Politics

Ondo guber: INEC rejects PDP’s request for REC’s redeployment

Published

1 month ago

October 21, 2024

The Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State has insisted on its call for the removal of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, over her indigeneship.

The party, in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said the commission’s failure to mention her state of origin in its rebuttal already cast doubt on the integrity of the election.

The INEC, however, said since the calls were not backed by any credible evidence of unethical or criminal acts against the REC in question, she would not be redeployed.

Making reference to its background checks, the PDP said the INEC failed to do a diligent check on Babalola to know that the Ondo REC grew up in the state with her parents residing in Akure, the state capital.

Even if not an indigene by birth, the PDP stressed that Babalola particularly qualified as an Ondo indigene, having lived in the state for over 10 years.

In the letter addressed to the INEC chairman, signed by the state Secretary of the PDP, Mr Oluseye Olujimi, the opposition party said redeployment of the REC was urgently needed to restore public confidence in the commission’s integrity to deliver a credible Ondo governorship election.

The PDP stressed that Babalola was not qualified to be an umpire in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State, “because she has been residing in Ondo State for more than three decades now, even up till this moment, with her parents and siblings at House Number 3, Majekodunmi Street, Ijoka Area of Akure Town.”

The PDP has repeatedly called for the removal of Babalola over alleged fraternity with leaders of the All Progressives Congress in the state, a call resonated by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State during last week’s governorship campaign in the state.

The letter read in part, “ For the umpteenth time, we are calling on you, to as a matter of urgency, replace the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Toyin Babalola, appointed and posted to Ondo State by the INEC under your authority, with a non-partisan official with no previous association with Ondo State.

“We also counsel that you view this request with the seriousness and urgency it deserves for the preservation of our nation’s very fragile democracy and the restoration of Public confidence in your Commission’s integrity.

“It has become expedient, that you act positively on the content of this letter, following a statement credited to your commission on Tuesday, 15 October, 2024, in direct reaction to the call by the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, that the Ondo REC should be replaced. Governor Seyi Makinde’s warning that the PDP will continue to protest until its request is met, should not be taken as an empty threat.

“Moreso, since it is on record that the governor’s call of Tuesday was not the first time the party had made such a request. Our party, the Peoples Democratic Party, had earlier mentioned to you in a previous letter to your office, that the Ondo State Commissioner, Mrs Toyin Babalola is not morally and reasonably fit to supervise the gubernatorial election fixed for November 16.

“Quite unfortunately, however, a statement credited to you on Tuesday, said the REC would not be removed because she is not from the state, even though you refused to mention her state of origin.

“A diligent check on the background of the REC would have revealed to you that, not only did she grow up in Ondo State, but that she currently also lives in her parents’ house which is No. 3, Majekodunmi Street, Ijoka Area, Akure town, the state capital.

“Even if she were not of Ondo State origin by birth, the constitution of Nigeria makes it quite clear, that anyone who has lived in a particular place for 10 years, statutorily qualifies for recognition as an indigene. Chairman Sir, it is obvious that your office did not do a diligent check before issuing that unfortunate statement.

“That unfortunate omission on your part sadly gives the impression that INEC cares less, should the issue of the REC’s residency status and dubious integrity result in avoidable controversies and/or crises, that may fall out from any unwitting act of replicating in the upcoming Ondo State election, the controversial APC template so ignominiously used in the recent Edo State gubernatorial election, the dust from which is yet to settle.”

Reacting, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said INEC has an established policy for deploying and redeploying RECs.

Oyekanmi stressed that the decisions were not influenced by political parties or partisan individuals, unless “there’s credible evidence of unethical or criminal conduct.”

He stated that the Ondo REC would not be redeployed based on recent calls and urged the PDP to collaborate with INEC to ensure a free and fair election in the state on November 16.

The CPS stated, “The Independent National Electoral Commission deploys and redeploys Resident Electoral Commissioners based on its established policy, not on calls by political parties or partisan individuals, especially if such calls are not backed by any credible evidence of unethical or criminal act against the REC in question.

“To that extent, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ondo State will not be redeployed.

“We appeal to the PDP to join hands with the commission in its effort to conduct a free and fair election in the state on November 16.”

Education

LP speaks on alleged strange romance with Tinubu over 2027 presidential race

Published

6 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Labour Party (LP) has strongly rejected rumors suggesting that it is in a partnership with President Bola Tinubu in anticipation of the 2027 elections. These rumors claimed that the LP had struck an agreement to support Tinubu’s bid for a second term should he choose to run.

In response, the LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Obiora Ifoh, issued a statement on Friday, labeling these allegations as baseless and unfounded. He emphasized that the party has continually dismissed any notion of collaboration with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) concerning the upcoming 2027 general elections.

