The Senate has passed the Electoral Act No. 6 2010 Amendment Bill 2017 into law.

......Card Reader technology to be fully implemented henceforth

......House of Reps aspirants to pay N1,000,000.00

......State Assembly aspirants to pay 500,000,00

1. There shall now be full biometric accreditation of voters with Smart Card Readers and/or other technological devices, as INEC may introduce for elections from time to time.

2. Presiding Officers must now instantly transmit accreditation data and results from Polling Units to various collation centers. Presiding officer who contravene this shall be imprisoned for at least 5 years (no option of fine).

3. All Presiding Officer must now first record accreditation data and polling results on INEC’s prescribed forms before transmitting them. The data/result recorded must be the same with what they transmitted.

4. INEC now has unfettered powers to conduct elections by electronic voting.

5. Besides manual registers, INEC is now mandated to keep Electronic registers of voters.

6. INEC is now mandated to publish voters’ registers on its official website(s) for public scrutiny at least 30 days before a general election and any INEC staff who is responsible for this but fails to act as prescribed shall be liable on conviction to 6 months’ imprisonment.

7. INEC is now mandated to keep a National Electronic Register of Election Results as a distinct database or repository of polling unit by polling unit results for all elections conducted by INEC.

8. Collation of election result is now mainly electronic, as transmitted unit results will help to determine final results on real time basis.

9. INEC is now mandated to record details of electoral materials – quantities, serial numbers used to conduct elections (for proper tracking).

10. A political party whose candidate dies after commencement of an election and before the declaration of the result of that election now has a 14-day window to conduct a fresh primary in order for INEC to conduct a fresh election within 21 days of the death of the party’s candidate;

11. Political parties’ Polling Agents are now entitled to inspect originals of electoral materials before commencement of election and any Presiding Officer who violates this provision of the law shall be imprisoned for at least1 year.

12. No political party can impose qualification/disqualification criteria, measures or conditions on any Nigerian for the purpose of nomination for elective offices, except as provided in the 1999 Constitution.

13. The election of a winner of an election can no longer be challenged on grounds of qualification, if the he (winner) satisfied the applicable requirements of sections 65, 106,
131 or 177 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and he is not, as may be applicable, in breach of sections 66, 107, 137 or 182 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. [For example, a person’s election cannot be challenged on the ground that he did not pay tax, as this is not a qualifying condition under the Constitution.]

14. All members of political parties are now eligible to determine the ad-hoc delegates to elect candidates of parties in indirect primaries. The capacity of party executives to unduly influence or rig party primaries has been reasonably curtailed, if not totally removed.

15. Parties can no longer impose arbitrary nomination fees on political aspirants. The Bill passed prescribes limits for each elective office as follows:

(a) One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N150,000) for a Ward Councillorship aspirant in the FCT;

(b) Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N250,000) for an Area Council Chairmanship aspirant in the FCT;

(c) Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000) for a House of Assembly aspirant;

(d) One Million Naira (N1,000,000) for a House of Representatives aspirant;

(e) Two Million Naira (N2,000,000) for a Senatorial aspirant;

(f) Five Million naira (N5,000,000) for a Governorship aspirant; and

(g) Ten Million Naira (N10,000,000) for a Presidential aspirant.

16. Relying on the powers of the National Assembly in Paragraph 11 of Part II (Concurrent Legislative List) of the Second Schedule (Legislative Powers) to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Senate also passed measures reforming procedures regulating Local Government Elections. State Independent Electoral Commissions can no longer conduct elections that do not meet minimum standards of credibility.

17. Any INEC official who disobeys a tribunal order for inspection of electoral materials shall be imprisoned for 2 years!

PDP: Our party is true coalition of Nigerians,..Says It did not procure judgment from S/Court

January 24, 2018

Press Statement

PDP: Our party is true coalition of Nigerians,..Says It did not procure judgment from S/Court

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it represents the true coalition of Nigerians from across the country adding that its experience in governance and successful rebound from challenges has provided it an edge over every other existing or intended political platforms in Nigeria.

This is just as the party said it did not procure judgment from the Supreme Court contrary to the unsubstantiated claims made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his letter advising President Muhammadu Buhari not to seek re-election in 2019.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement on Wednesday, said Obasanjo’s claim on procurement of judgement amounts to an ill-intended attempt to impugn on the integrity of the Supreme Court, particularly when such a claim is false and not predicated on any empirical proof.

