Vote buying: YIAGA-Africa canvasses for laws to address electoral loopholes

A Civil Society Organisation, YIAGA Africa on Friday, September 14, called for adequate laws to address the loopholes in Nigeria's electoral process especially the reoccurring issues of vote buying and selling.

Executive Director, YIAGA-Africa, Mr Samson Itodo made the call at the Watching the Vote (WTV) Series with the theme “Ending the Scourge of Vote Buying and Selling in Nigerian Elections” in Abuja.

Itodo, while presenting a document on “Duly Elected or Duly Purchased,’’ a report on vote buying in the Ekiti election, said Nigeria’s democracy was under threat due to vote buying.

According to him, corruption is a societal challenge that manifests in every facet of life in Nigeria.

“It concerns conducts by the giver and the taker of inappropriate inducement as is the case with perpetrators of vote buying.

“Electoral laws must accommodate the various loopholes for corruption in the conduct of elections and see to the discharge of adequate punishment to offenders,’’ he said.

He lamented that competence and character were no longer the parameters for assessing electoral candidates by Nigerians, stressing that cash-for-vote or “see and buy’’ was emerging as the major determinant of electoral choice which could undermine electoral choices and imperil Nigeria’s democracy.

He said that vote buying also had a tendency to aggravate corruption in public offices as those who hold public mandates were made to seek corrupt means of enriching themselves toward elections.

He informed the audience that YIAGA Africa through its WTV project undertook a post-election investigation to examine the factors that facilitated it.

He said the study, which entailed identifying the chain of operation and methods of vote buying before, during and after elections as well as the implication, identified five drivers.

“Poverty and hunger influence the vulnerability to vote buying. Vote buying is indeed an exploitation of the poor within our society.

“Failure of political office holders to fulfill their campaign promises makes vote selling attractive as citizens look for instant gratification from elections,’’ he added.

He recommended behavioural change as the best measure against vote purchase and other electoral malfeasance, even as he advocated that political positions should be made less attractive by reducing perquisites that awaited successful candidates.

Itodo also called for poverty reduction, a comprehensive war on corruption, restoration of ideological bases for political parties, reversal of rising unemployment and promotion of good governance.

He further suggested improved management of election security, introduction of electronic voting system and enforcement of electoral laws among others.

Meanwhile, YIAGA Africa WTV has expressed concern over the delay in the signing of the electoral amendment bill into law.

The group made its stance known on the delay at a press conference on the status of the electoral amendment bill in Abuja on Monday, September 10.

They called on the executive and National Assembly to work together to conclude all the electoral amendments by the end of September 2018.

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Adeosun has not resigned - Aide insists

An unconfirmed report by Tribune online claims that the minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun, has not resigned her appointment.

Recall that a Nigerian newspaper, Daily Trust, broke the news of her alleged resignation earlier today, September 14.

Adeosun, who was accused of using a fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate has not come out to confirm the report of her resignation.

Director of Information, Mr Hassan Dodo, also said he had no information concerning Adeosun’s alleged resignation.

However, an unnamed senior aide of the minister, who spoke with Tribune claimed that the report of the minister's resignation is untrue and merely fabricated to distract her.

The aide said: “It is not true. You should notice that we have not spoken on this matter since July 7 when the issue of NYSC certificate broke.

“It is an agenda that they are pursuing and we will not help them to authenticate that

“Í am here with you. You can also see the other aides and security details at their duty posts.

“Even the Minister is in her office right now carrying on with her work. Don’t mind them."

There was also normalcy at the minister's office with the aides going about their daily activities and the minister was reportedly in her office until 3.55pm when this report was filed.

NAIJ.com earlier reported that Daily Trust said it did not have information about when Adeosun submitted her resignation letter.

The source cited by the newspaper said the resignation followed the allegation of not participating in the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and obtaining a certificate that the NYSC have disowned.

The minister, according to the report, felt that her position is becoming untenable and is hurting President in Muhammadu Buhari in the run up to the 2019 election.

FG replies HSBC, Economists over predictions on 2019 elections

The federal government has described the predictions on the 2019 general elections by two British-based institutions, HSBC and The Economists, as fake and a psychological warfare against the anti-corruption policies of the current administration.

The minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this when he paid an advocacy visit to Channels Television on Friday, September 14.

The minister said: “We have all read that the intelligence unit of the Economist said the PDP will defeat the ruling APC in 2019. We have also read that the international financial institution, HSBC, said Nigeria’s economic development will be stunted if President Buhari gets a second term.

“Let me state clearly that these reports are based on fake premises and, therefore, qualify as fake news. It is a psychological warfare by those who have been badly hit by our policies. Our fight against corruption has meant that many financial institutions, especially banks, that fed fat on the proceeds of corruption are no longer able to do that.

