Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja on Friday held that only the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is empowered by law to determine the mode of collating and transmitting election results.
In a judgement, Justice Nwite stated that only INEC has the prerogative to direct how the Polling Unit Presiding Officer should transfer election results, including the total number of accredited persons and results of the ballot.

Justice Nwite further held that the collating and transferring of election results manually in the 2023 general elections cannot be said to be contrary to the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.
The judgment was on a suit filed by the Labour Party with INEC as the sole defendant.
The party had prayed the court to declare that INEC has no power to opt for a manual method other than the electronic method provided for by the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.

It urged the court to issue an order directing INEC to comply with the Electoral Act, 2022 on the electronic transmission of results in the general election.

In the judgement delivered on January 23, 2023, Justice Nwite held that the plaintiff misconstrued the provisions of the law and proceeded to dismiss the suit.
Justice Nwite also noted that Section 60, subsection 5 of the Electoral Act, 2022 provides for the transfer of election results, including the total number of accredited voters from the polling unit, adding that Section 62 (2) of the same Act, provides for compilation, maintenance and continuous update of the register of election result as a distinct database for all polling units’ results as collated in all elections conducted by the commission.
Justice Nwite held that the said Section 62(2) has mandated that such register of election results shall be kept in an electronic format by the electoral body at its national headquarters.

Army Nabs 3 Suspects with 1,671 PVCs, Ballot Papers in Lagos

Other items recovered in the apartment include ballot papers, cutlasses and Indian hemp.

The Army paraded three persons apprehended inside the apartment, while the prime suspect was said to be on the run.
Most of the recovered PVCs had the year 2022 as the registration number, while others had years 2011, 2012 and 2021 with all the owners being residents of Lagos State.

Brigade Commander, Brig. Gen. Isang Akpaumontia, while parading the suspects told journalists at the Ikeja Cantonment that the arrest and recovery were made following a tip-off.
He said: “Earlier today (yesterday), three young men were arrested with 1,671 PVCs. This was after early information was received. With the support of the Department of State Services (DSS), we were able to arrest them.

“They were arrested with some drugs, dagger, charms and over 1,000 PVCs. They were arrested at the Apapa general area, in a house where we traced them to. The owner of the house, who is the prime suspect, was traced to a hotel. But he took off”.
Akpaumontia further disclosed that the suspects and exhibits will be handed over to the immediate headquarters to do the needful.

Labour Party Loses Suit Seeking To Compel INEC To Transmit Result.

A suit filed by the Labour Party (LP) seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to adopt electronic means of transmitting the 2023 election results has been dismissed by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, in his ruling, held that Section 52(2) of the Electoral Act, 2022, cited by counsel to the party, Monday Mawah, provided for voting and transmission of results in accordance with the procedure to be determined by INEC.

According to the Judge, INEC is at liberty to prescribe or choose how election results shall be transmitted.
The LP, through its lawyer, had, on Aug. 22, 2022, filed the originating summons, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1454/2022, to sue INEC as a sole respondent.
The party asked the court to determine whether, with the combined effect of sections 47 (2), 50 (2), 60(4), 60 (5) and 62 (1)(2) and other relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, the commission can still insist on manual collation of results in the general elections.
The LP sought two injunctive reliefs in the event that the question was resolved in its favour.

Naira Scarcity: Gov Akeredolu Gives Fresh Order In Ondo State.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has told residents and traders in Ondo State to accept and trade with the old N500, and N1,000 notes as directed by the Supreme Court.
The Governor in a statewide broadcast on Thursday said rejecting the old notes amounts to disobedience of a direct court order.

Akeredolu added that if residents of Ondo State continue to reject the money, it would only inflict unnecessary hardship and pain on the people.
He explained that the Supreme Court order has validated the old naira notes as legal tenders till the 31st of December 2023 and therefore appealed to the people of the state to embrace, use and accept the old notes alongside the new notes as stipulated by law.

While calling on the banks to increase the circulation of the naira notes so as to ease the suffering of the people, Governor Akeredolu urged all media organizations in the state, as well as all traditional rulers, community leaders, and opinion molders to assist the government in educating the people, especially at the grassroots on the need to embrace and accept the old naira notes.

2023 Presidency: Primate Ayodele Reacts As Atiku, Obi head to court.

It is barely a week after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared APC’s Bola Tinubu winner of the 2023 presidential election, and PDP’s Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi have both headed to the Court over allegations that the 2023 presidential election was manipulated.

Finally reacting to this, the Spiritual Head of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has taken to his church’s Facebook handle via a video to share his view. According to the well respected man of God, going to court now; by Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, is a waste of time.

According to Primate Elijah Ayodele from the video (09:17): “Obi and Atiku are not serious, they are not desperate as the other. The ones you are doing now, you are wasting your time. It is now that they are showing their desperation. They would have won this election but they didn’t listen to me. Financially, physically, spiritually and tactically, their opponent was more prepared than them. They should seek the face of the Lord now”.

IGP approves the appointment of principal Staff Officer.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali, has approved the appointment of Chief Superintendent of Police [CSP] Idris Abubakar as the 20th Principal Staff Officer to the Inspector-General of Police (PSO-IGP).

