News

EXCLUSIVE: INEC replies Presidency, endorses Electoral Bill

Professor mahmood Yakubu

The presidency had earlier written to INEC to seek its view on the Electoral Bill.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has offered a “general” endorsement of the Electoral Bill but made an apparent suggestion to President Muhammadu Buhari to consult with political parties and security agencies over the controversial direct primaries provision, PREMIUM TIMES understands.

The National Assembly had on November 19 transmitted the bill to President Muhammadu Buhari, who, statutorily, has 30 days to assent to or veto the proposed law. The bill, which repeals the extant Electoral Act 2010 as altered, seeks to make direct primaries the only means for political parties to select their candidates for elections and legalise electronic transmission of results, among other provisions.

The Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari, had on November 29 written INEC, seeking its “detailed and considered view by December 3 to inform” the decision of Mr Buhari on the bill, presidency sources confided in PREMIUM TIMES.

Especially regarding the direct primaries provision, which outlaws the delegate or indirect system, the bill has caused a split in the ruling party, APC. While the APC-controlled National Assembly leadership and Bola Tinubu camp prefer direct primaries, there is a tendency, including a number of governors, that want the delegate system to remain in the law book.

In the extant Electoral Act 2010, as altered, direct primaries, delegate system, and consensus are allowed as processes of selecting candidates for elections by political parties.

“It is the considered view of the Commission that, generally, the Bill contains substantial provisions that could lay a strong foundation for the improvements of the electoral process,” INEC said in a December 3 letter to the presidency, exclusively obtained by PREMIUM TIMES.

“Among others, provisions on early submission of candidates for election, electronic transmission of results, and the power of the Commission to review declarations made under duress or are inconsistent with the law will contribute immensely to better management of elections, increased public confidence in the electoral process and overall democratic consolidation in our country.”

However, the INEC letter signed by chairman Mahmood Yakubu appeared to suggest to the president to make wider consultations, making an apparent reference to the issue of the primaries, which concern political parties.

“Being a multi-stakeholder activity, these matters cannot be determined by the Commission alone without consultation with political parties which shall be responsible for conducting pre-election activities involving their members and the security agencies that have the responsibility to secure the process,” INEC said.

The failure of INEC to make direct reference to primaries and offer a position buttresses the sensitivity of the matter, which lies at the heart of strategies of opposing camps within the APC towards clinching the presidential ticket for 2023 elections.

 News

Supreme Court orders substituted service on PDP, others

Uche Secondus

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered that all processes relating to the appeal filed by a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, challenging his removal from office, be served on all the defendants by substituted means by pasting the same on the walls of the head office of the party at Wadata House, Abuja.

The order of the apex court followed an ex parte application moved by counsel for Secondus, Chief Oba Maduabuchi (SAN).

The senior lawyer had specifically sought the leave of the court to serve the notice of appeal filed on November 8, 2021;  record of appeal transmitted on November 11, 2021; Appellant brief of argument filed on October 18, 2021 and all other processes in the appeal on the walls of the respondents by substituted means to wit: “by pasting the processes at the 6th respondents (PDP) head office at Wadata Plaza, plot 1970, Michael Okpara Street, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.”

After listening to Maduabuchi, Justice Mohammed Musa Dattijo, who led a five-member panel of Justices of the Court granted the ex-parte application as prayed.

Other Justices of the court were in agreement with the ruling.

In the substantive appeal, Secondus is  challenging his removal from office before the expiration of his four years tenure.

Justice Dattijo  had fixed  December 7 for hearing of all pending applicants in respect of the matter

Apart from Dan Orbhi, other defendants in the appeal are Ibeawuchi Ernest Alex, Dennis Nna Amadi, Emmanuel Stephen, Umezurike Onuoha,  Godwin Pepple Manfred, PDP,  Senator Suleiman Nazif, Hon Solomon Ejike Ogbonna, Hon Uche Emmanuel Minukwa and Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt had on October 26 dismissed an application challenging the suspension of Secondus from the PDP.

A panel of three justices led by Justice Haruna Tsammani struck out the suit during its sitting in the Rivers State capital.

