The phenomena of “fake news” may have captured the imagination of Americans during the 2016 Presidential Campaign and the later investigation of Russia’s attempts to swing the election to Donald Trump using fake news on Facebook among other schemes.

The truth is that fake or phoney news has been around as a tool for a while and by many to spread propaganda and conspiracy theories for many years prior to the 2016 election. Websites including InfoWars and Brietbart among others have been spreading fake news that supports their agendas.

However, it has become a political and societal issue since the election and poor Facebook has become the poster child of websites that fell for the scheme.

Recently the social media company has admitted to its mistakes and has tried to make things right with their subscribers. It is now flagging phoney news articles that are going to Facebook members via their news feed. It is using AI to achieve this.

The company is using AI to identify words or phrases that might signify that an article is actually fake. The data for this task is based on the articles that Facebook members have flagged individually as being bogus stories.

The technology is currently using four methods to spot fake news. They include:

• Score Web Pages. First to use this technique was Google. It uses facts to create a score for websites. Obviously, scoring websites is an act in progress. Yet, as Google has been doing it, the technology has grown significantly.
• Weigh Facts. This method is using natural language processing engines to review the subject matter of stories. AI using other models finds out if other sites are reporting the same facts.
• Predict Reputation. This technique is based on AI using predictive analytics and machine learning to forecast the reputation of websites by considering a number of features including domain name and Alexa web rank.
• Discover Sensational Words. Fake news proponents have used sensational headlines to grab the interest of a potential audience. This technique discovers and flags fake news headlines using keyword analytics.

The actual detection of these types of articles by AI is a difficult endeavor. Of course, the analysis of big data is involved, but it also concerns data veracity. Identifying it is actually involved with determining the truth of the data. This can be done using the method of weighing facts. What happens if a fake news article appears on hundreds of websites at the same time? Under this circumstance, using the technique of weighing facts may cause AI to determine that the story is legitimate. Perhaps using the method of predict reputation in conjunction with weighing facts can help, but there still could be problems. For example, reliable news source websites that don’t take the time to verify a news story could pick it up assuming that it is true.

It’s obvious that using AI to identify these articles needs more development. A number of organizations are involved in enhancing AI’s capability. One such establishment that is involved is West Virginia University.

The Reed College of Media in cooperation with the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources of West Virginia University has created a course that is focused on using AI to identify phoney news articles.

Senior students taking a computer science elective course are working in teams to develop and implement their own AI programs are also involved in the project.

Another group known as Fake News Challenge is also in pursuit of a way for AI to successfully combat fake news. It is a grassroots organization of more than 100 volunteers and 71 teams from academia and industry to address the problem of fake news. It is developing tools to help people fact check and identify fakes news stories.

As organizations work on enhancing AI to find these stories, there are a variety of tools that are available to strike a blow against them. These include:

• Spike, which identifies and predict breakout and viral stories and uses big data to predict what is going to drive engagement.
• Hoaxy, which is a tool that assists users to identify fake news websites.
• Snoopey, which is a website that helps identify phoney news articles.
• CrowdTangle, which is a tools that helps monitor social content.
• Meedan, which is a tool that helps verify news breaking online.
• Google Trends, which monitors searches.
• La Decodes From Le Monde, which is a database of fake news and real news websites.
• Pheme, which is a tool that verifies the veracity of user-generated and online content.

I receive more questions on Revenue Ruling 70-604 than on all other tax issues combined. One of the questions that continually arises is, “How do we inform and educate our members that they can vote on this important ruling?”

I recommend putting some descriptive wording on the ballot so that the members have a basic understanding of the Revenue Ruling. An example of such wording follows.

Revenue Ruling 70-604 is a tax ruling only. The purpose of this ruling is to allow a homeowners’ association to avoid taxation on any excess member income (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code) that may inadvertently arise in a given tax year. The ruling states that the members of the Association meet to make the election. The ruling applies to any excess member income. The ruling allows two options only; refund the excess member income to the members or apply the excess to the following year’s assessments.

The Board of Directors has determined that it is impractical to attempt to refund the excess member income because of the administrative issues involved and the fact that the excess member income may be needed as working capital to pay for continuing Association operating expenses. Therefore the Board of Directors requests that you approve an election under Revenue Ruling 70-604 to apply any excess member income to the following year’s assessments. This does not mean that the assessments for next year will be reduced, as the budget has already been prepared and approved. Since expenses typically rise year-to-year, it is probable that any excess member income will be absorbed by an increase in expenditures.

