The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said the smart card readers (SCRs) are mandatory in Saturdays governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

Mr. Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner, and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee stated this on Tuesday in Abuja.

Okoye said the clarification was important going by allegations since the conduct of the Feb. 23, Presidential and National Assembly elections that INEC was selective in its use of smart card readers in its conduct of the elections.

He said that those allegations had led to speculations that INEC may be forced to jettison the use of SCRs in the state and federal capital area council elections.

INEC hereby states categorically that the allegations are absolutely false and the speculations are without any basis whatsoever.

The use of the smart card readers is not only mandatory but its deliberate non use attracts the sanction of possible prosecution of erring officials in accordance with the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of elections.

This is in addition to the voiding of any result emanating from such units or areas, as was done in the presidential and national assembly elections of February 23.

The general public and all officials engaged for the elections are hereby informed that the commission is not reconsidering the use of these smart card readers which has greatly improved the credibility of our elections and instilled a high level of public trust in them.

To clear any doubt or ambiguity, we wish to state that the deployment and mandatory use of SCRs in next Saturdays elections will not only be uniformed but also universal, and the provisions of the regulations and guidelines will be strictly and vigorously enforced.

All Stakeholders are to note and be guided accordingly please, Okoye said.

Source: NAN

The police have taken a number of measures to enhance security during the governorship and state house of assembly elections, including a ban on concealment of vehicle number plates by all unauthorised vehicle users.

Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Frank Mba, said on Tuesday that the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, placed the ban, adding that the proscription is with immediate effect.

The IGP said he gave the order following intelligence reports that unwholesome practices may be deployed by some unscrupulous persons to commit electoral related offences before, during and after the governorship and house of assembly elections holding on Saturday.

Apart from the possible threats to the polls, the IGP also noted that the covering of vehicle number plate was a clear breach of the Road Traffic Act and other relevant laws of the land.

He also said that it could impact negatively on national security and safety, heighten criminal activities and engender an atmosphere of lawlessness.

Adamu explained that using covered plate numbers could shield perpetrators of crime and place unnecessary pressure on security agencies in their routine crime prevention and monitoring tasks.

He, therefore, directed all Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) and state commands to strictly enforce the restriction order at their various Areas of Responsibility (AOR).

The police boss also asked the AIGs and CPs to ensure that all defaulters were dealt with according to the law.

He warned that any security personnel found escorting their principal with an unmarked vehicle or those with masked vehicle number plates would be arrested and dealt with accordingly.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday met with security chiefs in Abuja.

The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali, led the security chiefs to the meeting which held behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa.

The acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

He said security arrangements had been enhanced ahead of the governorship and state house of assembly elections scheduled to hold on Saturday.

The police boss thanked Nigerians for conducting themselves properly during the presidential and National Assembly elections, despite the pockets of violence in parts of the country.

He warned hoodlums and ballot box snatchers to have a rethink ahead of the polls, stressing that they would be severely dealt with.

Adamu tasked security personnel to ensure water-tight security of election materials and also urged them not allow themselves to be compromised by anyone or group.

Source: NAN

With six days to the 9 March governorship election in Kaduna, a major defection of members has hit the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

Mohammed Sani Sidi, one of the prominent governorship aspirants of the PDP said he and his political associates and many other chieftains of the party across the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State have resigned their membership of the party.

However, they did not indicate the party they are joining.

The mass defection from the PDP was revealed by Alhaji Ahmed Maiyaki, a close associate of Sani Sidi.

Sidi conveyed his resignation in a letter sent to the Chairman of Unguwan Sarki Ward, Kaduna North local government Area.

He wrote:Since the partys primaries held last year, characterized by manipulations, impunity, lack of internal democracy and intimidations of party delegates, the partys leadership at the state or the candidate has failed to genuinely engage all aspirants towards consultation and genuine reconciliation, an important task that would have helped the party forge ahead.

Even more worrisome is the mutual mistrust that exists between the party leadership, the gubernatorial candidate and some of its members and above all the failure to showcase any meaningful blueprint and capacity on how to govern the state when voted into power, said Sidi.

It is based on these reasons and after due consultation with my political associates across the 23 local government areas, l decided to resign my membership of the party henceforth. And l thank you most sincerely for your support while in the party.

Sani Sidi submitted alongside the letter, his membership card of the party to the ward leadership of the PDP.

According to Maiyaki, other prominent politicians and the associates of Sani Sidi from across the state who have resigned their membership of the party include Peter Adada, former Deputy Speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Rabiu Bako, former Council Chairman of Kaduna LGA and Commissioner of Information,

Maiyaki also listed Kabiru Ballah, former State Secretary, PDP, Sani Shahada, former Member, KSHA, Nasiru Aliyu Damau, former Council Chairman of Kubau LGA and Commissioner of LGA, Aliyu Saleh Ramin Kura, former Council Chairman of Lere LGA, Magaji Sadiq Hunkuyi, former Council Chairman of Kudan LGA , among those who have joined the defection train.

Others are Ashiru K. Bomo, former State Chairman AD and State Officer PDP, Sani Rabiu Bako, former House of Representative aspirants, Joe Machu, and Alhaji Adamu Kagarko, former Permanent Secretary, KDSG, Abdulaziz Makama, former Council Chairman, Kagarko LGA, Bala Ahmed, former Deputy Chairman, Kagarko LGA, Umar Farouq Kafanchan, former SSA, Political and Chieftaincy, Barnabas Samuel, former SA, Community Mobilization, Shehu Tafarki, former Party Chairman, Kagarko LGA, Rufai Mustapha Ango (Maradona).

Maiyaki said over 30,000 members of the Sani Sidi Campaign Steering Committee and some executive members of the party at the Local Government and Ward levels have begun the process of resigning their membership of the Peoples Democratic Party.(NAN)

Source: NAN

Ohaneze Ndigbo in Lagos has endorsed the All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the 9 March election.

