The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has called on anyone with evidence against the Chairman of the Lagos State Parks and Garages Association, Musiliu Akinsaya, popularly known as Mc Oluomo, to file a case of attack.
He made this known via his Twitter handle on Tuesday morning in response to a Twitter conversation on MC Oluomo's remarks during the March 18 elections.

The tweep, AjammaS, chastised Adejobi for failing to protect voters during the election after he asked people to take MC Oluomo's remark about Igbo in a viral video as a joke and assured them of safety during the election.

AjammaS said, “Sir you are also guilty, if I may say. This is what you said in the TV interview, and I quote. 'MC Oluomo threat is a joke, let's take it as a joke until he perfect the threat. I urge everyone to go out & cast their votes'.

“Now Nigerians heeded to your calls & went out to cast their votes and unfortunately you failed to protect them as you promised. They were attacked by MC Oluomo & his boys, some were murdered, brutalized, blinded, some are currently receiving treatment in different hospitals.”

Adejobi responded by asking the tweep to file an attack case against Oluomo if he had evidence of attacks against him, adding that Oluomo lacked immunity.

He said, “You can take the case of attack up with MC if you have a case or evidence of attacks against him. Many people and lawyers, even the Deputy Gov of Lagos, have said it severally. He has no immunity, so if you have a case of attack against him, take it up.”
“There is no need to pass judgement or do trial on Twitter. Very simple. Many of you just follow others to raise this issue on Twitter.”

FG used military to rig election in favour of PDP to punish me for challenging its new naira policy – Zamfara governor

He said at least fifty soldiers were sent to every polling unit to rig the election in favour of PDP.

The Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, has accused the federal government of militarising the 18 March gubernatorial and state assembly elections in the state to punish him for challenging its new naira policy in court.

Mr Matawalle and his counterparts from Kano and Kaduna, Abdullahi Ganduje and Nasir El Rufai filed a suit challenging the federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria at the Supreme Court over its new naira policy.

The three governors are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mr Matawalle lost his re-election bid to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dauda Lawal.

Mr Lawal polled 377,726 votes to defeat Mr Matawalle, who got 311,976 votes.

The APC candidate in Kano also lost the governorship election but the party’s candidate won in Kaduna.

But in a nine minutes interview with the DW Hausa, the governor said he was warned that the election might not go his way for his actions.

He said over 300 truckload of soldiers were sent to the state in the eve of election with over 50 soldiers sent to strategic polling units to intimidate voters against voting for APC.

“We’ve security challenges in Zamfara state and we’ve been asking them to send soldiers to us but they didn’t. But three days to the election (gubernatorial) they sent over 300 vehicles conveying soldiers into Zamfara. Such a high number of soldiers, if they could send them to us to fight insecurity it would be better. But they only sent them during elections.

“And I tell you, they were over fifty soldiers in our polling units in Zamfara. They (soldiers) were even straight about it that those voting for APC would not be allowed to vote. People were harrassed and beat because they wanted to vote for APC. We all have this evidence on video. When we called soldiers to come to our aid, they didn’t come. But I’ve left everything to God,” he said.

When asked if there was any reason for the militarisation of the election in the state, Mr Matawalle said he had intelligence report that the soldiers were sent to rig the election.

“When I saw that (the soldiers being sent) I knew they were up to something. That was why it didn’t bother me. Because I received intelligence report on what they were going to do against me. Not only myself but other governors that did something that is considered wrong….. Yes, what’s being said is that we went to the court (Supreme Court) over new naira notes redesign. They said myself, Ganduje and El Rufai would be punished accordingly,” he said.

When he was asked why APC won the state during the presidential election but failed to reflect so in the gubernatorial, Mr Matawalle said he was happy that Bola Tinubu, the president elect, won the state with a landslide.

On whether he would go to court over the “irregularities”, Mr Matawalle said he has left it to the party to decide and he would respect whatever decision the party take on whether or not to go to court.

Lt- General Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya (Rtd) GCON, LLB, BL, PSC, FSS, mni is dead

According to Barrister Prince Oyesinmilola Diya, the former military administrator passed onto glory in the early hours of 26th March 2023.

Born in 3rd of April, 1944 Diya was military Governor of Ogun State after the Buhidiagbon coup of December 31st, 1983.

Diya joined the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna and fought during the Nigerian Civil War. He later attended the US Army School of Infantry, the Command and Staff College, Jaji (1980–1981) and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.

While serving in the military, Diya studied law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained an LLB degree, and then at the Nigerian Law School, where he was called to bar as Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

He held other top military posts like GOC, 82 Division and finally the Chief of General Staff (military Vice President) to Gen Sani Abacha.

