No decision yet on voter registration extension – INEC – Newstrends
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No decision yet on voter registration extension – INEC

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INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu

With 11 days to the end of the continuous voter registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission, the commission has said it is yet to decide on the growing request for extension.

There has been a clamour for an extension of the exercise, which began in June 2021 and is scheduled to end on June 30, 2022. Ahead of the 2023 elections, the exercise has witnessed a surge in the number of registrants in recent weeks, prompting the calls for an extension. The online registration ended on May 30, 2022.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday asked the commission to extend the CVR by 60 days, while several civil society organisations and individuals also called for an extension to the exercise to enable more Nigerians to register.

Earlier, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and 185 concerned Nigerians filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Lagos asking the court for, among other things, an order of mandamus to direct and compel INEC to extend voter registration by a minimum of three months and take effective measures to ensure that eligible Nigerians are able to register to exercise their right to vote in the 2023 general elections.

INEC, in a notice on its website, said the deadline for the registration was to enable the commission to clean up the registration data, print the permanent voter cards and compile the register ahead of the 2023 general elections.

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Speaking on the request, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, stated that the commission was yet to decide on the issue. He told our correspondent in an interview on Friday, “INEC does not have any position yet. As of today, the deadline for the CVR remains June 30, which is less than 13 days away. The commission will decide what to do next when we get to the bridge.”

The INEC chairman said in June that as of June 1, about 10.2 million fresh registration had been recorded since the exercise started. In many parts of the country and in social media, there has been a renewed drive and persuasion by individuals for people, especially the youths, to register and collect their PVCs.

There are indications that at the end of the exercise, the number of registered voters nationwide might increase from the 84 million in 2019 to over 100 million by 2023.

The Executive Director, YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, said recently during INEC’s first Twitter Spaces, that the efforts by youths to register was fascinating but that they should go beyond registering to ensure they collect their PVCs and vote.

PVC collection

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission in Osun State says it has extended the collection of Permanent Voter Cards in the state ahead of the governorship election on July 16.

In a statement by the commission’s Public Affairs Officer, Mrs Oluwaseun Osimosu on Saturday, INEC said the decision was aimed at easing the collection of PVCs by those that had yet to collect the items.

“INEC wishes to inform the public, most especially all eligible voters who have yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards that they can collect their PVCs at the registration areas (wards) from June 22 to June 26.

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Supreme Court declares Wike’s ally Anyanwu as PDP National Secretary

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Senator Samuel Anyanwu

Supreme Court declares Wike’s ally Anyanwu as PDP National Secretary

The Supreme Court on Friday declared an ally of Nyesom Wike, Samuel Anyanwu, as the authentic National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The apex court set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Enugu, which had ruled against him by recognising Sunday Udey-Okoye as secretary of the party.

A five-member panel of the apex court held that the issue of who is the National Secretary of the PDP borders on the internal affairs of a political party which is not justiciable.

Justice Jamilu Tukur, who delivered the lead judgment of the Supreme Court, consequently struck out the judgment of the trial court delivered in October 2024 and also set aside the majority judgment of the court of appeal which had in December affirmed the sack of Anyanwu as PDP’s National Secretary.

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Justice Tukur subsequently affirmed the minority judgment of the appellate court delivered by Justice Ekanem, which had nullified the judgment of the trial court on account of lack of jurisdiction.

Besides, the apex court held that the plaintiff, Aniagu Emmanuel, who initiated the suit at the trial court lacked the necessary legal backing to do so since he did not show how he was affected by who is the National Secretary of the PDP.

In its decision, the Supreme Court agreed with Anyanwu’s argument that both the Court of Appeal and the trial court in Enugu lacked the authority to hear the case, as it involved the internal affairs of the PDP.

PlatinumPost reports that Anyanwu had earlier left the position of secretary  to contest for Imo governorship election, only to return after losing the guber poll.

Supreme Court declares Wike’s ally Anyanwu as PDP National Secretary

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Updated: Atiku, Obi, El-rufai, others form coalition to unseat Tinubu

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Updated: Tinubu reacts as Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai, others form coalition 

 

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says he has formed a coalition with some prominent opposition leaders aimed at unseating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

Atiku made the declaration during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, attended by several opposition politicians, including former key members of the All Progressives Congress who have since defected.

But the Tinubu-led administration has reacted saying the coalition was driven by hate and not genuine.

The event was convened to address President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

Among those present at the event were the 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who was represented by Dr Yunusa Tanko; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal; and former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.

Others are a former governorship aspirant in Ogun State, Segun Sowunmi; former Director General of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Dr Salihu Lukman; Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri, Chief Peter Ameh and Soni Monidafe, among others.

When asked whether the emerging coalition would serve as the main opposition against the APC in the 2027 elections, Atiku said, “Yes, this is the birth of the coalition of opposition ahead of 2027.”

Many are wondering how leaders with differing ideologies, ambitions, and party affiliations can work together.

In his reaction, spokesperson for the Tinubu-led government, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement referred to the Abubakar-led coalition as “the coalition of Tinubu haters.”

“They are not politicians after the public good. It’s all about their self-interest. They are disgruntled. They are a frustrated lot. The leaders are sore losers. The coalition is an amalgam of Tinubu haters. Their agenda is to stop Tinubu,” Onanuga said.

The presidential spokesperson added that Tinubu remained focused on governance and would not be distracted by a coalition of politicians driven by selfish interests.

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Senate, Reps okay President Tinubu’s emergency rule in Rivers State

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Senate, Reps okay President Tinubu’s emergency rule in Rivers State

 

The Senate and the House of Representatives on Thursday separately approved President Bola Tinubu’s proclamation of the state of emergency in Rivers State.

They however mandated a review of the situation at any time, but not later than six months.

The National Assembly also imposed a joint committee of both chambers to oversee the administration of affairs in Rivers State during the emergency period.

The Senate resolved to establish a mediation committee consisting of eminent Nigerians to help resolve the state’s political crisis.

The House of Representatives was the first to approve the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers.

In a voice vote, the lawmakers backed Tinubu’s decision, two days after the President made the move.

A total of 240 House of Representative members attended the preliminary which was presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.

While deliberating on the decision, the House made some amendments including that a committee of eminent Nigerians would be set up to mediate on the matter.

They also noted that the National Assembly is empowered to make law for a state where its house of assembly is unable to perform its functions.

This contradicts the Federal Government’s plan for the Federal Executive Council to take up that duty.

On Tuesday, President Tinubu wielded the big stick in Rivers, declaring a state of emergency in the state.

He also suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara; his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months and appointed a sole administrator to take charge of the state.

Legal experts, governors, and prominent Nigerians including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi to have condemned the proclamation, demanding a reversal.

However, the Federal Government has doubled down on Tinubu’s decision and argued that it was needed to bring peace to the oil-rich state.

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