Your failure to approve this election may mean that the Association will be subject to additional federal income taxes for the current year, which will cause a rise in assessments for all members.

My advice to the Association and the governing board is that the ballot be drafted with only a single option, which is to apply the excess member income for the following year’s assessments, and that a yes or no vote be what is presented to the members.

The wording above explains why the Board of Directors is presented only a single option. To be silent on this issue and explain both options would force members to make a decision which could result in a majority of members voting to refund any excess member income. This creates a difficult situation for the board, as that excess in income may represent working capital that is necessary to operate on a continuing basis. Without adequate working capital, the board would be forced to either borrow funds on an expensive short-term basis or to make a special assessment of members for working capital.

For the hundreds of associations with whom I have discussed this issue in the past, you will probably recall that I have stated that, in my opinion, on which I have received verbal concurrence from the national office of IRS, Revenue Ruling 70-604 as drafted, requiring approval of the members, is generally in conflict with the governing documents of most associations and with state law. To the best of my knowledge, statutes in all states vest the authority to make financial decisions regarding the disbursement of Association funds in the hands of the elected board of directors. The general membership normally does not have authority to make such a determination. Therefore state law is generally in conflict with Revenue Ruling 70-604.

So how do you resolve this apparent conflict? In my opinion it is relatively simple, although it requires little work. First of all, go ahead and have the membership approve the election at the annual meeting, or in any other meeting or format in which a valid membership vote occurs. Second, have the Board of Directors meet and ratify the election approved by the membership. By handling the Revenue Ruling 70-604 approval process in this manner, you first, meet the requirements of the IRS and second, meet the requirements of state law.

Can you skip the member approval and simply have the Board of Directors make the election? In my opinion, yes you can. However, to do so is to invite a challenge by the IRS. And that is a battle that you don’t need to fight. It is so simple to get the member approval to make the election that it is best to simply get member approval and avoid a potential fight with the IRS.

Introduction

In the Parliamentary system Prime Minister is the head of the government and the whole system of the state revolves round him. He is the leader of majority party in the parliament and he is the source of power. He is more power full than the president.

Relevant provisions

Article 46,91,95 of the constitution of Pakistan.

The office of the Prime Minister according to the constitution of 1973

The Prime Minister under the constitution of 1973 is the real executive and head of the Govt. The president is merely a constitutional figurehead who acts on the advice of the Prime Minister. Infact he is the real ruler of Pakistan.

Qualifications/characteristics for the office of Prime Minister (P.M)

Citizen of Pakistan

He should be the citizen of Pakistan.
Member of National Assembly

He should be the member of National Assembly.
Should not hold any office of profit

He should not hold any office of profit in the service of Pakistan.
Ideology of Pakistan

He should believe on ideology of Pakistan.
Mentally and physically fit

He should be mentally and physically fit.

Nomination of the P.M.

The president in his discretion appoints from amongst the members of National Assembly who has command the majority of members in the house.

Election of the P.M

The members of the National Assembly elect PM, the leader of the majority party. Assembly in its first session elects speaker and Deputy Speaker and then the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister shall be elected by the majority vote of the total membership of the National Assembly.

Oath of the P.M

After election the P.M takes the oath in the presence of the president. He declares to be Muslim and the belief in the finality of Prophet (S.A.W.W) promises to act upon the Islamic ideology, to give presence to national interest, protect the constitution and be loyal with the country.

Allowances and salary of the P,M.

Prime Minister is given different allowances and salary of Rs. 56 thousands.
Term of the office

The tenure of the post of the P.M is five years.

Powers and functions of the P.M

The powers and functions of the Prime Minister are as under:-

Chief Advisor of the President

The P.M is the chief advisor of the president. The president performs his duties with the consultation of the P.M.

Formation of Cabinet

The Prime Minister after taking oath select his cabinet. Every Minister, individually and cabinet as whole are responsible for their acts to the parliament.

National Leader

The P.M is a national leader. He leads the nation and organizes the public opinion in favour of his party.

Leader of the cabinet

The PM is the leader of the cabinet. All the minister work under the supervision of the PM.

Leader of the House

The PM is the leader of the National Assembly. His proposals are honoured in the house. He expresses his views in the Assembly.

