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Tag: 2015 elections

  • Jega to RECs: Ensure success of 2015 elections

    Jega to RECs: Ensure success of 2015 elections

    The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Thursday urged Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to strive towards a successful 2015 general elections.

    He made the call at the quarterly meeting with the RECs in Abuja.

    He explained that the RECs had recently participated in an election skill management seminar to prepare them for the challenges ahead.

    “This is to enable them to identify risk factors that can serve as a challenge to the conduct of the election,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the INEC boss as saying at the meeting.

    Jega said that there should be an effective working relationship at all levels, adding that the commission was saddled with two major assignments as the general election drew nearer.

    He said the assignments were the continuous voter registration and the preparation of constituencies in readiness for the elections.

    He stressed that it was essential that the RECs did their best to ensure that the tasks were accomplished.

    The chairman said that the lessons learnt from the Anambra elections would be factored into the conduct of subsequent elections.

     

     

  • APC to‘re-strategise’ for 2015 general elections

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Babalola Fabunmi, on Tuesday expressed the determination of the party to put its house in order ahead of the 2015 general elections.

    Fabunmi, who said this in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja, said the measure was necessary to arrest the crisis rocking the leadership of the state chapter of the party.

    Fabunmi said the national secretariat of the party had rescheduled its congress for December 12.

    He called for unity among party members in the state, saying that unity was all they needed to succeed.

    Fabunmi expressed optimism that if the congress was successful, the next election would be a huge success.

    The chieftain commended the leadership of the party for its prompt response in resolving the crisis that rocked the party recently.

     

  • Tinubu, Buhari to INEC: Re-strategise ahead of 2015 elections

    Tinubu, Buhari to INEC: Re-strategise ahead of 2015 elections

    Former Lagos State Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Tuesday urged the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to re-strategise ahead of the 2015 general elections.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that he made the appeal at Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s fifth year anniversary in office and launch of the All Progressive Congress (APC) party in Edo State.

    “We are therefore reminding INEC that it has the responsibility to direct the people and correctly advise the people that it will guarantee a free, fair and credible election.

    “We know that power is not easy to surrender. But we want it and we will get it in an honest manner because APC has come to stay,” he said.

    He commended the people of the state for their foresight in voting for Oshiomhole adding, “your votes have not been misplaced by the amount of massive development being experienced in the state.

    “Since you took that decision five years ago, Oshiomhole has never looked back in terms of infrastructure and economic development of Edo State.

    “You have seen and witnessed the radical development. But let me say that this is not our final destination.

    “Our destination is to take over the federal level to replicate what Oshiomhole and other APC governors are doing in their states.

    “You have accepted APC and it is now your duty to begin to spread the good news around your neighbourhoods and communities.”

    Also speaking at the forum, the former head of state, Gen. Muhammadu Buhar (rtd), who congratulated Oshiomhole on his achievements, said, “I am happy that the people can now see the difference.”

    Buhari said that he was optimistic that Oshiomhole would continue with his good work of developing the state.

    He said that an APC government at the centre would work to eradicate poverty and provide security to the nation.

    “If you vote us into power, we are prepared to tackle cases of abduction and killings of people across the nation so that people can move freely in whatever part of this country,” he added.

     

  • Voters’ guild charges Nigerians on 2015 elections

    The Nigerian voters’ guild had studied the nation’s political situation since independence, most especially our present condition and called for change in the 2015 general election.

    The guild said in a statement released during the week that Nigeria’s political situation in its hundred years since the amalgamation of the north and south protectorates in 1914 is laced with problems and challenges.

    The guild said, “Before independence, Nigerians generally enjoyed relative peaceful atmosphere in all part of the country, our leaders made effort to make every Nigerian irrespective of their tribe and religion to feel save while living in any part of the country, working and practicing their religious belief peacefully.

    “As a nation of many religion, the rise of religious intolerance is a growing concern and the issue of terrorism, kidnapping and increase in violent crime should be taking care of as a national emergency.

    “Without comprehensive education we can’t fulfils our God- given potentials as human being and as a nation. We need to pay crucial attention to the deplorable condition of our educational system, making every effort to repair, upgrade, and expand facilities in our institution.

    “Presently, we are faced with the problem of high unemployment with a resultant increase in the number of people living below the poverty line. The government should be able to create an enabling environment for job creation and also stabilize the power sector because it is the basis for national development in our country.

    “We implore continue improvement of our roads to make for save driving, maintenance and development of other infrastructures as all this will affect the way people assess any government for general election in 2015.

    “However, we call on Nigerians to start preparing themselves, because 2015 election should be the time to put in place good governance that will put the country on the path of progress.”