Peter Obi wants to treat Tinubu like IBB did to MKO Abiola – Onanuga

Bayo Onanuga, a media aide to the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has claimed that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, is trying to treat Tinubu just as retired military head of state, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) did to MKO Abiola, whose presidential election victory got annulled 30 years ago.

Onanuga made this claim in a tweet on Tuesday.

He likened Obi’s move to challenge the 2023 presidential election results to how the 1993 election of MKO Abiola was invalidated by IBB.

Onanuga state, “Peter Obi of Labour Party seeks the annulment of the election of President-elect Bola Tinubu just like the military annulled MKO Abiola’s election of 12 June 1993.”

He however, noted that Tinubu and his supporters are ready to defend his election victory, adding that “Team Tinubu will certainly meet you (Obi) in court.”

Recall that earlier on Tuesday, Obi filed a petition at the tribunal in Abuja.

Obi and the Labour Party, LP, are challenging Tinubu’s status as the winner of the February 25, 2023, presidential election.

The Labour Party and its presidential flag bearer are praying for the tribunal to enforce that Tinubu was not duly elected by a majority of votes cast during the election. They want an order demanding that INEC retrieves the certificate of return issued to Tinubu and issue a fresh one to Obi.

Governor Nyesom Wike has issued a 48-hour quit notice to Daar Communications, owners of AIT/Raypower television and radio stations to remove the building housing facilities of the media outfit at Ozuoba area of Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, or it will be demolished in 48 hours[/b].

The State Government gave the ultimatum in a quit notice issued signed by Mrs. Ebere Dennis Emenike, Permanent Secretary of the Rivers Ministry of Works Government dated Tuesday March 21.

The state government claimed that the building is one of the structures marked for demolition in GRA Phase 5 in Port Harcourt.

The quit notice reads, “Following the imminent commencement of GRA Phase 5 project the structures are impacting on the Right Of Way have been earmarked for demolition, including your own.

“[b]Consequently, you are by this notice requested to remove Structures within 48 hours to allow for speedy progress of work”.

However, the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has appealed to the Government to drop its plan to demolish the structure housing facilities of AIT/Raypower media outfit.

The appeal is contained in a press statement jointly signed by Stanley Job Stanley and Ike Wigodo, the chairman and secretary of the NUJ in the state respectively.

The Union noted that the land on which the building housing AIT television and Raypower radio station was built has been a subject of dispute between the Rivers State Government and Daar Communication Plc for sometimes now.

However, the Council appealed to the Rivers State Government to review its position on the land dispute and drop its plan to demolish and take over the AIT property.

The Council urged the state government to open a negotiation channel with the media organisation for a peaceful resolution.

“We appeal to the Rivers State Government to review the quit notice given to Daar Communications Plc, owners of AIT and Raypower Radio Station.

“The Press and the Rivers State Government have come a long way as partners in progress. We believe that proper negotiation and peaceful resolution of the land dispute will serve the Government and people of Rivers State better.

“Whatever the merit of the quit notice by the Rivers State Government to Daar Communications Plc, we would not want the world to see the press in fight with the Rivers State Government in view of our long standing mutual relationship.

“NUJ will not be happy to see a Media House in Rivers State being demolished over a land dispute that can be resolved peacefully and amicably”, the statement said.

PM NEWS correspondent recalled that trouble actually started when some communities of Ozuoba wrote a petition to the Rivers State Government alleging that the large expanse of land acquired by the Founder Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, during the administration of former Governor Peter Odili was being sold or leased to private developers.

The Rivers State House of Assembly had consequently instituted a probe on the mode of acquisition of the land by Dokpesi.

The House later said its findings revealed that due process was not followed in the acquisition of the land by Dokpesi.

However, some the move to demolish the building has also been linked to the politics of the 2023 elections between Atiku Abubakar, Presidential Candidate of PDP, and Governor Wike.

Dokpesi had led campaign of Atiku for the presidential ticket of PDP which was also contested for by Wike.

Meanwhile, panic has gripped the staff and management of the broadcast outfit on the impending demolition.

See copy of the 48 hours Quit Notice by the Rivers State Government to the management of AIT/Raypower.

In a press conference on Tuesday, leaders of the APC in Kano, including Alhassan Doguwa, majority leader of the house of representatives, issued a seven-day ultimatum to INEC to review the election.

You were not re-elected. You selected yourself. Everybody saw it unfold. You are only deceiving yourselves.

In November 2022, Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), gave assurances during a press briefing in Abuja that election results from polling units across the country would be uploaded in real time to the commission’s portal.

During the briefing, Yakubu also stated that the 2023 general election would be better than every election before it.

