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2023: Prosecuting Electoral Offenders Will Guarantee Acceptance Of Poll Results – Bayelsa Monarch

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Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, Bubaraye Dakolo, has said the neutrality of the Nigeria Police, including ensuring arrest and speedy prosecution of perpetrators of electoral fraud will guarantee acceptance of electoral results.

According to him, it is shameful that electoral violators get away with their crimes noting that such should not be the case in the 2023 general election.

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Dakolo equally admonished the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure it handles the electioneering processes effectively, according to the rules and regulations guiding the conduct of elections.

The first-class monarch also enjoined leaders of the political parties and their supporters to respect the laws of the land during the forthcoming polls.

Dakolo, Agada IV and Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, made the call when Morris Alagoa, the state coordinator of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, led a team on an advocacy visit to his office in Yenagoa, to seek level-playing field in the state.

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We came here not for the exclusive interest of our party, the Labour Party, but in the collective interest of all political parties and stakeholders in the state. Bearing in mind that not only is peace priceless and terror being considered as senseless; no single organisation, community or individual has monopoly of violence,” Morris said.

The traditional ruler said: “I do advocate for INEC to do its job properly this season. I also advocate for all leaders of the political parties in Nigeria to obey the rules. Some parties are losing in court because they didn’t do simple primaries correctly in some states. Simple primaries they didn’t do correctly!

“I will enjoin all the parties to follow the rules, including INEC and then let all citizens also follow the rules. The rules I am talking about here, include living and let live, vote and let the other man vote, too.”

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READ ALSO: Gombe APC, PDP Members Defect To NNPP

Admonishing the police, he said, “I would want to use this opportunity to call on the Nigeria Police that is in charge of peace and security to ensure that anybody that tries to buy votes should be apprehended and prosecuted; irrespective of the stop-gaps that are placed, attempts to cheat the system or being violent in any way, should be prosecuted because it is a big shame that over the years, hardly has anyone being charged to court and jailed for electoral violence. I have not heard.

“I do know that some persons have constituted themselves as electoral thugs and they say, ‘our season has come again’. So this is a challenge to the Nigeria Police and law enforcement agencies in general that no Nigerian should see an electoral season as their season because of thuggery, electoral Dollars.”

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Uproar As Senate Okays Non-indigene As Rivers Electoral Commission Chairman

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There was an uproar in the Senate on Wednesday following the approval of a non- indigene, Dr. Michael Odey as the Chairman, Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC.

The confirmation of Odey, who hails from Cross River State, alongside other members of the Commission followed the consideration of the report of the Ad- Hoc Committee on Oversight of Emergency Rule in Rivers State presented by its chairman, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti Central).

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The development sparked as a few senators objected the appointment of a non-indigene to head a sensitive position as that of a state electoral commission.

Those confirmed as members of the RSIEC are Mr. Lezaasi Lenee Torbira, Prof. Author Nwafor, Prof. Godfrey Woke Mbgudiogha, Prof. Joyce Akaninwor, Dr. Olive A. Bruce and Prof. Chidi Halliday.

READ ALSO:Nigerian Senate Passes 2025 Budget For Rivers State

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Objecting to Odey’s confirmation, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP Bauchi Central) said bad precedent should not be set by allowing a non-indigene to head the electoral commission of a state.

He said: “I objected as observed because if it is allowed and becomes the norm, it will not be well for the country.

“I do not see the necessity of having someone from another state to chair an electoral body.”

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Also kicking against the approval, former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, (APC Borno South), said it is wrong to scout for a non-indigene for such sensitive position when there are over one thousand indigenes who are qualified.

READ ALSO:Senate Sets Up Committee To Oversee Rivers Administrator

Referring to a comment by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), said politics was infused into the matter.

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“It is here that politics is brought into this matter. Nobody is objecting to the personality but to a question of morality this appointment has raised.

“I am not a lawyer and not talking law, we are talking about ethics. This is unethical. We should not intrude politics into what we do here,” Moro said.

But the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North), argued that Odey’s appointment is constitutional and that there is nothing wrong im the confirmation by the Red Chamber.

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READ ALSO:May Day Shocker: NLC Cancels Celebrations In Rivers, Edo States

He said: “The constitution is the ground norm and inasmuch as there is no provision in the constitution that is against appointing a non-indigene, the confirmation is then in order.

“Any Nigerian is free to take up appointment in any state. I can be a governor in Benue State. We are talking about constitution, not morality.”

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The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele while appreciating concerns raised, however, appealed that it is a matter that should not be politicized, saying “The matter does not call for grandstanding.”

He argued that Odey is both eligible and qualified as a PhD holder.

