Metro

Youths Protest INEC’s Alleged Refusal To Conduct Bye-election In Akwa Ibom

Published

4 months ago

December 7, 2022

Youths of Oron Union in Oron Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State had stormed the premises of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, along Udom Udoma Avenue Uyo in protest of what they described as ‘delay or tactical refusal’ by the commission to conduct a bye-election to fill the vacant office of the federal constituency.

The position was left vacant after the demise of Nse Ekpenyong
a former House of Representatives Member for the Oron Federal Constituency who died on April 23, eight months ago and his seat declared vacant on June 30 by the Speaker during his internment.

The youths of the area in a protest on Wednesday lamented that the absence of representation had deprived them of many benefits and rights from the National Assembly accusing the electoral umpire of nonchalance in conducting a bye-election in the area.

Displaying placards with various inscriptions such as “INEC sabotaging our constitutional benefits for 8 months of no representation, ‘Oron Federal Constituency deserves a Representative from National Assembly in Abuja, ‘We need a voice at the National Assembly,” among others, the youths urged the INEC National Chairman, Prof Yakubu Mahmood to ensure that the bye-election is conducted immediately in the federal Constituency.

The youths described the federal constituency as the largest in Nigeria with the highest oil producing communities in the Niger Delta.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the International president of the group, Mr John Bassey flanked by the secretary, Maxi Mkpo recalled that INEC sometime in January conducted bye-elections for six constituencies in four states of the federation and wondered why Akwa Ibom would be different.

He enumerated the constituencies and states the bye-elections were conducted to include: Akure North/Akure South Federal Constituency, Ondo State; Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency, Plateau State; Pankshin South State Constituency, Plateau State; Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, Cross River State; Akpabuyo State Constituency, Cross River State; Ngor-Okpala State Constituency, Imo State.

The statement read in parts, “Today, we are gathered here to send a very strong signal to the Chairman of National Electoral Commission INEC Prof, Mahmood Yakubu over this perceived cruel disenfranchisement and broad daylight robbery of our constitutionally and democratically given right to representation at the green Chambers of the National Assembly, Abuja.

“INEC has technically avoided any process that could be initiated for the conduct of a bye-election in our federal constituency. As a people, we are deliberately being denied our right to representation as obtained in the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.

”It is about eight (8) good months since the unfortunate departure of our Late MP in April 23rd, this year and the subsequent declaration of the seat vacant by the speaker followed by his internment on 30th June 2022. Hence, we are bitterly worried over what could be the justification for INEC not to facilitate the process of conducting a bye-election to fill the vacant seat.

“Recall, an indigene of Mbo LGA, Mr. Emmanuel Inyang, on October 12th 2022 embarked on a one-man protest to the Uyo office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over what he described as ‘unnecessary delay’ by the Commission to fill in replacement, for vacant seats in the National Assembly. This press conference is to re-emphasize and state our points of anger categorically and unequivocally to INEC about the looming dangers of its seeming refusal to conduct the bye-election and the many disadvantages of such an undemocratic delay to the Oro people.

“Our point is very clear and straightforward, we are calling on INEC to fast-track the processes of conducting a bye-election for this mega and oil-rich constituency to avert any future breakdown of law and order within the already volatile elections season and Niger Delta region.”

He also called on members of the parliament representing other federal constituencies within the state to join hands in solidarity in condemning such acts during sessions.

He added that further delay by the commission to accede to their request before the end of December 2022 will leave them with no option but to occupy the state headquarters of INEC from the first of January 2023 until the needful is done.

However, the Head of Operations of INEC in Akwa Ibom, Vincent Ogene addressing the youths assured them that the issue will be addressed.

Ogene commended the youths for their orderly and peaceful conduct nothing that the commission at the national level will give a directive on what is to be done.

