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Electoral Update: Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa Suffer From Violence And Accusations Of Manipulation
Electoral Update: Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa Suffer From Violence And Accusations Of Manipulation....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Residents in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa states turned out to vote in the off-season governorship elections on Saturday amidst incidents of violence and alleged electoral manipulation…CONTINUE READING
A total of 5,169,692 eligible voters collected their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC) for the elections across the 10,470 polling units in the three states. However, the electoral process was marred by thuggery and accusations of manipulation.
INEC had previously indicated that the elections would not take place in two polling units in Bayelsa and 38 in Imo due to security concerns.
Despite instances of violence and reported attempts at manipulation, such as the alleged discovery of pre-recorded result sheets in Kogi State, the elections proceeded. Notably, Senator Dino Melaye of the PDP raised concerns about tampered result sheets in Ogori/Magongo local government areas of Kogi State.
In response to irregularities, INEC suspended the election in nine wards of Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area.
Bayelsa State witnessed an INEC official’s kidnapping in Sagbama Local Government Area, and a violent clash between APC and PDP supporters in Yenagoa resulted in a fatality.
Thugs were reported to have stolen election materials in Sagbama Local Government Area, while an ad-hoc INEC staff and a corps member were attacked and materials were taken in Yenagoa Local Government Area.
Imo State experienced disruptions at Amaimo Central School, Ikeduru LGA, following reported gunshots. There were accusations of security forces aiding electoral manipulation in the state.
Armed thugs, allegedly associated with APC, seized ballot boxes in Ngor Okpala LGA, and armed robbers in Owerri North LGA stole N1.5 million designated for vote buying.
Kogi State, despite police assurances of a peaceful election, saw violence and incidents aimed at snatching electoral materials. Military operatives arrested the council chairman in Igalamela LGA for possession of ammunition and cash.
Fake policemen armed with AK-47s were apprehended, and the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance, Olayinka Braimoh, was arrested in Kabba for allegedly having materials in his car.
A public affairs analyst criticized INEC and security agencies, alleging that the electoral process was marred by violence, manipulation, and high levels of vote buying, surpassing previous elections in February and March.
The administration of President Bola Tinubu has approved an upward review of peculiar allowances, welfare benefits, and exit packages for civil servants across Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
This was disclosed on Friday in Abuja by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, during a press briefing.
She explained that the adjustment applies to workers under the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) as well as the Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS).
According to her, the revised allowances have been designed to cut across all grade levels, ensuring improved earnings for both senior and junior officers.
Further details are expected to be released later.
Taiwo Oyedele has officially taken over as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy following a formal handover from his predecessor, Wale Edun.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The transition, which reportedly took place on Thursday evening, was confirmed in a statement issued by the Ministry’s Head of Information and Public Relations, Efe Ovuakporie.
According to the statement, the handover was concluded within the timeframe set by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In his inaugural address, Oyedele pledged to consolidate ongoing reforms while delivering measurable economic outcomes.
He said his administration would prioritise fiscal discipline, transparency, and improved performance across key sectors of the economy.
He also expressed his readiness to work closely with staff of the ministry to strengthen efficiency and service delivery.
Oyedele commended his predecessor, Wale Edun, for his role in advancing Nigeria’s economic reform agenda, and thanked President Tinubu for entrusting him with the responsibility.
The Permanent Secretary, Raymond Omachi, alongside the Permanent Secretary (Special Duties), Mohammed Danjuma, welcomed the new minister and assured him of the full support and cooperation of the ministry’s workforce.
During Edun’s tenure, the ministry implemented several fiscal reforms aimed at improving revenue generation and economic coordination. However, the period also faced challenges, including budget implementation constraints that affected ministries, departments, and agencies.
There were also concerns over outstanding payments owed to pensioners and contractors during the same period.
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Maitama, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of an Abuja-based lawyer, Victor Giwa, and a police officer, Edith Erhunmuuse, after they failed to appear in court.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The two defendants were scheduled to be arraigned alongside another accused person, Cecil Osakwe, on a nine-count charge marked FCT/HC/CR/222/2023, filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
They are accused of criminal conspiracy involving the alleged forceful eviction of occupants and damage to property valued at about N300 million.
When the matter was called on Friday, the prosecution counsel, Aderonke Imana, told the court that although the charge was filed in January 2023, arraignment had repeatedly stalled due to what she described as a consistent pattern of absence by the defendants.
She argued that neither the first nor second defendant had consistently appeared in court or informed the prosecution of their absence, insisting that a bench warrant was necessary to compel attendance.
However, counsel to Victor Giwa, Ogbu Aboje, opposed the application, informing the court that his client was absent due to illness and had submitted medical documentation to support his condition. He also urged the court to hear a pending application before proceeding further.
He asked the court to excuse Giwa’s absence, citing health challenges as the reason for his non-attendance.
In response, the prosecution maintained that arraignment is the proper starting point of any criminal trial, adding that any proceedings before it would be invalid.
The prosecution therefore urged the court to issue a bench warrant to ensure the defendants appear for arraignment.
The third defendant, Cecil Osakwe, was present in court with his lawyer, Farouk Akanbi.
Delivering her ruling, Justice Samira Bature granted the prosecution’s request and ordered the arrest of Victor Giwa, stating that the explanations and medical documents presented amounted to deliberate delay tactics.
The judge noted that the case had suffered repeated delays since it was first filed in 2023 and commenced before her court in July 2024, lamenting that arraignment had still not taken place nearly two years later.
Justice Bature stressed that courts are not venues for delay tactics, adding that the defendants had shown disregard for the judicial process by failing to appear for arraignment.
She further ruled that all pending applications could only be considered after proper arraignment, stating that the court’s jurisdiction in criminal matters becomes fully activated only after that stage.
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