The party said that the ruling of the Supreme Court, which ended the protracted internal feud within its fold, rather than detract, reinforced the confidence of Nigerians in the PDP as the platform that truly embodies the resilience of a genuine democratic process in the face of daunting challenges.

It further said that even the worst critics of PDP concede that the judgment of the Supreme Court, was unprejudiced, uninfluenced and determined completely on merit, for which it was applauded in Nigeria and across the world.

Also, the conduct of our December 2017 elective National Convention in a transparent, free and fair manner and where nobody was ‘kingmaker,’ denotes the democratic credential of the repositioned PDP to deliver credible primaries that would yield a presidential candidate Nigerians desire.

Stressing that there is an extensive dissimilarity between it and the All Progressives Congress (APC), the PDP noted that while it remains nationally populist and development-driven, the APC by orientation and composure is arrogant, inept and anti-people, hence the nationwide detestation against it.

It said unlike the APC, where a very few individuals from within a circle control the instrument of power and governance, the PDP said it remains that egalitarian platform where all Nigerians are free to express themselves, politically engage and freely aspire for any office without regard to divisive considerations.

Signed:



Kola Ologbondiyan

National Publicity Secretary

SHOCKING REVELATIONS FROM SENATOR DINO AGAINST NNPC.

NNPC operates a secret account used for siphoning monies,currently has a balance of $137mllion,$4million has previously been withdrawn - Sen. Malaye

Lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Dino Melaye, has raised the alarm over alleged operation of a secret account by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and other joint venture companies.

Melaye, who raised a point of order at the plenary on Tuesday, alleged that the account, which was supposed to be domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria, was with Keystone Bank, had no Bank Verification Number and had a balance of $137m as of today (Tuesday).


He said, “While some individuals and government appointees will continue to steal, we have decided to continue to expose corruption in public life.

“This morning, I call the attention of the Nigerian Senate to a suspected, colossal, monumental corruption in NNPC.

“A company was registered with the name ‘Brass LNG Limited’ with the Federal Government having controlling shares.

“We have some Italians, Belgians and French as shareholders, with the Federal Government with a controlling share of about 50 per cent.

“It is a known fact that once you have a joint venture, the account of such joint venture will be domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“But in this case, that was not what happened. In private, the account was opened with Keystone Bank; this account has no BVN and there has been periodic withdrawals (from it).


“The last withdrawal from the account was to the tune of $4m. As I speak to you, the balance of that account as of today is $137m.”

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, sought the permission of the lawmakers to allow Melaye to bring the matter up as a motion at the next legislative day, which was unanimously granted.

Melaye was asked to move the motion on Wednesday (tomorrow).

Nepotism Smelling All Over Nigeria

"Words of Dr. Junaid Mohammed a northern ethno-religious irredentist.

“Let me say straight away that whether one calls it a cabal or a mafia or power within the presidency under Buhari, whatever you say it is; it is, and a lot worse. First, the most influential person in the presidency today is one Mamman Daura whom as you know, is a nephew of the president. His father was Buhari’s elder brother. In addition, Mamman Daura was the one who single-handedly brought up Abba Kyari, the current chief of staff to the president. In fact, Abba Kyari knows Mamman Daura more than he knows his own father.

“Next, the personal assistant to Buhari himself is the son of Mamman Daura, next is the State Chief of Protocol (SCOP), and is also a son-in-law to Mamman Daura because he is married to Mamman Daura’s daughter.

Next, the minister they unilaterally chose, against the interest of the party and against the wishes of Sokoto people, happens to be the daughter of the younger sister of Mamman Daura’s wife. Both of them are daughters of Sultan Dasuki, who was sacked by General Abacha. We have the aide-de-camp to Buhari himself, Colonel Abubakar. He is married to the granddaughter of one of Buhari’s elder sisters. Next we have the woman who represents Kaduna in the Federal Executive Council, she is a cousin to Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai. It is a well known that el-Rufai is one of the closest governors to Muhammadu Buhari.

