₦airaland Forum

The Presidency, on Thursday, gave the reason why President Muhammadu Buhari kept is silent when there were allegations of irregularities and compromise against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on the conduct of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections.

The Presidency also ruled out the possibility of taking any decision that would lead to the annulment of the presidential elections as was the case of June 12, 1992.

It advised any candidate or political party that is not satisfied with the conduct and outcome of the election to approach the court for redress.

These were contained in a report by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, titled, “At the 5th United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDCs), President Buhari drums up support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Presidency”.

Before the elections, President Buhari had at different fora, both local and international, assured that he would ensure that the elections that would herald his exit from office would be credible, free, fair and transparent and that the outcome would reflect the wish of the people in choosing who would lead them.

The signing into the law the Electoral Act, 2022 and the use of technology for the elections were indications that President Buhari was ready to bequeath to the Nigeria, a transparent electoral process, devoid of manipulations.

However, controversies have trailed the conduct and outcome of the February 25 presidential election as the INEC has been accused to have failed to follow strictly the Electoral Act as regards the transmission of the results from the BIVAS to the iREV immediately after collation at the Pulling Units.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was the first to raise the alarm that the INEC had compromised the conduct of the election by not keeping to the electoral laws and had, in a statement, called on President Buhari to call the electoral umpire to order so that the country would not be thrown into political crisis.

There has also been plethora of negative reports from a section of international news media, casting aspersions on the conduct of the election, saying that it fell flat from the expectations of majority of the electorate.

But the presidential spokesman in what could be said to be the takeaways he listed from the President participation at the LDCs Conference, in Doha, Qatar, said that Buhari, while speaking to Nigerians in the Diaspora about the ongoing political transition, called for support for the incoming government of Asiwaju Tinubu, “so that Nigeria will continue to be the beacon of hope and prosperity in our continent and an example for other African countries to emulate.”

He further said, “In addition to other things, this trip, more than any other, speaks to the courage, political stamina and statesmanship with which the President has managed the affairs of the nation.

“In the buildup to the trip, he was faced with orchestrated attempts to poison public opinion against national institutions, particularly the presidential election and its conduct by the independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as an institution, against which vile and unsubstantiated allegations were hurled.

“The clear intent of this was creating an atmosphere of fear, polarizing the public and demonizing the administration of the President. The wishful thinkers appeared to assume that the June 12, 1993 election crisis, the worst ever since the Civil War could be recreated. Those who sought to do this forgot what the President said at the palace of the Gbong-Gwon Jos, when he went to the city to inaugurate the Tinubu-Shettima campaign: “this election will not be annulled; whoever is the winner will be president.,’’ he said.

He also said, “President Buhari not only muted himself following the cacophony, he picked up international travel: “Bola Tinubu’s election stands. If you are aggrieved, and you have the locus to do so, go to court.’’

Continuing, he said, “President Buhari used the opportunity of the visit to speak to his guests about the recent election in Nigeria and the fact that a new President would be taking over in less than three months. He hoped that the strong relations he had built between those countries will continue to endure in the new administration.

“The highlight of the conference for Nigeria was the national address on the theme of this year’s event “From Potential to Prosperity”, a speech that observers described as strikingly activist. In it, the President criticized the current structure of the global financial system which, he said, “places an unsustainable external debt burden on the most vulnerable countries.”

The Department of State Services (DSS) has alerted the public of orchestrated plans by some persons to cause a total breakdown of law and order in the country shortly after the March 11, 2023 gubernatorial and State Assembly elections.

The Service also raised the alarm over what it described as unnecessary palpable political tension in parts of the country prior to the elections.

The DSS also advised the citizens to shun fake news, hate speech and such other utterances that may be inimical to peaceful co-existence.

Part of the DSS statement signed by its spokesperson, Dr. Peter Afunnaya, stated that the DSS “also wishes to draw attention to the unnecessary palpable political tension in parts of the country prior to the elections under reference.

“It is observed that some of the players are at daggers drawn with one another. The development holds dire consequences for national peace and stability. It is in view of these that the Service warns politicians and their supporters to engage constructively.

“Everyone is advised to shun fake news, hate speech and such other utterances that may be inimical to peaceful co-existence. Election should not be seen as a do or die affair. There is no basis for anyone to take laws into their hands. This is even more so that aggrieved persons can take advantage of our courts and seek redress. We should have faith in our institutions.

“Over this election period, the Service has remained committed to providing conducive environment for a peaceful exercise.

“In this regard, it separately and in collaboration with sister agencies, carried out mop up operations to thwart nefarious plans and activities of undesirable elements to outrightly undermine the electoral processes.

“For hitch-free gubernatorial and State Assembly elections, the Service has partnered with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the required peace is maintained before, during and after the exercises.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Service will work to make sure that no person or group, no matter how highly placed, disrupts the scheduled elections in any part of the Federation. It is committed to the safety and security of citizens who may wish to go out to exercise their civic responsibility. All and sundry are, therefore, enjoined to abide by the rules of engagement particularly the Electoral Act and extant guidelines.”

By Chinwendu Obienyi


Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) across the country yesterday began rejecting deposits of old naira notes (N1,000 and N500), after paying customers, forcing business owners, retailers to begin rejecting the old naira notes despite the Supreme Court’s extension of the validity of old notes to December 31, 2023.

Findings across different banks revealed that despite the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) stating that it has not issued a fresh directive to commercial banks on last Friday’s judgment of the Supreme Court ordering circulation of the old naira notes with new ones.

A seven-member panel of justices presided over by Justice Inyang Okoro, had described as unconstitutional, President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to the CBN on naira redesigning and withdrawal of old notes of N200, N500 and N1,000, without consultation with the states, Federal Executive Council, the National Council of States, and other stakeholders.

Daily Sun had reported that there was confusion among commercial banks and business operators following the non-issuance of a directive by the CBN on receiving the old notes.texter

As of yesterday, the CBN’s website and social media handles showed that the apex bank is yet to make an official announcement on the ruling.

Also, customers who spoke to Daily Sun were livid while urging President Muhammadu Buhari and the apex bank to make official statements as they cannot transact with the old notes.

A customer of one of the new generation banks said, “I am very upset right now. I got the old notes from the counter, went out to buy something and everywhere I went, they rejected it and when I came back to the bank to deposit back the money, to my surprise, the teller rejected it saying they cannot take it back. The annoying thing here is if they could give out these old N1000 notes for us to withdraw, why can they accept deposits?

The government and the CBN need to speak out because this is very wrong. We have money, we cannot spend it. So many Nigerians are suffering, we cannot eat 3 square meals again because of this confusion”.

Nduka Chijioke, a dealer in engine oil, said, “If anyone comes here with old notes, I will not take it. I know how much I suffered to get these old notes to the CBN when its deposit portal opened. I am still yet to get an alert and that is because they (CBN) said it will take weeks before I get it and so I am not ready to go through all that stress again unless the FG or CBN okays the ruling”.

Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued Guidelines for Open Banking in Nigeria.

In a circular referenced: PSM/DIR/PUB/CIR/001/043 and dated March 7, 2023, the apex bank said that the guidelines would create greater access to customer-focused data sharing between banks and third-party firms.

Titled, “Issuance of Operational Guidelines for Open Banking in Nigeria,” the document which was signed by the Director, Payment Services Management Department, Mr. Musa Jimoh, indicated that the guidelines was in furtherance of CBN’s mandate to ensure stability in the nation’s financial system.

The circular reads in full, “The Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) in furtherance of its mandate for the stability of the financial system and pursuant to its role in deepening the financial system hereby issues the Operational Guidelines for Open Banking in Nigeria.

The adoption of Open Banking in Nigeria will foster customer permissioned data between banks and third-party firms to enable the building of customer-focused products and services. It is also aimed at enhancing efficiency, competition and access to financial services in Nigeria. All stakeholders are required to ensure strict compliance with the guidelines and all other regulations, as the CBN continues to monitor developments and issue guidance as may be appropriate.”

Open Banking is the practice of enabling secure interoperability in the banking industry by allowing third-party payment service and other financial service providers to access banking transactions and other data from banks and financial institutions.

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC may have started to implement the long awaited harmonisation of operations in the telecom sector, beginning with the collapsing of all short codes to a uniform number across all telecommunications operators.

What this means is that from the May 17, 2023, recharging your mobile phones, checking your credit balance for either airtime or data and all that services will be done with a uniform number irrespective of the network service you are subscribed to.

This appears the second phase of telecom industry harmonisation after NCC introduced the Mobile Number Portability in April 2013

Mobile number portability (MNP) enables mobile telephone users to switch from one mobile network carrier to another and still retain their original mobile telephone numbers.

In the new harmonised short codes, one unique code will perform short code services for subscribers of all telecom operators in the country.

Dropping the hint, umbrella body of telecom operators, the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators in Nigeria, ALTON, said its members were ready to implement the new policy because it reflected modern regulatory practice which obtains globally.

In a statement signed by the duo of Chairman and Head Operations of the Association, Engr Gbenga Adebayo and Gbolahan Awonuga, the association said: “ALTON has announced the commencement of harmonised short codes across all networks pursuant to a regulatory modernisation initiative by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

“The harmonisation of short codes is aimed at implementing a streamlined process for common short codes across the industry, by making life easier for Nigerians through the memorisation of single codes, for various services across all networks as well as providing a cohesive regulatory frame work that is consistent with global best practices.

“Following the directive from NCC, the Association hereby informs the general public that during migration, which is to be concluded by 17th May, 2023 old and new common codes, will run concurrently, after which the old codes will cease to operate”.

The proposed harmonised short codes
? Call Center/Help Desk – 300, Voice Mail Deposit – 301, Voice Mail Retrieval -302, Borrow Services – 303, STOP Services – 304, Check Balance – 310, Credit Recharge – 311, Data Plan – 312.

Others are, Share Services – 321, Data Plan Balance – 323, Verification of SIM Registration/ NIN – SIM Linkage – 996 and Porting Services (MNP) – 2442

Chatham House, an independent policy institute based in London, has stated that from its analysis of the February 25 presidential election, it would appear that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to learn new lessons.

The organisation stressed that the electoral umpire failed to adhere to its own guidelines, which it enunciated before the poll, especially the one bordering on the uploading of results in real-time.

The London-based institute made the assertions just as Fitch Solutions lowered Nigeria’s Social Stability score in its proprietary Short-Term Political Risk Index (STPRI) to 17.5 out of 100, down from the 25.0 previously projected, following what it described as the aftermath of the “weak” mandate claimed by the country’s president-elect, Bola Tinubu.

INEC had last Wednesday announced the former Lagos State governor as winner of the keenly contested presidential poll. However, the contending parties refused to accept the verdict of the electoral umpire.

