By NefishetuYakubu

Mr Frank Okiye, the newly elected Speaker of Edo House of Assembly, assumed duty at the assembly complex on Tuesday.

Okiye, who addressed newsmen at the complex, thanked members and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the confidence reposed in him.

l am happy and very elated. Edo people, my party and the members of the House have found me worthy for the position as the Speaker of the Edo House of Assembly.

Am not the best, but this responsibility is divine, he said.

The Speaker said other elected lawmakers, who were not at the inauguration ceremony, would be inaugurated as soon as they completed their documentation processes.

According to Okiye, we adjourned sitting till July 17, 2019 to enable us do some administrative work, allocate offices to members and get the system to function well.

My expectation for the seventh assembly is that we will strive to make laws that would be of immense benefit to Edo people, he said.

Okiye promised to work harmoniously with the state governor to deliver the dividends of democracy to Edo people.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Clerk of the House, Yahaya Omogbai, on Monday inaugurated nine out the 24 members-elect.

Omogbai, who ushered in the lawmakers into the chamber, read the letter of proclamation transmitted to the office of the Clerk by the Executive Governor of Edo, Mr Godwin Obaseki.

After reading the letter, the clerk proclaimed the seventh assembly and members began the process of electing the House leadership.

Frank Okiye (APC-Esan North East Constituency I) was elected as the Speaker, while Yekini Idiaye (APC Akoko Edo Constituency I) was elected Deputy Speaker.

Meanwhile, there was heavy presence of security personnel at the entrance to the assembly complex, while staff of the assembly went about their normal duties.

The nine members inaugurated on Monday were Frank Okiye (Esan North East l), Yekini Idaiye (Akoko-Edo I ), Nosayaba Okunbor (Orhionmwon East), Roland Asoro (Orhionmwon South), Marcus Onobun (Esan West), Uyi Ekhosuehi (Oredo East), Ephiraim Aluebhosele (Igueben), Henry Okhuarobo (Ikpoba-Okha) and Eric Okaka (Owan East).

NAN reports that 19 of the 24 members-elect, had on Monday, called on Gov. Obaseki to inaugurate the seventh assembly following the expiration of the sixth assembly on June 7.

The lawmakers, who made the call while briefing newsmen in Benin, said they would resist any attempt by the governor to impose the leadership of the House.

Source: NAN

The Trump administration has announced plans to slash hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

The news came after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the thousands of Central American migrants who have come to the U.S. in search of asylum at the U.S. border with Mexico.

U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said funds for programs in those countries would not be provided until the administration is satisfied these governments are taking concrete actions to reduce the number of migrants coming to the U.S.

Working with Congress, we will reprogram those funds to other priorities as appropriate. This is consistent with the presidents direction and with the recognition that it is critical that there be sufficient political will in these countries to address the problem at its source.

As Secretary Pompeo has said, these nations have the responsibility to take care of the immigration problems in their home country, Ortagus said.

According to Reuters, congressional aides said the administration told them it would reallocate million in aid to Central America lawmakers that had approved for fiscal 2018, and suspend an additional million Congress had approved for fiscal 2017.

Lawmakers had been urging the administration to reverse course, fearing the end of U.S. assistance will only make worse the rampant poverty, deep-rooted political instability and widespread insecurity in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, collectively known as the Northern Triangle.

Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, who represents the border city of El Paso, Texas, said on Twitter that the Trump administrations strategy is destabilizing.

Instead of working with leaders in Central America to stabilize the situation there, the administration is eliminating aid intended to create better conditions that would help keep families home, she wrote.

Source: NAN

By Naomi Sharang

The National Democratic Institute (NDI), has urged the Federal Government to begin preparations for the 2023 general elections now to ensure its success.

Dr Christopher Fomunyoh, NDIs Senior Associate and Regional Director for Central and West Africa made this known on Tuesday in Abuja at the presentation of the institutes report on 2019 general elections.

While hoping that the preparations for the 2023 would begin immediately, Fomunyoh said the NDI, as an International Election Observation Mission has been contributing in the conversation to ensure the success of the elections.

This is because we hope that if the conversations begin now and a lot of the reform issues that have been touched upon in our report and the election administration authorities, political parties, CSOs and electorates as a whole will be so well prepared.

