Category: Politics and Governance

The Kano State government has on Wednesday declared a 24-hour curfew in the state to avoid a breakdown of law and order following the ruling of the three-man election tribunal led by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay

The Kano State government has on Wednesday declared a 24-hour curfew in the state to avoid a breakdown of law and order following the ruling of the three-man election tribunal led by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay.

CP Gumel who vowed to ensure strict compliance with the order, however, warned residents that defaulters will be arrested and made to face the wrath of the law.

 

According to him, “A Twenty-Four Hours (24hrs) Curfew order has been communicated by the State Government via letter with Reference No: K/SEC/H/435/T.1/153 dated 20th September 2023 taking effect from 6pm of Wednesday, 20th September to 6pm of Thursday, 21st September 2023.

 

“In view of the Constitutional mandate of the Nigeria Police Force alongside the relevant Internal Security and Law Enforcement Agencies to preserve law and order in the State, the Kano State Police Command have mapped out strategies on that direction and call on the good people of the State to give the necessary confidence and supports.

 

“Going forward, Kano State residents are called upon to note that combined Security Forces have already been dispatched to the nooks and crannies including the entry and exits of the State to ensure enforcement and strict compliance of the curfew.

 

“Violators will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

 

“Finally, I wish to appreciate all the peace-loving People of the State and urge them to remain law abiding as it’s in the best interest of all that we come together to maintain law and order in the State,” CP Gumel however stated.

 

 

By Oboh Linus
Lafia:.  The Nasarawa State Government on Wednesday solicited a robust partnership with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) for wider coverage of its polices and programmes.

Mr Ibrahim Agbolo, its Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, made the appeal when he received the north-central state’s NAN management on a courtesy call in Lafia.

“We want a partnership with NAN for the dissemination of government policies and prgrammes given its wide reach and readership, both nationally and internationally,” he said.

Agbolo charged NAN to sustain high professional standards in its reportage, noting that objectivity and balance would engender confidence.

“We know how important you are, especially your partnership with international news agencies and other large media outlets.
“Having been here for so long, I believe you know the wonderful job Governor Abdullahi Sule is doing.”

He thanked NAN for the visit, urging it to kindly redouble efforts so that the state could get the desired news coverage.

Earlier, the NAN State Correspondent, Mr Isaac Ukpoju, had said that the agency was in the ministry to congratulate the commissioner on his appointment and seek deeper partnership for effective coverage.

Ukpoju said that NAN was a wire service agency that produces massive news content for local and international subscribers.

“We have news exchange agreements with international news agencies such as Reuters, Xinhua, AFP, among others.

“We have been in Nasarawa since it was established; we ask that you use your good office to deepen that relationship between NAN and the Nasarawa state government,” he said. (Flowerbudnews)

 

By Oluwatope Lawanson

Lagos:  The International Centre for Safety and Protection of Journalists (I-CSPJ) has condemned alleged police assault on journalists covering proceedings at the Kano Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

The I-CSPJ made the condemnation in a statement by its Press Freedom Officer, Mr Melody Akinjiyan, in Lagos on Wednesday.

According to the centre, among the attacked journalists are Mr Salim Ibrahim of the Daily Trust newspaper and a BBC Hausa reporter, Mr Zahraddeen Lawal.

l-CSPJ said that it was dismayed by the reported police attack on the journalists while covering the proceedings.

“Report from Ibrahim said the police on duty asked the journalists to move 10 metres away from the court premises, and in the process, some of them pounced on them, alleging that they were taking pictures.

“Some went after BBC reporter trying to seize his phone, others held the Daily Trust reporter and forcefully collected his phone, damaging the screen,” the centre said.

I-CSPJ called on Kano State commissioner of police to bring to book, those who allegedly assaulted the journalists.

It added that the police should put machineries in place to compensate the affected journalists for the alleged inhumane treatment.

“We also call on the Nigeria Police Force to step up training of its officers to be more respectful and courteous in relating with journalists and others.

“They should be reminded constantly that the primary responsibility of the police is the protection of citizens, including journalists,” it said.

Similarly, the Executive Director of International Press Centre, Mr Lanre Arogundade, described the alleged attack on the journalists as dangerous and a major threat to democracy.

According to him, it was unwarranted as the journalists were carrying out their legitimate duties.

Arogundade said that the alleged assault violated the fundamental human rights of the journalists.

Arogundade urged the men of the Nigerian Police Force to be mindful of actions against journalists.

He advised them to avoid creating environments in which journalists would be afraid to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng) /Flowerbudnews

The Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on Wednesday sacked Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nasiru Gawuna, winner of the March 18 governorship poll.

Reading of the judgment was transmitted virtually via Zoom, a teleconference service as the panel members were not physically in court.

The ruling came weeks after lawyers of both parties made their closing arguments on behalf of their clients on 21 August.

 

Recall the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared that the NNPP polled 1,019,602 votes to defeat the APC with its candidate, Nasir Gawuna, who scored 890,705 votes. The NNPP candidate thus won with a margin of 128,897 votes.

 

However, the APC filed a petition at the tribunal to challenge the results declared by the electoral body.

