The National/State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting
in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Monday nullified the
election of the state Assembly deputy speaker, Chris Adaji.
Adaji of Peoples Democratic Party was declared winner of the
2019 Ohimini State Constituency election.
Delivering the judgment, Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice R. O.
Odudu held that the margin with which Adaji led Musa Alechenu
Ohimini of All Progressives Congress (APC) was less than the number
of votes cancelled.
In the election declared by the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), Adaji led with 397 votes.
But the tribunal found that the margin was less than the 1, 056
votes cancelled in the two polling units of Igbanomaje and
Odega.
Justice Odudu in the judgment noted that INEC ought not to have
made final declaration without ordering for a rerun in the affected
polling units other than declare an inconclusive poll.
Justice Odudu held that the declaration and return of Adaji
without a rerun in Otega and Ogadagba ward was invalid by reason of
non substantial compliance with Electoral Act 2010 (as
amended).
The tribunal thereby ordered for withdrawal of certificate of
return issued to Adaji and directed INEC to conduct rerun election
in the two polling units where elections were cancelled within 90
days.
The APC candidate, Musa Ohimini Alechenu described the decision
of the tribunal as a testimony of the wishes of the people.
While exuding confidence of winning the rerun election, Alechenu
said, “I want to appreciate the Tribunal for the good job done.
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Farmers to Benefit from FG’s Fertilizer
Initiative, Says Gov Badaru
ThGov Badarue Executive Governor of Jigawa State and
also Chairman, Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI), Alhaji
Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has stated that the Initiative
would be beneficial to the farmers and also grow the economy
through the production of NPK 20-20 Fertilizers using locally
sourced materials.
Mohammed Abubakar disclosed this in
Abuja during an interview session at the end of the Presidential
Fertilizer Initiative’s meeting with the Hon. Minister of
Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji
Mohammed Sabo Nanono in his office. He said through
the production of fertilizers locally, the moribund fertilizer
plants will be revived and it will in turn create employment for
Nigerians.
The Governor said that his visit to the Minister was
to brief him on the “preparation and planning for the
production of fertilizers for the 2020 wet season”
Alhaji Abubakar further said that
‘’in order to improve on the production and ensure its availability
and affordability to the Nigerian farmers, production will be
increased and will be sold at a subsidized rate to the farmers,
especially the NPK 20-20 , which is the most sort after by
the farmers.
The governor also stated that the committee is
considering the possibility of the exportation of the NPK 20-20
fertilizer, adding, “if it succeeds in getting phosphate
in Sokoto and potash around Yobe, then there will be possibility of
enriching its blend for export”.
The Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) was
flagged-off in December 2016 by President Muhammed Buhari and it is
aimed at supporting the domestic blending of NPK fertilizer towards
reducing the challenges of the Nigerian farmers. The Nigeria
fertilizer Industry possesses a blending capacity of 4 million tons
of NPK annually and 2 million tons of production for Urea, with the
capacity to employ over 250,000 people both direct and indirect
jobs across the country.
Samuel O. Uzoegbu
For: Director Information FMARD