READ ALSO:Rivers Women Walk Out On Ibas’ Wife, Chant ‘We Want Fubara’

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Bamidele disclosed that the committee had also raised similar concern during the screening exercise where he called on Odey to provide constitutional evidence of his eligibility.

He said the Odey is eligible and qualified, adding that having the six other members from Rivers State, picking a non-indigene as chairman would create room for transparency and neutrality.

In his remarks, the Deputy Senate President, Barau, who presided over the session, insisted that anybody can work anywhere in Nigeria.

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Barau cited an example of an indigene of Edo State who is the Head of Service in Abia State.

READ ALSO:[BREAKING] Rivers: Pro-Fubara Supporters Protest, Demand Gov’s Reinstatement

He said the objection “is purely politics because it is coming from APC”.

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In the same development, the Senate also confirmed the appointment of members of the Rivers State Civil Service Commission and Local Government Service Commission nominated by President Bola Tinubu.

The Civil Service Commission consists of five members, including its Chairman, Dr Livinus Bariki, and Ambassador Lot Peter Egopija, Mrs Maeve Ere Bestman, Mrs Joy Obiaju and Mrs Charity Lloyd Harry as members.

Also confirmed are the chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Mr Isreal N Amadi and Mr Linus Nwandem, Lady Christabel Ego, George Didia, Dr Tonye Willie D Pepple, Barrister Richard Ewoh, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ofik (rtd) and Dr Sammy Apiafi, as members.
(DAILY POST)

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Nigerian Senate Passes 2025 Budget For Rivers State

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The Nigerian senate on Wednesday, passed the 2025 budget of Rivers State, to the tune of N1.485 trillion.

The passage came after the third reading of the appropriation bill on the Senate floor.

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This came after the upper chamber considered the report of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State during the Committee of Supply session.

DAILY POST reports that the bill seeks to authorize the issuance of N1,485,662,592,442 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025.

READ ALSO:Senate Sets Up Committee To Oversee Rivers Administrator

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According to the approved budget breakdown, N120.8 billion is for debt servicing, N287.38 billion is for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, and N1.077 trillion is for capital expenditure.

Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), while supporting the passage of the bill, however, raised a concern regarding the additional 50 billion naira earmarked for the payment of outstanding pensions and gratuities.

The lawmaker charged the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee to carry out more rigorous oversight to ensure that the funds reach the rightful pension beneficiaries without delay.

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DAILY POST reports that with the passage, the Rivers State 2025 budget will now proceed for assent and implementation.

READ ALSO:JUST IN: Seek True Peace To Avoid Impeachment, Rivers APC Tells Fubara

It will be recalled that President Bola Tinubu in May submitted the 2025 Appropriation Bill for Rivers State to the National Assembly for consideration, after the suspension of the state’s House of Assembly.

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In a letter addressed to the Senate President, Goodwill Akpabio, the proposed budget totals N1.481 trillion, with major allocations aimed at revitalizing key sectors.

The president also wrote to the House of Representatives for the Rivers State budget approval, reminding the House that the Supreme Court had nullified the 2025 budget presented by suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

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Kebbi Govt Mulls Death Penalty For Bandit Informants

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Kebbi State Government has said it would review existing laws to impose death penalty or life imprisonment on convicted informants aiding the criminals in the state.

This is coming in the wake of renewed attacks by armed bandits in parts of the state.

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The State Governor, Nasiru Idris made this disclosure on Tuesday, when he paid condolence visits to Tadurga village in Zuru and Kyebu in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Areas, both recently targeted by bandits in attacks that claimed 30 lives.

READ ALSO:Tobacco Kills 1.3 Million Non-smokers Yearly — WHO

The governor, while describing informants as deadly to society, reiterated his administration’s zero-tolerance stance on insecurity and promised to treat the issue with utmost seriousness.

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He expressed sorrow over the tragic loss of lives, praying for the victims and asking Allah to grant the deceased Aljannah Firdausi and a quick recovery to those injured.

“We are here to see things for ourselves, commiserate with you and reassure you of the urgent steps we have taken to improve security,” he said.

READ ALSO:Pastor Enenche Rejects N30m Donation From Kebbi Governor

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The Governor called on the public to refrain from politicizing security issues or spread unverified information on social media, warning that such actions could jeopardise ongoing efforts to restore peace.

Responding, the Chief of Danko, Ibrahim Al’aji, and the Chief of Dabai, Suleiman Sami, appreciated the governor for his swift intervention and called for enhanced security measures, especially along routes used by bandits entering from neighboring states.

The Emir of Zuru, Rtd. Major General Sani Sami also expressed appreciation for the governor’s visit and ongoing commitment to security in the emirate.

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