While the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, approached the courts to overturn the result, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr Abubakar Atiku, who had also announced plan to challenge the outcome of the election in court, led a protest against the result on Monday.

Stating that Nigeria’s presidential election results had put disenfranchisement in the spotlight, Chatham House noted that despite boasting the biggest electoral register in Africa of 93.4 million voters, fewer than 25 million valid votes were counted in Nigeria’s 2023 election.

Writing for the body, the Associate Fellow, Africa Programme, Dr. Leena Koni Hoffmann, noted that the delayed opening of polls meant that many potential voters were not able to vote.

Chatham House, also known as the Royal Institute of International Affairs, prides itself as an independent policy institute headquartered in London. Its stated mission is to provide commentary on world events and offer solutions to global challenges.

Founded in 1920, Chatham House engages governments, the private sector, civil society and its members in open debates. All the major presidential candidates in Nigeria were visitors to the organisation before the presidential election.

According to Chatham House, the results announced by chair of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, showed that the incumbent APC candidate, Tinubu, received 8.87 million votes – roughly one-third of the total.

His main challengers, Atiku of PDP, in his sixth attempt, and Obi of LP, the organisation said, garnered 7 million and 6.1 million votes, respectively.

Hoffman wrote, “The INEC’s performance and controversies over these results mean that the electoral reforms and lessons declared to have been learned were not fully applied and, as an electoral body, it was significantly less prepared than it claimed.

“The logistical failures of INEC and widespread delayed opening of polling units meant that voters who showed up at the polls early were frustrated and many voters and INEC staff were not able to locate their polling units for several hours.”

Chatham stated that Nigerians queued in the sun and rain to cast their votes, despite recurrent fuel crisis, epileptic power supply, record inflation, and a painful cash crunch.

Yet it noted that thousands of voters were disenfranchised, and multiple irregularities were recorded as well as intimidation and violence as noted by election observers.

Chatham House stated, “Less than half of eligible voters could participate in the elections, despite the commission’s N305 billion budgetary allocation. While Nigeria’s youth seemed energised leading up to the elections, it seems their ability to turn out is still being hugely constrained by how difficult and potentially dangerous it is to cast a vote in Nigeria.

“The INEC’s performance and controversies over these results mean that the electoral reforms and lessons declared to have been learned were not fully applied

“At just 25.7 per cent, the elections have the lowest recorded turnout of any election since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, despite being the most expensive. These dwindling numbers highlight how Nigeria’s politics and state institutions continue to exclude rather than include.”

The commission’s patchy deployment of technology in the use of a Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), Chatham House stated, was still being intensely scrutinised and criticised.

“It failed to adhere to its own statements and guidelines, which derive from its laws, that election results would be uploaded to its portal using the BVAS directly from the polling unit in real-time for the public’s viewing,” Chatham House added regarding INEC.

Having just 23 per cent of the public’s trust going into the 2023 election, Chatham noted that the need for strict transparency by INEC in this crucial phase of electronic results transmission could not be overstated and should not be downplayed.

INEC’s sub-optimal performance, the organisation said, must be taken seriously because Nigeria’s path to recovery and stability must follow the way of accountability and electoral integrity.  

It added that when sworn in, Tinubu would inherit a country made weaker economically, less secure, and diminished in stature under the leadership of his party.

The monumental challenges that weigh Africa’s most populous country, Chatham said, would not be easy for any leader, adding that the Nigerian people – especially the country’s youngest – have demonstrated strong resilience and have waited for far too long for a country that works for them.

The organisation stated, “Tinubu’s party first came into power in 2015 through a campaign of change and he has won in 2023 by running a campaign for renewed hope. But many of the issues that worried the Nigerian electorate in 2015 are a bigger headache in 2023 – significantly due to the self-inflicted fiscal and monetary decisions of the president he will be succeeding.

“In the months leading up to his swearing, Tinubu needs to marshal an extraordinary amount of political capital, goodwill and consensus to redirect and reunite a fractured and volatile Nigeria.”

Election Aftermath: Fitch Downgrades Nigeria’s Short-term Social Stability Index to 17.5%

Fitch Solutions lowered Nigeria’s Social Stability score in its proprietary Short-Term Political Risk Index (STPRI) to 17.5 out of 100, down from the 25.0 previously projected, following what it described as the aftermath of the “weak” mandate claimed by the president-elect.

In its latest Country Risk & Industry Research, the global group also downgraded Nigeria’s overall STPRI from 42.1 to 40.2, maintaining that political risks are expected to rise in Nigeria as a result of Tinubu’s victory.

Fitch stated that as it had projected, Tinubu – the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) – was declared the winner of Nigeria’s presidential election on March 1, 2023. It added that despite opposition parties calling for a re-run of the presidential election, it believed that chances of this happening were slim.

According to the organisation, reduced trust in the electoral process and Tinubu’s weak political mandate would increase social unrest in the immediate term.

The Fitch report stated, “In line with the Fitch Solutions’ view, Bola Ahmed Tinubu – the candidate for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) – was declared the winner of Nigeria’s presidential election on March 1 2023.

“As we had predicted, the popularity of the Labour Party (LP)’s candidate – Peter Obi – split the opposition vote at the expense of Atiku Abubakar, the candidate for the PDP.

“Indeed, Obi received the largest share of votes in many states in Nigeria’s South-south and South-east regions, which were PDP strongholds in previous elections.

“However, Tinubu received a weak mandate. With all states now reporting, Tinubu received just 36.6 per cent of the national vote. This is the first time since the return of democracy in 1999 that a president has been elected with less than 50 per cent of the vote, and the lowest share received by an election winner since 1979.”

Furthermore, the report noted that opposition figures had criticised the conduct of the vote and were demanding that the election be re-run.

While international observers had not described the vote as rigged, Fitch explained that they had reported that the election was characterised by operational failures and a lack of transparency.

It added that opposition parties had been particularly critical of the fact that INEC did not post individual polling station figures to a website that was meant to ensure transparency.

Besides, Fitch explained that it believed that the low voter turnout of an estimated 29.0 per cent – the lowest turnout on record – at a time when voter enthusiasm was high, will give rise to the perception that widespread voter suppression took place.

A coalition of opposition parties led by PDP and LP, Fitch said, had already called for the cancellation and re-run of the election.

It added that statements by INEC, however, suggested that the institution would stand by the official results, with INEC officials having stated that allegations of electoral fraud were “unfounded and irresponsible” and that the results point to “a free, fair and credible process.”

The report said this suggested that there was limited appetite within the commission to hold new elections, noting that, indeed, holding a re-run would be extremely costly, as the commission’s 2023 election budget totalled N305 billion ($660 million) – likely discouraging a re-run.

Fitch stated that it expected that protests were likely over the short term, particularly in urban areas, such as Lagos, stressing that the Labour Party drew significant support from members of the #EndSars protest movement, which launched a series of protests in the commercial capital in 2020.

The Fitch report stated, “Given that several pre-election polls showed the Labour Party’s candidate winning the vote, we expect that the party’s youthful supporters are likely to be dissatisfied with the result.

“It is also possible that the Labour Party and PDP may boycott or disrupt gubernatorial elections scheduled for 11 March 2023. Much will depend on how Peter Obi and other opposition figures react over the coming days.

“Taking this into account, we have lowered Nigeria’s Social Stability score in our proprietary Short-Term Political Risk Index (STPRI) to 17.5 out of 100, from 25.0 previously (lower score implies higher risk). This brings Nigeria’s overall STPRI from 42.1 to 40.2.

“Given Tinubu’s weak political mandate and widespread opposition to his government, we doubt that the incoming administration will launch any serious economic reforms in 2023.”

Fitch further forecasted that inflation would average 18 per cent in 2023 – and Tinubu’s weak political mandate would discourage him from implementing strong economic reforms in the short term.

Fitch predicted., “Indeed, the liberalisation of Nigeria’s exchange rate regime and the removal of the fuel subsidy would put upside pressure to inflation and would likely lower the president’s already weak support base – something we believe Tinubu will seek to avoid.

“Indeed, given divisions within the legislature, widespread political opposition and concerns about the president-elect’s health, we expect a long period of political stasis.”

As contenders for the Senate presidency and other key positions in the 10th National Assembly intensify their bid to lobby senators-elect and party stakeholders, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is making frantic efforts to douse tension.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the leadership of the governing party has assured the lawmakers angling to become principal officers in the federal legislature of fairness as the party concludes arrangement to zone the positions.

This is just as the governing party is seeking an audience with the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, over the zoning arrangement.

Findings by this paper showed that lobbying for the presiding offices has begun in earnest, with the APC, Senators-elect and members-elect on the platform of the party working to prevent a repeat of the 2015 experience where Senator Bukola Saraki was elected Senate president and Hon Yakubu Dogara emerged Speaker of the House against the wishes and directive of the ruling party.

Though the APC, which will certainly enjoy the majority status in both chambers of the 10th National Assembly is yet to come out with any zoning or power sharing formula for the next government under Tinubu, some of its lawmakers-elect are already involved in behind-the-scene consultations in order to clinch the top positions of the National Assembly on June 13.


Those who have shown interest in being president of the 10th Senate include Senator-elect Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North), Senator-elect Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom North-West), Senator-elect Ali Ndume (Borno South), and Senator-elect Jibrin Barau (Kano North).

While Kalu, Ndume and Barau are current members of the 9th Senate, Akpabio who was a member of the 8th Senate, has successfully staged a comeback to the Red Chamber.

LEADERSHIP also learnt that the current Senate president, Ahmed Lawan (APC, Yobe North) and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, may be shut out of the Senate presidency and Speakership of the 10th Assembly.

Lawan, it was gathered, might want to retain his position if supported by a majority of Senators, but with the vice president-elect, Kashim Shettima, coming from the same North East, his chances are slim.[/b]1

In the House of Representatives, the current Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, a protege of Tinubu, might also want to try his luck to retain his position in the next Assembly, hoping that he would ride on the influence of Tinubu to do so when the time comes.

[b]Even if that happens, Gbajabiamila will have formidable opponents to contend with in Hon Alhassan Ado Doguwa from Kano State and Hon Aliyu Betara from Borno State, both current members of the House and veteran lawmakers.

Although there are strong indications that the party may zone the Senate president position to the South East, zoning of the speakership is the major bone of contention, a source close to the party hierarchy told our correspondent.

The source who did want his name in print said, “There is tension already and the party is determined to reduce it by doing its best to zone its offices beginning with the Senate presidency to the South East. Arrangements have been concluded to meet with our president-elect, Bola Tinubu, on this matter.

“Since 2015 the distribution of leadership positions by the APC has not been balanced and we are committed to correcting it with the 10th Assembly. So far we are the majority with 57 senatorial seats.

