Reordering of elections by National Assembly(Inconsistency)

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu Let me begin by saying that the National Assembly itself is established by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended. Section 47 of the Constitution provides that, “There shall be a National Assembly for the Federation which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives”. This provision of the constitution shows clearly that the National Assembly itself is a creature of the constitution. The constitution, which is the ground-norm of all other laws in the land including any Act made by the National Assembly, also provides for legislative powers exercisable by the same National Assembly. Section 4(1) of the Constitution provides that “The Legislative powers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be vested in a National Assembly for the Federation which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives… for the peace, order and good Government of the Federation or any part thereof”… Suffice it to say that the National Assembly also derives its legislative powers from the same constitution. Now, Section 1(1) of the constitution provides that: “This Constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have binding force on all authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” Section 1(3) provides that “If any other law (this time, Electoral Act) is inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution, this Constitution shall prevail, and that law shall to the extent of the inconsistency be void”. Therefore, I hereby opine that the effect of Section 1(1) and Section 1(3) is that the Constitution has a binding force either on the National Assembly as an Authority or senators and members of House of Reps as individual persons. Section 153(1)(f) of the Constitution provides for the establishment of the Independent National Electoral Commission just as Section 47 of the Constitution as herein above mentioned, provides for the establishment of National Assembly. The composition and powers of INEC are as contained in Part 1 of the Third Schedule of this Constitution. For the purpose of this piece, Paragraph 15(a) which provides that: “The Commission (INEC) shall have power to Organise, Undertake and Supervise all elections to the offices of the President and Vice President, Governor and Deputy Governor of a state and to the membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each State of the Federation”. I therefore, humbly opine that the effect of Section 153 (1) (f) of the Constitution and paragraph 15 of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution is that the INEC shall even conduct elections in the order stated in the constitution, that is, from President to Governor and finally or lastly membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each state of the Federation. Alternatively, since the commission shall have power to organise, undertake and supervise all elections to the offices of the President and Vice President, Governor and Deputy Governor of a state and to the membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each state of the federation, and the literary meaning of the word, “Organise”, simply means arrange systematically, order. Therefore, the constitution by virtue of these provisions has given the commission (INEC) power to arrange systematically or order elections as it deems fit and necessary without any input from the National Assembly or the executives. And so far, Section 1(3) of the Constitution says, “If any other law (this time, Electoral Act) is inconsistent with the provisions of the constitution, this constitution shall prevail and that other law shall to the extent of inconsistency be void.” I dare submit therefore that the part of the amendment to the Electoral Act touching on the reorder of elections is void ab initio. Since it is in conflict with the power constitutionally given to the commission, I hereby urge the members of the National Assembly to stop unnecessarily heating up the polity. Similarly, I urge the National Independent Electoral Commission to challenge this unconstitutional amendment to the Electoral Act in a competent court of jurisdiction. The rule of law is the bedrock of democracy. #TheSupremacyoftheConstitution

