INEC’s Application To Court To Reconfigure BVAS Raises Integrity Questions

 The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) decision to approach the Court of Appeal in Abuja, for an order varying the permission the court had previously granted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) to inspect materials used by the commission in the conduct of the February 25 presidential election has elicited questions about the integrity of the recently held poll.

INEC said the request was predicated on the need to reconfigure the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) used in the presidential election before deploying them for the March 11 governorship and state Houses of Assembly polls.

However, some IT experts who didn’t want their names in print were unanimous that granting the order would allow the electoral body to tamper with the evidence and compromise the pending litigations on the controversial poll and further worsen the credibility of the entire process.

The IT experts believe that INEC does not need to reconfigure the BVAS ahead of the gubernatorial and the states’ houses of assembly polls.

The presidential candidates of PDP, Atiku Abubakar, and LP, Peter Obi, had in their challenge of the outcome of the presidential election, recently, obtained the order of the court to inspect materials used in the conduct of the poll, including the BVAS.

INEC had declared candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, winner of the presidential election, which was marred by technical challenges.

The controversial poll has been rejected by the two leading opposition parties and had been criticised by international observers and civil society organisations.

Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor, was said to have polled a total of 8,794,726 votes to defeat his closest rival and presidential candidate of PDP, Atiku, who scored 6,984,520 votes, and Peter Obi of LP, who polled 6,101,533 votes, in an election that INEC failed to ensure instantaneous transmission of results to its IReV at the conclusion of voting at polling units as originally planned for the 2023 general election.

Both Tinubu and Atiku won 12 states each, while Obi won 11 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Court of Appeal presided by Justice Joseph Ikyegh had last Friday, while delivering ruling in two separate applications, permitted Atiku and Obi to inspect the said materials, which they intended to use in proving their allegations of non-compliance and rigging of the poll.

The appellate court, ruling in an ex parte application, permitted Atiku and Obi to inspect, “All the electoral materials used in the conduct of the election for the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria held on February 25, 2023.”

The court also permitted Atiku and Obi to do electronic scanning and/or make photocopies of Voter’s Registration and ballot papers used in the presidential election.

In addition, both Atiku and Obi were by the order permitted to, “Carryout digital forensic inspection of BVAS machines used for the conduct of the February 25” presidential election.

However, INEC, in a fresh application, which THISDAY learnt was filed over the weekend, asked the appellate court to vary the order so as to allow the electoral umpire reconfigure the BVAS for use in the March 11 governorship and Houses of Assembly elections.

According to a source in INEC, the application became necessary following an order restraining the commission from tampering with the information embedded in the BVAS machines until due inspection was conducted and Certified True Copies (CTC) issued to the applicants.

The source added that INEC needed sufficient time to reconfigure the BVAS to be used during this Saturday’s poll holding in the 36 states of the federation, excluding the FCT.

According to the source, considering the number of BVAS machines required to conduct the election across the states, INEC needs to reconfigure the BVAS used for the February 25 elections before deploying them to the various polling units.

The source said the technical team of the commission had to be deployed on time to start the reconfiguration of the devices, which had to be done one by one.

The source maintained that not varying the order could result to postponement of the March 11 elections.

Peters Mbah Erects Billboards Asking Enugu Obidients To Vote For Him

 

Lagos: Sanwo-Olu To Increase Salary Of Workers.

 The incumbent Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwoolu has promised Local government workers of a salary increase...

Lagos governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu addressing hundreds of local government workers on Monday at Alausa secretariat

Lagos to increase local govt workers’ salary
“No matter how small it is, we will top it.”

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has promised to “top” salaries of local government workers in the state.

The governor spoke during an interactive session with civil servants at the local government level on Monday at the Adeyemi Bayero Auditorium within the Alausa Secretariat, in Ikeja.

The development comes a few days before the governorship and House of Assembly elections.

“I as governor have promised to increase, no matter how small, the salary of the public servants,” he said.

“The market where the Alausa workers shop, that’s where you shop too. Your children go to the same school, you pay the same fare and all of us are from Lagos.

“I have told them and I have challenged them and we are trying to see how we adjust so that one is not higher than the other so that we don’t disenfranchise anybody. You are all my people, my staff, you are all my citizens and I need to take care of you.

Obi's Supporter Deletes Tweet About 19 States Won, ANAP Calls It False Info

 Yesterday, the internet(Nairaland included) was agog when one of Peter Obi's supporters, NEFERTITI aka @Firstladyship made a bold claim about Peter Obi winning 19 states and also getting a lot of information contrary to what INEC declare. 

