2019, governorship election in Bayelsa State contained false information of fundamental nature.
Friday, February 14, 2020, Senator Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was sworn-in as the 5th Executive Governor of Bayelsa State.
An Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, on Monday, February 17, 2020, restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from de-registering 31 political parties.
The restraining order followed an interlocutory motion that was brought before the court by two plaintiffs led by the Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD).
The sacked governor-elect of Bayelsa State, David Lyon and the All Progressives Congress (APC), lost their bids to overturn the Supreme Court ruling of February 13, which removed Lyon as the duly elected governor of the state on February 28.
In a ruling, the Supreme Court dismissed the application for review of the judgment which rendered Lyon’s election invalid because of what the five-man panel of Justices attributed to the alleged certificate forgery committed by Lyon’s running mate, Senator Biobarakumo Degi-Eremieoyo.
According to Justice Amina Augie who read the judgment, the applications lacked merit, adding that the decisions of the court are final.
No fewer than four Hilux patrol vehicles loaded with battle-ready mobile and regular policemen, on Thursday, February 27, stormed the headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja.
The arrival of the security agents forestalled a possible bloody clash of the pro and anti-protesters against the National Chairman of the ruling party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
A High Court sitting in Lokoja declared the removal of Elder Simon Achuba, as Deputy Governor of Kogi State by the State House of Assembly as null and void, adding that the subsequent nomination of Chief Edward Onoja did not follow due process.
Delivering judgment on the matter brought before the court by Elder Achuba on Thursday, February 27, Justice John Olorunfemi of the Lokoja High Court 4 declared the removal of the former Kogi State Deputy Governor from office by the Assembly as a violation of the constitution.
The Director, Legal Services of INEC, Oluwatoyin Babalola, on Monday, March 2, disclosed that the commission had proposed 34 amendments to the Electoral Act.
Speaking at the opening of a week-long retreat on the review of the electoral legal framework jointly organized by the commission, the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) in Lagos, Babalola said there are certain shortcomings in the electoral legal framework that needed to be addressed through legislation.
On Monday, March 2, the sacked governor of Imo State and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), again asked the Supreme Court for an adjournment to a later date for the hearing of their application for a review of the court’s judgment sacking Ihedioha.
When the case was called, their lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN) said the 1st and 2nd respondents- Hope Uzodinma and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) – just served them some documents before the court began sitting.
The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said in Lagos, while declaring open a retreat on the Electoral Legal Framework, on Monday March 2, that the commission had begun to review a draft of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill that will include stringent punishments for election violators.
He said that the commission had in late 2019 received the draft of the bill from the senate committee on INEC which had earlier been presented to the executive for assent before the 2019 general elections.
A seven-man panel of Supreme Cout Justices led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, on Tuesday, March 3, voted six-to-one, with the majority agreeing to dismiss the application by Hon Emeka Ihediohas’s lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), that the court should review its judgment sacking his client as governor of Imo State.
A justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Chima Nweze, who gave a dissenting judgment, noted that the Supreme Court is permitted by law to overrule itself.
“The reasoning in the judgment will, sooner or later, haunt our electoral jurisprudence” Justice Nweze said, adding that his argument was an appeal to the “brooding spirit of the law”.
Reacting, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the verdict of the Supreme Court on the review of its judgment on the Imo governorship election was a disconcerting endorsement of electoral fraud, which places a huge burden on the court and the Lord Justices.
The PDP, however, noted that in the face of the sad verdict, Justice Chima Nweze’s judgment presented a glimpse of hope for the nation’s judiciary.
On Tuesday, March 3, the Oyo, Ogun, Lagos and Osun States, Houses of Assembly, respectively passed a bill to establish a regional security outfit codenamed ‘Amotekun’.
The Oyo State House of Assembly passed the Oyo State Security Network Agency Bill, 2020 Codenamed Operation Amotekun. In Ogun State, the state House of Assembly also passed the State Security Network Agency and Amotekun Corps Bill.
In Lagos State, the state House of Assembly, at plenary, passed the bill to create Amotekun Corps as a special unit of the Lagos State Neigbhourhood Safety Corps, while in Osun State, the State House of Assembly passed the Osun Security Network Agency and Amotekun Corps Establishment Bill 2020 after it was read for the third time.
