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lalasticlala

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied it owns an electronic server used in conducting election.

INEC made the claim on Thursday while responding to the election petition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate for the election, Atiku Abubakar.

Mr Abubakar and his party are challenging the outcome of the February 23 exercise wherein President Muhammadu Buhari was re-elected for a second term in office.

The opposition candidate who is at the presidential election tribunal is claiming to have won the election based on results allegedly obtained from the electronic servers of the electoral commission.



Initially, INEC responded to the former vice president’s allegation that despite owning an electronic server, the commission did not use it for the this year’s general election.

At the hearing of the petition on Thursday, the petitioners asked for permission to inspect the server of the commission but opposing the demand, legal representatives of INEC at the tribunal claimed the their client does not own an electronic server.

"They are asking us to bring something we do not have,” INEC through its counsel, Yunus Usman, in a counter affidavit asked the court to dismiss the application.

The response of the commission to the application has since generated reactions from Nigerians.

POLITICS TIMES gathered some of the reactions for your perusal. They are reproduced below.

See more reactions: https://politicstimesng.com/see-how-nigerians-reacted-as-inec-denies-owning-electronic-server-for-elections/

Shehu Sani, a former lawmaker from Kaduna State, has revealed why former leaders in the country recently boycotted state functions.

Former leaders in the country often grace important state functions in the country especially May 29 celebrated as democracy day.

The aforementioned date for the celebration was recently changed to June 12 by President Muhammadu Buhari following his proposal to the National Assembly which endorsed it to commemorate late MKO Abiola, presumed winner of the 1993 presidential election which was annulled by the military at the time.

On May 29, Mr Buhari took the oath of office which ushered him into his second and final term as a democratic president. The occasion although toned-down, was attended by a former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon.

Past leaders who were absent at the oath-taking ceremony includes: former presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan; former military leaders, Abdulsalami Abubakar and Ibrahim Babangida.

But on Wednesday, June 12, both the past democratic and military leaders, including Mr Gowon who attended the president’s oath-taking ceremony, stayed away from the celebration.

POLITICS TIMES as at press time could not independently ascertain why the former leaders stayed away from the functions they ought to be present but the former lawmaker says the absence of the former leaders might signifies a bad omen.

He said the leaders decided to stayed away from the occasions because Mr Buhari during his days in the opposition do not attend similar events.

Read More: https://politicstimesng.com/why-obasanjo-jonathan-other-former-leaders-boycotted-may-29-june-12-shehu-sani/

Ike Ekweremadu, former deputy Senate President, has said his decision to contest again for the position at the formation of the 9th Senate is to protest against the invasion of the National Assembly last year.

Mr Ekweremadu who did not indicate interest to aspire for the position until few hours to the election of principal officers at the National Assembly was nominated by his colleagues at the red chamber.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker was however defeated by the preferred candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.

Mr Omo-Agege was alleged to have led thugs to invade and cart away the symbolic power of the red chamber last year.

Despite being indicted by the Senate committee that investigated the incident, the APC lawmaker was not prosecuted.

Mr Ekweremadu presided over plenary when the thugs struck and took away the mace from the red chamber. The upper legislative chamber symbol of power was later found under a bridge in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Read More: https://politicstimesng.com/i-contested-to-protest-mace-theft-ekweremadu-says-after-losing-deputy-senate-presidency/

The voting pattern to be used for electing leaders of the 9the Senate has caused an uproar at the upper legislative chamber.

While senators-elect belonging to the All Progressive Congress (APC) are clamouring for the adoption of open ballot system, their colleagues from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) want the secret ballot system.

The secret ballot system was used in 2015 to elect the immediate past leaders of the 8th National Assembly, the system is said to be used in today’s election.

But a Federal High Court on Monday ordered for the set aside of the secret ballot system adopted in 2015. The court ordered a return to the 2011 open ballot system.

When the court order was brought to the notice of Mohammed Sani, the Clark of the red chamber, the presiding officer said he is unaware of such order mandating him to use the open ballot system for the election expected to begin by 10am.

Read More: https://politicstimesng.com/apc-pdp-senators-elect-clash-over-voting-pattern/

President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the voluntary resignation of Walter Onnoghen, immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Mr Onnoghen, accused of non-declaration of assets traced to him, was suspended by the president earlier in the year over, weeks the general elections.



The top jurist who is on trial later wrote Mr Buhari, inundating him of his decision to step aside from the judicial arm of government.

Accepting his resignation on Sunday, the president thanked Onnoghen for his service to the country and wished him well.



Buhari also wrote to the acting CJN Ibrahim Mohammed who succeeded the oust jurist, seeking the appointment of adding Justices for the Supreme Court.