“During our party primaries the South East didn’t get the support of the party to produce the flag bearer. This didn’t go down well with them. Now this is another opportunity to prove to Nigerians that we are a party for all.

“Although the decision lies with the leadership of our party and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, but the NWC are on the same page with regards to this matter and our president elect is a listener who loves to carry every one along regardless of tribe or religion and he understands how marginalised the South East have been in the scheme of things. By the time we meet him I’m sure he will see reasons to support our cause.”

Also, the senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Mohammed Sani Musa, has signified interest to contest for the position of the Senate president in the 10 Assembly.

A close associate of the Senator who disclosed this said Sani Musa who is the chairman, Committee on Senate Services, would declare his ambition if the APC zones the position to the North Central geopolitical zone.

The source also disclosed that the national chairman of the party, Senator Adamu Abdullahi, would not mind resigning his position to pave the way for Musa’s emergence.

Musa is among the Senators that campaigned vigorously for the office of the national chairman of the APC but was strapped down for Abdullahi Adamu.

“Senator Musa will run for the office of the Senate President. We hope that the All Progressives Congress would zone the office to the North Central zone, ” the associate said.

Asked if it was possible for the Senator to emerge as the Senate resident when the national chairman of the party is also from the North Central zone, the source said Adamu was ready to resign his appointment to make it possible.

He said, “Senator Abdullahi Adamu is interested in the emergence of Sani Musa as the next Senate president and he would not mind resigning his appointment to make that happen.”

When reminded that Musa’s ambition would possibly clash with that of the incumbent Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, being his friend, the source said, “Lawan has dropped his ambition to contest.”

He said, “As we speak, Senator Lawan is no longer going to contest the office of the Senate President in the 10th National Assembly. That I can assure you.”

On what would happen if the party fails to zone the office to the North Central zone, the source said, “Senator Musa would contest for the position of the deputy Senate president.

“He is already talking to his colleagues and close associates about his ambition,” the source added.


Public Holiday Forces Lawmakers’ Inauguration Date To June 13

Meanwhile, barring any unforeseen circumstance, the 10th National Assembly will be inaugurated on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, two days after the lifespan of the current 9th National Assembly would have expired on Sunday, June 11.

Recall that the current National Assembly was inaugurated on June 11, 2019.

Its lifespan will terminate on June 11, 2023, which is Sunday, a non-working day, while the next day June 12 is a public holiday to mark Democracy Day.

LEADERSHIP reports that the would-be members of the 10th National Assembly – Senators-elect and Members-elect – would receive their Certificates of Return on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 7 and 8 respectively.

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had on Saturday during a meeting with the Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) ahead of the March 11 governorship/state assembly elections, noted that in terms of party representation, the next 10th National Assembly is the most diverse since 1999.

So far, he said in the Senate, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) won 57 seats while the major opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) garnered 29 seats.

Others include All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) – 1; Labour Party (LP) – 6; New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) – 2; Social Democratic Party (SDP) – 2, and Young Progressive Party (YPP) – 1.

In the House of Representatives, APC won 162 seats; PDP – 102; APGA – 4; LP – 34; NNPP – 18; SDP 2; YPP – 1, and African Democratic Congress (ADC) – 2.

Given the above configuration, the elections of the presiding officers in both chambers of the 10th National Assembly promise to be interesting.

Ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly on June 13, 2023, some lawmakers-elect have begun lobbying for the presidency of the Senate and Speakership of the House of Representatives.

Apart from the Senate presidency and House Speakership, other positions that will be filled include that of the deputy Senate president and deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists have killed over 200 members of the outlawed Boko Haram insurgents and their family members in a rivalry fight in Gezuwa camp – one of the terrorists’ dreaded enclaves in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

No fewer than 560 members of the Boko Haram insurgents including top commanders, fighters and abductees have surrendered to the military, sources said.

Daily Trust had reported how troops of the 25 Task Force Brigade of Operation Hadin Kai with the help of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) dislodged Gezuwa and Mantari general areas last month.

A top source told Daily Trust that the insurgents surrendered in Bama, Mafa, and Konduga local government areas of Borno State.

Our correspondent got a hint that after the military crackdown on the camp, the ISWAP faction took over the camp, which further intensified the rivalry with the insurgent group.

“More than 560 people including top commanders, fighters, farmers, women and children have so far surrendered.

“As the crisis intensified, top commanders from the Boko Haram faction, including Laminu, who was in charge of the group’s gun trucks, and the handler of other lethal weapons, conceded defeat and decided to surrender to the Nigerian authorities.

“Others include Baana Mainari who was Amir Zakkat, a commander in charge of collecting dues and paying levies; K. Sheriff, the Amir Safara in charge of transportation, and Ba’agoyi Munzir, who served as an informant,” a top source revealed.

Corroborating, a counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad, Zagazola Makama, claimed that at least 1,250 fleeing Boko Haram fighters and families have surrendered to Nigerian troops in the country’s North East in the last seven days following a deadly clash with the rival ISWAP that claimed over 200 lives.

He said the ISWAP stormed another hideout in Asinari, Ashanari and Masarmari area in Konduga on March 1 and killed scores of other fighters.

Makama further explained that the sustained inter-rivalry clash of the groups triggered the massive surrendering of the militants in Mafa, Konduga and Bama local government areas.

“So far, we have received 1,250 fighters and their families within one week. This overwhelming number was the highest we have received in a very short period in different parts of the theatre.

“The surrendered suspects who also came out with about 1,000 livestock confessed that the ISWAP were after their lives as they do not spare women and children,” Makama added.

Reports have it that ₦2,949,557,867 has been illegally transferred from the accounts of African fintech unicorn, Flutterwave.

The tech giant’s counsel, Albert Onimole, reported the case to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Intelligence Department, Panti, Yaba, Techcabal reported.

According to Onimole’s letter, the hack on Flutterwave’s accounts occurred about some weeks ago revealing that the said sum was initially transferred to 28 accounts in 63 transactions.

Although the accounts that received the money were listed, the police are yet to freeze the receiving accounts to prevent the money being moved.

According to Flutterwave, some commercial banks allowed the money to be moved to other accounts, widening the money trail.

To investigate the accounts holding the stolen funds across various financial institutions in Nigeria, S.A. Adedesin, Legal Officer, State CID, Panti, Yaba, filed a suit in the Magistrate Court of Lagos to support Flutterwave’s claims.

Fintech firm gets digital payment licence
The suit is between the Commissioner of Police and the affected 28 commercial banks.

While there are no documents to confirm if the court has ruled in favour of Inspector Micheal’s motion, some people have confirmed that their accounts have been frozen in connection to the hack.

Per the motion filed by Adebesin, 107 accounts, including fifth beneficiaries of those accounts, are to be placed on lien/Post-No-Debit (PND).

With the stolen funds distributed across several accounts, which, according to tweets, may or may not have anything to do with the hack, it is not clear at this time who hacked Flutterwave.

Questions about how hackers got past Flutterwave’s security and what this means for the unicorn’s customers remain unanswered. As of press time, Flutterwave hasn’t responded to our questions.

Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling on old naira notes, Daily Sun investigations revealed that businesses as well as transporters in Lagos metropolis rejected the notes stating that it is awaiting President Muhammadu Buhari’s stamp on the court ruling.

The Supreme Court had initially ruled that the old Naira notes remain legal tender till 31 December 2023, as it set aside the deadline of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

However, in its new ruling on Friday, the Supreme Court said that all the old notes would remain legal tender until December 31, 2023, thus nullifying the Naira redesign policy.

The court also noted that no reasonable notice was given to the public in line with Section 20 of the CBN Act of 2007.

On this premise, the CBN extended the legality of the notes to December 31, 2023, on the note that most countries allow old and new notes to circulate simultaneously for not less than one year.

It will be recalled that in December 2022, the CBN announced a currency redesign and said the old N200, N500, and N1,000 notes would stop being legal tender by February 10.

On the back of this,16 Nigerian state governors pushed back against the policy, suing the Federal Government, asking the court to put a hold on the policy.

The Supreme Court ruled in favour of the governors, stopping the FG from implementing the February 10 deadline. But there was uncertainty over whether the court had jurisdiction, as there were also questions about whether the CBN, an independent body, should obey the court’s judgment as it was not a party to the suit.

Eventually, the FG implemented the deadline, only conceding that old N200 notes would remain legal tender for another 60 days.

President Buhari admitted in a broadcast that the CBN undertook the currency redesign on his orders.

Although, Friday’s judgment was meant to bring the much-needed clarity with the Supreme Court ruling, however, businesses in areas like Ajah, Orile, Alaba insisted that they had lost a whole lot and would rather wait on the Federal Government or the CBN to release a statement backing up the ruling despite the court’s insistence that the currency redesign policy could not be handed down after a private conversation with the CBN governor.

Emeka Felix, a dealer in electronic gadgets, said, “It is enough that the system is bastardized and now the supreme court has come with this one. I do not think Nigeria knows what it is doing again. We are now the laughing stock of other nations. The government has failed us all. I am still going to stick to having money transferred to my account for transactions.

Also speaking, Eze Calistus, a driver, said he will not be taking old notes from passengers because these old notes have not been in circulation all these time.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Saturday, said plans are underway by his administration alongside Ogun and Lagos state governments to light-up the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

Makinde, who stated this while appearing on State Affairs, a political programme on Splash FM 105.5, Ibadan, said that he had initiated a discussion with his colleague in Lagos state and that the three states would work on the possibility of lighting up the entire stretch of the expressway, if elected for second tenure.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Taiwo Adisa, said, “The proposed project will benefit all the three states. Under Omituntun 2.0, we are exploring and I am talking to my colleagues in Ogun and Lagos states. We have a 120km stretch from Lagos to Ibadan. What we have done under the Light-Up Oyo project is to put infrastructure on 250km of our road. So, we can do it. There is nothing that says if you are coming from Lagos, there cannot be light every night between Lagos and Ibadan. I can give you that assurance that it will happen.

“As for Lagos, they have up to the bridge head at Berger, and Ogun State has up to Onigaari. They have the longest stretch. And if we say each state should bear the burden accordingly, they will bear the lion share. “But I told my colleague in Lagos that this is something that should benefit all of us. Even if we have to share the burden in such a way that Ogun State is encouraged to come in, we will do it. But this is something that will happen under Omituntun 2.0.”

The governor, who equally used the opportunity of the programme to give a scorecard of his administration across the four pillars of the government, called on residents of the state to re-elect him on Saturday, March 11 and also vote for Peoples Democratic Party candidates for House of Assembly seats.

