The Special Assistant to former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar on Digital Media Strategy, Demola Olarewaju, has criticized President Bola Tinubu for appointing Bianca Ojukwu as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in his midterm cabinet reshuffle.

Olarenwaju stated that Bianca won’t help Tinubu get votes from the Southeast in 2027 because she has zero electoral value.

He described Bianca’s ministerial appointment as a political gambit to soften the ground amidst other moves to be made by Tinubu ahead of elections.

In a statement in his X page, Olarenwaju said: “Bianca Ojukwu has zero electoral value and not one sane Obidient voter in the SE will switch to BAT for her sake – not one.

The statement reads partly: “Understand first of all that Tinubu is nothing, if not political. Everything he does is about power. If he opposes subsidy in 2012 – it is power. If he upholds it in 2024, it is for power.

“He can say “Yoruba Ronu” to woo Yoruba ethnocentrists, but can also say “One Nigeria” when necessary. I’m not sure that man has had even one genuine friendship in the past three decades, unless there is some political leverage or advantage to be gained.

“Bianca is a ‘nobody’ in the political configuration of the SE. But remember, APC currently has governors in two states of the SE all three senators from Ebonyi, two from Imo and one from Abia, where Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu is from and where a Bola Tinubu University of Nigerian Languages may soon be sited.

“Recall also that Bola Tinubu/APC scored more votes in the SE than Atiku Abubakar/PDP – based on “it is the turn of the South/let Tinubu have it if not Obi, but not a Fulani.

“So Bianca is not at all likely to move any voter but she won’t need to – she is only one piece of a larger plan to provide an excuse for APCNEC (APC/INEC) rigging.”

Despite a Federal High Court ruling halting the local government elections in Kano, preparations for the polls continue, with the Kano State House of Assembly’s majority leader, Lawal Husseini Chediyar Yan Gurasa, affirming that the elections will proceed as scheduled.

The Federal High Court had dissolved the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) due to claims of partisanship.

However, when Daily Trust visited the KANSIEC office on Wednesday, preparations were in full swing.

Lists of ad hoc staff were posted, and prospective candidates were seen verifying their names. Hauwa Muhammad, an applicant from Dala Local Government Area, expressed her eagerness to contribute, stating that she needed the job.

It was also observed that security at the KANSIEC office was tight, with police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) operatives monitoring visitors closely.

Speaking to Daily Trust, Chediyar Yan Gurasa dismissed concerns about the election being halted.

“Nothing will stop us from conducting the election. This judgment has not affected us because we already have an order from the Kano State High Court restraining 19 political parties from stopping the election,” he said.

He added that the election would be conducted with or without police presence, insisting that patriotic citizens would protect the ballot boxes.

Daily Trust reports that his position is similar to what transpired during the Rivers State LG election when a court asked police not to provide security but the state government went ahead with the election regardless.

There is also speculation about a change in who will announce the results, with the commission’s chairman, Professor Sani Lawal Malumfashi, possibly being replaced for the task, depending on legal advice.

Kano-based legal practitioner, Abba Hikima, criticised the state government for allowing this legal situation to arise, noting that the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction over the appointment of KANSIEC members.

“The subject matter is outside the stipulations of Section 251 of the constitution,” he said, blaming the government for creating loopholes that the opposition capitalised on.

However, another lawyer, Umar Danbaito, argued that KANSIEC should obey the court order or challenge it at the Court of Appeal, as it is settled law that court orders must be followed unless overturned by a higher court.

A political scientist, Professor Kamilu Sani Fagge from Bayero University Kano, warned that defying the court order could lead to further legal challenges, citing past incidents in Rivers State as a precedent. He also highlighted the risk of violence due to the absence of security personnel during the elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday revealed that it will deploy more than 4,000 Bimodal Voter Accreditation Systems (BVAS) for the Ondo State governorship election scheduled for November 16.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ondo State, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, stated this in Akure, the state capital, at a forum for Reporters and On-Air Personalities as part of the preparation for the poll.

Specifically, the REC said a total of 4,002 BVAS will be deployed, while 812 others will be set aside as backups.

According to her, INEC is preparing to ensure a smooth and efficient electoral process across the state’s polling units, while 17,705 ad hoc staff, who have been adequately trained, will be deployed for the election.

Her words: “As part of our preparations for the election, INEC commenced the issuance of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Ondo State from Thursday, 17th to 21st October 2024 in all the 203 wards across the state.  Tomorrow, 23rd October 2024, the cards will be available for collection in 18 local government area offices in the state until 29th October 2024.

She noted that as the election draws near, the threat of fake news remains a significant concern while misinformation has the potential to incite unnecessary tension and violence, urging journalists to prevent it.

Babalola assured the people that INEC, in collaboration with security agencies, has made adequate arrangements to ensure the safety of all participants in the election, including members of the media.

“Security personnel will be deployed to all polling units, collation centres and other strategic locations across the state. The safety of the media and all electoral stakeholders is our top priority and we are fully committed to delivering a peaceful and secure election,” Babalola said.

She added that the essence of the workshop is to provide journalists with comprehensive information on the guidelines, processes, and procedures that will govern the upcoming election, thereby, ensuring full compliance with the established rules.