Don’t vote who will misrule Plateau AGAIN!!!! Jang warns

A former governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, has urged the populace not to choose a governor who will mismanage the state for a further eight years just one week before the governorship and state House of Assembly elections scheduled for March 11,2023.

He explicitly urged the electorate to abstain from voting for the candidates of the All Progressives Congress and the Labour Party, as they had collaborated during the previous eight years to inflict immeasurable miseries and suffering on the residents of the state.

He also congratulated the election’s winners and thanked voters for supporting PDP candidates in the elections for the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Prior to the gubernatorial and state House Assembly elections, Jang made a statement on Friday in Jos.

Expressing confidence in the ability of the PDP and its candidates to reverse the ugly past and bring about development to Plateau, the former governor urged the people to vote wisely in the interest of the state.

Jang said, “The presidential election of February 25 has come and gone. It may not have been our desire or preference, but only time will reveal what is best for our dear country Nigeria as it pleases God almighty.

“The governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are almost here, and it is hoped that urgent steps will be taken to close the ranks, shelve all differences, and pursue the election as a common front. The manipulated presidential poll should propel us to do what is right to put all our candidates on a winning streak.

“We should not allow our emotions to overtake our sense of purpose at this time; the successes achieved in the past election must be the driving force for more outstanding achievements in the forthcoming polls, which are, indeed, local.

“Having secured five out of eight House of Representatives positions and two Senatorial positions already in the kitty with a third on the horizon, we should be working hard to install a governor and a House of Assembly who will join hands to stand for the interest of our dear state.

“The pains and lessons of the past eight years, where we had the APC in government both in Plateau and at the national level but have had no benefit, is instructive. The outcome of the presidential polls has shown where the leanings of Plateau people are; an APC government in the state is a subscription to further neglect, as experienced in the last eight years.

Let’s not forget that the last eight years brought us untold hardship; we were almost robbed of our identity.

He called on the people to resist those who attempt to coerce our mind into believing that we are second class people.

“Let us, therefore, vote for a governor who will have the backing of the state and National Assembly members in pursuing the interests of the Plateau people.

“The time to act is now! The decision to build a virile Plateau where unending peace reigns is ours to make. We must not sit on the fence; we must defend our heritage, not just for ourselves but for our children and the on-coming generations,” he beckoned.

The former governor called on all including the Obidients not to lose faith but join hands with the PDP to redeem the heritage of the stage.

He added, “We must insulate Plateau by voting for the PDP and must force INEC to make our votes count. No retreat, No surrender.”

Presidential Election: Judges acting like juju priests, no hope for justice, says Odinkalu

As opposition parties announced plans to contest Saturday’s presidential election results in court, rights activist Chidi Odinkalu says he does not expect justice to be dispensed by the judiciary, likening judges’ conduct to that of juju priests and courts to voodoo shrines.

There are allegations of widespread fraud and violence during the presidential poll, with some international observers saying the election was “distorted.”

“I am one of those who have lost hope. So, please don’t speak about some. That is one of the reasons I no longer can claim to be a lawyer,” said Mr Odinkalu in an interview published by THISDAY.

The former National Human Rights Commission boss added, “The kinds of things that come out of our courts these days can only be manufactured by juju priests and voodoo shrines. I did not train for either and lack the qualifications to practice any of those.”

Mr Odinkalu added, “This is not just about technicality; it is also about bare-faced abuse of judicial office. Going to court these days cannot be fulfilling or meaningful for those who do it at any level, from the area courts, magistrates’ court or district courts to the Supreme Court.”

He alleged that “most of the people appointed to the Bench these days are related to powerful judges or powerful politicians – the son of this, the daughter of that, the wife of the other one, or the mistress of that one. It is no longer about competence, character, skill or qualification.”

Mr Odinkalu censured INEC for its role in the contentious presidential poll, leading to PDP and the Labour Party calling for the election’s cancellation.

He faulted INEC for its inadequate preparations in the build-up to the poll and failure to extensively test-run the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, which recorded widespread malfunctions in many parts of the country during the election.