“Next, we have the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The Minister of the FCT is the man called Musa Bello, who used to be the Managing Director of the Northern Nigeria Development Corporation, which used to be the biggest holding company that belonged to all the northern states. His only qualification to be the FCT minister is the fact that his father has been Buhari’s friend over the years.

Now, there is a young man called Sabiu Yusuf, nicknamed Tunde – probably because of the late General Tunde Idiagbon. He is another PA to President Buhari. He is also a grandson of another sister of Buhari.
“This is enough to prove to you that this is shamelessly the worst form of nepotism in the history of government in Nigeria.

In fact, in the history of Africa, let me make bold to assert that I have never seen any level of nepotism that has equalled or surpassed this in my entire life – I am now in my 67th year. Another thing I also want you to know is that Amina Zakari, who was and is still a national commissioner in the Independent National Electoral Commission representing the entire seven states in the North-west; it is being claimed that Buhari knows nothing about her appointment (before he became the president), it is a lie.

“When President Goodluck Jonathan was reorganising INEC and he was bringing in Prof. Attahiru Jega, he reached out to Buhari and asked him to nominate somebody from the North-west so that, that person would be a national commissioner. Of all the people in the North-west, Buhari decided to nominate his own niece, the daughter of his elder sister – Amina Zakari.

She has been there; when Jega left, Buhari was determined to make her the chairman, it was because of the massive backlash that he dropped the idea like hot potatoes. As we are talking today, that woman is a national commissioner which means she is one of the principal members of the election umpire.

“Throughout my reading of history, political science and social sciences generally, I have never heard of any dictator or any tyrant under any system of government whether totalitarian or fascist, appointing his own niece to conduct elections in which he was either a party or going to be a party to; Buhari has done that.

The immediate younger brother to Amina Zakari is currently the Minister for Water Resources representing Jigawa State in the same Buhari government. In addition, even though they are from Kazaure, Kazaure is contiguous to Daura. The eldest sister of both of them is now the Commissioner for Education in the All Progressives Congress government in Jigawa State.

 If this is not nepotism, then I don’t know what nepotism is. For somebody who had the guts and the brutal arrogance to appoint these relations, not bothered about public opinion, about the sense of justice, and about competence, then you can see that he has a very serious question to answer.”

My Take On National Grazing Reserve Council Bill

I have never read the National Grazing Reserve Council Bill, but I saw something that caught my attention.

Bellow is what caught my attention.

I decided to read a copy of the National Grazing Reserve Council Bill and I was surprised at what I saw.

The Bill creates a council to be chaired by a Chairman to be appointed by the president.

The council shall have the power to take your land anywhere the land is located in the country and then pay you compensation.

Your land, when taken, shall be assigned to herdsmen who shall use your land for grazing purposes. They shall bring cows to the land and you shall lose the land permanently to those Fulani cattlemen.

If you feel that the council was not right to take your land, you can go to court but before you go to court, you must first of all notify the federal attorney general of your intention to sue the council. Apart from notifying, you must get the consent and authority of the Federal Attorney General before you can sue.

So that means that if the Attorney General refuses to give his consent to the suit, you have lost your land forever to the herdsmen.

And this law, when passed, shall apply to the whole country so it means that your land in the village or anywhere is not safe.

The National Grazing Reserve Council would have the power to take away your land from you anytime they want and pay you whatever they want as compensation (even when you don't want to sell, and remember that for you to get compensation, you must have documents showing or proving ownership).

So I think that we all in the South West, South South and South East must rise up and reject this Bill. We must do all things to force our national Assembly members from passing that bill into law.

That bill is a deliberate attempt to take our lands and hand the land over to the Fulani cattlemen since it is only the fulanis that rear cattlshally Nigeria.

That law, when passed, shal fulfil the directive of Uthman Dan Fodio and other northern leaders to take over other parts of Nigeria.

I implore you to use all available means to implore your senator and Rep not to pass that law.

That law will destroy Nigeria.

All over the world, ranches are established and used to rear cattle. The farmers buy land and put thier cattle there. There is no country where the land of the citizens are compulsorily acquired and given to others.

This is evil, and designed to favour the Fulanis where the president comes from.

We must resist the passage of that bill into law to save Nigeria, and to protect our future generations
Please share this piece until it goes viral.

We must defend our land and protect our children.