Power to confer titles and awards

The PM has power to confer titles and awards to those who show excellent performance in different field of life.

Power of appointments.

The PM has power to appoint the high ranking officials with the approval of the president of Islamic republic of Pakistan. He appoints diplomas, ministerial staff and judges of the Supreme Courts and the High Courts. He also appoints the members of National Finance Commission etc.

Financial Powers

The PM also performs finance matters. The budget is prepared under his supervision.

Public welfare

The PM works for the public welfare. He takes every possible step to improve the life style of the people of his country.

Foreign Relation

The foreign policy is prepared under his guidelines. The diplomats are appointed by the president on the recommendations of the PM.

Power of Legislation

The PM takes part in legislation. All proceedings are conducted with the consent of the PM. He plays a vital role in law making.

Administrative Duties.

The PM performs the administrative function. He is responsible for the smooth running of the affairs of the country. He maintains law and order in the country.

Defence of the country

The PM is responsible for the defence of the country. He can take step to improve the defence system of the country.

Power to Dissolve the National Assembly

The PM can ask the president to dissolve the national assembly.

Party head

The PM is the party head. He belongs to party who has majority in the house. He has his political significance.

Power to terminate ministers

The PM if not satisfied with the function of his minister he can terminate them.

Bridge between president and Cabinet

The PM is a link between president and cabinet. The PM is duty bound to inform the president about work of cabinet.

Representative of the Nation

The PM is representative of the nation in international level.
Resign of Prime Minister

The PM may tender his resignation to the president as and when he desires so. After PM has resigned all the minister shall seased to hold offices.

Termination/ Vote of no confidence against Prime Minister

Under the present procedure, a resolution for a vote of no confidence can be moved by not less than twenty percent of the total membership of the National Assembly. The resolution shall not be voted upon before the expiration of three days, from the day on which such resolution is moved in the national assembly.

Acting Prime Minister

On the death, sickness leave, resignation or foreign tour of the PM the senior minister look after the work.

Ending Remarks

While summing up it can be said that the PM is the real executive of the country. He has strong constitutional position. The PM is the Chief Advisor of president. He is the leader of the house and elected for the term of 5 years. He can be removed from his office be passing a resolution of vote of no confidence against him.
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Soccer mom score during election and greatly contributes in any supported party or candidate. The term “soccer mom” commonly refers to women belonging to the middle class family who have sons or daughters playing soccer.

The primary duty of a traditional mom is to parent their children, prepare them for school and drive them to school with their minivans and joins PTA meetings. She is in charge of dropping their kids to different activities like soccer. They are the number one fans of the children during sports competitions. Many of these moms work at home and some have full time jobs. Those are the most common jobs associated with these moms.

But in politics, these moms are no ordinary mothers. These moms are usually active in different NGO work or in many organizational activities. This group is also considered by politicians as one of the voting force which largely influence the election in favor of the candidate they support. The soccer mom score can give a candidate the winning seat. This has been proven during the election of past President Clinton. From then on, politicians value the support of this group and do their best to get the support from them.

We cannot deny the fact that these moms contribute so much in the society. With their devotion and hard work in taking care of a family and participating in social, cultural and political activities is a great ordeal which needs to be recognized and respected. They uphold the discipline and moral of their children in as much as they can.

Although classed as a new town, Harlow in Essex still has some fascinating facts associated with it. Here are a few which you may find interesting…

• A Roman Fort or settlement was based here during the 3rd Century. During excavations in the 1970’s, a Roman temple and a mosaic floor were discovered on top of an earlier Iron Age temple.
• Harlow town centre is notable for being the location of the first pedestrian precinct in Great Britain.
• The Lawn, constructed in 1951, was also the first residential tower block in Great Britain and is now a Grade 2 listed building.
• In 1955, the first purpose built Health Centre in Great Britain, Nuffield House, was opened in the Stow, Harlow. Harlow Town Park is one of the largest urban parks on the country.
• As she was sinking the orchestra of the Titanic played ‘Nearer My God to Thee’. This was written by the poet Sarah Flower Adams of Harlow.
• Shaun Murphy was born on 10 August 1982 in Harlow. He won the Snooker World Championship in 2005. His father bought him a cue from a jumble sale when he was 8 years old, and two years later he made his first century break. In 1995, at the age of 13, he gave an interview to the BBC stating his ambitions to be world champion, a dream which was realised just ten year later.
• The constituency of Harlow, which includes Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering, was the third most marginal seat in the country during the last General Election in 2005. Current Labour MP, Bill Rammell, edged out the Conservative candidate, Robert Halfon, by just 97 votes after three recounts. All eyes will be on the key mariginal seat of Harlow during the next Election.