Read More: https://politicstimesng.com/buhari-accepts-onnoghens-resignation-writes-acting-cjn/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has washed its hands off the corruption trial of Danjuma Goje, lawmaker representing Gombe Central at the Senate.

The development is coming barely 24 hours after Mr Goje stepped down from the race of Senate President on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Buhari whose administration has vowed to rid the country of corrupt elements told the lawmaker to withdraw and endorse the candidacy of Ahmed Lawan.

Mr Lawan is the preferred candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) for the top job at the legislative arm of government.

At the resumed hearing of the corruption trial of the Gombe lawmaker on Friday at a Federal High Court sitting in Jos, the state capital of Plateau, Wahab Shittu, the legal practitioner of the anti-graft agency notified of his intention to hand over the case.

Mr Shittu handed over to one Pius Asika, from the Ministry of Justice, according to Sahara Reporters.

The news medium reports that the president intends to suppress the corruption charges preferred against Goje, who is accusing of stealing N5 billion between September and November 2010, by having the Justice Ministry take over the case, stall it and ultimately quash it.

It said this formed the basis of discussion between messrs Goje and Buhari at the Thursday meeting brokered by Nasir El-rufai, Kaduna State governor.

Chris Uche and Paul Erokoro both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) and counsels to Mr Goje were at the Friday’s court sitting where the handover was made by the anti-graft agency that has been handling the case for over 8 years now.

The case has been adjourned to June 21 when Asika is expected to make further submission.

Source: https://politicstimesng.com/after-withdrawing-from-senate-presidency-race-efcc-hands-off-from-gojes-corruption-trial/

lalasticlala

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the reopening of African Independent Television (AIT) shut down by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Thursday.

Also suspended from operation is Ray Power FM radio station. They two broadcast stations had their licences withdrawn by the regulatory body over unedited user-generated contents from the social media.

Read More: https://politicstimesng.com/court-orders-reopening-of-ait-ray-power-fm/

lalasticlala

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue immediate past governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, his certificate of return.

Mr Okorocha who ran Imo West senatorial election was declared winner of the race but the electoral body refused issuing him his certificate of return.

INEC said the refusal to issue the senator-elect the document is because the declaration that produced him as winner of the February 23 exercise was done in duress.

But ruling on the issue on Friday, the presiding judge, Justice Okon Abang, frowned at the decision of INEC.



Mr Abang who ordered the immediate issuance of certificate to the former governor said the action of the electoral body was “lawless.”

The judge said any person declared a winner by the returning officer remains a winner until petitioners succeed in upturning the declaration at the election tribunal.

Read More: https://politicstimesng.com/give-okorocha-his-certificate-of-return-court-orders-inec/

Danjuma Goje, lawmaker representing Gombe Central has withdrawn from the presidency race of the 9th Senate.

Mr Goje withdrew from the race after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday at the presidential villa, Abuja.

The former governor of Gombe State, accompanied by his colleague at the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, who is the preferred candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the position met with the president.

Nasir El-rufai, Kaduna State governor, was said to have brokered the meeting between the legislators and the Nigerian leader.

Addressing State House Correspondents after the gathering, Mr Goje said he decided to step down because he was advised to do so.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari advised him to shelve his ambition and allow Mr Lawan who has been chosen by the party to contest the position.

Gone is not the only lawmaker who has been opposing the preferred candidate of the APC for the top job. Ali Ndume, another lawmaker from Borno, has refused to step down for Lawan despite threats of expulsion by the party.

The election for the top job holds next week Tuesday.

Read More: https://politicstimesng.com/senate-presidency-why-i-stepped-down-for-lawan-goje/

The 8th Nigerian Senate under Bukola Saraki is expected to wind down its constitutional duties today paving way for the inauguration of the 9th Senate on June 11.

Mr Saraki emerged Senate President during his days in the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) against the wish of the party, and was deputised by Ike Ekweremadu from the opposing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).



The emergence of the top lawmaker to lead the legislative arm of government was largely seen as an attempt to thwart the aim of some political godfathers in the ruling party who wanted to install a stooge.

Several efforts to oust him from his position often met brick walls with the Senate President atimes outsmarting his opponents.

The Kwara lawmaker who later defected to the PDP enjoyed the support of his colleagues despite their political differences and this could be said to be responsible for his stay in office until the expiration of his tenure.

The PDP Director-General in this year’s presidential election will not be returning to the 9th Senate because he lost his re-election bid.

The Senate under Saraki has at different occasions clashed with the executive arm of government headed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Buhari has often blamed the National Assembly as responsible for his administration’s inability to deliver on some of its campaign promises, policies and programmes.

One Thursday morning, one of the aides of the Senate President, Olu Onemola, on Twitter described the tenure of his principal at the red chamber as an impact-filled, productive and responsive one in the country’s history.

This has led to reactions from Nigerians on the micro-blogging site with hashtag #8thSenateValedictory.

