Politics
Ekiti Election Characterised By Vote-buying, Daylight Robbery – IPAC
The Inter-Party Advisory Council on Wednesday expressed displeasure over the just concluded Ekiti State election, which it said, was a daylight robbery and a slap on democracy.
The council almost disclosed that its observation team witnessed a brazen act of vote-buying by agents of political parties while officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agents look the other way.
The concerns were raised by the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Yabagi Yusuf Sani, at the council’s national secretariat, Abuja on Wednesday.
Sani said, “Sadly, the election was a daylight robbery characterized by brazen and outrageous vote buying, sundry electoral malpractices and voter apathy thereby putting in question the legality of the process leading to declaration of Biodun Oyebanji, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress as the winner.
READ ALSO: Ekiti Election: British High Commission Reacts
“It is obvious that the voters who sold their ballots for a mess of electoral porridge have inadvertently mortgaged their future for the next four years by electing a leader who may not have necessarily been their choice if the election were to be devoid of obscene use of money to induce voters,” he said.
According to him, the ugly Ekiti episode has eroded the value of the hard work by INEC, which also has inadvertently affected the perception of the citizens as to the capacity of the commission to conduct and ensure credible election results.
The IPAC chairman also urged the commission to meticulously evaluate its performance in Ekiti with a view to improving in the forthcoming Osun State governorship election, adding every vote must count and be counted in the overall result without inducement of the electorate.
He noted that the council was initially optimistic that with improved technology, particularly the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System for verification, accreditation and confirmation of eligible voters, the gubernatorial election would be credible even with adequate security agents and operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at strategic locations in the State.
“Sadly, it didn’t turn out as expected. The IPAC is deeply saddened and worried about the ugly high incidence of vote-trading between electorates and political actors in open connivance with some security agents saddled with the responsibility of arresting and prosecuting electoral offenders and their sponsors.
READ ALSO: Ekiti Election: APC Mocks PDP For Dismal Performance
“This unfortunate vicious circle of electing leaders after inducement has been the bane of the nation’s democracy since Independence in 1960, particularly since the return of democracy in 1999.
“Election is the beauty of democracy, the ballot is sacrosanct and should not be traded on for any reason or for no reason whatsoever. The destinies of millions of fellow compatriots are at stake when the will and mandate of the people is brazenly stolen through vote-buying by political buccaneers masquerading as democrats with a mission to loot our common patrimony,” he said.
Politics
Defection: Peter Obi Simply Looking For ‘Food Is Ready’ Party – Wike
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe on former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his recent defection.
Speaking during a media parley on Wednesday, Wike said Obi is looking for a ‘food is ready’ political party.
READ ALSO:JUST IN: Why I left ADC For NDC With Kwankwaso – Peter Obi Opens Up
The minister said, “Obi was in APGA, he couldn’t build APGA. He went to Labour, he ran away again from Labour. All he’s looking for is food is ready political party.”
Recall that Obi and Rabi’u Kwankwaso, former presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, on Sunday officially joined the NDC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Politics
2027: Nobody Wants Fubara – Wike
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that there is widespread support for Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to return in 2027.
Speaking during his monthly media parley on Wednesday in Abuja, Wike suggested that Fubara can’t claim to enjoy unanimous backing from the public.
He explained that the political crisis in Rivers State had earlier been addressed through the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, particularly during impeachment proceedings initiated against Fubara.
According to Wike, the President advised all parties to embrace peace, leading to the withdrawal of the impeachment move by the State House of Assembly after agreements were reached.
READ ALSO:Rivers APC Suspends Fubara Over Alleged Anti-party Activities
Wike, however, alleged that the governor failed to fully adhere to the terms agreed during the arbitration process.
Reacting to claims that the people were urging Fubara to seek re-election in 2027, Wike rejected the assertion, insisting that such narratives were misleading.
Wike maintained that appearing before the President for arbitration required respect for the outcome, noting that all parties were expected to uphold their commitments.
He said: “The President, intervened in the impeachment proceeding. I said withdraw, let their be peace. And the governor said, look, I’m ready for peace. Look, I’m no longer interested for this. I will not do this. The Assembly went and withdrew the impeachment.
“Having withdrawn the impeachment, he is now too smart on what you agreed before the President. It’s like when you go on arbitration.”
READ ALSO:Court Restrains Rivers Assembly, CJ From Impeaching Fubara, Deputy
Wike continued, “This one is what I don’t like. Nobody wants anybody. Please, don’t tell me that. Excuse me.
You can go and tell that to the market people or children. Two years that people say he should come out. Who told you that?
“Which politician will say that I was sleeping they came and woke me? Even if people people come to wake you, can’t you say, no, I won’t do it. I’m not prepared for it.
“That you appeared before a President of the country on arbitration, the two parties on arbitration, and these people respected Mr. President, and have done their own part.”
Politics
2027: Wike Opens Up On Preferred Rivers Guber Candidate
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday said he hasn’t endorsed any candidate for the Rivers state gubernatorial election in 2027.
Wike stated this on Wednesday during his monthly media parley in Abuja.
Wike said that the endorsement will come only after a meeting by the joint coalition in the state.
READ ALSO:2027: Wike Refuses To Confirm Or Deny Chinda’s Governorship Bid
He said: “I haven’t endorsed anybody. And I can’t endorse anybody until the joint coalition meets.”
DAILY POST reports that questions have been raised concerning the fate of current governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, in 2027.
The FCT Minister was reported to have endorsed former State Commissioner for Works, Alabo Dakorinama George Kelly, as his preferred candidate for the Rivers State governorship election.
Sources told DAILY POST that Wike settled for George after a closed-door meeting with key political stakeholders in Port Harcourt on Monday.
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