If you know of any other fascinationg facts about the town of Harlow, please let us know and we add them to the article and our website.

The assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865 is one of the most infamous events in American history, one that undoubtedly changed the course of history as far as Reconstruction in the South is concerned.

Few realize, however, that the assassination that took Lincoln’s life was not the first attempt on his life; the first attempt to assassinate Lincoln was intended to prevent him from ever becoming president, and came shortly before he took office in 1861.

The election of Lincoln to the presidency had literally split the country in two. Despite the fact that Lincoln was much more moderate on the subject of slavery than the abolitionist candidates that had campaigned in the North, even the moderate Lincoln’s election to the presidency was seen as an affront to slavery’s supporters in the South, and almost as soon as the election was decided, what would become known as Secession Winter began as southern states, first South Carolina, seceded from the Union like falling dominoes.

Nowhere was the split between Lincoln’s supporters and those who opposed him more divisive than in the area around the nation’s capitol, Washington D.C. Despite its position as the capitol of the United States, and therefore the Union, Washington and the area that surrounded it – including Baltimore, Maryland – were decidedly southern in nature; a large number of slaves were held in the area around and including Washington D.C.

As the date of Lincoln’s inauguration and arrival in Washington neared, so did the discord among the proslavery factions who believed that abolishment of slavery would follow Lincoln into the capitol.

According to the CIA’s website:

One rumor in particular reached devout Lincoln supporter Allan Pinkerton, a private detective who’d been hired to derail some of the plots to thwart the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad. At least one these plots was apparently to sever ties between Baltimore and Washington by destroying bridges and railroad lines, a plot hatched by Baltimore secessionists, possibly members of the infamous Plug-Uglies gang, who’d terrorized Baltimore for years, assassinating local politicians and inciting riots during elections.

Meanwhile, Lincoln was enroute to Washington from his hometown of Springfield, Illinois. He planned to stop in Baltimore for a speaking engagement, and according to the CIA, the intelligence Pinkerton uncovered revealed that during Lincoln’s visit:

While secessionists… whipped up a riot, a barber who called himself Captain Ferrandini would kill Lincoln, vanish into the mob, and slip away to the South. Baltimore police would have only a small force at the scene, under orders from the mayor and chief of police, both Southern sympathizers.

Pinkerton, convinced that the plot he’d learned of was a serious threat, met Lincoln at a stop in Chicago, and insisted that he bypass Baltimore altogether, arriving instead in Washington ahead of scheduled, disguised, just in case there were any planned attempts awaiting him in Washington, as well.

At first Lincoln dismissed Pinkerton’s warning, stubbornly refusing to abandon the stop in Baltimore. However, Lincoln was later informed that other detectives, working for Lieutenant General Winfield Scott, commander-in-chief of the U.S. Army and Charles Pomeroy Stone, had also uncovered the same plot, independently of Pinkerton. With this knowledge, and at his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln’s, urging, Lincoln finally agreed to go instead to Washington.

Disguised with a beard that he’d later become known for, walking hunched-over with a cane, Lincoln arrived in Washington and decamped to the Willard Hotel, where observers gazed in wonder at the bearded, bent figure that many would later be surprised to discover was their new president. Ignominious arrival or not, Lincoln successfully evaded any of those who would have prevented him from taking office.

On March 4, 1861, Lincoln, surrounded by bodyguards and a number of federal regiments, gave his inaugural speech in front of the U.S. Capitol building. Addressing his supporters and secessions alike, Lincoln declared that, “I hold that in contemplation of universal law and of the Constitution the Union of these States is perpetual. Perpetuity is implied, if not expressed, in the fundamental law of all national governments,” and reminded listeners that the purpose of the Constitution was to “form a more perfect union.”

In conclusion, Lincoln said, perhaps acknowledging the attempt on his life:

every living heart and hearthstone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.

