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2023: What Nigerians Should Consider Before Voting – MSSN

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The female wing of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit, has listed criteria that women and Nigerians should consider before voting for any candidate in the 2023 general election.

They said this during the 2022 Sisters’ Engligtenment Programme organised by MSSNLagos’ Sisters Circle held in Lagos and themed, ‘Blooming Mettle’, according to a statement on Wednesday by the association’s Public Relations Officer, Mu’Sodiq Adekunle.

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During the programme, female Muslims were encouraged to explore opportunities in tech and be role models in society.

According to them, records of the candidate, ability to uphold the constitution and obedience to court orders, character and leadership ability, and ability to transform Nigeria among others would be major criteria for them to vote for a candidate.

The Naibatul Amirah (Deputy female head) of MSSNLagos, Azeezah Gidigbi, urged Muslim women to participate actively in the forthcoming election.

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Gidigbih, who delivered the welcome address on behalf of MSSNLagos Amirah, Basheeroh Majekodunmi, said, “I want to use this medium to initiate talks on our role in the forthcoming general elections. Not all persons can participate actively in politics but we to elect leaders who will make informed decisions to better the lives of youths, create enabling environment for businesses to thrive, and also important is to assure the security of rights of Muslim students in secondary schools and at all levels.

“We need a government that will ensure we are safe to use the hijab in schools, workplaces and society without fear of molestation or harassment. It is important to sensitise our parents, and guardians on the need to elect credible leaders and as youths, ensure we participate in the electioneering process.”

Speaking on the sideline of the event, the Executive Director of Hijab Rights Advocacy Initiative, Mutiat Orolu-Balogun, stated that anyone to be voted must be ready to uphold the constitution and the right to wear hijab.

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“These will be some of the major criteria for Muslim women going to vote. The role of Muslim women starts with education at home. Ensure that everyone that can vote where you live and beyond has a voter card.

READ ALSO: 2023: INEC Makes New Revelations About BVAS

“Women should also encourage other women to vote. Women should be at the table when decisions are made. This will enable us to play our roles as mothers and bring things affecting us directly forward.

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“We should inform the politicians of the problems facing the gender and hold politicians accountable for their promises,” she added.

On her part, a former Amirah (female head) of MSSNLagos, Hafsah Badru, emphasised that respecting the right to wear hijab by any candidate is not a favour.

“We will only be considering a candidate that will respect the law and court ruling, including declaring support and issuing an official circular on the use of hijab. This is not a personal issue but something backed by the Constitution. After this, we will begin to look at the track records, integrity, and plans of the candidates,” she said.
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Politics

Rhodes-Vivour Dumps Labour Party, Joins ADC

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The former Labour Party governorship candidate in the 2023 election in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has formally declared for the African Democratic Congress.

Rhodes-Vivour made the announcement at an event held in Lagos on Saturday.

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The development came on the heels of a coalition of opposition parties under the ADC platform seeking to wrestle power from the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general elections.

The party officially formed the coalition in July, courting prominent figures in a bid to build a formidable third force ahead of the polls.

Speaking during the declaration, Rhodes-Vivour described the move as part of a broader coalition.

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READ ALSO:Just In: Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour Defeated In Own Polling Unit

He said, “I am happy to become part of this family. I’m looking forward to the union and governance that this party will bring to Nigerians. My prayer is that God will grant our leaders and the party’s structure the wisdom to come together and define a new path for our beloved country.”

The politician also called for unity among opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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This is a coalition that is meant to rescue Nigeria. I have said since after the 2023 elections that we cannot afford to divide the opposition going into the next election. We must come together, united through a robust coalition that will stand a chance in 2027 to deliver this country,” he added.

Rhodes-Vivour had accused the police on Friday of attempting to frustrate the event, which was scheduled to take place in the Alimosho area of the state.

In a statement issued by his aide, Olalekan Anjolaiya, the organisers were said to have duly notified the police about the event.

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READ ALSO:APC Mocks Jonathan As ADC Woos Him For 2027 Race

It was, however, gathered that security operatives barred Rhodes-Vivour and his supporters from gaining access to the venue on Saturday morning, before it was later moved to another location within the local government area.

Reacting to the incident, he said, “I’m going to address the press later on the events that happened today and those that happened since yesterday. But with this speech, I just want to confirm that I am joining the ADC coalition.”

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The Chairman of the ADC in the state, George Ashiru, said the move signalled the strengthening of an opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He also described Rhodes-Vivour’s defection as a historic affirmation of a coalition that had been in the works since the last election.

