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Drama As APC, INEC Tender Conflicting Results At Bayelsa Gov Tribunal
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The All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission, on Wednesday, tendered conflicting election results for the November 11, 2023 governorship election held in Bayelsa State at the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja.
INEC had declared Douye Diri, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, as the winner of the election after polling a total of 175,196 votes to defeat his closest rival, Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress who scored 115,262 votes.
Diri, and his deputy, Lawrence Ehwrudjakpo, were on Wednesday inaugurated for their second term in office.
They took fresh oaths of office and allegiance administered by the state Chief Judge, Justice Matilda Ayemieye, inside the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Yenagoa.
Dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, Sylva and the APC are challenging the declaration of Diri as the winner of the election at the tribunal.
INEC, Diri, his deputy, Ewhirujakpo, and the PDP are the respondents in the matter.
Sylvia and APC are contending that the election was conducted in Southern Ijaw, Ogbia, and Nembe Local Government Areas where INEC claimed that the election was not held due to the diversion of electoral materials among others.
However, at the commencement of the hearing of the petition, INEC presented its Certified True Copies of the election results, whereas the APC polling unit agents submitted diverse results for the areas where they were deployed.
An APC polling agent, Odungele Moses, before giving testimony, adopted his statement on oath which he deposed to on December 1, 2023.
Led in evidence by counsel for the petitioners, Tunde Falola, the witness maintained that the election took place in his polling unit, PU 15, Ward 4, and tendered a result which he claimed was issued to him by the election’s presiding officer.
However, during cross-examination by, counsel for the governor, Chris Uche, SAN, the witness admitted that although 16 political parties participated in the election, only the APC which he represented as an agent signed the result he tendered.
He, however, did not give reasons why others did not sign.
Another witness, Mallory Afin, who also testified for the petitioners tendered APC results which had the same serial number and number of accredited voters of 169 with INEC’s, but had different results recorded for the political parties.
During a cross-examination, Uche observed that the results tendered by the APC and its candidate at two different polling units were signed by the same presiding officer.
When put to Afin that the result he had was fake, the witness denied the allegations of parading fake election results.
Uche asked if he knew who had the power to conduct elections and declare a winner, the witness stated that it was INEC.
Although the two conflicting results were objected to by the different parties, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Adekunle Adeleye, admitted them as exhibits for the tribunal’s consideration during the hearing of the petition.
Adeleye subsequently adjourned further hearing till February 15, 2024.
News
Finally, IGP approves hunger protests across Nigeria
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The Nigerian police has finally approved the planned nationwide protests and outlined conditions for participants.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, revealed this on Friday while addressing journalists in Abuja.
He urged all groups planning to participate in the proposed nationwide protest to submit their details to the Commissioners of Police in their respective states.
The police boss said this was to ensure the protest was peaceful.
Egbetokun said, “We acknowledge the constitutional right of Nigerian citizens to peaceful assembly and protest.
“However, in the interest of public safety and order, we urge all groups planning to protest to provide necessary details to the Commissioner of Police in the state where the protest is intended to take place.
“To facilitate a successful and incident-free protest, they should please provide the following information: state the proposed protest routes and assembly points; expected duration of the protest; and names and contact details of protest leaders and organisers.”
The police boss said the information expected from the organisers also include measures to prevent hijacking by criminal elements, as well as key identifiers for possible isolation of potential troublemakers.
By providing the information, he said, the police will be able to deploy adequate personnel and resources to ensure public safety.
He said the police needed to know the specific routes and areas for the protest to avoid conflicts with other events or activities.
Mr Egbetokun said the police will “establish clear communication channels with protest leaders to address any concerns or issues that may arise; minimise the risk of violence, property damage, or other criminal activity.
“We encourage all protesters to cooperate with the police, obey the law, and adhere to global best practices for peaceful assembly to guarantee a safe and successful exercise of their rights.
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Reps North-West Caucus Beg Youths, Citizens In The Region Not To Join Planned Protest
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Reps Applaud FCT Minister, Wike On AICL Improved Revenue, Infrastructure
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