Opinion

The Oracle: The NASS: Manual or Electronic Rigging? (Pt. 2)

Published

4 years ago

October 8, 2021

Eric

By Chief Mike Ozekhome

APC’S UNRULY ROLE IN THIS TABOO

It was reported by The PUNCH that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had rallied its Senators to reject moves to adopt electronic transmission of election results in 2023. The source gathered that APC had been reaching to its lawmakers through zonal caucuses to insist that their position on this controversial issue would test their party loyalty.

Recall that the Senate Committee on INEC had recommended the use of electronic transmission of results in its election. The Committee was chaired by Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano) who, on Thursday, 15th July, 2021, voted against the use of electronic transmission. When questioned as to why he voted against the recommendation in the report of the Committee he headed, he said, “If you prepare something and you later saw an improved version of it, you can go for it. There is nothing wrong if the Chairman of a Committee supports the amended version of a report he presented”. How is voting against electronic voting an improved version? What exactly does it improve? In my opinion, I believe it further solidifies the allegations that the APC rallied its Senators to vote against the electronic transfer of election results and speaks truth to it.

In a publication by PremiumTimes.ng on the 16th of July, 2021, a high-ranking APC member, whose anonymity was preserved, stated as follows:

“This is politics and as the governing party, you don’t allow the opposition to dictate the pace. Those in opposition certainly know something we don’t know. The way they (PDP) were pushing for this electronic transfer of results or electronic voting thing using NGOs, international agencies and all that, should tell you something”.

This statement says it all. It highlights that the debate on the electronic transmission of votes was merely a power play battle for the APC, and not a battle for the betterment of future elections in Nigeria and the Nigerian citizens in general. It is a despicable truth that urgent and relevant issues affecting the country and its citizens are argued on a power level, rather than with the interests of the country at heart.

IS THE SENATE’S RULING CONSTITUTIONAL?

NO! The decision of the Senate on the electronic transmission of election results lack any form of constitutionality. For the avoidance of doubt, section 78 of the 1999 Constitution provides that “the registration of voters and the CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS shall be SUBJECT to the DIRECTION AND SUPERVISION OF [INEC]” (emphasis supplied). The Constitution further provides that “INEC OPERATIONS SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE DIRECTION OF ANYBODY OR AUTHORITY”. The words direction and supervision suggests that INEC is the primary body to determine how elections are to be conducted and also supervise the conduct of elections. Thus, the Constitution expressly and impliedly provide that INEC is not subject to the governance of anybody, authority or agency, less to talk of a body that is not recognised by the Constitution (NCC).

It is obvious that the “electronic transmission of election results” constitute the conduct and supervision of election, which INEC has been exclusively tasked with. It is equally obvious that the National Assembly has the power to create laws and amend Acts, but such power to create and amend laws must be consistent with the 1999 Constitution, which is the highest law of the land, the grundnorm and fons et origo.

The supremacy of the Constitution to all other laws and Act has been emphasized in a plethora of cases. In UGBOJI v. STATE (2017) LPELR-43427(SC), the Nigerian apex court, per AMIRU SANUSI, JSC (Pp 23 – 23 Paras B – D), held thus:

“My lords, permit me to reiterate that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999, as amended, had by Section one, made provision to emphasize or assert its supremacy. By that provision, any law/statute or provisions thereof that runs riot and violent to the provisions of the Constitution or is in conflict with the constitutional provision is null and void to the extent of inconsistency. See A.G. Ondo State vs AG of the Federation and Ors (2002)9 NWLR (pt 772) 226.”

Therefore, where the provisions of the Constitution conflict with the provisions of Acts or Bills passed by the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly, the latter prevails. See also the cases of OLAGBENRO & ORS v. OLAYIWOLA & ORS (2014) LPELR-22597(CA); A-G ABIA STATE V. A-G. FEDERATION (2006) 16 NWLR (Pt. 1005) page 265 at Pages 290 and 291; AINABEBHOLO V. EDO STATE UNIVERSITY WORKERS FARMERS MULTI-PURPOSE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD. & ANR. (2007) 2 NWLR (PART 1017) page 33 at page 50 paragraph G and P, 151 paragraphs C-D.

