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A prominent support group of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Concerned APC Members Forum, has endorsed the candidacy of Senator Barau I. Jibrin for the position of Deputy Senate President in the 10th National Assembly leadership.

The APC chieftains said it will communicate the decision to the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the national chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu through an official letter on Monday morning.

Addressing a press conference  on Saturday in Abuja, national convener of the forum, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi, demanded adherence to the Federal Character principle, adding that every geo-political zone should be given a sense of belonging.

The APC forum noted that the South-west and North-east have since produced President-elect and Vice – President respectively, the group urged the APC National Working Committee and the Progressives Governors Forum to consider zoning of President of the Senate and Deputy Senate President to the South-south and North-west.

Ogenyi said both zones contributed massive votes to the victory of the ruling party in the last February election and should be adequately rewarded.

The forum further maintained that the duo of Senator Godswill Akpabio, ( Akwa-Ibom North West) and Senator Barau Jibrin, ( Kano North) being ranking Senators from both zones should be considered for the exalted seats.

He said: “We believe that the party’s role in the National Assembly Leadership is to ensure the emergence of a competent senator who has distinguished himself over the years, devoid of religious and tribal sentiment, a pan-Nigerian who has been tested and trusted, proven worthy of integrity, character and prudent management.

“As believers in the Nigerian project, our appeal to the party is to consider the federal character in the zoning of the 10th senate leadership bearing in mind, competence and credibility with an understanding that Nigeria is a circular state with multi-faith and six geo-political zones.

“We wish to remind you the leadership of our party that, the President-elect is from the South West, and the Vice President-elect is from the North East, as such, the Senate President should be zoned to the South-South and the Deputy Senate President to the North West while the speaker of the House of Representatives and deputy should be accommodated by the other zones in view of competence and credibility of Honourable members.

“The President-elect needs highly competent senators with vast knowledge of legislative business to complement him in delivering dividends of democracy to Nigerians. To this end, we have gone ahead in shopping for highly competent, ranking Senators who shall work assiduously with the President-elect and members of the National Assembly to ensure stability and prudent financial appropriation and law-making for the overall interest of the country as the President and Deputy President of the 10th Senate.

“Although, we have watched with keen interest, the agitations from the various geo-political zones clamouring to produce the Senate President. We have also studied their request and concluded that APC as a national party should consider federal character considering the six geo-political zones and the circular nature of the country for even distribution of key government positions.

“We are aware that zoning is not done in a vacuum, so we highly recommend H.E Senator Godswill Akpabio for the position of Senate President and Senator Barau I. Jibrin as Deputy Senate President respectively. This will go a long way in building the confidence of APC members across the country in preparation for the future of our great party, the APC.

“It is pertinent to note that, in the South, South-South contributed the second highest votes after South-West which houses the President-elect. The North-West gave the party the highest votes in the North with Kano state consistently giving APC the highest vote per state in every election since the formation of the APC.

“More so, our submission is based on their legislative experience, prudent financial management, fair disposition towards national peace and unity, care for the less privileged, competence, reward for hard work, electoral value, and diplomatic relations.

“In the National Assembly, Senator Akpabio is the most ranking senator from the South-South under the platform of the APC while Senator Barau I. Jibrin is the most ranking senator from the North West.

“We sincerely appeal to the National Chairman of our great Party, H.E. Sen Abdullahi Adamu CON, and his National Working Committee members to zone the Senate Presidency seat to the South-South and the Deputy Senate President to the North West, preferably micro-zoned to Akwa Ibom State and Deputy Senate President to Kano State to pave way for the most ranking Senators, Godswill Akpabio and Barau I. Jibrin to emerge as the Senate President and Deputy Senate President of the 10th Senate respectively.

“We unequivocally call on the President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Progressives Governor’s Forum (PGF) and the State chairmen of our party to implement a government of National competence by supporting the zoning of the Senate Presidency to the South-South and Deputy to the North West.

“To this end, this organisation is publicly making this appeal to our leaders while official letters will be sent to our party’s National Chairman and the President-elect respectively in this regard.

We shall continue to advocate for good governance in promoting the ideology of our great party, APC. ”

*Ask Tinubu To Retain Isa Jere as CG

The Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Isa Jere has been commended for the good instituting reforms that are yielding positive results through out the country .

The National Coordinator of Concern Civil Society  Organisations and the National Secretary, Comrade Mada Ibrahim and Okpani Mike Odeh James made the commendation in a chat with media men in Kaduna .