This prompted Secondus to approach the Supreme Court praying for an order to quash his suspension and as well restore him to office to complete his four years tenure.

SENATOR EKWUNIFE'S BILL FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION, AGULU PASSES SECOND READING

Education

 SENATOR EKWUNIFE'S BILL FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION, AGULU PASSES SECOND READING

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday, December 7, 2021, passed the bill for the establishment of Federal University of Science, Technology and Innovation Agulu, Anaocha LGA, Anambra State, after second reading.

The bill which was read for the first time on 12th October 2021, was conceived to offer opportunity for many young Nigerians who are desirous of studying and showcasing their talents in the areas of practical sciences, innovative engineering and fabrication up to and beyond graduate levels. The bill was sponsored by the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Uche Ekwunife, PhD.

According to Ekwunife, the institution if established will serve as a holistic Development Centre for knowledge, skills, research and innovation in cutting edge Hi-tech value chain. 

"With a population of over two hundred million people and a sizable portion of that number being young people, we are under served in terms of technologically oriented institutions. Based on data provided on ranking of universities and number of engineering courses which comes with full accreditation by COREN, only 21 out of the 170 Universities in Nigeria can be said to be into training technological engineers", the Chairman Senate committee on Science, Technology and Innovation said.

Ekwunife further argued that in our contemporary society where science and technology drives knowledge based economy, it has become compelling that more emphasis be placed on institutions that will enhance Nigeria’s capacity to generate a technological workforce that will bring her into global reckoning, enhance the productive sector of our economy from being a net importer to being a net exporter of goods and services, as well as keep pace with the rapidly changing technological world.

The charismatic lawmaker concluded by presenting the conceptual framework behind the University and assured the Senate that Agulu community is ready to host the institution.

Kingsley Ubani 

SA Media to Senator Uche Ekwunife

King Harshavardhan was defeated in the battle.

 King Harshavardhan was defeated in the battle.

He was handcuffed and taken to the winner king. At that time the winner king was in a happy mood.

The king kept a proposal for Harshavardhan and said, “ If you can answer me a question correctly I will return your kingdom or else leave aside the kingdom, you shall have to remain a prisoner for the rest of your life in my country.”

“ The question is, ' what does a woman want from her man?' You will get a month of time to give the answer.

Harshavardhan accepted the King's proposal.

He went to various places and met many scholars, preachers, priests, dancers,prostitutes, housewives,maids and many more to know what exactly a woman wants from a man.

If someone said she wants ornaments, the other would say she wants children from her man, another said beautiful house and family, yet another said she would like to have the throne etc. etc.

Harshavardhan was not satisfied with these answers at all.

The month was about to end.

On the other hand, Harshavardhan was unable to collect a satisfactory answer.

Then someone informed that far away,in another country there lives a witch. Only she can give proper answer to this question because she has all the answers.

Along with friend Siddhiraj, Harshavardhan went and met the witch. He asked the question.

The witch said , “ I will give you the correct answer only if your friend agrees to marry me.”

The witch was old and extremely ugly. He didn't want this injustice to happen with his friend.

But to save his friend and the king of his country, Siddhiraj gave his consent to marry the witch and the marriage happened.

The witch then answered Harshavardhan and said, “ A woman wants to be independent so that she can take decisions on her own.”

Harshavardhan liked the answer.

He told this answer to the winner king. The king liked the answer, released Harshavardhan and returned his kingdom to him.

On the other hand, the witch on her wedding night said to her husband, “You have a pure heart. You have sacrificed yourself to save your friend, so, I want to tell you something.”

“Everyday, I look ugly for 12 hours and extremely beautiful for the next 12 hours. Tell me, which look would you like to accept.”

Siddhiraj said, “ That is your decision dear. I have accepted you as my wife,so, I would like you anyway. ”

Hearing this, the witch transformed into a beauty and said, “ You have allowed me to take the decision, therefore, from now I shall always remain beautiful.”

“Actually this is my real look. I had changed my appearance into ugly witch for the ugly people all around.

