Ferdinand | PoliticsGhana | March 18 |It’ll be difficult for China to cancel Ghana’s debt – Isaac Adongo
Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Finance Committee, Isaac Adongo has intimated that it will be difficult for Ghana to secure any form of debt forgiveness from China due to the current economic and geopolitical position of the Asian giant.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Citi FM on the difficulties facing Ghana’s plea to China for softer conditions to repay debts owed to China, Mr. Adongo said the political and economic ideology of China is not in sync with the conditions of the Paris Club which poses a greater risk for any debt relief.
“We need our friendly nations and the bilateral countries to come together and form a committee, but it has been difficult to get China to come to the table even though China is our biggest bilateral lender. The complexity of the China situation is that there are some bits of geopolitics involved where China does not see the Paris Club as anything other than a Western influence and would always want to have equal arrangements with individual countries.”
Mr. Adongo also stressed that the timing of Ghana’s engagement with China is not encouraging as there are other African countries seeking the same help from the Asian powerhouse.
“Unfortunately for us, we have arrived in China at a time when other African countries are already queueing to borrow from them and so it will be difficult for Ghana to jump that queue because whatever China agrees with Ghana will have to be fair with the other countries we came to meet. And also, traditionally, China does not believe that a sovereign country can be poor but does believe that a country can be broke like we are broke but have asserts and other means through which they can collect their money and so China is not a believer of forgiving debts.”
The Bolgatanga Central lawmaker further bemoaned Ghana’s insignificant progress in achieving debt sustainability though the government had decided to conduct its infamous domestic debt exchange programme in hope of reducing the nation’s debt stock.
Former President John MahamaFormer President John Mahama
Following the formation of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), which ruled Ghana following the military coup d’état on 31 December 1981, there was pressure from the international community to restore democracy.
The NDC was formed as the ruling party ahead of elections in 1992, in which Rawlings was elected president, and in 1996 Rawlings was re-elected as the NDC candidate. Rawlings’ second term ended in 2001.
The NDC lost the presidency in the 2000 election, and it was not until the 2008 election, that they regained it with John Atta Mills as its candidate. They established the 1992 constitution of Ghana
The NDC party symbol is an umbrella with the head of a dove at the tip. The party colors are red, white, green, and black, and the party slogan or motto is “Unity, stability, and development.” Internationally, the NDC is a member of the Progressive Alliance and Socialist International.
On 9 December 2012, the Electoral Commission of Ghana declared NDC candidate John Dramani Mahama to be president-elect after a hotly contested race in which he won 50.7% of votes cast.
History
The National Democratic Congress was founded by Jerry Rawlings, who had been the military leader of Ghana since 1981. In 1992, the National Democratic Congress led the successful transition to multi-party competition, an example of authoritarian led democratization. The NDC won the 1992 and 1996 elections.
2000 elections
The 2000 election was the first presidential election since 1992 that an incumbent president was not on the ballot. Jerry Rawlings’ eight-year tenure had expired as per the Constitution of Ghana.
John Atta Mills became the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress at a special delegate congress held in Ho in the Volta Region of Ghana. He was popularly acclaimed the presidential candidate of the party for the 2000 presidential election. Vice-president John Atta Mills lost in 2000 to New Patriotic Party’s John Kufour after two rounds of voting.
On 21 December 2006, Mills was overwhelmingly elected by the NDC as its candidate for the 2008 presidential election with a majority of 81.4%, or 1,362 votes. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah was second with 8.7% (146 votes), Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu was third with 8.2% (137 votes), and Eddie Annan was fourth with 1.7% (28 votes).
In April 2008, John Mahama was chosen as the party’s vice-presidential candidate. On 3 January 2009, Mills was certified as the victor of the 28 December 2008 run-off election and became the next president of Ghana.
President John Atta Mills died, after a short illness, in the afternoon of 24 July 2012 while still in office. Vice President John Dramani Mahama of the NDC was sworn in as president that evening.
The NDC picked John Dramani Mahama for their presidential candidate and sitting vice president Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur as their vice-presidential candidate for the 2012 elections.
