Conduct elections in restored Aniocha South Constituency 1, HoReps orders INEC, as Elumelu makes case

 

Hon. Ndudi Elumelu during plenary.

The House of Representatives has mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to, as a matter of urgency, conduct a bye election to fill in the Aniocha South constituency 1 seat in the Delta State House of Assembly. 

The mandate was sequel to a motion raised on Tuesday at Plenary, by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, under matter of urgent National Importance.

In leading the debate on the motion, which was seconded by Hon. Toby Okechukwu, Deputy Leader of the House and member representing Aninri/Agwu/Oji-uzo Federal Constituency, Hon. Elumelu called on INEC to, as a matter of urgency, see to the conduct of the needed election for residents of Aniocha South Constituency 1 with a view to enjoying due representation at the State House of Assembly level. 

Elumelu who represents Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, described INEC's refusal to conduct election into the state constituency 1, despite Supreme Court judgment on the matter, as a gross infringement on the rights of citizens of the Constituency. 

He noted that Aniocha South State Constituency 1 of Delta State, comprises Otulu, Olodo, olloh, Isah Ogwuashi, Azagba Ogwuashi, Edo Ogwuashi, Aboh Ogwuashi and ogwuashi uku, while constituency 2 comprises of Ewulu, Nsukwa, Ejeme-unor, Ejeme Aniogor, Egbodu aka, Ashama, Umute Abah unor ,Adonte and ukwu-oba. 

Elumelu revealed that Aniocha South Constituency 1 was created in 1991 by the defunct National Electoral Commission and was duly represented in the Delta State House of Assembly from January 1992 to November 1993. 

The Federal lawmaker also noted that Aniocha South State Constituency 1 has arbitrarily collapsed into the present day Aniocha South state constituency during the 1999 elections while constituency 2 is currently having a member representing them thereby depriving constituency 1 the opportunity to have a representative at the State house of Assembly. 

“We are aware that INEC has refused to restore the constituency to its original status, thereby continuing the suppression and further depriving the constituents of their rightful representation in the state House of Assembly.  

“Worried that the further suppression of Aniocha South constituency1 by INEC, after the decision of the Supreme Court on similar issues in other constituencies i.e. Aniocha North Constituency 2, is not just unfair but illegal and unconstitutional, as it offends the letters and provisions of Sections 91 and 112 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. 

“Further worried that if INEC, which is the chief electoral umpire of the country can flagrantly disregard the decision of the apex court of our country, then there is need to worry. Consequently, I want the house to note that, if this issue is not urgently looked into and nipped in the bud by calling INEC to order, further occurrences may someday provoke anarchy in the country and also, bring the nation to disrepute in the eyes of other nations,” Hon. Elumelu lamented in his motion.

The motion was thereafter, unanimously adopted by the House with a further directive to the House Committee on electoral matters to ensure that INEC complied with the House mandate.

 

NANS presidential debate: Alopay seeks proper funding for education sector; urges adherence to 26% funding advocated by UNESCO

 

Comrade Alabi Kayode - Alopay.

By Ikechukwu Chukwudi

The case has been made for member nations of the United Nations to properly fund education by adhering strictly to the 26 per cent UNESCO advocated percentage for educational funding in their budgets.

 

Frontline contender for the office of the President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Comrade Alabi Kayode aka 'Alopay', made the submission at the NANS presidential debate at which he emphasized the need to give and ensure proper funding to the Nigerian educational sector by governments at all levels.

Alopay, a Masters Degree student of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) spoke at the debate organized by the Nigerian Students Debate Group (NISDG) at the ongoing elective convention on Wednesday December 2, 2020.

While responding to posers from the moderating panel on the question of overhauling the educational system, Alopay stated that the issue was not really about overhauling the system, but ensuring that the specified percentage advocated for funding education was given.

 

Alopay said: "For me, it is not really about overhauling the system so to say, it's more about we playing by the rules regarding the financing of education in Nigeria.

“The system is not the best and it is obvious, however I believe that our advocacy should start from ensuring that the 26 per cent UNESCO advocated percentage for educational funding in the budget of it's member nations is adhered to.

“Education is underfunded and if we will be sincere with ourselves, this constitutes a big problem as it translates to poor manpower, equipments and facilities which are essential to the development of education across the country."

 

On the autonomy of Student Union Governments and victimization of union officials, Alopay averred that "it begins with everyone union member and official holding themselves first to a strong sense of responsibility and integrity so that issues bordering on misappropriation of funds meant for students and their welfare are not used to blackmail them.

 

This is one area where different management of tertiary institutions have held the Union officials to ransom in the struggle. However, we must ensure that instances of this becomes a thing of the past by the present Union leaders in the country as well as stakeholders holding ourselves to a high moral responsibility and decency. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands."

 

The one-time SUG PRO of LAUTECH, Ogbomosho concluded his submission by calling for peaceful processes in the student’s movement similar to the one being witnessed so far at the Convention. "If we can continually see peaceful engagements in student related activities especially in NANS, we will definitely have more people being a part of it actively. In truth, the feminine folks will more readily engage with their contemporaries of either gender and participate more actively in student’s unionism."