The social norms have made women dependent,but, mentally no woman accepts dependence.

Hence,those homes who have given power to the wives are generally happier.

We may not allow the wife to be the head of the house,but, we should atleast release half part of her life, that half part, in which she can openly take her own decisions

 News

I opted for surrogacy to avoid baby daddy drama –Ini Edo

 Ini Edo

Popular actress, Ini Edo, has said that she decided to go the surrogacy route to have her child in order to avoid the drama that usually accompanies single parenthood.

In an interview with a popular blogger, Stella Dimoko Korkus, the 39-year-old said, “I opted for a donor for me and my baby’s peace of mind. Ideally, it should be marriage before children but we are not living in an ideal world. Another reason I opted for a donor is because it scares me so much when I see banter and controversies between a mother and a father over a baby on public forums or when I see the man insisting that he wants his child if things do not work out between both parties. For me, it is the fear of what that would mean for the child. I am not someone who allows any situation control me. I make lemonades out of lemons thrown my way and have no regrets. Life itself is so fragile and short to be striving for perfection. I am well and capable of taking care of my child as I have been taking care of myself. I wanted a child and I thank God for the options of surrogacy and donors.”

Admitting that she had a child about a year ago, she said, “Yes, I do have a daughter and I had her through surrogacy. I was hoping to talk about her on her first birthday (which comes) in a few months but mischief-makers beat me to it and spoilt the beautiful story with lies. The eggs are mine, so genetically, she is my blood. I chose this path to fulfill my dream of becoming a mother. I still have a good number of eggs frozen in case I decide to do surrogacy again or carry my baby myself.”

Reacting to allegations about her child’s father being a married man identified as Kome, the actress said, “It is so sad that in Nigeria when a single woman is friends with a guy, it must mean to people that they are dating. Kome has been my friend for years and that’s what it is, period. He is a responsible family man and doesn’t deserve to be dragged into my motherhood story.”

The actress also opened up about her past miscarriages while pointing out that it did not influence her decision on surrogacy. “I had a series of miscarriages in the past but that was not my reason for going this route. I still hope to carry babies in my womb in the future, God willing.”

POLITICAL NOTES

Ganduje: Unpretentiously Primitive!

 If it’s about looks, then, you wouldn’t rate the Kano State Governor, Abdulhahi Ganduje. His look does not typify his very poor essence. Better described as unassuming, he is unfortunately, the opposite of his personae. Even for the optics, he can’t do better than himself.

Sadly, for a man who had spent roughly some 22 years in public office, both as deputy and substantive head, this Kano State governor has clearly learnt nothing about or admitted that power is indeed transient. He suffers sweeping insecurity as much as he boasts huge complex.

From his narrow and primitive mindset to his evidently vindictive disposition, how a character like Ganduje made it to such sensitive and high public office should elicit some interest in political science scholars. That education doesn’t reflect in his character is not even the problem but the fact that he isn’t pushing for attitudinal changes is confounding.

Thus, for anyone very much familiar with this side of Ganduje, it was a sure bet he’d come after some persons in the state immediately a Kano High Court, last Tuesday, sacked the governor-backed faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and upheld one supported by a former governor of the state, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau.

Not long after, the campaign office of Senator Barau Jibril, the lawmaker representing Kano North, who is also an intending governorship hopeful in the state, was attacked and burnt by thugs, allegedly sympathetic to the state. Although the state government had denied this, expectedly, the police too have reportedly arrested some 13 people in connection.

And for anyone, who closely followed the governor’s feud with the recently deposed Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, till he was removed from office, some of the current developments in the state are not too far from what he is capable of doing. His disagreement with Sanusi was purely one stoked by his inferiority complex – for Sanusi’s awesome, elegant and dignified carriage.

What’s even the more worrisome is the fact that Kano is volatile and a flashpoint state to watch out for in 2023 as with previous elections. Therefore, for the governor’s hands to be identified in some of these unsavoury happenings means the unfurling violence already has an official stamp, and that, definitely comes with a price for all. No thanks to a mind unable to live above its weakness.