The Defender

     My Take on the Kwara State APC/PDP Power Tussle is Simple, what i see playing out here are just the same criminals who had ruled the state in the past now becomes worst enemies to one another because one Leader has sidelined their followers due to selfishness, but they are trying to come at him at all cost.... with different revelations & allegations of corruptions, where are these allegations when they are ruling the state together.  As a Pundit what i want the Kwarans to ask Saraki's critics is a simple question? Are you really fighting for Us the poor masses who are suffering from the mismanagement or you are fighting a war of  your Bitterness towards Saraki Dynasty?  Demand from Anybody who wants to represent you at all levels for accountability i.e  Governorship, Assembly Men, Rep, Senators, Chairmens etc. be wise and dont be deceived by any political parties. Cast your Votes for Good personalities who have your intere...

Representatives of various political parties that are desirous of participating in the 2019 general elections on Thursday stormed the international conference centre in Abuja, the designated venue by INEC for the submission of names of candidates for various elective positions. INEC official attended to the political parties in an orderly manner. Before the expiration time stipulated by INEC, the political parties were seen putting together all needed documents. First, they were given numbers in a first come first serve order and thereafter, security officials at the entry point of the hall screened them. The political parties were merged into teams and INEC officials attached to attend to them. At 6pm the commission closed the submission by political parties and those who could not make it will have to forget plans to field candidates in the 2019 general elections.

Ahead of the supplementary governorship polls in Osun on Thursday, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has distributed both sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials to the four local governments where the election will hold. INEC Distributes Osun Poll Materials The election is billed to hold in seven polling units across four local governments. Osun state resident electoral commissioner, Olusegun Agbaje, told newsmen in Oshogbo that the movement of the vehicles conveying the electoral materials will be monitored to prevent diversion. A total of 3498 voters are expected to participate in the election in seven polling units of the four local government areas.

The national peace committee on Tuesday met with the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, security agencies and political parties with a focus on how to ensure credible elections in 2019 Chairman of the committee and former head of state Abdulsalam Abubakar said Nigeria’s peace should override the interest of any individual. On January 25, 2015, the peace committee was inaugurated shortly after the political parties signed a peace accord. The committee became the platform that promoted peace during and after the 2015 general elections and doused the threats and fears that the country might disintegrate. This same committee is now out of its inertia and with the approaching 2019 general elections. It has appealed to the electoral body, security agencies and the political parties to give peace a chance during and after the elections. Inter-party advisory council, Ipac’s chairman, Peter Ameh who attended the meeting appealed to the Independent National Elector...

President Muhammadu Buhari says climate change remains one of the greatest challenges faced by the West African region. According to him, it has intensified poverty, terrorism and other vices in the region. The President said this on Tuesday, during the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York. He said, “Climate change remains one of the greatest challenges of our time. “Very close to us at home, it is our lot in Nigeria, together with our neighbours around the Chad Basin to live with the climate change consequences of a drastically shrunk Lake Chad and the patching up of otherwise fertile arable land. “The lake was a major source of livelihood to more than 45 million inhabitants of the region. “It’s shrinking meant loss of livelihood and they are now rendered poor and vulnerable to the activities of extremists and terrorist groups. “The instability it has caused in the subregion, intensified internal displacement, among other consequences to intense economic...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is demanding the immediate sack of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC ) chairman  Professor Mahmood Yakubu following what it called controlling role in the manipulations that characterized last Saturday’s Osun governorship election. PDP Demands Sack Of INEC Chairman The national publicity secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan told newsmen in Abuja that the party can no longer trust the INEC chairman and a national commissioner, Amina Zakari to deliver credible election in 2019 The PDP however wants INEC to guarantee free, fair and credible election at all levels of engagement, adding that it will not allow unpatriotic individuals to destroy Nigeria’s hard earned democracy with inordinate and selfish aspirations.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun state, Fatai Oyedele, popularly known as Diekola, has been attacked by some hoodlums suspected to be loyal to the ruling All Progressives Congress. Fatai Oyedele, popularly known as Diekola. PDP supporters with some chieftains of the party had earlier come to Alekuwodo area where ward 5, unit 17, is located to canvass for votes ahead of the Thursday rerun election. However, some thugs also reportedly stormed the area with APC leaders to canvass for votes. A resident of the area told our correspondent that the APC thugs came armed with guns and other weapons and saw Diekola who they reportedly attacked. Diekola’s driver and another occupant of his car were also reportedly attacked with machetes as they shot indiscriminately into the air. The incident led to pandemonium as residents fled while some hid in their houses. The police public relations officer in Osun state, Mrs Folasade Odoro, could not be reached as her ...

