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Groups Accuse INEC Of Destroying 15.4m New Voters’ Registrations
A coalition of democracy and social justice, the International College of Democracy and Human Rights Scholars, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the destruction of 15.4million out of 27.6million new voters’ registrations between July 2021 and July 2022.
The group was recently formed by experts operating in Nigeria and beyond its shores involving 41 Professors, 20 Doctorate Degree Holders, 30 Lawyers, 19 Indigenous Northern Religious Leaders, 14 Eastern Nigerian Democracy and Human Rights CSO Leaders, Swiss and American Rights Campaigners and other respected democracy and social justice advocates or campaigners.
In a statement by the board Chairman of Intersociety, Emeka Umeagbalasi, on behalf of other rights groups, said it was the fallout of critical examination by the college of the INEC’s released official statistics relating to the 31st July, 2022 abrupt termination of the CVR ahead of the country’s 2023 General Election especial the presidential segment.
According to him, “the 15.4million new voters’ registrations destroyed by INEC is more than the total winning votes (15,191,847 votes) of the country’s Presidential Election of February 2019 declared by the commission and credited to the Presidency of Buhari/Osibanjo.
“The alarming discovery by the college was contained in a fresh letter sent to Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu through National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Barrister Festus Okoye.
“The letter was duly communicated yesterday, 10th August, 2022 through their official emails and WhatsApp. A physical copy has also been delivered to the Office of the INEC chairman in Abuja. The letter was a follow-up to the first letter by the college written to the commission on 14th June 2022, a period of 27 days today.
“It must be recalled that the college had in its letter of 14th July, 2022 investigated and identified 30 disenfranchisement and election rigging plots ahead of the 2023 General Election, particularly the President segment and called on the Independent National Electoral commission to publicly speak in admission to or against the 30 rigging plots with outlined plan of action to tackle them headlong.
“Regrettably, the commission neither reached out nor publicly spoke or responded to date. The commission also chose not to respond to any of the issues raised including our 16-point demands; thereby taking responsibility for hatching the 30 poll rigging plots. By the above, therefore, no explanations by the commission concerning the letter will be entertained or accepted by the college.
“The college carefully studied INEC’s officially released statistics including its updates on CVR, starting from 28th June or end of June 2021 when the CRV commenced and 31st July 2022 when it was abruptly terminated and found that INEC deliberately, mindlessly, hatefully and discriminatorily engaged in massive disenfranchisement of tens of millions of enthusiastic Nigerians that trouped to INEC registration centres so as to be registered ahead of the 2023 Presidential Election.
“The destruction was also found to have been perpetrated on the grounds of ethnicity and religion. It was further discovered that the destroyed figure (15.4million new voters’ registrations) did not include those that logged into INEC’s online voters’ registration portal but could not continue or conclude their registrations.
“To buttress the above, it was observed, for instance, that between January 2022 and 2nd June 2022, a total of 19.1million applicants were received by the commission, out of which only 6.8million were validated as ‘successfully registered voters. INEC had, for no just reason, shut down its online voters’ registration portal on 31st May 2022 and never opened it till 31st July 2022 when it abruptly terminated the CVR exercise.
“Apart from several INEC top-shots descending so low to hatefully and discriminatorily mock the affected citizens, saying they: “suddenly wake up at their beck and call to be registered”, the commission was maliciously found to have hidden under the cloak of ‘incomplete registration’, ‘multiple registrations’ and ‘timed-out biometric capturing’ as reasons for the massive disenfranchisement.
“Consequently, INEC’s hurried termination of the CVR on 31st July 2022 which is seven months before the February and March 2023 General Election, contrary to the statutorily provided 90 days or November 25, 2022, is utterly suspicious and strongly condemned. It is also a confirmation that the commission is partisan and holding brief for a particular political party and its candidate and bent on massively disenfranchising tens of millions of citizens of voting age including 7million-11million that successfully did their online pre-registration and voters’ registration by 90percent completion, remaining only physical biometric capturing.
“Therefore, what the sum total of the above means is that while tens of millions of Nigerian citizens of voting age worked hard under the rain and the sun and got registered by INEC, the commission unscrupulously engaged in the destruction of their registrations, to the tune of 15.4million and as if that was not enough, the commission has further threatened to disenfranchise millions more between August and November 2022 repetitively using ‘elimination of multiple registrants’ as a deceitful cover”, Umeagbalasi alleged.
News
ECOWAS Court Orders Nigeria to Pay N52m compensation to Rivers, Lagos Evictees

