Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says he wonders why the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) still exists. The former Lagos governor spoke on Saturday at the unveiling of the Tinubu/Shettima door-to-door campaign group in Abuja. Tinubu, who described the PDP as a party that lacks direction, urged members of his party not to be bothered about the opposition. “We are not just the ones to hurl abuses and insults at our rivals’ party. We don’t need it. We are smarter; we are brilliant; we are courageous; we are not like them,” he said. “They spent 16 years and forgot that there is a railway infrastructure that can do haulage, human carriage, animal husbandry and food carriage across the length and breadth of the country. “They (PDP) got there and turned it to an incubator. I wonder why they still exist as a party. These are people still fighting for leadership of their party, looking for the direction of the compass. We are not equal at all; we are smarter. We know the road; let them follow. “We don’t need to worry about PDP — poverty development party. Today, let’s lower the temperature. It’s not the time to campaign yet. They will hear a lot from us. “We are the party of progressive ideas. We want good education for our children, good development for Nigeria, prosperity for this country, agricultural and agro-allied projects to be embarked upon.” The PDP ruled Nigeria for 16 years — from 1999 to 2015 — after which President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC assumed office. The PDP is also currently in crisis over its leadership, with several calls for Iyorchia Ayu, national chairman of the party, to step down for a southerner since the party’s presidential candidate is also from the north. Speaking further on his party’s plans for Nigeria, Tinubu said the APC has the solution to the country’s problems, adding that the party is strategising to tackle the challenges. “We have the confidence that we have what it takes. We have the courage, determination, perseverance and foresight to identify the problems of Nigeria and tackle them headlong and make a solution out of them for the prosperity of your children. We will guarantee tomorrow, jobs for your grandchildren, and the progress of tomorrow,” he said. “All we are doing is strategising, calculating and organising ourselves to confront the challenge before us.” Also speaking, Kashim Shettima, APC vice-presidential candidate, said Tinubu’s presidency will turn Nigeria into an industrialised nation. “We are on the threshold of making history. The global economy is tilting towards recession because the world has moved from the agricultural age to the industrial age,” he said. “We have moved from the industrial age to the knowledge-driven age. People are now talking of big data of artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and open biotechnology. “Who among the presidential candidates we have here in this country has the skill set, the intellect, the capacity to move this nation greater than asiwaju Bola Tinubu?”

  The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to use his “leadership position to urgently withdraw the names of nominees recently submitted to the Senate for confirmation as Resident Electoral Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission who are allegedly members of the All Progressives Congress.” The PUNCH reported that Buhari had in a letter dated July 25, sent the names of 19 RECs to the Senate for confirmation. SERAP said at least four of the 19 nominees allegedly either belonged to a political party or had been previously indicted for corruption. In a letter dated September 3, 2022, and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said, “the combined effect of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the Electoral Act and international standards is the requirement that elections must be organised by a truly independent and impartial electoral body.” SERAP said, “Withdrawing the names of those nominees who are allegedly members of the APC, and replacing them with people of unquestionable integrity and competence, and who are not members of any political party would improve the independence of INEC and promote public confidence in the appointment process.” According to SERAP, the Buhari-led government has a legal responsibility to promote and guarantee the integrity, credibility, and independence of INEC, and to ensure that the electoral body is free from political and other interferences. The letter, read in part: “As its name suggests, INEC is expected to maintain independence or absolute neutrality. INEC must not only be independent and impartial, but must also be seen to be independent and impartial.” “Promoting the independence of INEC, including by appointing people of unquestionable integrity and competence, and who are not members of any political party as RECs would be entirely be consistent with your constitutional oath of office, and your oft-stated promise to ensure free and fair elections in 2023.” “INEC ought to be independent and impartial in the exercise of its constitutional and statutory responsibilities.” “This means that anyone nominated for appointment as RECs should be persons of integrity and high standing, and should be independent and impartial, so that INEC can enjoy the public trust and confidence necessary for it to effectively and satisfactorily carry out its constitutional and statutory responsibilities.” “The mere fact that INEC has ‘independent’ in its name does not in itself make it independent. What makes an institution truly independent are its attributes and characteristics, and the credibility and transparency of the appointment process.” “Public perception of the independence of INEC is also essential for building public confidence in the electoral process. Where Nigerians have doubts about the independence of INEC, they are more likely to have less confidence in the electoral process, thereby undermining democracy.” “The will of the people is expressed through democratic elections. This requires that elections must be free, fair, legitimate and credible. However, the credibility and legitimacy of elections depend in part on the integrity and competence of the body conducting the process, and the transparency of the appointment process for RECs.” “We hope that the aspects highlighted will help guide your actions in acting to withdraw the names of those nominated for confirmation as RECs, and who are allegedly members of the APC.” “We would be grateful if the requested action is taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.” “Section 156(1) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (amended) provides that any member of INEC ‘shall not be a member of a political party.’” “According to Item F, paragraph 14(3)(b) of the Third Schedule, Part 1 of the Nigerian Constitution, ‘a Resident Electoral Commissioner shall be a person of unquestionable integrity and shall not be a member of any political party.’” “Section 6(4) of the Electoral Act 2022 provides that the appointment of anyone as member of INEC shall be consistent with the provisions of the Constitution, including this provision.” “Similarly, article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights both of which Nigeria is a state party provide that the will of the people should be the basis of the authority of government.” “Furthermore, the African Union African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, which Nigeria has also ratified requires States Parties to establish and strengthen independent and impartial national electoral bodies including INEC responsible for the management of elections.” “The United Nation Human Rights Committee, established to oversee the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights has ruled that states should establish independent electoral authorities to supervise the electoral process and to ensure that elections are conducted fairly, impartially and in accordance with established laws that are compatible with the covenant.” “According to our information, the Senate recently confirmed the receipt of your nomination for Resident Electoral Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission.” “Those nominated as RECs are: Ibrahim Abdullahi (Adamawa – Renewal); Obo Effanga (Cross River – Renewal); Umar Ibrahim (Taraba – Renewal); Agboke Olaleke (Ogun – Renewal); and Samuel Egwu, a professor, (Kogi – Renewal).” “Others are Onyeka Ugochi (Imo); Muhammad Bashir (Sokoto); Ayobami Salami, a professor, (Oyo); Zango Abdu (Katsina); Queen Agwu (Ebonyi); and Agundu Tersoo (Benue).” “Also to be confirmed are: Yomere Oritsemlebi (Delta); Yahaya Ibrahim, a professor, (Kaduna); Nura Ali (Kano); Agu Uchenna (Enugu); Ahmed Garki (FCT); Hudu Yunusa (Bauchi); Uzochukwu Chijioke, a professor, (Anambra); and Mohammed Nura (Yobe).” The letter was copied to Dr Ahmad Lawan, Senate President, and Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of House of Representatives.

  Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday urged young people to reject those trying to divide the country with ethnic and religious politics ahead of the 2023 elections. He made the remark while giving a speech in Owerri at the 80th birthday symposium of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu. Jonathan noted that Nigeria’s politics is steeped in ethnicity and religion “to the detriment of our country and our own collective roots. I think we need to reduce this.” He added: “Collectively, if we work together and accommodate our differences, we can build a nation where everybody would have a sense of belonging. And everyone’s rights would be guaranteed. “That is the way we must go – a Nigeria where justice and equality reigns.”

  The governorship candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party in Ogun State for the 2023 general elections, David Bamgbose, is dead. He died at a private hospital in Abeokuta on Friday, according to his personal assistant, Oduntan Olayemi. Olayemi said Bamgbose had complained of tiredness and he was rushed to a hospital around the Olomore area of Abeokuta where he was referred to the Federal Medical Centre for further checks. He was later placed on admission at the Sacred Heart Hospital where he died. Mr Bamgbose, 54, died barely one week after his party formally presented him as its governorship candidate for the elections. At the presentation, held at Iwe-Iroyin Press Centre in Abeokuta, he was optimistic about his party’s chances at the polls and spoke about his plans for the state. He described himself as a better choice for the people of Ogun State “in all ramifications coupled with the fact that PRP is a party that identifies with the masses and less privileged in the society”.

  State chairmen of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have declared the purported suspension of the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Dumebi Kachikwu as null and void. The National Working Committee of the party suspended Kachikwu on Friday over alleged anti-party activities. His suspension was contained in a statement released on Saturday by the Deputy National Chairman (Politics) of the party, Mr Bamidele Ajadi. Mr Ajadi accused Mr Kachikwu of making “defamatory’’ statements that contravened the values of the ADC. He also accused him of other anti-party activities. Mr Ajadi described the action of Mr Kachikwu as a sign of “crass irresponsibility, gross indiscipline, disingenuous scandalisation’’ and an attempt to blackmail the party’s executives to do his bidding. He stressed that such attitude was improper for someone who wants to be the president of Nigeria. “The NWC viewed with great concern the baseless and defamatory video circulated by Mr Kachikwu, which was intended to disparage and impugn the integrity of ADC and its national officers,’’ Mr Ajadi wrote in the statement. State chairmen of the party, however, told a news conference in Abuja on Saturday that a National Working Committee (NWC) whose tenure had elapsed could not suspend the candidate. They said the tenure of the NWC lapsed in August. Addressing the news conference, Mr Kingsley Ogga, Chairman of Forum of State Chairmen of ADC noted that the NWC had earlier convened a “fake and kangaroo’’ National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Aug. 26. He said the fake NEC meeting lacked the constitutional requirement of seven days’ notice to be held. “The said meeting was overcrowded with unknown persons and miscreants. State chairmen walked out of the meeting as non-NEC members were seated in large numbers. “The purpose of the illegal meeting is best known to the National Chairman, the National Secretary and other members of the NWC. “The said purpose was revealed when the fake meeting purportedly extended the tenure of the NWC. “It is, therefore, important to state here that what transpired on Aug. 26 at the ADC secretariat was fake, unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect,’’ Ogga said. He called on INEC to disregard the illegal suspension of Kachikwu and prevail on ADC to convene to elect a new NWC. He said since the tenure of the NWC had expired, the states chairmen were in charge and would convene a NEC meeting on Monday to elect new NWC members. “They do not have the capacity to suspend the presidential candidate; their tenure has expired. “The people constituted to be NEC members are states chairmen and our serving House of Representatives members,’’ he said. In his remarks, the Secretary of the Chairmen’s Forum, Mr Kenneth Odiom, said Kachikwu was duly elected at the party’s primary election and there were no questions about his emergence. “Nobody in his right senses will suspend a presidential candidate when election is just around the corner. “They are claiming that we are at war but there is no crisis in the ADC. “ It is natural for peoples’ tenure to expire and natural for them to bow out of office. “We are preaching that we want to reposition Nigeria and we cannot manage our affairs; that means we cannot tell Nigerians to trust us with their votes. “We must of necessity put our house in order through a democratic process to make us a political party that is ready to change Nigeria for good,’’ he said. Odiom added that a new caretaker committee would be structured in all the geopolitical zones to determine the affairs of the party for a national convention. (NAN.