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“On this note, 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,” Yakubu said.

“It should please be disregarded as fake news. The commission will upload polling unit level results and citizens will have access to those results in real-time as we upload your polling units.

“This innovation was introduced by the commission and the commission can not turn around and undermine itself. So, this technology has come to stay. We will upload polling unit level results from the polling units and citizens would have the right to view these results.

“After all, who are we serving? The citizens. How can we deprive the citizens from having access to the results of the process conducted by them at the level of polling units.

“So, I welcome you to the commission and I want to assure you and reassure you that the 2023 general election is going to be our best ever elections.

“We are committed and that the votes cast by Nigerians will determine the outcome of the election [sic]. Nothing more, nothing less.”

The commission, however, failed to make good its promise, as results from polling units were not uploaded to its portal in real time.

This led to agents representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP) and other parties staging a walkout at the national collation centre on Monday.

Before the walkout, the agents accused the commission of not keeping to its promise, alleging that the entire result collation process had been compromised. In addition to these agitations, the agents also called for the cancellation of the entire exercise.

In its own defence, the commission, through its chairman, asked the aggrieved parties to present facts showing that the results that were being read by the commission were different from the results collated.

He, however, failed to give reasons results were not uploaded to the commission’s portal as promised.

Meanwhile, Olusegun Obasanjo, a former president of Nigeria, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to cancel elections where freedom and fairness were threatened on February 25.

The International Republican Institute (IRI) and National Democratic Institute (NDI) Joint Election Observation Mission (IEOM), led by Joyce Banda, a former President of Malawi, has also stated that a lack of transparency and inadequate communication by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the elections created confusion and eroded voters’ trust in the electoral process.

In its own report, the European Union Election Observation Mission to Nigeria (EU EOM) revealed that a lack of transparency in the 2023 general election deflated public trust in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to take urgent steps to address the concerns raised over the disruptions recorded at some polling units across the country.

Presidential and national assembly election results are currently being announced, but some areas have recorded disruptions, with polls rescheduled in some areas.

There have also been concerns and protests on and off social media platforms over attacks at polling units, non-functionality of the bimodal voter verification system (BVAS), among other incidents recorded.

In a letter on Monday, Obasanjo said Buhari cannot afford to ignore the concerns raised over the electoral process, adding that immediate steps — including rescheduling polls in affected areas — need to be taken.

“Nigerian Brothers and Sisters, greetings to you all. I am constrained to speak at this point. I crave the indulgence of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency General Muhammadu Buhari, to make this statement because I have had opportunity to keep him aware of what I know is happening and the danger looming ahead,” the letter reads.

“On many occasions in the past, I have not hesitated to point out lacuna in the action of the President and his government. But as far as the election issues are concerned, the President has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he will want to leave a legacy of free, fair, transparent and credible elections.

“Until last Saturday night, February 25, 2023, the good and noble plan and preparation for the elections seemed to be going well. For the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a lot of money was spent to introduce Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and the Server for immediate transmission of results from polling units.

“It is no secret that INEC officials, at operational level, have been allegedly compromised to make what should have worked not to work and to revert to manual transmission of results which is manipulated and the results doctored.

“The Chairman of INEC may claim ignorance but he cannot fold his hands and do nothing when he knows that election process has been corrupted and most of the results that are brought outside BVAS and Server are not true reflection of the will of Nigerians who have made their individual choice.

“At this stage, we do not need wittingly or unwittingly to set this country on fire with the greed, irresponsibility and unpatriotic act of those who allegedly gave money to INEC officials for perversion and those who collected the blood money.

“Let me appeal to the Chairman of INEC, if his hands are clean, to save Nigeria from the looming danger and disaster which is just waiting to happen. If the Chairman can postpone elections four days to the election, he can do everything to rectify the errors of the last two days – no BVAS, no result to be acceptable; and no uploading through Server, no result to be acceptable.

“Whereas, BVAS and Servers have been manipulated or rendered inactive, such results must be declared void and inadmissible for election declaration. Chairman INEC, I have thought that you would use this wonderful opportunity to mend your reputation and character for posterity.

“Your Excellency, President Buhari Muhammadu, tension is building up and please let all elections that do not pass the credibility and transparency test be cancelled and be brought back with areas where elections were disrupted for next Saturday, March 4, 2023, and BVAS and Server officials be changed.”

Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) has won the presidential election in his polling unit in Anambra state.

At polling unit 19 in Agulu 2 ward of Anaocha LGA where Obi voted, the LP got 236 votes.

However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got zero votes at the polling unit.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) got three votes, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) secured two votes.


More to follow…