The endorsement was announced at the groups town hall meeting in Lagos on Sunday, with Ohaneze Lagos State leader, Solomon Ogbonna, stating that members have concluded plans to cast their votes for Sanwo-Olu.

The candidate in a tweet appreciated the Igbo group and also posted the video of the meeting.

Thank you! Thank you!! Thank you!!!Ohaneze Ndigbo, we thank you.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu)

The Ohaneze leader promised to mobilise the over two million Igbo voters in Lagos to cast their vote for Sanwo-Olu but demanded he should appoint six of their members as commissioners after the election.

According to him, we are endorsing him because this is the man that will give us what we have been craving for in Lagos.

This is the best that can happen to the Ndigbos in Lagos, so come out and vote for him. Hold me responsible for this because I know him and I have seen what he can do, said.

According to him, when their members were attacked after the Presidential and National Assembly elections, Sanwo-Olus actions showed his love for the Ndigbo to live peacefully in Lagos.

Former President, Oliver Akabueze, explained that their members voted against the APC candidates during Presidential election was because they did not like the choice of the party.

What played out during last election will not happen next Saturday because we love Sanwo-Olu. But during last election, the choice of the party did not meet our expectations and that is why we did that.

Secretary, Ohaneze Lagos, Everest Nweke, stressed that the endorsement did not indicate that Ohaneze had started engaging in politics but very concerned on how we are governed especially the lives and property of Ndigbo is our priority.

The woman leader, Nkechi Agubuzor, also said over two million of their members would be mobilised to cast their votes for the APC candidate.

Source: NAN

The defeated Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has scheduled an expanded caucus meeting for Monday, March 4.

According to a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, the party would meet at noon in Abuja.

The meeting would hold at the Partys National Secretariat in Wadata Plaza.

Special Announcement

PDP HOLDS EXPANDED CAUCUS MEETING:

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) holds its expanded caucus meeting on Monday, March 4, 2019

Venue: National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.

Time: 12 noon.

Signed:

Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary

Source: NAN

Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the arrest of Nsikak Nkan, Akwa Ibom Commissioner of finance and Mfon Udomah, the accountant general of the state.

Also to be arrested are Uwemedimo Nwoko, the Attorney-General of Akwa Ibom State and Margaret Johnson Ukpe, said to be at large.

Justice Aikawa issued arrest warrants for the four persons at the resumed trial of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Paul Usoro.

Usoro is facing a a 10-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N1,410,000,000.

Usoro was charged with the four wanted persons, along with Governor Udom Emmanuel, who has immunity from trial.

EFCC first arraigned Usoro before Justice Muslim Hassan on Dec.18, 2018.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge, but the case before Justice Hassan was subsequently transferred to another judge, Justice Chuka Obiozor, following application by defence counsel.

On Feb.14, Justice Obiozor in a ruling recused himself from the case on personal grounds, and said that the case file will be returned for re-assignment to another judge.

The case was re-assigned to Justice Rilwan Aikawa,, who is the third judge before whom the charge is presented.

On Friday, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo appeared for the EFCC while Mr Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) appeared for the defendant.

The 10 count charge was read to Usoro and he also pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Defence counsel then made an application for the defendant to continue with the earlier bail granted by the previous judge, (Hassan)

This application was opposed by prosecution who argued that having applied that the case be transferred from Hassan, the defence cannot therefore, benefit from the bail granted by same judge.

He said that although he was not opposed to bail, the court should grant its own bail terms as the matter was commencing afresh before it.

After listening to respective submissions of counsel, Justice Aikawa,, held that it is the courts view that bail is peripheral to a trial as it does not affect the substance of the trial, adding that the court has a discretion to depart from or adopt the earlier terms granted.

In view of the circumstances, the judge, held that the conditions imposed by his learned brother, Justice Hassan, be adopted.

The court admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N250million with one surety in like sum.

The court also ordered that the surety must be the owner of a landed property within the court jurisdiction, or a public servant not below the rank of a Director in the Federal or State civil service.

The court also ordered the surety must deposit titled document with the courts registry and also deposit his/her international passport with the courts registry.

The court also adopted the terms granted by Justice Hassan, and released Usoro to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria Mr Effiong B.Effiong, pending the perfection of his bail terms.

Oyedepo then informed the court that he had an innocuous application to make, and urged the court to issue a bench warrant for the arrest and production in court of the persons mentioned in the body of the charge and who are described as being at large.

They include: Uwemedimo Nwoko, Margaret Ukpe, Linus Nsikan, and Mfot Udomah.

The court granted this application and ordered that bench warrant be issued against the named persons.

He adjourned the case until March 18 and 19 for trial.

NAN reports that in the charge marked FHC/418c/18, the anti-graft agency alleged that the accused committed the offence on May 14, 2016.

The commission alleged that Usoro, conspired with others, to commit the offence within the jurisdiction of the court.

He was alleged to have conspired to convert the sum of N1.4 billion, property of Akwa Ibom State Government, which sum they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity.

The prosecution said that the unlawful activity include criminal breach of trust which contravenes the provisions of section 15 (2), 15(3), and 18 (A) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.

Source: NAN

The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday suspended governors Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun and Rochas Okorocha of Imo states.

The NWC of the party further recommended the expulsion of the duo from the party for brazen anti-party activities.

Both governors are supporting different candidates for the governorship election in their states.

Okorocha, who won a Senate seat as APC candidate, is backing his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu campaigning for Imo governor as candidate of Action Alliance.

Amosun, who also won a Senate seat as APC senator last week, is also supporting a member of the House of Representatives, Abdulkadir Akinlade, as governor as a member of the Allied Peoples Movement.

In Imo, APC has Senator Hope Uzodinma as its governorship candidate. Prince Dapo Abiodun is the candidate in Ogun.

Amosun was roundly criticised in February when he flooded an APC presidential rally in Abeokuta with APM supporters. The incident almost went awry as the APM mob nearly stoned President Muhammadu Buhari.

Source: NAN

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says Sen. Tokunbo Afikuyomi is not a member of the party in the state, but a member of the Accord Party.

