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INEC Seeks Amendment To Candidates Imposition

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Chairman, Board of Electoral Institute, Prof. Lai Olurode,
has said INEC is seriously pushing for an amendment to restrict imposition of
candidates on the commission by political parties.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, the chairman said
that INEC was seeking an amendment to the 2011 Electoral Act to stop parties
from fielding in elections, candidates who did not participate in primaries or
just any candidate without credibility.

Olorode, who is also INEC Commissioner, said it was so
unfortunate that INEC could not on its own reject any list submitted by political
parties.

“If the list of criminals, people with questionable
character are submitted by political parties as candidates to INEC, it has no
right under the constitution to reject such names.

“You cannot reject such names without an amendment to the
Electoral Act because section 87 of the Act says any aspirant, who is aggrieved
with the nomination process, may apply to the Federal High Court or the High
Court of a state for redress.’

He said it was unfortunate that such names were being
imposed on INEC and INEC could not reject such imposition.

Olorode said it had become imperative for the power to be
conferred on the commission with a view to enhancing its independence and
ability to conduct free and fair polls at all times with credible candidates.

The Commissioner said that was a big constraint to the
commission, but expressed the hope that that could be taken out of the
constitution under the review exercise.

Olorode said INEC was also seeking legal and constitutional
interventions for it to determine not just the order of elections but the
timing of elections.

He said the imposition of timing of elections on INEC by the
National Assembly or State governments had become a major challenge.

“He said as simple as deciding the order of elections is, it
is still a battle that INEC is struggling for it with the state governments.”

Olorode said INEC was now seeking for legal and
constitutional interventions to enable it not only determine the order of
elections but the timing of elections as well.

He stated that if the intervention came through it would
become so easy for INEC to decide the order of elections without any challenges
in securing the electoral process.

The Commissioner recalled that in the bid up to the 2011
elections the commission had to seek various constitutional amendments because
there were times when the voters register must be made public and the time of
elections.

He said haven gone through the electoral acts as the working
document of INEC, the Chairman, Attahiru Jega and his team had agreed to effect
some reforms ahead of the 2015 polls.

He said INEC was seriously pushing for amendment to the
constitution on various aspects with a view to enhancing its independence and
ability to conduct free and fair polls at all times.

Olorode said INEC would continue to enlarge its platform for
effective and credible elections.

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Why Wike Is Playing God In Rivers -Asari Dokubo

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A former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo, has claimed that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is “playing god” in the current political crisis that has pitched him against the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
Dokubo also chided President Bola Tinubu for, according to him, handing over “Rivers and Bayelsa” to the ex-governor.
“He is now playing god. It is dead on arrival, all those things that he is doing,” Dokubo said in a video that surfaced on X.com on Monday.
He added, “I advise my friend, President Bola Tinubu; what you are doing to all Ijaw, Ikwerre people in Rivers State (sic). You took Rivers state and gave it one man”
In April, Fubara revealed that the administration has raised the monthly Internally Generated Revenue of the state from N12 billion which he met upon assumption of office to N27 billion.
Dokubo described the development as commendable while alleging that the governor only had access to N6 billion when he assumed office.
“The governor had come out to say that the IGR for Rivers State is now N27bn up from N12bn. The governor is even being economical with the truth. When the governor came in, they were giving him a paltry sum of N6bn,” he said.
Meanwhile, in another twist to the ongoing crisis, Fubara on Monday said that he would set up a panel of inquiry to look into the affairs of governance in the state.
He disclosed this during the swearing-in and administration of the oath of office on Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, as the Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice.
The governor criticized recent comments by the former Attorney-General of the State and Justice Commissioner, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, who resigned from his cabinet over a fortnight ago and urged the new Attorney-General to defend the state.
He stated, “It is not the one that while you were here… the only thing you do is to sabotage the government.
“Instead of you to close your mouth, you publicly claim that you’re a learned person to tell people that you’re the Chief Law Officer. Chief Law Officer, you were here and went to stand before a Magistrate Court.
“At that time you didn’t remember that you’re a Chief Law Officer going against the ethics of your job.”

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Investors, Tourists To Get Visa Within 48 Hours, FG Assures

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The Federal Executive Council chaired by President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a tripartite committee to streamline visa processes and acquisition for investors interested in investing in Nigeria.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, revealed this, yesterday, after the FEC meeting held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“Our visa processes are becoming cumbersome. The ease of doing business is also tied to our visa processes.
“Going forward, those investors, tourists would find it easy to acquire a visa within the next 48 hours,” Idris said.
The meeting which began on Monday was adjourned till Tuesday to allow for other “far-reaching” decisions, the information minister had told journalists.

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Panel To Probe Governance In Rivers Underway -Fubara …Swears In Iboroma As New Attorney-General

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Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared his readiness to set up a panel of inquiry to look into the affairs of governance in the state.
Fubara disclosed this during the swearing-in and administration of the oath of office on Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, as the new Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice.
The governor criticised recent comments by the former Attorney-General of the State and Justice Commissioner, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, who resigned from his cabinet over a fortnight ago and urged the new Attorney-General to defend the state.
Fubara stated, “It is not the one that while you were here… the only thing you do is to sabotage the government.
“Instead of you to close your mouth, you publicly claim that you’re a learned person to tell people that you’re the Chief Law Officer. Chief Law Officer, you were here and went to stand before a Magistrate Court.
“At that time you didn’t remember that you’re a Chief Law Officer going against the ethics of your job.”
Addressing the new AG, the governor said, “You have a big task. As it is today in the local parlance, they say the jungle has matured. We will be setting a panel of inquiry to investigate the affair of governance.”
The governor further said there was a deliberate attempt to sabotage his administration, saying, “If we disagree, no matter how bad it is, it should be resolved.
“But it has become very clear that this disagreement there is no headway to it, and for many reasons, there is very visible evidence that there is sabotage, a deliberate attempt to sabotage this administration.
“Maybe where they are they are telling them nothing will happen, it is happening here live, we have our own legislators that are performing their duties according to the Constitution. So that record is threatened.”

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