Voting has officially ended in the Osun State Governorship election. Voting ended at polling units across the state by 2 pm with only those on the line at that time expected to vote beyond the time. Electoral officials are now sorting and counting the ballots at the polling units. Residents of Osun State had commenced voting early across the state, with the objective of deciding who will succeed Governor Rauf Aregbesola. People started turning out at polling units as early as 7 am and accreditation and voting commenced at polling stations visited by our correspondents in the three senatorial districts of the state by 8 am. Activities at the polling units visited were peaceful with some voters and observers hailing the turnout as satisfactory. Beyond affording the people of the state the opportunity to elect their governor, the election is considered as a final test for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the 2019 general elections. There ar...

The Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to ban the use of smartphones at polling booths. The National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, described the development as puzzling, adding that it was aimed at preventing the global community from knowing the process of the elections. He made the comments on Tuesday, during a meeting in Bayelsa with stakeholders from the Bayelsa East senatorial district. INEC on Monday banned the use of mobile phones, cameras or any recording devices by voters in polling booths during the Osun State governorship election. The INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, said the ban will help reduce the risk of vote buying and selling which he described as a norm amongst politicians. He further explained that voters will not be prevented from using their devices at the polling booths but would be banned from holding their cameras and telephones, once the ballot p...

Nomination Fees: Don’t Give Up, Abiola Advises Youths Nigerian youths have been advised not to be deterred by huge amounts charged by political parties for expression of interest and nomination forms by political parties in the run up to the 2019 elections.          Abdulmumeen Abiola, one of the sons of the late M.K.O. Abiola gave the advice at a youth summit in Ilorin, Kwara state. Abiola and other speakers observed that the youth already have the opportunity to participate actively in politics especially with the not-too-young-to-run law, asking them to take advantage of it. They also implored them not to allow themselves to be used for violence and political thuggery.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC  is going into partnership   with  security operatives  and anti-graft agencies like the economic and financial crimes commission, as well as the independent corrupt practices commission to arrest and prosecute politicians involved in vote buying and selling during the Osun state  governorship election. INEC chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu made this disclosure at a pre-election meeting with civil society groups and political parties in Abuja. Mahmood and participants at the parley collectively agreed that the move is necessary to rescue the integrity of the Nigerian electoral system ahead of the country’s general election in 2019. The Osun governorship election is about eight days to go. It is the last governorship election INEC will conduct before the general elections next year.

Presidential aspirant of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has expressed the desire to debate President Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and other presidential aspirants. Sowore said this on Wednesday during an int erview on Channels Television programme, Politics Today. He said presidential aspirants should be bold enough to participate in debates about policies and projects they will execute if they become president. He added that young and new presidential aspirants should also be given the audience and the opportunity to challenge older aspirants through debate. “If want you to be more serious, you should be bringing these presidential candidates to debate us. Buhari should be brought out. The media should force them out of their hiding. Let them come and debate the future of Nigeria,” he said. He argued that contrary to claims, young people have come up with alternatives to the current leaders. “These alternatives will ...

People in Umuahia, the Abia state capital, south east Nigeria are reacting to the recent registration of additional twenty one political parties by the country's electoral body. The independent national electoral commission, INEC earlier in the week announced the registration of new political parties bringing the total number to ninety one just some six months to Nigeria’s general elections. Some of the people who spoke to AIT news, argued that considering the logistical and technical challenges involved in the preparations for a general election, the crowded number of political parties in a young democracy and in a third world economy posses great challenges. For others, the registration of the new political parties will strengthen the Nigerian democracy, as the electorates will have the opportunity to make their choice from the parties. They however called on INEC to ensure that efforts are made towards a hitch-free election come 2019.

