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Central Times, FCT Abuja (2025)

26/02/2023

2023 Elections: Wike unable to vote as BVAS network fails

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, was on Saturday, unable to cast vote at his polling unit 7, Ward 9, Wimpey Junction, Rumuepirikom, Port Harcourt, Rivers State as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System network failed.

The governor arrived at his polling unit with his entourage.

The PUNCH reports that voters’ accreditation began late at the polling unit as election materials and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission were not seen as of 10 am.

Speaking on the situation, Wike said he was highly disappointed in the Independent National Electoral Commission for failing to keep its promise in the conduct of the elections.

Wike said this while speaking to newsmen, shortly after the BVAS failed to capture him and his wife, Suzette.

He sais, “We are highly disappointed. INEC told us they were ready for the election and that BVAS are working.

“You can see the crowd here, I don’t think that most people will be allowed to vote with slow working of the BVAS.

“I have stayed about 25 minutes here and I was told to go and come back that they will rectify the BVAS.

“We are highly disappointed. If a number of people are disenfranchised, what do you expect.

“People will lose their temper and anything could happen. INEC ought to have been completely ready before telling the people they are ready."

23/02/2023

Banks won't shut down services during elections - ACAMB

The Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB) says all bank branches and digital channels will be open for banking services before, during, and after the elections.

The association said this in a statement signed by its President, Mr Rasheed Bolarinwa, on Wednesday in Lagos.

The body said that Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) had not received any directive from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to shut down banking services for five days, as stated in a fake press release.

“The attention of the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks has been drawn to the trending social media message purporting that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was shutting down banking services for five days from Thursday, 23rd to Monday 27th February 2023 because of the general elections holding in Nigeria over next two weekends.

“ACAMB hereby wishes to debunk the fake news in its entirety and wishes to assure Nigerians and the banking public that there is no iota of truth in the viral message that is being circulated.

“Up until this moment, no Deposit Money Banks or other institutions providing financial services have received any directive or communication from the CBN to close the doors of their physical banking halls or shut their digital platforms and online banking channels against their customers because of elections.

“ACAMB further wishes to assure customers that their respective banks have put in place measures to ensure that depositors can as usual, access money in their accounts during this period.

“Also, customers who wish to carry out transfers or use electronic banking services will have unhindered access to these services before, during, and after the elections,” it said.

It urged Nigerians not to panic and also avoid uncontrolled spending as a result of the fake news about the alleged plan to shut down bank branches and all digital banking channels.

The association urged Nigerians to ignore the trending message maliciously concocted by its faceless authors to cause disaffection among the citizenry and the DMBs.

It advised Nigerians to be peaceful and orderly during the elections, wishing the nation a successful conduct of free, fair, and credible elections.

ACAMB is the umbrella body of Corporate and Marketing Communications Professionals working in Nigeria’s banking sector.

17/02/2023

Breaking new!!!

PDP VS BABANTAN: COURT OF APPEAL SET TO HEAR APPEAL AGAINST JUDGMENT TODAY

The Court of Appeal, Abuja is set to hear the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the Judgment of the Federal High Court, obtained by Hon. Michael Enyong (Babantan) against the Peoples Democratic Party in the Governorship ticket tussle in Akwa Ibom State.

Recall that on 20th January, 2023, the Federal High Court had given judgment declaring Hon.Michael Enyong as the candidate of the PDP in the Akwa Ibom State Governorship race in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1295/2022 filed on the 1st August, 2022 via Originating summons. The appeal alleged forgery and stated clearly that it was not served with the originating that the court heard and gave the judgment.

Dissatisfied and angered with the Judgment of the Federal High Court, the PDP filed a Notice of Appeal with seven grounds of Appeal. The appeal was numbered as CA/ABJ/CV/120/2023 – PEOPLES DEMORCATIC PARTY (PDP) V HON. MICHAEL ENYONG (BABANTAN).

In line with Practice Direction 2022, the Appellant had prepared and filed its Appellant Brief of Argument on the 10th February, 2023 and served same on the Babantan and his Legal Team. By the Election Judicial Proceedings Practice Direction 2022, Babatan has 5 (five) days to filed his Respondent brief. The court of Appeal has directed all parties to file their briefs and reply briefs and the appeal is very ripe for hearing.

