News

Resign If you Can’t Ensure Credible Elections, Group Tells INEC Chair

Published

2 years ago

March 7, 2023

The Southern and Middle Belt Alliance has asked the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to resign if he cannot conduct free, fair and credible elections.

The group also called on heads of organisations responsible for the conduct of free, fair and credible elections to resign with immediate effect if they do not have the capacity to assure Nigerians that the Saturday, March 11 governorship elections would be free, fair and credible.

SaMBA, in a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its spokesperson, Prince Rwang Pam Jr., specifically tasked the INEC chairman, the Inspector General of Police, Director of the Department of State Service and members of the various election tribunals to reassure Nigerians or quit honourably.

The group lamented that the failure of INEC, the police and DSS to “competently perform their constitutional duties” during the February 25, presidential and National Assembly elections “have not only brought international disgrace to Nigeria but equally failed to protect the mandate of millions of Nigerians.”

It noted that Nigerians need a commitment that transcends verbal promises, noting that the instances of bullying, intimidation of voters and snatching and destruction of electoral materials in various polling units across the country in the presence of security agencies indicated gross incompetence on the part of the police whose primary responsibility is to protect lives and property.

The statement read partly, “After a week of such daylight destruction and intimidation, neither the NPF nor the DSS has paraded any of the political thugs or their sponsors as a demonstration of their commitment towards defending the integrity of the electoral process.

“Consequently, millions of Nigerian taxpayers and the international community are fast losing confidence in the sincerity of these security agencies.”

The group further berated the INEC chairman and his commissioners “who either by omission or commission or both have conducted an election that has been unanimously rejected as not being free, fair or credible by international observers and local observers as well as majority of Nigerians.”

SaMBA, however, pointed out that the next Saturday’s governorship and state Houses of Assembly polls have presented INEC with an opportunity to redeem itself.

The statement read, “It is therefore expected that the commission should by now publicly expunge its temporary and permanent staff and agents who are suspected to have been either compromised or incompetent.

“Bold actions like these are likely to assure Nigerians that their votes would count during the March 11, 2023 state elections. INEC has a moral responsibility to buy back the confidence and trust of the Nigerian electorate. Merely stating that those bad eggs within INEC or its representatives will be taken off the electoral process indicates that the commission is yet to appreciate the magnitude of its failures during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

“INEC must prove to Nigerians and the international community that it had not deliberately compromised the presidential elections by explaining convincingly and truthfully, why results in isolation failed to upload on the INEC server as repeatedly promised by the commission – what the problem was and steps it has taken to ensure that all results will be uploaded during this weekend’s elections.

“At this point in Nigeria’s history owing to current realities on ground, this country cannot afford any deliberate action that has the tendency to derail the successful conduct of free, fair and credible elections. If the IG of Police feels that he is not well equipped or competent enough to safeguard the public, INEC staff and electoral materials on March 11, then he should resign and let someone else take over.

“If the INEC boss feels that he cannot conduct free, fair and credible elections, he should resign.

“If members of post elections tribunals feel that they are not ready to be objective and to give Nigerians justice without fear, favour or compromise, such members should kindly resign.”

SaMBA called on all Nigerians to remain calm and vigilant “as we approach the concluding part of the 2023 elections.” It charged “all Nigerians of voting age to come out en-masse to vote in fresh, honest and visionary State Governors and State Assembly members that will move the states forward.

“They should keep sentiments aside and elect only those who truly have the capacity and intention to move their respective states from consumption to production so that their states and Nigeria at large can witness a new lease of life,” the statement concluded.

News

Contempt: Court Orders Substituted Service On INEC Chairman

Published

5 minutes ago

June 17, 2025

Editor

A Federal High Court in Abuja has told the National Rescue Movement it can serve court documents on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, through someone else.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu made the ruling on Tuesday.

He said the documents, including Form 48 (which warns about disobeying a court order), should be given to any INEC staff member at its headquarters in Abuja.

He ordered that the name of whoever receives the documents must be written in an affidavit and filed in court.

This ruling followed a request from NRM’s lawyer, Oladimeji Ekengba, who said INEC and Yakubu ignored a court order from March 5.

