2023 election - MegaIcon Magazine

Atiku, PDP withdraw a fresh application against INEC

Mega Icon — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 07:27:55 +0000

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have withdrawn a fresh application they filed to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow their agents to participate in the process of sorting out ballot papers that were used for the presidential election that held on February 25.

PDP and Atiku, who are separately challenging the outcome of the election, told the Presidential Election Petition Court that they were no longer interested in the application and have filed a notice of discontinuance.

According to the information scooped from Channels Television, sources informed that the decision of Atiku to withdraw the application was a result of a meeting his legal team held with the leadership of the electoral body on Tuesday.

One of the sources said they filed the application owing to challenges and administrative bottlenecks they encountered at the INEC office when they went for access to the election materials as ordered by the court.

It was at that meeting which was held on Tuesday that all the grey areas were sorted out with INEC, pledging to allow their agents, to observe the process of sorting out some of the electoral materials they requested, especially the ballot papers.

He added that since it was primarily their prayer in the fresh application filed, they felt that it would not be necessary to proceed with the hearing.

Meanwhile, following the withdrawal of the application, Justice Joseph Ikyegh-led three-member panel struck it out.

Atiku had in the withdrawn application, which he predicated on 11 grounds, maintained that agents of his party needed to be present during the sorting out of the electoral materials he would need to prepare a petition he intends to lodge against the outcome of the presidential election.

He said there was a need for his agents to observe and participate in the sorting of materials he requested in all the offices of INEC nationwide, in line with the ex-parte order the court made on March 3.

Atiku argued that allowing the agents of his party to be on the ground while the materials are sorted out, would ensure transparency in the process and guarantee that the ballot papers would not be tampered with.

The post Atiku, PDP withdraw a fresh application against INEC first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Atiku, PDP withdraw a fresh application against INEC appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

Election Postponement: UNILAG, LASU extend resumption dates

Mega Icon — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 12:10:29 +0000

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the Lagos State University (LASU) have extended their resumption dates for academic activities following the postponement of the governorship and state assembly elections to March 18.

It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced a one-week delay of the elections earlier scheduled for March 11 for reconfiguration of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines used during the presidential and National Assembly elections two weeks ago.

In their separate statements, students and staff were informed of the new resumption of academic activities in UNILAG and LASU.

UNILAG, in a Facebook post on Friday, said, “On behalf of the University Senate, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, FAS, has approved that the resumption of academic activities is postponed to Tuesday, March 21, 2023.

“However, all other activities of the university, including inaugural lectures and meetings (excluding teaching), should continue as scheduled.”

The university also noted that the Federal Government had directed that students of higher institutions across the country should vacate their schools ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Accordingly, the UNILAG Senate approved the suspension of teaching and related academic activities from Tuesday, February 21, 2023, to Tuesday, March 14, 2023.

The school implored members of the university community to remain safe, security-conscious, orderly, civil, and responsible in utterances and engagements, online and offline.

In a related development, the Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of the LASU Senate, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, on Thursday, said on granted executive approval on behalf of the governing body for the extension of the resumption date.

Olatunji-Bello further directed that all students should resume on Tuesday, March 21, adding that examinations should continue on Wednesday, March 22.

The Lagos State Government-run institution stated that the Senate had held an emergency meeting on Monday, February 13 as to the ministerial directive on the closure of all universities and Inter-University Centres for the 2023 general elections.

But, the governing body reviewed the decision at its 295th statutory meeting on Thursday, February 23.

The Vice-Chancellor reaffirmed that other activities of the university should continue to run upon resumption.

She said this is “with particular reference to the provision of skeletal services by staff members from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and other essential services by the University.”

According to her, the activities also concern students who have registered for their permanent voter cards (PVCs) “and have their polling unit (24 – 17 -05 – 065) at the open space at LASU gate should be allowed to exercise their franchise.”

The post Election Postponement: UNILAG, LASU extend resumption dates first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Election Postponement: UNILAG, LASU extend resumption dates appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

OLOJO 2022: ASUU strike, 2023 election, youth plight top Ooni’s prayer requests

Idowu Ayodele — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 13:33:33 +0000

The lingering strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) which has placed all universities in Nigeria under lock and key is part of the prayer requests of the Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II as he on Sunday began the annual 7-day seclusion rite being part of the symbolic activities marking the annual Olojo festival in Ile-Ife.

Ooni Ogunwusi who appeared in his usual white traditional attire laced with colourful ancient beads told newsmen on his way out of his Ile-Oodua palace that he will use the spiritual moment of seclusion as a point of contact with God Almighty towards resolving all issues in Nigeria as the country gears up for next year’s General election.

The Co-chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria(NCTRN) explained that the government must as a matter of core urgency end the strike to avert the looming anger of Nigerian youths.

“The youths are angry and no one can blame them for that. Just imagine the number of months they have been kept out of school, ASUU and the government must unite and end this because we cannot handle the anger of the youths if they go out of control. They have started blocking highways and even threatening to lock the airports, which is an indication that they have been pushed to the wall.

“This is my seventh year on the throne and I have been serving humanity with a special focus on the youths of our country. Apart from investing hugely in human capital development and capacity building, I have engaged many of the youths as handlers of my projects and they have shown excellence in leadership. So I appeal to our government to look in this direction and make the necessary amendment.

“During the recruitment process at the newly unveiled OjajaMore, over 50 per cent of applicants are undergraduate students who are tired of staying at home which speaks to the fact that the ASUU strike has done a lot of damage. It is avoidable and it should be ended by the government and ASUU for the benefit of the youths.

“Next year’s election is equally another strong prayer request with which I am proceeding into seclusion, I want Nigerian youths to refuse to be used as thugs during the election while I pray that the process goes seamlessly acceptable to all the political parties for peace and prosperity of our land.” Ooni Ogunwusi said.

Explaining the potency of the seclusion exercise, the Ooni who will be incommunicado for one week and not grant audience within the days in seclusion said,” There has never been the time my prayer requests during seclusion is not answered by the Almighty, it has never happened. It is a period of fasting and prayer to appease God and seek blessings for our land.

Olojo festival connotes a strong indication of God’s creation and the day of the first dawn on earth, it is celebrated annually in Ile-Ife by all descendants of Oduduwa globally. While this year’s Olojo festival has already witnessed several activities, other key events lined up to make this edition superlative include as follows:

Friday 23rd September is for the ILAGUN(Dog sacrifice). Ojo Owode (Community cleaning) Oonirisa Terrestrial Message to the world and Oonirisa’s Adire Hub Fiesta. Saturday 24th will witness the Grand Official Ceremony for the year’s Olojo celebrations after which the Ooni will adorn the sacred Aare Crown in a procession to the Okemogun shrine in honour of an agelong covenant with Ogun(God of Iron). Ife Grand Resort Musical Concert will hold much later same day.

Sunday 25th is for the Grand Finale Reception Party at the palace courtyard and Monday 26 will be for the Oonirisa Ancestral Traditional Propitiation which is a symbolic procession led by the Ooni to his family compound at Agbedegbede street in the Moore area of Ile-Ife which will be followed by Sinamania/ BUGA Poolside Dinner while Wednesday 28th will climax the 2022 Olojo festival with Ife and Oodua clubs paying Homage to the Ooni.

The post OLOJO 2022: ASUU strike, 2023 election, youth plight top Ooni’s prayer requests first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post OLOJO 2022: ASUU strike, 2023 election, youth plight top Ooni’s prayer requests appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.