Politics
Periscoping 2020 (4)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in partnership with the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), on Thursday, September 3, 2020, organised a two-day capacity building workshop for electoral officers in Edo to ensure a credible governorship election on September 19.
The Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Johnson Alalibo, said in Benin that the event was organised towards achieving a free, fair and credible governorship election in the state.
The Centre for Liberty (CL) and the Society for Promotion of Better Rivers State (SPBRS) tasked the National Assembly to give priority to the speedy passage of the Electoral Reform Amendment in the hope that the bill would end electoral malpractices at polls.
The groups which made their position known on Friday, September 4, in Port Harcourt also issued the National Assembly December, 2020 deadline for the passage of the bill, nothing that its expedience would help INEC test run the Electoral Act in the 2021 Anambra State governorship election.
Project Leader of Centre for Liberty, Ariyo-Dare Atoye noted that the December, 2020 date was appropriate because the political climate was yet to be polarized by partisan politics.
Erstwhile Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, on Saturday, September 5, emerged the senatorial standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Bayelsa West Senatorial District by-election.
The former governor’s candidature was affirmed by all the delegates to the party primaries as he was unanimously returned unopposed as the sole candidate.
For the first time since he met the President of the United States, Donald Trump in Washington in April, 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed on Tuesday, September 8, that Trump unequivocally accused him of killing Christians in Nigeria.
However, he said he defended himself, telling Trump that the conflict between farmers and herders in Nigeria was caused by cultural matters and not dictated by ethnic or religious factors.
Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolopkolo, Oba Ewuare II, called for the protection of members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that were to be deplored as adhoc staff for the September 19 governorship election in Edo.
Oba Ewuare II made the call when the Director-General of the NYSC, Brig-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim paid him a courtesy visit on Thursday, September 10, in Benin City.
A clash of political thugs on Wednesday, September 9, at Alade Idanre in Idanre Local Government Area left one person dead.
With many others injured during the fracas, it was reported that the deceased, simply identified as Taye, was said to have been challenged by thugs alleged to be APC members for spotting a Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) fez cap.
Socio-Economic rights and Accountability Projects (SERAP) instituted a legal action against Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila.
SERAP accused them of failing to publish reports of all completed public hearings and corruption probes by the National Assembly since 1999.
In suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1065/2020 filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP sought an order of mandamus to compel Lawan and Gbajabiamila to release the findings.
The suit was sequel to SERAP’s Freedom of Information (FoI) requests dated July 25, 2020.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday, September 15, denied that he accused members of the National Assembly of fraud concerning contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Akpabio, had, during an investigative hearing at the House of Representatives claimed that 60 per cent of NDDC contracts went to the federal lawmakers.
However, as the House threatened to initiate a criminal complaint of perjury and explore the possibility of a civil defamation suit against him, Akpabio denied he ever referred to members of the 9th House of Representatives as beneficiaries of contracts in NDDC.
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum and Governor of sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal said that election rigging was akin to a coup d’etat, saying both deprive citizens of leaders of their choice.
Tambuwal who made the remark in a statement on Tuesday, September 15, while commemorating the 2020 International Day of Democracy, said it had become very imperative to strengthen the electoral process, so as to restore public confidence in the country\s democracy.
Elder statesman and play wright, Prof. Wole Soyinka said that the country was more divided as never before under the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Soyinka, in a statement signed from his autonomous residence in Ijegba, Idi-Aba Estate, Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Tuesday, September 15, titled “Between Dividers-in-Chief and Dividers-in-law”, said though he was not a fan of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, he could not but embrace any accurate reading of this nation as a contraption teetering on the edge of total collapse.
The candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2019 Kogi State governorship election, Natasha Akpoti, lauded the United States of America for Slamming visa ban on those who allegedly rigged Kogi and Bayelsa elections. The United States, on Monday, September 14 said it had imposed visa restriction on some individuals if considered responsible for rigging during the Kogi and Bayelsa State governorship elections in 2019.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of the PDP came out victorious on Saturday, September 19, in the Edo State governorship election. He defeated his closest rival, Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), polling a total of 307, 955 votes against APC’s 223, 619 votes.
The governor, in his appreciation message in Benin City, on Sunday, September 20, hailed President Muhammadu Buhari, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other stakeholders who participated in the conduct of the gubernatorial election for ensuring a free, peaceful and credible poll.
President Muhammadu Buhari commended the electoral process in Edo State which led to the victory of Governor Godwin Obsaseki as declared by INEC.
The president’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, in a tweet on Sunday, September 20, said Buhari also commended the people of Edo State, the political parties, candidates and security agencies for conducting themselves responsibly.
“My commitment to free and fair elections is firm because without free and fair elections, the foundation of our political and moral authority will be weak”, Buhari said.
Former National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said that the outcome of the Edo State governorship election should serve as a big lesson to the political leaders and political parties not to take the electorate and the people for granted.
