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HURIWA Lashes Out At National Assembly Over Bill To Undermine Right To Protest

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National Assembly Transmits Reworked Electoral Bill To Buhari

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has warned members of the National Assembly against their move to undermine the citizens’ right to protest.

The rights group said it was illogical for the House of Representatives to even contemplate making a law that would directly attack a constitutionally protected human right to freedom of peaceful assembly under the mistaken guise of trying to check what they called illegal protests just as the rights group said there was nothing like an illegal protest.

HURIWA said the police ought to have provided security to protesters to check any infiltration from violent hoodlums.

The rights group was reacting to the presentation of the House of Representatives for consideration of a bill seeking to jail what members termed unlawful protesters.

The bill entitled ‘AN ACT TO AMEND THE CRIMINAL CODE ACT, CAP 38, LAWS OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA, 2004 TO FURTHER PRESERVE THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE AND PROPERTY, AND TO PROVIDE SPECIFICALLY FOR MOB ACTION, PRESCRIBE PUNISHMENT AND OTHER MATTERS’, is sponsored by Rep. Emeka Chinedu Martins(PDP-Imo).

HURIWA recalled that the provisions of the proposed Act are as follows: (1) The provisions of the Criminal Code Act, (in this Bill referred to as the “Principal Act”) is amended as set out in this Bill (2) Substitute for section 69 of the Principal Act, a new section 69.

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It said that the house provided explanation as follows: “Definitions: Unlawful assembly, Riot, Mob action (a) When three or more persons, with intent to carry out some common purpose, assemble in such a manner or, being assembled, conduct themselves in such a manner as to cause persons in the neighbourhood to fear on reasonable grounds that the persons so assembled will tumultuously disturb the peace, or will by such assembly needlessly and without any reasonable occasion provoke other persons tumultuously to disturb the peace, they are an unlawful assembly. It is immaterial that the original assembling was lawful if, being assembled; they conduct themselves with a common purpose in such a manner as aforesaid”.

It also states that (b) “An assembly of three or more persons who assemble for the purpose of protecting any house against persons threatening to break and enter the house in order to commit a felony or misdemeanour therein is not an unlawful assembly.”

But HURIWA said that “the move to jail protesters as contemplated by the proposed legislation is undemocratic, unconstitutional and retrogressive.”

It therefore asked the Federal House of Representatives to be wary of passing an unconstitutional legislation that would install a dictator as the president in which case they too would be like preys who are riding on the back of the tiger that will devour them soon.

‘The attempt to put Nigerians in tyrannical chains through this viciously evil legislation aimed at crippling civil rights of protesters must never be allowed to see the light of the day. Nigerians must defend the democracy that we fought so hard to achieve and stop the anti-democratic forces in the National Assembly from destroying democracy and inhibiting the citizens’ exercise of their universally recognized inalienable human rights to civil protests,” it said.

HURIWA cited the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria  “Section 39 stated thus: 39. (1) Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference, and section 40 thus: “Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interests: Provided that the provisions of this section shall not derogate from the powers conferred by this Constitution on the Independent National Electoral Commission with respect to political parties to which that Commission does not accord recognition.”

READ ALSO: Senate Approves Buhari’s Request To Borrow N2.3tr

According to the rights group, democratic and peaceful protests are the very engine that sustains constitutional democracy without which the country will inevitably slide into tyranny.

“The plot by the Federal House of Representatives to make a legislation against protests by citizens is a blueprint for autocracy”, it said, warning the legislators that they would be “victimised soon because when the dictator is tired of confronting the people, he will direct his attention to his footsoldiers to satisfy his insatiable quest for maximum power.”

 

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Why We Won’t Congratulate Oborevwori On Delta Gubernatorial Victory – Deta APC

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URS Congratulates Omo-Agege, Oborevwori On Becoming Governorship Candidates
Omo-Agege and Oborevwori

The Delta All Progressives Congress, (APC), Campaign Council will not congratulate Sheriff Oborevwori on his winning the state gubernatorial election.

To the APC, Oborevwori’s victory at the gubernatorial election held on 18 March, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is false and thus it stands rejected.

In a statement, Director, Communications and Media Strategy of the council, Ima Niboro, said that Oborevwori’s victory would be overturned by the sheer weight of evidence against it.

