INEC seeks to reconfigure BVAS for gov poll, approaches court – Newstrends
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INEC seeks to reconfigure BVAS for gov poll, approaches court

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) plans to approach the Appeal Court Monday (today) for an order to allow it to reconfigure its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for the March 11 state elections.

A credible source in the commission hinted on Sunday to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that this was necessary following an order restraining it from tampering with the information embedded in the BVAS machines until due inspection was conducted and certified true copies of them were issued.

It was also said INEC would require sufficient time to reconfigure the BVAS needed to conduct the election that would take place in all 36 states of the federation, except the FCT.

“The commission’s Legal Department is actually preparing an application to be filed in court on Monday to seek an order for it to reconfigure its BVAS for Saturday’s Governorship and state House of Assembly election,” the source said.

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The source explained that, considering the number of BVAS required to conduct the election across states, INEC needed to reconfigure the BVAS used for the March 25 elections and deploy them to polling units for the Saturday election.

The source added that the INEC technical team had to be deployed on time to commence the reconfiguration of the devices, which had to be done one by one.

The source said the order was important if the Saturday Governorship and state Houses of Assembly election must hold as scheduled, otherwise postponement of the election would become inevitable.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday granted leave to the presidential candidates of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Atiku Abubakar, to have access to all the sensitive materials used by INEC for the conduct of the Feb. 25 presidential election.

A panel of the appellate court led by Justice Joseph Ikyegh made the order after hearing two separate ex parte applications the two aggrieved presidential candidates filed alongside their political parties.

Specifically, the applicants urged the court to compel INEC to allow them to obtain documents it used for the presidential election to aid their petitions against the outcome of the presidential election.

“An order granting the applicants’ permission to do electronic scanning and make photocopies of voter registration and ballot papers used in the conduct of the election for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria held on the Feb. 25.

“An order granting leave to the applicants to carry out Digital Forensic Inspection of BVAS machines used for the conduct of the Feb. 25 election for the Office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The plaintiffs also sought an order restraining INEC “from tampering with the information embedded in the BVAS machines until due inspection was conducted and certified true copies of them issued”.

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Abure-led LP threatens Peter Obi with severe sanction 

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Abure-led LP threatens Peter Obi with severe sanction 

National Executive Council of the Labour Party on Monday threatened to sanction the party’s former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, with “stiffer penalty.”

The NEC led by National Chairman, Julius Abure warned that Obi would be sanctioned if he participates in any action that undermines the party’s peace, unity, and integrity.

It was part of the resolution adopted during LP’s NEC meeting held on Monday at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.

The statement signed by Abure read in part, “NEC in session in exercise of its duties, hereby caution the former presidential candidate of our great party not to participate in any action capable of undermining the peace unity, and integrity of the party as the NEC will not hesitate to issue stiffer penalty if found culpable.

“NEC in session reviewed the activities of the House of Representatives Caucus leader, Honourable Victor Adam Ogene and wishes to note as follow: That the voice of the current leadership of the party is not being heard in the hallowed lower chambers; that there is a lack of cohesion amongst our members in the House; that the leadership appears to be compromised; and that the ideology and programs of the party are not well represented.

“NEC in session, as result of the aforementioned decided to relieve Honourable Ogene of that leadership role for dereliction of duty.

“Consequently Hon. Barrister Ben Etanabene has been appointed by the NEC in session as the Labour Party’s Caucus Leader in the House of Representatives. NEC mandated the NWC to communicate the decision to relevant authorities.

“He is to hand over all the party’s properties in his possession, particularly all the financial contributions made so far by other Labour Party lawmakers which are in his possession to the party, and render proper account to the party with immediate effect.

“The party will go to any length to retrieve all its belongings, including monies that belong to it which Hon. Ogene is holding tight to.

“NEC in session assured all Nigerians of a good leadership under the current leadership of the Labour Party. Labour Party is willing to provide Nigerians good governance, security, economic growth and development, infrastructure development, robust electoral system, free and independent judiciary, if given the opportunity and mandate by Nigerians to provide leaders for the country.

“We therefore assure all Nigerians of a political party that is different, and that has internal party democracy.”

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APC governors visit Buhari in Kaduna

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APC governors visit Buhari in Kaduna

 

Governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have paid a visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari at his Kaduna residence.

The governors were led on the visit by Governor of Imo State Hope Uzodinma, who is also chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF).

Addressing journalists after the visit, Uzodimma said the group came to extend warm Sallah greetings to Buhari and also to congratulate him on the completion of the Ramadan fast.

“This visit is symbolic and deeply rooted in respect, loyalty, and continued appreciation for the statesmanship, leadership, and legacy of President Muhammadu Buhari,” he noted.

This is contained in a statement from the Director-General (Press Affairs), Gombe Government House Ismaila Misilli.

“As a party, we remain united and committed to the ideals of good governance which he championed during his tenure,” the statement said.

According to the Imo governor, the visit was also an opportunity to wish the ex-president well as he settles into his newly renovated Kaduna home.

The statement read in part, “Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, alongside his counterparts in the All Progressives Congress (APC), have paid a courtesy visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari at his residence in Kaduna.

“The visit, which was carried out under the auspices of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), was led by the Forum’s Chairman and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma.

“The governors present at the event were Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe and Hope Uzodimma. The governors of Kaduna, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Kebbi, Edo, Kogi, Ondo, Ekiti, and Benue States were also in attendance. Others present were the deputy governor of Jigawa State and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, among other dignitaries.”

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BREAKING: Nickolas Ukachukwu defeats Ozigbo to win Anambra APC gov ticket

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Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu

BREAKING: Nickolas Ukachukwu defeats Ozigbo to win Anambra APC gov ticket

Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu has emerged as the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election in Anambra State.

Ukachukwu secured the party’s ticket with a landslide victory, polling 1,455 votes in the keenly contested election that began on Saturday and lasted until 4:19 a.m. on Sunday.

Valentine Ozigbo came a distant second with 67 votes, followed by Johnbosco Onunkwo with 26 votes. Edozie Madu trailed with 8 votes, while 27 votes were declared invalid.

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Announcing the results in the early hours of Sunday, the APC returning officer and Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu, declared Ukachukwu as the party’s flag bearer and described him as “the lion of APC in Anambra State.”

Ukachukwu will face off against the incumbent Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in the November 8 governorship election.

He said, ” by the power conferred on me as the chief returning officer, I hereby declare him the winner of the APC primaries in Anambra state”

Otu, however, commended the security agencies for maintaining law and order, while also, thanking the contestants for their doggedness and maturity

“Power belongs to God. There’s no victor, no vanquished in today’s election. Our party had already decided that whoever that emerges victorious would be supported by all” the governor said

The total number of delegates was 1630, but1582 were accredited, while the remaining others were did not come

BREAKING: Nickolas Ukachukwu defeats Ozigbo to win Anambra APC gov ticket

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