The party said the clarification was necessary in view of Afikuyomis clandestine activities to undermine the APC in Lagos.

It claimed that his activities were targetted at promoting opposition politicians in the process leading to the governorship election.

In a statement signed by the its Publicity Secretary, Mr Joe Igbokwe, the party said it was aware of Afikuyomis activities and his pretension of being an APC member.

While we believe it is within the rights of Afikuyomi to work for any interest that suits his fancy, we feel obliged to warn faithful and loyal APC members that Afikuyomi is not one of us, contrary to the impression he gives to unsuspecting party members.

While we dont begrudge Afikuyomi his rights to choose and work for any platform or candidate of his choice, we warn him to desist from claiming to be a member of our great party and proudly own up to the interest of whomever he is working for.

We know Afikuyomi as a member of the Accord Party and the Lagos State exco of APC does not know him as one of us, as we are aware he has left our party for Accord Party.

We, therefore, alert members of our party and anyone dealing with Afikuyomi to clearly know that he is not a member of the APC, the statement read in part.

The Lagos APC saluted Lagosians for their impregnable fidelity to the party.

It urged them to look for impostors and fifth columnists who have promised their masters that they will assist their doomed campaigns and interests by sowing confusion in APC.

This disclaimer on Afikuyomi is an effort to dispel such damned efforts.

We urge Lagosians to stick firmly with an APC that has served them so well in Lagos and which had gotten a pan-Nigerian renewal of mandate to give the country continued good, honest and fruitful governance for the next four years, the party stated.

Calls to Afikuyomis phone to get his reaction were unanswered.

Source: NAN

*Governor Akeredolu to be queried

It was the day of long knives as the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) suspended governors Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun and Rochas Okorocha of Imo.

The suspension of the governors was confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday by a top party official, even as the NWC was still in session.

Also suspended were Osita Okechukwu, the director-general of the Voice of Nigeria and Pastor Usani Usani, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

An APC source said the NWC also decided to query Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo, where the party lost two senatorial seats and the presidential election to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in the 23 February election.

All the sanctioned party members were indicted for anti-party activities in the run-up to the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections, NAN learnt.

NWC which is currently in a meeting also recommended the expulsion of Okorocha and Amosun from the party. The duo won senate seats in the National Assembly election in their states as members of the APC.

However, both governors are supporting governorship and assembly candidates against the APC.

In Ogun, Amosun is backing AbdulKadir Akinlade as governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement(APM) against the APC candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun. In Imo, Okorocha is supporting his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu as candidate of the Action Alliance, against Senator Hope Uzodinma, the APC candidate.

Source: NAN

Surrogates of Senate President Bukola Saraki, seeking to disqualify Kwara All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak failed in their fresh bid on Friday.

A Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin struck out a suit instituted by the former Ishola Balogun-Fulani faction of the APC in Kwara seeking to nullify the nomination of AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as governorship candidate of the party.

Balogun-Fulani, who is working in concert with Sarakis PDP, had approached the Federal High Court to enforce a Dec. 19 ruling of the Kwara State High Court which proclaimed him the chairman of the party in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a judgment of the Court of Appeal in Ilorin, however, on Feb. 12 set aside the ruling of the state high court.

NAN reports that the Appeal Court declared that the lower court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit filed by Balogun-Fulani in the first instance.

In his judgment, Justice Babagana Ashigar of the Federal High Court said it lacked jurisdiction to entertain a suit previously heard and decided by a court of coordinate jurisdiction.

Ashigar also said he could not hear a suit bordering on a judgment of the court of coordinate jurisdiction.

Since the Kwara State High Court knew that it would not have jurisdiction over INEC it shouldnt have assumed jurisdiction over the matter, Ashigar held.

He further held that since the same matter was already before the Supreme Court, there was no way the Federal High Court could hear it again whichever way it was decided by the apex court.

The court therefore struck out the case, refusing to grant any of the reliefs sought by Balogun-Fulani.

Counsel to Balogun-Fulani, Wahab Bamidele, in his submission had urged the court to adjourn the matter until his clients appeal at the Supreme Court was decided.

But counsel to AbdulRazaq, Jimoh Lawal, objected to the submission of Bamidele, urging the court to strike out the case for lack of jurisdiction.

The Court of Appeal had upheld the nomination of AbdulRazaq as governorship candidate of the APC.

The court affirmed that it was only the National Working Committee of the APC that had the powers to nominate candidates for elections.

Source: NAN

By FEMI ADESINA

Twice on Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari displayed an uncommon generosity of spirit. We had set forth at dawn, shortly before 5 a.m, to visit the presidential campaign office in Central Area of Abuja. The purpose was for the President to read his victory speech, having been pronounced winner of the February 23 election by Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

This portion resonated loudly in the speech, and was widely applauded by the All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts in attendance: I will like to make a special appeal to my supporters not to gloat or humiliate the opposition. Victory is enough reward for your efforts.

Holy Moses!

Was the President telling his supporters not to stick out their tongues in derision, to mock those who had fought a bitter, if not acrimonious electoral war? Is all not fair in love and war again? Surely, the millions of Buhari supporters were raring to do the Dino Melaye stuff, open their eyes to the widest, and say , or , to those who just lost the election. But the President said; no, please dont do it. They are your brothers and sisters.

So dissatisfied with the instruction was one of the Presidents greatest online supporters, that she was ready to start a rebellion on Facebook. Jewel Ifunnaya is a dyed-in-the-wool Buharist. She loves the President to the marrows, and proclaims it from the rooftops anytime. But on Wednesday morning, she was almost embarking on civil disobedience. She kicked like a wild horse, querying why the President must tell her not to gloat, when she was ready to embark on a gloating party against the Atikulators (as the online supporters of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the greatest challenger in the presidential election, are called). I read the protest by Jewel, and appealed to her to respect the wishes of our principal. She then agreed.