The Indian National Congress (simply called the Congress), the oldest political party of India, was the single largest party in the legislative assembly election of Rajasthan in 2018 with just one seat less than simple majority and formed government with the support of independents and smaller parties. Thus, it had succeeded in snatching power from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who secured a landslide victory in 2013. This victory was one of the three major ones achieved by the Congress in 2018 with assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh also won-a tremendous performance for a party that was totally decimated by the BJP in the General Elections of 2014 and in the following assembly elections. However, the party’s persistence with its old guards alienated the young promising leaders, and as in Madhya Pradesh by Jyotiraditya Scindia in March this year dissidence grew in Rajasthan too with its dynamic leader Sachin Pilot breaking out in an open revolt on 12th July 2020 after a series of reported attempts by the Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, to sideline him, claiming support of 19-21 Congress legislators, reducing the ruling coalition to near minority And, the northern state of India was plunged into a political crisis-closely representing several political dramas that were witnessed in the last five years, basically engineered by the BJP’s power grab tactics.

Interestingly, in this crisis in Rajasthan the young rebellious leader Sachin Pilot had not joined the BJP immediately like Scindia, and canceled two press briefings planned by him in the last two days. The Congress party, in bonhomie with old guard Gehlot, sacked Pilot from the posts of Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress Chief along with two ministers and the legislators supporting him. Yet, Pilot had not made any counter move and reportedly said that he was being maligned by spreading the rumor about his joining the BJP; Pilot further said that he was still a Congressman and still stood with the Gandhi family in the party’s high command. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Congress moved the assembly Speaker for the disqualification of all dissident legislators which, if approved, would bar all of them from voting in a probable no-confidence motion in near future, favoring the Chief Minister prove his majority. Interestingly too, the BJP had not played its cards actively, particularly in view of the Rajasthan Chief Minister’s allegations that BJP had been poaching the Congress MLAs in connivance with Pilot, the way it was done in Madhya Pradesh with Scindia.

Irrespective of how the Rajasthan drama would finally turn out to be it is being viewed as one of the absolute political thrillers enacted by the BJP in its indomitable bid to win over as many states of India as possible. In the historic General Elections of 2014, for the first time since 1984 BJP emerged as the only single party to have achieved absolute majority in Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament, with its tally of 282 seats out of 545 which further swelled to 336 after accommodating its allies in the National Democratic Alliance government formed. The Congress party lost the elections with pathetic numbers largely due to the corruption scams in its rule of ten years prior to 2014, and many political commentators predicted its obliteration from Indian politics hence. As if justifying this prediction, the BJP went on winning almost all the state assembly elections till 2017 including landslides in Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat thus earning an invincible tag. Although it could not get the majority in Bihar in 2015 it enacted a thriller in 2017 by forming government in alliance with Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (Secular). Afterwards, in the state elections where it again could not get majority the party engineered alliances with regional parties to oust the Congress even as the latter was the single largest party on various occasions, like in the states of Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya. In other states like in Nagaland and Mizoram it included the regional parties in the NDA helping them win. In 2016 the BJP won landslide victory in Assam; in Tripura in 2018 when it snatched power in a state that was ruled by the left for decades. Thus, by 2018 it directly or indirectly established its authority in the whole of the North East India, a traditional bastion for the Congress apart from its absolute domination in northern, central and western India with the solitary exception of Punjab. In the south Karnataka was won back in 2019 from a Congress coalition government through another political drama after the BJP could not form government in 2018 assembly elections despite being the single largest party.

The venue for the very first, highly dramatic and prolonged political thriller was Arunachal Pradesh-another state of the North Eastern India. Congress won the assembly election in 2014 here and during the end of 2015 to end-2016 high drama ensued with unpredictable twists and turns till a BJP government was finally established. As usual, the trouble started with dissidence within Congress and with a proactive Governor things became explosive: assembly session being held in a hotel; Supreme Court intervention; President’s rule; suicide of a former Chief Minister; dismissal of the Governor and reigns of four Chief Ministers during the period with the fourth first sworn in as a Congress CM and later, on defecting to the BJP with all of his legislators to become a BJP CM. In 2019 assembly elections the BJP achieved a landslide victory in the state.