He said, “The fact that the state has been stable socially, economically and politically under his watch meant that Saturday’s election is a no-contest, adding that the people have vowed never to return to politics of desperation (jagba politics).”

Makinde said that though the election is a one-day event, its effect and ramification will stay with residents for another four years.

He equally declared that he was certain that the people have absolute trust in him to continue the socio-political stability being enjoyed in the state.

“So, I want to urge our people to come out and not be afraid. Come out and make your choice. Vote for me again. What we have enjoyed for over three years in the state was the result of the step you took by voting for me on March 9th, 2019. Now, on the 11th of March, 2023, go out and do the same thing and we will have an Oyo State of your dreams.

“Now, we are talking about civil servants and pensioners being paid for 45 months unbroken out of 48 months of this tenure. That is about 94 per cent really gone. So, if we want to extend it and not stop at 48 but go to 49, 50 and even to 96, then, come out to vote for PDP and all the PDP House of Assembly candidates. I will work with the House of Assembly members who will approve budgets and bills that we want to turn into law.

“So, please vote en masse for the PDP next Saturday.”

Speaking on what residents of the state should expect under Omituntun 2.0, Makinde declared that residents of the state have not seen anything yet in terms of infrastructure development and economic expansion, stating that the government would, upon his re-election, activate a lot of projects including the Ilutuntun Business District in Akinyele, which he said will have a digital technology hub for the youths.

While reacting to questions on how his administration has fared in the education sector, the governor pointed out that the administration has been able to put in place a massive infrastructure reform in the sector, while also successfully moving about 60,000 students back to the classrooms through its various efforts on provision of free and qualitative education.

He boasted that the administration’s success story in the tertiary education sector included the consistent ranking of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, LAUTECH, as the best state university in the country in the last three years.

By Monday Eze


The February 25th presidential and national assembly elections which have become controversial due to the inglorious roles of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have revealed the true colour of INEC and reinvented Nigeria’s leadership problem which has been the bane of the Nigerian nation. In the same vein, the February 25 elections have also exposed the gullibility of Nigerians even in the face of perennial executive disappointments. The Nigerian electorate has suffered a series of electoral frauds in which their votes never counted since the history of franchise in Nigeria.

This led to general loss of confidence and interest in the electoral system which, over the years, culminated into a culture of impervious voter apathy. In the 2019 general elections which preceded the 2023 general elections, Nigeria ranked tops in voter apathy in Africa. Before 2023, one often finds Nigerians of the age of franchise engaging in pastimes on election days notwithstanding the crucial significance of voting. When confronted, a typical apathetic Nigerian voter would always retort that there was no need casting votes that would not count.

This became a great challenge for both the electoral commission and the Nigerian government. With time, conduct of credible elections became a flagship promise of several administrations, hence the periodic amendments of the electoral act aimed at giving hope of credible elections. The high point of these amendments of the electoral law in Nigeria was the introduction of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS), and electronic transmission of election results directly from polling units in the 2022 Electoral Act! These two clauses were the catalysts that reawakened Nigerians’ interests in the electoral process.

Consequently, Nigerians of the age of suffrage who did not register as voters abandoned their respective engagements for days in order to register as voters. This sent the first signal to the Nigerian political elites that they were under the threat of being dislodged from their comfort zone where they have so much underperformed.

The entrance of Mr. Peter Obi into the presidential race on the platform of the Labour Party and the ripples he created in the polity with his charismatic campaigns brought the threats home to the cult of mischievous Nigerian political elites. As a result, the political elites recoiled and began the frustration of the new political system.

They found willing allies in INEC. In this column published on January 14 and entitled “INEC And The Conspiracy Against Democracy”, I had alerted Nigerians of this negative alliance in the following words: “The political re-awakening, enthusiasm and positive pressure arising from the new legal framework or electoral act do not seem to suit the Nigerian political elites who constitute the prime beneficiaries of the old defective order. Consequently, the gerontocrats that populate the Nigerian political elite club seem to have recoiled into their covens to hatch a plan to jolt the successful implementation of the revolutionary electoral act.

These politicians seem to have willing conspirators in some sensitive officers of INEC whose leadership appears to be dominated by agents of the now threatened old political brigade. “[b]Having seemingly hacked into the over-rated INEC, these enemies of the unfolding new Nigeria muted the electoral umpire in a conspiracy of silence designed to frustrate the successful conduct of the make-or-mar 2023 general elections! As a result of this novel conspiracy, INEC refused to volunteer necessary information or call attention to relevant issues that required to be solved in order to facilitate successful conduct of the 2023 general elections in line with the extant provisions of Electoral Act 2022.” The bizarre drama which characterised the conduct and collation of the 2023 presidential and national assembly elections are stubborn proofs that the conspiracy of INEC and the Nigerian political elites have succeeded in ruining what was otherwise an excellent electoral system. As usual, the conspirators who have promoted deceit to creed had no problems making the trust and confidence which Nigerians reposed both in INEC and the leadership of the country the casualties of this electoral fraud.[/b]

However, it is pertinent to state that hapless Nigerian citizens played into the hands of INEC by failing to hold INEC to follow her rules during the elections! The 2023 Electoral Act made the polling units the only political theatre for all the elections. According to it, through the use of BVAS and electronic transmission of poll results from the polling units on election days, an election could be won, lost, concluded, cancelled or rescheduled. In subsequent elections, Nigerians should insist on the right things in the right venues.

Moving open-ended elections or polls away from the polling units under any guise was an act of rigging and illegality. Results of elections not conducted with BVAS and or not transmitted through BVAS from the polling unit was null and void. Allowing INEC staff leave the polling unit without transmitting the results or formally declaring the election inconclusive or cancelled is an act of compromise on the part of the electorate of that particular polling unit.

It was this condonation of the illegality of moving ongoing elections from polling units that offered INEC and her officials the opportunity to mercilessly rig the elections like they have don make-or-mar 2023 general elections! As a result of this novel conspiracy, INEC refused to volunteer necessary information or call attention to relevant issues that required to be solved in order to facilitate successful conduct of the 2023 general elections in line with the extant provisions of Electoral Act 2022.”

The bizarre drama which characterised the conduct and collation of the 2023 presidential and national assembly elections are stubborn proofs that the conspiracy of INEC and the Nigerian political elites have succeeded in ruining what was otherwise an excellent electoral system. As usual, the conspirators who have promoted deceit to creed had no problems making the trust and confidence which Nigerians reposed both in INEC and the leadership of the country the casualties of this electoral fraud. However, it is pertinent to state that hapless Nigerian citizens played into the hands of INEC by failing to hold INEC to follow her rules during the elections! The 2023 Electoral Act made the polling units the only political theatre for all the elections.

According to it, through the use of BVAS and electronic transmission of poll results from the polling units on election days, an election could be won, lost, concluded, cancelled or rescheduled. In subsequent elections, Nigerians should insist on the right things in the right venues. Moving open-ended elections or polls away from the polling units under any guise was an act of rigging and illegality. Results of elections not conducted with BVAS and or not transmitted through BVAS from the polling unit was null and void. Allowing INEC staff leave the polling unit without transmitting the results or formally declaring the election inconclusive or cancelled is an act of compromise on the part of the electorate of that particular polling unit. It was this condonation of the illegality of moving ongoing elections from polling units that offered INEC and her officials the opportunity to mercilessly rig the elections like they have done

First Lady, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, has congratulated the wife of the President-elect, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on the success of her husband at the poll.

She spoke during a courtesy visit by Mrs. Tinubu to the State House, Abuja, on Thursday, March 2, 2023.

According to a statement by her media office, Mrs. Buhari said the President-elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima, would not betray the trust and confidence that Nigerians repose in them.

While praying that Mrs. Tinubu’s tenure as First Lady will be marked with joy and success, she noted the sacrifices that many women made during the campaign and election periods, especially the APC Women’s presidential campaign team.

“We say great kudos to you all. Your efforts have confirmed that women hold a huge stake in elective power in Nigeria,” she stated.

She recalled how vigorously issues of gender mainstreaming and affirmative action were pursued by her office and expressed confidence that, as a parliamentarian, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu will continue where she leaves off.

Earlier, the wife of the President-elect, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, said she was at the Presidential Villa to express her gratitude for the motherly role that the First Lady played during the campaign and urged her to continue to provide the same level of support at all times.

Mrs. Tinubu noted that the First Lady has been exceptional during the town halls, rallies, and door-to-door campaigns, in both her words and her deeds, and said her contribution will be remembered for a long time to come.

On the entourage of Mrs. Tinubu were Mrs. Nana Kashim Shettima, wife of the Vice President-elect, the woman leader of the APC, Dr. Betta Eduh, APC Women campaign coordinator, Dr. Asabe Vilita Bashir, wives of governors, and other party officials.

IN the early hours of Wednesday, March 1, 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, declared the result of the presidential election which held on Saturday, February 25. Rather than jubilation, a pall of silence descended on the nation because many believe that their electoral will, freely expressed, had been subverted by suborned officials.

As the reality of what had happened dawned on them, many were speechless, others simply wore long faces, not believing that fellow citizens could execute such an unconscionable electoral heist. Thirty years ago, precisely on June 12, 1993, I voted for the first time in my life in a presidential election. Of course, that wasn’t when I attained the voting age. I was already a graduate and staff of Guardian Newspapers Limited. But I was a minor, electorally speaking, when the 1983 elections took place and, therefore, had no franchise to vote.

I still remember the excitement in the air on that fateful day. Nigerians trooped out in their numbers to exercise their inalienable right, which democracy affords them, to decide who superintends over the affairs of their country. The enthusiasm of 30 years ago could only be rivalled by the zest on Saturday when patriotism beckoned on Nigerians to, once again, exercise their civic duty of electing their leaders. Just like in 1993, Nigerians had looked up to this election with great hope. Many were at their patriotic best, helping INEC officials in any way they could. Where there was no ink pad, they provided. They provided ink, markers and other materials despite the fact that INEC collected well over N305 billion of the nation’s scarce resources from the Federal Government, not to talk of the unquantifiable help from international development agencies, to conduct the election.

In places where the election dragged into the night, Nigerians provided their personal generators to ensure there was light. Where that was not available, people used the headlights of their cars to illuminate the polling centres. The zeal of the youths was overwhelming. The Gen Z, those starry-eyed young men and women, born in the late 1990s and early 2000s, most of whom were voting for the first time, lit up the atmosphere with their democratic fervour.

Being a generation seen as confident users of new technology, their passion was buoyed by the unequivocal promise by INEC that the elections would be the most technologically driven, ever, in Nigeria.

