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The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations on Human Rights and Conflict Resolution has spoken on the role of security agencies in the Saturday’s presidential and national assembly elections across the 36 states of the federation. The human rights group specifically lauded the nation’s security agencies for being professional in discharge of their duties before, during and after the nationwide polls. Maxwell Gowon, the Executive Director of the coalition on the security situation during the conduct of the polls commended the Nigerian Military for its efforts at ensuring peace, stability and security even though the forecast for security and life during the election had been grim.  While giving detailed accounts of what happened in some states during the polls, Gowon called on the security agencies to be at alert, considering that the prospect of violence in the aftermath of the announcement of results remains high. The group also warned parties to caution thei...

Election observers under the platform of Independent Foreign Observers have commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Nigerians for transparency and credibility of the yesterday's Presidential and National Assembly elections.  They gave this commendation at a press conference this afternoon in Abuja. The team leader, Dr. Stuart Young, an academic and diplomat spoke on behalf of other members of the team at its presentation of preliminary report. The observers in the text  entitled, "A Preliminary report on the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly Elections in Nigeria" described the conduct of the elections as as fair and an indication of non-interference by the government or any of its agents.  The text read, "In the build-up to the 2019 General Elections in Nigeria, the Independent Foreign Observers mission, a team from the United States of America, United Kingdom, and the European Union (EU), visited Nigeria with a view t...

The case involving a Danish citizen, Mr. Peter Nielsen over the alleged murder of his Nigerian wife, Zainab Nielsen, an upcoming musician also known as Alizee and her three-year-old daughter, Petra, may have once again put to test the ability of the Nigerian Police to thoroughly investigate such a high profile case. The sensational trial of Mr. Peter Nielsen had continued on 20 February 2019 before Justice Mobolanle Okikiolu-Ighile sitting at the High Court of Lagos State, Igbosere. The trial is being followed by the international media, where prosecution was led by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey. The defence was however, led by Mr. Olasupo Shasore SAN, a former Attorney General of Lagos State, who challenged the two police witnesses about diligent investigation, particularly in a trial showcasing Nigeria’s justice system to the international audience.  The defence counsels are insisting on proper in...

I recall that a section of the polity has decided to drag the Nigerian Army into the murky water of politics for their selfish reasons. This arose from the charge given by the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces President Muhammadu Buhari for the Nigeria Army to deal ruthlessly with those who intend to snatch ballot boxes during the elections or engage in acts of thuggery aimed at disrupting the polls.   I must confess that I am amazed as to how the PDP bigwigs and sympathizers have blown the issue out of proportion. They forgot that for the credibility of the polls to be achieved, there ought to be a level of security in place to guard against vices such as ballot box snatching, vote buying and other evil acts associated with elections in this country.  While I am not against these folks airing their opinion on issues they have reservations, I am however taken aback with the way and manner they have so politicized the issue with the aim of misleading the ...

The Coalition for Democracy and Good Governance has hailed the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai and the Nigerian  Army over responsiveness to protecting Nigeria’s democracy and the sovereignty of the country.  The group, therefore, called for continuous loyalty amongst troops to constituted authority before, during and after the elections. Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, Emmanuel Itodo, the Executive Director of the group, said since the directive for the military to ruthlessly deal with ballot snatchers it observed that the Nigerian Army has risen to the occasion, particularly in the way it has intensified operations to counter incidents that could have undermined the elections.  According to him, "Such calls condemning President Buhari’s directive came from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who even went to the absurd extent of asking the Army to disregard the directive was totally unacceptabl...

The Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Hon. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas has urged the residents of the state, especially women to be vigilant and protect their votes during the Presidential/National Assembly General Elections scheduled for Saturday February 23, 2019. Okoya-Thomas said in a press statement, which was released on her behalf by her media aide, Oladipupo Awojobi that the voters in Lagos State should ensure that the votes were counted and the results declared in their presence at the various polling booths in the state. Okoya-Thomas pointed out in the statement, which was made available to journalists on Thursday, that the electorates in the state, especially women, should protect the ballot boxes against ballot box snatchers, who she said could be on the prowl during the elections. The former member of the Federal House of Representatives said further that democracy had come to stay in Nigeria and that the APC was aware of the anti...

  Ahead of Saturday Polls, a member of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu on Tuesday moved round Obalende to canvass votes for President Muhammadu Buhari, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and other candidates of the All Progressive Congress (APC).  Addressing Igbo community, market women and men, he appealed to them to vote and ensure their votes count.  Hon. Yishawu who is representing Eti-Osa constituency 2, told his constituents that voting for Buhari and other candidates of APC would bring about development and yield dividends of democracy. Addressing Motor meachnics  and Technicians Association of Nigeria (MOTAN), the lawmaker appealed to them to troop out on the days of the elections to vote and stand by their votes. Educating them on voting system, Hon. Gbolahan told his people to use their index finger to vote.  Among the groups he met included residents of Manuwa Street, Ikoyi, Igbo community, mechanic associatio...

  The Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Senator (Prince) Kashamu Buruji has promised to provide good welfare packages and stomach infrastructure for the people of the state if elected in the forthcoming general elections. He spoke on Tuesday when he visited Olota-in-Council, the Council of Baales and Chiefs, the League of Imams and Alfas, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN),  the Hausa Community, the Igbo Community, the traditionalists, artisans and market men and women in Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area of the state. The Olota of Ota, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Prof.) Adeyemi Abdulkabir Obalanlege (Ekun II) led other traditional rulers in Aworiland to receive the Governorship Candidate. Speaking at the various fora, Kashamu said that the welfare of the people would be his priority, if elected. "I commit to completing all the uncompleted and ongoing projects in Ogun West Senatorial District and other p...