Therefore, it is clear that the ruling of the Senate on electronic transmission is unconstitutional, null, void, of no effect and is dead on arrival. Therefore, while the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021, may be constitutional and valid, the amendment made to Claude 52(3) that subjects the national coverage to be adjudged to be adequate and secure by the NCC and approved by the National Assembly before INEC can transmit votes electronically is null and void to the extent of its inconsistency with the 1999 Constitution.

It must also be stated here that the Constitution reserves the right to expressly make provisions, and such provisions are interpreted literally. An Act, Bill or even the courts cannot add words to the Constitution, nor subtract from it. As a result, the golden latin maxim of expression unius est exclusion alterius – the explicit mention of one thing is the exclusion of another – applies to the Constitution. The Constitution expressly provided for INEC to supervise and conduct all elections, but did not provide for INEC to be supervised or subject to the direction of anybody, arm of government or agency. See the cases of PORTS AND CARGO HANDLINGS SERVICES CO LTD & ORS v. MIGFO (NIG) LTD & ANOR (2012) LPELR-9725(SC); EHUWA v. ONDO STATE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION & ORS (2006) LPELR-1056(SC); and, WEST AFRICAN UTILITIES METERING & SERVICES LTD v. AKWA IBOM PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS CO. LTD (2019) LPELR-47089(CA). Therefore, the Senate’s decision to subject INEC’s constitutional power to conduct elections via electronic transmission of votes (if INEC so wishes) is patently null and void, unconstitutional, unlawful, dead on arrival, and of no effect whatsoever and howsoever.

THE WAY FORWARD

Upon the conclusion of the open voting session at the Senate on Thursday, 15th July, 2021, the Senate President, Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, stated that:

“there is no victor, no vanquished in this affair…we want an electronic transmission system for our electoral process, however, we want to ensure that no Nigerian is disenfranchised in this process, and time will definitely come when all part of Nigeria will have coverage that we all need to deploy our technology to ensure electronic transmission of election results. This has come to settle the issue of what INEC can do and what INEC cannot. We have given INEC an electoral Act amended to enhance its performance” (underline supplied for emphasis).

This statement of Ahmed Lawan can be tackled from three perspectives. First, there is clearly those “vanquished” by their decision – the entire citizens of Nigeria. The citizens of Nigeria have once again been subjected to the horrors, chaos and dastardly acts of election rigging, ballot boxes snatching, disruption of polling units, fightings, maimings and killings in upcoming elections. The Rule of Law that provides that no one, including the Executive, Legislative and the Judiciary, should act ultra vires (above the law) has suffered heavily. The future of peaceful, free, fair and secure elections has also taken a dive for disaster. So yes, there is “the vanquished in this affair”.

Second, INEC has come out to state that the claims that Nigeria does not have enough network coverage to guarantee the electronic transmission of election results is false. INEC maintains that all network providers in Nigeria have assured of 100 percent coverage for electronic transmission of results. To this effect, INEC’s Director of Publicity and Voter Education, stated that: “In January 2018, INEC approached NCC that it wants a technological-driven commission and both have been working closely to deliver free, fair and credible elections in our country for the benefit of our citizens. They are also aware that two network providers, MTN and Airtel, have assisted JAMB conduct their examinations across Nigeria.” In the same way, these network providers, alongside other network providers in Nigeria, can assist INEC to ensure 100 percent network coverage for the electronic transmission of election results, as assured. In any event where the network coverage in Nigeria is not 100 percent, what stops the Senate from ordering the NCC to ensure that the network coverage be guaranteed before 2023? Why become penny wise, and pound foolish? Why not thrust Nigeria into the technological advancement that a developing country like Nigeria lacks? Questions, questions, questions.

Lastly, the Senate cannot settle what INEC can and cannot do. INEC is an independent body, as guaranteed by the Constitution. Although the Senate can amend the Electoral Act of 2010 and make subsequent provisions affecting INEC, it CANNOT make provisions which encroach on INEC’s independence. Therefore, their decision that the national network coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secured by NCC and approved by the National Assembly (and any other future decisions that affects INEC’s independence) is contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and is null and void.