“Anyone who took minimal interest in the matter would have figured that INEC’s assurances of a seamless process or flawless BVAS deployment were both empty and not believable. I wrote about this more than once, but I guess, as Nigerians, we are wired to miracles and magic,” the ex-NHRC chief stated.

Mr Odinkalu mentioned that “BVAS was untried on anything approaching the scale of the claim INEC made on it” regarding the Saturday polls. 

“Prior to this, it had only been tried in three off-cycle governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun, as well as in the FCT local elections. In all of those, the flaws were very evident,” said the rights activist.

Gazette

Our votes Peter Obi took in South-East, South-South insufficient to make him president: Atiku

Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party said though Labour Party’s Peter Obi took chunk of votes from his party’s traditional strongholds in the South-East and South-South, the regional ballots could not have made Mr Obi win presidency.

Fielding questions from journalists after a press conference on the outcome of the February 25 presidential election on Thursday evening, Mr Abubakar admitted that “It is a fact that he took our votes in the South-East and South-South.” He however added that “That of course will not make him a president. You all know that to become a president in country you need votes from everywhere.”

Per declared results, Mr Obi’s Labour Party won in a landslide in all southeastern states as well as in three South-South States of Edo, Delta and Cross River.

Mr Obi was the running mate to Mr Abubakar in the 2019 presidential election. He left the PDP a few weeks before the party’s primary citing a gang up against his emergence. After he emerged candidate of Labour’s flag bearer, Mr Obi enjoyed wavy support from his Igbo kinsmen and many youths who are angling for a departure from the old political order.

Mr Abubakar however said had Mr Obi remained in PDP, he would have been offered the vice presidential slot on his ticket. 

Mr Tinubu polled 8,794,726 votes to defeat PDP’s Atiku Abubakar, winning 12 of 36 states of Nigeria. 

Mr Abubakar came second polling 6,984,520 votes, while Mr Obi came third, polling 6,101,533 votes.

A former vice president between 1999-2007, Mr Abubakar has vowed to challenge Mr Tinubu’s victory in the court. 

Gazette

Accept Defeat, Retire to Dubai -Fayose Tells Atiku

…Says the PDP lacks moral standing to complain of rigging

A former Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose has berated the Peoples Democratic Party PDP for alleging that the 2023 presidential election is rigged. Fayose who wrote on his verified twitter handle said the PDP lacks the moral standing to complain of rigging saying that the party chased out Obi, Kwankwaso, others despite knowing their potentials and threats.

“I commend the courage and resilience the Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate HE. Peter Obi, for his uncommon and unprecedented outing and outcome of this election. It is not unexpected going by support he enjoys with Nigerians.

However, I cannot but berate the PDP which has no moral right to cry foul. Those handling the party obviously knew this was going to be the outcome and possibly the end of their arrogance and sense of entitlement, especially bearing in mind they were the 2015 traitors.

In life, they say what goes round comes round. Beyond this, does the PDP wants to win an election with a fractured party that it is now? Kwankanso, Obi, etc were driven out of the party and they claimed they can win without the G5 Governors.

‘Almighty’ lyorchia Ayu, the National Chairman even lost his Ward and Local Government to another party after cashing out like a man struck and stock with poverty.

As it is now, PDP turning around to cry foul has no place with Nigerians. Not at all.

Most importantly, election is a process and those not satisfied can vent their anger in court.

It is therefore time to allow Nigeria and Nigerians to move on.

If you think Nigerians loves or still want PDP as alternative, by now the message should be instructive.

The present managers of the PDP need to be told that the sympathy of Nigerians is not for the party. They should stop hiding under Peter Obi’s LP to pretend to have a sense of patriotism that they don’t have.

Therefore, no sense of comradeship with Obi will work. After all, they knew his potentials, yet, he was not deemed fit for the party’s ticket and he was eased out. Today, he has retired all of them.