Advertisements

Metro

BREAKING: Anti-Tinubu Protesters Ground Abuja, Demand Interim Govt, Fresh Polls

Published

4 hours ago

March 23, 2023

Editor

Fresh protests, on Thursday, rocked the nation’s capital, Abuja, over the just concluded elections, with protesters kicking against the May 29 inauguration of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and instead demanding the invocation of an Interim National Government, ING.

They asked Presidential Muhammadu Buhari to put the ING in place before he leaves office on May 29.

‘God kept me and my family’, Woli Agba shares near-death experience
The angry Nigerians, who protested on the platform of the National Youth League for the Defence of Democracy, NYLDD, also demanded the immediate sack and arrest of the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu by the Department Security Services, DSS.

Armed with various placards with different inscriptions, they also asked several foreign embassies in Nigeria to immediately revoke the visas of 15 INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners RECs.

The RECs they want to be sanctioned are those of Lagos, Rivers, Borno, Zamfara, Niger, Jigawa, Kano and Imo. Others are Ebonyi, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Cross River, Katsina and Edo States.

Addressing journalists at the Unity Fountain, where the protest started, one of the leaders of the group, Dr Moses Paul, said the interim government is expected to appoint a new INEC chairman and conduct a fresh election that will produce a befitting President for Nigeria.

He said; “We are citizens of Nigeria, lovers of Nigeria, standing on the path of our constitution and citizens’ rights.

“We are here particularly to address the greatest crime that has happened in the history of the world and in Nigeria.

“People were burnt in Kano, people were shot in Rivers, and we have seen the greatest inhumanity happen in Lagos state in the course of this election.

“Two demands we are making; we are asking the President of this country to immediately arrest and prosecute the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who has committed the greatest fraud in the history of humanity.

“We need him arrested and prosecuted.

“Our number two demand is that we are asking that an interim government be put in place. We are saying that, because we do not want President Muhammadu Buhari to continue, his tenure is ending, so as a father he should put in place an interim government so that the interim government will now appoint another INEC chairman who will conduct a free and credible election and produce a befitting President for our country.”

When asked to provide other options if the two demands were not met, one of the co-conveners, Anngu Orngu, said they are harmless Nigerians “but we will use every other civil and lawful means to make sure that our demands are met”.

“We are here as frustrated Nigerians and the fundamental rights of Nigerians have been trampled upon by Mahmood Yakubu-led INEC and we are here calling for his immediate resignation.

“We have also requested that DSS should arrest him, and he should be prosecuted by the EFCC.

“We have been to the US Embassy, we have been to the British Council in Nigeria, and we have also submitted a letter to the French Embassy, calling on them to advise the Nigerian government that the Nigerian people are not happy.

“We the young people of this country are not happy over what is happening in our country. We may be peaceful now but when you push even a goat to the wall, the goat may bite,” he added.

In one of the letters made available to journalists and addressed to the United States Embassy, the protesters called for sanctions against the INEC Chairman.

Advertisements

Metro

MNJTF Neutralises Bandits, Recovers Arms, Ammunition

Published

7 hours ago

March 23, 2023

Editor

The Multi-National Joint Task Force said it had continued its on-slaught for the total defeat of the remnants of Boko Haram Terrorists in the Lake Basin.

Lieutenant Colonel Kamarudeen Adegoke, Chief Military Public Information Officer, in a statement on Thursday, said the troops, in conjunction with local vigilante groups, conducted ambush operations on BHT logistic suppliers in the general area of Maroua and recovered six bags of assorted foodstuffs and ten bicycles, adding that the recovered items were handed over to the local authorities for further action.

“Similarly, troops of Sector 3 MNJTF (Nigeria) deployed at Gajiram, while on patrol along Main Supply Route Monguno, rescued suspected BHT family members of nine women and eight children. The rescued persons are currently receiving medical treatment and profiling,” the statement said.

Also, it said on 18 March 2023, troops, in conjunction with local vigilante (Civilian JTF), arrested a BHT collaborator at Federal Government Girls College Mongonu, adding that the collaborator named Umar Goni, who is an indigene of Kukawa, was arrested while trying to cast his vote in the recently held elections in Nigeria.

