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

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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

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International

Sudan Accuses Kenya of Running Contrary to International Law by Giving Tacit Support to RSF

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Sudan Accuses Kenya of Running Contrary to International Law by Giving Tacit Support to RSF

By: Michael Mike

Sudanese government has expressed displeasure at the action of Kenya government for allegedly acting contrary to international law and position by given tacit support to Sudanese militias.

The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement said it “regrets the Kenyan government’s disregard for its obligations under international law, the Charter of the United Nations, the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide by hosting the event of signing a so-called “political agreement” between the terrorist Janjaweed militia—responsible for
ongoing acts of genocide in Sudan—and its affiliated individuals and groups.”

The statement added that: “Given that the stated objective of this agreement is to establish a parallel government on part of Sudanese territory, this move promotes the dismembering of African states, violates their sovereignty, and interferes in their internal affairs.

“This is, therefore, a clear breach of the UN Charter, the Constitutive Act of the
African Union, and the established principles of the contemporary international
order.

“Furthermore, hosting leaders of the terrorist RSF militia and allowing them to
conduct political and propaganda activities—while they continue to perpetrate
genocide, massacre civilians on an ethnic basis, attack IDP camps, and commit
acts of rape—constitutes an endorsement of and complicity in these heinous
crimes.

“Equally, this action by the Kenyan government not only violates the principles
of good neighborliness but also contravenes the pledges Kenya has made at the
highest levels not to allow hostile activities against Sudan to be carried out on its
soil. It is, therefore, tantamount to an act of hostility against the entire Sudanese
people.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms that this propaganda stunt will have no
impact on the ground, as the Sudanese Armed Forces, along with joint and
supporting forces—backed by the Sudanese people—remain resolute in their
determination to liberate every inch of Sudanese territory desecrated by the
terrorist militia and its foreign mercenaries.

“Their swift and continuous progress
toward this goal remains unabated.
While the Ministry calls on the international community to condemn this hostile
act by the Kenyan government, it affirms that it will take all necessary measures
to redress the balance.”

Further explaining the position of Sudan and its people on the action of Kenya government, the Media officer of the Embassy of Sunday in Nigeria ,Almoiz Mohamed said: “Sudan, its government, people and armed forces, have said their word: No to militias, no to a parallel government, no to any treasonous project, and what is so- called the political declaration, its fate is a disastrous failure.

“The RSF militia is working to achieve what it failed to achieve with weapons. The so called “parallel” government will not find the recognition it hopes for, and it does not have the capabilities to talk about possessing or seizing legitimacy, because it is based primarily on the militia rapid support rifle, which has been stained with blood, violations, crimes and rapes from Darfur to Khartoum.

In conclusion, am very confident, and many are confident, that it will fail.”

Sudan Accuses Kenya of Running Contrary to International Law by Giving Tacit Support to RSF

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Over 14 million realized at Tikau emirate launching for Zaka, Waqt

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Over 14 million realized at Tikau emirate launching for Zaka, Waqt

By: Yahaya Wakili

Over fourteen million naira (#14m) was realized at the launching of the annual Tikau emirate council, Zaka and Waqf, #8.5 million cash in hand, #5.4 million pledges, and 264 bags of grains, respectively.

Speaking at the occasion, the special guest speaker, Dr. Warshu Tijjani Rabiu of Bayero University, Kano, said Zaka is the third pillar of Islam, and Allah (SWT) commanded us to pray and commanded us to give Zaka.

He said the nature of Zaka is very clear: there are those who receive it and those who are to pay it, as the different Hadith of Prophet Muhammad SWT explained the Zakatul items, the maximum resource upon which you reach it, or what you have in Zakat. There are some categories of zakat: wealth, agricultural produce, and animals.

 Waqf is a product of wealth for the seek of Allah (SWT) that yield the benefit to recent community for the person that give it, once he is alive benefit from that benefit of it, even after his death he will continue receiving reward from Allah (SWT), it is resilience lasting and benefit cut across all our and it is very much documented in the history of Islam for Waqf achieve during period stages and a golden period of Islamic history.

