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2023 Elections

Presidential Polls: We Are Optimistic That Tinubu Will Win – APC Reacts To ACF’s Endorsement Of Atiku

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, on Wednesday, said its principal, Asiwaaju Bola Tinubu is unbothered about the endorsement of Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, by the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF.

APC PCC said it would not take ACF’s endorsement of Atiku seriously because a lot of Northern groups support Tinubu.

A few days ago, a chieftain of the ACF, Muhammad Yakubu, said Atiku was the body’s preferred candidate ahead of Saturday’s election.

Speaking with journalists, Yakubu said the comments by Zango Daura, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, were enough evidence that the region had settled for Atiku.

Yakubu said the North is supporting Atiku because he has the capacity, competence and integrity to rule Nigeria.

Reacting, the APC PCC Director of Strategic Communications, Idris Mohammed, said: “As far as we are concerned, the ACF is just a group. There are lots of northern groups out there who have also supported Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He is not only reaching out to groups, he is also campaigning to the masses.

“Everywhere you go, you will see the kind of crowd that Tinubu has amassed and the commentaries people make about him. So, we really don’t take the ACF endorsement seriously.

“What we take seriously is the way Nigerians, especially the Northerners you talked about are going to vote. We are very optimistic that Asiwaju is going to emerge victorious in Saturday’s poll.”

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2023 Elections

New Naira Policy To Frustrate Tinubu – Akeredolu Claims

Rotimi Akeredolu, the Ondo State Governor, has slammed the new naira policy.

He said the naira redesign and swap policy was targeted at truncating Saturday’s presidential election and national assembly elections.

He added that the policy was also targeted at the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, to ensure he lost the election.

The governor stated this at the state broadcast aired on electronic media outfits in the state on Thursday morning, barely 48 hours to the election.

According to him, the cash swap policy of the APC-led government and the alleged artificial scarcity of fuel “are both lethal injections deliberately administered to de-market the APC government, create an uncontrollable crisis in the nation and finally frustrate the 2023 general elections.”

He said, “The goal is to truncate the election and deny the country the service of a true patriot, an endowed visionary with a proven record of character, knowledge, leadership and performance.

“It is also an attempt to abuse the principle of the rotational presidency by denying a section of this country its legitimate right thereby fuelling ethnic disaffection and creating a grave constitutional crisis in the country.

”Recall that in the course of these circumstances, I have offered clear and unequivocal statements as our stand on this dangerous and unfortunate adventure.

“To say the least, it is a dagger drawn at the heart of the ruling APC on the eve of the elections in order to destroy it and the governments it controls at the federal and state levels. As the nation trudges on, our resolve to deepen democracy and good governance must remain unflinching and abiding.

“Despite the desperate efforts by selfish and subversive elements within the government, to destroy the multiparty politics in Nigeria, the dividends of good governance brought to the people by the APC remain indelible in the recent history of our state in particular and the nation in general.

“The central purpose (of the naira swap policy) is to frustrate his ( Tinubu’) popularity and renowned acceptability across all tribes and religions in this country. The goal is to truncate the election and deny the country the service of a true patriot, an endowed visionary with a proven record of character, knowledge, leadership and performance.

“It is also an attempt to abuse the principle of the rotational presidency by denying a section of this country its legitimate right thereby fuelling ethnic disaffection and creating a grave constitutional crisis in the country.”

While calling on the people of the state to vote for the presidential and other candidates of the APC in Saturday’s election, Akeredolu assured that Tinubu, if elected, would tackle many challenges facing the country and the state in particular.

“As your governor, my duty to you at this time of great confusion and frustration is therefore to provide you with a clear vision of the path of redemption and hope. It is to charge you all to shake off the artificial frustration and the temporary barriers on your way to choosing a president who represents hope and assured brighter days ahead.

“My message to you is that despite all the well-planned intrigues to deny you of your democratic rights and the future and prosperity of your offsprings, which Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu represents, I urge you to troop out massively and vote for the APC on Saturday.

“This is the time to separate the past from the future. For us in Ondo State, this is our time to vote for a president who identifies with our challenges and who would help us to actualize our ongoing plan for the establishment of Ondo Deep Sea Port and massive industrial revolution, tackle youth unemployment, achieve our dream of state police to solve our insecurity problem and ensure human capacity development. It is time to set a new flag and make Nigeria great,” the governor added.

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I Am The Envy of Many Presidents In The World – Buhari Boasts

President Buhari has boasted that many presidents in the world envy his position.
According to him, this is because of the support his government has received from the private sector in addressing societal issues.
The President said this while speaking at the commissioning and handover of security equipment valued at over N12 billion to the military and Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday, February 22.
“Today is indeed a very happy day for all Nigerians, and I can happily say that I’m the envy of many presidents in the world. I’m exceedingly honoured to be the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, at this time. I’m gratified to have the honour of leading a country whose private sector willingly galvanises itself to raise funds to enthusiastically support the government in resolving social ills.
 
I’m proud to say that there is nowhere in the entire world, except in Nigeria, where the private sector has voluntarily come together to assist government efforts. These 350 vehicles and thousands of vests and helmets you are handing over today will go a long way in boosting the capacity of our forces,” he said.
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2023 Elections

Election: Osun Declares Friday Work-Free Day

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has declared Friday a work-free-day for residents of the state.
Adeleke gave the approval for the holiday on Wednesday.
A statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Teslim Igbalaye, said the holiday would enable residents and indigenes to travel for Presidential and National Assembly elections holding on Saturday.
The statement also said public servants were expected to utilise the opportunity to travel for the electoral process.
It further read in parts, “This is time for all citizens to exercise their voting rights. His Excellency again appeals to all residents to be law-abiding as they peacefully exercise their voting rights on Saturday and subsequent elections.”
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Fake News – CBN Denies Plans To Shut Down Financial Transactions From Thursday February 23 Till Monday, February 27

The Central Bank of Nigeria CBN has rubbished a viral Whatsapp message stating that it will be shutting down financial transactions from Thursday, February 23 till Monday, February 27.