According to Comrade Mada Ibrahim, NIS under Isa Jere has been able to curb the influx of foreigners into Nigeria during election season and this have greatly reduced to the cases of illegal aliens participating in the country’s election .

“If you recall before the election,Isa Jere gave his commandants marching orders to weed out illegal aliens and prevent them from participating in the polls .

“That order resulted in the  arrest of foreigners in Zaria, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom and Ogun  with huge number of PVCs. We also are aware of how many others with the country’s PVCs were apprehended by The Service  

“The result is what we saw during the election, zero reports of foreigners participating in our electoral process in 2023 . 

Mada went on to commend the men and women of Nigerian Immigration Service for civil and orderly conduct during the elections proper .

During the Presidential and Gubernatorial elections, reports we got showed that men and women of the Nigerian Immigration Service were very civil, diplomatic and were at the best  

These of humanity have endeared them to the hearts and minds of many Nigerians and we are saying thank you to them and their boss 

Apart from helping to conduct an election that is free from the intervention of illegal aliens, Isa Jere was also commended by the group for initiating several other reforms such the  establishment of a  Digital electronic passport portal which prevents time wasting and extortion of Nigerians seeking to obtain or renew the passport .

According to the group’s National Secretary, Okpani Mike Odeh James, 

“Jere has been able to restore discipline and hard work within the Service as men and women of NCIS are more dedicated to the jobs

staff of the Service have been retrained or maximum efficiency under Isa Jere .

Okpani Mike further added that for the good of the Service and the country, 

“we are calling on the incoming administration to allow Isa Jere continue with the reforms that he has initiated .

We asking  Bola Tinubu to add at least four more years to Jere’s tenure

*Says Tinubu unfit to rule Nigeria

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said that he has been able to run for the office of the President of Nigeria since 1993 without any controversy because unlike his main rival and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Tinubu, he is unencumbered by drugs and identity scandals.

These revelations are contained in Atiku’s response to Tinubu’s and APC’s reply to his petition challenging the process and the outcome of the February 25 presidential election.

Besides, Atiku said that his own identity, comprising age, state of origin, and educational qualifications, have never been in dispute like those of Tinubu.

In his response to Tinubu’s reply to his petition, Atiku insisted that Tinubu is constitutionally disabled from contesting for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Amongst others, Atiku alleged that Tinubu is unfit to lead Nigeria having been indicted for drug related offences in the United States of America (USA) and made to forfeit a sum of $460,000 as a compromise agreement.

In the response filed by his lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, the PDP presidential candidate justified why the declaration of Tinubu as President-elect cannot stand, adding that against the law, “Tinubu holds dual citizenship of Nigeria and Guinea, having voluntarily acquired the citizenship of the Republic of Guinea”.

Similarly, Atiku accused Tinubu of not disclosing facts of his constitutional qualifications in his Form EC9 submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), contrary to the provisions of the law.

The petitioner while admitting that Tinubu may be a “Titan and a Maestro”, he however said that the “President-elect is certainly not a titan and maestro in national stature but in controversies such as age, state of origin, identity, educational qualifications represented by certificates obtained from universities and colleges”.

Apparently reacting to Tinubu’s response in which he described Atiku as a serial election loser, the former Vice President said that Tinubu is a giant in forfeiture, drug related offences and failure to disclose dual nationality to INEC.

“The comparison of the second respondent (Tinubu) with the first petitioner ( Atiku) who had attained the eminent position of Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for eight years is totally unfounded”, he said.

Justifying his request for the annulment of the declaration of Tinubu as President-elect, Atiku said that Tinubu and APC never won the majority of the lawful votes cast in the February 25 presidential election.

Amongst others, the PDP presidential candidate maintained that Tinubu failed part of the constitutional requirements, having failed to secure 25% of the votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, as constitutionally required.

He insisted that the return of Tinubu as the winner of the 2023 presidential election is undue, unlawful, and invalid because Tinubu did not meet the constitutional requirements as to qualification.

Rather than addressing the issues raised against him and the disputed election, Atiku said that Tinubu deliberately chose not to answer points of substance in the petition and opted for extraneous facts, contradictory, evasive, speculative and vague assertions.

In reaction to another issue raised against Atiku’s petition, the former Vice President claimed that his petition did not in any way constitute a gross abuse of any court process, adding that the originating summons of February 28, 2023, filed at the Supreme Court by Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta , Edo, and Sokoto states have since been discontinued.

