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2023: N’Assembly will support INEC to delineate electoral constituencies – Lawan

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INEC Logo and Chairman,, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu
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President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has assured Nigerians that the National Assembly will work with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in its bid to properly delineate electoral constituencies across the country ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Lawan gave the assurance on Thursday when a delegation from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led by its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, paid a visit to his office in Abuja.

The last exercise which witnessed the creation of electoral districts and constituencies across the country was carried out twenty-five years ago in 1996.

The Senate President, in his remarks during the visit, said the delineation of electoral constituencies in the country would enhance democracy as well as provide equitable and fair representation in Nigeria’s governance structure.

He explained further that having more districts and constituencies would present a level playing field for all Nigerians to elect leaders of their choice at the polls.

He underscored the need for the federal government to find a way around getting accurate information about the country’s population size, stressing that such information is significant and critical for the creation of more constituencies in disadvantaged areas.

He said, “The issue of delineation or creation of more electoral constituencies is like the previous one on the polling units.

“But unlike the polling units, this is going to be more difficult because you need more information, especially on the population.

“[And] because we didn’t have census after the 2006 exercise, now we have to find a way of getting information about our population size because that is very important and significant in taking any decision in that respect.

“But I want to assure you and Nigerians, that we will go all the way with you, to finding solutions on getting the delineation of electoral constituencies done before the end of our tenure.

“It is not going to be easy by no means, but we sit here as parliamentarians to deal with the issues of developing Nigeria and, of course, elections determine a lot of things in this country and, indeed, in any country.

“This is one way of giving Nigerians the opportunity to vote for their leaders and we cannot joke with that. We are all products of elections.

“If the delineation of constituencies – whether state or national – will give Nigerians better opportunities and enhance our democracy, and I’m sure it would, we must work hard to do that. So, we would work with you in INEC.”

The Senate President stated that the exercise for the creation of  electoral constituencies had become imperative, particularly against the backdrop of resolving conflicts arising from court verdicts and the provisions of the 1999 constitution as amended.

He queried, “are we going to respect what the constitution provides for, or discount constitutional provision and respect what the courts would ask INEC to do?

“We have to settle that, even for the sake of protecting you and going extremely legal, so that we don’t create difficulties going forward.

“But we must resolve this, because it is time, since 1996 when the current electoral districts and constituencies were created, there was no such exercise.

“I will not blame the former National Assembly sessions for not considering the request from INEC, because this is really a difficult call to make, but we sit here with hope and determination to deal with these issues no matter how difficult they will be.

“Even in the National Assembly, I’m sure when it is brought before the chambers, it will require a lot of horse trading and, of course, consultations, give-and-take, but that is what politics is all about.

“And we have to be patriotic enough to look at the need and necessity for giving people who are suppressed.

“Because if you have constituencies that are suppressed or that should have existed but for one reason or the other are not there anymore, it means the environment is not the kind of ideal environment where the representation will be fair and equitable.

“I want to assure Nigerians that, indeed, the Senate and National Assembly will work with INEC assiduously to attend and address these issues, so that if we are able to create the new constituencies, there will be elections in those constituencies with other areas that are already there y 2023.”

Speaking earlier, Professor Mahmood Yakubu said the delineation of constituencies requires an Act of the National Assembly, adding that, “the major consideration for revision of the country into constituencies is the population quota.”

“The National Assembly has powers under the constitution to actually request INEC to delineate constituencies by an Act of the Assembly.

“No Act of the National Assembly has asked INEC to delineate constituencies since the last delineation in 1996”, Yakubu revealed.

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Police Nab Lagos Pastor for Allegedly Defiling Church Member’s 2 Daughters

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The Police Command in Lagos State has detained a pastor for allegedly defiling two daughters of a church member in the Isolo area of the state.

It was gathered that the suspect, who is the General Overseer and founder of the church, was apprehended following a petition dated July 28, by the father of the victims.

Following the petition, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Fatai Tijani, directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, to conduct a thorough investigation into the case.

A police source told NAN on Wednesday, that the case was reported through a petition dated July 28, by the victims’ father, an adherent of the church, against the suspect.

The source said the suspect allegedly began having sexual intercourse with the petitioner’s eldest daughter when she was 13 years old.

”The pastor allegedly began having sexual intercourse with her at the church when she was 13 years old, and continued until she turned 16 and gained admission into the university,” the source said.

The source added that the sexual escapades of the suspect was exposed after he allegedly sexually assaulted the petitioner’s younger daughter, aged 14, on two occasions.

“This he allegedly did through indoctrinating the naive minor with manipulative biblical injunctions, a gimmick he used on the elder sister.

”After the assaults, the younger daughter reported the suspect to her parents.