CONCLUSION

THE WAY FORWARD

Simple. Let INEC be. Let INEC supervise and conduct elections in Nigeria however it sees it fit. If INEC makes a turnaround and decide that electronic transmission of election results is not practicable, then that is within their purview. If they maintain however, such transmission is feasible, then it is also within their supervisory functions. INEC should not be intimidated by the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021. If same is made into law, they can go to the Nigeria courts and seek a declaration of its consistency with the 1999 Constitution. INEC should continue to be bold, brave and courageous in granting free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.

To conclude, I totally agree with the statement of Comrade Paul Ikechukwu Njoku that:

“The Ahmed Lawan-led 9th clueless and rubber stamp Senate has on Thursday, July 15, 2021, dubiously adopted a legislative banditry which obviously castrated the absolute and operational independence of our electoral umpire, INEC, (in contravention of section 78 of the 1999 constitution) by voting to allow the National Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Assembly to specifically downplay and technically usurp the philosophy of the usage of electronic transmission of results in our elections devoid of the absolutism of INEC and what was proposed and campaigned in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill. We say No to election rigging. We say NO to legislative banditry against our electoral process. Power belongs to the people”.

Opinion

How Dr. Fatima Ibrahim Hamza (PT, mNSP) Became Kano’s Healthcare Star and a Model for African Women in Leadership

Published

14 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Eric

By Dr. Sani Sa’idu Baba

My dear country men and women, over the years, I have been opportune to watch numerous speeches delivered by outstanding women shaping the global health sector especially those within Africa. Back home, I have also listened to towering figures like Dr. Hadiza Galadanci, the renowned O&G consultant whose passion for healthcare reform continues to inspire many. Even more closer home, there is Dr. Fatima Ibrahim Hamza, my classmate and colleague. Anyone who knew her from the beginning would remember a hardworking young woman who left no stone unturned in her pursuit of excellence. Today, she stands tall as one of the most powerful illustrations of what African women in leadership can achieve when brilliance, discipline, and integrity are brought together.

Before I dwell into the main business for this week, let me make this serious confession. If you are a regular traveler within Nigeria like myself, especially in the last two years, you will agree that no state currently matches Kano in healthcare delivery and institutional sophistication. This transformation is not accidental. It is the result of a coordinated, disciplined, and visionary ecosystem of leadership enabled by Kano State Governor, Engr Abba Kabir Yusuf. From the strategic drive of the Hospitals Management Board under the meticulous leadership of Dr. Mansur Nagoda, to the policy direction and oversight provided by the Ministry of Health led by the ever committed Dr. Abubakar Labaran, and the groundbreaking reforms championed by the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board under the highly cerebral Professor Salisu Ahmed Ibrahim, the former Private Health Institution Management Agency (PHIMA) boss, a man who embodies competence, hard work, honesty, and principle, the progress of Kano’s health sector becomes easy to understand. With such a strong leadership backbone, it is no surprise that individuals like Dr. Fatima Ibrahim Hamza is thriving and redefining what effective healthcare leadership looks like in Nigeria.

Across the world, from top medical institutions to global leadership arenas, one truth echoes unmistakably: when women lead with vision, systems transform. Their leadership is rarely about theatrics or force; it is about empathy, innovation, discipline, and a capacity to drive change from the inside out. Kano State has, in recent years, witnessed this truth firsthand through the extraordinary work of Dr. Fatima at Sheikh Muhammad Jidda General Hospital.

In less than 2 years, Dr. Fatima has emerged as a phenomenon within Kano’s healthcare landscape. As the youngest hospital director in the state, she has demonstrated a style of leadership that mirrors the excellence seen in celebrated female leaders worldwide, women who inspire not by occupying space, but by redefining it. Her performance has earned her two high level commendations. First, a recognition by the Head of Service following a rigorous independent assessment of her achievements, and more recently, a formal commendation letter from the Hospitals Management Board acknowledging her professionalism, discipline, and transformative impact.

These acknowledgements are far more than administrative gestures, they place her in the company of women leaders whose influence reshaped nations: New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern with her empathy driven governance, Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf with her courageous reforms, and Germany’s Angela Merkel with her disciplined, steady leadership. Dr. Fatima belongs to this esteemed lineage of women who do not wait for change, they create it.