New Naira: Emefiele In Contempt For Silence On Supreme Court Order – Sagay.

The former Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Itse Sagay (SAN) has said the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele is in contempt for his silence over the ruling of the Supreme Court.
It was reported last week Friday that the apex court nullified the federal government’s naira redesigned policy while insisting that the old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes would remain legal tender until December 31 and co-exist with the new ones.

However, the apex bank has been silent over the court’s directive since last, a development that has stirred confusion within banks and among Nigerians.
But the eminent professor of law at a media parley in Lagos on the activities of PACAC said the CBN boss is in contempt if he is yet to issue directives to banks to pay and accept old N1,000 and N500 notes as ordered by the Supreme Court.

Kogi First Lady Declared Wanted By EFCC Meets Aisha Buhari.

The wife of Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, Rashida Bello, said to be at large over a N3 billion fraud, has reappeared at the presidential Villa, meeting with the first lady, Aisha Buhari and wives of governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Recall, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared Rashidat wanted after she failed to show up at the Abuja Divison of the Federal High Court over money laundering and misappropriation of about 3 billion Naira.
Rashidat, who was arraigned in absentia, is facing an 18-court charge.
Rashida, despite her failure to show up in court, took to her Facebook page to announce her presence at a meeting with Aisha Buhari and others at the villa.
She also shared photos of herself in the company of the women.

Train/BRT Collision: Why We Allowed Victims To Be Treated On The Floor – LASG.

The Lagos State Government has responded to the outrage, following the video of train and BRT bus collision victims receiving treatment on the floor.
It was earlier reported that the train collided with the Lagos State Government bus with six people reported dead and several others injured.

A video that emerged online captured the victims of the Train and bus accident being treated on the floor outside the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
However, it is no news that LASUTH always experiences unavailability of bed spaces and this sparked reactions among many netizens.
Responding, the Chief press secretary to the governor, Gbenga Akosile, in a statement said the victims were not treated on the floor.
Instead, the victims were undergoing a preliminary assessment in order to determine the urgency of their need for treatment and the nature of treatment required.
He added that triage is global standard practice in the hospital during an emergency of such magnitude.

Lagos BRT/Train Crash Is Sad, Distressing – Buhari Reacts.

President Muhammadu Buhari has described Thursday’s accident in Lagos State involving a train and the state government BRT staff bus as distressing and extremely sad.
The President who expressed his sadness in a statement by his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu prayed for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives and the quick recovery of those injured in the accident.
The President also commended the Lagos State authorities and Federal Government agencies for promptly getting involved in relief work.
“The accident at the level crossing involving the train and the BRT staff bus is distressing and extremely sad. I pray for the souls of the deceased and quick recovery of the many who were injured,” he said in the statement.

Why President Buhari Has Been Quiet Over Allegations Of Irregularities Against INEC — Presidency.

The Presidency on Thursday revealed why President Muhammadu Buhari has been silent on the allegations of irregularities and compromise against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
There had been allegations of irregularities levelled against INEC in the conduct of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections.

The presidency in the statement released on Thursday noted that it would not take any decision that would lead to the annulment of the presidential elections like the case of June 12, 1992.
It advised any candidate or political party that is not satisfied with the conduct and outcome of the election to approach the court for redress.
The presidency stated this in a statement released through the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, titled, “At the 5th United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDCs), President Buhari drums up support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Presidency”.

INEC Reacts As Court Orders It To Allow Use Of Temporary Voter Cards.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reacted to a court ruling on Thursday directing the commission to allow the use of Temporary Voter Cards (TVCS).
It was earlier reported that a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered the electoral body to allow the use of TVC in the March 18 gubernatorial election.

The presiding judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu gave the order while delivering judgment in a suit filed by two Nigerians seeking the use of TVCs in the general elections when Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are not available.
According to the judge, the order was given under the premise that the plaintiffs were duly registered and captured in INEC’s database before the commencement of the general election.
INEC in its reaction to the court ruling said it has not received the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the order of a federal high court mandating it to allow registered voters with TVCS to participate in the forthcoming elections.

Train Accident: Sanwo-Olu Suspends Campaign, Declares Three-day Mourning.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has suspended his campaign for three days following the train accident in the PWD area along the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the governor also said all state’s public activities scheduled for the day have been canceled following the death of six persons and injuries sustained by others.
Sanwo-Olu also declared half-day work for public workers in the state tomorrow (Today), adding that all flags are to be raised at half-mast across the state.
The governor also declared three days of mourning in the state in respect of the victims of the train accident.
He said 85 passengers were on board the bus, and six deaths have been confirmed (2 brought in dead, as announced by LASEMA, while 4 more dead at the hospital).

According to the governor, 42 persons sustained moderate injuries, while 29 others sustained serious injuries, and eight persons had mild injuries.
He thanked the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), security agencies, staff, and students of the Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja for their timely response.
The governor also thanked the Staff of the state government for showing up for their loved ones and also encouraging them to be hopeful.