The name of Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has been removed  from list of elected senators by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

At INEC website, a note for Imo West simply said: “Declared under duress.”

Okorocha was announced winner of the senatorial election of February 23, but  returning officer for the election, Innocent Ibeabuchi, later said he  was forced to declare the governor winner.

The commission’s chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, had last week said the commission would not issue certificate of Return to any candidate declared winner of an election under duress.

“The commission will not tolerate the act of holding our officials hostage and forcing them to declare winners under duress. Where such occurs, the commission will not reward bad behaviour by issuing them certificates of return,” he said.

Tension has gripped personnel in the armed forces following the authorities’ determination to probe the conduct of some of officers and men during the last governorship and state House of Assembly elections, especially in Rivers, Bayelsa and Adamawa states.

In Rivers State, soldiers were accused of raiding collation centres, to the extent that they clashed with policemen. Following violence in the state, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suspended all electoral process.

Sources at the army headquarters in Abuja told Daily Sun that some general officers commanding (GOCs), commanders and commanding officers in various units and divisions where soldiers were accused of interfering with the electoral process would be asked to explain the role of their men before, during and after the elections.

It was gathered that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, has set up a special committee, headed by Major-General Gagariga, to investigate the conduct of army personnel during the elections.

The committee, which has commenced work, is expected to visit all the affected states and interact with the governors and all stakeholders involved in the elections.

Already, the army headquarters has, through a letter from the office of the Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP), summoned commanders of the affected units.

It was gathered that commanders from some states in the North East have reported and are currently undergoing interrogation.

Also, commanders from some Niger Delta states, like Delta and Akwa Ibom, have reported to the army headquarters, while those from Rivers State, where the major crisis took place, are expected today.

The army chief is said to be unhappy with what happened in Rivers, where the army barricaded the road leading to the headquarters of the INEC, and harassing observers, journalists and policemen on election duty.

A statement issued by the acting director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, the service earlier said politicians hired hoodlums dressed in army camouflage to cause commotion during the elections. The authorities are investigating further.

Sources revealed that the committee set up by Buratai would interrogate the commanding officers in the affected states, INEC officials and police personnel, in a bid to find out what happened. The committee would make recommendations to the army authorities. Those found wanting risk retirement at prosecution, it was gathered.

It was gathered that there is a searchlight on the GOC, 6 Division in particular, who had been accused by Governor Nyesom Wike of partisanship.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has described a statement issued by the United Kingdom over the military’s involvement in Rivers State’s elections as baseless and untrue and capable of misleading the public.

It has advised the UK and other foreign interests to be mindful of interfering in Nigeria’s internal affairs, especially when they do not have credible evidence.

Army spokesman, Sagir Musa, in a statement, said the allegation against the  Nigerian Army must be confirmed from appropriate quarters before jumping to conclusions.

Sagir said: “The attention of the Nigerian Army  (NA) has been drawn to a publication by an online medium that reported accusation against the NA of interference in the Rivers State elections.

“The NA wishes to state that the statement is totally baseless, untrue and, therefore, capable of misleading unsuspected members of the public, especially when there is no credible record of such involvement anywhere in Nigeria before, during and after the 2019 elections.

“The NA, as a responsible organisation, wishes to debunk such misrepresentation in order to set the record straight. Similarly, it is on record that the NA has been globally applauded by many individuals, foreign and local elections observers, for its sacrifices/roles in creating an enabling environment for a secure, transparent and peaceful conduct of the elections.

“The statement confirmed the investigation of complaints against the army, as Sagir said: “Already the COAS has set-up a committee to investigate all complains relating to alleged professional misconduct by NA personnel in the conduct of the elections.

“Members of the public are further assured of the determination of the NA to objectively carry out its constitutional duties irrespective of the  baseless accusations especially from those who felt it has denied them freedom to illegally and selfishly subvert the choice of Nigerians.”

Moreso, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Rivers State, which represents 86 political parties and 54 governorship candidates in the state, has called on the national chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to disregard the calls by a few All Progressives Congress-sponsored governorship candidates for the transfer of the Rivers State resident electoral commissioner (REC),  Mr.  Obo Effanga, and the administrative secretary of INEC.

State chairman of IPAC, Precious Baridoo, speaking on the heels of the suspension of Rivers State governorship and House of Assembly elections and the call by some parties, including the AAC, for immediate removal of Effanga,  said it was aimed at creating an ugly atmosphere to rig the election.

source : SUN

The Code of Conduct Tribunal has reserved ruling on two applications brought by suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen to the day of its final judgment on his case.

In the first application, Justice Onnoghen asked the Conduct of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to quash the six-count charge against him and allow the National Judicial Council (NJC) to deal with the issue.

While Onnoghen in his second application asked the Chairman of the Tribunal, Danladi Umar, and another member of the Tribunal to recuse themselves from his trial on alleged likelihood of bias.

However, Chairman of the Tribunal, Danladi Umar in his ruling, ordered that ruling on the two applications would be delivered alongside the final judgment.

Umar, who said the tribunal is determined to hear the case expeditiously, relied on the provisions of section 296 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015 which permits rulings on interlocutory objections to be given alongside the final judgment.

The Federal Government had in the charge marked CCT/ABJ/01/2019 alleged that Onnoghen failed to declare his assets as prescribed by law, and that he had maintained undisclosed foreign bank accounts.