Last Saturday, the average Nigerian “big man” who would rather stay back home and watch cable television on election days, came out to vote. Teenagers that hitherto would convert empty streets to football arenas went to the polling booths to cast their ballots. Youths abandoned the ongoing Big Brother Titans, the reality television show, to queue up at voting centres for hours on end. In fact, in some places in Abuja, they spent more than 24 hours, to ensure that they voted.

But after all these sacrifices, the result Yakubu announced was grossly at variance with the votes cast by the electorate and duly counted and recorded at the polling booths. And just as many were deflated after the General Ibrahim Babangida-led junta annulled the June 12, 1993 election, Nigerians have once again been let down by those whose duty it is to uphold the sanctity of the ballot. They have been handed a poisoned chalice. For too long, I had hoped that Nigeria would ultimately get it right despite the serial disappointments from leaders who continue to treat the citizens most contemptuously. But this electoral heist, the worst since the return of democracy in 1999, is the axiomatic last straw that broke the camel’s back. Nigerian politicians are not prepared for democracy and trooping out every four years in the name of elections is tantamount to legitimising their shenanigans. The ballot I cast on February 25, 2023, will be the last time I will ever do so in this country.

Now, those who have been declared winners will gloat that this is sour grapes. It is not. As Usman Dan Fodio, the progenitor of the Sokoto Caliphate, once said: “Conscience is an open wound, only the truth can heal it.” The retort from those who have benefitted from this unconscionable heist will be that politics is not a morality game. Maybe! And it need not be in the same way that football, for instance, is not a game of morality. But politics, like football, is a game governed by rules. Victory must be secured within the parameters of those established rules. A wanton violation of the rules of the game as it is the case in the February 25 presidential election detracts from the credibility of the exercise. Without the credibility of the poll, any government that emerges will suffer legitimacy crisis. Nigeria will be worse for it.

This election is in gross violation of the 2022 Electoral Act and promises made by the INEC chairman, who, apparently, took Nigerians for granted. This country deserves better. Sometime in November 2022, a story made the rounds that INEC had jettisoned the idea of uploading polling unit results in real time. An apparently flustered Yakubu was forced to react to the “rumour”. While addressing a group that came to seek assurance on the 2023 polls, the INEC chairman said: “Let me seize this opportunity to respond to a story emanating from a section of the media that the Commission has decided to jettison the uploading of polling unit level results in real time on Election Day. It should please be disregarded as fake news. The commission will upload polling units’ level results and citizens will have access to those results in real time. This innovation was introduced by the Commission. The Commission cannot turn around and undermine itself. So, this technology has come to stay. We will upload polling units’ results from the polling units. Citizens will have the right to view these results. After all, who are we serving? The citizens! How can we deprive citizens from access to the results of the process conducted by them at the level of polling units? So, I welcome you to the Commission. I want to assure you and reassure you that the 2023 general election is going to be our best-ever elections. We are committed that votes cast by Nigerians will determine the outcome of the elections. Nothing more, nothing less!”

Yakubu reneged on this solemn vow. Many of those that voted on Saturday did so because of the promise that the polling unit results will be uploaded real time and Nigerians will have unrestricted access. That didn’t happen. When some of the political parties complained at the Collation Centre, Yakubu pleaded for time to complete the collation, after which their complaints will be addressed before announcing the results. But that was another promise he never intended to keep. And he didn’t. How a man could lie so unconscionably, without any qualms of conscience, beggars belief. The question concentrating many minds is: now that INEC chairman, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, has done his worst, what next?

People have mockingly asked those dissatisfied with the result to seek redress in court. Of course, those so inclined will. But when I hear that admonition, I chuckle because it reminds me of the East African proverb which says: “Whenever a thief encourages you to go to court, just know that his elder brother is the judge.” It is a tragedy that in Nigeria’s so-called democracy, the two least trusted institutions are the Supreme Court and INEC.

Prof Mahmoud Yakubu will go down in history as the man who conducted Nigeria’s worst election. It is a self-inflicted injury. After the no-server fiasco of 2019, he had an opportunity to redeem himself but he chose not do. History will be harsh to him. But I pity President Muhammadu Buhari who told the entire world that he wants to bequeath to Nigerians a legacy of free, fair and credible elections. He has blown that opportunity. He will now proceed to Daura on May 29, after eight years of misadventure in Aso Rock, bereft of any legacy. What a tragedy!

Controversial Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi has slammed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for allegedly failing to follow proper procedure in the conduct of the just concluded presidential elections.

DAILY POST reports that there have been series of protests across the country following the declaration of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as winner of last Saturday’s poll.

The Labour Party and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had vowed to challenge the results, alleging that the electoral body was compromised by the ruling party.

According to the aggrieved party, INEC violated the new electoral law by failing to uploaded results before collation.

Reacting to the controversy, Gumi in a statement on Thursday posted in his official Facebook page, asked the aggrieved parties to seek redress in court.

He, however, warned against violent protest, citing the country’s challenges and the fact that the polity is tensed up already.

The statement reads, “I implore the opposition parties as an obligatory national duty to go to the election tribunal and up to the Supreme Court to reestablish the supremacy of law and to teach our younger generation the value of resolving disputes through legal means rather than violence.

“The polity is already very tense, and any government that lacks credibility cannot suppress the people, especially at this troubling time when every region has armed agitating groups that are willing to exploit political instability to augment their rebellion.

“Let the entire litigation process run its course. It has a great deal of importance for our national health.

“The I.N.E.C has failed the nation by sowing more distrust and suspicion because it failed to follow its own guidelines in conducting last week’s elections.

“Fortunately, that is the first step in seeking legitimacy; therefore aggrieved parties should go to court.

“We sincerely hope the courts of law this time will also prove its worth and uphold the truth. It’s the last hope that Nigerians can resort to, otherwise, it will lead to chaos that no other force can contain as the nation is already polarized along religious and tribal fault lines.

“Nigeria is our only country; we have to save it from calamity by acting bravely, honestly free from political hypocrisy that requires putting thorny issues under the rug.

“May Allah protect us from all tribulations and give this nation peace and tranquility. Amin”.

The corpse of a young woman has been found dumped near Judges Quarters in Makurdi, Benue State.

Our correspondent reports that the incident happened barely a few days ago after the police recovered the corpse of an undergraduate in the same area.

A witness, who craved anonymity, alleged that the victim was a pregnant mentally ill woman roaming the vicinity, adding that her killers tore her tummy open and went away with her foetus.

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident, noting that the body has been removed.

The equity market on the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX) ended its five-day gaining streak as performance indices shed 0.53 per cent due to sell-offs in medium and large-capitalised stocks.

The market capitalisation dropped by N162 billion or 0.53 per cent, to close at N30.238 trillion as against the N30.4 trillion recorded on Tuesday.

Also, the All-Share Index (ASI) declined by 297.65 points to close at 55,508.61 compared with 55,806.26 posted in the previous session.

The downturn was due to selloffs in, mainly in telco heavyweight, Airtel Africa and others. As a result, the year-to-date return fell to 8.31 per cent.

“Positive sentiments remain in the market, as seen in the number of gainers versus losers. We expect to see profit taking in some selected stocks that have rallied in recent sessions, while market breadth remain in the green,” said analysts at Vetiva Securities Ltd.

Also, market breadth closed positive with 24 stocks on the gainer’s table, while 10 on the losers’. Veritas Kapital Assurance led the gainers’ chart in percentage terms by 10 per cent to close at 22k, per share. Ardova followed with 9.76 per cent to close at N18.55, while Wema Bank grew by 8.75 per cent to close at N4.35, per share.

The Iniative rose 8.33 per cent to close at 52k, while Geregu Powers appreciated by 8.20 per cent to close at N298.10, per share. On the other hand, John Holt led the losers’ chart in percentage terms by 6.66 per cent to close at N1.59, per share.

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) followed with 7.69 per cent to close at N12, while Airtel Africa dropped by 5.25 to close at N1,535, per share.

United Capital shed 3.91 per cent to close at 14.75, while FTN Cocoa Processors lost 3.45 to close at 28k, per share. The trade turnover increased by 36.73 per cent to 228.49 million units, valued at N4.44 billion and exchanged in 3,6 deals. Transactions in the shares of Capital Hotel topped the activity chart with 333.24 million shares valued at N2.33 billion.

Transcorp followed with 44.89 million shares worth N67 million, while Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) traded 46.63 million shares valued at N126 billion.

Oando traded 19.98 million shares valued at N102.33 million, while Access Holdings transacted 19.42 million shares worth N186.21 million.

Hours after Nigerians lamented a picture of a female uploaded by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as a result in the portal, the Commission is yet to delete it.

DAILY POST checks found that the picture is still on the INEC result portal.

The upload was done in Ado Ekiti Local Government Area, Ward ‘B’ Inisa polling unit created on the portal on February 26.

Also, the image’s background indicates the picture was taken in a bathroom.

There have been complaints from a cross-section of Nigerians on INEC’s failure to upload the results.

At the National Collation Centre yesterday, DAILY POST reports the agents of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sen Dino Maleye; and Labour Party queried INEC for not uploading results on the INEC Viewing Portal, iREV.

The presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, would most likely meet the constitutional requirement of 25 per cent of total votes cast in 24 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This is based on the results so far released at the state collation centres of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, is trailing.

Section 134 (2) of the Nigerian Constitution requires the candidate in a presidential race to get at least 25 per cent of the votes in two-thirds of the states in order to be declared winner.

An analysis of the results trickling in so far showed that Tinubu will get 25 per cent in at least 17 of the 19 northern states.

He is however likely to have issues in Taraba and Plateau states.

The Asiwaju will get 25 per cent in all the six states in the South West.

In the South East, he might not get the required 25 per cent in all the five states.

However, he is likely to meet the 25 per cent threshold in Edo (South South) and the FCT, thereby giving him one state above the required 24 states to win the presidency.

Atiku is likely to get the 25 per cent requirement in 17 states in the North with the exception of Kano and Benue based on results released in the states so far.

He is also likely to get the required 25 per cent in five of the six states in the South West with the exception of Lagos.

In the South East, like Tinubu, Atiku might not meet the requirement in the five states of the zone.

Analysis shows that he might get the 25 per cent requirement in Edo and Delta states in the South South in addition to the FCT, giving him the total of 24 states required.

Peter Obi will get the required 25 per cent in the 11 states of the South East and South South, as well as in the North Central states of Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau.

He is also expected to get 25 per cent in Adamawa and Taraba in North East; in addition to Lagos and FCT to end up with 18 states as he might not make any headway in the North West.

However, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) is not expected to win in any other state apart from Kano.


How they fared in states

As Nigerians look forward to the final declaration of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections by INEC, results collated at the state level as of press time showed the performance of the leading flag bearers in some LGAs.