“So now in this period we are trying to revive these institutions because if you look into our lives, we are swimming in poverty, which is not and calls for artificial, man-made poverty, and when we go back to our religion, we have this instrument that we embrace, and then we wave poverty out of our society.

Dr Rabiu further said, Alhamdulillah Tikau emirate there have been working on this Zaka and Waqf for quite so long now and deceased emir, May Allah (SWT) grants the souls of the deceased rest in Aljannatul Firdaus. And now the new emir is building on it and we praying Allah (SWT) to sustained them.

Speaking earlier, the chief host, who is also the Executive Chairman of the Nangere local government council, Hon. Samaila Musa FCNA, said this program is a developmental program that will benefit the entire people of Nangere, not a few, because there is an aspect that has to do with Waqf and there is an aspect that has to do with Zakat.

He maintained that the two are different, the Waqf is a long term, while the Zakat is a short term, the Waqf aspect is differently for investment, how to make research, invest, and to manage your portfolio and even to talk about entrepreneurship development that entrepreneur development mostly has to do with youth and women.

“And if we are talking about youth, we have youth in Nangere, and we have farmlands. If we can allocate pieces of land to those youth and they are empowered through this waqf, definitely in two to three years, there will be no food insecurity in Nangere—not only food security, but nutritional food security.

In his vote of thanks, the former Deputy Governor of Yobe State and Madakin Tikau, Alhaji Aliyu Saleh Bagare, said, Tikau emirate council, the emir has gone and the emir has come, adding that since the establishment of Zaka and Waqf 23 years ago, now we have 45 Juma’at mosques across the emirate, and call on the new emir to continue with the legacy of his late father.

He call on the people of Tikau emirate council to embark on irrigation farming, because we have the inputs and this Zaka and Waqf was assist many people in the emirate, noted that, the late emir has done a lot during his life time.

Over 14 million realized at Tikau emirate launching for Zaka, Waqt

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NSCDC hailed in its fight against illegal mining

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NSCDC hailed in its fight against illegal mining

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps’ (NSCDC) effort to clean up nation’s mining industry through its Special Mining Marshals’ execute strategic operations nationwide has continue to yield positive dividends. With the recent wave of enforcement activities, led by the Commander of the NSCDC Mining Marshal, ACC Attah John Onoja.

In a press statement from CSC Afolabi Babawale, the National Public Relations Officer, Abuja, the overt and covert operation by the Marshal has not only disrupted illegal mining operations but has also significantly boosted compliance with industry’s rule regulations.

Stakeholders in the mining industry have also expressed excitement and have commended the NSCDC under the able leadership of Commandant General Ahmed Abubakar Audi mni OFR PhD over the progress made by the Special Mining Marshals, noting that their efforts have led to a safer and more regulated sector.

The commendation was made recently by the Director General of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency ,
Professor Olusegun Omoniyi Ige during a stakeholders meeting with the NSCDC special Mining Marshal Commander, attributed the overwhelming compliance with mining guidelines to the tenacious work of the NSCDC mining marshals.
According to him, “The continued arrests and clampdown in illegal miners have forced others to comply with the operational rules and regulation in the mining sector and gradually sanity is returning to the economically viable sector of the nation” .

The meeting was an avenue to further strengthened the existing synergy between both agencies in attaining a safer and better mining sector in Nigeria.

The Special Mining Marshals, a dedicated task force under the purposeful leadership of Dr Abubakar Ahmed Audi mni , have been relentless in their mission to secure mining areas, protect legal mining title holders, and ensure adherence to regulatory frameworks. Their operations have effectively dislodged illegal miners and criminal elements, strengthening the integrity of Nigeria’s mining sector.

With the surge in compliance, stakeholders believe the ongoing enforcement will create an enabling environment for sustainable mining activities, attract investment, and curb the environmental degradation often associated with illegal mining.

NSCDC hailed in its fight against illegal mining

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