The Lumine News

Author: News

  • Why Okpoko: For me, It Is One Anambra, One People, One Agenda – Soludo

    Why Okpoko?

    One of the amusing retortions I have received since I expressed readiness to set off from Okpoko is, “why Okpoko?”. There seems to be some sense of self-centred prioritisation from a few who believe there are more pressing issues than heading to Okpoko on a rescue mission. When you probe further to situate their dissent in context, what you get is that innocent desire in all of us to always “begin charity from home”. This may not be totally bad, especially when we all agree where home is or should be.

    For me, it is One Anambra, one People, one Agenda.

    If this be the case, it then follows that the often taken for granted but real assumption that “every system is only as strong as its weakest link” must then apply. This makes Okpoko a priority for starters and should worry every onye Anambra how a State that prides itself as the light of the nation would keep a deafening silence as Okpoko dies, yet spreading infectious social, economic and environmental malady that leaves Onitsha as a City in self-destruct.

    Ụmụnnem, ife dị na Okpoko; the Genius, the unemployed and the criminal. The challenge before us is to decide whether to continue ruing the ugly situation or turn the flipside that will provide us enormous opportunities for the development of our Homeland.

    Okpoko is the largest Urban slum in Anambra State. Therefore, we have to begin our urban renewal effort from our weakest link. Like my now 16 year old daughter once asked me when she was just 14, “it is not enough to wish change or show the will to cause a change. How are you sure, Daddy, that the people themselves want to change?”

    Of course, this is not so easy a question to be answered without far-reaching consultation with the people. So far, the people of Okpoko and residents, from Ndikpa to East Niger, are more in a hurry for a change than we can ever be.

    That trip I made in 2009 to Okpoko where I was accosted by a little boy, who raced towards me and audaciously demanded, “Soludo nyem ego” still occupies a better part of my memory. That boy, and millions like him need much more than money. They need a life.

    May God help us!

    CC. Soludo

  • Just In: EFCC Arrests Obiano At Lagos Airport

     

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday arrested former Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport Lagos.

    Obiano, who has been on the Commission’s watchlist, was arrested at about 8.30pm.

    He was reportedly on his way out of the country to Houston, Texas in the United States after handing over to his successor, Governor Charles Soludo.

    Channels Television had reported last November how the EFCC had placed Mr Obiano on a watchlist.

    The EFCC had requested the Nigeria Immigration Service to inform it anytime the Governor is travelling out of the country from any of the international airports, as well as other points of entry and exit.

    It is, however, not yet clear why the anti-graft agency placed the governor on a watchlist.

    Sources told Channels Television that the move was an indication that the agency may have been discreetly investigating the governor and possibly have intelligence that he was planning to escape after handing over power to his successor, Professor Charles Soludo, on March 16, 2022.

    Former Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Don Adinuba, had, at the time, condemned the EFCC watchlist reports, claiming that they were politically motivated.

    “Governor Obiano has a whole four months to remain in office as the Anambra State chief executive,” Adinuba said. “Nobody in Nigeria can circumscribe his constitutionally conferred immunity which shields him from both criminal and civil prosecution.

    “The EFCC went too far to announce in November that it is observing him. We are not aware of any state governor who had up to four months to be in office and the EFCC went on to sponsor media reports that he was being investigated.”

  • NJC Places FCT Judge On Watchlist Over Misconduct

    Justice Muawiyah Baba Idris of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, has been placed on watchlist over alleged misconduct.

    Soji Oye, spokesman of the National Judicial Council (NJC), announced this in a statement, saying the action was taken at the 97th meeting of the council on March 15 and March 16, 2022.

    Justice Idris was indicted for signing the Writ of Possession for execution on the same day he delivered judgement in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/FT/36/19 between Sicons Nigeria Ltd V Nile Place Restaurant and Catering Services Ltd. The Suit was for recovery of demised property.

    The Council said the action was in contravention of Proviso to Order 27 Rule (16) (b) High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Civil Procedure Rules 2018 and Order 4 (1) and (2) of the Judgement Enforcement Rules 2004.

    Another judge, Mohammed M. Ladan of the Kaduna State High Court, was issued a warning.

