₦airaland Forum

Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly on Tuesday rejected the new polling units announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Its leaders, Chief Edwin Clark and Rt. Rev. Bolanle Gbonigi, who spoke on behalf of the group at a press briefing in Abuja, blasted the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Atahiru Jega, over the creation of additional 30,000 polling units in the country.

They said the alleged arbitrary allocation of the units, with the North getting 21,615 while the South, got 8,412, was not acceptable.

Clark alleged that the allocation was more of a political conspiracy by the INEC against Southern Nigeria.

He said the commission must rectify the anomaly.

Clark, who spoke in Abuja during the emergency joint meeting of the Elders Council and Management Committee of the group, added that the INEC allocation of additional polling units to parts of the North especially in the North-East states of Borno, Bauchi and Adamawa, where many people have been displaced in the past few years, was unacceptable.

He said, “We view with restrain the significant differences between the number of new polling units allocated to the whole of the Southern Zones, (South-West: 4,160, South: 3,087 and South-East: 1,167) a total of 8,414 which is less that the figure of the North-West alone (7,906) added to the FCT (1,120) totaling 9,026.

“Or even more so the number allocated to the South-South zone (3,087), which is less than half of that allotted to the North West zone.

“Then, that of the South-East (1,167) which is less than a quarter of any of the Northern zones (North West: 7,906, North East: 5,291,and the North Central: 6,318.

“I repeat, all of these is not reflective of any historical data or any significant statistical data change to inform such radical disparity in the arbitrary allocation of the polling units to the respective zones.

“For instance the whole of the South-West with Lagos, the most populated state in terms of eligible voters in the country added all other South-West states, is allotted less than any northern zone, a position not supported by any scientific or proven data.”

He said he viewed “this insensitive assault on our collective sensibilities gravely worrisome and demanding of our urgent proportionate action. No amount of explanation will be acceptable to the voters of Southern Nigeria”.

Chairman, Yoruba Unity Forum and leader of South West Delegation to the meeting, Gbonigi, who was represented by Senator Femi Okurounmu noted that the sharing formula adopted by INEC which is tilted specifically to favour the North is the crux of the matter.

He added that INEC’s decision to allocate more additional polling station to the North lacks any logic or wisdom particularly with lower voter turnout at previous elections and the massive exodus of citizens from many of the troubled parts of the North.

He said, “The commission has exceeded its mandate by restructuring the number of polling units nationwide. Furthermore, it wrote for itself the rules when it decided to restructure the number of polling units in each state using 15 per cent equality of states and 85 per cent promotional representation.

“The criteria above lack any logic or merit except to create bank of votes for the North to deploy during presidential elections or when a referendum is needed to decide fundamental national issues.

“The South-West rejects totally this INEC’s gift and we shall most certainly not fold our arms and watch the future generations yet unborn bargained away. The South is yet to recover from the consequences of the massive injustice done to it when the states and local governments were created during the military era and Northern Nigeria got 19 states and over 100 more local governments than Southern Nigeria with just 17 states.

“Accepting this new arrangement will amount to making the region completely irrelevant in national affairs.”

The Assembly called on INEC to discard totally the proposed 30,000 additional polling units and commence immediate consultation with a view to charting a viable way forward.

It further stressed that INEC must conduct 2015 elections on the existing 120,000 polling unit structures nationwide.




http://www.punchng.com/news/snpa-rejects-inecs-new-polling-units

So what is happening in that video? Boko haram supporters, you people need to try harder.

Any attempt to ban Cannda/ Pommo is DOA.

desgiezd: It is very clear you are missing the point here!

what's the damn point I'm missing

ISpiksDaTroof: He was fired. No matter how you slice and dice it, he was kicked out before retirement.

dummkopf, you are the one, slicing and dicing.

Obiagelli: Smh. Rip Shame

Shame You are always confusing your reality BringbackJonathan2015

Very funny, this man, is among the group of persons waiting to take control of government at the federal level. The saving grace for Nigeria, is that day will never manifest itself.

Excellent hashtag, those of you that find it offensive, should learn to live with it. Some of us had to put up with your bring back the girls crap. So put up with bring back Goodluck tag. Its still a democracy and each of us are entitled to our own kind of speech, even when you find it offensive.