This is even as INEC yesterday adjourned the collation of results at the national collation centre in Abuja to today, after declaring the presidential result for Ekiti State which was won by Tinubu.

INEC state Collation Officer and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila Orangun, Osun State, Professor Akeem Olawale Lasisi, said the APC polled 201,494 votes to win the state, while, Atiku got 89,654 votes to come second.

Obi recorded 11,397 votes to come third.

Elsewhere, Tinubu won in 18 LGAs in Ogun State.

The declared results indicated that Tinubu was leading his opponents with 251,102 votes.

Atiku on the other hand scored 104,118 votes while Obi got 48,226 votes.

The local government areas won by Tinubu include Remo North, Ikenne, Egbado South, Ewekoro, Abeokuta North, Ijebu North and Ijebu North-East.

Others are Imeko Afon, Odeda, Egbado North, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, Ipokia, Odogbolu, Abeokuta South, Ogun Waterside and Ijebu East. However, results from the remaining three local government areas of Ifo, Obafemi Owode and Ado-Odo Ota were still been expected for collation.


Atiku leads Tinubu in 11 Bauchi LGAs

In Bauchi, our correspondent reports that Atiku was leading in 11 of the 20 local government areas of the state where results were collated.

The results were collated by the Bauchi State Returning Officer for the presidential election, Professor Ahmed Sarki Fagam, at INEC office in Bauchi.

The LGAs won by Atiku are Warji, Bogoro, Dass, Jama’are, Dambam, Giade, Darazo, Kirfi, Katagum and Ganjuwa.


Tinubu leads Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso in Niger

In Niger State, the presidential results from 10 local governments out 25 LGAs were declared yesterday.

Tinubu scored 143,404 votes and was followed by Atiku who pulled 125,292 votes.

Tinubu led in Wushishi, Rafi, Gbako, Gurara, Bosso, Lavun and Paikoro LGAs while Atiku led in Katcha, Mokwa and Edati respectively.


Obi leads in Ebonyi, Tinubu in Kwara

In Ebonyi State, Obi was leading in all the 13 LGAs according to the results declared yesterday.

In Kwara State, Tinubu won seven out of the 16 LGAs so far released by INEC and Atiku came second.

The seven councils won by Tinubu are Asa, Isin, Offa, Oke- Ero, Ilorin East, Ekiti and Irepodun.


Obi leads in 5 Edo LGs

The Edo State Collation Officer and Vice Chancellor, University of Uyo, Prof. Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, yesterday released the results of the presidential election in five local governments of the state – Igueben, Esan Central, Esan North East, Egor and Esan South East.

From the results, LP garnered 86,285 votes followed by APC with 18,219 votes while PDP came third with 15040 votes.


Atiku leads in 11 Adamawa LGAs

In Adamawa, which is his home state, Atiku was leading in 11 of the 21 local government areas in the state.

Going by the declared results, Atiku was leading in Lamurde, Shelleng, Toungo, Guyuk, Ganye, Mayo Belwa, Fufore, Song, Numan, Demsa and Yola South.

Tinubu won only in Girei LGA.


INEC rules out sabotage

INEC said yesterday that the problems it had with its results Viewing Portal (IReV) were not an act of sabotage.

Its National Commissioner and Chairman of, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, who stated this in Abuja on Sunday, acknowledged that the commission was aware of challenges with the IReV.

“The commission regrets this setback, especially because of the importance of IReV in our results management process.

“The problem is totally due to technical hitches related to scaling up the IReV from a platform for managing off-season state elections, to one for managing nationwide general elections.

The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi is leading by votes in the results of the Presidential election held in Lagos on Saturday.

17 local governments had been declared by INEC as at 3:30 am before the collation was adjourned to 10: 00 am.

However, APC’s Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is leading in the local governments with 10 LGs already in his kitty while LP has won seven.

The local governments won by Tinubu include Agege, Apapa, Badagry, Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland and Surulere.

Obi on the other hand has in his bag Eti-Osa, Amuwo Odofin, Ikeja, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo and Somolu.

In total, Obi has polled 449,088 votes while Tinubu has so far garnered 416,,431 votes, leaving .

Only the results of Alimosho, Ojo and Mushin are being expected.

Mushin LG’s result was initially announced by the Collation Officer but it was rejected to some dispute in the figure.

Tinubu, a former Governor of the State, is still projected to win the majority votes in the state with Alimosho, Ojo and Mushin results being expected.

Alimosho which is the largest local government in the state may likely give the APC Presidential Candidate an edge over his arch-rival while he has also won Mushin.

But Obi is projected to win Ojo, an area dominated by non-indigenes especially the Igbos.

As the result of Saturday’s presidential and National assembly elections continue trickling in, there has been growing concern over uploading of blurry result sheets on the INEC portal.

Checks by our reporter observed that figures in some of the result sheets uploaded as of the time of filing this report are not visible.

Tribune Online earlier reported that the President of INEC, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, while meeting with foreign observers on Wednesday, had explained that raw election figures will not be transmitted electronically.

According to him, the presiding officers would be required to use the BVAS to snap the election results on the results sheet from each polling unit, and upload them on INEC Result Viewing Portal for Nigerians to see.

He added that the decision was taken to avoid hacking as raw figures were more susceptible to hacking.

The Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB) says all bank branches and digital channels will be open for banking services before, during, and after the elections.

The association said this in a statement signed by its president, Mr Rasheed Bolarinwa, on Wednesday in Lagos.

The body said that Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) had not received any directive from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to shut down banking services for five days, as stated in a fake press release.

“The attention of the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks has been drawn to the trending social media message purporting that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was shutting down banking services for five days from Thursday, 23rd to Monday 27th February 2023 because of the general elections holding in Nigeria over next two weekends.

“ACAMB hereby wishes to debunk the fake news in its entirety and wishes to assure Nigerians and the banking public that there is no iota of truth in the viral message that is being circulated.

“Up until this moment, no Deposit Money Banks or other institutions providing financial services have received any directive or communication from the CBN to close the doors of their physical banking halls or shut their digital platforms and online banking channels against their customers because of elections.

“ACAMB further wishes to assure customers that their respective banks have put in place measures to ensure that depositors can as usual, access money in their accounts during this period.

“Also, customers who wish to carry out transfers or use electronic banking services will have unhindered access to these services before, during, and after the elections,” it said.

It urged Nigerians not to panic, urging them to ignore the trending message maliciously concocted to cause disaffection among the citizenry and the DMBs.

It advised Nigerians to be peaceful and orderly during the elections, wishing the nation a successful conduct of free, fair, and credible elections.

ACAMB is the umbrella body of Corporate and Marketing Communications Professionals working in Nigeria’s banking sector. (NAN)

By Victor Edozie


A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, has remanded the lawmaker representing Etche/Omuma federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Ephraim Nwuzi, to the Nigerian Correctional Centre in the state.

This followed a remand proceeding preferred against him by the Rivers State Police Command.

The police had accused the federal lawmaker, who is also the All Progressives Congress candidate for Etche-Omuma Federal Constituency in the February 25, 2023 election of treasonable felony, conspiracy, motion of communal crisis and inciting violence.

When the matter was mentioned in Court on Wednesday, counsel to the accused, Emenike Ebete, made an oral bail application.

The bail application was however opposed by the prosecution and the Investigation Police Officers in charge of the matter, requesting that Hon Nwuzi be remanded to pave the way for proper investigation and arraignment.

Chief Magistrate O Amadi-Nna after listening to the arguments remanded Ephraim Nwuzi based on the allegations.

Speaking to newsmen outside the court session, Counsel to the federal lawmaker, said the offences preferred against his client were insufficient to warrant a remand.

Ebete stated, “We have also submitted to the court that the offences disclosed in the particulars and affidavit attached to the alleged allegations were not sufficient enough for him to be remanded.

“The court in its wisdom held that the offences are gracious and that he should be remanded in prison custody until the 3rd of March 2023, pending when a charge will be preferred against him by the state.”

Our correspondent gathered that Nwuzi was arrested on Wednesday morning at his residence in Chokocho, Etche LGA by policemen, who allegedly broke into his apartment.

Recall that the spokesperson of the state Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko in a statement said the Supervising Assistant Inspector General of Police for the elections in Rivers State, Abutu Yaro, had invited Hon. Nwuzi over an inciting video where he allegedly directed his supporters to attack some persons, including officials of INEC during the elections.

The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party sees the presidential elections as a massive task and has decided to deal with the alleged anti-party activities of Governor Nyesom Wike-led Integrity Group after the elections, The PUNCH has learnt.

The PUNCH reports that Wike of Rivers State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo) pulled out of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council last year, insisting that except the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, quits his position, they wouldn’t have anything to do with the campaigns.

Following Ayu’s refusal to go and the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar’s apparent non-interest in the sacking of the former Senate President, the governors have since pitched their tents with their preferred presidential candidates.

While Makinde and Wike were said to be allegedly working for the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Tinubu, Ortom has openly endorsed the candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, even as Ikpeazu and Ugwuanyi are reportedly torn between Atiku and Obi.

Findings, however, revealed that Ayu would wield the big stick after the polls to demonstrate the supremacy of the party in line with the PDP constitution.

A member of the PDP National Executive Committee and former governor of a North-West state told our correspondent in confidence that the action of the aggrieved governors infuriated party stakeholders across the board, warning that failure to call them to order would raise a lot of questions from loyal members of the party.

The NEC member said, “We watched every day how these leaders ridiculed the party. Nobody said they had no reasons to be aggrieved, but we generally agreed that there were other ways to speak on the issues than the way they did.

“When the elders (Board of Trustees) intervened, we all thought the crisis was over, but it only got worse. We expect some sanctions, although the leadership of the party will set in motion what to do with them.

“At the NEC, it was nothing short of a disgrace to wake up to see governors dancing not in solidarity with their party, but with rival parties to cast aspersions on the same PDP that catapulted them to national prominence.

“It’s a good thing that Ayu is focused on the elections, but we would like to see what happens after that.”

When reached for comment, Ibrahim Abdullahi, the PDP’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, refused to confirm or deny the fate of the Integrity Group, telling our correspondent that “we will wait until it is confirmed” what the party intends to do.

The biggest indication of what lies ahead for the Wike-led group came from the Deputy National Youth Leader of the party, Timothy Osadolor, who told The PUNCH that sanction for the aggrieved governors “is not a question of if but when.”

Osadolor stated, “How else could they have worked against the party than they have already? If they didn’t know that there would be sanctions, they wouldn’t be running to their states’ High Courts to procure ex-parte orders, but they are merely buying time.

“They know that they have erred, and the full wrath of the law will fall upon them. It’s not a matter of if, but of when.”

Osadolor added, “When the dust of elections is over, the party will revisit the issue. The party is supreme. Head or tail, their issue will be treated.