The candidate of the PDP, Sheriff Oborevwori, was on Monday, declared winner of the election by INEC.

Mr Oborevwori polled a total of 360,234 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Ovie Omo-Agege of the APC who scored 240,229 votes.

The APC campaign council said it has evidence that the process was characterised by irregularities and that the people of the state were denied the right to freely expressed their will.

“We have an entire arsenal of evidence showing the disenfranchisement of the people, non use of, and tampering with BVAS machines, declaring double results at polling units, issuing of fake result sheets to agents and uploading cooked up results into the BVAS.

“We also have evidence of widespread vote suppression, voter intimidation, thuggery and violence against our supporters. The PDP was at its worst during the election: wickedly denying the people of their will freely expressed at the polls.

“Look at the streets of Delta today. It is gloom everywhere. Our people are wearing long, mournful faces. No sign of jubilation anywhere. Our streets would have been throbbing with life, song and dance, were this the will of the people.This rape of the will of the people will not stand. It must not be allowed to stand,” it said

“We call on our party faithful and supporters to remain calm. Weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning,” it said.

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BREAKING: INEC Declares Oborevwori As Delta Governor-elect

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Oborevwori Delta PDP Governorship Candidate
Sheriff Oborevwori

The Speaker of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, on Monday afternoon got official recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of last Saturday election.

Oborevwori polled 360,234 votes to defeat the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege.

Omo-Agege scored 240,229 votes while the Labour Party candidate, Kennedy Pela came a distant third with 48,047

Declaring the result at the state Collation Centre in Asaba, Returning Officer in the election, Prof. Abraham Georgewill Owunari said Oborevwori “having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared winner and returned elected.”

The PDP candidate won in 21 out of the 25 local government areas of the state, leaving Omo-Agege with only four.

A summary of the scores of the political parties are as follow:

