Edo Election: ActionAid Nigeria Calls for Prosecution of those involved in Electoral Fraud

By: Michael Mike

ActionAid Nigeria has called for the prosecution of those that were involved in electoral fraud in the just concluded gubernatorial election in Edo State

A statement on Thursday by the NGO Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, said:
“it is important that those responsible for undermining the will of the people are held accountable. The government must be unequivocally reminded that its foremost duty is to serve the interests of the citizens, not to facilitate or condone actions that silence their voices.”

Mamedu said: “For over 15 years, ActionAid Nigeria has been consistent in her work around electoral processes in Nigeria including observing elections in the 36 states and FCT, although not physically present to observe the just concluded Edo State governorship election, we stand firmly in solidarity with our fellow Civil Society organisations and partners who have reported significant irregularities throughout the electoral process. This election has been marred by serious allegations of manipulation and rigging, as thoroughly documented by multiple civil society groups within the state. Disturbing accounts of disruptions at collation centers, including intimidation of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and attempts to manipulate results contrary to established electoral provisions, have raised profound concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.

“We recognise that INEC has acknowledged reports of result tampering and has pledged to investigate any proven violations but their track record in conducting free, fair, and transparent elections has been severely undermined by persistent accusations of inefficiency, manipulation, and undue political influence. While the investigation is a step in the right direction, it is important that these investigations translate into swift and effective action.

“Also, beyond the investigation, it is important that those responsible for undermining the will of the people are held accountable.”

He added that: “The time has also come to critically reassess INEC’s role in our electoral system. When an institution entrusted with safeguarding democracy continuously falters, we must explore alternatives. Nigerians deserve an electoral body that is genuinely independent, transparent, and accountable. There is a need to reform INEC as a commission in order to make it more efficient, effective and accountable in carrying out its mandate as an electoral umpire.”

Mamedu said: “A comprehensive electoral reform in Nigeria is urgently needed. First, there must be a complete overhaul of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to create a more transparent, accountable, and independent body, free from political influence and led by individuals of proven integrity.”

He called for more roles for civil society organisations and international observers in Nigeria’s electoral process, stating that: “Civil society organisations and international observers should play a more significant role in observing elections, ensuring that their recommendations are taken seriously, with mechanisms in place for swift action against misconduct.”

He added that: “The adoption of more robust electoral technologies, such as biometric voting systems and real-time result transmission, is crucial to minimizing fraud.

“Security personnel must also be deployed impartially to prevent violence and intimidation, ensuring that party agents, the media, and observers have full access to maintain electoral integrity. It is essential to incorporate technologies like the BVAs and IREV into the Electoral Act.

“The judiciary must uphold its role as the guardian of democracy, prioritising electoral cases with swift, evidence-based verdicts. Any officials found complicit in electoral fraud must be held accountable, necessitating comprehensive reforms in the judicial sector to ensure just outcomes.”

Edo Election: ActionAid Nigeria Calls for Prosecution of those involved in Electoral Fraud

Borno Flood: KACRAN Applauds Donors to Affected Victims

By: Michael Mike

The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has applauded those that have come out to donate for the needs of those affected by the flooding of Maiduguri and its environs.

Among those commended by KACRAN are the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, Chief Medical Director of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, among other donors.

In a statement signed by its National President, Hon Khalil Bello, the association said: “It’s a real undeniable fact that sequel to the recent unexpected highly devastating flood in Maiduguri which unfortunately resulted in many loss of lives, and the destruction of houses, shops, properties worth billions of naira, roads, bridges, and other infrastructural facilities, no one would call the name of Maiduguri without immediately remembering the flood under reference today.

“We made the above assertion for the fact that it could be recalled, last two weeks Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State was seriously hit by a devastating flood flowing an unexpected overflow of water from the Alau Dam, that drew worldwide attention on the immediate need for timely intervention to save the people’s lives and properties.

“As a result, apart from the Borno State government where the incident happened, many institutions, nongovernmental organisations, donor agencies, and philanthropists instantly moved to Maiduguri from within and outside the country and actively partake in the gigantic rescue operation, which involved about two million people based on the official report from Borno State government.

“Amongst the Institutions that played a remarkable role in the said rescue operation, is the North East Development Commission (NEDC), under the able leadership of its Managing Director Alhaji Mohammed Goni Alkali, accompanied by the Commission’s management team that includes the Director of Finance and Admin Dr. Garba Iliya, which as usual played both Fatherly and Motherly role by donating a substantial amount to the tune of N3 billion and large quantity of food items to support the victims of the flood disaster and Small businesses owners affected by the incident.

“The Commission also embarked on the reconstruction of bridges affected by the water flooding in Taraba, Yobe, Bauchi, and Adamawa, in addition to the routine maintenance of most of the dilapidated roads that link the six North Eastern States.

“In the same vein, as part of its ongoing commitments, it has graciously done a lot to elevate the people’s suffering caused by the insurgency, flooding, and other unforeseen natural/man-made disasters.

“It has promised to be involved in the rehabilitation of the affected facilities as well as attending to environmental issues like cleaning the town and WASH intervention.

“We also commend NEDC for the reason that, for more than two weeks now, starting from the Commission’s members of management board who are busy visiting the side of the places where flooding took place, the Borno State governor and some key Royal Highnesses making heavy fulfilled promises and its staff who day and night sacrifice their lives in rescuing the people who were trapped by the water flood and were giving the first aid support.

“Another appreciable role NEDC is playing in some cities and major towns of the region to avoid water flooding is cleaning the drainages to allow water to move freely without going into people’s houses or shops.