Our candidate, H.E. Atiku Abubakar (aka ‘Atiku is coming’) should accept defeat in maturity and retire peacefully to Dubai.

At this juncture, may I say good night and good bye to all you represent.” He said.

Presidential Election: Obasanjo writes Buhari, Alleges Electoral Fraud, Warns of Pending Anarchy, Wants Counting of Results Stopped

Nigerian Brothers and Sisters, greetings to you all.

I am constrained to speak at this point.

I crave the indulgence of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency General Muhammadu Buhari, to make this statement because I have had opportunity to keep him aware of what I know is happening and the danger looming ahead.  

On many occasions in the past, I have not hesitated to point out lacuna in the action of the President and his government.  But as far as the election issues are concerned, the President has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he will want to leave a legacy of free, fair, transparent and credible elections.

Until last Saturday night, February 25, 2023, the good and noble plan and preparation for the elections seemed to be going well.  For the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a lot of money was spent to introduce Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and the Server for immediate transmission of results from polling units.  It is no secret that INEC officials, at operational level, have been allegedly compromised to make what should have worked not to work and to revert to manual transmission of results which is manipulated and the results doctored.  The Chairman of INEC may claim ignorance but he cannot fold his hands and do nothing when he knows that election process has been corrupted and most of the results that are brought outside BVAS and Server are not true reflection of the will of Nigerians who have made their individual choice.  At this stage, we do not need wittingly or unwittingly to set this country on fire with the greed, irresponsibility and unpatriotic act of those who allegedly gave money to INEC officials for perversion and those who collected the blood money.  Let me appeal to the Chairman of INEC, if his hands are clean, to save Nigeria from the looming danger and disaster which is just waiting to happen.  If the Chairman can postpone elections four days to the election, he can do everything to rectify the errors of the last two days – no BVAS, no result to be acceptable; and no uploading through Server, no result to be acceptable.

Whereas, BVAS and Servers have been manipulated or rendered inactive, such results must be declared void and inadmissible for election declaration.  Chairman INEC, I have thought that you would use this wonderful opportunity to mend your reputation and character for posterity.

Your Excellency, President Buhari Muhammadu, tension is building up and please let all elections that do not pass the credibility and transparency test be cancelled and be brought back with areas where elections were disrupted for next Saturday, March 4, 2023, and BVAS and Server officials be changed.  To know which stations or polling units were manipulated, let a Committee of INEC staff and representatives of the four major political parties with the Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association look into what must be done to have hitch-free elections next Saturday.  Mr. President, may your plan and hope for leaving a legacy of free, fair, transparent and credible election be realised.  Mr. President, please don’t let anybody say to you that it does not matter or it is the problem of INEC.  On no account should you be seen as part of the collusion or compromise.  When the die is cast, it will be your problem as the Chief Executive of the nation.  The Chairman of INEC may sneak out of the country or go back to his ivory tower.  Your Excellency, thank you for hearing me out.  

Compatriot Nigerians, please exercise patience until the wrong is righted.  I strongly believe that nobody will toy with the future and fortune of Nigeria at this juncture.

Long live Nigeria in peace, security, stability and in the hope for greater future.

OLUSEGUN OBASANJO

February 27, 2023

2023: We are Surprised by SOKAPU’s Hanky Panky -Says Middle Belt Group 

A group under the auspices of The Middle Belt Patriotic Front (MBPF) has berated the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) over what it described as its indecision in endorsing a presidential candidate in the forthcoming presidential election billed for Saturday 25th, 2023.

The group described the endorsement of Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Peter Obi or the LP as hanky-panky by SOKAPU, saying that the move is to sound politically correct despite all the people of Southern Kaduna had gone through over the years.

In a statement made available to Middle Belt Times on Thursday signed by its Secretary General, Mr Iorwuese Samuel, the group said SOKAPU is playing safe at a time the entire nation is at the verge of a make or mar decision.

The statement came at the heel of a press conference held at the SOKAPU national secretariat in Kaduna where the sociocultural organization alongside the Southern Kaduna Leadership Forum adopted Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi as presidential candidates for Saturday’s election.