Again on Wednesday, President Buhari showed that he meant what he said. By 2 p.m, he was at the International Conference Centre, in Abuja, to receive his Certificate of Return, from INEC. Hear the President in his speech again: Now that the elections are over, and a winner declared, we must all see it as a victory for Nigeria, our dear country. That was why I encouraged my teeming supporters, in a speech I read earlier today, not to gloat. Our God-given victory is enough cause for joy, without deriding those who were in the opposition. All Nigerians, going forward, must stand in brotherhood, for a bright and fulfilling future.

Our God-given victory is enough cause for joy, without deriding those who were in the opposition. All Nigerians, going forward, must stand in brotherhood, for a bright and fulfilling future.Buhari

Jumping Jehoshaphat! What generosity of spirit from the President. This was time to preen like the peacock, swagger like a man of war just returning from battle, hunch up your shoulders in pride, and tell the members of opposition to hug the nearest electricity transformer, if they were not happy. But President Buhari chose to play the true father. What an enduring lesson. I know one of his predecessors in office, who would never have done that. When that man was president, and he won re-election despite the fact that university lecturers had been on strike for many months, he came out after the polls to say he had broken the back of ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Universities) irredeemably. That same predecessor was publicly opposed to President Buhari running for a second term in office, and had engaged in a campaign of calumny both locally and internationally for more than a year, and if he had been the one who won at the polls, gloating would have been endless. But our political hero said: dont gloat.

This reminds me of a story Id told in a piece I did in 2017, when President Buhari just came from medical vacation. Permit me to repeat the story, as it is quite germane.

In 1998, when the country was groaning under the jackboot of Gen. Sani Abacha, I was deputy editor of National Concord, a newspaper owned by Bashorun Moshood Abiola, who Abacha held in military gulag for five years. Abiolas offence was that he sought the actualisation of a mandate freely given to him by 14 million Nigerians to be president in an election held on June 12, 1993. Gen Ibrahim Babangida, then military dictator, had annulled the result without explanation.

One bright June afternoon, news wafted out that Abacha was dead. It turned out to be true. Every newspaper house was buzzing with activities, seeking to be the one to report the news with best perspectives the following day. My editor, Dele Alake (later, Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos for eight years) was away, and the lot fell on me to edit the newspaper. I relocated from my office upstairs, to the compugraphy room on the ground floor, where I could treat the stories faster. It was not yet the era of computer then.

Dr Doyin Abiola was Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of Concord Press. She was wife to the detained president-elect. On her way home about 7 p.m, she stopped over in the compugraphy room to see me. And what did she say? Editor, please in your treatment of the story, dont gloat!

If anyone would gloat that Gen Abacha was dead, should it not be an Abiola? But my boss said: Dont gloat!. And I learnt an eternal lesson about generosity of spirit towards even those who have treated you spitefully and disdainfully. Never gloat if anything untoward happens to them, or you come into a better station in life than them.

See how the principalities and powers of Nigeria had arrayed themselves against President Buhari. Some former military rulers and leaders turned themselves into an evil confederacy, acting as if they owned Nigeria. They had always determined who aspired to certain offices in the country, and who should not. They had held the country by the jugular for ages, almost asphyxiating her. But this time, they met their match. The President looked at them straight in the face when they told him not to seek a second term, and told them to pick one: get lost, or go to hell. They chose not to pick any, but rather turned themselves into an opposition force. Formidable they were, but not with a man that had the true army behind him. The ordinary people. So, last Saturday, President Buhari and his peculiar army gave the opposition a bloody nose.

The retired generals were not alone. They recruited pliant members of the international community, who had their eyes on a slice of the Nigerian economy, which Atiku had vowed to run along Western principles. Thank God for China, which charted a separate course, saying Nigeria should be left alone to resolve her internal matters without interference.

Also with Atiku were many questionable characters, who had questions to answer on what they did to the public treasury, when they had access to it. Nigeria would simply have been done for, if they had regained the levers of power again.

The ordinary people fought valiantly behind Buhari. And the impending army of occupation was worsted. Given a drubbing. Yet, no gloating? Very noble.

On Wednesday last week, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the President had told members about millions of dollars seized by security agencies at the various entry points into the country: air, land, sea, all towards compromising and manipulating the election. They wanted to buy each and every electorate, and possibly the electoral officers. But the plans were thwarted. The President also told of a more sinister stratagem they had, which Ill rather keep close to my chest for now. Desperate people. All due to lust for power. Bashorun Abiola used to say you dont urinate inside a well you would later fetch drinking water from. These ones not only urinated, they also did the big job inside the well. But God proved greater.

Yet, dont gloat? Strange and curious. Human dictum is an eye for an eye. You dont brook principalities and powers. Rather, you take the battle to them, and cast them out into the dry desert places. But President Buhari now says an eye for an eye makes the whole world go blind. They dont seem to make them like this older and less ruthless Buhari anymore. We continue to learn. Sai Baba!

Source: NAN

A former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, has confirmed that he has asked his supporters in Oyo State to work for the success of Adebayo Adelabu, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in next weeks election.

Akala is the governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in the state, but has now jettisoned his ambition.

I remain in ADP and all our candidates for the House of Assembly seats will stand in the March 9 elections,on the platform of the ADP,with my full support but I will work for the victory of Bayo Adelabu, he told reporters in Ibadan on Friday, confirming earlier reports that he was supporting the APC candidate.

He explained that his alliance with APC was based on the partys belief that the ADP could perform optimally,and maintaina strong grassroots network not only in Ogbomoso but also in Ibadan, Ibarapa, Oke-Ogun and Oyo.

Our core values and philosophies as indicated in our ADP manifesto, Rescue Mission Agendahasbeen adopted by Bayo Adelabu with the Presidency as witness. I have,therefore,as a candidate of ADP, accepted to support Adelabu of APC for victory and therefore form a coalition government.

My solemn gratitude goes to our members, state and national leaders of the ADP,for the ample opportunity given to me to lead and fly the flag of the party. Though my decision is a very tough one, it is for the progress of Oyo State.

