News

Plateau PDP ex-chairman, five others drag INEC to court over 2023 presidential election

Published

4 years ago

March 30, 2023

vicky

Professor Haruna Dabin, a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State, and five others have approached a Federal High Court, Abuja to commence a civil suit against the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and three others over the conduct of the 2023 presidential election.

The others on the list of plaintiffs in the suit titled Order 3, Rule 9 of the Federal High Court (civil procedure) rules, 2019 are Joseph Enan, Joseph Inya Agha, Afeez Adeyeye, Lawrence Oloko, and Kuyembo Danjuma.

Listed as 1st to 5th respondents in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC Chairman, INEC Commissioners, 177,506 polling officers and the Inspector General Of Police respectively.

Through their counsel, Logosphere Attorneys, the plaintiffs asked the court to compel the IGP to arrest Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, for failing to adhere to the 2022 Electoral Act and the Election Guidelines as approved by the Commission.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/426/2023, the plaintiffs asked the court to determine whether the defendants had an obligation under the law to electronically transmit or transfer from the Polling Units across the country the results of the Presidential and National Assembly elections conducted on February 25, 2023 after the votes had been counted and recorded by the Polling Officers before collation at the Ward Collection Centres.

Among others, they also asked to be determined “Whether by the true construction and interpretation of Sections 60(4), 145, and 47(1) of Electoral Act 2022 and the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of the 2023 Election, particularly Clause 38, failure to transmit the results of the Presidential and National Assembly elections conducted on Saturday, February 25, 2023, after the votes have been counted and written in the prescribed form is not a violation of the Electoral Act?

“Whether subject to the interpretation of Sections 60(4), 148, and 47(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of the 2023 Election, particularly Clause 38, the failure of the Polling Officers to transmit the results of the Presidential and National Assembly elections conducted by the defendants on Saturday, February 25, 2023 is not a crime punishable upon conviction under the Clause 38 of the Regulation and Guidelines for the Conduct of the 2023 Elections?

“Whether by the true construction and interpretation of Section 60(4), 148, and 47(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of the 2023 Elections and Section 4 of the Nigerian Police Act, 2020, the Inspector General of Police, through the relevant Police Officers, does not have an obligation to prosecute the 2nd to 4th Defendants for commission of a crime for not transmitting to the IReV portal the results of voting of the Presidential and National Assembly elections held on Saturday, February 23, 2023, after the votes have been counted at the Polling Units across the country”.

The plaintiffs therefore prayed the court for the following reliefs, “a declaration that by the provisions of Sections 60, 64(4), and 148 of the Electoral Act 2022 and the Regulations and Guidelines for the 2023 Elections it is mandatory for Polling Officers to electronically transmit election results from the Polling Units to INEC’s IREV portal immediately after results of votes have been counted and entered in the result sheet provided by INEC

“A declaration that failure to electronically transmit or transfer results of voting during the Presidential and National Assembly elections on February 25, 2023, from the Polling Units to the INEC IReV portal before collation at the Ward Collection Center is a violation of the Electoral Act 2022 and Regulations made to the Act.

“A declaration that failure of the Defendants to electronically transmit or transfer the results of the votes of the Presidential and National Assembly elections held on February 25, 2023, from the polling units to the INEC IReV portal is a crime punishable under the electoral law”.

They further prayed for an order compelling the IGP to take necessary action under the law to prosecute the 2nd to 4th defendants for not transmitting electronically results of voting from the Polling Units to the INEC IRev portal as required by the Electoral Act and the INEC’s Guidelines.

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News

NPFL: VAR Is Not A Luxury, Technology Is Taking Over – Avonda Richard

Published

1 hour ago

November 7, 2026

PlateauReports

WhatsApp Image 2026 11 06 at 8.02.51 PM.jpeg

Avonda Richard, an ardent supporter of the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) based in Ogba, Lagos State, has called for the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in the domestic league, insisting that Nigeria must embrace modern football technology to improve officiating and strengthen the credibility of its football competitions.