At any rate, Atiku said that parties in the suit of the six PDP controlled states are not the same in his own petition and therefore prayed the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to discountenance the objections and the averments raised against the petition by Tinubu and grant him all the reliefs sought in the petition.

Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Paul Ibe said that the only thing common between Atiku and Tinubu is the year 1993.

He said while it was the year that Atiku started his presidential campaign run, it was also the same year that Tinubu fell to the US justice system over his indictment and conviction for drug trafficking and money laundering for which he forfeited a whopping sum of $460,000.

Meanwhile, J K Gadzama, SAN, has ceded the headship of the Atiku legal team of the PEPT to Chief Chris Uche, SAN.

Filings by the Atiku legal team responding to Tinubu’s and APC’s reply to Atiku’s petition were signed by Chris Uche, SAN.

Additionally, Atiku’s legal team has filed an application for pre-trial hearing notice pursuant to paragraph 18(1) and (2) of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act 2022.

*Says evidence at PDP’s disposal will nail APC

Following the controversies that met the declaration on winner of the February 25, 2023 presidential election, the SA Youth to the Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Ambassador Aliyu Bin Abbas has told Nigerians to be hopeful as the party and candidate have all it takes to reclaim their mandate in court.

Ambassador Abbas expressed this in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen on Thursday April 20, to felicitate Muslim faithful on the Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

“We are all aware of all the intrigues that came with this year’s general election. The double standards displayed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the declaration of a winner under controversial circumstances.

“The declaration unlike in the past, saw no celebration on the streets, Nigerians were surprised and shocked to their marrows, bringing about deep reflection on the issue.

“My message to all Nigerians this Sallah is that hope is not lost. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar GCON will reclaim the mandate freely given to him by Nigerians if all ethnicity and religions. The courts will not be blind to all the facts that the PDP will be arguing with,” he said.

He congratulated Muslims for completing the mandatory Ramadan Fast, while praying that their prayers in the holy month will be speedily answered by Almighty Allah.

By Tom Garba

He is young and agile, brave and forthright, he is intelligent and versatile. He can be seen as a regimented civilian General who will live to fight in keeping the tenets of Democracy for the common good of all.

I’m talking about a Medical Doctor, a former Minister of State for Health and foreign affairs, a businessman, and a philanthropist who is a household name in Adamawa and known with much passion to serve humanity.

This man was born on 31st December 1967 in Hong Local Government area of Adamawa State. Is no other person, is Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, the Man that help in consolidating Rt Hon Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s victory of the Adamawa state PDP.

Idi building to general elections has played sensitive roles to ensure his party, PDP has a gliding victory. He went the rock ways, endures the pains of nooks and crannies campaign of Adamawa towns and villages, he fought for the liberation of people as a loyal army general who had sworn to die defending his nation. Yes, that was Idi’s mission, to make sure Fintiri returned elected.

The war-fighting Spirit of Idi during the campaigns was of a warrior who was sure and ready to conquer his enemy under whatever guise. The nostalgic general sees only victory at the end of the battle. He fights for justice under the doctrines and dogma of Democracy tenets.

Idi’s disposition to Justice was rekindled when a hullabaloo that seems to be a Nollywood firm’s script acting by the Resident Election Commissioner (REC), Barr Yunusa Hudu Ari who at a collation center was playing a hanky panky game of delay suspicious to change the Adamawa election results.

There at the collation center, Idi showed up and begin to fight for Justice, his belief in the Adamawa Governorship election is to give to Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar.

This valiant warrior fought for Fintiri, fought for Adamawa, and fought for humanity when the election was declared inconclusive. It was a war to finish for him to defend the People’s mandate. The dramatic journey with a seeming description of a civilian coup De tat on Democracy was staged when Hudu with no constitutional back up declared Sen Aishatu Binani of APC as the winner of the governorship election threw the entire nation into a state of confusion. Adamawa few weeks ago was more of having a grave yard peace with everyone seems frustrated on what begile the state.

Idi was nicked name the commander-general defending the election process of the people roared, yelled, and stood his ground against the open show of mandate assassination in a broad daylight by the APC guber candidate.

The attitude exhibited by Idi Hong has distinguished him to be promising Man that Nigeria needs not only Adamawa state. He gave the right fight and struggled through the wild and vile interest of APC’s governorship candidate.