2016 primaries
In November 2015 after securing an overwhelming 1,199 118 out of a total of 1, 286, 728 votes representing 95.10% party members in the presidential primaries, President John Dramani Mahama was endorsed to lead the NDC in the 2016 general elections.[13]
2020 elections
Ahead of the 2020 elections, In February 2019, John Dramani Mahama was confirmed as the candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress to contest in the 2020 elections, the incumbent president Nana Akufo-Addo who unseated Mahama in a 2016 election, capitalizing on an economy that was slowing due to falling prices for gold, oil and cocoa exports.
He won the National Democratic Congress primaries by securing an overwhelming 213,487 votes representing 95.23 percent of the total valid votes cast with the other six contenders managing with about 4 percent of the votes.
On 25 June 2020 the NDC led by its General Secretary Asiedu Nketiah,[18] lost a case in the Supreme Court of Ghana in which the party had sought to achieve the inclusion of old Voter ID cards in the Electoral Commission‘s compilation of a New Voter’s Register, among other reliefs.
In the 2020 elections, 18 members of the party who sought to run as independent candidates lost their membership. All who endorsed the forms of the candidates and participated in their campaigns were also expelled.[20]
Since the NDC was formed, it has formed two governments following elections, and a third following the death of President Mills. The list of governments is as follows:
The National Democratic Congress holds elections every four years to elect its national executives.
2018 to present
The National Democratic Congress held its national delegates conference on 17–19 November at the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre, La, Accra. Below is the full list; National Chairman – Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo,
Second Deputy General Secretary – Peter Boamah Otokonor, National Organiser – Joshua Hamido Akamba, First Deputy National Organiser – Kobby Barlon, Second Deputy National Organiser – Chief Hamilton Biney Nixon, National Communications Director – Sammy Gyamfi,
First Deputy Communications Director – Kwaku Boahene, Second Deputy National Communications Director – Godwin Ako Gunn, The National Zongo Caucus Coordinator – Alhaji Mamah Mohammed,
National Executive Committee Members:
The National Executive Committee Members: Madam Evelyn Enyonam Mensa, Alhaji Adramani Haribu, Sheriff Abdul Nasiru, Alhaji Babanlame Abu Sadat and Mr William Wilson Agbleke, National Youth Organiser – George Opare Addo, First Deputy National Youth Organiser – Edem Agbana, Second Deputy National Youth Organiser – Ruth Dela Sedoh, National Women’s Organiser – Hanna Louisa Bissiw, First Deputy National Women’s Organiser – Maame Efua Sekyi Addo, Second National Women’s Organiser – Madam Abigail Elorm.
Full List of NDC’s 2022 National Executives
Delegates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have elected new National Executives of the party to run the party’s affairs for the next four (4) years.
The new executive officers were elected at the 10th National Delegates Conference held at the Accra Sports Stadium, Accra on Saturday, 17th December, 2022.
The former General Secretary of the party Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has unseat the incumbent National Chairman Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo
According to the final collation sheet, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah won with a total of 5,569 votes representing 65.17% against Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo who had 2,892 votes representing 33.81%.
Other Chairmanship aspirant Samuel Yaw Adusei had total votes of 52 representing 0.61% while Nii Armah Ashitey had 38 votes representing 0.44%.
Also, the former Member of Parliament for the Ketu South Constituency Honourable Fifi Fiavi Kwetey has won the National Democratic Congress (NDC) General Secretary position.
He won the General Secretary race against the former Deputy General Secretary Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor and Elvis Afriyie Ankrah in a keenly contested election.
Provisional Results from all the 17 polling stations indicate that Honourable Fifi Fiavi Kwetey won the NDC General Secretary position with a total of 4,536 votes, Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor had 2,584 votes and Honourable Elvis Afriyie Ankrah had 1,401 votes.
Joseph Yammin also unseats the incumbent National Organizer Joshua Hamidu Akamba.
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Below is the full list of winners of the 10th NDC National Executive Elections
Ferdinand | PoliticsGhana | March 18 |NDC2024: Executives promise Mahama overwhelming Endorsement during Primaries
Branch and Constituency Executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) across the country are making bold declarations of their endorsement of John Dramani Mahama as the 2024 Presidential Candidate of the party.
