Court dismisses LP suit, declares only INEC can determine mode of transmitting election results – Newstrends
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Court dismisses LP suit, declares only INEC can determine mode of transmitting election results

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Peter Obi

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that it is only the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that is empowered by law to determine the mode of collating and transmitting election results.

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a judgment, also held that it is only INEC that has the prerogative to direct how Polling Unit Presiding Officer should transfer election results, including the total number of accredited voters and results of the ballot.

Before dismissing the suit, Justice Nwite held that the collating and transferring election results manually in the 2023 general elections is in line with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.

The judgment was on a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1454/2022 filed by the Labour Party (LP), with INEC as the only defendant.

LP had prayed the court to declare that INEC has no power to choose manual method other than the electronic method provided for by the relevant provisions the Electoral Act, 2022.

The Labour Party urged the court to issue an order directing INEC to comply with the Electoral Act, 2022 on electronic transmission of result in the forthcoming general election.

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The judge said: “From the argument of the learned plaintiff’s counsel, I am of the humble opinion that the bone of contention or the sections that seeks for interpretation are actually sections 50(2) 60(5) and 62(2) of the Electoral Act, 2922.

“Section 47(2) as cited by the learned counsel to the plaintiff only deals with accreditation of voters using a Smart Card Reader, but not collation or transmission of result as postulated by the learned counsel,” the judge held.

Justice Nwite said that Section 60(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022 provides for the transfer of election result, including the total number of the accredited voters from the polling unit.

He noted that Section 62(2) of the same Act provides for compilation, maintenance and continuous update of the register of election result as distinct database for all polling units’ results as collated in all elections conducted by the commission.

“The said Section 62(2) has mandated that such register of election results shall be kept in an electronic format by the commission at its national headquarters.

“Now a close reading of Section 50(2) of the Act has provided for voting and and transmission of result to be done in accordance wit the procedure to be determined by the commission.

“This is to say that the commission is at liberty to prescribe or choose the manner in which election results shall be transmitted.

“In same ambit, Section 60(5) empowered the Polling Unit Presiding Officer to transfer the election results, including the total number of accredited voters and results of the ballot in a manner to be prescribed by the commission.

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“This is also to say the commission is again at liberty to prescribe to the Polling Units’ Presiding Officer the manner in which to collate and transfer the election results as well as the accredited number of voters in an election under the Act.”

“In view of the foregoing, can the act of the defendant (INEC) in collating and transferring election results manually in the forthcoming 2023 general elections be said to be contrary to the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022?

“The answer can only be in the negative as there is no where in the above cited sections where the commission or any of its Agents is mandated to only use an electronic means in collating or transferring of election result.

“If any, the commission is only mandated to collate and transfer election results and number of accredited voters in a way or manner deemed fit by it.

“In view of the above, I am finding that, by the provisions of Sections 50(2) and 60(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022 the correct interpretation of the said statutes is that the defendant (INEC) is at liberty to prescribe the manner in which election results could be transmitted and I so hold.

“Consequently this matter is hereby dismissed,” Justice Nwite said.

INEC declared Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 presidential election, after he defeated Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

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Days of red cap numbered, Barau says while receiving NNPP defectors

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Days of red cap numbered, Barau says while receiving NNPP defectors

Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has received a large number of grassroots leaders of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The senator it would soon be rare to see someone with a red cap, the symbol of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, in Kano State.

Responding to a question on the gale of defections rocking the NNPP in Kano, he said the rate at which the NNPP members, including their leaders, are trooping to the APC is a testament to the growing popularity and support APC is getting in Kano despite being an opposition party.

“I will continue to receive NNPP members rushing to join our party. Politics is a game of numbers. If you have a political party and members of other parties are not joining you, it means there is a problem.

“The NNPP members are attracted to the APC by our numerous interventions across critical spheres of our state and the country at large by the President Tinubu administration.

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“At the formation of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu went across the country to woo people to the party. And this was why the party became popular in the country.

“We will continue receiving NNPP and other party members regardless of what some people say. Time will come. You will be looking for someone with a red cap, the symbol of the Kwankwasiyya, and you won’t see any in Kano. We will get there soon.

“We are doing this to lay a solid foundation for our party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and others to win the presidential, governorship, national and state House of Assembly elections come 2027 in Kano and beyond,” he was quoted in a statement by his media aide, Ismail Mudashir.