MalcoImX: Welcome, government pikin.

Nah you get this moniker. Them ban your other one bah?

MalcoImX: But honestly, would "YOU" ignore such if you were a man of Ihejirika's standing? I wouldn't. It's like you guys don't seem to be aware of the magnitude of this accusation.

Babymama1: 50 members in Bornu want to drag Ihejirika to Hague
60 condemn and dissociate themselves from it
You mean to tell me Bornu has up to 110 lawyers?
I am shocked

Onyeabo Azubuike Ihejirika was born on February 13, 1956 in Ovim, Isuikwuato Local Government Area, Abia State. He commissioned into the army on December 17, 1977 as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy 18th regular combatant course. Prior to being appointed COAS, he was the Chief of Defence Logistics at Defence Headquarters. He was also the former GOC of 81 Division at Lagos, and a former Director of Engineering at Defence Headquarters.

Major-General Ihejirika was born on February 13, 1956 and was commissioned in the army on December 17, 1977. A fellow of Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors, he was the Chief of Defence Logistic, Defence Headquarters before he assumed his new position as Chief of Army Staff September 2010 - January 2014 .

You cannot fire a man after serving more than 35 years allowed by law in the army. The General was due for retirement in 2012.

nagoma: I should better ignore this foool.

Dumbass, you are the only one crying here

donphilopus: Guy, stop being a piast joor. It's not SaharaReporters anymore, it's now Daily Trust. Ah dey wonder for you o!

You don need to wonder below is a short list

Sharia reporter
Daily trust
The Nation
Leadership newspaper

More will be added as the enemies within show their faces. You all will be defeated..

jmaine: The APC and their e-Maggots made a huge fool of themselves running to town with the imbec1lic expose . . . . It shows they lack the most elementary form of logical reasoning in present times . . . .

Actually, it shows how dangerous they truly are. I am more worried about APC than boko haram, when it comes to the security of this country.

For Oyegun to call a press conference, where all the national leaders of APC sat around a table and Davis's comments are used as THE vindication of their alleged theories, tells me, APC is the worst demon Nigeria has seen in 53 years.

Daily trust, reporting for the other side.

Collynzo16: Because they are now claiming he has been transferred, they have no problem telling us how gallant he was and how he skillfully flushed boko haram out of Damboa without a single casualty on the military side. However we didn't get to hear this wonderful feat from then when it actually happened since it didn't suit their agenda then, but they told us when the same Damboa was supposedly captured.

One carton of harp for this comment.

nagoma: Are you really serious that the elected executive president and commander in chief of the Nigerian armed forces has no responsibility to the security of some groups of people within the country he claims to rule and to lead?
If your answer is yes then I will have to ignore you as a mental case or a retarrd needing care and support.

You keep trying to suspend your sense of disbelief. Jonathan Goodluck Ebele is not your problem, either are members of the Nigeria armed forces your problem. You and the people in northeastern Nigeria are the problem.That reality has not dawned on you yet.

OrlandoOwoh: You're pained. Nto!

So pained look at this miserable vulture. Go and worry about your HIV sickness.

OrlandoOwoh: Continue in your servitude. Eleru iya!

Why not go and treat your HIV sickness. Bloody ediot with 10000 monikers on NL lying like the bastaddd that you are.

nagoma: That's the point. " The so called commander in chief has no hand in ensuring security of the country provided the crisis is in the north". That is what you are saying and that is what the president is wrongly made to believe.

You are pointing your fingers in the wrong direction. The president is not your problem, when you guys understand that reality, some on your side will rise and take charge of the demons destroying your area.

nduchucks: These treasonable attrocities were taking place during Ihejirika's tenure but not a single general was accused let alone convicted. Thankfully the current Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Minimah led investigations and conviction of the generals.

The question now is, why have they not publicized the names of these convicted Generals and shamed them? I suspect that 2 or 3 of the generals may come from the usual tribe and the Army is afraid of reprisals such as the 1960s pogroms.