”It was after the suspect was exposed that the eldest daughter also opened up to her parents, alleging that the pastor had been having sexual intercourse with her since she was 13 years old.

“The investigation is being handled by the Gender Section of the SCID, Yaba, under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the department, Mr Dayo Akinbisehin,” he said.

The source said the suspect was subsequently apprehended and had allegedly confessed to the offences.

”The investigation is ongoing and the suspect will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation,” the source added

Source: NAN

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Osun Police Summon Senator Fadahunsi Over Alleged Threat to Accord Party Members Ahead of Guber Poll

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The Osun State Police Command has summoned the Senator representing Osun East, Francis Fadahunsi, over a viral video in which he was allegedly heard threatening members of the Accord Party ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

The Command’s spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed on Wednesday that the lawmaker had been summoned by the Commissioner of Police in charge of the election, Samuel Etaifo.

“I can confirm that he (Fadahunsi) has been summoned by the CP. We will make a statement available regarding it,” Ojelabi said in a telephone interview.

The controversy followed two separate videos that circulated on social media on Tuesday.

In one video, Senator Fadahunsi, speaking in Yoruba at the palace of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland in Ilesa during a protest over the alleged killing of three APC members, said: “How many people have you seen the APC kill? We are here to tell you that until the day of the election, if we see any Accord member in Ilesa, we will kill them.”

In a second video, the APC candidate for Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo Otin Federal Constituency for the 2027 elections, Francis Eniade, was heard addressing a campaign rally. Speaking in Yoruba, he said: “I swear to God, anyone who is not an APC member should not come out on election day. Accord Party can’t vote in Odo-Otin. I am the one who said so.”

Reacting, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, described Senator Fadahunsi’s remarks as a “national security threat” and demanded his immediate arrest.

Addressing journalists in Osogbo, Governor Adeleke said: “The second issue has to do with the viral video of a serving Senator, Francis Fadahunsi, who today called for the killing of Accord Party leaders, supporters and their families. In the video, the Senator even threatened that where they cannot get Accord Party leaders, they should kill their wives and children.

“This is now beyond politics. This is now a national security threat that requires the attention of Mr President through the Office of the National Security Adviser.”

The governor said he had raised the matter with the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and that the IGP confirmed the existence of the video and assured him of immediate action.

Senator Fadahunsi, in a statement personally signed by him, denied making a call for indiscriminate killings and accused political opponents of manipulating the video.

He said his attention had been drawn to an edited clip being circulated by Davido on TikTok and Pelumi Olajengbesi on other platforms.

“I made reference to one Rogba, who was killed in Esa-Oke by his co-cultists. The governor had referred to the deceased as his son and was also engaged in a disagreement with a sitting member of the House of Representatives on live television,” he stated.

“My statement was very clear: if the killings do not stop, we shall also retaliate. All those being killed are Nigerians and, indeed, sons and daughters of the same communities. I stated unequivocally that if our party members are killed again, we will not simply fold our arms and watch. We will defend our people, even if such an incident occurs on election day.

“Unfortunately, Davido and Olajengbesi took less than two minutes from a speech that lasted about 24 minutes and circulated it to achieve cheap political objectives. This is a clear case of deliberate misrepresentation and manipulation.”

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Fadahunsi Denies Inciting Violence as Adeleke Seeks Police Probe Over Viral Video

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Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and Senator Francis Fadahunsi
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Senator Francis Fadahunsi has denied allegations that he incited violence against members of the Accord Party in Osun State.

The denial followed a viral video in which Fadahunsi was allegedly heard asking his supporters to kill any Accord Party member found in Ilesa ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

Fadahunsi, in a statement on Tuesday, described the video as a “deliberate misrepresentation” of his remarks.

The senator said he was speaking about alleged attacks and killings of members of his party in Ilesa by suspected Accord Party thugs.

He explained that his warning of retaliation was in response to the alleged continued violence against APC members.

According to him, his remarks were edited from a speech that lasted about 24 minutes and circulated on social media to create a false impression of what he said.

Fadahunsi maintained that his party would not fold its arms if its members continued to be attacked, insisting that the party had a right to defend its members.

He said: “If the alleged killing of our party members by Accord Party thugs does not stop, our party will retaliate.”

The senator also called for justice over the alleged attacks, stressing that those involved in the violence were Nigerians from the same communities.

Meanwhile, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has accused Fadahunsi of inciting violence and making what he described as threats of “genocide” against Accord Party members.

Adeleke has consequently asked the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the viral video and take appropriate action.

The governor said the investigation was necessary to prevent the alleged threats from being carried out, stressing that nobody, regardless of position, should be above the law.

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