 

Yusuf, who contested on the platform of the NNPP was declared winner of the election by the INEC.

 

After the declaration by INEC, Gawauna congratulated Yusuf, but the All Progressives Congress headed to court to challenge the victory.

 

The three-man panel, on Wednesday, ordered the withdrawal of certificate of return which INEC presented to Yusuf, and directed a certificate of return to be issued to Gawuna.

 

The court deducted 165,663 votes from Yusuf as invalid, stating that the ballot papers (165,663) were not stamped or signed and therefore declared invalid

 

ABUJA– Determined to nullify the election of President Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday, lodged 35 grounds of appeal before the Supreme Court.

Atiku, through his team of lawyers led by Chief Chris Uche, SAN, is praying the Apex court to set aside the judgement the Court of Appeal delivered on September 6, which affirmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, as the valid winner of the presidential election that held on February 25.

He told the apex court that the verdict of the Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel of the President Election Petition Court, PEPC, which dismissed his petition against the outcome of the presidential contest, was not only perverse, but occasioned a grave miscarriage of justice against him.

 

The PDP candidate, who is a former Vice President, maintained that the PEPC panel erred in law, when it failed to nullify the presidential election on the grounds of non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022, even when evidence that was adduced before it, showed that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, acted in breach of extant laws and regulations guiding the conduct of elections.

 

He accused the PEPC of reaching its unanimous decision based on gross misconstruction and misrepresentation of provisions of both the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the Electoral Act, 2022.

 

More details soon

 

NACJ Felicitates Oyo Speaker, Ogundoyin, Over Emergence As Chairman, Conference Of Speakers

By Adewale Owoade

The Nigeria Association of Christian Journalists (NACJ) Oyo State chapter have congratulated the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin on his election as Chairman, Conference of Speakers.

NACJ, Oyo State chapter, said this through a press release made available to Journalists, and signed by it’s Acting Chairman, Lekan Shobowale.

The association described the Speaker’s election as an honour well deserved, and that he has demonstrated a high sense of leadership quality since he assumed office as the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly in 2019.

It stated further that Rt. Hon Ogundoyin have proven to be a leader and mentor for younger generation which has always proven that the younger generations can always do it better.

“While praying to God to grant you the wisdom, Knowledge and understanding to excel in this your call to duty, the entire body of Christian Journalists in the Oyo State will continue to pray along, for you to succeed in this your noble assignment.

“Once again, congratulations, Mr Speaker and we wish you greater heights as you steer the ship of the 10th house of Assembly of Oyo state.

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed To Serve As Shettima’s Aide, Says No To ‘Fence-Sitting’

The NEF spokesman is the elder brother of Datti Baba-Ahmed, who was Peter Obi’s running mate under the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election.

The spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, on Monday, announced his appointment as the Special Adviser (Political) to the Vice President, saying it was no time to be “fence-sitting”.

 

The NEF spokesman is the elder brother of Datti Baba-Ahmed, who was Peter Obi’s running mate under the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election.

 

The northern elder revealed this in a post on X, formerly Twitter, describing the appointment as an honour.

 

It is time to make it public that I have accepted the call to serve as Special Adviser (Political) to the VP, @KShettim,” he stated.

 

“This is not the time for fence-sitting or criticism when you can be useful in turning the country round. I am honored and humbled. Please pray for me & Nigeria

 

 

By Abbas Bamalli

Katsina:   The Speaker, Katsina State House of Assembly, Alhaji Nasir Yahaya-Daura, has emerged the new Deputy Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria.

Malam Aminu Magaji, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the assembly, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Katsina on Sunday.

According to him, this is sequel to the consensus reached by the aspirants to step down in favour of Yahaya-Daura in view of his outstanding leadership qualities.

He said the Katsina Speaker was also chosen for his vast experiences, commitment and consistency in moving the Nigerian legislature forward.

Magaji said the election which took place in Abuja also saw the emergence of Speaker Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin, as Chairman of the Conference.

“The Chairman, his deputy and other executive members immediatly took oath of office after the election,” he said.

NAN recalls that Ogundoyin emerged the Chairman of the Conference following the withdrawal of the Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr Taiwo Oluomo.

The Constitution of the Conference stipulates a two-year tenure term of office for its elected officials to be rotated between the northern and the southern part of the country. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng) /Flowerbudnews

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim as the Minister of Youth, pending her confirmation by the Senate.

Tinubu also nominated Mr. Ayodele Olawande as the Minister of State for Youth, pending confirmation by the Senate.

This was announced in a statement issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.

According to the statement, “Ibrahim, who is a young medical doctor, recently served as the President of the Progressive Young Women Forum (PYWF).

 

“She has also served as the Senior Special Assistant to the Kwara State Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

 

The statement added that “Olawande is a community development expert and youth leader in the governing All Progressives’ Congress (APC).

 

“He most recently served in the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Innovation from 2019 to 2023”.

 

The statement added that the President charged the nominees to ensure they consistently reflect “the dynamism, innovative zeal and unyielding productivity synonymous with the young people of Nigeria as they discharge their duties