“Also, international publications that used to feed fat on questionable supplements paid for by the federal government have seen a drastic reduction in such patronage, as the administration cuts down on frivolous spending that was the order of the day in the past.

“Therefore, it is natural that these institutions and publications would not wish to see another term for this administration. The truth, however, is that only the good people of Nigeria will determine who presides over the affairs of the country, not any bank or media establishment, irrespective of their influence or self importance.

“The parents and wards of the 8.5 million school children, who are being fed every school day under our home-grown school feeding system, are feeling the impact of this Administration. The more than six million farmers, who have joined rice production since this Administration came on board, know what this government has done.

“Nigerians, who are enjoying more stable electricity after power production has more than doubled, know better. The 500,000 unemployed graduates who have benefitted from our N-Power programme know that these naysayers are only thinking about themselves. So we are not bothered."

Already the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) faulted the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and HSBC, a multinational banking and financial services company, for their report that a second term for President Muhammadu Buhari would stunt the economic development of Nigeria.

The APC in a statement sighted by NAIJ.com said they were nothing but the usual doomsday prophesies about the Nigerian nation.

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Finance minister Kemi Adeosun allegedly resigns

Nigeria’s finance minister, Kemi Adeosun, has allegedly resigned, an unconfirmed report by Daily Trust quoting anonymous sources stated.

The newspaper, however, said it did not have information about when Adeosun submitted her resignation letter.

The source cited by the newspaper said the resignation followed the allegation of not participating in the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and obtaining a certificate that the NYSC have disowned.

The minister, according to the report, felt that her position is becoming untenable and is hurting President in Muhammadu Buhari in the run up to the 2019 election.

At the time of this report, calls made by NAIJ.com to Oluyinka Akintunde, the special adviser on media and communications to Adeosun, were not taken. A text message sent to him asking for confirmation of the development was not also replied.

Earlier, NAIJ.com reported an anti-corruption group, Say No Campaign, called for probe into the certificate scandals involving Senator Ademola Adeleke and the minister of finance, Adeosun.

In a statement signed by its Co-convener, Ezenwa Nwagwu, the group said it has, through the legal instrument of the Freedom Of Information Act, written to the relevant authorities to respond to the allegations against the duo.

Nwagwu said there were obvious discrepancies in the two certificates presented by Senator Adeleke to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stressing that the West African Examination Council (WAEC) needs to verify the authenticity of the result.

Kofi Annan Burial: wife Maria,UN Scribe gives tribute

The widow of the late Kofi Annan, Nane Maria Annan, has thanked Ghana for raising a fine gentleman in the person of her late husband. Nane Maria Annan also thanked God for making Kofi Annan and for bringing him into her life.

Nane made these statements in a tribute to her late husband at his funeral ceremony, which was held at the Accra International Conference Center on Thursday, September 13.

Kofi Annan with wife Nane

In a rather short tribute, Nane said her late husband was such a wonderful man, and that the various statements read by key world representatives were enough to attest to that fact.

She described her late husband as someone who was very compassionate, loving and intelligent. Nane also praised Kofi Annan for being a man of integrity and man full of knowledge.

She further prayed to God to keep her late husband in his bosom. Her tribute attracted a massive applause from those present.

Meanwhile, a daughter of Kofi Annan, Ama Annan, has revealed the beautiful relationship he had with his children.

According to her, the late former UN secretary-general was a peace-loving man, who trained them to live a good life. Ama praised her late father, stressing that she was “lucky to have had him as her father”.

It has also been uncovered that the former UN chief was an avid football lover and player. Tributes to the late diplomat have flowed in from several dignitaries, including President Akufo-Addo, the UN and other international bodies.

The UN also led by its Secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, who paid final respects to late Kofi Annan as the latter was laid to rest on Thursday, September 13, at the military cemetery in Ghana.

The current UN leader, in his remarks at the funeral of his predecessor, paid glowing tributes to Annan, who said goodbye to the world on August 18 in Switzerland at age 80.

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Hurricane Florence: Dramatic Warnings Save Lives with Heighten Fear

More than 10 million people are in the crosshairs of Hurricane Florence as storm force winds move within hours of battering the US east coast.

Despite the potentially devastating hurricane being downgraded to category two on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale, the governor of Georgia has joined his counterparts in Virginia and the Carolinas in declaring a state of emergency.

About 1.7 million people have already been told to leave their homes in the latter three states, but some who thought they were safely out of the path of the storm are now desperately working to board up their homes and businesses before its arrival.

