We're good to go, says INEC, publishes notice of poll – Newstrends
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We’re good to go, says INEC, publishes notice of poll

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The Independent National Electoral Commission on Monday published the Notice of Polls for the 2023 General Election.

INEC also did a self-audit of its preparations for the polls and declared that it was good to go.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made the declaration when he received in audience the President and Chief Executive Officer CEO of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems IFES, Mr Anthony N. Banbury.

So far, the Commission has successfully implemented 12 out of 14 activities in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities

Section 44 of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) provides that the Notice of Polls must be published not later than 14 days before the election cause to be published, a notice specifying the date and hours fixed for the poll; the persons entitled to vote; and the location of the polling units.

“This meeting is holding today when we are implementing the 12th activity – the Publication of the Notice of Polls – meaning that we have so far successfully implemented 12 out of 14 activities on schedule.

“So, there are only two activities outstanding. The first one is the end of campaign by political parties, which by law is 24 hours before polling day, which is going to be on the 23rd of February for the Presidential and National Assembly elections and the 10th of March for the States governorship and States Assembly, and then, the election day proper, which is on the 25th of February for the Presidential and National Assembly and on the 11th of March for the state elections,” he stated.

The INEC chairman added that the technological innovations for the elections had been tested and that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, would again be tested this Saturday in a nationwide mock accreditation exercise.

He said, “The preparation has gone on very well. And then with the benefit of the new Electoral Act, we have more time to prepare than our predecessors had in the past.

“We are working with the National Union of Road Transport Workers to make sure that we get logistics right so that we deploy personnel and materials to locations early enough so that we can open the polling units, conclude the processes at the polling units and quickly declare the outcome of the elections, as decided by Nigerians swiftly. The earlier we conclude the processes, the speed with which we also declare winners and conclude the processes.”

 

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Edo guber: APC to unveil Idahosa as Okpebholo’s running mate today

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Hon. Dennis Idahosa, Senator Monday Okpebholo

Edo guber: APC to unveil Idahosa as Okpebholo’s running mate today

The Edo All Progressives Congress (APC) will announce Hon. Dennis Idahosa as its deputy governorship candidate today, after weeks of power struggles and ego trips by party officials in selecting Senator Monday Okpebholo as the party’s running mate.

It has been discovered that Abuja would host the event.

Idahosa’s selection is said to have been made following President Bola Tinubu’s intervention at a meeting with Edo APC leaders and stakeholders.

Upon being approached, the APC’s acting state chairman did not provide a name. claimed that, however, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) would be defeated by the youngest ticket.

He said, “Our choice of running mate emanated from the people and we are going to unveil him tomorrow (Monday) in Abuja. It will be the youngest ticket ever in the history of Edo State and that is what we will use to defeat the other parties. We are not like them that are producing much older people to govern the state. We are going to produce a young team,” he said.

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Idahosa who is challenging the outcome of the party primary election in the court claimed that he won it and that the supplementary one was illegal.

It was gathered that after Tinubu’s intervention, it was agreed that Idahosa would withdraw his case from the court once all the processes were concluded.

A credible party source said, “It has been a difficult issue for over one week, especially after Idahosa went to court. The leadership of the party in Abuja had to wade into the issue. There have been so many interests at play. Ego was also involved as there were some leaders of the party who saw the primary as an opportunity to get at a leader of the party. They even threatened to publicly denounce the party and work against it if Idahosa is chosen.

“The president intervened and I believe that was what calmed nerves and I hope that all of them will respect and honour the wish of the president,” he said.

Edo guber: APC to unveil Idahosa as Okpebholo’s running mate today

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Shaibu drags Igbodalo, INEC to court over Edo primaries

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Edo State Deputy Governor Comrade Philip Shaibu

Shaibu drags Igbodalo, INEC to court over Edo primaries

Edo State Deputy Governor Comrade Philip Shaibu wants the Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, to declare as invalid and unlawful, the governorship indirect primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of February 22 that produced Asue Igbodalo, and that the party should be ordered to conduct fresh primary election.

Shaibu, through his lead counsel, Doyin Awoyale, SAN, also wants the presiding judge to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reject Ighodalo, a Lagos-based lawyer, as the standard-bearer of PDP in the September 21 poll.

He urged the court to nullify the PDP’s “purported” Edo governorship primary election and withdraw forthwith, the certificate of return issued to Ighodalo, saying the factional shadow poll was conducted, contrary to the provisions of PDP’s constitution and Electoral Act.

Edo deputy governor, in the suit with reference number: FHC/ABJ/CS/308/2024, sought an order to restrain Ighodalo from parading himself as the duly-nominated governorship candidate of PDP in Edo, with the party’s National Vice Chairman, Southsouth, Chief Dan Orbih, as the third defendant.

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The originating summons, as obtained yesterday in Benin by our reporter, read: “An order of injunction restraining the 1st defendant (INEC) from accepting and/or recognising the name of the 4th defendant (Ighodalo) as the governorship candidate of the 2nd defendant (PDP) in the 2024 Edo State governorship election, scheduled to be conducted by the 1st defendant on the 21 of September, 2024.

“An order of this honourable court restraining the defendants, by themselves and/agents, representatives, organs, chapters, etc. from tampering with and/or discarding the delegates’ lists that emerged from the 2nd defendant’s congresses of 4th February, 2024 and 10th February, 2024, conducted by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the 2nd defendant.

“An order of this honourable court mandating the 2nd defendant to conduct a fresh governorship primary election for the nomination of the governorship candidate for the 2nd defendant in the 2024 Edo governorship election.”

Shaibu drags Igbodalo, INEC to court over Edo primaries

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Appeal Court reinstates Abure as LP national chairman

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Appeal Court reinstates Abure as LP national chairman

The Appeal Court in Abuja has reinstated Julius Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party.

Justice Hamma Barka in a judgement delivered on Wednesday faulted the High Court for assuming jurisdiction in the matter.

The Court also awarded N1 million in favour of Abure and against the respondent, Lamidi Apapa.

Last year, Justice Hamza Muazu of the Abuja High Court, ordered Abure and two other national officers to vacate their seats over alleged forgery.

But the Appeal Court set the verdict aside and held that Abure’s appeal had merit.

After the 2023 presidential elections, Abure has been in a legal battle with Apapa who laid claim to the party’s chairmanship.

On March 21, 2024, Abure was arrested by the Police in Benin City, Edo State, and was accused of attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms, and related offences.

He was later released on bail.

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