Mr. Mahama, who launched his campaign earlier this month in Ho, has so far toured four regions to campaign, with executives overwhelmingly announcing their support, endorsement and votes for him in the May 13, 2023, primaries.
Venues for John Mahama’s constituency meetings are filled to capacity, with non-executives and party supporters also present to remind their executives that they expect nothing from them but an emphatic and full endorsement for John Mahama.
_“Our party does not have space for a failed experiment. John Mahama is not only experienced, but he has also been tested and tried. We know him and his works. Jaman is what it is today because of the development John Mahama gave us as President,”_ a delegate from the Jaman North Constituency said.
A party supporter speaking at Kukuom in the Asunafo South also said, _“… the only reason why I am here is to caution our executives against any act that shows ungratefulness to John Mahama. They must all vote and give John Mahama 100% here.”_
Thanking the people for their prayers and support, Mr. Mahama assured them that he will work very hard with them across the country to win the presidency and majority of seats in parliament.
Addressing executives in the Ahafo Region, the former president thanked God for his life, noting “He has always been my guide.”
President Mahama has decided to visit all constituencies to campaign and interact with the party’s structures, despite the obviously overwhelming support from the rank and file of the NDC. He has so far visited the Volta, Bono East, Bono and Ahafo Regions.
He has called for hard work, greater commitment, and unity among the executives at all levels, insisting that campaign and party materials and logistics must be deployed to the branches where they are needed.
“With togetherness, we shall win the 2024 elections, salvage what is left of our bankrupt country and build the Ghana we want, together,” he added.
Signed:
Joyce Bawah Mogtari
Spokesman, John Mahama Campaign
March 15, 2023.
Former President John MahamaFormer President John Mahama
John Dramani Mahama was born on the 29th of November 1958 in Damongo, the then capital of the West Gonja District of the Northern Region. His father, Emmanuel Adama Mahama, a prominent rice farmer was a Member of Parliament for the West Gonja Constituency and the first Regional Commissioner of the Northern Region under Ghana’s first leader, President Kwame Nkrumah.
John Mahama spent the first years of his life with his mother, Abiba Nnaba, in Damongo, before moving to Accra to live with his father, who imbued him with a strong passion for education. He received his basic education at Achimota Basic School, where he began defending other children from bullies, and later moved to the Ghana Secondary School in Tamale.
STUDIES
He later gain admission into the country’s premier university, the University of Ghana, in Legon, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1981. After his BA degree, John Mahama moved back to Tamale, where he taught history at Ghana Secondary School. However, the political and economic situation in Ghana forced him to flee to Nigeria, where he rejoined his father who was in exile.
Post-graduate studies
In 1983 he came back, with a strong desire to build bridges between people through
communication, so he enrolled in a post-graduate programme in Communication Studies at
the University of Ghana.
ENTRY INTO GHANAIAN POLITICS
He graduated in 1986 and then went to Moscow, in the former Soviet Union, to the Institute of Social Sciences, where he received a post-graduate degree in Social Psychology in 1988. While in Moscow, he noted the imperfections of the Socialist System and came to the realization that each nation had to find it’s own transformative way, away from ideological dogmas.
Graduation
1996 marked the year John Dramani Mahama entered Ghanaian politics. He joined the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and, being an eloquent champion of the
underprivileged, he was elected to the Parliament of Ghana to represent the Bole- Bamboi Constituency for a four-year term. He was re-elected in the elections of 2000 and 2004.
Minister for Communications
During this time, he was appointed a Deputy Minister for Communications in 1997, and became Minister for Communications from 1998 until 2001.
Parliamentary Spokesman
Minority Parliamentary Spokesman for Communications from 2001 until 2005
Vice President of Ghana
Mr Mahama was nominated as running mate to Professor John Evans Atta Mills in 2008 becoming Vice President of Ghana in 2009
In July 2012, he succeeded his boss who passed away on July 24, 2012, and elected in December 2012 as President of Ghana for his first four-year term. He thus made political history by becoming the first Ghanaian head of state to have been born after Ghana’s declaration of independence on 6th March 1957.