According to the viral message, bank networks will be unavailable so politicians will not be able to buy votes.

The apex bank debunked this on its Instagram  page, describing it as fake news.

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2023 Elections

Presidential Election: EFCC Uncovers New Ways Politicians Are Planning to Buy Votes

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has uncovered new tactics politicians are planning to use to buy votes during Saturday’s presidential election.
Chairman, Abdulrasheed Baw, who spoke on Channels Television on Wednesday, said intelligence at its disposal has shown that some politicians are planning to buy votes in kind rather than with cash.
This is following the scarcity of the new naira notes experienced by Nigerians nationwide.
Bawa advised the electorate to cooperate with the EFCC in its efforts in tackling vote-buying during the Saturday’s polls.
Bawa said that Nigerians should get it right this time by voting into power people with integrity and ethical standards.
“We have intel that a lot of people have bought some items that they want [to use] to buy votes in kind, not in cash. Some of these things are out there,” he stated.
“Politicians are also Nigerians. We too have a way of doing our own things. We have our own experiences in this as well.”
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2023 Elections

Labour Party Senatorial Candidate, Oyibo Chukwu Murdered

Barrister Oyibo Chukwu, the Labour Party candidate for Enugu East Senatorial district, has been killed.

The trained lawyer was reportedly shot and killed in Enugu while returning from a campaign trip and the vehicle he was in was set ablaze.

Video shows his vehicle burning with him inside on Wednesday evening, Feb. 22.

Three persons were suspected to be with him in the vehicle but it was not yet known if any of the occupants survived.

A top member of Labour Party has confirmed the fatal attack but said he should not be quoted until the family speaks, Vanguard reports.

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2023 Elections

INEC Distributes Sensitive Materials To LGAs In Ekiti

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has distributed sensitive materials for the poll to the sixteen local governments in Ekiti State, ahead of Saturday’s election.

During the distribution of the materials at the premises of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Ado-Ekiti, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State, Prof Ayobami Salami said the early distribution was to avoid lateness of the materials to the polling units on election day.

He pointed out that everything needed for the smooth conduct of the poll was ready, saying the election would hold as scheduled, as against rumours in some quarters that it would be postponed.

The REC reassured Nigerians that their votes would count, calling on them to come out to exercise their franchise during the election.

Speaking on behalf of other political parties, the chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, in Ekiti State, Mr Owoola Daramola expressed satisfaction with the distribution process of the materials and expressed optimism that the election would be transparent.

Earlier during the briefing of observer groups that will participate in the election in Ekiti State, Prof Salami urged them to be transparent and neutral, and also avoid partisanship in the discharge of their duties.

He told them not to be judgemental in their reports, saying the legitimacy of the 2023 elections could be affected by their reports, hence they must be factual while giving the reports.

“We expect a final report that will guide us in future elections and the report should look at the entire electoral process, rather than concentrating only on the proceedings of just one day,” he stated.

In his remark, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Mr Moronkeji Adesina said the police in conjunction with other security agencies in the state are prepared to ensure the safety of voters during the polls.

Represented by Mr Olu-Victor Babayemi, the Commissioner of Police, noted that a control centre has been created where observations and complaints could be forwarded for quick response.

The materials were distributed in the presence of stakeholders including security agents and party representatives.

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Uncategorized

Just In: Supreme Court adjourns Naira redesign case till March 3

The Supreme Court has adjourned a case by the state governments against the Federal Government challenging the naira redesign.

The Supreme Court, after hearing from dozens of lawyers on both governor’s and federal government’s sides, said a judgment would be delivered on the matter next month. The judgment date will be after the presidential election on February 25. The court had previously issued an order saying the old notes should remain in circulation.

Arguments during today’s hearing focused on a contempt decision against Attorney-General Abubakar Malami, who had failed to implement the court’s decision for old notes to keep circulating until a substantive ruling on the matter.

The states, including Kaduna and Lagos, sued the Buhari regime earlier this month, arguing that implementing a change of banknotes at this time would harm citizens.

Recall that Banks have not been able to make available new notes to Nigerians, which has caused economic hardships. The Central Bank of Nigeria, which introduced the new notes on Mr. Buhari’s directive, said it would try to make available the much-sought N500 and N1,000 notes.

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News

Fire Guts 17 Shops In Anambra Market

Over 17 shops were razed as fire gutted Timber Market, Umuokpu, Awka, Anambra State, on Tuesday.

Although there was no loss of life, it was gathered that the fire started at about 10:16 pm and burnt till the men of the state firefighters came to the scene.

The cause of the fire could not be ascertained, but eyewitnesses and victims of the fire said the inferno destroyed multi-million naira worth of goods.

Confirming the incident, the state fire service chief, Martin Agbili, said his personnel fought the fire to a standstill and prevented it from escalating further.

He said, “At about 10.16 pm on Tuesday, the Anambra State Fire Service, received a distress call of a heavy fire outbreak at Timber Market, Umuokpu Awka.

“Immediately, we deployed our fire truck and brave firefighters to the fire scene. The heavy fire was later fought to a standstill.

“The cause of the fire is unknown and no life was lost. About 17 shops were badly affected but we were able to control the fire from spreading to many other shops.

“Time of withdrawal from the fire scene was 01.06 am. We are still at the peak of harmattan, please avoid anything which can cause a fire outbreak. Always remember that time of the fire call, will determine the time of response to the fire incident.”

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