Source: Dr. Austin Monye (UNIBEN)

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!

IGR: OSLGA Rolls Out Database Review Mechanism

* Institutes Ad Hoc Committee To Review Potential IGR
* Seek Out OSLGA IGR Potential, Our Mandate...Committee Chairman

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

In a bid to be well informed about the right potential Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) base of Oshimili South LGA, the council boss, Hon Comrade Uvhe Osadebe, has set in motion steps to generate the right database.

At last plenary session of the council's legislative arm, last week, the house dissolved all official engagement with revenue contractors.

In a correspondence from the chairman's office, dated 19th January, 2018, to the general public, signed by him, pointed out the dissolution of all revenue agents and contractors.

It is hereby announced for the information of the general public that all contracts between the council and all revenue agents operating in Oshimili South Local Government Area is hereby terminated with effect from 31st December, 2017, the letter stated.

The general public is hereby advised to desist from transacting any business or payment with these contractors, council boss advised in his correspondence to the public.

Sequel to above action, the council boss, recently, instituted and commissioned an ad hoc committee to review the council's revenue potential, leakage, challenges and proffer solutions to identified revenue generation set-backs.

Our media crew's recent one on one media chat with the chairman of the ad hoc revenue review committee, Hon Ebeodi Eluaka, unveiled the essence of the committee.

The revenue review committee is not a standing committee but an ad hoc committee with a life span of two weeks.

At the end of our work, we are to present our findings and reports to the council chairman, Hon Eluaka said.

Part of the committee's functions are to review all the council's potential earnings from all revenue bits and help the council calculate at a workable annual IGR estimate.

Our committee's work is to provide a workable database on the council's internally generated revenue.

We are not charged with the responsibility issuing out any revenue bit to any revenue agent or contractor, Hon Ebeodi Eluaka noted.

The local government area chairman wants to know and have an idea of the potential annual revenue estimates of the council, that is what this committee was instituted for and nothing more.

We will also at the end of our committee work report to the chairman our findings, expose revenue leakages and suggest proactive means of blocking such revenue losses, Hon Eluaka told our reporter.

SOURCE: ASABA POST NEWS WIRE (ONLINE)

Breaking News!!!! Breaking News!!!!

IGR: OSLGA To Rolls Out Database Review Mechanism

* Institutes Ad Hoc Committee To Review Potential IGR

* Seek Out OSLGA IGR Potential, Our Mandate...Committee Chairman

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

In a bid to be well informed about the right potential Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) base of Oshimili South LGA, the council boss, Hon Comrade Uvhe Osadebe, has set in motion steps to generate the right database.

At last plenary session of the council's legislative arm, last week, the house dissolved all official engagement with revenue contractors.

In a correspondence from the chairman's office, dated 19th January, 2018, to the general public, signed by him, pointed out the dissolution of all revenue agents and contractors.

It is hereby announced for the information of the general public that all contracts between the council and all revenue agents operating in Oshimili South Local Government Area is hereby terminated with effect from 31st December, 2017, the letter stated.

The general public is hereby advised to desist from transacting any business or payment with these contractors, council boss advised in his correspondence to the public.

Sequel to above action, the council boss, recently, instituted and commissioned an ad hoc committee to review the council's revenue potential, leakage, challenges and proffer solutions to identified revenue generation set-backs.

Our media crew's recent one on one media chat with the chairman of the ad hoc revenue review committee, Hon Ebeodi Eluaka, unveiled the essence of the committee.

The revenue review committee is not a standing committee but an ad hoc committee with a life span of two weeks.

At the end of our work, we are to present our findings and reports to the council chairman, Hon Eluaka said.

Part of the committee's functions are to review all the council's potential earnings from all revenue bits and help the council calculate at a workable annual IGR estimate.

Our committee's work is to provide a workable database on the council's internally generated revenue.

We are not charged with the responsibility issuing out any revenue bit to any revenue agent or contractor, Hon Ebeodi Eluaka noted.

The local government area chairman wants to know and have an idea of the potential annual revenue estimates of the council, that is what this committee was instituted for and nothing more.

We will also at the end of our committee work report to the chairman our findings, expose revenue leakages and suggest proactive means of blocking such revenue losses, Hon Eluaka told our reporter.