And when all the aforesaid are well prepared and so well vast in the electoral processes, by the time we get to 2023, we will actually see a vast and very huge successful election that Nigerians across the world will be overwhelmingly proud of.

We will also see fewer cases before election tribunals or before courts of law, he said.

On the successes of Nigerias elections in the last 20 years, the director said that until 2015, there was a progressive improvement in the way in which elections were conducted in the country.

In 2015, Nigeria had one of the most credible elections in the countrys history as was said by most Nigerians and friends of Nigeria across the world.

The hope for many Nigerians in 2015 was that upward trajectory will be maintained and that 2019 saw improvement on what transpired in 2015, he said.

Fomunyoh said Nigeria had a lot to offer in terms of electoral achievements and as such, the electoral umpire must up its games in ensuring the credibility of the electoral process.

A lot has been accomplished since the transition in 1999 but there is still lots that need to be done, he said.

He explained that once stakeholders have the consciousness that a lot still needed to be done to give citizens confidence that their votes counted, then there would be successes recorded in the system.

Also, Chairman, Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) Mr Bashir Ibrahim said that due to various responsibilities the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is performing, it is overburdened.

He listed the responsibilities to include the regulation of political parties, registration of political parties and voters and conduct of elections.

All these responsibilities can be unburdened and given to other organisations like the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to create voters register, he said.

He added that in other countries, the electoral body only conduct elections.

Ibrahim, however, said that he is not in support of the establishment of an electoral offences commission to punish offenders because other law enforcement agencies could handle them under their own act.

All we need to do is to strengthen the existing anti-graft agencies to enable them perform their responsibilities, he said.

Source: NAN

By Ismaila Chafe

The Presidency has welcomed with reservations, the joint report of the International Republic Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) on the 2019 general elections in Nigeria and recommendations for the 2023 general elections.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Presidents Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, made this position known in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said: It is instructive that President Buhari clearly won this vote and the report in no way disputes that fundamental fact. President Buhari won by almost 4 million majority, with a 14 per cent margin.

However, the most important thing in an election is that it reflects the will of the people which in our circumstances was acknowledged to have been a success by ECOWAS Observer Mission and YIAGA AFRICA whose parallel vote tabulation verified INECs presidential election result as announced. This we achieved.

Shehu noted that the nation had developed a tradition of improvements in its electoral process through enforcement of the electoral law which resulted in the prosecution and conviction of electoral officers that were found wanting in compromising the electoral process.

He, however, maintained that there are improvements that must be made in the process for the future, noting that the sheer size, terrain and remoteness of certain regions did posed serious logistic challenges.

They also pose a problem for electoral observers: across a country of over 190 million, only 40 observers were deployed to observe just 16 states the Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria has 36 states).

It was unfortunate that the election was postponed yet imagine if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had gone ahead unprepared. The delay undoubtedly resulted in a lower turnout.

Because they are registered to vote in their place of birth, and not where they live, many Nigerians could not make arrangements to travel back again.

But the fact still remains that major democracies of the world have equally recorded worst turnout in modern history.

The effect of voter turnout, at any rate, is a two-way traffic that affected both sides equally.

To pretend otherwise is wrong considering that in 2015, the INEC postponed the election by six weeks under a PDP President, whom as an incumbent it was said to help at the time.

It didnt make a difference. Similarly, neither did it aid the sitting President in 2019, he said.

Shehu also described as amazing that the electoral observers recommended that electoral laws were enforced, and perpetrators of crimes punished and at the same time implicitly criticise the removal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria for failing to disclose his assets as required by law. Which would they prefer?

The law is a matter of principle that takes its course regardless of time and circumstances.

It is never a matter of convenience and indeed remains functional, operational and enforceable without due regard to the electioneering process.

As we have already said, we are committed to reviewing our electoral laws and processes, like every democracy across the world should.

The presidential aide stated that government intended to build on the innovations of the election that would facilitate inclusiveness and participation, such as providing braille for blind people to cast their votes among other innovations.

This election was won by the candidate who received the most votes. We value the reports recommendations. We can assure they shall be assessed and evaluated.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday renamed the National Stadium Abuja to Moshood Abiola stadium as mark of honour to the late winner of the June 12 1993, Presidential Election.

This was announced on Wednesday by the president while delivering his 2019 June 12 Democracy Day celebration at the Eagles Square Abuja.

