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Most NASS Members Not Utilizing Their Oversight Powers – Ex-Lawmaker 

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A former member of House of Representatives for Eket Federal Constituency, Hon Eseme Eyiboh, has regretted that most legislators at the National Assembly have failed to exploit oversight powers granted them by constitution to enrich their legislative engagements.

He added that apart from lawmaking, the legislators can go further in engaging governors, corporate organisations, ministries departments and agencies to bring development in their communities.

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In a media chat at the Ibom E-Library, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital on Monday, Eyiboh, who is also the All Progressives Congress candidate in the 2023 elections for Eket Federal Constituency, said legislative business is not for everyone and should be given to someone who is conversant with the law and has the capacity to engage and negotiate for his constituents.

READ ALSO: NASS Complex Rehabilitation To Gulp N30.2 Billion – Minister

He described as worrisome a situation where people trade experience and competence with mediocrity and blindly follow a person who does not have what to bring to the table.

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Speaking further on oversight functions, the House of Reps candidate argued that a lawmaker has the power through oversight to task a governor who brings a loan request to the house for approval to include the demands of people he represents in the proposed projects saying that it takes a lawmaker who knows his onions to exploit that provision.

Eyiboh, who regretted the dormancy of Akwa Palm, non-availability of financial institutions and lack of electricity over eight years in his local government, Esit Eket, said National Assembly members could through oversight engage government and other corporate bodies to revitalize them.

According to him, “It is worrisome that we are trading experience and competence with mediocrity. The problem we have is from the recruitment process because we are trying to build strong individuals rather than strong institutions.

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“If you look at the issue of oversight, you will understand that some lawmakers do not understand their powers of oversight to be able to use the provisions of the constitution to engage various arms of government like the Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

“In the legislative business, you don’t need to go to war with one another, there are various windows to exploit. State government is involved and mind you, you cannot engage the state government when you are the messenger of the governor. A neutral person should be sent to the National Assembly who can confront the governor.

“As I’m talking to you, my local government, Esit Eket has no electricity for eight years no financial institution not to talk of Automated Teller Machine, ATM, and you don’t think that through institutional engagement and networking of oversight, the Legislator can engage the governor of central bank to direct any of the MDs of banks to install at least an ATM?”

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On Muslim-Muslim ticket, Eyiboh said, “I don’t think there is a provision in our constitution that the emergence of any candidate will be a product of faith, so if a presidential candidate chooses to pick somebody to boast his chances in winning the polls then coincidentally they are of same faith, that should not be a problem.

“Nigeria is a secular country, we are being promoted and guided by the preambles of the constitution that says “we the people of Nigeria’ not ‘we the christians or muslims of Nigeria.’ No candidate of a political party in Nigeria emerges on the basis of faith but on the basis of competence.”
DAILY POST

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INEC Fixes Voter Registration Resumption Dates For Anambra Election, Nationwide

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will resume in Anambra on July 17 and nationwide on Aug. 18.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this at the commission’s quarterly meeting with political parties on Thursday in Abuja.

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Yakubu said that in view of the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra, the CVR exercise would be held at two levels.

He said the exercise would commence in the 326 wards across the state on July 8 and end on July 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, including the weekend.

READ ALSO: Anambra Governorship: INEC Publishes Final List, Announces Date For Campaign

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During the registration period, new voters as well as those who wish to transfer their registration to Anambra from other states of the federation or from one location to another within the state will have the opportunity to do so.

“Similarly, registered voters whose Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) were lost or damaged will have the opportunity to apply for replacement.

“Uncollected PVCs from previous registrations will also be available for collection at the registration centres.

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“Interested eligible Nigerian citizens are encouraged to appear in person to register,” he said.

The INEC chairman, however, explained that the online pre-registration option is currently unavailable.

READ ALSO: INEC Releases Details Of 16 Anambra Guber Candidates

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Yakubu added that voter registration and compilation of the voters’ register must be completed not later than 90 days before the date fixed for the election as provided by law.

For the nationwide CVR, the commission has approved resumption of the online and in-person registration of voters in all states of the federation.

“The online pre-registration will start on Aug. 18, while the in-person registration will follow on Aug. 25.

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“The exercise will be held simultaneously in all states and the FCT as well as the 774 Local Government Area offices nationwide,” he said.

Yakubu said the detailed schedule of activities would be released soon.
(NAN)

 

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2027: Drama As Two ‘ADA’ Emerge In INEC’s List Of 110 Party Registration Bids

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Two political associations seeking registration as political parties have submitted identical acronyms to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

According to Vanguard, the first is the All Democratic Alliance, ADA, being promoted by Chief Akin Ricketts and said to be one of the special purpose vehicles that the anti-Tinubu coalition is seeking to use as a platform in the 2027 general election.

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While the Ricketts ADA is 109 on the INEC list, the other ADA, Advanced Democratic Alliance, is 110, the last one the list unveiled by the electoral umpire.

This second ADA has Alhaji Ahmadu Suleiman as Protem Chairman and Zipporah Pius Miracles as Secretary.

READ ALSO: Atiku, El-Rufai Coalition Seeks INEC Registration For New Party

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The Ricketts ADA has its national headquarters at Ground Floor, UAC Complex, Plot 273 Samuel Adesujo Ademulegun Street, CBD, Abuja, FCT.

Suleiman’s ADA has its national headquarters at 1 Frandriance Close, Off Oda Crescent, Off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, no fewer than 110 political associations have written to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, seeking registration as political parties.

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Damagum Is PDP’s Problem – Ex-Benue Gov Suswam

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Former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, on Wednesday declared that the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Umar Damagum, is the problem of the party.

Suswam, who insisted that Damagum is not a leader, said the party has been drifting downwards since he assumed the role of acting National Chairman.

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Featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the former governor said, “There is no integrity in the leadership of PDP, I’m happy that Wike said it.

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“I have consistently said that Damagum is not a leader. What has happened here is that after the meeting with INEC, a good leader would have met with the National Working Committee members to brief them before holding any press conference.

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“Damagum has been the problem of the PDP since he assumed the acting National Chairman of the party. The party has been drifting downward, I have said this thing consistently.

“First and foremost, he breached the provisions of the constitution which said that he must act for a period and this position must go back to the North Central.”

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