INEC reacts to court order on Bauchi inconclusive elections | Nairalaw

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has halted
the re-collation of governorship election results from Tafawa
Balewa local government area.

This follows an order by a Federal High Court in Abuja, stopping
the commission from carrying out the exercise.

Speaking to our reporter on telephone, the Bauchi State INEC
Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Ibrahim Abdullahi said that
the body had received the Court Order and had stopped the collation
process.

He however, disclosed that it will go ahead with the collation
of the state House of Assembly elections result for Tafawa Balewa
which was not affected by the Courts Order.

Details later.

UN, EU on Solidarity Visit to MNJTF over Boko Haram
Menace

A high level United Nations and European Union delegation
comprising the Special Representative of the United Nations
Secretary General to Central Africa, Francois Fall, the Special
Representative of the United Nations Secretary General to West
Africa and Sahel, Mohammed Ibn Chambas and the Special
Representative of the European Union to the Sahel, Angel Losada
have visited the Headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force
in N’Djamena, Chad.

Speaking during the visit Special Representative Francois Fall
thanked the Force Commander, Major General Chikezie Ude for the
successes recorded in the ongoing Operation YANCIN TAFKI, noting
that the progress made so far is encouraging. He observed that the
Boko Haram problem requires more than a military solution,
stressing that there is a need to also examine and address the
socioeconomic underpinnings of the crisis.

Also speaking, Mr Angel Losada conveyed the support and
solidarity of the European Union to the MNJTF, noting that the
Union will remain in partnership with the MNJTF, particularly, in
the areas of political strategy and intelligence sharing.

In his contribution, Mr Mohammed Ibn Chambas noted the serious
disruption of economic activities among countries of the Lake Chad
Area by Boko Haram Insurgency. He observed that a lot of efforts
will be required to deal with the attendant challenges.

In his response, the Force Commander commended members of the
delegation for the visit. He remarked that the fight against Boko
Haram would not have been possible without the support of the
international community. He assured the delegation that the MNJTF
in conjunction with national forces will maintain its current
posture in the Lake Chad Basin. Other members of the delegation
were the UN Resident Coordinator in Chad, Mr Stephen Tull and the
Executive Manager of the Committee against Terrorism, Michelle
Coninsk.

In a related development, a delegation from the UN Security
Council has also visited the MNJTF Tactical Headquarters in Diffa,
Niger Republic. Briefing the team, the Deputy Force Commander,
Brigadier General Seydou Badjie updated them on the current
situation and the challenges facing the MNJTF. In response, the
leader of the delegation, Mr Abdel Mahjid said their mission is to
assess the MNJTF Area of Operation with a view to making
recommendations on how the UN can support African led missions.

Colonel Timothy Antigha
Chief of Military Public Information
MNJTF
N’Djamena