Today Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri returned elected and collected his certificate returning him a Governor of Adamawa state for the second term in a keenly contest even when it was so glaring they are robbing him out of the mandate but people like Idi Hong, Felix Tangwami, and Hon Barguma Hassan Mamman all contributed in one way or the other to ensure Justice is done.

Idi for me is another brilliant civilian general that Adamawa is proud to have to change the negative narratives that nothing good will ever come to the state. As a former Minister, a Business tycoon who is helping in managing the BUA company, a business conglomerate producing cement and allied products in the country. He is now a shining star with a radiant glory.

Idi is a gift, Idi is the ideal leader that the people of Adamawa should encourage to take leading roles in government affairs at both federal and state levels. He has all it takes, he has all the experience, is Young and strong, able and ready to take leadership roles for the state.

Idi defended, he protected and delivered what lawfully and legally belongs to the people of Adamawa. What a warrior! He and many others have paid proper dues not because they are PDP’s but because they are out for Justice, and for Democracy to stand tall in Nigeria.

Fintiri is indeed lucky to have this Man around, having him be part of a movement is a jewel to any leader that sees that virtue in him. Straight he is like a sword. Intelligent he is like the ancient men, he has wisdom like the people of old. Idi is a master piece creature created by eternal creator for solving problems of Mankind

Sir, keep living and fighting for the common man. Keep roaring for democracy, and keep the hope of people in Adamawa alive by singing the song of victors.

Idi thank you for being a promising leader and a civilian general who can lay down his life for the whole people of the state. I see you as an Eagle who has the vision of serving Adamawa State at a much higher capacity in a near future.

Tom Garba, MA, SPSP, FIMC, FBDM A Journalist and Peace expert He wrote this on top of the Mandara Mountains, Northern Adamawa

*Urges Supreme Court Judges to maintain integrity and resist inducement

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank, has called on the Supreme Court Judges to maintain their integrity and resist any attempt of subversiveness through inducement as regards the Osun governorship matter.

He said some desperate politicians have began move to upturn Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory at Appeal Court at all cost.

Frank also raised the alarm that recent intelligence reports available suggest that the enemies of democracy and fascist elements operating in the ruling party are bent on truncating democracy by using every state apparatus available in perpetuating mischief and subversion of legitimacy, as evident in the just concluded Adamawa governorship rerun election.

In a statement released to newsmen Thursday in Abuja, the political activist opined that with an overwhelming Court of Appeal judgement, affirming the victory of Sennator Ademola Adeleke as the Osun state governor, and a previous Supreme Court judgment clearing all issues as regards his eligibility and certificates, “it is clear that any further judicial exercise is akin to witch hunt.”

Frank, who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, alleged that some desperate politicians in the ruling APC have arisen once again to compromise the integrity of the judiciary by vowing to upturn the decision of the Court of Appeal by any means necessary in relation to the Osun state Supreme Court decision.

He alleged that monetary inducement, coercion and intimidation using state security agencies to influence the judgment of the Supreme Court are rife and underway.

“Howbeit, these same elements who’ve been operating without fear for consequences have once again arisen to compromise the integrity of the judiciary by vowing to upturn the decision of the Court of Appeal, by any means necessary in relation to the Osun state Supreme Court decision. Monetary inducement of $2million per JSC on this matter is the offer inherent as well as coercion and intimidation using state security agencies to greatly influence the judgment of the SC is in top gear and underway.

“The Supreme Court must be put on notice that Nigerians are very interested in the outcomes of judgement decisions from the SC and will continue to beam it’s searchlights on the discreet activities of the Judges especially after the ridiculous decisions as regards Sen Ahmed Lawan and Sen Gods will Akabio. We are constrained to believe that indeed, recent decisions from the SC suggest that certain compromise may have been plausible by the outcomes of judicial matters.

“The hopes of many Nigerians is fast fading away as most Nigerians doubt the independence of the judiciary in the dispense of justice. The SC must not be seen going the way of the INEC chairman, who blatantly voided it’s own rules to subvert the will of the people save for personal agradissment. The JSC must put the country first in its discharge of their constitutional duties. The 2023 Presidential Elections results are still rife in the minds of many and thus any attempt to deliver any controversial judgement may end up in anarchy.

“The SC must be reminded that the Osun State matter will be first litmus test for the JSC. The facts of the matterr are very clear, with the CA putting to rest the issues of overvoting and any other discrepancies. Therefore the minimum expectations for the SC is to stand by the truth and avoid any semblance of intimidation and coercion. The Right thing must be done, as it is clear that the Osun people are extremely pleased with the choice of their governor and are elated with his performance since his inception into office.