    The Council reportedly found merit in the petition written against Ladan in Suit No. KDH/KAD/1321/2018 between VTLS Inc. Vs Ahmadu Bello University. He signed the Writ of Attachment while the Garnishee Order Nisi was pending.

    According to Oye, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, Chief Justice of Nigeria, recommended the appointment of six heads of courts and nine judicial officers for the federal and state high courts.

    The Council considered the list of candidates presented by its interview committee and recommended 15 judges to President Muhammadu Buhari for appointment.

    Chief Judge David Gwong Mann (Plateau); Chief Judge Joseph Ahmed Awak (Gombe); Grand Kadi Abdulrahman Umar Abubakar (Kaduna); Kadi Abdurrahman Umar Abubakar (Kaduna); Kadi Shuaibu Dahiru Ahmad (Taraba); President Customary Court of Appeal Ihemnacho Wilfred Obuzor (Rivers); and President Customary Court of Appeal Sampson Mbeh Anjor (Cross River).

    Meanwhile, the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Emmanuel Gakko and the Deputy Chief Registrar, Segun-Bello Mabel Taiye are among the six judges appointed to the court.

    Others are, Bala Khalifa-Mohammed Usman, Aminu Garba, Musa Sulaiman Liman, and Ahmad Gama Mahmud.

    Others are Joseph Adebayo Aina (FCT); Sharia Court of Appeal Kadi Sallau Ismaila Madugu (Taraba); and Judge Customary Court of Appeal Bulus Samuelson Nyiputen (Taraba).

  • Amb Nkoyo Toyo Is Changing Political Campaign Narrative. What She Told Odukpani Youths

     

    By Our Reporter

    The Founder of Gender And Development Action and a major contender for the office of governor of Cross River State, Amb. Nkoyo Toyo met with youths of Odukpani local government area to intimate them of her intention to contest for the office of Governor.

    Amb Toyo, a former federal lawmaker at the meeting stressed the need for young people to begin to ask aspirants the right questions that will generate right answers.

    She cautioned young people against thuggery and all forms of political violence, while advising them to refrain from being used as channels of destruction by some politicians and enemies of democracy.

    At Odot ward, Amb Nkoyo Toyo appreciated the youths for coming out in their numbers to receive her and called on them to take time and scrutinize all those aspiring for the office of governor within the PDP family and choose from the best.

    Amb. Toyo who is the only female aspirant so far in PDP for the office of governor, described herself as the best person for the job with all the qualities of a leader.

    “Among all of use aspiring for this job, look at us very well and our qualifications, networks, previous achievements and judge us by that. The PDP has a lot of work to do. We are in the opposition and as such we need to project a candidate who is easy to market to the people. Not those who the people will reject even before you begin to talk about them

    “if they say the have gone to school, I have, they say they have been to the national assembly, I have also been there. Infact, my records while there speakes volume, more so with the testimonies all of you have mentioned here” Toyo said.

    In Adiabo ward where Amb Toyo also met with the youths leaders, she cautioned them against selling their consciences and votes for a token and suffer for another four years.

    Some of the youths who spoke at the meeting expressed appreciation to her for the visit while saluting her courage to contest for the office of governor come 2023.

    Amb. Toyo becomes the only governorship aspirant in the PDP who is connecting directly to the people through town hall meetings with different groups including Elders, Women, Youths and people living with disability across the state. A complete departure from the traditional campaign gatherings typical with politicians.

    According to her “we must change the narrative, this is the only way you can really know the problems of the people ward by ward, village by village and local government by local government. We want to be sure that at the end of the day, the people makes the right choice with the power that they have”

  • As A Property Lawyer, If You Are Not Very Careful And Disciplined, Clients Will Maltreat You To The Point Of Tempting You To Cut Corners Just To Earn Your Fees BY FIRST BABA ISA

     

    Most clients think that until they buy the property you don’t deserve to be paid for consultancy and doing due diligence for them. In other words, if you do due diligence for them and find out the property is not “clean” and ask them not to buy, they don’t think they owe you a fee. They will just tell you “thanks” and walk away.

    This is why some colleagues and agents don’t care about due diligence. Once a client points them to a property, they will just take a day or two, do absolutely nothing, then just report back to the client that the property is clean, the client will pay for the property and small generational curse on it, everybody will share the money and leave the client and his children’s children to deal with the wahala.

