₦airaland Forum

The 2023 presidential election will hold on February 18, 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed.

Chairman of the Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Thursday.

In his goodwill message at the inauguration of the special adhoc committee on the review of the 1999 constitution, the INEC Chairman told members of the House of Representatives they are about 855 days left for the next general elections.

There was a rowdy session on Thursday in the House of Representatives when two lawmakers of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) announced their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmakers, Ephraim Nwuzi (Etched/Omuma Federal Constituency of Rivers) and David Abel (Gashaka/Kurmi/Sardauna Federal Constituency of Taraba) announced their defection in separate letters to Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila read during plenary.

While Nwuzi was present at plenary and officially received into the APC by House Leader, Ado Doguwa, Abel was absent.

The Speaker ruled since he was not present, his defection should be taken on the next legislative day.

However, opposition leaders and PDP members objected to the continued stay of the members in the House and asked the Speaker to declare their seats vacant.

Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, raised a constitutional order saying such defection can only be allowed if there was crisis in the party.

He said: "The member whose letter has just be read is from Rivers State and I am aware that there is no crisis in the PDP in Rivers State. As a result of that, we are demanding that the seat be declared vacant".

Deputy Minority Leader, Tobi Okechukwu said: "This country is based on law and due process. It is clear that our colleagues who wrote to defect are simply quoting the charisma of the Speaker.

"The law says there must be a crack in the party on whose platform the member was elected and in the absence of that, such a member should lose his seat. The Speaker must obey the constitution and ask those defecting to vacate their seat".

Leader of the PDP caucus in the House, Kingsley Chinda, said the law was very explicit on defection of members, adding that the Speaker swore to uphold the constitution and the law.

He informed the Speaker he was on trial, stressing his decision on the issue would go a long way to save democracy, insisting however that there are several decisions of the court on the issue of defection.

He said in one of its decisions, the Supreme Court held that a lawmaker who defected to another political party other than the one on whose platform he was elected shall have his seat declared vacant and that the Speaker has the responsibility of upholding the rule.

Chinda said the Speaker has yet another opportunity to uphold the rule of law saying "if you fail to uphold the law, it is either an act of cowardice or a deleberate refusal to uphold the law."

Gbajabiamila responded: "When I was Minority Leader, I said exactly the things you are saying now when we lose members to your party and you shouted me down.

"You must look at tbe combined reading of section 60 of the constitution and our House rules. It is in the rules of the House that people can cross and you sanctioned it. You have said I should do the right thing which I will do."

Referring to provisions of section 68 of the Constitution when a member's seat can be declared vacant, he said: "You are aware of a particular member of your party that has not been present on the floor of this House since we started seating. Should I declare his seat vacant?"

Elumelu fired back: "Mr. Speaker, you have just made an allegation. Maybe we should ask the Clerk of the House to bring the attendance register for verification".

The Speaker said: "If we do that, your party will suffer more because we are not talking about one person here. In any case, as you told me when I was Minority Leader, your points are noted".

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a special salary scale for teachers across the country.

The approval coincided with commemoration of the World Teachers Day on October 5.

He also increased the number of years of service from 35 to 40.

Buhari stated these in Abuja on Monday during celebration of the 2020 World Teachers Day.

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, who represented Buhari, said the new salary scheme is to motivate teachers for greater productivity and effectiveness.

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved release of N10 billion to the National Population Commission (NPC) for continuation of the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) in the remaining 546 Local Government Area of the country.

Buhari also approved an additional N4.5 billon to be included in the 2021 Budget for completion of the exercise as part of the preparations for the next census.

Acting Chairman of NPC, Dr. Eyitayo Oyetunji,disclosed these in Abuja while briefing reporters on the release of the funds and the update on the EAD at the NPC headquarters.

Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has lamented youths channel energies into #BBNaija than profitable things.

He was concerned that reports on the reality TV show attracts more interest from youths than governance, elections and other important national issues.

He spoke while addressing members of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) in commemoration of the International Youth Day.

According to him: “In the last general elections, the total number of votes cast was around 27 million while over 170 million people voted during the 2019 Big Brother Naija reality show.

“This is a practical reality of who Nigerian youths are and where our priorities lie as Nigerian youths…

“Instead of BBNaija why not plan a show, which will be called The Big Nigeria Reality Show?”

He added: “The funny side in all of these is that we still go to bed, have a good sleep and wake up with the hope to meet a Nigeria we didn’t create. Nigerian Youths!

“Unfortunately, every time I talk about this kind of attitude, everyone just laughs and moves on. What kind of nation are we building? What kind of Nigerian youths are we?”

Impeached Edo Deputy Speaker Yekini Idaiye was removed by seven pro-Governor Godwin Obaseki in Government House, Benin for allegedly endorsing All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, The Nation has learnt.

But the seven lawmakers led by Speaker Francis Okiye claimed Idaiye, who represents Akoko-Edo constituency I, was removed on grounds of gross misconduct and divulging of official secrets.

The Nation gathered the pro-Obaseki lawmakers had been sitting inside Government House for over a month, claiming the Assembly Complex at Ring Road, Benin was being fumigated over COVID-19 scare.

The relocation to the Government House, it was learnt, was to monitor the pro-Obaseki lawmakers and ensure they remain true to the Governor’s causes.

Seventeen of the 24 members of Edo Assembly, it was also gathered, are now backing Ize-Iyamu from the initial 14.

The Deputy Speaker and four other lawmakers on Monday visited Ize-Iyamu at his private residence in Benin and pledged to support his election.

Idiaye was joined by Emmanuel Agbaje (Akoko-Edo constituency II); Nosayaba Okunbor (Orhiomwon East constituency); Dumez Ugiagbe (member-elect, Ovia Northeast constituency I) and Vincent Uwadiae (member-elect, Ovia Northeast constituency II).

They maintained they will not leave APC for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with Obaseki.

Idiaye said at the visit: "There is no reason for me to defect to another political party because there is no single project in my village to show under this present administration.

"I am from Somorika in Akoko Edo Local government Area and my village is the most backward in Akoko Edo LGA."

The Nation’s investigation revealed Idiaye’s action was considered an affront by Pro-Obaseki lawmakers who moved against him immediately.

The motion for his removal was moved by Henry Okhuarobo and seconded by Marcus Onobun.

Okhuarobo said during the sitting: "Mr. Speaker, with me is a notice of impeachment of the Deputy Speaker of the House, signed by two-third members of the House (made up of seven members, including the Speaker).

"The impeachment of the Deputy Speaker is on the grounds of gross misconduct and divulging of official secrets."

The seven lawmakers, following deliberations on the motion, unanimously adopted it through a voice vote.

The Speaker pronounced Idaiye removed and named Roland Asoro as his replacement.

The motion for nomination of Asoro as the new Deputy Speaker was moved by Emmanuel Okoduwa and seconded by Ephraim Aluebhosele.

The former Chief Whip Henry Okhuarobo was elevated to Leader of the House while Deputy Leader, Marcus Onobun, was made the Chief Whip and Sunny Ojiezele became the Deputy Leader.

Ephraim Aluebhosele was elevated to the position of Deputy Whip while Emmanuel Okoduwa was made a co-opted member of the principal officers’ council.

When contacted by The Nation, Idaiye declined to react to his removal.