Tony 4 Senate 2019

Commeth the hour, Commeth the Messiah: MEET ONYEMA TONY ISHIEKWENE - OTI for SENATE 2019. Born at Abraka in today's Ethiope Local Government Area of Delta State, on December 28, 1963 Onyema Tony Ishiekwene, is a native of Umuebu and Obiaruku both in Ukwuani Local Government area of Delta State. He was and remains a pace setter in almost every endeavour he engages in. He gained his first degree ( BSc Finance ) in 1984 from the Ivy League University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1984 graduating along side the current CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, former Governor Charles Chukuma Soludo, and former Deputy Governor, Babatunde Lemo. He was to start his working career at the flagship global Reinsurance conglomerate, "Royal Exchange Assurance" as Financial Analyst in October 1985 just after his NYSC, but some forces of darkness (Enemies within) decided to withhold the Interview Letter from his view and attention, and those forces determined to stop the glowing star diverted him away from the Nigerian scene, where he was already a star aged 21. He found himself stuck in the United Kingdom, against his wish, having lost his return ticket to those same dark forces such that he could not return to Nigeria to attend interviews at Central Bank of Nigeria, NAL Merchant Bank, UBA and Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, where chief Christopher Enuenwosu, an Anioma Economist from Abbi, Ndokwa West LG held sway as Acting Managing Director in 1985. Disappointed and dejected but unbroken this Anioma giant decided to defer his Financial career and turn adversity into advantage by enrolling at the London School of International Business, where he bagged Post Graduate Diploma, PGD, in International Marketing & Finance in 1987. Thereafter he registered with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) - the Gold Standard in World Class Accountancy Studies wherein he started his training at the former London Guildhall Polytechnic now London Metropolitan University. Ishiekwene had a stint at the Accountancy Tutors PLC., a private institution dedicated to the teaching and learning of Professional Accounting and passed out in 1991 with distinctions which ultimately qualified him as a World Class in Strategic Planning, Control and Audit & Financial Management and that is the apex of Global World Class Professional Examination. That programme earned him Associate membership (ACMA) of the Institute in March 1995. Between 1992 and 1994, he studied Computing at the London College of Computer and Business at Britton Road, Oval gaining a Diploma in Data Base Management in 1993, and another Diploma in System Analysis, Design and Control in 1994 and was admitted an Associate member of the British Computer Professionals ( AACP ) in February 1995. He furthered his quest for academic excellence into the University of Greenwich, Eltham campus, School of PCET,London SE9, for his PGCE (FE) in September 1996 and completed the programme in record 10 months in July 1997. OTI had a stint in lecturing at Newham College of further Education where he taught Financial Accounting, IT Applications, Reports & Returns to Intermediate AAT, and Cost and Management Accounting to AAT Finalists and almost simultaneously he taught Cost Accounting and Management Accounting Techniques to ACCA & CIMA students at the Metropolitan College London at Kingsland Road, Hackney E8 on part - time basis. This great son of Anioma left teaching in 1998 as he returned to his primary calling - Professional Accounting taking up a job at Saint Michael and London Voluntary Service Council both of which are Non Governmental Organisations, NGOs managing Charity Accounts. He later went into Commercial Accounting in a contract that lasted for one year as Europe, Middle East and Africa, EMEA, Management Accountant at BRIVIC Plc. (An FTSE 250 FMCG- SOFT DRINK COMPANY) holding the position of Sales & Profit; Budget Analysis for markets in those three regions and Channels. Additionally, OTI worked as a Finance Manager for Oval House Theatre, a South London based Performing Arts & Education Centre between 2003 and 2013 where he performed his duties with clinical efficiency and professional aptitude, obtaining A* from the UK's Charity Commission in 9 out of 10 Statutory Accounts filed by Oval House. As a Financial Accounting wizard, OTI worked as Financial Accountant- Fixed Assets and Payroll administration with the Amnesty International between 2014 and 2015. Desirous of bringing his experience to bear on his fatherland, Ishiekwene returned to Nigeria where he founded a Financial Management Consultancy firm known as Tony Ishiekwene Konsult, Global. Apart from being a renowned financial expert, OTI is an astute politician, Public Affairs Analyst, Community Leader of repute... For the sake of performing his civic duty in solidarity with the good people of Delta State, his good friend, Olorogun O'tega Emerhor, in 2015 general elections he came home to cast his vote for his friend so that the oil-rich state could be counted among the league of democratised Nigerian states. When he wins as the Senator representing Delta North, OTI hopes to dedicate his victory to the GOOD PEOPLE OF ANIOMA Nation and to the memory of his late friend and school mate, Clement Ngbor Ojie, with whom he was involved in ghastly motor accident some years ago. While he survived by dint of the grace of God, his friend wasn't as lucky. On the crest of Anioma unity and accelerated development, OTI drives his campaign. STAND UP AND BE COUNTED AMONG POSITIVE CHANGE AGENTS.