The Deputy National Women Leader of the APC, Hajiya Zainab Abubakar Ibrahim, who witnessed the defection, commended Senator Barau, describing him as a blessing to the APC, the people of Kano, the North and the country.

“The massive support our party is receiving in Kano shows the days of the NNPP are numbered in the state. We will take back our state at the poll come 2027, by Allah’s grace,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Deputy President of the Senate has received members of the APC Amalgamated Support Groups in Kano State at the National Assembly.

Under the leadership of Hon. Shehu Isa Direba, the group was at the National Assembly to reaffirm their support and appreciation for Senator Barau over his various interventions in the state.

The group, comprising former LG chairmen, party stakeholders, farmers, businessmen, and civil servants, among others, said that with the support and interventions of Senator Barau, APC is no longer considered an opposition party in Kano.

“APC members are envied in Kano State by the NNPP, the ruling party in the state, because of Senator Barau’s numerous interventions, projects and programmes,” the group said.

Days of red cap numbered, Barau says while receiving NNPP defectors

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Rivers crisis: PDP moves against Fubara, demands suspension of LG elections

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Governor Siminalayi Fubara

Rivers crisis: PDP moves against Fubara, demands suspension of LG elections

The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called on security agencies to step in and forestall any potential unrest and breach of public peace in the state.

According to the party, the intervention is needed to prevent the state government from disobeying court orders.

The state chairman of the PDP, Aaron Chukwuemeka, made call on Thursday, after delivering protest letters to security agencies in the state.

PDP members in Rivers State, loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, and members of the All Progressives Congress loyal to Tony Okocha, embarked on a public demonstration demanding the suspension of the local government council elections scheduled for October 5, 2024.

The protesters gathered at the PDP state secretariat on Aba Road before marching to the offices of the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Rivers State Police Command Headquarters to express their concerns.

Chukwuemeka warned that if security agencies fail to act, the PDP will take laws in its hands and ensure that the elections do not take place, emphasizing the party’s commitment to maintaining peace and upholding the rule of law.

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He said, “We are here to submit a petition to you from the Peoples Democratic Party, Rivers State ably led by my humble self, the state chairman of our great party, Hon, Aaron Chukwuemeka.

“And attached to this letter is an order of court, Federal High Court, a judgement of Federal High Court on 30 September, 2023.

“In that order, it was expressly stated that RSIEC should not go ahead with the election. In that same judgement, INEC should not give them voter register, and then, the security agencies were told not to participate in that election.

“And as law abiding citizens, we believe in justice and equity, we believe in rule of law. And that is why we came to you, to tell you that, that election, the governor, the RSIEC, should obey that judgment.

“No man is bigger than the law. We as a party, we are not going to participate. And then if they go ahead to do that election, and that becomes crisis, we as PDP, we will not fold our hands.

“And that is why we are begging the security agencies to stop them from conducting that election.”

Addressing the protesters, the State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, who was represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operation, Adepoju Olugbenga, assured the the protesters that their letter would be delivered to the appropriate authorities.

 

Rivers crisis: PDP moves against Fubara, demands suspension of LG elections

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960 APC members defect to NNPP in Kano

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960 APC members defect to NNPP in Kano

In a significant political shift in Kano State, over 960 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Alhaji Baba Sabiu, Chairman of the party in Dala Local Government Area, have defected to the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

The defection comes ahead of the upcoming local government elections slated for October 26.

The defectors, including former councillors from 12 wards in the Dala LGA, cited a need for progressive change as their reason for joining the NNPP.

Alhaji Sabiu, speaking on behalf of the group, expressed confidence in the NNPP’s ability to bring about meaningful reforms and bolster its chances in the polls.

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Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the National Leader of the NNPP, warmly welcomed the new members, assuring them that they would be treated equally within the party.

He reiterated the NNPP’s commitment to fostering socio-economic and political advancement for Nigeria, with a clear focus on the 2027 agenda.

“NNPP is dedicated to promoting unity and driving Nigeria towards greater progress,” Kwankwaso stated, urging Kano residents and Nigerians nationwide to rally behind the party’s candidates in the forthcoming elections.

He called on voters to come out en masse and support the NNPP, emphasizing the party’s vision for a stronger, united Nigeria.

 

960 APC members defect to NNPP in Kano

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