The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, March 3, resolved that the National Assembly should suspend plenary for two weeks to enable the management install facilities to screen and detect coronavirus.
A Federal Capital Territory High Court, on Wednesday, March 4, gave an order restraining Comrade Adams Oshiomhole from parading himself as National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In his ruling, Hon. Justice Senchi Z. Danlami gave an order of interlocutory injunction restraining Comrade Oshiomhole from parading himself as the National Chairman of the APC pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
After weeks of speculation and suspense, governors of South-South States of Rivers, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River, on Thursday, March 5, agreed to establish a regional security outfit to tackle peculiar challenges in the region. This came on the heels of the passage of the bill for the establishment of South-West security network, Amotekun, by State Houses of Assembly in states of the region.
Addressing journalists in Asaba at the end of the meeting of the Forum of Governors in the South-South, Chairman of the forum and governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, said the governors had agreed to resuscitate the BRACED Commission, a regional economic and integration platform.
By: Opaka Dokubo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday told the National Assembly that it requires N873.78bn to conduct the 2027 general elections, even as it seeks N171bn to fund its operations in the 2026 fiscal year.
INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, made the disclosure while presenting the commission’s 2026 budget proposal and the projected cost for the 2027 general elections before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja.
According to Amupitan, the N873.78bn election budget covers the full conduct of national polls in 2027.
An additional N171bn is needed to support INEC’s routine activities in 2026, including bye-elections and off-season elections, the commission stated.
The INEC boss said the proposed election budget does not include a fresh request from the National Youth Service Corps seeking increased allowances for corps members engaged as ad-hoc staff during elections.
He explained that, although the details of specific line items were not exhaustively presented, the almost N1tn election budget is structured across five major components.
“N379.75bn is for operational costs, N92.32bn for administrative costs, N209.21bn for technological costs, N154.91bn for election capital costs and N42.61bn for miscellaneous expenses,” Amupitan said.
The INEC chief noted that the budget was prepared “in line with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates the Commission to prepare its election budget at least one year before the general election.”
On the 2026 fiscal year, Amupitan disclosed that the Ministry of Finance provided an envelope of N140bn, stressing, however, that “INEC is proposing a total expenditure of N171bn.”
The breakdown includes N109bn for personnel costs, N18.7bn for overheads, N42.63bn for election-related activities and N1.4bn for capital expenditure.
He argued that the envelope budgeting system is not suitable for the Commission’s operations, noting that INEC’s activities often require urgent and flexible funding.
Amupitan also identified the lack of a dedicated communications network as a major operational challenge, adding that if the commission develops its own network infrastructure, Nigerians would be in a better position to hold it accountable for any technical glitches.
Speaking at the session, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) said external agencies should not dictate the budgeting framework for INEC, given the unique and sensitive nature of its mandate.
He advocated that the envelope budgeting model should be set aside.
He urged the National Assembly to work with INEC’s financial proposal to avoid future instances of possible underfunding.
In the same vein, a member of the House of Representatives from Edo State, Billy Osawaru, called for INEC’s budget to be placed on first-line charge as provided in the Constitution, with funds released in full and on time to enable the Commission to plan early enough for the 2027 general election.
The Joint Committee approved a motion recommending the one-time release of the Commission’s annual budget.
The committee also said it would consider the NYSC’s request for about N32bn to increase allowances for corps members to N125,000 each when engaged for election duties.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Simon Along, assured that the National Assembly would work closely with the Commission to ensure it receives the necessary support for the successful conduct of the 2027 general elections.
Similarly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Bayo Balogun, also pledged legislative support, warning INEC to be careful about promises it might be unable to keep.
He recalled that during the 2023 general election, INEC made strong assurances about uploading results to the INEC Result Viewing portal, creating the impression that results could be monitored in real time.
“iREV was not even in the Electoral Act; it was only in INEC regulations. So, be careful how you make promises,” Balogun warned.
The N873.78bn proposed by INEC for next year’s general election is a significant increase from the N313.4bn released to the Commission by the Federal Government for the conduct of the 2023 general election.
In a timetable issued by its National Secretariat in Abuja and signed by the National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, the party said the activities were in line with provisions of its constitution guiding the election of party officials across all tiers.