While serving as Minister for Communications, John Mahama was also the Chairman of the National Communications Authority and played a key role in the stabilization and transformation of Ghana’s telecom sector.
During his Presidency, Ghana witnessed important transformations, the most important of which was the building of a more vibrant democracy. In 2012, Ghana’s score in the Democracy Index was 6.02, being ranked 78th in the world.
In 2016, when he left office, Ghana’s score was 6.75, placing it as 54th in the world – and making it the 5th most democratic country in Africa.
During his entire life and throughout his political career, John Mahama has been a champion of the underprivileged, a unifier, who moves above tribal politics; a strong supporter of public education for all; and a visionary, seeking to transform Ghana in fundamental ways.
Also under his Presidency, Ghana’s ranking regarding equality between men and women rose from 71st in the world in 2012 to 59th in the world in 2016.
Equally important, under President Mahama, Ghana’s ranking when it comes to the freedom of the press rose from 41st in 2012 to 26th in 2016, turning Ghana into a world champion of the free press. Unemployment fell from 3.6% in 2012, to 2.3% in 2016. The coefficient of human inequality decreased from 31.9 in 2012, to 28.8 in 2016. Inequality in education fell from 40.9% in 2012, to 34.9% in 2016.
All in all, John Mahama’s Presidency was a truly transformational one.
His book, ‘My First Coup d’État and Other True Stories From the Lost Decades of Africa’, published in July 2012, has won international praise for describing a world of love, fear, faith, despair, loss, longing, and hope despite all else.
He recalls in its first chapter the day in 1966 when he learned of the ousting of Ghana’s founding president, Kwame Nkrumah, in a military coup: “When I look back on my life it’s clear to me that this moment marked the awakening of my consciousness. It changed my life and influenced all the moments that followed.”
He has also written essays, which have been published in the Ebony, Huffington Post, the New York Times and The Root.
Former President John MahamaFormer President John Mahama
Ferdinand | PoliticsGhana | March 06 |It’s a bit silly Calling on me to refund Ex-Gratia – John Mahama to critics
Former president John Dramani Mahama has questioned the logic behind calls for him to refund his ex-gratia following his promise to cancel the existing emolument structure for Article 71 Office Holders when he comes back to power.
According to Mr Mahama, he rather finds it mindless for his critics including some people with legal backgrounds to demand such a retrospective action that runs contrary to the constitution.
“You must show by example. If the economy is in crisis why should we take ex-gratia when the rest of the public and civil service don’t take it?
“So, I said categorically that we will cancel ex-gratia. And then somebody who should know better, a lawyer, he said then I should refund all the ex-gratia we took before to show that we are serious about canceling it.
“He does not even know the principle in our constitution that says you cannot pass retroactive legislation. If you pass legislation today, it does not affect what happened in the past. And what he says is a bit silly because it’s like saying that because we’ve introduced free SHS all of us should go and get a refund of our school fees that we paid in the past.
“That is how silly what he is saying is. And so they should state what their position is, are they in favor of ex-gratia? Or do they agree with us that we should cancel it?
“We are saying 2025 when we come, we will cancel ex-gratia,” the former president stressed when he interacted with some members of the National Democratic Congress in the Ketu South District of the Volta Region as part of his campaign for the party’s upcoming flagbearership.
Promise to end ex-gratia and run a lean government
Former President John Dramani Mahama has promised to scrap the retirement benefit given to the Executive under Article 71 officeholders, known as ex-gratia, when he becomes president again.
According to him, his government will start the constitutional processes to scrap ex-gratia in the first year of his administration.
The former president, who made these remarks at the launch of his campaign to become the flagbearer of the NDC on Thursday, added that his government would also work to scrap ex-gratia benefits given to appointees under the other arms of government.
“The payment of ex-gratia to members of the executive under Article 71 will be scrapped. And the necessary constitutional steps to abolish that payment will start in earnest in 2025.
“We will also begin the process of persuading the other arms of government other than the executive to accept the removal of this ex-gratia payment,” he said.
Mahama also said that his administration would focus on reducing the president’s powers and ensuring the separation of powers among the three arms of government: the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary.