    Agents even laugh at people like us. They will say, “Barrister, all these things you are checking, just know we can’t share the money if you tell them not to buy o. You won’t see shishi.”

    And they are always right.

    I will check AGIS, check CAC to see the directors and shareholders of the company offering the land for sale; I will spend my time, money and expertise in all these and I will advise a client not to buy because of legal issues on the property, and they will say thanks and walk away. Talking about next time, when the deal click, we go do you well. Emeka, you are a bascad! Do who well, which next time?

    Mehn, I’m just tired. I have to start suing these clients for my fees, what no lawyer wants to do, since I can’t just lie to a client that a property has no issues so that he can buy and pay my fees.

    My tired is tired.

    By Firsts Baba Isa (FBI)

     

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are strictly that of the author First Baba Isa and does not represent TheLumineNews or the organization the author works for.

  • David Umahi: Who Did You Vote For, Party Or Candidate? BY FIRST BABA ISA

    DAVID UMAHI: WHO DID YOU VOTE FOR, PARTY OR CANDIDATE?

    Until the Supreme Court puts this to rest, and even long after that, this debate will rage on. My joy is that the Supreme Court is not just a Court of Law but also one of policy. The Law Lords will not just look at the law, but logic and commonsense surrounding the facts and the law.

    Who owns the votes cast at an election? Party or candidate? My answer is, both. It is a time bound political marriage of convenience. The Constitution never contemplated a divorce before the effluxion of this time.

    However, those who say the votes belong solely to the candidate even have a weaker argument. The facts of this case and the law in Faleke vs INEC doesn’t support them.

    Let’s look at another fact. Who do we vote for during an election, the candidate or party? In the 2019 Ebonyi State Gubernatorial Election, was it PDP that was voted for or it was David Umahi?

    I invite you to turn to the ballot papers used in that election to find your answer. Find attached ballot papers used in that election. Look at them very well. Have you seen it?

    When we go to vote, we go to vote for parties not candidates. Ballot papers carry the names of political parties, not candidates. Ebonyi people thumb printed beside PDP in the 2019 Gubernatorial Election. The name “David Umahi” was not on the ballot paper. The votes belong to the party.

    This is why the Certificate of Return issued to him by INEC states that: “I hereby certify that Nweze David Umahi of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been elected to the office of Governor of Ebonyi State…” Without the PDP he is nothing, but without him, the PDP still has their votes.

    “… of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)…” denotes ownership. No one, who is not “of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)”, owners of the votes counted from the ballot papers, could be Governor. Simple.

    The APC has a particular number of votes in that election; not enough to produce a Governor. It is incongruous therefore that anyone claiming to belong to them should be Governor in 2019, or anytime thereafter, before another general election. This is a mockery of our constitutional and partisan democracy.

    It shouldn’t stand.

    – By Firsts Baba Isa (FBI)

     

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are strictly that of the author, First Baba Isa and does not represent TheLumineNews or the organization the author works for.

  • David Umahi: How Defection Invalidates His Certificate Of Return BY FIRST BABA ISA

    DAVID UMAHI: HOW DEFECTION INVALIDATES HIS CERTIFICATE OF RETURN

    Find attached the Certificate of Return issued to David Umahi before he was sworn in as Governor.

    Get any certificate of any Governor in Nigeria, or any elected official, let’s have this conversation; please, constantly look at the Certificate of Return as we progress.

    Section 75 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010, states that “A sealed Certificate of Return at an election in a prescribed form shall be issued within 7 days to every candidate who has won an election under this Act.” See section 72 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022.

    Without a Certificate of Return there is no evidence that a candidate won an election and he cannot be sworn into office. A Certificate of Return is the gold medal of an election; without it, you can’t lay claim to be a winner.

    Now, let’s look at the Certificate of Return issued to Umahi.

    It says: “I hereby certify that Nweze David Umahi of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been elected to the office of Governor of Ebonyi State…”

    Did you see that?

    “Nweze David Umahi of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)…”

    Let’s look at the meaning of the proposition or the word “of”.

    “Of” is used in expressing the relationship between a part and a whole.

    So, the Certificate of Return made it abundantly clear that Nweze David Umahi (is a part) OF Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (the whole)…” One cannot exist without the other in governing Ebonyi State. That’s why the Federal Government led by President Buhari is known as the APC Government. This is how it is all over the world that practise partisan democracy.