The NDA government, empowered by a huge majority, pursued an aggressive Hindu nationalist policy since 2014 which gave rise to extreme Hindu conservatism creating an atmosphere of intolerance and fear even over petty issues like food. As the mainstream and fringe Hindu organizations and forces got activated incidents of lynching started taking place at various parts of the country fueled basically by rumors on the social media. Although such incidents were not wholly targeted against any particular minority community, tensions became rife over issues like beef-eating and certain religious practices. The opposition and many in the intelligentsia termed the rule as ‘fascist’, and slowly the happenings started denting the absolute popularity the BJP enjoyed. This got reflected in state assembly elections in 2018 when a struggling Congress won convincingly in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan forming governments there. In political thrillers that ensued again Madhya Pradesh was won back in March 2020 through winning over a disillusioned Jyotiraditya Scindia, and then the drama shifted to Rajasthan; Chhattisgarh still safely with Congress. The BJP was also outsmarted in Maharashtra assembly elections in 2019 when ally Shiv Sena deserted the BJP and allied with Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to form government. Controversial decisions on Jammu and Kashmir and the Citizenship Amendment Act also ignited opposition-both on the public and political fronts.

However, at the national level the BJP-led government is still in full authority winning the 2019 General Elections with even more seats than 2014. People and experts feel that there is no alternative to the BJP at the national level till now, and bold measures and policies, particularly foreign policies, pursued by the NDA are supported by the majority despite the economic downswing since the last two years. For the Congress, they must learn to respect and depend on the new generation leaders if they at all aspire to be a force in national politics. The BJP’s fascination for bold measures, authority, power expansion, drama, sensation and unpredictability is insatiable, particularly with crucial elections due in Bihar in 2020, and in West Bengal and Assam next year.

“It is the right of every man, in parliament or out of it, in the press or over the broadcast, to make fair comment, even outspoken comment, on matters of public interest. Those who comment can deal faithfully with all that is done in a court of justice “. – Lord Denning in R vs. Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Exparte Blackburn (No. 2) (1968) 2 Q.B. 150.

In an unanimous judgement in Suit No: SC 1462/2019 (Senator Hope Uzodinma& Anor vs. Rt Hon. Emeka Ihedioha& 2 Others) delivered on Tuesday, January 14, 2020, a seven-man panel of the Supreme Court of Nigeria nullified the election of the erstwhile governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, and ordered the immediate swearing in of Hope Uzodinma as the validly-elected governor of Imo State.With the above dictum of Lord Denning in mind, Imo Progressive Lawyers Association (IPLF) has deemed it necessary to ask certain pertinent questions regarding the Supreme Court rulingthat sacked Emeka Ihedioha.

First off, we make bold to state that both Ihedioha and Uzodinma are respected sons of NDI IMO. This reflection specifically responds to the controversy which the Supreme Court judgement generated since it was delivered. And more importantly, it is not lost on us thatformer governor Ihediohahas approached the apex court for a review of the judgement that ousted him. The consequence is that the matter having been submitted to the Supreme Court remains subjudice. As lawyers, we are mindful that commenting on cases sub judice are generally considered inappropriate. However, we are constrained to raise the following questions after having read the full judgement of the apex court.

Before delving into the facts of the matter, it is instructive to note that Section 179 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) deals with the votes that a candidate must garner at a gubernatorial election to be declared winner. That section provides:

179 (2): A candidate for an election to the office of governor of a state shall be deemed to have been duly elected where, there being two or more candidates –

• he has the highest number of votes cast at the election; and
• he has not less than one-quarter of all votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the local government areas in the state.

Guided by the constitutional directives above, we examine the undisputed facts in the recent judgement. The specific facts to note are:

1. The 1st Appellant (Hope Uzodinma) filed a petition challenging the return of the 1st Respondent (Emeka Ihedioha) on two grounds:

(a) The 1st Respondent was not validly elected by majority of lawful votes cast; and

(b) The declaration and return of the 1st Respondent is invalid by reason of non-compliance with the Electoral Act. (See page 2 of the lead judgement delivered byKudiratMotonmoriOlatokunboKekere-Ekun JSC).

2. Elections were held in 27 Local Government Areas, 305 electoral wards and 3, 523 polling units. The 3rd Respondent (INEC) cancelled the election in 252 polling units, collated results from 2,883 polling units and excluded results from 388 polling units. The 1st Respondent averred that he scored 213,695 votes from only the 388 polling units excluded. (See pages 2-3 Kekere-Ekun JSC’s judgement).

3. Paragraph 7, a, b, c, d, e and f of the 3rd Respondent’s (INEC’s) Reply categorically denied the claims in the Appellant’s petition, especially the incorrect computationof election results as alleged. (See pages 31-32 of Kekere-Ekun JSC’s judgement).