What sets her apart is her ability to merge vision with structure, compassion with competence, and humility with bold ambition. Staff members describe her as firm yet accessible, warm yet uncompromising on standards, traits that embody the modern leadership model the world is steadily embracing. Under her stewardship, Sheikh Jidda General Hospital has transformed from a routine public facility into an institution of possibility, demonstrating what happens when a capable woman is given the opportunity to lead without constraint.

The recent commendation letter from the Hospitals Management Board captures this evolution clearly: “Dr. Fatima has strengthened administrative coordination, improved patient care, elevated professional standards, and fostered a hospital environment where excellence has become the norm rather than the exception”. These outcomes are remarkable in a system that often battles bureaucratic bottlenecks and infrastructural limitations. Her work is proof that effective leadership especially in health must be visionary, intentional, and rooted in integrity.

In a period when global discourse places increasing emphasis on the importance of women in leadership particularly in healthcare, Dr. Fatima stands as a living testament to what is possible. She has demonstrated that leadership is never about gender, but capacity, clarity of purpose, and the willingness to serve with unwavering commitment.

Her rise sends a powerful message to young girls across Nigeria and Africa: that excellence has no gender boundaries. It is a call to institutions to trust and empower competent women. And it is a reminder to society that progress accelerates when leadership is guided by competence rather than stereotypes.

As Kano continues its journey toward comprehensive healthcare reform, Dr. Fatima represents a new chapter, one where leadership is defined not by age or gender, but by impact, innovation, and measurable progress. She is, without question, one of the most compelling examples of modern African women in leadership today.

May her story continue to enlighten, inspire, and redefine what African women can, and will achieve when given the opportunity to lead.

Dr. Baba writes from Kano, and can be reached via drssbaba@yahoo.com

Opinion

Book Review: Against the Odds by Dozy Mmobuosi

Published

3 days ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

By Sola Ojewusi

Against the Odds is an ambitious, deeply personal, and unflinchingly honest memoir that traces the remarkable rise of Dozy Mmobuosi, one of Nigeria’s most dynamic and controversial entrepreneurs. In this sweeping narrative, Mmobuosi reveals not just the public milestones of his career, but the intimate struggles, internal battles, and defining moments that shaped his identity and worldview.

The book is both a personal testimony and a broader commentary on leadership, innovation, and Africa’s future—and it succeeds in balancing these worlds with surprising emotional clarity.

A Candid Portrait of Beginnings

Mmobuosi’s story begins in the bustling, unpredictable ecosystem of Lagos, where early challenges served as the furnace that forged his ambitions. The memoir details the circumstances of his upbringing, the value systems passed down from family, and the early encounters that sparked his desire to build solutions at scale.

These foundational chapters do important work: they humanize the protagonist. Readers meet a young Dozy not as a business figurehead, but as a Nigerian navigating complex social, financial, and personal realities—realities that millions of Africans will find familiar.

The Making of an Entrepreneur

As the narrative progresses, the memoir transitions into the defining phase of Mmobuosi’s business evolution. Here, he walks readers through the origins of his earliest ventures and the relentless curiosity that led him to operate across multiple industries—fintech, agri-tech, telecoms, AI, healthcare, consumer goods, and beyond.

What is striking is the pattern of calculated risk-taking. Mmobuosi positions himself as someone unafraid to venture into uncharted territory, even when the cost of failure is steep. His explanations offer readers valuable insights into:
• market intuition
• the psychology of entrepreneurship
• the sacrifices required to build at scale
• the emotional and operational toll of high-growth ventures

These passages make the book not only readable but instructive—especially for emerging

African entrepreneurs.

Triumphs, Crises, and Public Scrutiny
One of the book’s most compelling strengths is its willingness to confront controversy head-on.

Mmobuosi addresses periods of intense scrutiny, institutional pressure, and personal trials.

Instead of glossing over these chapters, he uses them to illustrate the complexities of building businesses in emerging markets and navigating public perception.

The tone is reflective rather than defensive, inviting readers to consider the thin line between innovation and misunderstanding in environments where the rules are still being written.

This vulnerability is where the memoir finds its emotional resonance.

A Vision for Africa

Beyond personal history, Against the Odds expands into a passionate manifesto for African transformation. Mmobuosi articulates a vision of a continent whose young population, natural resources, and intellectual capital position it not as a follower, but a potential leader in global innovation.

