INEC chairman, Yakubu, steps aside, hands over to Mu’azu – Newstrends
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INEC chairman, Yakubu, steps aside, hands over to Mu’azu

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Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on Monday handed over the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to AVM Ahmed Mu’azu (retd.) as acting chairman of the commission, pending his (Yakubu’s) clearance by the Senate.

Yakubu’s five-year tenure ended Monday but has been nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term.

Speaking at the ceremony, Yakubu noted it would be inappropriate for him to remain in office beyond November 9 without confirmation by the Senate.

He said, “You may recall that the current commission was inaugurated in three batches. The chairman and five commissioners were sworn in on 9th November, 2015, followed by another six commissioners on 7th December, 2016 and one more commissioner on 21st July, 2018.

“The commission is a constitutional body whose members are appointed for five years which may be renewed for a second and final term. This means that my tenure and that of the first set of five commissioners ends today.”

Yakubu also said, “As you are already aware, our work as election managers requires us to enforce the law, regulations and guidelines. In doing so, we must demonstrate strict respect for, and compliance with, the Constitution of Nigeria and subsidiary laws.

“Consequently, it will be inappropriate for me to remain in office beyond today, 9th November, 2020, without confirmation by the Senate and swearing to another oath of office as provided by law.”

According to him, pending the conclusion of the statutory process, the other national commissioners have resolved that Mu’azu should oversee the affairs of the commission.

“It is therefore my pleasure to hand over to him in the interim. We have worked as a team for the last four years. Therefore, there is nothing new to anyone of them,” he said.

He thanked members of the commission for their support, especially the Resident Electoral Commissioners, the Secretary to the Commission, the Director-General of the Electoral Institute, Directors.

He said he had enjoyed the tremendous support and cooperation of members of the technical team, heads of the various security agencies deployed to INEC and other personnel of the commission nationwide, adding that he looked forward to working with them again.

Mu’azu commended the outgoing chairman of INEC and his colleagues for the privilege and confidence reposed in him to oversee the commission.

He promised to handle the affairs of the commission with all due diligence.

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PDP, LP Reps dump parties for APC

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PDP, LP Reps dump parties for APC

PDP, LP Reps dump parties for APC

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SDP suspends national chairman, two other officers

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SDP suspends national chairman, two other officers

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has approved the immediate suspension of the National Chairman of the Party, Shehu Gabam, along with two members of the National Working Committee (NWC), Nnadi Clarkson, National Auditor, and Chukwuma Uchechukwu, National Youth Leader, over allegations of gross financial misconduct, embezzlement, misappropriation and diversion of party funds.

Their suspension was contained in a statement issued and made available to Vanguard by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba.

It reads, “The decision followed resolutions made by members of the National Working Committee (NWC), where overwhelming evidences were presented linking the suspended officials to a series of unauthorized financial transactions, personal enrichment schemes, and movement of funds from the party’s accounts without any approvals of the NWC.

“This development first came to light when it was discovered that the National Chairman had sent an unauthorised Financial Statement to INEC as demanded from all political parties.

“A summary of the fraudulent account was also published in the Newspapers. When the NWC got to know this, it made a resolution to report the fraudulent abnormalities to law enforcement agencies.

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“The action of the NWC to suspend the National Chairman and two members of the NWC involved in the gross financial misconduct will also demonstrate to the general public that the Party, generally esteemed by Nigerians as a disciplined party and a credible alternative political platform for national redemption has zero tolerance for corruption and abuse of office.”

According to Aiyenigba, “The decision to suspend the National Chairman and other implicated NWC members is to allow for a thorough, investigation. Our integrity as a political party must be upheld at all times,” the statement read.

“An interim investigative panel has been constituted to audit all financial records and recommend further disciplinary or legal actions.

“In the interim, the Deputy National Chairman (North), Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar has assumed leadership of the party as Acting National Chairman as per the provisions of the Constitution of the party.”

Aiyenigba alleged that “the misappropriated funds amount to hundreds of millions of naira, including donations and resources realised from the sales of nomination forms in the 2023 general elections and other funds from the party accounts.

SDP suspends national chairman, two other officers

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El-Rufai okays SDP as coalition’s best option to unseat Tinubu

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Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai

El-Rufai okays SDP as coalition’s best option to unseat Tinubu

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has declared the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as the most viable platform for the emerging political coalition aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, El-Rufai revealed that discussions among key opposition figures have progressed significantly, with a consensus forming around the SDP as the preferred vehicle for the coalition’s ambitions.

According to him, leaders involved in the coalition plan have resolved that once a political party is unanimously chosen, they will collectively defect from their current parties to unite under the new banner.

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He said, “When I joined the SDP, I made it clear in my statement that even though I am in the SDP, just like every other person, I mean, Atiku Abubakar is still in the PDP, Peter Obi has not officially left Labour Party.

“But we all agreed that if we have consensus on a platform we are going to give our own legacy parties and focus on that platform. We are still not there yet t, the leadership will receive a report on the SDP as well as the other party.

“And then a decision will be taken. I strongly believe that the SDP is the best platform for a coalition; its history, its legacy, its sentimental value, and everything about it are almost perfect – the name, the logo – and I’m advocating for that among my colleagues,” El-Rufai stated.

He also stated that a coalition is not a merger but that the team is in search of a platform that would serve as a strong opposition against the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government.

The main battle begins once we have a platform,” El-Rufai added.

El-Rufai okays SDP as coalition’s best option to unseat Tinubu

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