He said, “Today we are having one of the most important affirmation programmes where our coalition partners from one of the key blocs in the Labour Party are joining this wonderful family of Nigerians, the African Democratic Congress.

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READ ALSO:Lagos Guber: LP’s Rhodes-Vivour Clears Air On Being Backed By Godfathers

“We are not affirming one man, we are affirming a movement, but every movement has a leader, and what brother Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour represents is the leadership of a movement that shook Lagos in the last election.”

According to him, the coalition was built on a foundation of communication that began during the 2023 polls and had now matured into a common platform to challenge the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

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Also speaking at the event, a representative of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Professor Ola Olateju, urged party members to believe in their capacity to provide an alternative for Nigerians.

He said, “We should not look at ourselves as if we are not able or not competent to rescue Nigeria. Anybody here could become anything. There is equal opportunity for everybody irrespective of ethnic group, agenda or class. ADC is not just a political party; it’s a movement, a movement of the people. It is an exodus. We are moving in order to rescue Nigeria.”

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NNPP Expels Reps Member, Drags Him To Court

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The Kano State chapter of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has expelled Abdulmumin Jibrin, member representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, over alleged insubordination and failure to remit statutory party dues.

Announcing the decision at a press conference on Saturday, NNPP state chairman, Hon. Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa, said the move was necessary to uphold party discipline and supremacy.

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Dungurawa accused Jibrin, a former chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, of demarketing the party’s national leader and 2023 presidential candidate, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, while allegedly aligning with President Bola Tinubu and the ruling APC.

READ ALSO:FirstBank’s Digital Banking Channels Suffers Downtime

He said Jibrin’s repeated media appearances, including a recent interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, discredited the party’s principles and projected views that did not represent NNPP’s official position.

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“If he was truly strong politically, he would have won his election under the APC in 2019, but he failed. It was Kwankwasiyya and NNPP that gave him victory in 2023. Now he is deceiving himself, thinking he is strong,” Dungurawa said.

Jibrin, who has met President Tinubu twice at the Presidential Villa in recent weeks, has publicly hinted at a possible defection, saying he remains open to joining any party, including APC, PDP, ADC, or PRP.

READ ALSO:APC Defeats NNPP In Kano Re-run Election

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Dungurawa disclosed that a reconciliation committee was initially set up to engage Jibrin after his first interview, but the lawmaker “crossed the line” by granting a subsequent interview to DCL Hausa, where he openly discussed his next political moves.

Instead of dialogue, he went further to work against our interest and openly declared loyalty outside the party. That is why we expelled him. He has no value to add to NNPP,” Dungurawa said, adding that the party will drag Jibrin to court to recover unpaid dues.

On speculation that Jibrin may return to the APC, Dungurawa said such a move would not affect the NNPP’s strength.

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Politics is about groups and coalitions. Kwankwasiyya remains solidly behind our leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso,” he stressed.

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Why We Are Yet To Recognise ADC Leadership – INEC

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that the African Democratic Congress (ADC)
is yet to comply with the extant rules required for the formal recognition of Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as its National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.

The lack of compliance, INEC stated, renders all official documents and communications bearing their signatures null and void until the process is completed.

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Speaking with newsmen, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, through his Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said:

Ask ADC if they have truly complied with all the requirements. They visited the Commission recently, and we told them what the problem was. They are aware. Please get in touch with Bolaji Abdullahi, their spokesperson, who was part of the delegation. He ought to have briefed journalists about their visit and what transpired.”

READ ALSO:Anambra Guber: INEC Releases Total Number Of Registered Voters Ahead Election

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On the implications for ADC candidates in upcoming elections, Oyekanmi said:
I believe the party will comply with extant rules. Once they do, they won’t have any problem.”

Although INEC did not specify the outstanding requirements, it was gathered that ADC is expected to submit sample signatures of the National Chairman and National Secretary, along with other documentation in line with its constitution.

INEC regulations require political parties to submit detailed resolutions, verified signatures of authorised officials, and evidence of adherence to constitutional procedures before any leadership change can be recognised.

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READ ALSO:ADC: Why INEC Has Not Recognised David Mark, Others

Reacting to the development, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the delay was “largely administrative” and confirmed that the party made the required submissions to INEC last Thursday.

“We have had clarity now, and we made the required submission to INEC last Thursday. We are hopeful that everything will be resolved in the coming week,” he said.

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The party has repeatedly accused unnamed individuals of attempts to frustrate its growth ahead of the 2027 general elections and other off-cycle polls.

 

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