You have to stop lying

.http://www.channelstv.com/2014/06/03/military-says-no-nigerian-army-general-is-under-court-martial



Military Says No Nigerian Army General Is Under Court Martial
BY CHANNELS TELEVISION
8046
Chris OlukoladeThe Defence Headquarters in Nigeria says there is no truth in the media reports that a Nigerian Army court martial has tried and found 15 senior officers including 10 Generals guilty for aiding terrorists, insisting that For emphasis, no General of the Nigerian Army is under any form of trial.



In a statement spokesman for the military, Major General Chris Olukolade, said that the story as published in some dailies and zealously propagated by many online media was very unfortunate and meant to do maximum damage to the image of Nigerian Army and its personnel.

“This falsehood had previously been refuted when it first reared its head but those concocting it appear hell bent on misleading Nigerians and the international community to give credence to the negative impression they are so keen to propagate about the Nigerian military.

“It has become inevitable to reassure the general public that any ongoing disciplinary process or trial will be made public when necessary. After all, Court Martial issues in the Nigerian Army are not known to be secret undertakings as it is on record that previous proceedings and outcome have been made public in the past,” the statement read.

Major General Olukolade cautioned persons who have decided to “make a past time out of sensationalising and fabricating sensitive security issues to desist from the practice” especially in a period were Nigeria is facing security challenges.

He stressed that “the Nigerian Army remains a serious professional and responsible institution that cannot be associated with such incredulous report”.

The military spokesman called on Nigerians to discountenance the report as the handiwork of those who do not mean well for the country and the Armed Forces.

Military Says No Nigerian Army General Is Under Court Martial
BY CHANNELS TELEVISION

Chris OlukoladeThe Defence Headquarters in Nigeria says there is no truth in the media reports that a Nigerian Army court martial has tried and found 15 senior officers including 10 Generals guilty for aiding terrorists, insisting that For emphasis, no General of the Nigerian Army is under any form of trial.



In a statement spokesman for the military, Major General Chris Olukolade, said that the story as published in some dailies and zealously propagated by many online media was very unfortunate and meant to do maximum damage to the image of Nigerian Army and its personnel.

“This falsehood had previously been refuted when it first reared its head but those concocting it appear hell bent on misleading Nigerians and the international community to give credence to the negative impression they are so keen to propagate about the Nigerian military.

“It has become inevitable to reassure the general public that any ongoing disciplinary process or trial will be made public when necessary. After all, Court Martial issues in the Nigerian Army are not known to be secret undertakings as it is on record that previous proceedings and outcome have been made public in the past,” the statement read.

Major General Olukolade cautioned persons who have decided to “make a past time out of sensationalising and fabricating sensitive security issues to desist from the practice” especially in a period were Nigeria is facing security challenges.

He stressed that “the Nigerian Army remains a serious professional and responsible institution that cannot be associated with such incredulous report”.

The military spokesman called on Nigerians to discountenance the report as the handiwork of those who do not mean well for the country and the Armed Forces.

http://www.channelstv.com/2014/06/03/military-says-no-nigerian-army-general-is-under-court-martial

nagoma: The fact that you call the terrorists " my own " shows how unreliable you are as a countryman. Even the mumbling president thinks he is just an Ijaw man and not a Nigerian.

Sorry worrying about the president and save your backyard. The mumbling president is not the reason for miserable circumstances across the Northeast.

Caseless2: i love nigeria more than u do.

comos: do you have any job at all?

What's it to you?

nagoma: Tell your daft president to divide the country he desperately wants to continue ruining. Who the hell want's to remain in the same country with you?

You are doing a great job dividing it already. Your senseless mass murderers have accomplished more than any Nigerian would have done.

Caseless2: i pray u read

I pray you repent from your anti Nigeria ways.

Caseless2: read and grow.

Giving us your next boko haram breaking news, that's what you are here for, waiting to celebrate your boko haram victory.

Caseless2: read, brother, read!

Yep, read your boko haram post already, anything new.

Caseless2: i knw u not to always read post b4 commenting. I beg u to go back and read what d guy wrote again, and u'd see that it was a perfect post.

A perfect post, for characters of your kind. Keep waiting, you will not celebrate the fall of the Nigerian army. No matter how many times, AP, Reuters, and BBC report from your sources.