Alao-Akala said his decision following the outcome of the just concluded presidential and National Assembly elections was based on the outcome of some incidents.

It is widely known, that, I initiated alliance talks with the main opposition parties in Oyo State vis-a-vis my great party,the Action Democratic Party (ADP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) with my boss, the former governor of Oyo State and Osi Olubadan, Senator Rashid Adewolu Ladoja as mediator.

Meanwhile, during the alliance process, I received an emergency call from the Presidency. In the meeting with Presidency, I was prevailed upon to work for APC. My response was that I should be given 48hoursto consult with my people, the opposition partiesalliance committee as well as the teeming members, leaders and the stakeholders of my great party, ADP.

On resumption of the alliance meeting, my boss,(High Chief Rashid Adewolu Ladoja),told me point blank in the presence of other governorship candidates,that I was not in consideration for governorship due to my place of birth Ogbomoso. According to him, We need an Ibadan man to slug it out with another Ibadan man, which is Bayo Adelabu.With the statement, my geographical place of birth is the only crime I committed.

Since Ive been unfairly and technically booted out of the alliance talks, I consulted with my party stakeholders and supporters whose support have brought me this far. Having realised that my 2019 governorship agenda cannot be realised in isolation based on the present situation, the only option remaining for me is to form an alliance with Mr. Bayo Adelabu of APC.

I, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala,the Oyo State 2019 Action Democratic Party (ADP), have decided to form an alliance with the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adebayo Adekola Adelabu,ahead of the March 9 Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections in the state. However, all the ADP candidates for the House of Assembly seats will go to the elections with my maximum support.

Akala defected to the APC last year,only to join ADP,a few months back.

*Reported by The Nation

Source: NAN

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Northern Elders Forum, known as Kungiyar Dattawan Arewa Initiative (KDAI), has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari, on his resounding victory in the Feb. 23 presidential election.

They described the spread of President Buharis votes as vote confidence in his ability to deliver on promises made to the electorate.

The KDAI stated this in a joint statement by its Convener, Gen. Paul Tarfa and the Deputy Convener, Mr Sani Daura, on Friday in Abuja.

The association said that the election, which was generally adjudged to be free, fair and peaceful, marked a significant milestone in Nigerias democratic journey which started in 1999.

Its outcome in terms of majority votes and national spread is the first of its kind in the political history of Nigeria.

The national spread across the regions, parties, religion and tribe is far in excess of the mandatory constitutional requirement of the two-third of the votes cast in all states and the FCT.

This is a clear vote confidence in Mr President and his ability to deliver on promises made to the electorate, be it the economy, unflinching fight against graft and security, among others.

It acknowledged with satisfaction, the African Union and Global communitys recognition of Buharis tireless efforts towards making Nigeria politically stable, socially harmonious, and economically developed nation, thereby earning the nation the much-needed respect in the comity of nations.

Tha association said it was in view of the achievements inter that the Nigerian voters, mostly the masses, came out in their millions to endorse Buhari.

It said this was in spite of circles of endorsements, elites gang-up, spread of fake news, and social media propaganda.

It expressed optimism that Buhari would use his re-election to steer the ship of the nation to the next level where poverty and lack of critical infrastructure for development would be a thing of the past.

While also congratulating the opposition parties on a well contested elections, it called on all the stakeholders in the Nigerian Project to accept defeat in good faith in the spirit of politics without bitterness.

He also urged them to join hands with Mr President who was magnanimous in victory, for an inclusive government where all talents would be tapped, to address recently evolving challenges of education, insecurity and drug addiction in the youths

While commending Nigerian voters for electing Buhari, it urged the President to remain focused in his determined commitment to uplift the nation to the next level of achievements.(NAN)

Source: NAN

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Uche Secondus, has expressed confidence that the court would overturn the victory of President Muhsmmadu Buhari.

He, therefore, warned that nobody would stop the party from contesting the outcome of the Feb. 23 Presidential Election in the court.

Secondus told journalists on Friday in Abuja that the party believed that justice would be done at the court.

We will go to court. Nobody will stop us from going to court and bring out all of the facts both the international observers and some people have not seen.

We will unearth them at the court and I believe that justice will be done at the court.

Because, if we continue to suppress injustice and go sentimental, the country will continue to pile on gun powder that will explode one day.

So much injustice has been done in this country and if we allow it and it continues to pile, nobody knows what will happen.

So, thats why we decided as good citizens and law-abiding and people who believe in rule of law that we will go, Secondus said.

Speaking on the recent meeting the party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had with the National Peace Committee, Secondus said there was no condiction given to the party, as they were only invited to state their grievances.

There was no condition. Initially, we were not to talk with them because a decision had been taken to go to court, but because of the personalities involved, we said ok, lets just talk.

There was no condition. There was no request of any condition.

We made it clear that unless the injustices are addressed, there is no room for peace. It is only when you address the injustice that you can now sit down for peace, he said.

Secondus also spoke on the alleged militarisation of the elections particularly in the South South and South East.

He said it was one of the strategies the rulling party used in denying PDP victory.

He added the development was also responsible for alleged killing of innocent electorate and suppression of voters who were either scared out or chased away from polling units.

He said that even by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) own record voter turnout in last Saturdays election fell to about 36 per cent from 44 per cent it was in 2015.

While the military was suppressing voters in PDP strong hold areas in the South, a different abracadabra was going on in some northern states particularly in Kano, Yobe, Borno and Zamfara states where numbers refuse to add up.

In Borno, Yobe and Zamfara states, confirmed report shows that there was non-compliance in the use of Smart card reader as approved by INEC rules.

He added that The same applies to cancelled votes, in Nasarawa states over 115,000votes cancelled, Kogi 79,000 votes, Plateau 30,000 votes indicating that these high incidence of vote cancellation were designed to suppress the margin of victory in PDP strongholds.

Secondus urged PDP members and supporters across the country not to despair but to remain steadfast and focused.

Like our presidential candidate assured, we shall triumph at the end because democracy has come to stay in this country and is staying by the grace of God.