Speaking shortly after the emergence of Governor Obaseki as winner of the poll, Oyegun, a former governor of Edo State, argued that the people had not only proven to be wiser than their leaders but were also ready to punish the leaders when they step out of line.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Tuesday, September 22, presented Certificate of Return (CoR) to the winner of Saturday, September 19 governorship election in Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and his running mate, Mr Philip Shaibu.
The ceremony took place at the collation centre, at the state headquarter of INEC in Benin City .
The Edo governorship election Returning Officer, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, had on Sunday, September 20, declared Obaseki of the PDP winner of the governorship election in the state.
Rim-Rukeh had declared Obaseki winner after polling 307,955 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Pastor Osagie-Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who garnered 223, 619 votes and 12 other candidates.
INEC National Commissioner in charge of Edo, Bayelsa and Rivers States, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, presented the certificates of return to the governor-elect and the deputy governor-elect.
Some members of the United Kingdom’s House of Lords, the upper legislative chamber, were reported to have petitioned the Commonwealth over the persistence of insurgency and farmer/herder crisis in Nigeria.
The lawmakers, in a letter dated September 14, 2020, addressed to the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, said failure of the Federal Government to protect Nigerians was a breach of its obligations under the Commonwealth Charter.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, on Thursday, September 24, shunned the Senate when summoned to brief lawmakers of 2020 Budget performance.
The minister’s refusal to appear before the Senator Barau Jibrin-led Senate Committee on Appropriation was the second time in two weeks.
The Federal Government, on Thursday, September 24, said the nation would mark its 60th Independence anniversary for one year in a low-key and staggered ways.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the disclosure in Abuja at a briefing by a three-man media sub-committee of the event, including the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq.
By: Opaka Dokubo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The commission announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
According to INEC, the decision followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the submission process through the dedicated online portal.
“The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the commission said.
In a a related development, INEC announced the suspension of PVC collection in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards would have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
The electoral body explained that the deadline was necessary to enable it compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the total number of cards collected ahead of the election.
INEC said PVC collection in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026, but was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres.
The exercise subsequently moved to the local government level and ran from August 1 to 7.
The commission also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of cards during attacks on the two collection centres.
It stressed that the stolen cards could not be used to vote.
INEC reassured Osun residents of its preparedness for the August 15 governorship election.
“The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
“INEC reassures the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on 15th August, 2026,” the statement said.
The commission said the deadline, initially set for Saturday, 8 August, has been extended to Tuesday, 11 August 2026, following appeals from political parties for more time.
INEC also announced that the window for voters who applied to replace lost, damaged or defaced PVCs to download their replacement cards will close at midnight on Sunday, 9 August.
The move is to enable the commission compile final PVC collection figures ahead of the 15 August Osun governorship election.
INEC said replacement downloadable PVCs have also been provided to affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas after hoodlums carted away cards from two collection centres, stressing that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
The commission reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive election in Osun State.
Gov. Kefas made the remarks over the weekend at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, during the flag-off of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach in Taraba State, organised as part of activities marking Prof. Yilwatda’s 58th birthday.
The governor commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing to mark his birthday by providing medical care to people in need.
“What Professor Nentawe did is a powerful demonstration of what leadership should be,” Gov. Kefas said.
He assured that his administration would continue to support initiatives that complement government efforts to improve healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of residents.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Yilwatda called on Nigerian leaders to embrace the culture of giving and use their positions to touch the lives of the less privileged.
He said his decision to celebrate his 58th birthday in Taraba State was deliberate and informed by the needs of underserved communities, particularly people who face difficulties accessing healthcare because of distance and financial constraints.
According to him, the intervention followed a needs assessment and was extended across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He said the exercise commenced on August 3 at Takum General Hospital and covered the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari; First Referral Hospital, Sunkani, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area; General Hospital, Bali; General Hospital, Gembu; and FMC Jalingo.
Prof. Yilwatda said the intervention provided medical services to thousands of beneficiaries, including people who required surgical procedures.
He said sustainable national development could only be achieved when strong institutions placed Nigerians at the centre of development.
“Leadership is about service,” he said, urging political and public leaders to make giving back to society an important part of their responsibilities.
He reaffirmed his commitment to serving Nigeria and its people, saying his personal vision was to make every day of his life useful to humanity.
“Every day that I live, the vision is: let it be useful to humanity,” he said.
The Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, commended the initiative, saying it was consistent with the Renewed Hope agenda and efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state.
Dr Buma said the second phase followed the successful completion of the first phase, which was conducted simultaneously in six local government areas, with two LGAs selected from each of the three senatorial districts.
According to him, more than 10,000 patients were attended to during the first phase, including people with medical and surgical conditions.
He disclosed that 327 general surgeries, 71 eye surgeries and 575 dental procedures were carried out during the exercise.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach and thanked Prof. Yilwatda for supporting the initiative and choosing Taraba State as a beneficiary.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, also commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing Taraba State to mark his 58th birthday through a medical outreach.
Prof. Pate said making healthcare the centrepiece of the birthday celebration was significant because health affects everyone.
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