Onyema Tony Ishiekwene

Commeth the hour, Commeth the Messiah: MEET ONYEMA TONY ISHIEKWENE - OTI for SENATE 2019. Born at Abraka in today's Ethiope Local Government Area of Delta State, on December 28, 1963 Onyema Tony Ishiekwene, is a native of Umuebu and Obiaruku both in Ukwuani Local Government area of Delta State. He was and remains a pace setter in almost every endeavour he engages in. He gained his first degree ( BSc Finance ) in 1984 from the Ivy League University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1984 graduating along side the current CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, former Governor Charles Chukuma Soludo, and former Deputy Governor, Babatunde Lemo. He was to start his working career at the flagship global Reinsurance conglomerate, "Royal Exchange Assurance" as Financial Analyst in October 1985 just after his NYSC, but some forces of darkness (Enemies within) decided to withhold the Interview Letter from his view and attention, and those forces determined to stop the glowing star diverted him away from the Nigerian scene, where he was already a star aged 21. He found himself stuck in the United Kingdom, against his wish, having lost his return ticket to those same dark forces such that he could not return to Nigeria to attend interviews at Central Bank of Nigeria, NAL Merchant Bank, UBA and Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, where chief Christopher Enuenwosu, an Anioma Economist from Abbi, Ndokwa West LG held sway as Acting Managing Director in 1985. Disappointed and dejected but unbroken this Anioma giant decided to defer his Financial career and turn adversity into advantage by enrolling at the London School of International Business, where he bagged Post Graduate Diploma, PGD, in International Marketing & Finance in 1987. Thereafter he registered with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) - the Gold Standard in World Class Accountancy Studies wherein he started his training at the former London Guildhall Polytechnic now London Metropolitan University. Ishiekwene had a stint at the Accountancy Tutors PLC., a private institution dedicated to the teaching and learning of Professional Accounting and passed out in 1991 with distinctions which ultimately qualified him as a World Class in Strategic Planning, Control and Audit & Financial Management and that is the apex of Global World Class Professional Examination. That programme earned him Associate membership (ACMA) of the Institute in March 1995. Between 1992 and 1994, he studied Computing at the London College of Computer and Business at Britton Road, Oval gaining a Diploma in Data Base Management in 1993, and another Diploma in System Analysis, Design and Control in 1994 and was admitted an Associate member of the British Computer Professionals ( AACP ) in February 1995. He furthered his quest for academic excellence into the University of Greenwich, Eltham campus, School of PCET,London SE9, for his PGCE (FE) in September 1996 and completed the programme in record 10 months in July 1997. OTI had a stint in lecturing at Newham College of further Education where he taught Financial Accounting, IT Applications, Reports & Returns to Intermediate AAT, and Cost and Management Accounting to AAT Finalists and almost simultaneously he taught Cost Accounting and Management Accounting Techniques to ACCA & CIMA students at the Metropolitan College London at Kingsland Road, Hackney E8 on part - time basis. This great son of Anioma left teaching in 1998 as he returned to his primary calling - Professional Accounting taking up a job at Saint Michael and London Voluntary Service Council both of which are Non Governmental Organisations, NGOs managing Charity Accounts. He later went into Commercial Accounting in a contract that lasted for one year as Europe, Middle East and Africa, EMEA, Management Accountant at BRIVIC Plc. (An FTSE 250 FMCG- SOFT DRINK COMPANY) holding the position of Sales & Profit; Budget Analysis for markets in those three regions and Channels. Additionally, OTI worked as a Finance Manager for Oval House Theatre, a South London based Performing Arts & Education Centre between 2003 and 2013 where he performed his duties with clinical efficiency and professional aptitude, obtaining A* from the UK's Charity Commission in 9 out of 10 Statutory Accounts filed by Oval House. As a Financial Accounting wizard, OTI worked as Financial Accountant- Fixed Assets and Payroll administration with the Amnesty International between 2014 and 2015. Desirous of bringing his experience to bear on his fatherland, Ishiekwene returned to Nigeria where he founded a Financial Management Consultancy firm known as Tony Ishiekwene Konsult, Global. Apart from being a renowned financial expert, OTI is an astute politician, Public Affairs Analyst, Community Leader of repute... For the sake of performing his civic duty in solidarity with the good people of Delta State, his good friend, Olorogun O'tega Emerhor, in 2015 general elections he came home to cast his vote for his friend so that the oil-rich state could be counted among the league of democratised Nigerian states. When he wins as the Senator representing Delta North, OTI hopes to dedicate his victory to the GOOD PEOPLE OF ANIOMA Nation and to the memory of his late friend and school mate, Clement Ngbor Ojie, with whom he was involved in ghastly motor accident some years ago. While he survived by dint of the grace of God, his friend wasn't as lucky. On the crest of Anioma unity and accelerated development, OTI drives his campaign. STAND UP AND BE COUNTED AMONG POSITIVE CHANGE AGENTS.