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Senate re-amends electoral bill to define mode of primaries 

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*Political parties must follow the law or miss out in elections – Lawan
 
The Senate on Tuesday re-amended for a second time, the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2022, to include provisions which clearly define the mode of primaries for political parties.

The re-amendment was sequel to a motion on “rescission on clause 84 of the Electoral Act No. 26 2010 (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and Committal to the Committee of the Whole.”

The motion was sponsored by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North).

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, after the amendment to the electoral bill by the Committee of the Whole, said the re-amendment was done to harmonize its position with that of the House of Representatives.

He added that amendment accommodate clearly define provisions for the mode of primaries.

Lawan expressed optimism that the bill would be signed into law when transmitted by the National Assembly to the President for his assent.

He warned that political parties that fail or refuse to abide with the provisions on the mode of primaries, would miss out on the opportunity to participate during elections.

He said, “On the mode of conducting primaries by parties to produce candidates, we have concluded our task on the amendment to the Electoral Act No. 6 2010 Bill.

“You would recalled that the Senate and the House passed the Electoral Act amendment Bill with slight difference.

“While the House passed the mode of primaries to be direct and indirect only, the Senate passed the mode of primaries to be direct, indirect and consensus.

“What we have done is to give very clear and sufficient definition to each mode of primaries.

“The direct primaries is well define on how it will be conducted; ditto the Indirect primaries. And for the consensus, the two chambers have produced in this Bill, very clear definition of how a consensus candidate would emerge.

“Therefore, we are very glad that we have been able to achieve this consensus between the two chambers to arrive at this harmonized version, and we are also very optimistic that Mr. President will sign the bill.

“Our desire is to ensure that we reform the electoral processes in Nigeria for better transparency, accountability and Integrity to the satisfaction of Nigerians and the international community.

“Political parties, when this is signed into law, will have the responsibility of ensuring that they follow the law, otherwise they will end up missing the opportunity to participate in elections.”

The amended bill provides in clause 84 (2) that, “The procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for the various elective positions shall be by direct, indirect primaries or Consensus.”

It added in 84(3) that “a political party shall not impose nomination qualification or disqualification criteria, measures, or conditions on any aspirant or candidate for any election in its constitution, guidelines, or rules for nomination of candidates for elections, except as prescribed under sections 65, 66, 106, 107, 131, 137, 177 and 187 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”

On Direct Primaries in 84 (4), the amended version provides that, “A political party that adopts the direct primaries procedure shall ensure that all aspirants are given equal opportunity of being voted for by members of the party and shall adopt the procedure outlined below:

“(a) In the case of Presidential Primaries, all registered members of the party shall vote for aspirants of their choice at a designated centre at each ward of the Federation.

“(b) The procedure in paragraph (a) above of this subsection shall be adopted for direct primaries in respect of Gubernatorial, Senatorial, Federal and State Constituencies.

“(c) Special Conventions or Congresses shall be held to ratify the candidate with the highest number of votes at designated centres at the National, State, Senatorial, Federal and State Constituencies, as the case may be.”

On Indirect Primaries, the bill provides under 84(5) that, “A political party that adopts the system of indirect primaries for the choice of its candidate shall adopt the procedure outlined below:

“(a) In the case of nominations to the position of Presidential candidate, the political party shall – (i) hold a Special Presidential Convention at a designated centre in the Federal Capital Territory or any other place within the Federation that is agreed to by the National Executive Committee of the party where delegates shall vote for aspirants of their choice.

“(ii) the aspirant with the highest number of votes cast at the end of voting shall be declared the winner of the Presidential primaries of the political party and that aspirant’s name shall be forwarded to the Commission as the candidate of the party.”

It further provides under 84(7) that, “Where there is only one aspirant or a consensus candidate in a political party for any of the elective positions mentioned in subsection (5)(a), (b), (c) and (d), the party shall convene a special convention or congress at a designated Centre on a specified date for the confirmation of such aspirant and the name of the aspirant shall be forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission as the candidate of the party.”

The Electoral Bill provides in 84(8) that, “A political party that adopts the system of indirect primaries for the choice of its candidate shall clearly outline in its constitution and rule the procedure for the democratic election of delegates to vote at the convention, congress meeting.”

On Consensus Candidate the bill in 84(9)(a) provides, “A political party that adopts a consensus candidate shall secure the written consent of all cleared aspirants for the position, indicating their voluntary withdrawal from the race and their endorsement of the consensus candidate.”