Having established the law and the undisputed facts in the matter, we seek to raise the following questions concerning the judgement –

A. The Appellant (Hope Uzodinma) pleaded that he scored over 213,000 votes from 388 polling units. However, during the trial, his star witness, PW54, a police officer, only tendered the results of 366 polling units instead of 388. The findings by the Tribunal, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court also established that PW54 tendered results of 366 polling units as against 388 polling units. Does this discrepancy not place the Supreme Court on its enquiry?

B. The court is bound to take judicial notice that the maximum number of voters per polling unit is 500 unless there are additional voting points created. Again, 500 voters multiplied by 388 polling units cannot be more than 194,000.00 votes. That is to say that 500 voters multiplied by 366 would also, give only a maximum possible of only 183,000 votes. Cognizant of the certainty of deaths, voter transfers and voter apathy, the possibility of all 500 voters in each of the 388 (or 366) polling units voting during an election is very remote, if not impossible. So, whether by 366 or 388 polling units, the figures presented by the Appellant leave both mathematical and logical gaping holes that ought to put the apex court on its enquiry.

C. Curious enough, the Supreme Court refused to look into the cross-appeal of the First Respondent (Emeka Ihedioha), holding that the main appeal had made it unnecessary to evaluate the cross-appeal. With due respect to the apex court, perhaps, if the cross-appeal had been evaluatedon its merit, some of questions highlighted above would been dealt with.

D. In light of A and B above, has the Supreme Court satisfied itself that the conditions set out in Section 179 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) have been fully complied with as would warrant the nullification of Ihedioha’s election and the declaration of Uzodinmaas the actual winner?

Justice, they say, is not a cloistered virtue. She must be allowed to suffer the scrutiny and respectful, even outspoken, comments of ordinary men”. – “Lord Atkin in Ambard vs. Attorney-General for Trinidad & Tobago (1936) AC 322, 335. As ministers in the temple of justice and equally as stakeholders in the Imo governance architecture,

Imo Progressive Lawyers Association are moved by Lord Atkin’s admonition to raise the above legal questions. We table these concerns as amicus curia, fuelled by the deep concern that the doctrine of stare decisis would be threatened if these issues are not exhaustively reconsidered by the apex court.

In the final analysis, the Supreme Court is a policy court, with its decisions binding not only on every lower court, but on all other institutions and executive arms of government. In line with the total bindingness of Supreme Court’s judgement, Hope Uzodinma was sworn in as governor with alacrity. Our primary concern therefore is that justice prevails. Not only that, every regime of the state must derive its legitimacy from popular democracy and sound application of the rule of law.

We end our reflections by reference to the following quotes by Lord Denning in his book ‘The Road to Justice'(1955):

“In every court in England, you will, I believe, find a newspaper reporter… He notes all that go on and makes a fair and accurate report of it… He is, I verily believe watchdog of justice… The judge will be careful to see that the trial is fairly and properly conducted if he realizes that any unfairness or impropriety on his part will be noted by those in court and may be reported in the press. He will be more anxious to give a correct decision if he knows that his reasons must justify themselves at the bar of public opinion’.

And also:

“When a judge sits on a case, he himself is on trial… If there is any misconduct on (his) part, any bias or prejudice, there is a reporter to keep an eye on him.” Lord Denning in his address before the High Court Journalists Association as reported in the Times of 3rd December 1964.

Signed Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, General Secretary

Matthias Emeribe, Publicicty Secretary,

Although, we often refer to it, as Social Media, the reality is, it often, is anything but, social! How often do we witness a couple, sitting in a restaurant, both, busy on their Smartphone, instead of, actually, speaking and communicating, with each other? Many surveys indicate, also, far too many people, gather most of their, so – called, news and information, on this type of media. Recently, the major social applications, stated their policies, regarding, election advertising, and posts. While, because of public pressure, they began doing some form of fact – finding/ verification, on every – day posts, yet, they announced, they would permit political advertisements, without these checks! Already, some of the posts, on the most widely used social media application, from the Trump campaign, were accepted, even though, many television stations/ networks, refused to place them, because they proclaimed, them, to be extremely misstated, and far too negative/ prejudiced! With that in mind, this article will attempt to, briefly, consider, examine, review, and discuss, 4 concerns, which this behavior exposes/ risks.