The appeal of PDP is anchored on three issues for determination. The summary of the issues:

Whether the Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1295/2022 filed on the 1st August, 2022 was not filed out of time (statute barred) by Section 285(9) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 ( As Amended)

Whether the PDP was served with the Originating Summons in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1295/2022 filed on the 1st August, 2022.

Whether Babantan deserve the judgment he obtained when the case was filed out of time and was not even served on the PDP, the 1st defendant now appellant.

It has strongly argued that the suit was filed out of time and therefore the court had no jurisdiction to hear the case. It is also the argument of the PDP that it was not served at all with the originating summons and lack of service of originating process is a jurisprudential virus that robs the court of jurisdiction.

The Court of Appeal will hear the appeal today 17th February, 2023 at 5pm.

Ekom Nwoko

16/02/2023

CBN launches website for old naira notes deposit

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is forging ahead with its policy on the old naira notes, having launched a website for bank customers to register to deposit their old notes.

This is coming amid confusion over the deadline of February 10 earlier announced by the apex bank and the Supreme court’s recent ruling on the matter.

A check on the website by Nairametrics showed that the CBN has published a new update titled: ‘redemption of currency’.

By clicking on the title, another interface would pop up asking bank customers to click a link “to create your profile, generate reference and print out a receipt for you to proceed to nearest CBN Branch to deposit your old N1000, N500, and N200 notes into your bank account.”

The link leads to a different website with the address: https://crs.cbn.gov.ng/, where a bank customer can create a profile to start the process.

In order to generate a reference number on the website, the user is expected to provide his or her Bank Verification Number (BVN), email address, phone number, bank account details, depositor information (including house address), and the total amount of the denomination to be redeemed.

, CBN launches website for old naira notes deposit

Circulating guidelines: While there has been no official announcement from the apex bank regarding the collection of the old naira notes or whether the deadline has been extended in line with last week’s Supreme Court order, the website confirms that a viral document circulating on social media on the guidelines for the deposit of the old notes emanated from the CBN, even though it was not officially released.

The circulating guidelines document, which bears the CBN’s logo but without any signature, states:

“Please note that this is a Cash Deposit Program, not a Cash Swap Program. You will not be issued new notes in exchange for old notes, instead, your bank account will be credited after your account is validated by law This process may take up to 4 weeks. If the account validation turns out negative, the Bank will return the deposited notes.
“Members of the public are required to complete an online application form and generate a reference number before coming to the CBN. Where a customer did not pre-fill their condition, he/she will be allowed to fill it at the Branch.

“The Cash Deposit Window is open to the public from February 15-17, 2023 between 9 AM to 2 PM daily.”
It further stated the requirements to approach the CBN for the deposit to include the Reference code generated from the completed online application form filled on CBN Portal; an active Deposit Money Bank account e.g Access, Zenith, GT, Keystone Banks; Bank Verification Number (BVN); and a valid Federal government-issued identity card (NIN, Driver’s License, Voters
Card, International Passport).

The apex bank has neither confirmed nor denied the guidelines document since it started circulating on Tuesday. However, the cash deposit website launched by the bank is in tandem with every point stated in the guidelines.

Possible extension of deadline: The launch of the CBN website is coming amidst unconfirmed reports that President Muhammadu Buhari was considering extending the deadline for the old N1,000, N500, and N200 notes to cease to be legal tender to April 10, 2023. The consideration was said to be in a bid to alleviate the sufferings of many Nigerians who have been affected by the policy.

On Wednesday, protests had also broken out in different states of the country as many Nigerians are angered by their inability to collect cash from their banks, while the banks are also rejecting the deposit of old notes from businesses and individuals.

Supreme Court order: Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said its February 8 order barring the Federal Government and its agencies from enforcing the February 10 deadline for the use of old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes still stands. The Court further fixed February 22 for the hearing of the suit filed by Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara states challenging the propriety of the naira swap policy of the Federal Government.

16/02/2023

Etim Ekpo agog as PDP holds Guber Campaign rally

Thousands of PDP members from the 5 Clans, 10 Wards, and 111 Poling units of Etim Ekpo LGA on Wednesday converged on the Local Government Stadium, Utu Etim Ekpo, for the 2023 PDP Governorship Campaign Rally.