“In other to demonstrate independence and integrity the SC should as a matter of Public Opinion approve for the use of live telecast in broadcasting it’s proceeding for the Presidential Elections matter. The Supreme Court must stand on what is right and just and endeavor to reclaim it’s already batterd image,” Frank stated.

The Special Assistant on Public Communication to Waziri Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, has alleged that the electoral misconduct perpetrated by the Adamawa Resident Electoral Commission, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, is nothing different from what the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, did during the Presidential polls.

Yunusa-Ari had on Sunday, announced Senator Aishatu Ahmed Binani, the APC governorship candidate in Adamawa, as the winner of the election even while the results were still being collated.

The Adamawa REC has since been suspended by the headquarters of the commission while the announcement of the results has been postponed indefinitely.

Responding in a statement, however, Shaibu said the national leadership of INEC could not pretend to be unaware of the many allegations hanging on the neck of the Adamawa REC.

Shaibu added that the suspension of the Adamawa REC without his arrest and prosecution was merely a slap in the wrist.

“It is crystal clear even to the blind that the Adamawa REC learnt well from the INEC Chairman. INEC as an organization, from the top to the bottom is akin to Ali Baba and the 40 thieves. As a matter of fact, the baby goat learns to eat grass by diligently watching the mama devour the lush grass around them”.

He said, “Over a month ago, Sahara Reporters published an audio clip where the Adamawa REC was heard directing an election official, Hammajam Mohammed, to rig the governorship election in favour of Binani.

“In the leaked audio, Yunusa told Mohammed to do everything humanly possible to make Binani win. He told the electoral official that he was instructed by a higher authority to make Binani win. Governor Ahmadu Fintiri complained severally about the compromised REC but INEC did nothing about it.

“Despite having over one month to prepare for this supplementary poll, INEC retained this compromised REC who went ahead to undermine the election once more. From all that has happened, it is obvious that Yunusa-Ari was acting on orders from above and that is why Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s warnings were ignored.

“This carefully orchestrated action is a reflection of the electoral heist of February 25, 2023 when the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, decided to announce Bola Tinubu of the APC as winner despite the many irregularities and complaints from several opposition parties. Indeed, Yunusa-Ari acted like his father and boss, Mahmood Yakubu.”

Atiku’s aide said the Adamawa fiasco came as no surprise since INEC had always been in bed with Binani and had even admitted in a statement that it awarded a contract to one of her companies.

He added, “INEC had in a statement by National Commissioner, Festus Okoye, admitted to awarding a sensitive contract to the Binani Printing Press Limited, a firm owned by the APC governorship candidate.

“In the statement, Okoye had claimed that the company was awarded the contract as a way of stimulating the economy and encouraging Nigerian enterprise. It is obvious that Binani and INEC are in bed together.”

Shaibu said Yakubu’s name had become a by-word for scorn after conducting the most flawed election in the history of Nigeria.

Atiku’s aide wondered why INEC under the leadership of Yakubu had failed to deliver a credible poll despite receiving the largest budget ever.

He added, “How will Mahmood Yakubu be remembered? Well, Nigerian singers like Falz and Vector have already composed a song titled Yakubu so that generations unborn will remember the sort of character he is. The video alone has garnered over one million views on Youtube and has become a social media sensation.

“This is a man who promised over and over again to upload the results of elections in real-time unto the INEC’s portal and failed to do so yet he lacks the decency to apologise to over 200 million people. Nearly two months after that shambolic election, all the results have yet to be uploaded.

“Results from Rivers State even show that Tinubu did not even win in that state. Rather than suspend the announcement of results, Mr Yakubu decided to announce Tinubu as the winner. One wonders how such a man sleeps at night.”

By Pius Garba, Yola

Concerned CSOs Demand Binani, Adamawa REC Arrest

*Allege N2bn was disbursed in to facilitate announcement of APC Candidate as Governor Elect

A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) have while describing the unlawful declaration of Senator Aishatu Binani as Adamawa Governor-elect, called for the immediate arrest of the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Ari as well as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the polls.

The coalition expressed this in a statement issued to newsmen in Kaduna on Monday April 17, 2023, jointly signed by Mada Ibrahim and Michael Ayuba James.

