Tension As EFCC Beams Searchlight On Tinubu, Atiku, Others
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is working to ensure the monies used in the purchase of nomination forms ahead of the 2023 elections are legitimate.
EFCC Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa said this on Friday when he featured on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

“When it comes to the issue of monitoring election funds as well as candidates’ funds, that has to do with the work of INEC in this regard but, of course, we are working hand-in-gloves with INEC and other related agencies in that field to ensure that we follow the money, we know the source, whether it is legitimate or illegitimate because that is what concerns us,” he said during current affairs program.
Bawa’s comments followed the outcry that greeted the prices for the nomination forms for the major political parties.

While the All Progressives Congress (APC) pegged the presidential form price at N100m, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fixed its own for N40m.
As Nigerians jointly call out the different political parties on the very exorbitant amount pegged for the party tickets, the politicians have, however, found a means to dilute the outcry by staging ceremonies where a group purportedly buys the Presidential forms for them.
This process has to an extent, softened the outcry and has painted a make-believe picture that truly agrees with the theory that no one has that kind of money to purchase the form.
Although the APC has defended the decision, many Nigerians and observers believe the fees are outrageous considering the economic situation in the country. Others also claim that the move may pose a great danger to the democratic process.
But the EFCC boss is reiterating the anti-graft body’s commitment to the transparency of the electoral process.
Source: Channels TV

 

SouthEast Governor Reveals People Responsible For Nnamdi Kanu’s Woes
The Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi has blamed the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, for the travails of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Umahi, who featured in a Channels Television program, Politics Today, said Ohanaeze was delaying the political solution to the case of Kanu who was standing trial for an alleged treasonable felony at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Leaders from the South-East, including the members of the National Assembly from the region, had last year identified a political solution to the activist’s case.
They resolved to meet President Muhammadu Buhari and present a common approach to him on the matter.
However, the governor’s remark has fuelled insinuation of possible cracks among South-East leaders in their quest to secure the IPOB leader’s release from detention.
President Buhari had earlier on Friday told traditional rulers and religious leaders who urged him to consider an unconditional release for Kanu that the Federal Government would allow the activist trial to run its full course.

In his response, the governor slammed the Ohanaeze for failing to check IPOB, a development that led to the escalation of the current insecurity in the region.
Umahi said: “The court judgment is not far from the political solution.
I have never supported IPOB and predicted the current events. It is now a pain for everyone due to the silence of politicians.
“I urged the Ohanaeze to appeal to IPOB but they were not quick to react. We should encourage Ohanaeze to appeal to IPOB as suggested by President Buhari.”