That order had directed them to accept the outcome of the party’s emergency convention held on January 17, where Chief Edozie Njoku was elected National Chairman.

Ekengba said it had become almost impossible to serve the INEC chairman directly.

“The judgment debtor/respondent’s chairman has implemented numerous protocols, making it practically impossible for the bailiff to serve him personally,” Ekengba told the court.

He also explained that INEC only accepts legal documents at a designated registry near its Abuja office gates.

Earlier, NRM’s lawyer, Joe Agi, had written to Yakubu, reminding him that the court had already ordered INEC to recognise the new party leadership.

On January 16, Justice Emeka Nwite had ordered INEC to monitor and accept the January 17 convention.

But since INEC had not complied, the party returned to court, which led to the current contempt proceeding.

Justice Egwuatu adjourned the case until July 15.

News

Worshippers Escape Death As Building Collapses On Church In Lagos

Published

18 minutes ago

June 17, 2025

Editor

Some worshippers at a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God located in the Somolu area of Lagos State escaped death by a whisker on Monday after a two-storey building that was under construction collapsed on the church building.

The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, in a statement on Monday, disclosed that the building collapsed during the decking process.

He stated that one of the pillars of the collapsed building fell on the church building.

Oke-Osanyintolu stated, “Upon the arrival of the agency’s response team at the scene, it was observed that a two-storey building under construction was found to have collapsed during the decking process.

“Preliminary investigations conducted by the Cobra response team revealed that the collapsed structure was one of two structures being constructed at the site. The cause of the incident has yet to be determined as of the time of report.

“No life was lost and no injuries recorded as the workers reportedly escaped the scene unscathed before the arrival of emergency responders.”

He added that upon arrival at the scene, a search and rescue operation was carried out and it was discovered that nobody was trapped under the debris of the collapsed building.

The Perm Sec also noted that worshippers at the RCCG parish escaped without injuries.

“The pillars of the collapsed building fell on a church (RCCG, Liberty Parish at 5 Craig Street) which was partially affected but no life was lost and no injuries were sustained as worshippers in the church also escaped unscathed.

“The Cobra response team alongside all other responders coordinated a search of the incident scene to ensure no victim was trapped under the collapsed building.

“Public enlightenment and sensitisation were carried out on the need to stay away from the collapsed site,” Oke-Osanyintolu stated.

News

U.S.-based Nigerian, Ogieva, Honoured As Grand Award Judge

Published

3 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Editor

A U.S.-based Nigerian and visionary in geoscience and data innovation, Mathew Ogieva, has continued to leave an indelible mark on global Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics advancement.

Ogieva, in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday, said he served as Grand Award Judge at the 75th Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 75th ISEF was held from May 10 to May 17 in Columbus, Ohio, the world’s largest annual STEM competition for pre-college students

It is an annual science fair in the United States, owned and sponsored by the Society for Science, a non-profit organisation based in Washington, DC.

Ogieva, therefore, described the event as “the world’s largest and most prestigious science competition featuring nearly 1,700 participants from over 60 countries.

“In the Earth and Environmental Sciences category, I helped to evaluate over 70 groundbreaking projects, bringing my expertise and passion to the forefront of global youth innovation.

“My influence spans coast to coast and beyond, having judged at California Science and Engineering Fair (CSEF 2025) – California Lutheran University, Earth and Environmental Science category.”

He said that his judging legacy was not just on projects, but in igniting purpose and mentorship across continents.

“I am currently serving on the 2026 CSEF Judging Advisory Committee.

“State Science Day & STEP Fair (Ohio, April 2025) – Under the Ohio Academy of Science, Terra NYC STEM Fair (March 2025) – Held at New York University – Tandon School of Engineering
“Technovation Girls Global Competition (2025) – Evaluating tech solutions by girls in over 60 countries and Virginia Junior Academy of Science (VJAS, May 2025) – Championing science excellence among youth in Virginia,” he said.

NAN reports that Ogieva’s extraordinary ability lies not only in scientific expertise but in uplifting the next generation of global problem-solvers, and he is proud to strengthen ties in Nigeria to advance scientific innovation.

NAN