This was believe by a lot of people but now she has deleted the tweet. The same information has been described by the ANAP as news "meant to rile you up" false information is bad and it has emotional consequences on readers

We advise you to verify any information that you receive. Misinformation is constantly being shared to fit different agendas. It is important to ignore fake news like the one below which is NOT from the authentic Datti Baba-Ahmed & which is designed to rile you up

Enugu 2023: Labour Party Leaders Accused Of Desperation

 2023: Why are Chijioke Edeoga, Okey Ezea and other Enugu Labour Party leaders beating war drum, destroying Peter Obi’s integrity, sanctity of Church leaders in a desperate move to snatch power?  

The recent outburst that the forthcoming governorship election in Enugu State will be a “do-or-die game” by the Labour Party Senator-elect, Okey Ezea, who was ignorantly voted for by the electorate through the influence and determination of the Igbos, Christians and Obidient family to deliver the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi as president of Nigeria, is not only condemnable but also an inciting act which is at variance with what Peter Obi represents in the struggle.

Secondly, the derogatory statement by Ken Eze, one of the key social media hatchet men of the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Enugu State, Chijioke Edeoga alleging that “Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma of Anglican Diocese of Enugu has been rumoured to have collected millions of Naira to tell Ndi Enugu to vote back the PDP” is the highest level of insult on the sanctity of the Church and yet another condemnable act that does not represent what Peter Obi and the Labour Party stand for.

The worst aspect of it all is that Chijioke Edeoga is an Anglican who instead of standing in defence of the Church has like the Biblical story of Saul, gladly watched his foot soldiers cast aspersion on ministers of God and ridiculously drag the name of the Church in the mud in his crass desperation to grab political power.  Ken Eze, Edeoga's undisputable attack dog on social media has written and published series of write ups promoting his (Edeoga’s) candidacy and at the same time maligning every perceived opponent of Edeoga including those who tried to guide him on the right path.

As at today, Chijioke Edeoga, an Anglican from Enugu East Senatorial District of Enugu State has not made any statement condemning or dissociating himself from such a brazen attack on a man of God and a revered Archbishop of the Anglican Church for that matter.

What is Enugu State trying to turn to just because some desperate and insensitive politicians mistakenly benefited from the mass movement to deliver Peter Obi as president of Nigeria?

Archbishop Chukwuma’s sin for the undeserving insult on his sacred personality by the Labour Party’s opportunists in Enugu State was that he was quoted to have said: "Apart from the Presidential election last Saturday, a lot of mistakes were made because of wrong emotion. Some who were elected have no experience and cannot legislate. That mistake must be avoided on the 11th pls. The Church will surely speak!" ~ Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma.”

Reacting to the statement by Archbishop Chukwuma, Ken Eze, Edeoga’s hatchet man wrote: 

“If any man of God suddenly starts advocating for the PDP to be voted back to power, just know that he has compromised his faith by taking bribe from the govt. Ken Eze.”

From all indications, Chijioke Edeoga, Okey Ezea and their Labour Party cohorts in Enugu State are not interested in the electoral fortunes of Peter Obi and the Obidient movement. They have no respect for the sanctity of the Church and the clergymen. They do not promote peace and unity rather they are promoters of violence and war. They are only interested in their personal and parochial political agenda to occupy the Government House at all cost. God forbid!  

As our revered Archbishop Chukwuma rightly said, “That mistake must be avoided on the 11th pls. The Church will surely speak!”

Enugu State needs someone who is competent, respectful, disciplined, prepared for the job, has a defined manifesto and fears God.

Edeoga who has been sponsoring mischievous and malicious publications against his political opponents especially the PDP governorship candidate, Dr. Peter Mbah and the Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who graciously appointed him as a Commissioner for two consecutive times, biting the finger that fed him, lacks the above leadership qualities. 

As an in-law to Chief John Nnia Nwodo, Edeoga is nothing but a stooge to the Nwodos who are doing every humanly possible including character assassination and baseless clannish sentiments to grab power through the back door. Ndi Enugu will resist that!

The good news is that Peter Mbah of the PDP has received the overwhelming endorsements of the people of Enugu State including the political, religious and traditional leaders such as former Governor Sullivan Chime and Archbishop Chukwuma, based on his competence, character, credibility and vision for Enugu State as contained in his manifesto. 

Edeoga and his co-travellers need no soothsayer to tell them that the upcoming March 11 Governorship and State Assembly Elections will be a different ball game from the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly Elections as Peter Obi is not contesting election on March 11 and will consequently not be a saving grace for any candidate of the Labour Party as it was the case on the February 25 elections. 