    You can never divorce your government from your political party. In fact, the president or governor is the leader of his political party at the Federal or State, respectively.

    When the people voted for you, it was your party’s manifesto, aims, objectives and proposed plans that they voted for. They saw the manifestoes of other political parties but chose yours. You are expected to implement your party’s manifesto as Governor. You can’t convince people to vote for one manifesto and then turn round to defect and adopt another one they rejected at the polls. That’s criminally dishonest.

    Back to the Certificate of Return, a new one has not and cannot be issued to David Umahi after his defection. The only Certificate of Return he holds that empowers him to be Governor of Ebonyi State, is the one that reads: “Nweze David Umahi of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)…”

    You cannot hold a Certificate of Return that says you are of the PDP, while you have declared publicly that you have left the PDP. By this singular action, you have invalidated the Certificate of Return, the only document that gives you the power to be Governor.

    As long as David Umahi maintains he has left the PDP, and as long as the only Certificate of Return issued to him by INEC states that: “I hereby certify that Nweze David Umahi of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been elected to the office of Governor of Ebonyi State…”, Umahi cannot continue to be Governor.

    He might be righteous but he has destroyed his foundation. And as the Psalmist lamented in Psalm 11:3, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

    This applies to other Governors, like Ben Ayade of Cross River State, who have also decamped but holding Certificates of Return carrying the name of another political party.

    – By Firsts Baba Isa (FBI)

  • Is This The End Of David Umahi As Governor? BY FIRST BABA ISA

    IS THIS END OF DAVID UMAHI AS GOVERNOR?

    We know the facts already. We have read several legal commentaries already. Even if you are not a lawyer, you should be well versed already with the facts and law of this particular case.

    It seems to me that many lawyers are already so certain that the Supreme Court will throw away the judgment of the Federal High Court ordering Governor David Umahi and his deputy to vacate their offices immediately for defecting from the PDP, the party that sponsored them to become Governor and Deputy, to the ruling APC.

    Well, I’m not so sure, and I will point out why, presently.

    1. First, most of the legal commentaries I have read tend to ignore the Supreme Court decision in Yahaya Bello’s case, or at best just gloss over it. But the Supreme Court will certainly not gloss over this decision. Here, the Supreme Court made it abundantly clear that votes belong to a political party. In fact, this principle was so forcefully enunciated that Faleke, the late Audu’s running mate was not allowed to inherit the votes; even when Falake argued strenuously that the votes belonged to the late Audu and himself as candidate and running mate in that election.

    2. The present case has nothing to do with Amechi’s case, a case which has been overtaken by the amendment of the Electoral Act 2010. The Yahaya Bello’s case was decided in 2016 when the Amechi’s scenario was no longer applicable. So, don’t mix up the two. The Supreme Court decided in 2016 that votes belonged to a political party when the Electoral Act was already amended and without recourse to the Amechi’s case. So, the Bello’s case is still good and reliable precedent for the Umahi’s case. I expect the Supreme Court, when it finally gets there, to look at it.

    3. In the case of NWANKWO & ANOR v. INEC & ORS (2019) LPELR-48862(CA) the Court of Appeal held that:
    “… It is trite that it is only a natural person that can be lawfully declared and returned as a winner of an election. The Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) only contemplates the declaration and return of a candidate in an election and not a political party”.

    I agree. But I don’t see how this negates the principle that votes belong to a Political Party. A political party cannot be declared Governor but a natural person nominated by a Political Party will be.

    4. A political party cannot win election as Governor without a natural person and a natural person cannot win election without a political party. It is a political marriage solemnised by the constitution. You cannot forcefully divorce yourself from the marriage and still want to enjoy benefits accruing therefrom. This is the reasoning of the trial judge and it makes a lot of sense.

    Section 177 (c) of the Constitution states clearly that one of the requirements for being qualified to be elected Governor is that a person must be “a member of A political party and is sponsored by THAT political party.”

    You must be sponsored by a political party. “A POLITICAL PARTY”. Not all political parties. So, it is reasonable that once you leave that POLITICAL PARTY that sponsored you to become Governor, you have lost a key aspect of your qualification as Governor and you cannot be properly so called anymore.