He challenges outdated narratives about Africa’s dependency, instead advocating for
homegrown technology, supply chain sovereignty, inclusive economic systems, and investment in human capital.

For development strategists, policymakers, and visionaries, these sections elevate the work from memoir to thought leadership.

The Writing: Accessible, Engaging, and Purposeful

Stylistically, the memoir is direct and approachable. Mmobuosi writes with clarity and intention, blending storytelling with reflection in a way that keeps the momentum steady. The pacing is effective: the book moves seamlessly from personal anecdotes to business lessons, from introspection to bold declarations.

Despite its business-heavy subject matter, the prose remains accessible to everyday readers.

The emotional honesty, in particular, will appeal to those who appreciate memoirs that feel lived rather than curated.

Why This Book Matters

Against the Odds arrives at a critical moment for Africa’s socioeconomic trajectory. As global attention shifts toward African innovation, the need for authentic narratives from those building within the system becomes essential.

Mmobuosi’s memoir offers:
• a case study in resilience
• an insider’s perspective on entrepreneurship in frontier markets
• a meditation on reputation, legacy, and leadership
• a rallying cry for African ambition

For readers like Sola Ojewusi, whose work intersects with media, policy, leadership, and social development, this book offers profound insight into the human stories driving Africa’s new generation of builders.

Final Verdict

Against the Odds is more than a success story—it is a layered, introspective, and timely work that captures the pressures and possibilities of modern African enterprise. It challenges stereotypes, raises important questions about leadership and impact, and ultimately delivers a narrative of persistence that audiences across the world will find relatable.

It is an essential read for anyone interested in the future of African innovation, the personal realities behind public leadership, and the enduring power of vision and resilience

Opinion

Redefining Self-leadership: Henry Ukazu As a Model

Published

3 days ago

December 3, 2025

Eric

By Abdulakeem Sodeeq SULYMAN

In a world filled with talents and unique gifts, nurturing oneself for an impact-filled living becomes one of the potent metrics for assuming how one’s life would unfold – either in the nearest or far future. I am sure the question you may be curious to ask is ‘what is the important quality that has shaped the life of every individual who has unleashed their ingenuity?’ Apparently, our society is filled with numerous people, who missed the track of their life. Their iniquity is boiled down to one thing – failure to lead oneself.

Realising how important it is to be your own leader has been the springboard for every transformative life. Notably, this also becomes the premise for appreciating and celebrating Henry Ukazu for setting the pace and modeling self-leadership in this era, where self-leadership is under-appreciated by our people. Self-leadership itself engineers purposeful and impactful living, turning individuals to sources of hope to others.

This is exactly what Henry Ukazu symbolises. The name Henry Ukazu is akin to many great things such as ‘Unleashing One’s Destiny,’ ‘Finding One’s Purpose’ and ‘Triumphant Living.’ Regardless of the impression one have formed about Henry Ukazu, one thing you cannot deny is his ability to be pure to nature and committed to his cause. Henry Ukazu is one of the rare people who still believed in the values of the human worth and has committed every penny of his to ensure that every human deserves to live the best life.

The trajectory of Henry Ukazu’s life is convincing enough to be choosing as an icon by anyone who chooses to climb the ladder of self-leadership. Oftentimes, Henry Ukazu always narrate how he faced the storms of life when birthing his purpose. He takes honour in his struggles, knowing full well that every stumbling blocks life throws at him helped in building himself. If not for self-leadership, he will not found honours in his struggles, let alone challenging himself to be an example of purposeful living to others.

Without mincing words, Henry Ukazu’s life has been blessed with the presence of many people, with some filling his life with disappointments, while some blessing him with immeasurable transformations. Surprisingly, Henry Ukazu has never chosen to be treating people negatively; rather he would only choose the path of honour by avoiding drama and let common sense prevail. That’s one of the height of simplicity!

Dear readers, do you know why today is important for celebrating Henry Ukazu? Today, 3rd December, is his birthday and with all sincerity, Henry Ukazu deserves to be celebrated because he has chosen the noble path, one filled with honours and recognitions for being an icon of inspiration and transformation to the mankind. As Henry Ukazu marks another year today, may the good Lord continue shielding him from all evils and guiding him in right directions, where posterity will feel his role and impacts!

Many happy returns, Sir!