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje declared that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) inflicted suffering on Nigerians from what he described as “COVID-23” following the worsening scarcity of naira notes.

Mr Ganduje said while distributing palliatives to residents to cushion the effect of the naira scarcity at the Government House on Monday.

”Today, our citizens are being faced with COVID-23 caused by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),” the governor said in reference to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) that ravaged the world for more than two years.

Since the banknotes were unveiled on December 15, Nigerians have struggled to get them from banks and automated teller machines nationwide.

Mr Ganduje, who stressed that Nigerians faced the hardships they did not bargain for, said no one foresaw them.

”We earlier thought it was a simple disease, but unfortunately, it turned out to be a very serious virus. This virus which came from the CBN, has affected all our commercial banks, our POS, our ATMs and all other things associated with this,” he explained.

Mr Ganduje added, “We will not stop blaming the CBN for this economic blunder. We love our people. Therefore anything that will disturb their well-being must be rejected.”

The governor said Kano, the country’s most populous state, is the most affected by the unfortunate development.

He said beneficiaries of the palliatives are from all the 44 local government areas of the state.

Mr Ganduje faulted those supporting the hardship caused by the ill-timed naira redesign, describing it as unfortunate.

(NAN)

The Theartre Commander, North East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, OPHK,, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Ali has said that the Naira swap and cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, mitigated violent extremism in the North East.

He stated this while interacting with members of the Nigerian Union of Journalist, NUJ, Borno State Council, on Tuesday in Maiduguri.

The commander described the policy as a positive step, adding that it has mitigated terrorists’ activities since inception.

“The terrorists who had been exposed to hardship living conditions have resorted to kidnapping, seeking for ransom in cash and requesting for food stuff from their victims,” he said.

He said that the terrorists had also resorted to propaganda on social media in their desperate attempt to remain relevant.

NAN

The Peoples Democratic Party Campaign Council in Rivers State has alleged that a former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, is working secretly for the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar.

This is as the state PDP campaign council said it had identified Amaechi as a member of the “wicked cabal” punishing Nigerians with the current fuel and naira scarcity.

The Director of Publicity and Communications, Rivers State PDP-CC, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, stated this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday.

Nwuke challenged Amaechi, a former Governor of Rivers State, to deny that he was not part of those making life unbearable and a nightmare for citizens.

He further alleged that Amaechi recently reconciled with members of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council in the state and has since been working secretly and holding meetings with Atiku and others in the cabal.

The statement partly read, “Nigerians have been forced to go through the eye of the needle in search of money with which to meet their daily needs and feed their families.

“Unknown to most Nigerians, the vicious cabal that has made it a duty to inflict pain and suffering on the rest of us has done so deliberately in order to influence the outcome of the forthcoming elections.

“As a political party, we have gathered credible intelligence which supports the view that the leader of the APC, Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi, is a member of the cabal that has caused the naira crisis as well as the fuel scarcity and brought untold hardships on ordinary Rivers people and other Nigerians.

“Only recently, he reconciled with members of the presidential campaign council in Rivers State as part of the carefully woven plot. We equally know for certain that he has been holding secret meetings with the PDP presidential candidate.”

Continuing, Nwuke said, “We challenge the former Minister of Transportation to deny this fact. Let him deny that he is one of those that are working with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar at this time to undermine the genuine aspiration of the people of southern Nigeria.”

He dismissed claims made by the APC governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, that Governor Nyesom Wike was making moves to join his party through the back door.

He said the comment attributed to Cole had portrayed him as a political neophyte, saying if Wike had such plan, he would dished the PDP a long time ago.

“The governor has maintained a principled position that he will not leave a party that he helped to build. The stance of Governor Nyesom Wike since the crisis erupted in the party at the national level is well known.

“He has publicly maintained a principled position that he will not leave a party that he helped to build. That position has not changed.

“Wike has insisted that he and members of the G5 would remain in the PDP in order to ensure that the tenets which made the party a destination of choice are not destroyed by power mongers and selfish politicians who have little faith in the unity and stability of Nigeria.”

The statement stressed that Wike was “going nowhere” and had “no plan today, tomorrow or in the near future” to defect from the PDP to the APC “through the front or back door.”

“Given his rabid comments,” the statement continued, “Cole has demonstrated a poor understanding of how politics works. This explains why many in the state, including politicians, think that he is an outsider.

“We believe that the APC candidate is a poor judge of circumstances, permanent interests and intervening variables in the polity which shape the present as well as the future of states and nation-states.

“From all indications, candidates of the Rivers PDP are poised to win on February 25th and again on March 11, 2023. And Rivers people who support our great party and its leadership are working tirelessly to ensure that victory is won.

“We see his comments pertaining to Governor Wike as the product of a political neophyte whose intentions as a Southerner bear huge question marks.”

But in a swift reaction, the Amaechi-led APC in the state described the PDP and Governor Wike as “confused and clueless”.

The state APC Publicity Secretary, Darlington Nwauju, pointed out that all their allegations against Amaechi had collapsed like a pack of cards.

Nwauju stated, “Nigerians can now see through the web of lies, evil machinations and sophistry of the clueless PDP administration in Rivers State as the continuous campaigns of calumny against former Governor Amaechi keep falling like a pack of cards.

“Not too long ago, Governor Wike who is the leader of the faction of PDP in Rivers State that authored these false claims, was seen on live television boasting that the former transportation minister no longer has access to Aso Rock Villa.

“Today, the same faction of the PDP shamelessly names the former Governor as a member of the cabal.

“Should we take such persons seriously? Nigerians can easily see through these tantrums as claptraps by failed politicians who have made wrong political permutations and are now struggling to point fingers.

“Even the author of the statement does not believe in what he signed off.”

Depositors of millions of old N500 and N1,000 notes are under the scrutiny of anti-corruption agencies at the Ilorin branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria, DAILY POST reports.

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC among others are on ground to monitor lodgments and educate depositors on the implications involved in depositing millions of naira with questionable sources.

Depositors, suspected to be fronting for politicians to lodge money on their behalf, are educated by the anti-graft agencies on their actions.

Security sources at the CBN branch told DAILY POST: “Depositors of millions of naira will have to approach their various commercial banks after one month when the investigation into their sources of money would have been concluded.

“The action followed suspicion that some politicians are using people as fronts to lodge money in millions on their behalf as a result of the ongoing new naira swap.”

Officials of the CBN worked on Saturday and Sunday to meet the requests of depositors according to findings by DAILY POST correspondent in Ilorin.

DAILY POST further learnt that sharp practices have been alleged by external officials involved in the exercise as depositors of millions of naira allegedly bribe their way with at least N10,000 to ensure easy processing for their lodgments.

Depositors have to go through three or four stages before counting and final judgment, an official of the bank who requested anonymity confided in DAILY POST correspondent.

He said: “Some depositors stand to forfeit their lodgments if, eventually, they could not give a proper account of their sources of income after investigation by the anti-graft agencies.”

As observed by DAILY POST on Sunday, some of the depositors that thronged the CBN arrived with sacks of naira notes to deposit as directed by the apex bank.

By Fidelis Mac-Leva, Saawua Terzungwe,


Six days to the presidential and National Assembly elections, political parties are struggling to get cash for expenditure, including the payment of allowances to agents on election day, Daily Trust on Sunday reports.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had also raised concerns that the cashless and currency swap policies of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will pose a challenge to the successful conduct of the general elections.

The commission said if nothing was done to address the cash crunch caused by the policies, it would find it difficult to deploy staff and materials for the elections as most of the services required cash to obtain.

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Yahaya Bello, said this in Abuja on Tuesday at the North-Central Stakeholders Roundtable on the 2023 election, organised by the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA).

Bello said, “Sincerely, the challenge to this election as we are going about now in the FCT and by and large, I believe all over the country, is the cash policy. Because we have already enumerated and made our position clear to the authorities – the CBN, the federal government and what have you— exactly how we conduct elections.

“On the night of Friday (the day before the election) in the FCT, we have more than 12, 000 ad-hoc staff we are going to give cash. None of them will receive a cheque or accept a transfer. I am talking about FCT (12,000) that will require about N5,000 cash on Friday night.

“Also, those who are going to transport our men, materials and security to the polling units will need cash to do that. In Kano, we have 44 local governments, and they are going to move to many polling units.”


Cash hurdles on election day

Daily Trust on Sunday reports that like the INEC, the major political parties – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Labour Party (LP), may also be struggling for cash to be expended on election day for logistics, payment of agents and others.

The expenditure, it was gathered, would start with the mobilisation of state coordinators and party agents, among others.

A party source said that for the two agents to be deployed to 176,846 polling units across the country, the candidates are expected to spend not less than N3.5billion if each of the agents would be given N10,000 allowance.

In addition to the polling units, parties would also need cash to mobilise top-shots, including commissioners, ministers, senators, members of the House of Representatives, state assembly members and appointees to deliver their areas.

With the new trend of vote-buying, especially as witnessed in recently conducted off-season elections, the election day spending for candidates could be much higher.


How we‘ll cope with cash crunch

Faced with the reality of the cash crunch, Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that the political parties have devised strategies to take care of the situation on election day.

Apart from mobilising their members to come to terms with the situation, the parties are trying to use alternative means, such as electronic money transfer, as well as Point of Sale (POS) channels to settle their polling agents and other ad-hoc staff on election day.

The ruling APC said the scarcity of cash would affect its operations on election day, but added that it would go into the polls the way it comes.

The APC national publicity secretary, Felix Morka, in a telephone chat said that apart from political parties, families would equally need cash to get foodstuff that would sustain them from the beginning to the end of the elections because there would be no movement on the election day.

Morka said, “Those who are managing this, maybe they know better, but as far as I am concerned, yes, our party needs cash, but in the absence of cash, we will do the election the way we see it.

“Whatever the outcome is, maybe someday, posterity will document what is going on and those who played roles. I don’t know what the CBN has in mind.

“This will affect the operations of political parties. Have you ever heard of a country in the world where elections are held without cash? There is no such country on earth.

“But now, there is no cash and the POS does not work, transfer does not work; electronic payment system is completely dysfunctional and we don’t have cash.”

The Peoples Democratic Party said that in view of the cash crunch they would make use of alternative platforms to make sure they conduct the exercise seamlessly.

The PDP deputy national youth leader, Timothy Osadolor said, “On our part, we are ready to conduct the election. Regarding paying our agents, they do have accounts and it can be paid into their accounts. Those fighting that the policy be reversed do not mean well for the country.

“Let us conduct this election without cash, politicians need to show their popularity, go and meet the people, not induce them with money,” he said.