One grocery store in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, sported a plea for divine intervention - with forecasters warning that the threat of devastation remains high despite the downgrade.

Nighttime winds have gone from 140mph (225kph) to 115mph (185kph), and further weakening is expected as Florence approaches the coast.

Jeff Byard, an administrator at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said: "Do you want to get hit with a train or do you want to get hit with a cement truck?"

Tropical storm force winds are thought to be just hours away from making landfall in North Carolina.

Its governor, Roy Cooper, told residents "the time to prepare was almost over".

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, he said: "Disaster is at the doorstep and it's coming in."According to the National Hurricane Center, the eye of the hurricane will likely not blow ashore until Friday afternoon local time, after which it will then push westward and bring with it the potential for catastrophic inland flooding.

There have been warnings that any flooding of hog manure pits, coal ash dumps and other industrial sites could have a lasting effect on communities, with tainted water possibly washing into homes and drinking supplies.

Image:People queue to buy propane in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Florence

Two other tropical storms - Isaac and Olivia - have also been in the vicinity this week, with the National Weather Service estimating that some 10.15 million people lived in areas under either hurricane or tropical storm warnings.

In addition to tens of thousands of homes and businesses, five military bases and half a dozen nuclear power plants are also in the path of the storm.

Image:Hurricane Florence is closing in, with large clouds gathering over North Carolina

Image:Donald Trump says the government is ready to assist when required

Duke Energy, the second-largest energy company in the US, said Florence could knock out electricity to three-quarters of its four million customers in the Carolinas.

Workers are being brought in from the Midwest and Florida to help deal with what could be weeks of power outages in the aftermath, the company said.

President Donald Trump - who was criticised for his response to the deadly Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico last year -has said the White House is "absolutely, totally prepared" to provide aid once Florence hits.He said: "We are ready but this is going to be one of the biggest ones to ever hit our country.

"Residents in the path of these devastating storms should comply with all evacuation orders and other emergency instructions. Protection of life is the absolute highest priority and that's what we are doing."

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2019: Tinubu reportedly seals Ambode’s fate

As report of a rift between Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu continues to grow, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reportedly given the nod for all aspirants to participate in the Lagos primary election.

Governor Ambode has declared his intention to run for a second term as governor of the state but faces competition from two formidable aspirants, Femi Hamzat and Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

 Ambode had deployed friends and associates to meet with Tinubu but the latter reportedly said he could not ask any aspirant to step down for him.

The source said: “Asiwaju has made it clear to all of them (Ambode’s emissaries) that he’s a national leader and a father figure to all, he said there’s no way he can ask other aspirants to step down for the governor when the party has made things easier for all to canvass votes directly from party members who will in turn decide who their candidate will be in a direct primary election.”

Sanwo-Olu who seems to be the governor’s biggest competitor is reportedly bolstered by the support he has received.

He said: “The truth is that I not in Ambode’s shoes right now and what has been generated is a reflection of the fact that people have come to understand and know the kind of person that I am.

“A whole lot of us had to redefine the Lagos project. This is not the forum where I will begin to roll out to you the very many firsts that people think were done by some other individuals, but there were other people behind them that brought out those ideas, policies and implementation plan.

“There are so many firsts that I can begin to attribute to myself in the 11 years that I have had to do in the public service. Like I said, I have served three different governors and in three different ministries, served twice in the governor’s office, head the biggest agency of government.

“So, the blueprint that we have been looking at since 1999 was put together by some of us. We are all friends, but it is politics.”

Meanwhile,  following his alleged rejection by the powers that be in Lagos state, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, reportedly took new stepsthat could see him winning and retaining his position during the 2019 election.

It was reported that Ambode, who recently bought the nomination form of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has reached out to the presidency to intervene in the alleged friction between him and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

The report added that the governor was making the move as he battles to neutralise the Mandate Group, a political machine of his godfather.

Ambode is currently battling for reelection against two powerful aspirants, Obafemi Hamzat, believed to have the support of some politicians from Abuja, and Babajide Sanwo-Olu, one of the appointees of the governor, who is said to have the backing of Tinubu and his Mandate Group.

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Police arrest Evans' lawyer in court

Olukoya Ogungbeje, the lawyer who once represented alleged notorious billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike also known as Evans, was on Wednesday, September 12, arrested at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

The police officers from the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti arrested the lawyer this morning while he was getting ready to appear before Justice Muslim Hassan.

He was reportedly accosted as he parked his car at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi.

Ogungbeje was Evans' lawyer until June 15, 2018 when he withdrew from the case and another lawyer took over.

The reason for his arrest by the operatives of the Nigeria Police Force is unknown as at press time.