“Once more, KACRAN wishes to express its deepest appreciation to NEDC, the highly committed members of its management board, and its workaholic staff for proving to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, people of North East, Nigerians, and the world in general that they are capable to transparently rebuild/develop not only North East but Nigeria at a whole, hence the need to Federal government to give them more financial support to continue with their good work of improving the life standard of the people of North East, giving continuous support to our security operative which has greatly assisted in removing the name of North East as the number one region faced by insecurity challenges in the country and coming to the aid of people of the region at any particular time of need..

“KACRAN also wants to immensely thank NEDC for rebuilding the culverts and bridges that were destroyed by water flooding in the region, the reconstruction of which relinked our people who mainly live in the bushes and weekly use to move from one market to another for selling their goods and buying what they rely on for their survival.

Similarly, KACRAN wants to extend its commendation to Mr, President, his able Vice Senator Kashim Shettima, the iron governor of Borno State Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, governors of various States of the federation who paid a courtesy visit to Maiduguri, National and international Donor agencies, philanthropists and other leaders in the country who went to Maiduguri to sympathize and commensurate with the good people of Maiduguri over the flood which had affected nearly half of Maiduguri town.

“Yobe State Governor Hon. Mai Mala Buni, who led a strong delegation to Maiduguri and donated money and food items on his behalf and Yobe State Government and also directed the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) under the able leadership of its Executive Secretary, Dr Mohammed Goje to immediately relocate to Maiduguri with their working tools to actively participate in the Maiduguri rescue operation is a wisely, friendly and brotherhood administration’s decision that deserve highest commendation and multiple applaud.

“KACRAN’S special commendation to Governor Buni does not mean He or Yobe State are the major Donors in the Maiduguri water flood incident, but rather due to the uniqueness of his intervention, because to KACRAN’S knowledge, this is the first time in the history of Nigeria when a whole SEMA with its entire operational team might completely move to another State for rescue operations.

“Moreover, we want to use this medium to thank and highly recommend the Chief Managing Director of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Professor Ahmad Ahijo, who expertly, skillfully, experienced, and administratively handled the most dangerous issue of the water flooding into the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, by furiously evacuating the Hospital Patients to upstairs to rescue their lives from the dangerousness of the water flooding which killed several healthy people in the Maiduguri and its environs and thanks to Almighty Allah non of the Maiduguri Teaching Hospital Patients were reported death as a result of the flooding, which is a great achievement to him and the entire management staff of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

“Preventing people from approaching the places where expensive Machines that use nuclear energy are to avoid any affection from radiation that comes out from the nuclear machines in case of any leakage and inviting experts in nuclear science to come to Maiduguri to assess the health/effectiveness of the said Nuclear Machines is another breakthrough to be reckoned with by the CMD because even in Europe, the United States of America or any developed nation in the world this is the highest stage of expertise.”

Borno Flood: KACRAN Applauds Donors to Affected Victims

Cabinet Reshufflement: Group urges Tinubu to consider El Rufai, Shehu Sanni, others

By: Michael Mike

As President Bola Tinubu has made his intention to reshuffle his cabinet in order for service delivery and success, a group, Mandate Protection Vanguard (MPV), has said that there is urgent need for him to consider experienced and highly skillful personnel as ministers in the coming cabinet.

The group, in a statement signed by its co-ordinator, Comrade Gbenga Soloki and made available to the media on Thursday, said that there is no doubt that, several egg heads abound across the six geo-political zones that can add value and acceptability to the government

Soloki in the statement, said: “While no one is begrudging Mr. President for appointing politicians and close allies as ministers and ministers of state, there are several other qualified Nigerians who have excelled in both private and public services, while some have served at the state level, others have been privileged to operate at the federal level

“The present economic challenges in the country deserve the services of credible and economically savvy ministers, who can deliver on their core areas of competence in order to make the programmes and projects of the administration popular and to achieve far reaching end result that will ultimately rescue the country out of the present quagmire.

“Firstly on the list of would- be candidates for the new appointment is one time minister of power in Nigeria, Prof Bart Nnaji. No doubt, Bart Nnaji is a seasoned administrator, who is also experienced in power generation sector.

“He is a professor of Electrical Engineering, who was minister of power, special adviser on power to the president and was the Chairman of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

“Another candidate is Ojo Samuel Olukunle, a seasoned technocrat, public servant, well experienced in public policy formulation & implementation. He is Harvard -certified public administrator, well experienced in general administration, public finance & budgeting.

“He was a permanent secretary for years in Lagos State Governor’s Office from where He was subsequently appointed a Chief of Staff to the state governor human capital development and this was one of his key legacies he left behind in that office. He is a competent administrator and expert in finance,” the statement read.

The group also suggested Senator Adeleke Mamora, a medical doctor, a former speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, a senator and former minister in the Buhari regime.

According to the statement, Dr. Mamora is a cool headed professional medical doctor with vast experience and considerable attachment to his callings.

Also suggested was Mallam El Rufai, who the group described as a cerebral politician from the northern part of the country, saying that though trained as a quantity surveyor, he obtained a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University.

“He was Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, minister of Federal Capital Territory and the immediate past Governor of Kaduna state.”

The statement said: “Another person is Senator Shehu Sanni, who is one of the few characters from the northern part of the country that joined forces with pro-democracy Activists to fight for the restoration of democratic rule in the country.

“He, alongside the incumbent Governor of Kaduna State, was part of the people who chased away the military from the corridors of power in the country. His stint in the senate witnessed several developmental interventions, bills and motions. He understands the problems plaguing this nation and he can also proffer the needed solutions where necessary.”

Cabinet Reshufflement: Group urges Tinubu to consider El Rufai, Shehu Sanni, others