    5. A very very heavy weather has been made of the case of AG, Federation v. Atiku Abubakar (2007) 10 NWLR (Pt.1041) 1, 29. But in this case, the issue of who owns the votes cast in an election never came up. This is a new issue and those who think the Supreme Court will blindly follow its decision in AG, Federation v. Atiku Abubakar, might be in for a rude shock.

    This time around, the Supreme Court will not just be looking at the issue of the legality of an elected member of the Executive defecting or cross carpeting but the issue of who owns the votes cast in an election will come to the fore; and if the Supreme Court holds that votes belong to a political party, as they held in the Yahaya Bello’s case, the Law Lords will very likely come to a different conclusion than the one held in Atiku Abubakar’s case; after all, the court held in this same case that defecting is “is painful, unconscionable, and immoral…”

    – By Firsts Baba Isa (FBI)

    The views expressed in this article are strictly that of the author, First Baba Isa Esq and does not represent TheLumineNews or the organization the author works for.

  • Linda Ayade Joins Ministry Of Women Affairs To Commemorate 2022 IWD In Calabar

    By Margaret Asikong

    The wife of Cross River State Governor, Lady Dr Linda Ayade, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs (MOWA), have joined the rest of the world to celebrate the International Women’s Day (IWD) recently in Calabar, with the theme: “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow”.

    Speaking at the premises of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Hope Waddel Avenue, Calabar, the venue for the celebration, the First Lady of the State, DrAyade said that it is an honour for her to be in the company of many amazing women on the special occasion of celebrating womanhood and reviewing their progress in the fight for freedom from stereotypes and discrimination that has gone on for many years.

    She stated that the theme for 2022 IWD focuses on breaking the bias against women and that they want a world where their uniqueness as women is valued as well as celebrated rather than for it to be opposed, despised and ignored, adding that they want a world that is diverse, equitable and inclusive, amongst others.

    She maintained that it is in pursuit of these goals that the UN Women aptly chose the theme for 2022 IWD.
    According to the Governor’s wife “Our society is better off when women get the opportunities they deserve. Our society has been deprived of certain advancements as a result of the woman being denied leadership opportunity and for many years this has been the status quo”, adding that, “Our plight as women in Nigeria is largely in our hands and whatever path we choose to follow will determine our ultimate end”.

    Dr. Linda Ayade lamented that among the sixty-eight proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution that members of the National Assembly had to vote on recently, only one out of the five gender equality bills passed, while the other four failed, adding that, about 95% men voted against some of the constitutional amendments that women want, such as; the right for a women to take indigene-ship of her husband’s state after five years of marriage, 35% affirmative action for women in party administration and leadership; 35% appointed positions to be reserved for women, specific seats to be allocated for women in the National Assembly and the right for a Nigerian woman to grant her foreign-born husband Nigerian Citizenship, yet, according to her, a Nigerian man’s foreign-born wife gets automatic citizenship.

    She maintained that having women in leadership position should become the norm and not the exception as many women have reached the apex of business conglomerates and banking institutions, while many seat on decision-making boards across the country and that excluding the woman from leadership positions is to exclude half of the country’s population from exercising their inherent talents and abilities. She however expressed joy that CRS is taking the lead in the political empowerment for women, with abundance of women at every strategic position in the state such as; the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Commissioner, Special Adviser, Director-General, Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Councilors, adding that, the narrative has changed, they have been strong in their fight for emancipation.
    She called on CRS women to become mentors to the younger generation that their daughters can look up to, teaching them by example to be assertive and also respectful; visionary, contented, hardworking and submissive to their husbands, amongst others, while applauding the women who have taken the bull by the horn on building a sustainable future for the young women.

    Lady Dr Ayade stated that her pledge to continue reaching women and the vulnerable in every LGA in the state with livelihood support and health inputs is real and that she has continued to redeem this across the state through the many activities and interventions of her NGOs – the Mediatrix Development Foundation (MDF) and Cross River Women Emancipation Initiative (CROWEI).

    She used the occasion to express thanks to the organizations whose invaluable partnership has made their work impactful in various communities in Cross River and beyond such as; the United Nation High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN women, UNFPA, Lafarge Africa, United Purpose, amongst others, while also expressing thanks to all present, especially the women of CRS for their support, as she looks forward to achieving a gender-balanced CRS with their support and wished all a happy women’s day.