Meanwhile, Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja high court, Lagos on Tuesday warned counsel to Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias “Evans” that no further delays would be tolerated in his ongoing trial.

Justice Oshodi gave the warning following a 30-minute verbal exchange he had with Chinonye Obiagwu, Evans’ new defence counsel, who had prayed for an adjournment to study the case file.

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7-year-old boy hawking bananas melts hearts of Nigerians

A young Nigerian man has provided help to a young boy he found selling bananas on the roadside. The young man shared photos he took with the 7-year-old boy on social media to share his story with the boy.

The young man identified as Sammer Time took to Facebook page Igboist group to narrate the little boy's story. He revealed that the 7-year-old was abandoned by his father after his mother passed away when he was just 3-months-old.

Sammer also identified the little boy simply as Adam. He noted that Adam is living with his aunt who is a tailor.

7-year-old Adam sells bananas on the roadside due to the fact that his aunt's profits from tailoring is unable to sustain the family.

Touching story of 7-year-old boy hawking bananas melts hearts of Nigerians Photo : Facebook Source: Igboist group

The good Samaritan further revealed that he had given twenty thousand Uganda shillings to the boy after he spotted him on Thursday, September 6, at Washing bay area in Uganda.

Read post below:

"God bless you Mr Sammér Timé For what you did to this little young boy ........here this story

Meet my new friend, his name is Adam. I met this determined hard working boy on Thursday morning at a Washing bay in my area, he had a basket of yellow bananas which he sells for a living, being a little boy that he is I got interested in knowing why he was selling bananas at the age of 7yrs because I had a sense that he is quite young to be doing this. He told me his story:

His mother died when he was 3 months old, after the mother's death, his father disappeared and abandoned him completely, the family members took him to the village to live with his grandmother, it was at the age of 4 that his grandmother opened up to him about his mother's passing. When he made 5yrs, the situation became so hard in the village and his Aunty picked him up and brought him to her residence in Ndeeba. The Aunty told him to sell bananas as a source of income to raise money for his school fees, he has to work every single day during the holidays to secure fees for every term. When I saw him yesterday, I gave him 20,000 and told him to go back home and rest because he was looking so tired and exhausted. When he reached home he put 5k into his private wooden money tin and handed over 15k to his Aunty as the yield for the day. Yesterday I told him to come and meet me up today at the same location where we met, he had to get there at 10am this morning but he made it at 8:30am. We have spent the whole day together, took him to town for shopping, had breakfast and lunch together, took him to my place and he showered very well, then went to meet his Aunty at their residence, the Aunty is a tailor and doesn't gain much from her job and can't afford the basics of life. I can't share what she told me about her struggles because it is so emotional and heartbreaking. I have paid his school fees until 2021(I have left the fees with the Aunty). When i was leaving him he said "Today is the best day of my life". He cried and I too broke down because the moment has been over sentimental and the day has been emotional all through.

Note: This post is not a show off and I know I can't take all the kids off the road because this boy is just one out of the many but one day God will see us through.

May God bless you as you too help somebody in your own capacity. Blessings."

The good Samaritan helped the boy Photo : Facebook Source: Igboist group

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INEC threatens to suspend 2019 general election over political tension

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has reportedly hinted that the body might be forced to suspend the 2019 general election following threats to violence by some politicians in the country.

Yakubu, a professor, stated this in reaction to some disturbing videos of political campaigns in the social media in which some politicians are seen threatening to shed blood.

Yakubu who reportedly spoke when he received briefing from the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Osun state on the progress and the preparedness of the forthcoming governorship election, noted that recent developments and signs in the country’s political landscape calls for greater vigilance.

He asked politicians to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner.

The INEC chairman further observed that election can only hold when there is a secured environment.

“In fact, the electoral act, especially section 26, empowers the commission to suspend election on account of violence or threat of violence.

“So, we will continue to partner and continue to work with the security agencies as we approach the 2019 general election.

“Our meetings are going to become more frequent and regular,” he said while explaining that the synergy between the electoral body and security agencies is crucial for the 2019 polls in order to secure the environment for the conduct of the elections.

“Elections cannot be conducted in an atmosphere of rancor. So, we share this great responsibility with the security agencies. Good election is good for this country. Bad election is a recipe for disaster; we don’t pray for it.

“So, let us continue to work together to anticipate the challenges and address the challenges because we have the capacity to do so.

“The nation expects we should do so and once we do so, there will be fewer problems during elections.

“We see statements by some of the political actors captured and circulated nationwide via social media platforms. It is something that the security agencies need to put an eye on because if we allow this to pester, it will encourage those who may wish to do some destructive actions or feel encouraged to do so.