Speaking during Sports247’s Let’s The Fans Talk programme, Richard expressed concerns over the standard of refereeing in Nigerian football, acknowledging the efforts of match officials while pointing out the challenges affecting their performance, particularly inadequate training and facilities.

“To be honest, the Nigerian officiating sometimes is really, really poor. But I must also give it to them; they are trying their best,” Richard said.

He argued that some referees lack the necessary professional training and access to adequate facilities to prepare them for the demands of the game, stressing that officiating should be treated as a serious profession that requires proper development and continuous education.

Richard maintained that introducing VAR into the NPFL would help reduce officiating errors and bring Nigerian football closer to the standards of other competitive leagues.

“VAR is not a luxury because technology is taking over. So VAR is something that Nigeria needs to introduce in the Nigerian Premier League,” he stated.

Beyond the introduction of technology, Richard also called for improved television coverage of the domestic league, noting that Nigerian football deserves greater visibility and should be accessible to supporters in the same way they follow major European competitions.

“We should be having a Nigerian professional league that people can watch, just like when we watch Premier League, Italy and Germany on the screen,” he added.

He believes that increased broadcast coverage would attract more attention to the NPFL, create greater awareness among football supporters and encourage accountability within the league.

Richard’s comments highlight the growing conversation around the need for improved refereeing standards, investment in modern technology and greater visibility for Nigerian football as the NPFL continues to seek stronger recognition within African football.

Business

CBN issues regulations for non-security virtual assets, effective November 5,

Published

2 hours ago

November 7, 2026

PlateauReports

BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—The apex regulator, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Friday issued regulations for the Operations of Non-Security Virtual Assets in Nigeria, setting out a framework for licensing, regulating and supervising stablecoins, virtual asset service providers and related activities.

According to a circular to virtual asset service providers and stakeholders in the financial services industry, the apex bank said the regulations are meant to promote responsible innovation, strengthen the integrity of the Nigerian financial system and provide an appropriate framework for emerging digital payment instruments.

The CBN said the regulations are issued under the CBN Act, 2007, the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020, and other applicable laws. It described them as a comprehensive, risk-based framework covering the licensing, authorisation, regulation, supervision and oversight of non-security virtual assets in Nigeria.

The framework covers stablecoins, Deposit Money Tokens, virtual asset service providers, virtual asset payment services, platform-facilitated peer-to-peer services, and custody, transfer, remittance, clearing and settlement activities.

The regulations also set requirements on the classification and designation of regulated tokens and activities, and on the licensing of issuers and providers of non-security virtual asset services. Other areas covered include capital, reserve-backing, liquidity and redemption; corporate governance, risk management and internal controls; and technology risk, cybersecurity and operational resilience.

They further address the safeguarding of reserve and customer assets; customer protection, disclosures and complaints management; and anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing and counter-proliferation financing obligations. Sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, blockchain analytics, Travel Rule compliance, counterparty due diligence, regulatory reporting, supervisory access, information sharing, enforcement, administrative sanctions and orderly wind-down arrangements are also included.

The CBN said the regulations apply to persons carrying out regulated activities in or from Nigeria, those directing such activities at persons in Nigeria, and those whose activities may materially affect the country’s payments system, financial system, foreign exchange market or financial stability. They may apply whether or not the person has a physical presence in Nigeria.

The apex bank said the regulations do not displace the statutory mandate of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other competent authority. Activities involving security virtual assets, securities, investment contracts or other capital-market products remain subject to the capital-market regulatory framework. Where an activity involves both non-security virtual assets and matters under another authority’s mandate, approvals must be obtained from each competent authority.

All affected institutions, issuers, service providers, operators, promoters and other stakeholders are required to familiarise themselves with the regulations and comply fully with the applicable requirements.

The regulations take effect from November 5, 2026. The circular was issued by the CBN’s Payments System Policy Department.

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