The ECOWAS Court has ordered Nigeria to pay two million Naira compensation each to 26 people who were forcibly evicted from various communities in Lagos and Rivers between 2004 and 2013.
The Tide source reports that the applicants, Mr Edwin Lenyie and 25 others had filed the suit No: ECW/CCJ/APP/34/17), seeking the enforcement of their fundamental human rights.
They also prayed the court to compel the Nigerian government to pay them compensation for forcefully evicting them from their communities without prior notice, compensation, or alternative shelter, rendering them homeless.
Delivering judgment yesterday, the court held that the Nigerian government failed in its responsibility to ensure access to legal remedies for the victims.
According to the community court, the action of the Nigerian government was in violation of Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.
It held that the Applicants’ rights under Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), which guarantees the right to a fair trial and access to justice, were violated.
The court said that the hearings on the matter, which were held by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) “were never concluded, and no alternative means of redress were provided for them.”
“Inspite of initial hearings by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in 2014, the proceedings were suspended indefinitely, leaving the Applicants without legal recourse,” the court said.
The court further dismissed Nigeria’s objections that the Applicants should have pursued their claims in Nigerian courts and on jurisdiction, saying it had the locus standi to entertain the case.
It further struck out the NHRC as a respondent in the case, and ordered that the Federal Government must bear full responsibility for the actions of its agencies.
The three-member panel of the court which has Justices Ricardo Gonçalves (presiding); Sengu Koroma (judge rapporteur); and Gberi-Bè Ouattara (member) held that the compensation/reparation would ensure that justice is served the victims.
News
RSG Moves To Boost Immunization, Commissions Solarized Cold Room, Vehicles

As part of efforts to ensure efficient immunization and vaccine efficacy, the Rivers state Government has commissioned a solarised walk-in cold room for vaccine preservation and vaccine vial crusher.
Also commissioned were nine operational Hilux vehicles and ten motorcycles for disease surveillance across some local government areas in the state.
Rivers Deputy Governor, Professor Ngozi Odu, who commissioned the facilities at the Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board premises in Port Harcourt, said the development marks a significant milestone in the government’s unwavering commitment to the health care and wellbeing of Rivers people.
The Deputy Governor said that with the ceremony, the state government is not only inaugurating the equipment but also strengthening the foundation of the health care delivery system
She said: “Today marks a significant milestone in our unwavering commitment to the health and wellbeing of our people.
“As we commission the solarised work in cold room to the surveillance motorcycles, we are not only inaugurating the equipment, we are strengthening the foundation of our health care delivery system.’
Professor Odu further said the installation of the cold room also represents the government’s dedication to maintaining vaccine efficacy as well as ensuring that every child and citizen receives life savings immunization.
According to her, the commissioned Hilux vehicles and motorcycles for disease surveillance also demonstrate the government’s proactive stance in safeguarding health facilities across the local government areas.
She said the present administration, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has consistently prioritised health care infrastructure in the local government areas.
Professor Odu commended the United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF), the World Health Organization WHO, and others for their immense support.
In her remarks, Rivers Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, who spoke through her Permanent Secretary, Dr. Comfort Mekele Igwe said the commissioning would greatly enhance vaccine storage, handling, and distribution and underscores the government’s commitment to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of the Primary Healthcare System
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board (RSPHCMB), Professor Kinikanwo Green, said the commissioning is to strengthen health care delivery system in the state.
Green described the solarised walk-in cold room as one of the best in the country, stressing that it would take care of all vaccines.
He also explained that the vehicles will help health officers, especially in the rural areas to ensure proper supervision of immunisation as well as easy dispatches of vaccines to its destination.
According to the Executive Secretary, the situation will also enable the state to achieve universal health coverage
Speaking in similar vein, the chairman of RSPHCMB, Professor Blessing Jaja, said the board will continue to deliver on it core mandate and commended Governor Fubara for ensuring regular subvention as well promotion of its staff.
In their separate speeches, representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Kolude Oluwafunmilola, and Dr Anselem Audu of UNICEF said the ceremony represents Rivers state’s commitment to quality health care.
They also commended the government for its efforts in advancing immunization in the state and assured of their continuous collaborations.
John Bibor
News
Fubara Tasks New Surveyor-General On Professionalism …Says Appointment Based On Merit

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has urged the Surveyor-General of the State to work differently with professionalism, diligence and integrity, and ensure that every tenable, pragmatic module is deplored to enhance effective delivery of his duties and responsibilities.
Governor Fubara gave the charge shortly after swearing in Surveyor Peter Ogolo as the Surveyor-General of the State and Permanent Secretary of the Survey Department at Government House in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.
The Governor described Surveyor Ogolo as a long serving public officer who ranks high among his peers, and has contributed immensely to the establishment of most development roadmaps for the State, stressing that his appointment was based purely on merit.
He said, “If you go into the history of how the then Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority was established, if you go into the history of other developments in this State, if you check the survey plans, you will see that Ogolo was the one who signed virtually all those things.
“This appointment is not because he is from Opobo. He is the most senior, most qualified, and even the one who interviewed the person he is succeeding now. The records are there with the Civil Service Commission.”
Governor Fubara stated: “So, I don’t need to give you any charge. You are already there. You know what the office entails. You just read your oath of office: do what is right. It is not about the faces you are going to see, do what is right. Be professional, defend and protect the interest of the State. I wish you all the best. God will guide you.”
Governor Fubara recalled the challenges that Surveyor Ogolo encountered that would have ended his career quite early but quickly added that because he listened to wise counsel, he is now celebrating being the Surveyor-General of the State.
He explained, “But something happened in the course of his service. He was between losing his job or fighting for his life. He came to me, and I advised him: why don’t you leave, maybe, wait to fight another day.
“And that is why today he is alive to be the Surveyor-General. If he had stood to fight, that he is the most senior, that he is the most qualified, he wouldn’t have been here today,” he stated.
He advised the new Surveyor-General to serve the State selflessly and honestly, with abiding integrity, so that posterity will remember his legacies forever.
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