By Our Correspondent

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has disclaimed a statement by the leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), alleging that the Commission removed the party’s validly nominated candidates for certain State House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra and Benue States and replaced them with unauthorised names.

INEC in a statement issued and signed by Mohammed Haruna, Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, described the allegations as unfounded and urged the public to disregard it.

According to the statement, “Candidate nomination is, by law, the exclusive responsibility of political parties. INEC has no legal authority to select, insert, or substitute a candidate for any party. Monitoring a party’s primary is a statutory oversight function only and confers no power on INEC to choose or impose a candidate.

“Ahead of the 2027 election, all 22 registered parties designated two technically trained officers to handle their nomination process, following training organised by the Commission. Thereafter, the portal access codes were issued directly and in person to each party’s National Chairman, and not by proxy.

List of candidates were generated for each party as submitted by the party jointly signed by the National Chairmen and National Secretaries of the party, making the submission in Form EC9 series (A-G). Therefore any claim that the Commission independently uploaded or altered candidate information is unfounded and ununtrue.l

“As a matter of fact, the Commission has in its possession, Form EC9E where these candidates were listed and submitted to the Commission duly signed by the National Chairman and the National Secretary of the party”, the statement said.

The Commission therefore, said it remains committed to transparency, accountability and providing a level playing field for all stakeholders in the electoral process.

By George Mgbeleke

President of the Senate,Senator Godswill Akpabio has congratulated Vice President Kashim Shettima on his 60th birthday anniversary.

In eulogizing Vice President Shettima Akpabio said,”Birthdays are milestones in the journey of life, but for those entrusted with the service of a nation, they are also moments to celebrate the footprints they have left along the way.

In a statement he signed himself and available to the Media on wednesday, the President of the Senate noted,” Today, I celebrate one such journey—that of an accomplished public servant, steadfast patriot and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima.

“Your Excellency, your journey through public service—from Commissioner to Governor, Senator and now Vice President—has been distinguished by courage in adversity, intellectual depth, loyalty to country and an abiding conviction in the promise of Nigeria.

“You governed Borno State at one of the most difficult periods in its history, when terror tested the resilience of its people and challenged the authority of the Nigerian state. Yet you remained at your duty post, providing leadership in the face of danger and demonstrating that adversity must never be permitted to extinguish hope.

“Today Kashim Shettima , as Vice President, you bring that same resilience, experience and patriotic commitment to the service of our nation. Your partnership with His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda demonstrates the importance of unity of purpose at the highest levels of government as we confront the challenges of the present and lay the foundations for a more prosperous future.”

Continuing Apkabio said,”On this special day, I celebrate not merely the addition of another year to your life, but the years you have invested in the service of our fatherland.

“On behalf of my family, my constituents and the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I wish you many more years of good health, wisdom, strength and fulfilment.

“May Almighty God continue to guide you, strengthen you and grant you the grace to serve our nation with distinction.

“And may the years ahead bring us ever closer to the Nigeria for which generations have hoped and laboured—a nation at peace with itself, confident in its diversity, prosperous in its economy and respected among the nations of the world.

“Happy Birthday, Mr Vice President.
May God bless you, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

By David Owei , Bayelsa

Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr Peter Akpe, has urged political office holders in the eight local government councils to see their positions as an opportunity to serve the grassroots and prepare for higher responsibility in public service.

Dr Akpe gave the charge on Tuesday at an enlarged meeting with chairmen, principal officers and members of the legislative arms, political secretaries and supervisory councillors of the councils at his office in Government House, Yenagoa.

He advised members of the legislative arms not to treat politics as a profession, imploring them to avoid infighting and to cooperate with their chairmen to make impact at the third tier of government.

According to him, if office holders regard their current assignments as a test for greater opportunities, serving the people well will not be difficult.

He said as representatives of the people at the grassroots, they should use their offices to deliver dividends of democracy that would help secure victory at their polling units and wards in the 2027 general election.

The Bayelsa number two man noted that delivering their polling units was not just about the interest of party candidates, but a personal obligation needed to sustain the system they all belong to.

Dr Akpe also urged them to play active roles in the forthcoming 30th anniversary of the state’s creation by sensitising people at the grassroots to participate in the “Bayelsa at 30” celebrations.

His words: “Every leadership position or political appointment you occupy is an examination you must pass. We want to know what you have done with your stay in office.

“I tell people that every political office is a privilege and an examination we all need to pass and stand a brighter chance of being entrusted with higher responsibility in public service.

“Your position is not to fight or make trouble with your respective chairmen. If there are issues, you bring them up using the right channels for us to address them.

“Loyalty is about one captain and his crew. You cannot have a different agenda from the captain and the crew. Few of us are still struggling to key into the direction the ship is taking.

“You cannot be in these positions and fold your hands. You are the people at the grassroots. So do everything to boost your social and political influence at that level. Your office must bring political dividends to the system.

“Take this as a personal matter to deliver your polling units genuinely. I want you to know that the forthcoming election transcends the flag-bearers; it is about us. You have to bring something to the pool.”

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Deputy Governor’s Office, Comrade Gowon Toruyouyei, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Thompson Amule, Technical Adviser to the Governor on Treasury and Accounts, Mr Timipre Seipulu, and chairmen of the eight local government councils, among others.