1. Shouldn’t there be some standards?: They’ve already accepted, and permitted advertisements, from the President’s re – election campaign, which are, at best, unproven, and more probably, outright distortions/ lies. These included unproven claims about the Biden family, as well as material misstatements, about President Trump’s, so – called, accomplishments, to date! We have spent the past, nearly 3 years, concerned about the damage done, by Russians, etc, during the 2016 election, with their social media postings, yet, rather than demand better, and more, the bar has been lowered!

2. The policy benefits the campaigns, which lie, and make distorted statements, the most!: Isn’t there, enough, lying, and too little, genuine integrity, in politics? With this policy, the campaigns, which depend, mostly, on telling lies, blaming, and complaining, and assuming little personal responsibility, are given an advantage!

3. Makes the content unreliable, and undependable: This short – sighted, decision, probably made, either for political/ personal agenda, reasons, or, merely, to make money, translates to, making the reliability of posts, unreliable, etc! In the longer – term, it transforms this format, to a digital version, of a tabloid paper!

4. Repeating the same mistakes, and compounding them: Have they learned nothing, from the past, Presidential election? This policy, provides the message, while individuals may not post certain misinformation, it’s okay, for paid political advertising, to do so!

Wake up, America, because the concept of free elections, and an informed electorate, is, at – risk! Demand better, and more responsible behavior, and, in the mean – time, find more responsible ways, to gather real facts. Remember, there is no such things, as real, and alternative facts! It’s either factual, or it’s not!

For many years, many Americans have held a very low opinion, of their elected and public officials, and, this, has seemed, to, come – to – a – head, especially, after these past four years, which seemed, to many, to be unlike, anything, witnessed, before, in recent memory! It seems, the level of polarization, conspiracy theories, lack of trust, etc, has become, the worst, ever! Although, this past election, had the largest number of eligible voters, voting, ever, it still represented, only about 65% of the total, who could have voted. This means, although, about 155 million, voted, another 70 million, or so, potential voters, did not exercise that right. In addition, the reaction, after the election, we have observed, from this President, may present, a clear and present danger, to the American way of life, and perception of free, and fair elections. With that in mind, this article will attempt to, briefly, consider, examine, review, and discuss, using the mnemonic approach, why so many, seem to have lost their FAITH, in the United States political system.

1. Future; furnish; fruition; factors/ factions; freedom: When citizens question this nation’s commitment to freedoms, it creates a bad omen, for our future! We all benefit, when public officials, furnish quality ideas, and bring them, to fruition, identifying a variety of factors, and treating all factions, of society, equally, and fairly!

2. Attitude; attention; aptitude; agenda: Instead of polarizing, partisan politics, as – usual, we are better served, and represented, when our leaders, possess, a true, positive, can – do, attitude, and are ready, willing, and able, to recognize, and pay keen attention, to all Americans! We must demand, instead of any leader’s personal/ political agenda, those, we elect, possess a well – developed, relevant, inclusive aptitude!

3. Integrity; ideas; ideals/ ideology; issues; involve: Since, political fact – checkers, inform us, the current President, has lied, at an alarming rate, it should be obvious, how important, electing individuals, with genuine integrity, really, is! We need elected officials, with ideas, instead of rhetoric (and populism), and individuals, with ideals, and ideologies, which align, directly, with the American Way! We only become better, when citizens get involved, and care, deeply, about the issues, which make a difference, for the better!

4. Timely; time – tested; trust: There’s no room for procrastination, if we are to address, significant issues, such as public health, and well – being, Climate Change threats, and environmental protections! Only, when our leaders, consistently, proceed, with well – considered, timely action, time – tested knowledge and expertise, etc, will they earn our trust!

5. Healing; humane; head/ heart; health: This year will be long – remembered, because of the horrific pandemic, and how, the United States, suffered more cases, and deaths, both in actual numbers, as well as, in terms of percentages, than the rest of the world! What could be more important than protecting public health? How can true healing, occur, without an emphasis, on humane treatment, of all our population? We need to elect people, who are able to use their emotional and logical components, in a head/ heart balance, if we hope, to bring people together, for the common good!

We need to restore our citizens’ FAITH in our political system, of government, and restore, our pride, in being American! Instead of slogans, we need, viable solutions, directed and genuine change, for the better!