It goes further in paragraph (b) that, “Where a political party is unable to secure the written consent of all cleared aspirants for the purpose of a consensus candidate, it shall revert to the choice of direct or indirect primaries for the nomination of candidates for the aforesaid elective positions.”

The bill states in paragraph (c) that, “A Special Convention or nomination Congress shall be held to ratify the choice of consensus candidates at designated centres at the National, State, Senatorial, Federal and State Constituencies, as the case may be.”
 

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Abeokuta goes agog this weekend as Chief Michael OGUNSEYE Celebrates 70th birthday.

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The ancient city of Abeokuta, in the Southwest of Nigeria will go agog this Saturday May 11th as Chief Michael Kolawole OGUNSEYE, The asiwaju of Gbagura Christians abeokuta will be marking his 70th birthday celebration with a special Thanksgiving service and grand reception for dignataries from far and near .

The special Thanksgiving service will hold at holy trinity Anglican church Ago ika enugada, Gbagura Abeokuta Ogun state ,While the grand reception will follow at Abeokuta Club, presidential blvd beside central bank Abeokuta.

Chief Michael Ogunseye, who is a UK based qualified accountant per excellence also have a robust career in the mental health nursing profession under the UK NHS service .

Chief Michael Kolawole Ogunseye (the Asiwaju of Gbagura Christians) was born to Pa Isaac Olaogun Ogunseye from Ile-Aro in Gbagura, Abeokuta , Ogun State and the father maternal is from Ile Abuye, Owu-Totoro. His mother was late Mrs Durosomo Akanke Ogunseye (nee Adekanbi) from Iganmode Otta and Isaga Orile, Ogun State.

Chief Michael Ogunseye is a devoted Christian and ordained Evangelist in 1998 by Baptist Church Evangelical Mission in the United Kingdom.

He was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship in 1983 to study Accountancy. He qualified as an Accountant with BSc (Hons) Account & Finance from Bournemouth Polytechnic (now Bournemouth University, UK) and MSc in Integrated Accounting & Finance at Sheffield Hallam university, UK.

He worked with HFC Bank in the Fraud Detection Department, BMW as a Warranty Manager and BP Oil & Gas as Off-Shore Accountant in the United Kingdom.

He changed his career in 1999 and Studied Diploma in Mental Health Nursing at the University of Surrey, BSc (Hons) in Substance Misuse Management at Thames Valley University and MSc in Forensic Mental Health Nursing at New Buckingham University. He worked for the NHS at the High Secure Hospital for criminally insane and mental health patients (Broadmoor Hospital) till his retirement. Currently, he is working as a Locum Senior Mental Health Nurse with NHS, UK.

Chief Michael Kolawole Ogunseye was a member of NADECO-UK and June 12 Alliance in the UK during the struggle for democracy in Nigeria. In 1990, he formed a human rights group called Justice for Nigeria, the group assisted many Nigerians that seek political asylum in the UK against the Nigeria Military Juntas.

He dedicated his life to human rights, social justice and the welfare of under privileged people. He Studies online Diploma in Humanitarian Studies. He is the founder of SAVE LIVES INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH ( a Non-Governmental Organisation) in the UK to support Orphan and Vulnerable children in Africa.

Chief Michael Kolawole Ogunseye has supported several children and widows in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa and Nigeria. Currently, he is the Chairman of Solace Drugs Abuse & Mental Health Advocacy Group, under the Oba Saka Adisa Adelola Matemilola the Oluyalo Otileta VII, the Olowu of Owu and Ground Patron of Owu Football Annual Competition (a charity football club for youths in Abeokuta, the initiative of Oba Saka Adisa Adelola Matemilola the Oluyalo Otileta VII, the Olowu of Owu.

He entered politics in the UK in 1988 and joined the Labour Party. He contested Hanworth Ward as a Councillor in 1998. He became the Chairman of Hanworth (Labour Party Ward London Borough of Hounslow). He relocated to Reading, UK and he was the Ex-Chairman of Katesgrove Ward Labour Party, Reading, UK for 2 year term and Ex-Chairman of Kentwood & Tilehurst Labour Party in Reading, UK.

Chief Michael Ogunseye is a member of Abeokuta Club, Abeokuta Sports Club, Lisabi Elites Club of Egba and Abeokuta Rotary Club. Grand Patron of the Priceless Jewels Foundation (PJF).

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EID El Fitr: Let’s Embrace Ramadan Lessons – Senator Bamidele

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Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele
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Leader of the Senate, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele has rejoiced with the Muslim faithful as they celebrate Eid-el-Fitr nationwide.