He said during the preliminary investigation, he confessed to being an errand boy for the terrorists in Kukawa.

He added that the Sector 4 MNJTF (Niger Republic) troops continued to dominate their Area of Operation, saying that between 12 and 13 March 2023, the troops intercepted 20 BHTs around Tegyessa.

He added that troops of the same sector, while on patrol, intercepted 36 BHT members in the southern zone of Tamour.

“During a joint operation named Operation KOUKOURI conducted by the Sector alongside Nigerian troops of Sector 3 dominated Kanama, Bula Buni, Maine, Tam Match 1 and Forest Matali 2.

“Other areas covered included Dutchi, Cetomani Forest, Alagurno Forest and Guma Saigala, where 20 terrorists were neutralized while 63 suspected BHTs were captured alive.

“Items recovered included three AK-47 rifles, one PKM Metal Link with 19 rounds of ammunition, two Improvised Explosive Devices making items, 121 rounds of 7.62mm x 39mm ammunition, three military uniforms, one pair of Ranger kits and two magazines,” he said.

“Items destroyed included two motorcycles, 60 solar panels, five motorcycle fuel tanks, among others were destroyed,” it added.

It will be recalled that the Force Commander, Maj Gen Abdul Kalifa Ibrahim, has charged the sectors to maintain their operational tempo and adopt an aggressive posture in dealing with the remaining insurgents to deny them freedom of action.

“The Force Commander commended the troops for this feat and reiterated his commitment in providing necessary supports to defeat the remnant of the BHT/ISWAP terrorists,” it said.

Advertisements

Metro

DSS Arrests Ogun Assembly Member-elect Over Sagamu Mayhem

Published

20 hours ago

March 22, 2023

Editor

An Ogun State House of Assembly member-elect representing Sagamu constituency 1, Damilare Bello, has been arrested by operatives of the Department of Security Service.

Bello, a Peoples Democratic Party candidate is alleged of masterminding the Sagamu mayhem that left several banks vandalised during the naira scarcity protest.

Our correspondent gathered that the suspects had turned down several invitations by the DSS.

My Daughter Was Preparing For Her Masters In UK Before Train Crash – Father Of Corps Member| Punch

Bello popularly known as Dre was said to have been on the run since the incident till his election on Saturday

A source at the DSS disclosed to our correspondent on Wednesday, that Bello’s arrest was carried out following the protest which took place on 20th February 2023 in Sagamu town, in Sagamu local government area of the state.

During the protest, some irate youths vandalised about 10 commercial banks and other public infrastructures.

A source in the DSS command said, “On March 21, 2023, at about 14:30 hours, the command apprehended one Oluwadamilare Bello over his alleged complicity in the act of economic sabotage.

“Preliminary investigation has commenced and the suspect may be prosecuted for a crime relating to arson and disturbing of the public peace, amongst others upon conclusion of an investigation.

“The suspect is being investigated on economic sabotage /crime of national security dimension, arson, and disruption of public peace among others.

“The arrest is not politically motivated as it was being reported.”

Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the PDP in the state, Oladipupo Adebutu, has reportedly visited the state office of the service.

The source told our correspondent that the PDP had sent three different delegations led by its chairman, Sikirulah Ogundele and other chieftains to mend fences with the command.

The source said the visit was used to clear misconceptions of the service over the invitation and the eventual arrest of the suspect.

The source said, “Adebutu himself visited the command Wednesday, with a view to mending fences with the service and as well clear the past misconceptions about the office and realised that the service is a credible institution that must be reckoned with.

When contacted for confirmation, Adebutu’s media aide, Afolabi Orekoya, said his boss was at the DSS office.

Orekoya, however, declined further comment on why his boss visited the command 24 hours after the party held a protest at the Independent National Electoral Commission office in Abeokuta.

Advertisements