The statement reads in part;

“We at the Middle Belt Patriotic Front are not only disappointed but shocked and heartbroken by SOKAPU’s endorsement of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.

“SOKAPU’s position contradicts the earlier position of the Southern Middle Belt Forum which adopted Peter Obi as candidate for the Southern and Middle Belt regions in the forthcoming presidential election. 

“It is unimaginable that Southern Kaduna will be attempting to be politically correct at such a critical moment despite all the region had suffered in the last decade.

We are of the view that there is no justification whatsoever for such action as other groups across the Northern parts of the country have boldly endorsed their preferred candidates without mincing words or trying to be politically correct.”

Recall that SOKAPU and the Southern Kaduna Leadership Forum on Thursday afternoon endorsed both Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, a decision that has left many people from the region confused as to what such endorsement entails in reality.

Many have taken to their social media pages to question the decision of the group which has been in the forefront of championing the cause of the region in decades.

Controversial APC Senator Ishaku Abbo – expelled from the APC, cleared for Saturday senatorial poll

Senator Ishaku Abbo has been given the go-ahead by the Yola Division of the Court of Appeal to run for senator from Adamawa North in the National Assembly election that will take place this Saturday.

Abbo’s future was in jeopardy after a lower court supported the decision of the APC leadership in his hometown of Mubi North Local Government Area to expel him from the party earlier.

The lower court had found that Abbo no longer enjoyed the benefits of membership, including running on the party’s ticket for the election on February 25.

But on Thursday, the Court of Appeal overturned the High Court’s decision upholding Senator Ishaku Abbo’s expulsion from the APC.

In his ruling, Court of Appeal Justice Isaiah Olufemi Akeju nullified the lower court’s decision and overturned all of its orders against Senator Ishaku Abbo.

The court ruled that the lower court lacked the authority to hear the case and upheld Senator Abbo’s right to run for reelection to the Senate on the APC ticket as a card-carrying member of the party.

The senator was given a N500,000 award by the court as costs against the respondents.

Mubi North executives of APC had moved against Abbo last October by expelling him from the party on an anti-party activity charge after Abbo severally voiced opposition against APC’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.

Babachir Lawal: Obi will usher in a new Nigeria

Babachir Lawal, a former secretary to the government of the federation, is optimistic that Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, will bring in a new Nigeria.
“We are all gathered here today because we all desire a change for our beloved country. We want a new Nigeria. We want to take back our country and make it great. And we all believe that the team that can do this for us, is the team of Peter Obi and Datti,” Lawal, who was represented by Prof. Wesley Daniel Nafarnda, said during his welcome address at the National Endorsement Prayer Day for Obi – Datti, organized by the Coalition of Peter Obi Supporters

He said that the 2023 general elections will be notable in many ways because it will be the first time that young people from Nigeria and Nigerians from all walks of life, regardless of their religion or ethnic feelings, will mobilize and support the Obi-Datti ticket in huge numbers.
Lawal continued, “Let’s elect the correct man (Peter Obi), so that Nigeria can become a great country and occupy a position in the committee of great nations.
The former SGF continued by saying that Obi’s history in Anambra state and other areas of life demonstrate that he possesses the traits necessary to be the kind of leader that Nigeria needs right now.

We have all assembled here to once again show our support for our presidential candidate Peter Obi and his running mate Datti-Baba Ahmed, stated the event’s chairperson, Prof. Patricia Obiefule. The unusual aspect of this occasion is that religious leaders from both Christianity and Islam have gathered to support him in prayer and ask God to grant him victory on Saturday.

She continued by saying that the Labour presidential candidate is qualified and experienced to make Nigeria a better and brighter place.

“Beyond the endorsement, we can all see that Nigeria needs help from the myriad crises that have beset the nation, and all hands need to be on deck to save Nigeria,” said Mazi Nice Chijioke, National Director of the Enyimba Progressive Association (EPA). We are making an effort to steer our country in a new direction.

