Nation

Deregistration: Stop Misleading Public On S’Court Judgment, CUPP Tells INEC

Published

2 years ago

May 12, 2021

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of misleading the public over the judgment of the Supreme Court, last Friday, which upheld the deregistration of National Unity Party (NUP).

While accusing INEC of sponsoring fake news that the Supreme Court has upheld its deregistration of 74 political parties, the CUPP noted that the judgment has no effect whatsoever in the matter of 22 political parties pending at the Supreme Court and other parties at various stages of litigation.

The CUPP, according to a statement issued by its National Secretary, Steering Committee, High Chief Peter Ameh; and Chairman, Contact and Mobilization, and member, Steering Committee, Rev. Olusegun Peters; respectively, said it was alarm that the electoral empire could descend so low to feed public with fake news.

According the statement, ”CUPP is alarmed that INEC would condescend so low in sponsoring and spreading fake news that the Supreme Court has upheld its deregistration of 74 political parties on 6th February, 2020, conscious of the fact that only one political party (NUP), appeal was determined by the apex court. NUP had approached the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court seeking to know if INEC has power to deregister political parties which the courts affirmed.

“The courts decisions on NUP from high court to apex court bind only NUP based on its prayer before the courts.

“The judgment does not in any way bind the 22 political parties which got victory at the Court of Appeal as they are not parties before the Supreme Court in NUP’s case and their prayers before the courts are also different.

“On August 10, 2020, the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/507/2020, between Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) & 21 others and Attorney General of the Federation & INEC ruled that the deregistration of the 22 political parties was unconstitutional, and ordered INEC to relist them as registered political parties.

”The court also distinguished the matter from NUP’s case declaring that NUP remained deregistered. Instead of obeying a clear order of court, the commission said it would wait until the apex court determined the two appeals before it to know which one to obey.

”The NUP’s appeal was decided on May 7, 2021, remaining the INEC appeal in favour of 22 parties it arbitrarily deregistered. The case of the 22 political parties bothers on fair hearing and flagrant violation of due process and the rule of law in deregistering the affected parties, and not whether INEC has the power to deregister parties as in the case of NUP.

“It is pertinent to know that the 22 parties were already in court with INEC challenging the commission’s arbitrary process of deregistering political parties without following due process, the court gave an order restraining the commission from deregistering them pending the determination of the issue before it.

”It was during the pendency of the matter and the court order that INEC deregistered 74 political parties. However, on August 10, 2020, the appellate court nullified the purported deregistration of the 22 political parties and ordered the commission to relist.

”It is obvious that the two appeals are not the same, therefore, the fate of NUP does not bind on the 22 parties and others at various stages of litigation.

”CUPP expresses confidence in the Judiciary as the last hope of all oppressed people in Nigeria and believes justice will prevail in the matter before it.

”CUPP also warns INEC to stop killing the voice of opposition in Nigeria and suffocating the political space which is detrimental in our quest for liberal democracy, social justice and equity. The coalition will resist any attempt to undermine our hard earned democracy.”

Nation

NSCDC Commissions New Commands In Kebbi, Sokoto

Published

3 days ago

May 31, 2023

The Tide

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has set up new command posts in Kebbi and Sokoto States to boost staff performance, security and better protect critical national infrastructure in the states.
Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who commissioned the two commands, said Federal Government would not relent in ensuring the protection of citizens at all times by providing the necessary supports, and logistics needed to maintain the current tempo of development to ensure effective discharge of the Corps core mandates
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore, Aregbesola stated that the Federal Government was dedicated to continuously support the Corps to enhance performance and boost national security.
According to a statement signed by the agency’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Olusola Odumosu, the minister also tasked personnel in the two states to live up to the mandate of the agency and exhibit the highest level of discipline in their conduct.
He further charged the personnel to “abstain from rancor and unnecessary rivalry and ensure effective synergy with military and all other law enforcement agencies”.
Aregbesola commended the leadership of the Corps for the tremendous transformation witnessed within the last two years as he further attributed it to the doggedness, determination, pragmatic approach and readiness of personnel to impact positively on the nation’s security.
Present at the event were governors of the two states; Atiku Bagudu of and Aminu Tambuwal who were both represented.

Nation

NAWOJ Partners FH1360 To Boost Maternal, Infant Nutrition

Published

3 days ago

May 31, 2023

The Tide

The Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos State Chapter, in collaboration with FH1360/Alive and Thrive Project hosted an interactive media round table aimed at promoting maternal, infant and young child nutrition, with an intervention of reducing the total number of anemia and all deficiencies related to mother and child.
Chairperson, NAWOJ, Lagos State, Adeola Ekine, said the initiative was focused on improved reporting of maternal nutrition coverage in journalism.
She added that the annual event provides insight on illnesses affecting children and mothers and their possible solutions
The Lagos State team Lead, Alive and Thrive, Olawunmi Ajayi, who spoke extensively on Maternal, Infant and young child nutrition (MIYCN), noted that Nigeria loses about 2313 children daily translating to 844,321, children death annually, half of which are due to malnutrition.
“You don’t have to spend a lot on trying to impress people about your feeding habit you just have to make sure you are providing and feeding a well-balanced diet.

Nation

Association Seeks Humanitarian Affairs Minister Portfolio

Published

3 days ago

May 31, 2023

The Tide

The Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW) has advised President Bola Tinubu to appoint a qualified social worker as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
This is contained in a congratulatory message signed by its Publicity Secretary, Musliudeen Adebayo, and made available to newsmen in Ibadan yesterday.
The Tide source reports that NASoW, the umbrella body of social workers in the country was founded in 1975.
The President of NASow, Alhaji Mashood Mustapha, congratulated Tinubu on his swearing-in ceremony as the 16th President of Nigeria.
Mustapha said that the appointment of a social worker who had the requisite knowledge and skills to paddle the affairs of the ministry would promote the humanitarian agenda.
He said that appointing a NASoW member as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development was in the interest of the nation.
Mustapha said that the ministry had core mandate to promote social work and quality social services delivery in the country.
He said that the association was ready and fully prepared to work with the new administration to achieve its aim in all areas of human development.
He said that the call for the appointment was as a result of the ministry’s strategic importance to the welfare of citizens, which is the main goal of this administration.
The NASoW president said that one of the association’s achievements during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari was the signing of the Nigerian Council for Social Work (NCSW) Establishment Act 2022.
Mustapha encouraged Tinubu to set another record by appointing a qualified social worker as minister for humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development.
He said that the association was anxiously waiting for the time when NCSW would be constituted.
“We are using this medium to congratulate our new President Bola Tinubu on his emergence as the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We appeal to him to appoint a social worker as the minster for humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development. This is our ministry; it is the main ministry for social workers
“We advise the president to put a round peg in a round hole for the betterment of the country,” he said.
Mustapha enjoined the president to appoint a minister, who had the required knowledge of social work as they expected the minister to constitute the NCWS board as soon as possible.
“The Nigerian Council for Social Work (Establishment) Act 2022 has been gazetted. Our law has become an Act of Parliament.
“This implies that a lot of good things are coming for the good people of Nigeria. The council is yet to be constituted.
“When this is done, it will help to give more recognition to social work practice in Nigeria,” he said.
He said that the establishment of NCSW would create job opportunities and enabling environment for social workers to provide the much desired quality social services to the people.
Mustapha said that it would also reduce migration of social workers to other countries in quest for prosperity.