Below are some of the reactions brought to you by POLITICS TIMES.

See more reactions>>>https://politicstimesng.com/8thsenatevaledictory-see-how-nigerians-reacted-as-saraki-led-senate-ends-today/

lalasticlala

Atiku Abubakar, the 2019 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not a Fulani by tribe, a chieftain of the opposition party has said.

Mr Abubakar, a former vice president, is believed to hail from the Fulani tribe. The PDP candidate also tried playing the tribal politics when he went to campaign in some Northern States.

He had tribally criticised President Muhammadu Buhari who at the time sought a second term in office on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Widely known as Atiku, the former vice president said the incumbent Nigerian leader is not an authentic Fulani.

“A real Fulani man would not drag his followers into extreme poverty like what is happening under the All Progressives Congress administration,” the PDP candidate said when he visited Jigawa State to sell his candidacy to the people.

Atiku lost the election to Buhari who began his second term last week and has since approached the tribunal challenging the outcome of the exercise.

A new twist has been added as a former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has insisted that the PDP candidate is not from the Fulani tribe.

Mr Fani-Kayode made the claim on Wednesday while warning Bola Tinubu, national leader of the APC, about the latter’s alliance with the Buhari administration.

Read More: https://politicstimesng.com/atiku-not-fulani-pdp-chieftain-reveals-where-ex-vp-hails-from/

garfield1:
Who is bullying people in apc or pdp? Are you blind to see that femi campaigned among pdp than among his party reps? Cant you see that pdp members are in his inner caucus? You think a fearless fellow like wike will endorse him for nothing

Continue banking on endorsement until you know that in politics game can change few hours to execution.

garfield1:
Between elscting and removing,which is easier

We shall know on June 11

That you bully people in APC into submission does not mean you can bully others in the opposition.

ORIENTATION101:
wake up this is 2019 not 2015. Pdp have no choice than to allow the Apc have their way or else apc will achieved it in a brutal manner that will leave pdp a bloodied nose.this is oshomole era not the Docile oyegun

The same Oshiomhole that vowed to oust Saraki? You said this is 2019 meaning you guys have learnt a lot and only a f**l will think the PDP are sleeping, it's just some days from now, you guys will cry again.

This is a trap set for the APC in order for them to relax that all is well, I hope they don't sheepishly fall into it.

The presidency has opined why its principal, President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, are being hated by some Nigerians.

Messrs Buhari and Osinbajo began their second term reign last week. Their first term in 2015 was historical and the first time the opposition candidate will unseat a sitting president.

When the duo took over power, Nigerians were expecting a total deviation from the manner with which governance was administered during the reign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Critics of the Buhari administration has often accused him of dividing Nigerians alone ethnic and religious lines.

Some accused him of turning blind eyes to corruption allegations against his allies and cronies despite claiming to rid the country of the anti-graft activities while dealing with opposition politicians.

His party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) earlier in the year promised to pardon those who looted the nation’s treasury only if they joining the now ruling party.

Stating why the president and his vice is being hated by some Nigerians, Lauretta Onochie, the president’s special assistant on social media, said this was because the duo are stumbling block to those intending to loot the nation’s treasury.

Read More: https://politicstimesng.com/why-buhari-osinbajo-are-hated-by-some-nigerians-presidency/

Shehu Sani, lawmaker representing Kaduna Central at the Senate has revealed what must be done for the creation of state and local government police to take effect.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Monday received the report of the presidential panel on the reform of special anti-robbery squad (SARS), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The report recommended the creation of state police to help curtail the rising insecurity across the country.

Receiving the report, the president thanked the panel for their work and directed Mohammed Adamu, the inspector-general of police to meet with the NHRC to work out the modalities of implementing the report within three months from the day it was received.

But the outgoing lawmaker has said before the creation of the force, the Nigerian Constitution has to be amended as this is the only way possible for the implementation of the report.

Read More: https://politicstimesng.com/shehu-sani-reveals-what-must-be-done-before-creation-of-state-police/

Nigerians have been told not to get excited that their clamour for state police will be met under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

This is coming from a former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, a known critic of the present administration.

POLITICS TIMES gathered that some online reports including a national daily had claimed the president has given his assent for the creation of state and local governments police.

This led to some Nigerians being cheerful that the insecurity facing the country will soon be brought to an end.

Advising Nigerians to camp their nervous, the former minister said there is no way the incumbent president will implement state policing. He argued that only Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could enforce the creation of state police.

Read More: https://politicstimesng.com/state-police-why-nigerians-should-not-be-excited-yet-fani-kayode/

highspec:
ADS was displaying fine on my site as of last night, woke up this morning only to find out that the ads is no longer displaying.

The Adsense Account is not disabled, the account still logs in.

Any solution

Has it reached verification threshold?