Adamawa Supplementary Election: CSOs condemn violation of Electoral Act

By Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has condemned in strong terms the illegal declaration of a winner in the Adamawa State supplementary governorship election by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) on Sunday.

It also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately sanction Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the resident electoral commissioner in Adamawa, for violating the Electoral Act in the state’s supplementary governorship election.

•Charges INEC to hold violators accountable

CDD Director, Idayat Hassan made the call in a statement shared with journalists in Abuja, and said is a brazen violation of the clear provisions of the Electoral Act 2022

Citing the electoral act, he explained that the electoral act, 2022 makes it abundantly clear in Section 25 (2f) that: “The returning officer shall announce the result and declare the winner of the election at the State Collation Centre in the case of election of a Governor of a State.”

Hassan said CDD observed with utmost concern the unhealthy twist of events involving the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (INEC) who illegally took over the responsibility of the Returning Officer by declaring the result of the governorship election.

According to her, “It is an affront on the laid down procedure for the Resident Electoral Commissioner to have gone ahead to make the announcement when he is not empowered by the law to do so.

“Apart from the fact that such a step is patently illegal, the action of the REC is capable of provoking the breakdown of law and order in the State, considering the tense political atmosphere in the State given the inconclusive governorship poll and the subsequent supplementary poll.

“Importantly, we call on all participants in the process and stakeholders across the State to remain calm and maintain the peace. We urge INEC to ensure the prompt conclusion of the process in line with provisions of the Electoral Act and other extant guidelines”, she said.

L-R: , President, Global center for leadership ànd Good Governance, Comrade Ogedengbe Ayodele Monday, Country Director, Vote Must Count international Initiative (VMCII), Dr. Barry Avotu Johnson and the President, African Emancipation Movement for Good Governance , (a support group for Obidatti presidency), Hon. Lucky Obiyan, during the VMCII World press conference on the 2023 general election , calling on the incoming NASS members to elect people with good characters into the principal office positions , held yesterday in Abuja.

Group sensitises civil society, humanitarian workers on mental health

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Good Deeds, a global movement of people dedicated to doing good has sensitised civil society organisations and humanitarian workers on mental health and self-care while providing humanitarian services.

The Focal Person of the group in Kaduna State, Mrs Itama Okhuelegbe, said at the event in Kaduna, that the exercise was to also appreciate civil society and humanitarian workers for their selfless service to humanity.

The event was organised in collaboration with the Thinkers Children Foundation, as part of activities to mark the 2023 Good Deeds Day.

Okhuelegbe explained that the Good Deeds Day sought to promote people giving back to their community, thereby promoting harmonious relationships among people.

81 Division Garrison wins Nigerian Army combat competition

The Nigerian Army on Sunday ended its InterBrigade Combat and Proficiency Competition with 81 Division Garrison emerging the overall winner with a total of 460 points.

The event, held at the training ground of the 35 Artillery Brigade Alamala in Abeokuta, Ogun, saw the 35 Artillery Brigade contingents clinching the second position with 440 points, while 9th Brigade emerged second runner-up with 410 points.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the four Brigades of the 81 Division Nigerian Army including 81 Division garrison, 9 Brigade, 45 Artillery Brigade and the host 35 Artillery Brigade, participated in the competition.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, the General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Maj.-Gen.Obinna Ajunwa, said the competition was meant to improve strength, confidence and combat readiness of the officers to face any security challenge.

Ajunwa represented by Brig.Gen. O. B Davies, noted that the aims and objectives of the five day competition had been achieved. He commended the participants and implored them to be more productive in their given tasks .

She said that since 2007, Good Deeds Day had been uniting people from around the world with the aim of spurring them to help others and do good for their communities.

“The act of charity and good deeds towards people in need, or communities in despair, is never forgotten by their recipients.

“Today, we are celebrating civil society organisations, individuals and groups rendering humanitarian services first responders to people in need, putting smiles on people’s faces and keeping families together.

“We want to thank groups and individuals that have been rendered selfless help to survivors of sexual and genderbased violence, marginalised, neglected, and exploited groups.

“We want more people to become ambassadors of doing good things to those in need in whatever way they can – feeding the hungry, providing shelter to the homeless, and clothing the poor, among other good deeds,” she said.

While acknowledging the good deeds of humanitarian service providers, Okhuelegbe, however, stressed the need for humanitarian and development workers to also care for themselves to avoid mental breakdown.

On his part, Mr Peter Ebeh, Senior Psychologist with Neem Foundation, Kaduna Office, described mental health as emotional, psychological and social wellbeing of people.

According to him, mental health affects how people think, feel, and behave.

“It particularly determines how people handle stress, anxiety, depression, and insecurity; how they relate to others and the kind of choices they make”, he said.

He pointed out that with too much demand on the humanitarian workers, they could encounter stress, which in the long run, would affect their mental health.

“People need to know that in the attempt to do good and extend a helping hand without taking care of themselves, they may end up in a dysfunctional mental state.

“There is, therefore, the need for people to balance their work with self-care, to be able to function normally and maintain stable mental health,” he said.

One of the participants, Mr Sunday Awulu, Secretary, Kaduna State Branch, Nigerian Red Cross, acknowledged the absence of a balance between humanitarian work in the field and the workers’ self-care.

Awulu identified psychological stress due to pressure to meet set targets as one of the major causes of mental breakdown among humanitarian workers.

He explained that the competition was organised to improve junior leadership training , organisational ability and inculcate initiative in the stipulated rank perfect of noncommission officers in the division.

“Apart from competing among yourselves, I believe that the competition has fostered what we all desired to achieve.

“Likewise, the stamina and endurance displayed by the various commission during the combat swimming and just concluded obstacle competition is indeed highly commendable.

“Those of you that performed well in this competition would be privileged to represent the division at Nigerian Army level organised competition,” he said. The Commanding Officer of 35 Artillery Brigade and host of the competition, Brig.-Gen. Muhammed Aminu, commended participants for their hardwork, urging them not to relent and try to do more in the next competition.

NAN reports that the participants competed

Adamawa guber: INEC orders REC to stay away until further notice

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has instructed it’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Adamawa State, Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari to stay away from the Commission’s office in the State immediately until further notice.

The Prof Mahmood Yakubuled INEC has, consequently, directed the Administrative Secretary to take full charge of INEC, Adamawa State with immediate effect.

The directives were contained in a letter on Monday, signed by the Secretary to INEC, Mrs Rose