Senator Bamidele in a statement he signed explains that ‘Eid-el-Fitr marks the end of the 2024 Ramadan fasting, which started from March 10 and ended on April 9. Stressing that Within this timeframe, we must have learnt a lot of lessons, especially at this critical time in our history’

The lawmaker says the period of Ramadan should again remind us about the essence of forgiving others, ministering of compassion to the less privilege, respect for human dignity, promoting peaceful co-existence and upholding propriety and piety in all facets of life, which we must all embrace irrespective of our ethnic and religious leanings.

The statement reads: ‘These lessons are not meant for the period of Ramadan fasting only. Also, they are indeed principles and values, which should always guide and shape the life of every Nigerian, the quest of all businesses and conglomerates, the timeless task of building our fatherland as well as the decisions of the governments at all levels’

‘Now that Ramadan has come to an end, these lessons should reflect in the way we support our governments to resolve the myriad of internal challenges that we are collectively as a federation. It should reflect in the way we intercede the more for this federation to sustain the gains of economic stability and political cohesion that we have started experiencing in recent times. It should also reflect in our approaches to conducting businesses; running governments at all levels and discharging civic responsibilities on a daily basis’

‘Since the sustained implementation of pro-people macro-economic policies under this government, stability has started returning to economic and fiscal spaces. As against ₦1,900/$ in February 2024, the value of Naira is ₦1,117.5/$ as at Wednesday. This represents a gain of about 42% within the space of two months.

Besides, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has settled $7 billion valid foreign exchange backlogs. The federal government has paid back a whopping sum of ₦4.83 trillion out of ₦30 trillion ways and means it obtained from the CBN. And the flow of foreign direct investments is improving by the day.’
‘With these indices, the consumer price index, which measures inflation, will no doubt begin to drop significantly by mid-year as we sustain the drive for economic and fiscal stability. At the National Assembly, we are committed to providing much-needed parliamentary buffers that always support key public institutions to efficiently discharge their mandates consistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.’
Sustaining our drive for economic stability, political cohesion and social inclusion no doubt demands the outright adherence to the core essence of Eid-el-Fitr, which in entirety forbids the sabotage of government policies, the quest for profiteering, the exploitation of our collective resources and the sponsoring of internal disharmony, all in the name of selfish interest and political aspiration’

‘Happy Eid-el-Fitr Celebration to all Muslims Nationwide’

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Easter: Senate Leader Calls for Emulation of Sacrificial Spirit of Jesus Christ.

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Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele
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As Nigerians join the rest of the world to celebrate another Easter in remembrance of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ; the Senate Leader, Senator Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele  has called on them to imbibe the sacrifice and pains the saviour of mankind went through on the cross.

Bamidele who said this in a statement issued by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, noted that the price paid by Jesus Christ which eventually saved humanity from eternal damnation could be likened to the economic hardship currently being experienced by Nigerians, a situation he assured will pay off in due course.

He noted that “it is pertinent for us as an individual and citizens of Federal Republic of Nigeria to pick one or two lessons from the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, though it was a painful sacrifice, but the sacrifice paved the way for our external redemption.

“It is in the interest of nation building for both the leaders and followers to learn the importance of sacrifice as panacea to lay foundation for the future of any nation.

“The sacrifice we are undergoing today may be painful just as it was for Jesus Christ over 2000 years ago, yet I call on the citizenry to remain hopeful and undistracted as there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

“We should not allow pessimists to paint a picture of a failed nation before us, without recourse to the relentless efforts of the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he assured.

Bamidele further expressed optimism that whatever sacrifice Nigerians may be going through shall not be in vain; adding that the Federal Government is on top of the situation and laying the foundation for a prosperous Nigeria.

He said current economic indices can attest to the fact that there are unprecedented rapid reforms taking place across key sectors of the life of the nation.

He gave the instance of the Foreign Exchange that had hit the roof top few weeks ago but now drastically dropping by 32.6 percent as a result of pragmatic steps taken by President Tinubu and and his economic team.

Bamidele further assured that investors are currently trooping into the country with job creating opportunities, while the National Assembly is prepared to give the President all the needed legislative backing to ensure that the sacrifices of Nigerians are soon rewarded.

The Senate Leader therefore urged Nigerians; as they continue to celebrate this year’s Easter to remember the leadership of the country in their prayers for divine wisdom and direction to pilot our affairs to a safe location.

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