I also wish to reiterate to our security agencies particularly the Army that they are not at war with any section of her citizens and they must try to be professional in their duties by staying away from election matters as directed by the Supreme Court of the land.

Highlight of the press conference include one minute silence for Nigerians who lost their lives on the election day and in the course of celebrating the outcome. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The Accord Party insisted that Dumo Lulu-Briggs is its governorship candidate in Rivers state and rejected the court-imposed candidacy of a former Chairman of the party, Mr Precious Barido.

The National Chairman of the party, Mr Muhammed Nalado, made the partys position known, while briefing newsmen, on Friday in Abuja.

Mr Barido never indicated interest in contesting for the governorship position; neither did he participate in the party primary.

The party never at any time submitted his name or particulars to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as our candidate.

The party duly submitted the name of Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs as its candidate.

We affirm that Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs remains our validly nominated candidate, Nalado said.

Nalado alleged that Barido was an impostor working in collusion with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its gubernatorial candidate in Rivers.

He insisted that Lulu-Briggs was the rightful candidate of the Accord Party, having met all the necessary requirements of the party and the INEC to contest for the 2019 gubernatorial election in the state.

According to him, the party has appealed the judgment, asking for stay of status quo, which recognises Lulu-Briggs as the duly nominated candidate for the governorship election in Rivers.

The National Chairman of the party, however, called for peaceful conduct of the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

He also called for minimal involvement of the military in the process.

Source: NAN

Former military president of Nigeria, Gen.Ibrahim Babangida, has sent a message of congratulations to President Muhammadu Buhari on his reelection for a fresh term of four years.

In a long message that dredged some of the issues that triggered some disagreement between the two leaders last year, Babangida asked Buhari not only to heal wounds from the election, but also to restructure the country and introduce creative measures to tackle the economy.

The former military leader called restructuring agitators, reasonable Nigerians.

The President may wish to heed to the yearnings of reasonable Nigerians for restructuring and seek all constitutional means to devolve some powers presently exercised by the Federal Government to the other tiers of government, he said.

Babangida also asked Buhari to heal the wounds arising from the electioneering campaign and the outcome.

The newly elected president should heal the wounds of the heated campaign exchanges by embracing those who contested alongside with him.

The President must resist the temptation to see them as enemies; not even opponents, but fellow compatriots who merely disagreed with him on how best to move our country forward.

He also reserved special praises for Atiku Abubakar, Buharis main challenger, decorating him with several adjectives, such as being dogged, gallant, audacious and his electoral support cutting across ethnic ethnic, religious and regional lines.

However, Atikus winning votes across all lines of divide was not peculiar as Buhari even outperformed him, winning at least 25 per cent in 34 states and FCT and outrightly winning 19 of the 36 states.

Atiku led in the traditional PDP states of South South and South East but struggled to win his home state of Adamawa. He also won narrowly in Ondo, Oyo, Benue, Plateau, Taraba states. He trailed Buhari in most of the North West and North East states, and failed to make 25 per cent cut in Kano, Kebbi, Zamfara, Borno, Katsina, and Yobe. He also lost to Buhari in Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Kwara, Nasarawa, Kwara, Ekiti, Kogi, Gombe, Kaduna, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kaduna.

The 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections have come and gone. These elections have produced a new president elect and new elected members of the Senate and House of Representatives.

I congratulate the Nigerian electorate who conducted themselves peacefully during the voting process; they were enthusiastic to exercise their democratic rights of electing candidates of their choice. Sadly, due to violence in some part of the country, lives were lost and I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to their families for the death of their loved ones.

I wish to congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR on his re-election to lead Nigeria in the next four years. I have observed that, the electioneering campaign was very strenuous and the contest very keen. That despite the turbulent terrain of politics, the President submitted and subjected himself to this process. Indeed is a clear testimony that he believes in the democratic process and ideals.

The newly elected president should heal the wounds of the heated campaign exchanges by embracing those who contested alongside with him. The President must resist the temptation to see them as enemies; not even opponents, but fellow compatriots who merely disagreed with him on how best to move our country forward.

Now that the President has won his re-election bid, he should confront with renewed vigour the most urgent problem confronting Nigeria: insecurity of lives and property. The Boko Haram insurgency remains a threat to many Nigerians particularly in the North East sub region, while the twin evils of kidnapping and armed robbery/armed banditry remain a major national menace. The president must pay priority attention to these security issues.

The economy of the country must also occupy the presidents urgent attention. There is the need to be more creative in formulating policies that will improve the nations economy, create employment opportunities and give hope to our teaming youths.

The President may wish to heed to the yearnings of reasonable Nigerians for restructuring and seek all constitutional means to devolve some powers presently exercised by the Federal Government to the other tiers of government.

Let me commend and convey my admiration to the other contestants for the office of president.

I was particularly impressed with the gallant and audacious spirit of the main challenger in the presidential race, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar GCON. I was not surprised that even though he lost the most exotic position of the land, his doggedness and pattern of support cut across ethnic, religious and regional lines that earned him the second position of the last Presidential election.

I call on the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to close ranks and work with the winner of the election in an objective and constructive manner so that democracy will continue to thrive in our country at this crucial period of renaissance.

I urged him also to endeavour and prevail on his admirers to eschew bitterness and violence. They must be prevailed upon to understand that politics is a game in which there must be only one winner.

I pray that the Almighty Allah will continue to guide our democratic steps for peace and progress in our country.

General Ibrahim B Babangida GCFR
Former Military President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
2nd March 2019.

Source: NAN

Why are parties to an action important?

• Whatever judgement the court gives must be binding on the parties in court.

• If the proper parties are not before the court, the matter will be struck out.

• The time of the court and that of the client will be wasted and costs will be borne.

Capacity to sue and be sued

In any cause of action, after determining the nature of action, jurisdiction of court and proper advice on ADR mechanism, the next thought should be the likely parties to an action. Parties to an action is important because a court can only resolve a dispute if the right parties are before it. Once relevance of parties is not determined, it goes to the root of the matter. Again, any claim if successful must be against another party and such party must be the person who claims can be recovered from. There are usually two parties in a civil action, the party who is claiming and the party who is being claimed against.