It would be recalled that Abiola had run for the presidency in 1993, but the election results were annulled by former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, popularly called IBB.

But Buhari, on the 6th of June 2018 recognised the election and awarded Abiola posthumously with Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) – award meant for Presidents.

According to Buhari, the country only needs to get its acts together because it has all it takes to become a world power.

Buhari was optimistic that Nigeria can do it, since nations like China, India and Indonesian achieved the feat, saying that Nigeria’s economy is expected to grow 2.7% this year. “Nigeria can do it,” he said.

He noted that his administration has made remarkable progress in the fight against corruption, improving economy and securing the nation in the past four years.

The president also assured that his administration in the next four years would consolidate on the achievements recorded in the past four years.

He urged state governments and the private sector to play their own part, as the Federal Government cannot develop the nation alone.

Buhari said that his administration will not tolerate any form of attack and violence against Nigerians in any part of the country, noting that the country’s unity is unshakable.

“Join me in this journey of rebuilding our nation,” he added.

By Taiye Agbaje

Sen. Ike Ekweremadu (PDP-Enugu), said he decided to contest for the Deputy Senate President seat in protest against the nomination of Omo-Agege for the position .

Ekweremadu, who represents Enugu West Senatorial District, made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen shortly after the election at the National Assembly complex,in Abuja, on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ekweremadu, who is the immediate-past deputy senate president, and Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege vied for the position.

While Ekweremadu scored 37 votes out of the 105 votes, Omo-Agege polled 68 votes to emerge the new deputy senate president.

He said he decided to contest in protest against the nomination of Omo-Agege for the position of the number-two man of the 9th Senate.

I believe that there must be a referendum looking at what happened when I was presiding when the Senate was invaded.

It would have been very embarrassing that somebody who led that operation would just be asked to take a bow and would be endorsed and we all walkover as if it doesnt matter.

So I wanted a situation where Nigerians, especially through their representatives, will be able to present a referendum in respect of what transpired and then be able to either endorse or condemn it, he said.

On when he took the decision, he said: Only this morning because actually we werent minded to run for any office but we thought that our friends in APC will be able to come up with another candidate.

On how he felt with the outcome of the election, he said: I think that God has just given me that opportunity to have a rest.

For over 20 years I have been very busy with politics, with leadership, with governance. So I think this is an opportunity for me to have a rest and reflect on so many other things.

The lawmaker said he hoped that the present Senate would be able to wake up to the current challenges of insecurity, unemployment and issue of disunity, among others, which are staring the nation in the face.

I think these are issues we have to work with the executive closely to address outside the party lines, he said.

He said without tackling some of these fundamental issues, the country would not make any progress. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The newly inaugurated Executive Council of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has congratulated the President of the 9th Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan on his election.

The Council led by Comrade Abdullahi Almustapha Asuku also congratulated all members of the just inaugurated 9th National Assembly.

A statement signed by Awujoola Kehinde, National PRO, the NYCN urged the new legislature to ensure that it deepens democracy.

We the Apex and Umbrella Youth Organisation in Nigeria, use this medium to formally congratulate all members of the Red and Green Chamber as they begin another four years (4) of legislative duties to initiate and pass bills that would represent the general interest of the citizenry and the nation at large.

NYCN beseech the legislative arm of government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to help deepening democratic principles and values in the country and ensure its goods are enjoyed by the citizens at large.

Looking to a more better and virile performance from the 9th National Assembly that would always be the opium of the people they represent at there various Senatorial districts and constituencies.

Congratulations once again to all members of the 9th National Assembly(NASS) on your inauguration today 11th day of June, 2019, it said.

Source: NAN

By Cecilia Ijuo

The newly elected President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, says he will be fair to his colleagues irrespective of political, ethnic or religious affiliation.

He said this while delivering his remarks at the end of the inauguration of the 9th Senate, which saw to his emergence.

Lawan said the senate under his leadership would do justice to all to ensure that it perform its role for the benefit of Nigerians.

He added that elections are over. It shows that we voted for a united senate and it is clear that the outcome is bipartisan.

All parties including the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and Young Progressives Party(YPP) voted for me and with this outcome, the 9th Senate is ready to take off as a united senate.

Today means so many things. It is the commencement of another decade of our democracy and we will work to ensure best global parliamentary practice among other things, he said.