According to the schedule, membership e-registration began on January 31 and ended on February 8, while notices of congresses were dispatched to state and Federal Capital Territory chapters on February 2.
Submission of nomination forms for ward and local government congresses closed on February 9, followed by screening and appeals between February 10 and February 14.
Ward congresses are fixed for February 18, with appeals the following day, while local government congresses will take place on February 21 and appeals on February 23.
At the state level, purchase of forms for state executive positions will run from February 22 to February 25, with screening set for February 27–28 and appeals from March 1–2. State congresses are scheduled for March 3, and appeals on March 4.
Activities leading to zonal congresses and the national convention include purchase and submission of forms between March 12 and March 16, inauguration of screening committees on March 23, and screening of aspirants on March 24. Zonal congresses across the six geo-political zones are slated for March 25, with appeals on March 26.
The party’s national convention will hold from March 27 to March 28.The APC also published fees for expression of interest and nomination forms across the different tiers.
At the ward level, expression of interest costs ?5,000, while nomination forms range from ?15,000 to ?20,000 depending on the position. For local government positions, nomination forms range from ?50,000 to ?100,000 after a ?10,000 expression-of-interest fee.
State executive positions attract ?50,000 for expression of interest, with nomination forms pegged at ?1 million for chairman and ?500,000 for other offices. Zonal offices require ?100,000 expression of interest and ?200,000 for nomination.
For national positions, the fees rise significantly, with expression of interest set at ?100,000. Nomination forms cost ?10 million for national chairman, ?7.5 million for deputy national chairmen and national secretary, ?5 million for other offices, and ?250,000 for National Executive Committee membership.
The party noted that female aspirants, youths and persons living with disabilities would pay only the expression-of-interest fee and 50 per cent of nomination costs. It also clarified that Ekiti, Osun, Rivers states and the FCT are excluded from ward, local government and state congresses, but will participate in electing delegates to the national convention.
Forms are to be completed online after payment verification, with payments directed to designated APC accounts at Zenith Bank and United Bank for Africa.
The congress cycle is expected to determine new party leadership structures ahead of future electoral activities.
The Tide source reports that the committee, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, is making moves to reclaim the Wadata Plaza headquarters months after it was sealed following a violent clash between rival factions of the party.
Senior officers at the FCT Police Command told our source that while they had not received an official briefing, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other key locations to maintain peace.
The Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed-led committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, announced last week that the secretariat would reopen for official activities on Monday (today).
He dismissed claims that ongoing litigation would prevent the reopening, saying, “There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters.”
However, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has fiercely rejected the reopening move, insisting that Sen. Anyanwu and his group remain expelled from the PDP and have no authority to act on its behalf.
Speaking with The Tide source, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, declared: “They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto.
“Even INEC, which they claim has recognised them, has denied them. They are indulging in a roller coaster of self-deceit.”
Mr Ememobong further revealed that letters had been sent to both the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, stressing that the matter was still in court and warning against any attempt to “resort to self-help.”
“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” he said.
He warned that reopening the secretariat would amount to contempt of court.
A senior officer at the FCT Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers would be deployed to the area to avert a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the secretariat’s initial closure.
“The command would not stand by and allow a breakdown of peace and order by the party or anyone else. Definitely, the police will have to be on the ground,” he said.
Another officer added, “There will definitely be men present at the secretariat, but I can’t say the number of police officers that would be deployed.”
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening and declined to comment on whether officers would be deployed.
Asked to confirm whether the secretariat was initially sealed by police, she responded, “Yes,” but refused to say more about the current deployment plans.
-
Sports4 days agoArsenal Women End Man City’s Invincibility
-
Sports4 days agoU-20 WWC: Falconets claim qualifier win
-
Sports4 days agoInsurance Deepen Enyimba’s Trouble
-
Sports4 days agoYouth Olympics preparation Gears up
-
Sports4 days agoCologne Youth Team Set Crowd Record
-
Sports5 days agoTornadoes Set For NPFL exit over Stadium Ban
-
Sports4 days agoBarca Pull Out Of Super League Project
-
Sports4 days agoPalmer Stars As Chelsea Compound Wolves Woes