“In the face of the glaring coup d’etat against democracy by Sen. Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani, Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), State commissioner of police, Director State Security and his counterpart of National Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) we the concerned civil society organizations (CSOs) do hereby urge president Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency directed the arrest of the mentioned anti democratic forces for treason and constitutional mischief,” the coalition demanded.

According to the text of the statement titled, “Call for the immediate arrest of Binani, Adamawa REC, Commissioner of Police, Director DSS, and NSCDC commandant for staging coup against democracy” the coalition said that as a full blown democrat, this call has become incumbent on President Muhammadu Buhari in order to save Nigeria’s democracy from being supplanted by desperate conspirators for their self serving and whimsical proclivities.

“Democracy especially in Adamawa State will continue to be under serious threats if the mentioned elements are not duly prosecuted in line with Nigeria’s extant rules for treason.

“These elements have made Nigeria a laughing stock in the committee of nations for their effrontery to hold democracy hostage in furtherance of their primitive lust for power or personal aggrandizement.

“The president whom we know for his towering credentials and integrity should not allow some few individuals to truncate our hard earned democracy because doing that is archetypal to allowing them to rubbish all his efforts at ensuring a credible electioneering process at the twilight of his exit from power.

“In this respect we want to acknowledge the decisive role played by the headquarters of INEC which wielded the big stick against their erring REC by calling off his bluff and maintained the narrow path of honor and truth,” they said.

They urged INEC to as a matter of urgency, order the arrest and prosecution of the REC to serve as deterrent to others and to also assert that the electoral umpire is truly independent.

“The morbid fascination of these dubious elements has nearly robbed Adamawa State of its peace and tranquility yesterday saved for the maturity of the people who are known for their tact, and resilience even in the face of blatant and unnecessary provocation and intimidation.

“We must acknowledge the superlative show of maturity displayed by our amiable governor, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri for his calculated restraint and resilient in the face of the day light armed robbery hoisted by these charlatans and undemocratic forces to take his leadership through the back door.

“Such show of resilience is the reason why Adamawa State has remained calm up till this moment. What do you think would have happened to Adamawa State had governor Fintiri also displayed an insane desperation and lust for power as the others?

“Following the ugly incident of yesterday in Adamawa State where the Resident Electoral Commissioner usurped the responsibility of the returning officer, we are constraints to call on Mr. President to constitute a full blown inquest into the sordid happening with a view to prevent future ugly occurrences.

“For the sake of emphasis, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Ari walked into INEC collation Centre on the 16 of March and declared the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Aisha Binani winner of the Adamawa Supplementary polls even when collation of results have not concluded,” they submitted.

The coalition said that according to Nigeria’s electoral law, the REC, Hudu Ari, has no power to announce the winner of the election.

“That responsibility solely lies with the state collation officer appointed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“In view of these and other facts at our disposal, we are calling for the arrest, investigation and prosecution of Mr. Hudu Ari and his conspirators. We want the the security agencies to investigate all those involved in the black Sunday Saga.

“We note with concern how a Senior lawmaker Senator Aishatu Binani choose to ignore all the illegality shrouded in declaring her Governor- Elect and choose to give an acceptance speech.

“The speed at which the speech was read immediately after the illegal declaration shows that the whole sordid act of rascality was premeditated and perfected amongst the conspirators of doom.

“We hereby call for her immediate arrest and questioning in order to ascertain what actually transpired.

“Aishatu Binani should be questioned for giving an acceptance speech after being declared Governor Elect illegally,” they stressed.

Furthermore, they pointed out that in a viral video, it was speculated that N2 billion was disbursed in order to facilitate the announcement of the APC Gubernatorial Candidate as Governor Elect, this claim must be investigated as well .

They also demanded that the APC chairman in the state, and the governorship candidate of APC should be questioned in respect of the alleged N2 billion that was disbursed in order to change the electoral will of Adamawa people.

“Similarly, by giving acceptance speech, Binani has participated in an attempt albeit illegally to remove a sitting Governor, she should therefore be disqualified from participating in any future polls.

“We call on the Inspector General of Police, the Commandant of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corp and the Department For State Security to launch a probe into why senior officers from these security agencies accompany Mr. Ari Hudu to INEC centre where he illegally made the announcement.

“In the same vein, we are aware that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission deployed to the state have displayed gross incompetence, partiality and favoritism all geared towards suppressing the wishes of Adamawa voters in order to make Binani the Governor of Adamawa State by hook or by crook.