He also said that he would run the leanest government Ghana has ever had in the 4th Republic, with ministers and deputy ministers not numbering more than 60.
Reactions to Mr Mahama’s promise
While Mr Mahama’s promise to cancel ex-gratia has largely been received by members of the public, his biggest critics including members of the ruling New Patriotic Party have questioned his integrity and motive for making such a promise.
Some of his critics have thus dared the former president to return all emoluments he has received over the years as proof his commitment to his promise to scrap ex-gratia.
Former President John MahamaFormer President John Mahama
Ferdinand | PoliticsGhana | March 06 |Mahama teases Bawumia, mimics ‘solid Economic Management Team’ announcement in Video
Former President John Dramani Mahama has taken a swipe at Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and other persons who were part of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government and have stated their intention of becoming the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Speaking at a campaign event in Akatsi in the Volta Region on Saturday, Mahama said that the vice president and other members of the Economic Management Team of this government are now running away from taking responsibility for the bad management of Ghana’s economy.
Mahama went ahead to mock Dr. Bawumia over his announcement of a solid ‘Economic Management Team’ which is now nowhere to be found.
“… they are behaving as if they were not part of it. All of them ‘dey, dey inside’. They all have contributed to the mess in which we are,” he said.
“Because when Vice President Bawumia was saying, “Our Economic Management Team, we have Professor Gyan Baffour, we have Alan Kyerematen, we have honorable Osafo-Maafo, we have Ken Ofori-Atta. What a solid team,” Mahama said in Bawumia’s voice.
“This is a solid team. This is where the solid team has gotten us,” the former President added.
Former President John MahamaFormer President John Mahama
Former President John Dramani Mahama has challenged the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to state their position on the ex-gratia payment to Article 71 officeholders.
In a tweet shared on Sunday, March 5, 2023, the former president said that rather than criticizing his promise to scrap ex-gratia, the NPP should state their position on the issue which is at the heart of every Ghanaian.
“Does the NPP support my call for the scrapping of the payment of ex gratia to members of the executive or not?” parts of the tweet.
The tweet Mahama shared also had a video of him explaining his proposal to scrap ex-gratia to delegates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ketu South in the Volta Region.
Promise to end ex-gratia and run a lean government:
Former President John Dramani Mahama has promised to scrap the retirement benefit given to the Executive under Article 71 officeholders, known as ex-gratia when he becomes president again.
According to him, his government will start the constitutional processes to scrap ex-gratia in the first year of his administration.
The former president, who made these remarks at the launch of his campaign to become the flagbearer of the NDC on Thursday, added that his government would also work to scrap ex-gratia benefits given to appointees under the other arms of government.
“The payment of ex-gratia to members of the executive under Article 71 will be scrapped. And the necessary constitutional steps to abolish that payment will start in earnest in 2025.
“We will also begin the process of persuading the other arms of government other than the executive to accept the removal of this ex-gratia payment,” he said.
Mahama also said that his administration would focus on reducing the president’s powers and ensuring the separation of powers among the three arms of government: the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary.
He also said that he would run the leanest government Ghana has ever had in the 4th Republic, with ministers and deputy ministers not numbering more than 60.
Public Reactions
Mahama’s promise to cancel ex-gratia has largely been received by members of the public, but his biggest critics including members of the ruling New Patriotic Party have questioned his integrity and motive for making such a promise.
Some of his critics have thus dared the former president to return all emoluments he has received over the years as proof of his commitment to his promise to scrap ex-gratia.
View the former president’s tweet below:
Former President John MahamaFormer President Mahama speaking at the wreath-laying ceremony
Famous Nollywood actor, Yul Edochie, has said it is wrong to say Lagos is a no man’s land, as it is a Yoruba land and they have been accommodating.
He made this known on Saturday via his Instagram page, adding that it was a known fact that Igbos have also contributed to the state.
“I’ve lived in Lagos since 2011. Built my house in Lagos. Not once have I experienced any form of hate or rejection from the Yorubas. Anytime Yoruba boys see me on the street, they gather to greet me, and it’s all love always. And this talk flying around that Lagos is a no man’s land is wrong.” He said.