“But if we take immediate action, I think we may be able to stop them and further secure the environment for us to conduct free, fair and credible elections,” he added.

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Serena Williams backed over umpire sexism claim after $17k fine

Image:Serena Williams gestures to umpire Carlos Ramos at the US Open.

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has backed Serena Williams after she was hit with a $17,000 (£13,100) fine over her conduct during the US Open final.

Williams received three code violations during her defeat to Japanese star Naomi Osaka on Saturday - one for coaching from the stands ($4,000/£3,100), one for throwing her racket down in anger ($3,000/£2,300), and another for calling umpire Carlos Ramos a "liar" and a "thief" ($10,000/£7,700).

The 23-time grand slam singles champion - who earned $1.86m (£1.43m) for reaching the final at Flushing Meadows - launched an explosive tirade towards the Portuguese, claiming she was being treated differently to how a man would be in such circumstances.

Image:The largest portion of Serena Williams's fine was the result of her row with Mr Ramos

She has received plenty of support from across the tennis world, including from Billie Jean King, and has now been backed up by WTA chief executive Steve Simon.

In a statement, Mr Simon hailed Osaka as a "deserving new champion" but said Williams was right to suggest that she had been on the receiving end of sexism by Mr Ramos, who has previously attracted the umbrage of other tennis stars, including Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal.

Image:She was also fined for racket abuse

"The WTA believes there should be no difference in the standards of tolerance provided to the emotions expressed by men versus women and is committed to working with the sport to ensure that all players are treated the same," he said.

"We do not believe that this was done last night."

The US Tennis Association, which issued the fines, has not responded to the comments by Mr Simon, which were made after Novak Djokovic won the men's final against Martin del Potro.

Image:Williams asked for the judge's supervisor to intervene after the points were docked

Djokovic said he had sympathy for Williams and Osaka, who became the first Japanese player to win a grand slam, but did not agree that Mr Ramos had been sexist.

"I have my personal opinion that maybe the chair umpire should not have pushed Serena to the limit, especially in a grand slam final - he did change the course of the match," the Serb said.

"We all go through our emotions, especially when you're fighting for a grand slam trophy.

"But I don't see things as Mr Simon does. I really don't. I think men and women are treated in this way or the other way depending on the situation. It's hard to generalise things. I don't see it's necessary really to debate that."

Image:Serena Williams was tearful during the presentation

The arguments between Williams and Mr Ramos cast a shadow over the final, which ended with Osaka being booed by some of the crowd.

Williams had accused Mr Ramos of being a liar when he penalised her for cheating, saying she would rather lose than cheat to win and telling him he would "never, ever be on another court of mine".

In a press conference after the match, Williams, 36, said she was "fighting for women's rights" and for equality on the tennis court.

Image:Naomi Osaka of Japan holds the US Open trophy after beating Serena Williams

She said: "I've seen other men call other umpires several things. I'm here fighting for women's rights and for women's equality and for all kinds of stuff.

"For me to say 'thief' and for him to take a game, it made me feel like it was a sexist remark. He's never taken a game from a man because they said 'thief'. It blows my mind."

Although she drew criticism, there were many who supported Williams, including Andy Roddick and Sue Barker.

Image:Williams said she felt there was sexism at play in the dispute

Former French Open winner Barker said: "Serena in some ways has a point in the fact that I've sat court-side watching the men ranting at umpires and (they) haven't been given a violation.

"Serena is saying the male players can say what they like to an umpire.

"Also, earlier in the tournament we saw Alize Cornet being given a code violation for changing her shirt on court.

"Then, in the same tournament, Mohamed Lahyani gets off the umpires' chair to talk to Nick Kyrgios and persuade him not to give up on a match.

"So I think they have to look at the rules of what is allowed and what isn't, because I just think he was following the rules absolutely by the book, but sometimes the book has to be re-written - you can't have one rule for some players, and some umpires don't adhere to it and allow players to get away with things."

Image:Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams hug at the end of the match

Roddick tweeted it was the "worst refereeing" he had ever seen, and Victoria Azarenka said she did not believe the same decisions would have been made in a men's match.

Billie Jean King, who won 39 grand slam titles during her career, also came to the defence of Williams.

"Several things went very wrong during the @usopen Women's Finals today," she said on Twitter.

"Coaching on every point should be allowed in tennis. It isn't, and as a result, a player was penalized for the actions of her coach. This should not happen.

"When a woman is emotional, she's "hysterical" and she's penalized for it. When a man does the same, he's "outspoken" & and there are no repercussions.

"Thank you, @serenawilliams, for calling out this double standard. More voices are needed to do the same."

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• SERENA WILLIAMS