On his part, the national publicity secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Ambassador Rufus Aiyenigba, said, “In the face of the present naira crunch affecting everyone and every organisation in the country, payment for the services of polling agents and staff on election duty in the forthcoming general elections will be based on other existing structures.

“It will take the already established form and process, which we have long been operating before the current currency crisis. The SDP is firmly established structurally and administratively to have seamless operations at all times,” Aiyenigba said.

Also speaking, the national chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr Victor Ike Oye, said, “When we get to the bridge we will cross it. Let us not focus on the negative side. I believe that between now and next week, something better will happen.”

Similarly, the head of media, Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council of the Labour Party (LP), Diran Onifade, said the situation would not affect them since they were not planning under-table payment.

“Since we are not planning to make any under-the-table payment, we will have no problem complying with the government policy,” Onifade said.

In a separate interview, the LP Presidential Campaign Committee (LPPCC) spokesman, Dr Yunusa Tanko, said paying the agents through their bank accounts would make it easy to trace what each party is spending and to also determine those who spend above the lawful threshold in the electoral act.

“So, for us (LP) we can pay through transfer and directly into the agents’ account, which is easily accounted for. However, the majority of our agents are volunteers and we may not need money as such,” Tanko said.

Similarly, the national publicity secretary of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Comrade Egbeola Wale Martins, said they were exploring alternative means to pay their agents on election day.

“Paying our agents will not be a problem as we look to explore other alternative virtual means of payment available to us.

“However, the Buhari-led APC should be called to order as economic policies are meant to better the lives of citizens and not further impoverish the same. It is obvious that the cash swap policy that has led to the scarcity of the new naira notes is ill-timed and politicised, and is bound to fail.

“This should also serve as a signal to the electorate to vote wisely so that we don’t have a repeat of the insensitive leadership of the past seven and a half years,” Martins said.


Our approach is different – NNPP

The national chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali, said the party would devise a means to navigate the elections.

Alkali said the NNPP would handle the matter differently.

He said, “The issue of dealing with agents is a party matter, and I think we are handling it internally. I am not going to say anything on how we are going about it.”

“Everybody is affected. Nigerians also have to adjust and adapt, but we feel that no matter what happens, this is avoidable.”

He said although the policy was engineered to stop vote-buying by some people, the NNPP would not follow the line of the two main political parties.

“We are in the middle, on compassionate ground. Everything should be done so that Nigerians do not suffer. Also, giving the fact that the fuel crisis has been biting, these two issues can undermine credible elections.

“But the approach from the two main political parties is different. The APC is condemning it because they want to use the old money, PDP is not condemning because maybe they already have the new money,” he said.

The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Digital Communication, Malam Bashir Ahmad has dared Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state to take his old naira notes to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) if they are legitimate.

Ahmad was replying to Ganduje who faulted the naira redesign policy and described it as a move to scuttle democracy and sabotage the forthcoming general elections.

Ganduje also accused Buhari of introducing the policy at the eve of elections, saying it should have been done in the past seven years or after the election.

However, in a reply to Ganduje and others, Ahmad said they should stop making noise and take their old naira notes to the CBN.

He said, “Many people thought that the people talking about the policy is for the right of the masses, not knowing that they are doing it for themselves. They stocked huge amount of money and they are afraid of taking it to the CBN because EFCC and NFIU (Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit) are watching them.

He, however, replied Ganduje though jokingly, saying, “Baba Dan Audu, President Baba Buhari has ordered that you should take your money to CBN. If EFCC and NFIU certified that they are legitimate, you will receive alert.”

On Ganduje’s allegations that Buhari has scuttled the democracy, Bashir Ahmad said, “I didn’t know that the democracy has decayed until when I contested for elections in Kano, and during the primaries, they rigged the election on the ground that I am a politician from Abuja.”

Joint Front of Civil Society Organizations of Nigeria (JFCSON) has frowned at the continued support of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the current currency crisis caused by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which is causing pain and widespread citizens’ anger.

In a statement signed by its national president, Barnabas Bala Yock, JFCSON questioned the rationale for the open support for the unpopular policy by elements of the PDP, including its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

“We find it quite suspicious that at a time when even governors of states controlled by the All Progressives Congress are joining the public outcry against the pains and confusion caused by the CBN’s cashless policy, PDP, supposedly the main opposition party, is totally and openly in support of the policy.

“We recall that the PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar was the first to declare support for the policy and other PDP big names including state governors have now joined him.”

“The PDP support for the anti-people policy that is wreaking families and communities across the country and potentially leading to greater unrest, was busted with the application by the Governors of Bayelsa and Edo, all PDP states, to be joined as defendants against the suit filed by mainly APC governors challenging it at the Supreme Court.

“This, we understand, was the main reason hearing in the case was adjourned to allow time to comply with proper procedure.

“It becomes even more suspicious that most of the PDP governments that are backing the policy are currently battling the consequences of the anger caused by the same policy.

“It therefore appears that the PDP is in some way connected to the alleged sinister device to use the already escalating cash crisis to create an environment that would hinder the conduct of elections in the country,” he said.

He added that it is becoming clearer that CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele who is a product of the PDP inherited by the current APC government is in a grand plot with his colleagues in the PDP and some privileged forces in the administration to scuttle the elections and smooth handover for their personal dubious interests.

By Olu Fasan


AS a Nigerian, I would be extremely concerned and embarrassed if Bola Tinubu became Nigeria’s next president. As a Yoruba, I would be deeply disappointed and ashamed. Why? Well, as a Nigerian, I would be concerned and embarrassed because a Tinubu presidency would devastate Nigeria internally and demean it externally.

As a Yoruba, I would be disappointed and ashamed because Tinubu’s politics and behaviour are antithetical to the values Yorubas claim define them; the core values of integrity, character and honesty, encapsulated in the honour-signalling Yoruba word: Omoluabi! First, for Nigeria, a Tinubu presidency would destroy the fabric of presidential politics.

It would legitimise a self-serving behaviour where someone entrusted with public office amasses inexplicable wealth and uses the stupendous wealth to manoeuvre his way to Nigeria’s presidency. If that were to happen, the presidency of Nigeria would be for sale, going to the highest bidder. No one has ever become Nigeria’s president that way!

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To be clear, this is not about wealth, but its sources. MKO Abiola nearly became Nigeria’s first billionaire president. But everyone knew he was a government contractor and an international businessman. He never held public office, not state governor, not local government chairman! Similarly, if Aliko Dangote were to run for president, no one would question the sources of his wealth: we see them everywhere. He has held no public office! But how, for God’s sake, did Tinubu, governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007, become, in his words, “richer than Osun State”, owning private jets?

The Financial Times recently wrote about “his shifting versions of where his money came from”. In one version, Tinubu said he became a multi-billionaire through real estate. It stretches credulity. Yet, he faces strong allegations of state capture, of large-scale transfer of public resources for private interests. Tinubu’s reflex response is: “Prove it”! But that won’t suffice in sane climes. Elsewhere, someone so stinking wealthy, with no known legitimate source of his wealth, especially being in public life, cannot glide insouciantly to a nation’s leadership without absolute openness about the source of his wealth.

This matters because unexplained and inexplicable wealth distorts politics and undermines democracy; deep pockets determine the outcome of presidential primaries and can influence the result of presidential elections. That’s one reason a Tinubu victory would be disastrous for Nigeria; it would license, reward, and perpetuate morally bankrupt politics.

Of course, there’s also the documented case of Tinubu’s drug-related past. In the early 1990s, he forfeited $460,000 to US authorities after they concluded that certain funds in his bank accounts were “proceeds of narcotic trafficking and money laundering”. Such a person would never dream of becoming president of a country with the right value system. Truth is: a Tinubu presidency would make Nigeria a laughingstock globally, accentuated by Tinubu’s unpresidential carriage and gait and his crude manner of speaking, particularly his habitual gaffes. At home, his Muslim-Muslim ticket would further erode internal cohesion, while his proposed statist policies and fiscal activism would destroy Nigeria’s economy.

Yet, Nigerians may elect him as the next president next week, which would vindicate the French philosopher Joseph de Maistre, who said: “Every country gets the government it deserves.” As someone also said, a rescue mission cannot succeed if people aren’t entirely sure they want to be saved. However, I believe Nigerians can choose to save Nigeria and themselves by rejecting Tinubu at the polls on February 25. Which brings me to the Yorubas. In a recent column, I wrote that two sections of Nigeria could make Tinubu the next president: the South-West, which might vote massively for him, and the North, which might give him enough votes to win the race.

However, in that column, I appealed to the North’s sense of patriotism, urging them not to foist Tinubu on Nigeria. Here, I appeal to the Yoruba’s sense of honour, their omoluabi ethos! The Yorubas pride themselves on the values of integrity, character and honesty. Perversely, however, they also have a saying that undermines those values. They say that omoeni ki sedibebere, ka fi ilekesiidiomoelomiran; meaning, roughly, that however ugly one’s child’s bottom is, one won’t put beads in the bottom of another person’s child. Well, true, literally.

But applied to politics, the saying absurdly means that even if someone from your tribe is an embezzler, a drug baron or infirm you would choose him as governor or president over a better candidate from another tribe or ethnicity. Sadly, that’s how some Yorubas view Tinubu’s candidacy in the presidential election: he’s a Yoruba, so, we’ll vote for him! Of course, Tinubu opportunistically whips up the ethnic sentiments. Recently, while campaigning in Ado-Ekiti, he told the crowd: “This election is not about me because I’m not looking for what to eat.”

Really? So, despite the “lifelong ambition”, despite the emilokan sense of entitlement, he’s not in the race for himself but for Yorubas who are “looking for what to eat”? How insulting to supposedly well-educated people! Well, he went on. “This election is yours. You will use it to liberate yourselves,” he said, adding: “They want to turn us into slaves. We are not slaves.” How can Tinubu say anyone wants to turn Yorubas into slaves when they’ve produced president for eight years and vice-president for nearly eight years since 1999? What about Igbos who have produced none?

Ironically, if anyone is enslaving the Yoruba, it’s Tinubu himself. Chief Obafemi Awolowo liberated the Yoruba through education, Tinubu is enslaving them, at least those in Lagos, through feudalism. He’s the “owner” of Lagos, the feudal lord, and everyone else, from the governor down to councillors are serfs, who must carry out his wishes. Feudalism is a social system alien to the Yoruba, but Tinubu feudalises Lagos, using his inexplicable wealth and political power to subjugate the people. Tinubu violates Yoruba moral code and introduces an alien system, feudalism, into the race. Yet, a Tinubu presidency would be such a disaster that it would do even more harm to the Yoruba race. Thus, it would be sad and shameful if Yorubas enabled it. Yoruba ronu!