A party cannot be both plaintiff and defendant in the same action at the same time. See UDE v. NWANGWU (1995) 9 SCNJ 41.

Who can sue and be sued
For the action to be competent, both parties must be legal persons (whether natural or juristic). If the competence of the plaintiff/claimant is challenged, the onus is on him to establish his competence as lack of competence on the part of the plaintiff/claimant will lead to the action being struck out. In SHITTA & ORS v. LIGALI & ORS the plaintiffs described themselves as ‘the executive community of the central mosque, Lagos and the court held that the committee had no capacity to sue. However in Adegbite & ors v Lawal & ors, the plaintiffs sued ‘for themselves and on behalf of the Muslim community of Ijebu-Ode central mosque and the court held that they were natural persons.

• Thus, non-existent persons cannot sue or be sued. If the defendant is not a legal person, the matter will be struck out for it is incompetent. See AGBOMAGBE BANK v. GENERAL MANAGER, G.B. Ollivant. .However, by Order 13 r 5 Lagos (no provision in Abuja), where an action has been instituted against a wrong defendant or where the name of the defendant has been incorrectly stated, a judge may upon application, order a substitution or addition of any person as defendant or correction of any such name on such terms as may be just.

• However, in the case of a misnomer, the position of the law is that upon an application, the writ and other court process will be amended to bear the correct name.

• OKECHUKWU & SONS v. NDAH. By Order 10 r 2 Abuja and Order 13 r 2 Lagos, where an action was commenced in the name of a wrong person as plaintiff/claimant or where it is doubtful whether it was commenced in the name of the right plaintiff/claimant, a court or judge in chambers (for Abuja) or a Judge (for Lagos), may order the substitution or addition of any other person as plaintiff/claimant on such terms as may be just.. In Abuja, before making the order, the court or judge in chambers must be satisfied that it was as a result of a bona fide mistake and that the order is necessary for the determination of the real matter in dispute. See also SO SAFE TABLE WATER TECHNOLOGIES LTD V AYINOLUWA.

Effect of failure to include a person who ought to be made a party is that he will not be bound by the decision in that suit. See OKOMU OIL PALM v. ISERHIENHEN

Types of parties

There are different types of parties to a civil action

• PROPER PARTIES: A proper party has no interest in the case, but he is joined because of the particular role he played which led to the cause of action. The judgement of the court will not affect him.. See GREEN v. GREEN (1987) 3 NWLR (Pt. 61) 480.

• NECESSARY PARTIES: These are persons who are interested in subject matter and in whose absence, the proceeding cannot be fairly dealt with. See GREEN v. GREEN (1987) 3 NWLR (Pt. 61) 480. Thus, a necessary party is a party whose presence is necessary for the just, effectual and complete determination of all the issues in the action. See COL. HASSAN YAKUBU (RTD) v. GOVERNOR, KOGI STATE & ORS (1995) 9 SCNJ 122; Peenok Investment Ltd v. Hotel Presidential; UNION BEVERAGES LTD v. PEPSI COLA INTL LTD. When an agent acts on behalf of a disclosed principal, the PRINCIPAL is a necessary party. In all actions, necessary parties are used except where the law specifies a nominal party.

• DESIRABLE PARTIES: A desirable party is one who is not originally a party to the action nor whose presence is necessary for the just, effectual and complete determination of the action, but nevertheless, needs to be a party so that he will be bound by the decision in the case since the decision may directly affect him. See GREEN v. GREEN (1987) 3 NWLR (Pt. 61) 480; COL. HASSAN YAKUBU (RTD) v. GOVERNOR, KOGI STATE & ORS (1995) 9 SCNJ 122. Note that the AGENT of a disclosed principal is a desirable party. Peenok investment v Hotel Presidential.

• NOMINAL PARTIES: these are parties who are not really involved in the set of facts constituting the cause of action, but are made parties to the suit by virtue of the office they hold or occupy. See PADAWA v. JATAU (2003) 5 NWLR (Pt. 813) 249. For example, in actions involving the federal government or the government of a state, the AG of the federation or of the state respectively is the nominal party, see section 20 Supreme Court Act; in actions involving the House of Assembly of a State, the nominal party is the Speaker of the House, see section 3 of SC (AOJ) Act Cap S16 LFN 2004; in an action for passing off, the CAC is a nominal party; in Magistrate Courts, the Commissioner of Police is a nominal party for the state.

However in a case where the principal parties sue or are sued instead of the nominal parties, it would only amount to an irregularity. See PLATEAU STATE v. AG FEDERATION (2006) 3 NWLR (Pt. 967) 346

Reconciling locus standi with constitution of parties to an action.

The concept of locus standi is that only a person who has interest in a subject matter is competent to bring an action. A busy body cannot institute an action. Locus standi is only relevant to a plaintiff thus a plaintiff – person claiming must have interest in the subject matter of the suit.

How parties are designated

• Writs of summons – Plaintiff (but called Claimant in Lagos)/Defendant

• Originating summons – Plaintiff (or Claimant)/Respondent

• Petition – Petitioner/Respondent

• Originating motions-Applicant/respondent

The same person can be both a plaintiff and defendant (in case of counter-claim) in the same matter; also an applicant and respondent. Parties are usually set out after the heading of the court, suit number.

As congratulatory messages poured in for President Muhammadu Buhari over his re-election, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has kept disquietingly mum.

Telephone calls made to Obasanjos Media Aide, Mr Kehinde Akinyemi, by the correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) were not picked while text messages sent to him for Obasanjos reaction were neither acknowledged nor replied.

Obasanjo slumped into quiet mode since February 23, after voting in Abeokuta and advising winners in the election to show magnanimity in victory, saying losers should also accept defeat.

In any competition, there will always be winners and losers. That is what anybody in any competition must be prepared for as a good sportsman. Whoever that wins should show magnanimity. If I lose, I will also bow down graciously. That is what any competition is all about.

