General
INEC Becoming A Threat to Democracy—CNPP
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been accused of deliberately frustrating the advancement of democracy in Nigeria with its conduct of the 2023 general elections.
In a statement on Monday, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) lamented that officials of the electoral umpire were out to destroy “the only legacy President Muhammadu Buhari may have intended to leave after signing into law the amended Electoral Act 2022, which cleared the coast for the deployment of technology in Nigeria’s elections.”
In the statement signed by its Secretary General, Mr Willy Ezugwu, in reaction to the controversy surrounding the Adamawa State governorship election, the CNPP said that “in saner clime, all the INEC and non-INEC official fingered in the viral allegation of bribery and falsification of election results in Adamawa State should be in jail.”
“This is not the case because INEC is either acting a script by the enemies of Nigeria’s democracy or some selfish political elites who wish to get the country engulfed in politically motivated anarchy for yet-to-be-known personal benefits,” it noted.
“The unwarranted palpable tension in Adamawa State since on Sunday when the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, announced Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the gubernatorial election is not different from illegalities the commission, in collaboration with politicians, allegedly in the February 25 presidential election in many parts of the country.
“The conduct of the Adamawa State governorship election, which obviously did not go down well with many residents, points clearly to the 2023 sham elections in many states.
“For the CNPP, all the damage control mechanisms deployed by INEC in trying to make Nigerians believe that it meant well in Adamawa State or other parts of the country amounts to mere film trick.
“The INEC leadership, particularly the Chairman of the commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, had assured Nigerians of real-time transmission of 2023 polls results but deliberately failed to make its innovative biometric devices work and resorted to manually transmitted results collation, which opened up the planned electronically controlled electoral processes to all kinds of manipulation.
“Sadly, INEC under the current leadership presents itself as a cash-and-carry Commission where the highest bidder is declared the winner against the wishes of the electorates and urged to go to court.
“Unfortunately, in the eyes of many Nigerians, the judiciary is yet to prove its readiness to deliver judgment on electoral matters based on the merit of the cases rather than relying on technicalities to deny litigants justice in election petitions.
“So many Nigerians have expressed reservations over the preparedness of the judiciary to be firm in delivering justice in many pre-election matters brought before the courts in 2023, particularly at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“The actions and inactions of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are obviously aimed at intentionally derailing the legal preparations put in place by President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of this year’s elections.
“The result is the now clearly doomed legacy of free, fair, and credible 2023 general elections, which President Buhari would have left behind on May 29 as his outstanding legacy in eight years, but the Adamawa State governorship election has brought to a woeful climax the unpleasant tale of INEC supervised electoral impunity,” the CNPP said.
General
Lagos Police Investigates Ammunition Package Delivery to First Bank MD
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Lagos State Police Command is investigating the delivery of a parcel containing live ammunition delivered to the managing director of First Bank Nigeria, Mr Oluwasegun Alebiosu.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State command, Mr Tijani Fatai, confirmed the incident on Tuesday during a press briefing at the command headquarters.
He said Mr Alebiosu reported the case on May 7, noting that two rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were sent to him through a parcel.
“The managing director reported the matter to the police after a package containing two rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition was delivered on his behalf by his security guard at his residence. The case is still under investigation, and we are treating it with the seriousness it deserves,” he said.
According to him, the parcel was first received by the bank chief’s security guard, who then handed it over to him.
The police commissioner said that operatives have launched an investigation, including forensic analysis and intelligence work, to identify the perpetrators and the circumstances of the incident.
He added that no suspect linked to the crime has been brought into custody.
“Presently, no suspect is in custody. Even though the MD has mentioned some people whom he suspected of being the brains behind it, that is his suspicion, anyway. We are still working on it,” he said.
Mr Fatai noted that detectives are reviewing information provided by the complainant, including details of individuals who may have relevant knowledge of the incident.
He assured the public that the command would keep them informed as the investigations go on, adding that the public should allow the police to carry out their duties.
General
Makinde Imposes 16-Hour Curfew in 10 Oyo Local Councils Over Insecurity
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Governor of Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde, has approved the declaration of a 16-hour curfew in 10 local government areas of the state, as part of measures targeted at tackling insecurity.
According to a memo issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Musibau Babatunde, the curfew takes effect from Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
The movement restriction, between 4 pm and 8 am, lasts for 48 hours in the first instance and affects local government areas bordering the Old Oyo National Park.
The affected local councils are Oriire local government (Headquarters: Ikoyi-Ile), Orelope (Headquarters: Igboho), Irepo (Headquarters: Kisi), Saki West (Headquarters: Saki), Saki East (Hq Ago-Amodu), Atisbo (Headquarters: Tede / Ago-Are), Itesiwaju (Headquarters: Otu), Iseyin (Headquarters: Iseyin), Olorunsogo (Headquarters: Igbeti), and Atiba (Headquarters: Offa-Meta, Oyo).
The development followed a series of protests that rocked the state over the abduction of children and teachers in the Orire Local Government Area in May.
The National Coordinator of the movement, Mr Juwon Sanyaolu, who spoke during the latest protest held on Monday, said the demonstration was part of ongoing efforts by the group to push for the freedom of the victims.
According to him, the protest “is a continuation of actions the organisation has embarked upon since the abduction of children and teachers” in the Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State in May.”
“We will continue to protest for the release of all abducted victims until they are free. We believe that government officials are in the comfort of their rooms and offices while innocent 46 students and their teachers are languishing in the kidnappers’ den.
“We are demanding freedom for all captives in the North, South, West, and East of Nigeria,” Mr Sanyaolu said.
He also criticised political leaders for focusing on preparations for the 2027 elections while insecurity continues to threaten the lives of Nigerians.
“We will not be sitting until 2027. By that time, we won’t even know how many will be alive.
“So that is why we are at the heart of Ibadan in Oyo State, where the abduction took place. The state and federal governments must act, or they will continue to witness mass action,” he added.
General
Alleged Wiretapping: El-Rufai to File No-Case Submission as DSS Closes Case
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Department of State Services (DSS) has closed its case against former Kaduna State Governor, Mr Nasir El-Rufai, in the ongoing alleged wiretapping trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
At the resumed sitting on Tuesday, prosecuting counsel, Mr Oluwole Aladedoye, informed the court that the prosecution would not be calling further witnesses in the matter, prompting the formal closure of the DSS case.
Following the development, defence counsel, Mr Paul Erokoro, told the court that the defence intends to file a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution has failed to establish sufficient evidence against the former governor.
The defence subsequently sought two weeks to file the application, while the prosecution requested two weeks to respond.
The defence also applied for a variation of some of the bail conditions earlier granted to El-Rufai, describing them as stringent and difficult to meet.
They argued that the bail terms were too stringent, particularly the requirements for level 17 civil servants with properties in Maitama or Asokoro, as well as verification and attestation letters from the Kaduna state traditional council.
However, the prosecution opposed the request, insisting that qualified public officers who meet the conditions exist and urging the court to refuse the application.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik declined the request to vary the bail conditions, ruling that there are civil servants who own properties at the said location.
The court, however, adjourned to September 22 for the filing of the no-case submission and continuation of the trial.
In February, the federal government filed a three-count charge against the former governor of Kaduna State over an alleged interception of communications belonging to Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr Nuhu Ribadu.
In a television interview, he confessed that he and other unnamed individuals listened to conversations from Mr Ribadu’s phone after it was tapped by a third party. While acknowledging that such interception is technically unlawful, he argued that illegal surveillance was not unusual.
However, the FG, through the secret police, filed charges against Mr El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
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