“Lagos is a Yoruba state in Yoruba land. Imagine someone saying that Anambra is a no-man land, That’s crap. Anambra is an Igbo land. You can’t come into someone’s land and tell the person it’s now a no man’s land na you dey find trouble.”
“Nobody can deny the fact that the Igbos have contributed immensely to the development of Lagos. Other tribes have contributed in their own ways too. And the Yoruba have been largely accommodating as well. It shouldn’t take away the fact that Lagos is a Yoruba land. We no dey drag ownership. Let’s kill tribalism before it kills us,” he wrote.
Lagos Is A Yoruba Land, Not No Man’s Land – Yul Edochie
Bola Ahmed Tinubu: Newly Elected Nigerian President#NigeriaElection2023: Peter Obi wins in Abia
The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, as the president-elect.
Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor, was declared the president-elect after the 70-year-old polled 8,794,726 votes to win the 2023 presidential election.
The INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, announced Tinubu as the winner at the International Collation Centre in Abuja during the early hours of Wednesday.
Tinubu won the election ahead of other contenders — the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Atiku Abubakar; the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi; and the New Nigeria Peoples Party candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The three leading presidential candidates won in 12 states each while Kwankwaso claimed only Kano State.
Tinubu edged Atiku, a former vice president and his closest challenger, with no fewer than 1.8 million votes.
The PUNCH reports that the 2023 presidential election is the first time that Tinubu contested for the nation’s top job. The former senator left office as a two-term governor of Lagos State in 2007 and is credited with leading the coalition that ousted the PDP from power in 2015 and has extended his influence beyond the South-West region in recent years.
Aside from Tinubu; Obi; Atiku, and Kwankwaso, other candidates that gunned for the nation’s oval office include Dumebi Kachikwu of the African Democratic Congress; Kola Abiola, People’s Redemption Party; Omoyele Sowore, Africa Action Congress; Adewole Adebayo, Social Democratic Party; Malik Ado-Ibrahim, Young Progressive Party; Prof Christopher Imumulen, Accord Party; Prof Peter Umeadi, All Progressives Grand Alliance; and Yusuf Mamman Dan Talle, Allied Peoples Movement.
The list also includes Hamza Al-Mustapha, Action Alliance; Sani Yusuf, Action Democratic Party; Nnnadi Osita, Action Peoples Party; Oluwafemi Adenuga, Boot Party; Osakwe Felix Johnson, National Rescue Movement; and Nwanyanwu Daniel Daberechukwu, Zenith Labour Party.
A tally of the votes announced by electoral officials from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Tinubu, in Borno, polled 252,282 votes across the 27 local government areas and was declared the winner by the state Collation Officer, Prof. Jude Rabo.
Atiku and Obi could only garner 190,921 votes and 7,205, respectively while Kwankwaso amassed 4,626 votes.
In Rivers State, Tinubu raked in 231,591 votes from 23 LGAs while the LP scored 175, 071 votes and the PDP polled 88, 468 votes.
The Federal Capital Territory, however, proved to be a game changer for the Labour Party, which floored both Tinubu and his PDP counterpart.
Obi’s popularity in Abuja fetched him 281,717 votes while the former Lagos governor and the former VP shared the remaining slots of 90,902 votes and 74,149 respectively. Kwankwaso also polled 4,517 votes.
But Tinubu made up for his losses in some northern and middle belt states which included Zamfara, Kwara, Kogi, Benue and Kogi States.
In Benue, the APC amassed 310,468 votes to relegate LP (308,372), PDP (130,081) and NNPP (4,740) to second, third and fourth places.
In Zamfara State, he polled 298,396 votes against LP’s 1,660; NNPP’s 4,044 and the PDP’s 193,978 votes.
As expected, Obi soared above other candidates in Plateau where he won by 466,272 votes compared to APC’s 307,195; PDP’s 243,808 while NNPP settled for 8,869 votes.
The states won by Tinubu so far include Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Kwara, Ekiti, Kogi, Benue, Zamfara and Jigawa, while Atiku emerged victorious in Bauchi, Yobe, Gombe, Kaduna, Kebbi, Bayelsa, Adamawa and Akwa Ibom.