Registered voters – 3,221,697
Accredited voters – 710,829

Accord – 930

AA – 66

ADC – 1,482

ADP – 1,081

APC – 240,229

APGA – 11,021

APM – 937

APP – 198

BP – 162

LP – 48,047

NNPP – 791

NRM – 612

PDP – 360,234

PRP -54

SDP – 4,639

YPP – 484

ZLP – 303

VALID votes – 671,737
REJECTED voted – 15,384
TOTAL votes cast – 687,121

Scores in each council by the three leading parties

Ika North-East LGA

Registered voters – 131,945
Accredited voters – 34,807

APC – 4,733
LP – 1,990
PDP – 26,760

Valid votes – 33,807
Rejected votes – 918
Total votes cast – 34,725

Aniocha North LGA

Registered voters – 89,010
Accredited voters – 16,846

APC – 4,386
LP – 1,883
PDP – 8,938

Valid votes – 16,316
Rejected votes – 530
Total votes cast -16,846

Ndokwa East LGA

Registered voters – 86,208
Accredited voters – 20,434

APC – 9,044
LP – 251
PDP – 10,146

Valid votes – 19,843
Rejected votes – 485
Total votes cast – 20,328

Ika South LGA

Registered voters — 100,599
Accredited voters – 27,800

APC – 6,790
LP – 4,495
PDP – 15,283

Valid votes – 27,149
Rejected votes – 651
Total votes cast – 27,800

Patani LGA

Registered voters – 49,385
Accredited voters – 11,421

APC – 4,743
LP – 85
PDP – 6,069

Valid votes – 11,183
Rejected votes – 238
Total votes cast – 11,421

Udu LGA

Registered voters – 143,769
Accredited voters – 26,908

APC – 13,154
LP – 1,886
PDP – 9,746

Valid votes – 26,141
Rejected votes – 575
Total votes cast – 26,716

Sapele LGA

Registered voters – 145,024
Accredited voters – 30,983

APC – 12,090
LP – 1,458
PDP – 15,217

Valid votes – 29,815
Rejected votes – 957
Total votes cast – 30,772

Aniocha South LGA

Registered voters – 100,424
Accredited voters – 21,149

APC – 4,622
LP – 5,107
PDP – 10,032

Valid votes – 20,468
Rejected votes – 603
Total votes cast – 21,071

Uvwie LGA

Registered voters – 191,215
Accredited voters – 31,188

APC – 12,389
LP – 6,340
PDP – 9,776

Valid votes – 30,263
Rejected votes – 925
Total votes cast – 31,188

Okpe LGA

Registered voters – 117,111
Accredited voters – 25,724

APC – 8,679
LP – 1,155
PDP – 14,544

Valid votes – 25,027
Rejected votes – 691
Total votes cast – 25,718

Bomadi LGA

Registered voters – 103,261
Accredited voters – 17,946

APC – 4,728
LP – 100
PDP – 12,340

Valid votes – 17,559
Rejected votes – 379
Total votes cast – 17,938

Ethiope East LGA

Registered voters – 115,003
Accredited voters – 30466

APC – 11,600
LP – 350
PDP – 13,030

Valid votes – 27,814
Rejected votes – 805
Total votes cast – 28,619

Oshimili North LGA

Registered voters – 103,657
Accredited voters – 45,834

APC – 5,327
LP – 2,983
PDP – 35,966

Valid votes – 45,368
Rejected votes – 455
Total votes cast – 45,823

Warri South LGA

Registered voters – 187,140
Accredited voters – 32,959

APC – 11,569
LP – 3,743
PDP – 15,299

Valid votes – 31,768
Rejected votes – 982
Total votes cast – 32,750

Oshimili South LGA

Registered voters – 194,468
Accredited voters – 39,028

APC – 4,763
LP – 10,148
PDP – 23,149

Valid votes – 38,530
Rejected votes – 493
Total votes cast – 39,023

Isoko North LGA

Registered voters – 144,092
Accredited voters – 28,848

APC – 10,811
LP – 894
PDP – 15,899

Valid votes – 28,332
Rejected votes – 503
Total votes cast – 28,835

Ughelli South LGA

Registered voters – 136362
Accredited voters – 36136

APC – 15,620
LP – 571
PDP – 15,513

Valid votes – 34,820
Rejected votes – 574
Total votes cast – 35,394

Ethiope West LGA

Registered voters – 110,931
Accredited voters – 14,995

APC – 6,758
LP – 304
PDP – 7065

Valid votes – 14,374
Rejected votes – 452
Total votes cast – 14,826

Ughelli North LGA

Registered voters – 223,083
Accredited voters – 55,130

APC – 34,955
LP – 1,438
PDP – 15,198

Valid votes – 53,232
Rejected votes – 1,453
Total votes cast – 54,685

Isoko South LGA

Registered voters – 140,822
Accredited voters – 38,902

APC – 15,954
LP – 492
PDP – 19,963

Valid votes – 38,109
Rejected votes – 528
Total votes cast – 38,637

Ukwuani LGA

Registered voters – 89,658
Accredited voters – 24,108

APC – 7,591
LP – 791
PDP – 14,640

Valid votes – 23,596
Rejected votes – 485
Total votes cast – 24,081

Ndokwa West LGA

Registered voters – 104,574
Accredited voters – 27,883

APC – 10,252
LP – 935
PDP – 15,539

Valid votes – 26,989
Rejected votes – 536
Total votes cast – 27,525

Warri North LGA

Registered voters – 110,363
Accredited voters – 15,494

APC – 4,165
LP – 250
PDP – 10,367

Valid votes – 15,139
Rejected votes – 355
Total votes cast – 15,494

Burutu LGA

Registered voters – 112,867
Accredited voters – 25,627

APC – 11,736
LP – 123
PDP – 12,641

Valid votes – 24,962
Rejected votes – 564
Total votes cast – 25,526

Warri South-West LGA

Registered voters – 190,456
Accredited voters – 30,213

APC – 3,770
LP – 140
PDP – 7,114

Valid votes – 11,133
Rejected votes – 247
Total voters cast – 11,380

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BREAKING: PDP Chairman Beaten To Coma Dies

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Peter Nweke

Peter Nweke, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman in Ezza North local government area, beaten to coma, is dead.

Nweke died from injuries he sustained from attacks by hoodlums suspected to be political thugs on Saturday during the Governorship and Assembly elections.

Police spokesperson, Onome Onovwakpoyeya confirmed the death of Nweke on Sunday.

She said Nweke was beaten up and rushed to the hospital unconscious where he was later pronounced dead by a doctor.

The police officer said the police had launched an investigation into the death with a view to arresting and prosecuting anyone responsible.

Nweke’s younger brother, Samson Nweke also confirmed the death.

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