Lawan, who polled 79 votes to defeat his only contender, Sen. Ali Ndume, who polled 28 votes, promised to ensure a secure and a prosperous future for all Nigerians.

He promised to run a senate that would be responsive to the needs of the masses whose mandate the senate holds in high esteem.

He called for the support of his colleagues to ensure a robust senate, adding that, we will not settle for anything less than the best. We will dream big, aim high and take good initiatives.

Lawan pointed out that the agenda of the 9th senate would include improved Information Communication Technology(ICT).

He added that the senate would work in collaboration with the Executive, to tackle cattle rustling, kidnapping and other crimes bedeviling the nation..

He said, we will work with the executive for sustained pursuit of national ethical renewal.

The president of the senate said the 9th senate would address youth unemployment, high rate of suicide, depression, corruption, insecurity among others.

He also said the upper chamber would work towards finding lasting solutions to the disturbing educational challenges in the country, adding that it is embarrassing to have about 14 million out of school children.

He further allayed fears that the senate under him would be subservient to the executive.

According to him, the senate will be independent while working with the executive.
We will choose unity of purpose instead of conflict, he said.

He pointed out that he would ensure that senates relationship with stakeholders including civil society organisations and the media is strengthened.

He stressed that we must drive a trans-formative senate dedicated to serving the people with confidence, courage and patriotism.

In doing so, we are convinced that our past was only a story told while our future can yet be written in gold.(NAN)

Source: NAN

By Martins Odeh

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday prayed the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to dismiss petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar against his Feb.23 re-election.

Buhari made the prayer through his Counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, in a motion adopted and argued on Tuesday before Justice Mohammed Garba-led five-man panel in Abuja.

Olanipekun submitted that the petition was fundamentally defective, adding that his client won the presidential square and clear.

He explained that the allegations advanced by the petitioners were mere theoretical assumptions that could not stand the test of critical legal debate.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tribunal also entertained the presidents motion that sought to effect amendment on the identities and addresses of counsel representing him.

Another of Buharis application seeking to mandate the tribunal to entertain all interlocutory motions before the commencement of proper hearing of the main petition was also adopted and argued.

Similarly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) asked the tribunal to dismiss the petition brought by PDP and Atiku against a flawless election that won by Buhari.

Mr Yunus Usman, SAN, Counsel for INEC said that the electoral commission would standby the declaration of the second respondent (Buhari) as winner of the Fbe.23 presidential election.

Usman said the petition challenging the outcome of the exercise was misguided, adding that the allegations of fraud made against the electoral body was mischievous.

NAN reports that INECs application challenging the jurisdiction and competence of the tribunal to entertain the petition.

Usman further urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition as the petitioners failed to include the vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, as a co-winner in the election.

The failure of the PDP and Atiku to include Osinbajos name as party should not be overlooked because whatever affects the president affects his running mate, Usman said.

NAN also reports that three other interlocutory motions filed by the All Progressive Congress were argued and dispensed with.

Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Counsel for the APC had urged the tribunal to strike out 18 paragraphs of the petition with frivolous assumptions among other prayers.

He submitted that the competence of the petition was questionable, adding that it would soon become a mere lame duck.

Meanwhile, Dr Levi Uzoukwu, SAN, Counsel for the petitioners prayed the tribunal to discountenance all the arguments canvassed by the respondents, describing INECs position in the matter as unusual.

The presiding judge, therefore, fixed June 13 for the petitioners motions to be heard.

Source: NAN

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The contingent of the National Troupe on Wednesday thrilled guests to cultural dances and displays at the maiden June 12 Democracy Day celebration.

The troupe from the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, entertained guests with dances from the Northern, Southern and Western regions of the country.

The cultures represented at the event are the Yoruba, Fulani, the fishermen dance from the Ijaws and Ibo.

While the Fulani dancers displayed the showing of strength by the men and feeding of the men by their women, the Ijaw dance showcased the paddling of canoe for fishing.

One of the unique aspect of the display was the mixture of the dance with the armed forces brigade parade intermittently.

They provided shield for the dancers during the performance which symbolised the statutory function of the military to protect the country.

The Armed forces also showed an excellent display of entertaining parade that elicited applause from the audience.

The audience comprised of President Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and the Acting Chief Justice, Justice Tanko Mohammed.

Other dignitaries at the event are some visiting Heads of States and members of the diplomatic community.

Source: NAN