If your purpose of going for any competition is that you must win at all costs, then that is no longer a competition. I know INEC will make amends for the shortcomings ahead of the next elections.

After failing to deliver his polling unit in Abeokuta to Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party that he staked so much upon, including risking Gods wrath, Obasanjo has not been seen in public.

He had hoped his endorsement would enable Atiku defeat Buhari.

He also tried to create a third force and a coalition of groups to dethrone Buhari, but none showed any promise until he embraced Atiku.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, in the early hours of Wednesday declared Buhari winner of the Saturdays presidential polls. He polled 15,191,847 votes to defeat Atiku, his closest rival who scored 11,262,978 votes.

Prominent and well-meaning Nigerians as well as international leaders have since been congratulating Buhari over his victory in the election, widely adjudged as peaceful and credible.

But former President Obasanjo, who believes he could swing election to any aspirant has noticeably kept off the public radar, holed in his expansive home on the hilltop in Abeokuta, the Ogun capital.

Obasanjo, was quite vocal in the build-up to the election and campaigned against Buharis re-election with a series of caustic and malicious letters.

Then in an amazing and absurd turn, he endorsed Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the PDP, whom he had once accused and condemned over corruption claims.

He had told Nigerians that God would not forgive him (Obasanjo) if he ever supported Atiku to be president.

But for all Obasanjos vitriol against Buhari, the presidency repeatedly asked Nigerians to ignore Obasanjo, saying Buharis performance in office would earn him re-election.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has continued to receive congratulatory messages over his re-election from more African leaders and the United Kingdom.

Mallam Garba Shehu, Presidents spokesman in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, said, King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco, in a message, described President Buharis victory as an affirmation of the level of confidence Nigerians have in their President.

The King promised to work with President Buhari to advance the interests of both countries.

Your re-election is a testimony to the level of confidence that you enjoy among the people of Nigeria, attributable to your wisdom, experience in politics, sense of engagement and devotion to the service and the protection of the interests of the country especially as they relate to the prosperity, wellbeing and security of your people. King Mohammed VI said in his congratulatory message.

The monarch expressed satisfaction with the existing cordial and fraternal African relationship linking the two leaders, their people, and nations.

He reiterated his determination to work in concert with President Buhari to reinforce the mutually beneficial relationship between Morocco and Nigeria and to give it a new impetus to serve as a model on the African continent.

Also, President Alpha Conde of Guinea described the re-election of President Buhari as a dose of hope for the West African region.

Conde expressed confidence that the cordial relations between Nigeria and Guinea would continue to get better.

President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, who was the first leader to call President Buhari minutes after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him the winner of the 2019 presidential elections, said he looked forward to working with the Nigerian leader to further strengthen Nigeria-Niger relations.

Buhari has also received congratulatory messages from Presidents Nana Kofi-Addo of Ghana and Macky Sall of Senegal.

The UK Government has also congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on securing a second term as president.

A statement from the British High Commission in Abuja on Wednesday, quoted the Minister of State for Africa, Harriett Baldwin, as saying I offer my congratulations to President Buhari on securing a second term as the Nigerian President.

The UK is a long-standing friend and partner of Nigeria and the Nigerian people and a stable and prosperous Nigeria benefits Africa and the world.

Baldwin commended Nigerians for their resilience and commitment to democracy.

She said the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were consistent with the results obtained through the civil society Parallel Vote Tabulation process.

Along with our international partners, the UK believes the Nigerian people can have confidence in the result.

She, however, recognised the concerns expressed by Nigerians on the conduct of the electoral process, in particular logistics and results collation, and reports of intimidation of electoral officers.

The minister urged any party or individual who wished to challenge the process to do so peacefully and through the appropriate legal channel.

We encourage Nigerian authorities to examine all allegations of wrongdoing carefully, and take the necessary action against individuals found responsible.

She also condoled with the families and friends of those who lost their lives in election-related violence.

No one should die in the exercise of their democratic rights, she stated.

She reiterated the continued support of the UK Government to Nigeria and its civil society in drawing lessons from these elections and strengthening its democracy.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday declared President Buhari the winner of the 2019 Presidential Elections.

Source: NAN

The United `kingdom Government has confirmed that the results of the presidential election as released by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) were authentic.

British Minister of State for Africa, Harriet Baldwin said the results were consistent with the results obtained through the civil society Parallel Vote Tabulation process.

Along with our international partners, the UK believes the Nigerian people can have confidence in the result, she said.

INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu early Wednesday morning declared President Muhammadu Buhari as the winner of the 23 February election, with 15,191,847 votes. His main challenger Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party scored 11, 262,978 votes.

But the PDP agent at the collation centre declined to sign the results and later Atiku also rejected the verdict and said he would challenge it in the court. In a press conference on Wednesday, Atiku ramped up the rejection by raising issues of statistical impossibility about the results in some states of Nigeria.

The statement by the British minister was the first authentication of INEC result.

Baldwin congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on securing a second term as president.

I offer my congratulations to President Buhari on securing a second term as the Nigerian President, she said in a statement released by the British High Commission in Abuja.

The UK is a long-standing friend and partner of Nigeria and the Nigerian people and a stable and prosperous Nigeria benefits Africa and the world.

Baldwin commended Nigerians for their resilience and commitment to democracy.

She, however, recognised the concerns expressed by Nigerians on the conduct of the electoral process, in particular logistics and results collation, and reports of intimidation of electoral officers.

The minister urged any party or individual who wished to challenge the process to do so peacefully and through the appropriate legal channel.

We encourage Nigerian authorities to examine all allegations of wrongdoing carefully, and take the necessary action against individuals found responsible.

She also condoled with the families and friends of those who lost their lives in election-related violence.

No one should die in the exercise of their democratic rights, she stated.

She reiterated the continued support of the UK Government to Nigeria and its civil society in drawing lessons from these elections and strengthening its democracy.

Source: NAN