A Civil Society Organization, CSO, TAP Initiative, on Tuesday, filed a petition before the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, demanding the prosecution of some officials that were involved in the recent governorship election that held in Edo State.....Read Full Article>>

Specifically, the petitioner called for a thorough investigation and trial of some of the adhoc staff the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, used for the conduct of the election, alleging that they engaged in acts of forgery.

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The CSO, which submitted the petition at the headquarters of the ICPC in Abuja, said it would not hesitate to seek a fiat from the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, should the anti-corruption agency fail to act on its demand.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the petition was accepted by the ICPC on Tuesday, the Executive Director of TAP Initiative, Mr. Martin Obono, further threatened to petition the European Union and other international agencies to stop sending funds INEC, saying it appeared the electoral body “has taken over rigging from politicians.”

According to the group, it was worried that INEC allowed its officials to be compromised during elections.

Obono said his organization discovered the alleged criminal action of some INEC staff members, after it obtained the Certified True Copies (CTC) of the Edo governorship election results.

He told newsmen that the group uncovered lots of discrepancies in the CTC of the election results, prominent among which he said included the absence of signatures of polling unit agents and presiding officers.

More so, the group said the discrepancies in the certified election results propelled it to engage a forensic expert from South Africa, who carried out analysis that established that there were manipulation of results at the collation centers.

It said an analysis conducted by the expert established that forms EC8A were compromised at the collation centers where only one person signed all the documents, adding that the forms bore same serial numbers but different election results.

“It is regrettable that INEC is involved in institutional electoral fraud. INEC ought to be a gate keeper but it is now involved in direct rigging, and changing the will of the people.

“We will take a step further to write the United Kingdom, United States of America, European Union and other foreign donors to stop funding election in Nigeria, since they are being defrauded by the electoral body,” the petitioner stated.

The group, therefore, demanded that all those involved in subverting the will of the electorates must be brought to justice, saying it was not satisfied with the apology that was recently tendered by INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmud Yakubu.

“We are aware of the apology that was recently tendered by INEC Chairman, but apology does not erase criminality committed against the people,” Obono added.

Tinubu appoints new CMD for Teaching Hospital....Read Full Article>>

President Bola Ahmed Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr Salisu Muazu Babura as the substantive Chief Medical Director of Rasheed Shekoni Federal University Dutse Teaching Hospital.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Health.

The statement said the appointment took effect from 31st October, 2024.

Until his appointment, Dr Salisu Muazu was the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of History.

He is currently attending Senior Executive Course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos.

The Minister of Health on behalf of the federal government wished him a successful tenure.

House of Rep member lists Gov Yusuf’s ‘offences’ against Kwankwaso....Read Full Article>>

Aliyu Sani Madakin-Gini, the House of Representatives member representing Dala Federal Constituency, has alleged that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s perceived rift with Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso stemmed from controversies over a drugs contract and a state-funded scholarship scheme.

Madakin-Gini, a former close ally of Kwankwaso—the leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and the Kwankwasiyya Movement—recently announced his departure from the movement, reflecting growing divisions within the NNPP in Kano. While Madakin-Gini remains in the NNPP, he has shifted his loyalty to another faction, leading his ward executives to announce his suspension on Tuesday.

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In a video addressing his supporters, Madakin Gini outlined Kwankwaso’s expectations of loyalty, stating, “What the leader of Kwankwasiyya wants is total obedience. In all 44 local government areas, he desires sole authority. When we all gather, he seeks to see who is most loyal to him.”

According to Madakin-Gini, Governor Yusuf’s perceived ‘offences’ include his position on the investigations into drug contracts in the state, an issue Kwankwaso reportedly considered more serious than any actions taken by the former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

The drug contract saga previously led to the detention of Kwankwaso’s nephew by the state’s Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission. The nephew had reportedly secured the contract across the state’s 44 local government areas. The governor had reportedly said he was not aware of how the contract was awarded and directed the anti-corruption commission to investigate the alleged fraud in the scheme.

Madakin-Gini also cited Kwankwaso’s alleged dissatisfaction with Governor Yusuf’s decision to direct an investigation into discrepancies in a scholarship programme. According to him, it was discovered that only 400 beneficiaries were sponsored instead of the 1,001 initially approved by the governor.

“Now, he has added more grievances for refusing to sack Baffa Bichi, the Secretary to the State Government, and Muhammad Diggol, the Commissioner for Transport,” Madakin Gini said. Both officials were allegedly involved in a splinter group supporting Yusuf’s autonomy from Kwankwaso’s influence, leading to their suspension by party leaders.

“Abba was brought in as a puppet,” Madakin Gini claimed. “If what Abba has done is not enough for them, the only thing left is for him to lie down and be slaughtered.”

He added that he had advised a governor, a friend of his, against intervening in the matter with Kwankwaso, as he believed Kwankwaso would not be receptive.

Efforts to get a response from Kwankwaso were unsuccessful. His aide, Ibrahim Adam, did not respond to calls or messages at the time of this report, though he had previously denied any discord, pointing to recent joint appearances of the two leaders.

Governor Yusuf’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, was also unavailable for comment. He had ealier said that the governor would be addressing these issues in an upcoming local radio broadcast.