On the other hand, Obi has won Lagos, Enugu, Cross River, Nasarawa, Imo, Anambra, Abia, Delta and Plateau states as well as the FCT.
In the final computation, APC polled 8,794,726 votes, PDP amassed 6,984,520 votes, LP scored 6,101,533 votes and NNPP garnered 1,496,687 votes.
Declaring Tinubu as the winner, the INEC boss said, “That Tinubu Bola Ahmed of the APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law is hereby declared the winner and returned elected.”
Bola Ahmed Tinubu: Newly Elected Nigerian President#NigeriaElection2023: Peter Obi wins in Abia
Ferdinand | EducationGhana | February 27 |BREAKING: Danger is building up in Nigeria, Obasanjo raises alarm
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised the alarm that danger is lurking around the country over the alleged compromise of the ongoing election process.
Obasanjo appealed to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), to prevail on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, to stop the process and rectify the allegations raised against it from many quarters.
The presidential and National Assembly elections were held on Saturday and the collation of results was being done at the National Collation Centre in Abuja.
The Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party have kicked against the process, describing it as compromised.
A former senator from Kogi West, Dino Melaye, and other party representatives walked out of the centre after raising issues bordering on irregularities in the process of the election.
Obasanjo in a personally signed letter titled, “An appeal for caution and rectification,” released on Monday, said some politicians had compromised some electoral officials to make the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines not to work.
He said, “I am constrained to speak at this point. I crave the indulgence of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency General Muhammadu Buhari, to make this statement because I have had the opportunity to keep him aware of what I know is happening and the danger looming ahead.
“On many occasions in the past, I have not hesitated to point out lacuna in the action of the President and his government. But as far as the election issues are concerned, the President has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he will want to leave a legacy of free, fair, transparent and credible elections.
“Until last Saturday night, February 25, 2023, the good and noble plan and preparation for the elections seemed to be going well. For the Independent National Electoral Commission, a lot of money was spent to introduce Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and the server for immediate transmission of results from polling units. It is no secret that INEC officials, at operational levels, have been allegedly compromised to make what should have worked not to work and to revert to manual transmission of results which is manipulated and the results doctored.
“The Chairman of INEC may claim ignorance but he cannot fold his hands and do nothing when he knows that election process has been corrupted and most of the results that are brought outside BVAS and server are not a true reflection of the will of Nigerians who have made their individual choice. At this stage, we do not need wittingly or unwittingly to set this country on fire with the greed, irresponsibility and unpatriotic act of those who allegedly gave money to INEC officials for perversion and those who collected the blood money.
“Let me appeal to the Chairman of INEC, if his hands are clean, to save Nigeria from the looming danger and disaster which is just waiting to happen. If the Chairman can postpone elections four days to the election, he can do everything to rectify the errors of the last two days – no BVAS, no result to be acceptable; and no uploading through Server, no result to be acceptable.
“Whereas, BVAS and Servers have been manipulated or rendered inactive, such results must be declared void and inadmissible for election declaration. Chairman INEC, I have thought that you would use this wonderful opportunity to mend your reputation and character for posterity.
“Your Excellency, President Buhari Muhammadu, tension is building up and please let all elections that do not pass the credibility and transparency test be cancelled and be brought back with areas where elections were disrupted for next Saturday, March 4, 2023, and BVAS and Server officials be changed. To know which stations or polling units were manipulated, let a committee of INEC staff and representatives of the four major political parties with the Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association look into what must be done to have hitch-free elections next Saturday.
“Mr. President, may your plan and hope for leaving a legacy of free, fair, transparent and credible election be realised. Mr. President, please don’t let anybody say to you that it does not matter or it is the problem of INEC. On no account should you be seen as part of the collusion or compromise. When the die is cast, it will be your problem as the Chief Executive of the nation. The Chairman of INEC may sneak out of the country or go back to his Ivory Tower. Your Excellency, thank you for hearing me out.
“Compatriot Nigerians, please exercise patience until the wrong is righted. I strongly believe that nobody will toy with the future and fortune of Nigeria at this juncture.”
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1st