Tiv Traditional Council Tells Monarchs to Respect Traditional Institutions during Elections

Before, during, and after the 2023 general elections, the Tiv Traditional Council (TTC) has warned all traditional rulers in Benue State to abstain from actions that will reflect poorly on the traditional institutions in the state.

This is even as the council warned those in the habit of disrupting elections to steer clear or face severe sanction by the council.

The United States Institutes of Peace (USIP) Network of Nigerian Facilitators held a stakeholders engagement in Makurdi, where the representative of the Makurdi traditional council, MueTer, Ihyarev, his royal majesty Simon Ajoh, issued a warning that any traditional ruler involved in political crises would be immediately suspended and derobed if found guilty.

According to him, “the Tiv Traditional Council has held several meetings with all the political actors in Benue State, where it was clearly stated that any Tiv son, daughter and even residents found indulging in political violence before, during and after the general elections will be sanctioned severely by the council”

In an address, the state chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Akpen Leva, disclosed that the church had commenced sensitizing her members since the previous year against engaging in unwholesome behavior before, during, and after elections.

In order to ensure a peaceful, impartial, and credible election, he stated, “we have trained election monitors and the church has further advised politicians against campaigning on religious principles.”

The state Coordinator, USIP, Saa Aungwa and her counterpart Kengkeng Ati intimated that the aim of the meeting is to engage stakeholders to x-ray challenges faced before during and after elections and as well device ways of nibbing them in the bud.

Middle Belt Generals: General Theophilus Danjuma, Gen. Zamani Lekwot (retd) – others under NCEF endorse Peter Obi

General Theophilus Danjuma, a former minister of defense, and other elder statesmen through the National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF), has endorsed Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, ahead of this weekend’s presidential election.

The Christian Elders claim that it is important to take seriously the accusations that some areas were purportedly planning to use violence during the elections.

The NCEF urged Nigerians to elect officials based on their qualifications, skills, honesty, and general health since “a sick country demands hearty leaders.”

Its chairman, Dr. Samuel Gani, and secretary, Pastor Bosun Emmanuel, signed a statement with the title “Resolutions towards 2023 elections: Think new” that contains this information.

Ret. Gen. Zamani Lekwot, Dr. Saleh Hussaini, Vice Chairman (North), Elder Shyngle Wigwe, Vice Chairman (South), Mrs. Osaretin Demuren, Prof. Joseph Otubu, Hon. Justice Kalajine Anigbogu, Ret., Dr. Kate Okpareke, Ret. Dr. Ayo Abifarin, , Ret. Hon. Justice James Ogebe, Ret. Elder

Others are Elder Nat Okoro, Solomon Asemota (SAN), Elder Matthew Owojaiye, DIG P. L. Dabup, Sir John W. Bagu, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Dame Priscilla Kuye, Prof. Deborah Ajakaiye, and Dr. Taiwo Idemudia.

“In view of the need to ensure that democracy survives in Nigeria and the culture of corruption, incompetency, lawlessness, and impunity, which assailed the country in the past 24 years is eradicated, NCEF encourages Nigerians to think new.

“Nigeria requires new leaders, new methods, new policies, and new political parties. In view of the above equity, justice, inclusiveness, and unity produce the preferred future for Nigerians.

“The National Christian Elders Forum is endorsing Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party as the Presidential candidate to be voted for. NCEF encourages all Nigerians of voting age to exercise their civic duty and ensure that they vote for capacity, competency, integrity, and good health. Nigerians, think new!” The statement reads.

Furthermore, the Elders disclosed that Nigerians are beginning to attach importance to capacity and integrity rather than the primordial emotional choices which afforded unqualified and incompetent people access to leadership positions.

“NCEF commends the Federal Government for taking steps to curb vote-buying during the 2023 elections. While the policy of currency change has brought some inconvenience to the people, the long-term benefit should be appreciated. It is crucial that vote-buying must be prevented at all costs to prevent unqualified and incapable persons from bribing their way into power,” the statement added.