    Also speaking, the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Mrs. Tina Banku Agbor said that the IWD is a special day to celebrate themselves as women not as men. According to her, a house without a woman looks different and is not complete, for the woman’s role is complementary, while admonishing the men to allow the women to be equal even in leadership position, for with a woman they can always sleep with their eyes closed, adding that, the women are capable of discharging their duties and assigned responsibilities effectively and efficiently and will not betray the men, amongst other things.

    Earlier in her welcome address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Affairs, Surv. Dr. Gertrude Nnanjah Njar, on behalf of the entire staff of CRS Ministry of Women Affairs welcomed the wife of the State Governor and members of her entourage, as well as distinguished guests, the women of CRS and all present to the 2022 IWD.

    According to her, the MOWA is the hub of great activities in the Ayade-led administration with its mandate to cater for the women and children and that it has gone to the level of catering for the men as well as they are part of the women and society, hence the less traffic of complaints to the Office if the Wife of the Governor.
    She maintained that March 8, is always a great day for the women and girls internationally and that the women of CRS are joining their counterparts globally for the celebration of the great day set aside for women since 1917 after the Soviet-Russia women protest for the right to vote and be voted for, while lamenting that 105 years later, the women are still agitating for gender equality for a sustainable tomorrow.

    Surv. Dr. Gertrude Njar stated that women have strategic objectives and goals especially to groom leaders for tomorrow; create more successful entrepreneurs; create employment and wealth for women and girls, connect communities and build an ecosystem where everyone will connect digitally, share knowledge, as well as build communities for the future.

    In their goodwill messages, the Chairman of Calabar South LGA, Hon (Mrs) Esther Bassey, her counterpart in Odukpani LGA, Ntukai Hon (Mrs) Justina Edem and the Vice Chairman of Bakassi LGA and President of CROWEI, Eti-Eka Lawrencia Ita (JP) also lend their voices to congratulated all the women who have excelled in their chosen fields and expressed appreciation to Lady Dr Ayade and her dear husband for ensuring that many women are being brought into the Ayade-led administration , adding that, it is high time they showcase their God given talents, amongst other things.

    Highlights at the event included; presentation of award to Dr Linda Ayade, award of prizes to the winners of the march past, with Odukpani LGA taking the 1st position, Calabar South, 2nd position and Calabar Municipality taking the 3rd position respectively; goodwill messages, from UNFPA, NIDF, GADA, FIDA, MWA, CCCRN, NCF, GPI, amongst other partners, cultural displays, group photographs, amongst others.

  • APC Needs 21-day Notice To Change Buni, Says INEC, Declines Invitation To Party’s NEC meeting

    Culled from The Nation Newspaper
    By Yusuf Alli, Abuja 

    There seems to be no let up in the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Yesterday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said the party could only remove the National Chairman of Caretaker /Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Governor Mai Mala Buni, and other officers after a 21-day notice to the electoral body.

    INEC said it cannot attend the emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of APC next week because the party was yet to comply with relevant laws and regulations.

    It faulted the party for notifying it of its NEC meeting without the signatures of Buni and the Secretary of CECPC, Sen. John James Akpanudoedohe.

    It asked APC to follow due process if it wanted to effect change of leadership.

    INEC made its position known in a March 9, 2021 letter to APC by the Secretary, Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

    The letter was in response to APC’s March 8, 2021 notice to INEC to hold a NEC meeting to ratify the choice of Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello as its new chairman.

    But the electoral agency said the laws do not have provision for emergency change of leadership by any party.

    INEC’s letter reads: “RE: INVITATION TO THE EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC). Please refer to your letter Ref. APC/NHDQ/INEC/019/022/32, dated 8” March 2022.

    “The commission draws your attention to the fact that the notice for the meeting was not signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the CECPC contrary to the provision of the Article 1.1.3 of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Poiitical Party Operations (2018).

    “ Furthermore, the APC is reminded of the provision in Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 which requires “at least 21 days’ notice of any convention, congress, conference, or meeting convened for the purpose of “merger” and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any elective offices.”

    “While hoping these issues are noted for compliance, please accept the assurance of the commission’s warm regards.”