~ Loveth Koya Chukwu

₦‎500: APC’s New Way Of Wooing Voters In Lagos - FIJ

 Ahead of the March 11 gubernatorial election, the Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is wooing voters with N500 to reelect Babajide Sanwo-Olu as governor.

FIJ learnt that voters are credited with N500 after dialing a special code.

Bimbo Alade (not real name) told FIJ he received N500 airtime from the political party on Friday evening.

“I heard news that APC was giving away N500 to anyone who dialed 013302645,” he told FIJ.

“After the call went through, it requested that the caller input a pin, which was 1028#, and then a sound recording of Sanwo-Olu was played. He campaigned for a minute or two.

“When he finished, the call dropped and I was credited. Alternatively, the call was interrupted and the number called back, and once I picked, the sound recording was played automatically.”

Another recipient of the free airtime told FIJ that although there were no assurances that every caller would be credited, the method of receiving airtime was the same.

“Upon dialing the number, I was asked to input the 1028# pin,” he said.

Stop Dancing ‘skelewu’, Causing Gridlocks On Abuja Streets, Tinubu Warns Atiku

 President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has asked the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to respect his grand old age and stop following court jesters like Dino Melaye to dance ‘skelewu’ and causing traffic snarls within the nation’s capital, Abuja.

Tinubu was reacting to Monday’s protest to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC by Atiku and some leaders of the PDP.

‘Skelewu’ is a dance form established by the musician, David Adeleke (Davido) in his song of the same title.

Describing the action as a new low and a theatre of the absurd, Tinubu said it was strange that a former vice president of the country could be so idle as to disturb the public peace.

Director, Media and Publicity, at the All Progressives Congress APC Presidential Campaign Council PCC, Mr Bayo Onanuga in a statement said when Atiku told the world last week that he would seek redress in court over the outcome of the 25 February Presidential election, little did the PCC know that he did not plan to be guided by his own promise.

“Going by his political antecedents, it was rather not surprising that Atiku, days later, led a band of protesters, nay jesters in Abuja, to the Headquarters of Independent National Electoral Commission INEC. 

“What was on display today by Alhaji Atiku and his motley crowd was a new low from the perennial election loser.

“With Atiku staging a theatre of the absurd, we fail to see how a march to INEC by a scanty crowd will provide any victory window for him and his fragmented PDP. The only recourse open to Atiku after the electoral umpire declared Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the President-elect, is the Election Petition Tribunal. 

“Instead of Atiku and his party to wisely spend their time to gather the so-called evidence they hope to present before the courts, they are busy dancing ‘skelewu’ on the streets and causing traffic nuisance to residents of the Federal Capital Territory who were going to work on a Monday morning.

“We don’t expect a former Vice President of Nigeria, a statesman and a Presidential candidate to be so jobless as to have time to disturb public peace over an electoral outcome he had already said he would challenge in court”, the APC PCC stated.


Age not on your side

The council also admonished Alhaji Atiku “to respect his age and the high office of the Vice Presidency of Nigeria he once occupied”.

“He should stop being teleguided by Dino Melaye, who disclosed scandalously that N400 billion was wasted on the election, which was clear at the outset that Atiku was bound to lose.

“Atiku should avoid being misdirected by other court jesters in his party, who continued to campaign after the election, still spewing their inanities against the President-elect. They are mere comic characters in a travelling theatre group.

“INEC Headquarters is not a court where the prayers of Alhaji Atiku can be answered. No amount of theatrical display will give him succour. The honourable and lawful path to take is for Atiku to get his lawyers to plead his case in court.

“He should stop throwing tantrums like a baby whose candy was taken away over an election he clearly lost due to his own poor judgment; mismanagement of his own party and violation of power rotational arrangement between the North and the South. The PDP presidential candidate dug his own grave, in his last election and, absurdly, he is trying to rewrite the script of his own utter failure.

“We wonder how Atiku and his party hoped to win, when he himself admitted that Peter Obi, his running mate in 2019, ran away with traditional PDP votes from the South-East and South-South. 

“It is preposterous that while Atiku is disturbing public peace, chanting phantom electoral victory, Peter Obi is making same claim. We think both men have embarrassed themselves enough and it is time they both resolved who between them is the supposed winner that will challenge our party’s victory in court. 

“We advise Atiku to retire honourably from politics and move to his abode in Dubai. At 77 in November, Atiku does not have age on his side again. He has participated in his last election and hopefully, he has learnt worthy lessons, never to place his selfish interests above party and established principles in his party and the polity”.