Buhari chats INEC Chairman ahead of Saturday’s polls
head of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, discussed with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The discussion was, according to President Buhari, at the instance of the Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, explaining that it was all part of the efforts that the elections hold successfully.
The President hinted of the conversation while explaining his few minutes of lateness to the inauguration and handover of security equipment valued at over N12 billion to the military and Nigeria Police Force. According to him, he had been grounded by the electoral body for the five minutes he kept the CACOVID group waiting, reminding all that everything needed to be done for a successful election to be achieved. “I’m being grounded by INEC. You know next Saturday is a great day for us and I take instructions from INEC so that I make sure there’ll be no excuses for the successful election,” Buhari had told his guests.
IGP orders restriction of movement, reaffirms ban on VIP escorts
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba has ordered a restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation from 12 am to 6 pm on election day with the exception of those on essential services such as INEC officials, electoral observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, firefighters, among others.
The order, which is part of measures emplaced to ensure a safe, secure, and conducive environment for the conduct of elections, is aimed at ensuring public order management, safety of electorate as well as assisting the security agencies in effective policing, thereby preventing hoodlums and criminally-minded elements from disrupting the electoral process. According to a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi: “Similarly, the IGP sternly warns all security aides and escorts to desist from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election as anyone found flouting this directive will be severely sanctioned.”
The IGP emphasised that only security personnel specifically assigned to election duties are to be seen within and around the designated election booths and centres. He also said the ban on unauthorized use of sirens, revolving lights, covered number plates, and tinted glasses is still in force, and violators would be sanctioned appropriately. The police boss said all state-established and owned security outfits/organisations, quasi-security units, and privately-owned guard and security outfits are also barred from participating in election security management.
While empathising with well-meaning citizens on the inconveniences the restriction may cause, the IGP urged all active electorates to be law-abiding and turn out en masse to exercise their franchise. He however warned that the force will deal decisively with any individual(s) or group(s) that might want to test our common resolve and might to ensure a peaceful election. The IGP enjoined all citizens to shun vote buying, vote selling, hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation, snatching of ballot boxes, and other criminal act(s) as the Force and other security agencies will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all violators of extant laws, most especially the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), are brought to book.
“The Nigeria Police Force, therefore, urges all members of the public to contact the Nigeria Police Force and the Joint Election Monitoring and Operations Room domiciled at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, via the ‘NPF Rescue Me App’ available on Android and ios, or via the NPF Rescue Me Emergency Toll-free line on 08031230631 to report suspicious persons, activities or request security response. Similarly, other joint operations/election situation room numbers will be released by all State Police Commands respectively, for emergency contact.”
It’s criminal to use phones at polling centres, INEC warns Ogun voters
INEC has warned voters against using mobile phones at the polling centres during the Saturday’s election, saying it is a criminal offence. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ogun state, Mr. Niyi Ijalaye, issued the warning yesterday at the Commission’s office at Magbon in Abeokuta while addressing newsmen after a meeting with heads of security agencies in respect of the Saturday election.
Ijalaye said voters would not be allowed to make phone calls or take pictures with phones while casting their votes, assuring of the preparedness of the INEC to conduct free, fair and credible poll. “We have been strategising and re-strategising on way forward to ensure that elections in Ogun state will be devoid of rancor or violence of any sort whatsoever. That is what we have been doing and we want to seize this opportunity to appeal to the good people of Ogun state, the gateway state to endeavour to just come out peacefully on Saturday and exercise their franchise, their civic responsibility to vote for people, candidates and parties of their choice.
“On no account will violence of any sort be tolerated in this state and that is what we have been discussing in the last two, three hours. Maybe I need to emphasise this also that on voting day, when people come to the polling booths with their phones, when they approach the polling officer and they want to go in with their phones, they will not be allowed to use their phones to discuss with people or take pictures at that polling point where they will be voting. It is an offence, it is a crime and it will not be allowed. We appeal to those people who wish to come there with their phones to maybe switch it off for that one or two minutes, so that everybody would be seen to be acting within the law.”
EFCC deploys officers for election monitoring
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday deployed its officers to the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, to monitor Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections. It said this was part of efforts to ensure the integrity of the polls.
EFCC Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa urged the operatives to be conscious of the country’s interest and to exhibit a high sense of professionalism. He gave the charge, according to a statement by the anti-graft agency’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren. Bawa said: “You are out on a national assignment, and I expect you to conduct yourselves responsibly in line with our core values of professionalism, integrity and courage. You have a responsibility to ensure that this election is devoid of financial malpractices, especially inducement of voters. The attention of the world is focused on Nigeria and we must do what is necessary to ensure that we have credible, free and fair elections.”
The EFCC also said it had released incidents reporting hotlines for the 36 states and the FCT. The commission urged members of the public to report any case of vote buying or selling or other evidence of financial malpractices designed to compromise the electoral outcome through the hotlines. “Members of the public can also report anyone trying to buy or sell votes by making use of the EFCC financial crimes reporting App, Eagle Eye, which is available for download on the Google Play or Apple store. Additionally, the public can reach the Commission through our social media handle, @officialefcc or by email, info@efcc.gov.ng. The hotlines and Eagle Eye App flyers are attached to this statement.”
INEC begins distribution of ballots papers, result sheets in Osun
Ahead of February 25th 2023 presidential election, INEC has commenced distribution of sensitive materials, including ballot papers and result sheets to Local Government Areas across the state. The electoral umpire arrived the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) headquarters in Osogbo yesterday around 9:15AM in company of chairmen of political parties and journalists. However, journalists were barred from entering the premises of CBN to inspect the collection process which led to protest of Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Mutiu Agboke.
Agboke faulted CBN leadership led by State Director, Mrs Oluyemi Adeyemi, who said she received directive from the headquarters that political parties’ chairmen and journalists should not be allowed inside the premises. After the REC insistence, political parties’ chairmen and journalists were allowed inside the premises to witness the collection exercise. Speaking in the premises of CBN after the collection, Agboke disclosed that the commission will commence dispatching of the sensitive materials to all local government areas of state.
“Our sensitive materials, particularly, ballot papers, result sheets are usually in the custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria. We are ready for the election. We are here to start batching of our material for onward transmission to these local government areas. What you have seen on (the) ground are the ballot papers, result sheet for the presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives election.
“We will arrange and batch them to various local government areas. All these are indications that the Commission is ready. The Commission is in touch with our security agents. The synergy is there. All our local government offices are well secured.”
INEC begins distribution of sensitive materials in Lagos
INEC has commenced the distribution of sensitive materials to local councils in Lagos, in readiness for the Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections. The exercise is currently being carried out under the heavy presence of security agencies at the CBN headquarters, Marina, Lagos.
All security agencies, including the Police, Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Federal Road Safety Corps and the State Security Service, are supervising the distribution. The deployment is also being carried out in the presence of journalists, observers — local and international, and party officials.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Olusegun Agbaje, while speaking to reporters, explained that the electoral officers would take the items to their councils where they would be sent to the polling units on Saturday morning. “Party agents, international observers, security agencies are all on ground to witness the distribution process. You can see the synergy here. The DSS is also here. The commissioner of police has been here since 10:00am. We are loading the trucks that will go to various local governments.”
Reacting to the transportation mode of the materials, Agbaje said: “We don’t have any problem about transportation. All trucks used today are provided by National Association of Road Transport Workers. All the materials for the Saturday Presidential and National Assembly elections are complete.”
Reports by Bolaji Ogundele, Gbenga Omokhunu, Ernest Nwokolo, Robert Egbe, Toba Adedeji, and Alao Abiodun