Ifoh asserted that the Labour Party remains the most prominent opposition party in Nigeria, with the party’s National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, being a leading critic of the current government. “Our National Chairman is at the forefront of challenging the policies of the government, consistently voicing opposition to the actions of the current administration,” Ifoh said.

The spokesperson also highlighted the party’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy. These include the establishment of an Electoral Reform Committee aimed at ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections, as well as the introduction of an e-membership registration system that has already attracted a significant number of new members.

Ifoh further expressed disappointment over the defamatory nature of the rumors, calling it “ridiculous and unfortunate” for anyone to attempt to undermine the Labour Party’s efforts in such a manner. “For anyone to try to tarnish the reputation of a party that is actively working to reshape the political landscape in Nigeria is truly unfortunate,” he remarked.

Finally, the Labour Party spokesperson challenged Deji Adeyanju and anyone else promoting such claims to provide concrete evidence to support their accusations. “We call on Deji Adeyanju and others to present factual proof if they believe that the leadership of our party or Mr. Abure has any intention of working with President Tinubu or the APC for the 2027 elections,” Ifoh stated firmly.

Education

BREAKING! END of road for Fubara as FG halts allocation

Published

19 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Naijablitznews

The Federal government has confirmed that it has stopped the October monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC revenue payment to Rivers State amid the ongoing crisis in the oil rich state.

The Spokesperson of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, disclosed this exclusively to an online newspaper on Friday.

This comes as the Nigerian Government on Wednesday announced the approval for the disbursement of N1.1411 trillion as the October 2024 Federation Accounts Allocation Revenue to Federal, State, and local government councils.

However, a report emerged that FAAC revenue in October was not disbursed to Rivers State following a court stopping the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian government from carrying out such action.

Reacting to the development, Mokwa said the OAGF as a government agency will respect the court order.

Meanwhile, he stated that the October monthly FAAC revenue has not been disbursed to respective states as of filing the report.

“What I got is that the October 2024 FAAC has not been distributed yet. However, the Federal Government will obey the court order on the matter of Rivers State allocation.

“We are going to follow due diligence as long as there is no contrary order. In case there is a contrary, the status will remain,” he revealed.

He added, “The process of disbursement of the October 2024 monthly allocation is going.”.

Recall that on October 30, this year, Justice Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court barred CBN and the Nigerian government from disbursing monthly allocations to the Rivers State government.

This comes after an originating summons filed by the factional Rivers State Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule.

The Amaewhule case was based on the grounds that the Rivers State Executive, under the leadership of Simi Fubara, was yet to comply with the order of a Federal High Court directing it to re-present the 2024 appropriation bill to the Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

In the past month, the Amaewhule faction, backed by Wike, former Governor of Rivers State, had been in a political battle with Fubara.

Recall that upon the emergence of Fubara as governor, he fell apart with his predecessor, Wike, which had led to a month-long crisis in the oil-rich state.

Daily Post

Education

No feud between Akpabio, Bamidele

Published

1 day ago

November 22, 2024

Naijablitznews

Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele has denied ever having any altercation with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

This was contained in a statement issued by his media office noting that:

“Our attention has been drawn to fake news currently being circulated on the X handle of one Jackson Ude, a known serial blackmailer and cash-and-carry journalist.

“The post is about an alleged altercation and physical fight between Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio on Wednesday.

“For the record, it is a verifiable fact that Senator Bamidele has never been involved in physical assault in over two decades of his political trajectory, not even when he was a young man leading the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) as President.

“It is surprising that the purveyor of this misleading information in his selfish agenda and unprofessional conduct threw ethos of Journalism into waste bin and decided to feast on roadside gists to tarnish the image of the Senate Leader.

“We are aware that the fake news is meant to cause disaffection within the Senate and by extension; heating up the political system.

“To think that the Senate Leader, President of the Senate and other principal officers of the Senate together received the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. YU Dunhai and his delegation few minutes after leaving the plenary on Wednesday is a significant testimony against Ude’s imagination.

“Further to this, photographs of the Chinese envoys with the leadership of the Senate were widely published in today’s major national newspapers. It is equally verifiable that the Senate Leader and the Senate President both drove out of the National Assembly premises in the same vehicle yesterday.

“This time again, the Senate Leader is sounding a note of warning to all attention seekers in the ilk of Ude to be careful and not take the Leader’s gentlemanliness for granted.

“Henceforth, the Leader will be forced to use the instrumentality of the law to protect himself and his office as enshrined in the CyberCrime Act 2015.

” We, therefore, urge the public to disregard this misinformation and treat it with the disrespect it entirely deserves.