For the second time in 2 days, lawmakers were unable to reach a compromise on the approval pattern for the monies required for the funding of the 2019 general elections. Members of the joint committee on electoral matters met for several hours on Thursday to deliberate on president Muhammadu buhari’s virement request but were hindered by the modalities for approval While some lawmakers wanted the approval granted in a single tranch as requested by INEC others argued that the approval must be in two separate installments as requested by president Muhammadu Buhari Unable to agree on this and other discrepancies, the lawmakers asked the chairman of INEC Mahmood Yakubu to make another appearance before them on Friday .  thedefendernet.blogspot.com

The Federal Government has rejected a report by the United Nations, which claimed it paid a “large ransom” to secure the release of the abducted Dapchi schoolgirls. Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, denied the claim in a statement on Thursday night. He challenged anyone with evidence of such payment to publish it. ”It is not enough to say that Nigeria paid a ransom, little or huge. There must be a conclusive evidence to support such claim. Without that, the claim remains what it is: a mere conjecture,” the Minister was quoted as saying in a statement by his Special Adviser, Segun Adeyemi. A United Nations report submitted to the Security Council had detailed how Boko Haram was funded and indicated that the payment of ransom and the predominance of cash economy aided the terrorists. The report, dated July 27, 2018, was called ’22nd Report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team’ and it contained information about the Islamic State in Ira...

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo says the Federal and state governments are committed to the decentralisation of policing in Nigeria. According to a statement by the Special Assistant to the Acting President on Media and Publicity, Mr Laolu Akande, the objective of the decentralisation is to improve the level of policing and security in the country. The statement was released on Thursday night, hours after the National Economic Council (NEC) backed the Federal Government’s plan to decentralise the police. Apart from backing the plan, the NEC set up a committee comprising state governors and the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to ensure its actualisation. Other issues discussed at the meeting include the remittance of tax by state governments, the development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enerprises (MSMEs) and an update on the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee. Read the full statement from the office of the Acting President about the NEC meeting below: ST...

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu,  has described votes buying as “cancer” to Nigeria’s electoral process. Yakubu stated this on Thursday at the presentation of certificates to 21 out of the 23 newly registered political parties in Abuja, the nation’s capital. “Votes buying is cancer to our elections that we must work together collectively to stamp out,” he said. According to the INEC boss, the commission is deeply worried about a situation whereby political agents woo voters with cash during elections; a development local observers said characterised the Ekiti Governorship polls on July 14. In view of its negative effect of vote buying on the electoral process, Professor Yakubu said he was committed to curbing it. He vowed that INEC would not tolerate vote buying in the forthcoming Osun State governorship exercise slated for September 22, 2018. In doing this, the electoral umpire will collaborate with se...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says there is no threat or smear campaign that will make it buckle on its resolve to contend with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and dismantle its rigging machinery in all future elections. The PDP, in a statement by its national publicity secretary Kola Ologbondiyan noted that the APC had, in its statement on Wednesday, already admitted that it had been engaged in rigging of elections, sponsoring of violence, ballot snatching and announcement of fake results, for which it has become notorious. The PDP said the APC, in its own statement, owned up to electoral contrivances and openly admitted that it rigged last Saturday’s national assembly by-election where results were altered in its favour, ballot boxes were snatched, and Nigerians were harassed, intimidated and even killed. It said the PDP will show evidence of how the APC deployed thugs and used security forces to intimidate, arrest and detain PDP supporters; the cancellation and ...

The independent national electoral commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for the continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise by two weeks.   INEC The registration will now be concluded at the end of august. The extension is coming a few days after ‘take it back movement’, ‘our Mumudondo Movement”, as well as “the Presidential aspirants coming together” (pact) initiative, and concerned civil society organisations, met with officials of INEC to call for an extension of the deadline to enable more Nigerians participate.

Nigerian lawmakers have been trading blames over the failure to reconvene the national assembly on Tuesday as earlier scheduled. Some of them resorted to name calling while others are shifting blame. The lawmakers who were just milling around the national assembly premises came around with the hope to sit and others who came for committee meetings bared their minds on the scheduled reconvening of the legislature. Some of them resorted to calling their colleagues Judases who have vowed to frustrate any efforts to reconvene the assembly.  Some others shifted the blame and absolved the leadership of the national assembly of the failure to reconvene the national assembly; they said it was not the fault of the lawmakers themselves but the prevailing circumstances.  However, the leadership of the national assembly issued a statement to the effect that no date has been fixed for the sitting and that the virement request is yet to.