The event which comes barely 10 days before the 2023 presidential and National Assembly election, had the PDP Governorship Candidate, Pastor Umo Eno, his running mate, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, the campaign DG, Amb Assam Assam, SAN, and members of the Umo Eno/PDP Governorship Campaign Organization, the PDP Senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North West (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial District, Barr Emmanuel Enoidem, the PDP candidate for Abak/ Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency, Hon. (Eld). Aniekan Umanah as well as the Etim Ekpo/Ika State Constituency candidate, Hon. Mfon Idung, among others, in attendance.

The team had earlier paid homage to the Etim Ekpo Traditional Rulers Council during a Consultation Visit to the Paramount Ruler of Etim Ekpo, HRM, Akuku, (Prof). Amanam A. Udo, at his palace.

Addressing the enthusiastic crowd at the local government stadium, Utu Etim Ekpo, the PDP Candidate for Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, Barr Emmanuel Enoidem noted that the only party in Akwa Ibom State that can win election is the PDP.

"We will not just win all elective positions come February 25 and March 11, 2023. We will win with a landslide. No matter what any desperate politician thinks or does, we are winning the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial election", he declared.

The former PDP National Legal Adviser, NLA, urged Akwa Ibom people not to be carried away by the desperate antics of a few who out of desperation have resorted to criminality in the name of politics, vowing that the long arm of the law will catch up with them.

"Umo Eno is the only 2023 Governorship candidate standing on two legs. Others are standing on one leg. Some don't even have a leg to stand on. Also, Atiku Abubakar is Nigeria's next President. Nigeria cannot afford a sick President to govern a sick nation. Atiku is detribalized. He is a patriot, an experienced former Vice President who will help stabilize Nigeria".

"Mike Enyong is not a candidate for election, he is a candidate for prison. Tell him he will go to jail for fraud and criminality. Pastor Umo Bassey Eno is the next Governor of Akwa Ibom State. Even if the rapture is to come, we will pray to God to wait until after May 29, 2023. Rapture can come from May 30th so that we can have a Pastor as Governor", he stated.

Also speaking, the PDP State Chairman, Rt Hon (Eld). Aniekan Akpan, thanked the people for their support and solidarity with the PDP, assuring that the party will ensure the development and progress of the area are sustained.

"I thank Etim Ekpo people for keeping faith with the PDP. Etim Ekpo will never be like Esau. There shall be no Esau in Etim Ekpo come 2023. Make no mistake, Pastor Umo Eno is the next Governor of Akwa Ibom State. We are not presenting our candidate to you virtually. He is here in the flesh and blood. He is not a cinema governorship candidate. He will in collaboration with Barr Enoidem as our next Senator make us proud. Etim Ekpo is PDP. We have done it before, we will do it again", he assured.

Also speaking, the PDP Governorship candidate, Pastor Umo Eno, thanked the Etim Ekpo people for their support, assuring that a vote for the PDP is a vote for peace, rural development, small and medium enterprise, and entrepreneurial development.

Pastor Umo Eno urged them to vote for Atiku Abubakar, Barr Emmanuel Enoidem, Hon. Aniekan Umanah, and Hon Mfon Idung as the next President, Senator, member House of Representatives, and Assembly respectively, assuring that with the collaboration of other PDP elected public office holders, he will ensure the needs of the people are fulfilled.

"Barr Enoidem is the man whose time has come. He is one of the great leaders we have in our party. These are the original Etim Ekpo sons and daughters who will vote for the PDP and vote for their son who will be the next Senator. This is not a borrowed crowd. We will stand with Barr Enoidem and build Etim Ekpo. We will establish a palm oil processing refinery so that our youths will have jobs and our women will benefit from the value chain derived from palm processing. Rural development will be our focus which is why we will focus on building rural roads and cottage hospitals in our Wards", he stated.

He urged the people not to be distracted by the issue of who the PDP Governorship candidate is, stating that those who tried to circumvent the law will face the law. "How can you say you've won yet you're on the run? This is not America. Nigeria prison is not the same as in America. The law will catch up with them", he said.

On his part, the Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Mr. Moses Ekpo, MFR, called on the people to vote massively for the PDP, stating that the time has come to end 63 years of marginalization of Abak federal Constituency.

He noted that time and destiny have come together to ensure the emergence of Barr Emmanuel Enoidem as the next Senator for Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District come February 25, 2023, and urged the people to mobilize support for the PDP, assuring that the party will continue to attract dividends of democracy to the people.

Central Times

26/02/2023

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16/02/2023

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