“These inordinate schemes came to a head yesterday when the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu legally declared Binani Governor Elect .

“Therefore, we are calling on INEC to redeploy it’s officials from the state and to bring in new ones.

“Furthermore, we are in the know that Governor Umaru Fintiri actually won the elections ab initio and that APC, Binani and others connived to foist the supplementary polls on us, in view of these, we are calling on INEC to declare Umar Fintiri as the Governor Elect of the state immediately.”

…Says Declaration by REC amounts to Civilian Coup

Former Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Senator Shehu Sani has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for taking the bold step to suspend the collation of the Adamawa State supplementary governorship poll.

According to the Former lawmaker, a situation, where the Resident Electoral Commission declared the APC governorship candidate the winner of the election as against the Returning Officer while the election process is still on “is equivalent to a civilian coup.”

Sen. Shehu Sani who disclosed this in a swift reaction to the what he termed ‘Ilegal declaration” by Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner in a statement personally signed and made available to journalists in Kaduna today commended Professor Mahmud Yakubu and the INEC for prompt intervention.

He further stated ,”It was obvious that the REC was out to truncate democracy in the state and by extension Nigeria if his action was allowed unchecked .

He expressed joy that the statement signed by the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education, Barrister Festus Okoye ,where the electoral umpire slammed the action of the Adamawa REC, saying it usurps the power of the Returning Officer is highly appreciated.

Noting that the good step about the statement is that it declared the announcement ,”… null, void and of no effect. Consequently, the collation of results of the supplementary election is hereby suspended.”

Senator Shehu Sani’s Statement further reads: ” The declaration by Adamawa REC is an equivalent of a civilian coup.

“The action of the Rec stands condemnable. Our democracy can’t survive if we condone such brazen act of criminality and brigandage.

He however, said it not enough to summon the REC and other perpetrators but also advised that ,”The REC and the security men, who perpetrated the acts must be prosecuted.

While stressing that “Our political culture and attitude to election needs chemotherapy,he noted , “The Dangerous trend in our electoral system has gone beyond the culture of Violence,Vote buying and falsification of results to the most obnoxiously and brazenly crude phase of taking over the collation center,seizing the Mic and illegally declaring the results of an election.”

*Says world watching Presidential Election Petitions proceedings

A social activist and author, Reno Omokri, has said forensic analysis of the presidential election result of the February 25, 2023 showed that there were over voting in more than 10,000 polling units, which represents almost 8% of all PUs.

He, however, told the the Nigerian judiciary that the world is watching the Presidential Election Petitions Court and hopes it will abide by the provision of the law as enshrined in Nigeria’s Electoral Act of 2022.

In a statement released to newsmen Saturday, the former President aide also called on Nigerians to add their voices to that of millions of others against miscarriage of justice by the Nigerian Judiciary.

The statement titled “An Action Call To Save Democracy in Nigeria”, said the over voting was only possible due to manual accreditation and transmission of voters and votes, rather than the legally required electronic accreditation via Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines.

Omokri said: “On February 25, 2023, Nigeria held Presidential elections in which the ruling party won.

“However, forensic analysis of the result of the election showed that there were over voting in more than 10,000 polling units. This represents almost 8% of all PUs.

“Evidence has been presented by both the Peoples Democratic Part, and the Labour Party at the Presidential Election Petition Court that the ruling party candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was declared President-elect based largely on the votes he amassed in some of these 8% of polling units where over voting occurred.

“Now this is very convenient, and too coincidental. And it is also unlawful.

“By virtue of Section 47 (3) of Nigeria’s Electoral Act, those results ought to have been cancelled, and the elections rescheduled for a later date when the issues with the machines would have been resolved. That section says:

‘Where a smart card reader or any other technological device deployed for accreditation of voters fails to function in any unit and a fresh card reader or technological device is not deployed, the election in that unit shall be cancelled and another election shall be scheduled.’

“The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justuce Kayode Ariwoola, who sits at the head of the judiciary, and who has set up the PEPC, made comments, on video, praising the ruling party on November 25, 2022. As a result of those comments, millions of Nigerians lack confidence in his ability to spearhead a judiciary that dispenses impartial justice.

“What I humbly ask of you reading this is for you to consider using your good offices, no matter how small you think it is, to add your voice to that of millions of Nigerians, and tell the Nigerian judiciary that the world is watching the PEPC and hopes it will abide by the provision of the law as enshrined in Nigeria’s Electoral Act of 2022.”