     

  • Jega to politicians: Don’t overheat polity ahead of 2015

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Attahiru Jega, has again expressed his concern over ongoing development in the country’s polity ahead of 2015 elections.

    Speaking on Tuesday at the third Quarterly Consultative meeting between INEC and political parties in Abuja, Jega urged politicians to engage in acts that will help promote peaceful conducts and not to overheat the polity.

    He also reminded them that the electoral law forbids some of their actions.

    He said: “As we inch along towards the 2015 general elections, we have been intensifying effort to ensure full readiness in all fundamental respects. We therefore continue to solicit for your cooperation, partnership and support to ensure that we deliver free, fair and credible elections to Nigerians in 2015.

    “In particular we urge you to do everything possible to sanitize the polity. You must have an enlightened self-interest, because seeping and sustaining our democracy in the best interest of all politicians, as it is for all citizens. We must avoid the temptation to throw away the baby with the bath water. You must stop overheating the polity. You must continue to promote peaceful conduct and civility in political engagements and electioneering.

    “You must stop the rising tendency towards thuggery in campaigns and elections. In recent bye-elections we saw disruptions of the electoral process caused by thuggery, this must be stopped in order not to undermine our aspirations for credible and peaceful elections in 2015.

    “Let me also use this opportunity to draw your attention to the following; political parties are reminded to be mindful of the provisions of Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended which limits campaign periods to commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours to polling day. The penalty for breach is provided in Section 99(2) (a) & (b).”

    Jega also cautioned political parties against presenting candidates in states where they do not have any presence.

     

  • Are we now ready for the 2015 elections?

    Each time I spare some thought for the next general elections due any time from December next year, I shiver. It really does not appear to me that we have moved from the point we were in 2011. The Electoral Act remains the same and there has been no real change in the shape and structure of the Electoral Commission.

    The question to ask, therefore, is whether there is any legitimate ground to expect that there could be improvement in the conduct of the next general elections. General Goodluck Jonathan remains the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed and Electoral Forces, Professor Attahiru Jega has been chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) since 2010 and thus handled all the preparations for 2011. He is supported largely by the same men who handled the polls at the federal, state and local levels and personnel capacity is not known to have been built up. Most unfortunately, the ruling class has ensured that the people remain somewhat lukewarm towards the process, thus allowing for mindless manipulations.

    Perhaps I should remind Professor Jega who appeared at his appointment to have a vision and excited hope that the electoral register remains essentially the same. The promise to weed out all fake entries and get culprits arrested and tried has remained just that. There is enough incentive to rig shamelessly again.

    I am afraid that we cannot have free and fair elections when Resident Electoral Commissioners still owe their appointments to the President and those who participated very actively in politics in some states have been rewarded with such selection. How many security men who perverted the process in the past have been brought to book? How many of Jega’s men who misbehaved have been shown the exit door? How many Nigerians would nod in support of the claim that there is now in place a game-changing plan to ensure that only those with the mandate of the people are allowed to handle public trust?

    Earlier this year, the Edo electorate was called out to renew or terminate the tenancy of Adams Oshiomhole. As usual, INEC could not arrive at the correct formula to deliver a transparently clean election. As usual, despite the election taking place in only one state and being conducted by INEC staff, the hitches were heart rending. Materials failed to arrive promptly at the polling stations and security lapses were glaring. Tension was high.

    Soon, the notice of poll for the governorship election in Anambra would be published. What are the stakeholders doing to ensure that it portends good for the 2015 general elections? What are the political parties doing to promote demonstration of internal democracy? And, what is INEC doing to clean up its act in monitoring the process? Already, the judiciary has all but erased the gains of the previous exercises. Just when we were about shouting hurrah that impunity would never rear its ugly head in the selection of candidates by the parties, the courts, especially the Supreme Court, have ruled that no one could inquire into the process throwing up candidates even when the extant rules are violently violated.

    This, in my layman’s opinion, is the implication of the ruling on the Timipre Sylva case and Eseme Eyiboh’s challenge of the charade of the selection process in his federal constituency. Eyiboh, a cerebral and responsible representative of the Eket people and former chairman of the House committee on public affairs, had contended that the primary conducted in Uyo for the PDP candidate was invidious and offended relevant sections of the constitution, Electoral Act and PDP constitution and guidelines.

    As many analysts have pointed out, the happenings in the Nigerian Governors Forum are indeed ominous. If an election by just 36 men could end up so hotly disputed, why should anyone expect that such men would exhibit maturity in leading the battle charge of their parties in the various states in 2015? The President has told his party leaders and members that he would not accept the delivery of anything less than 23 states in 2015. That is instructive. He has refused to recognize Rotimi Amaechi as chairman of the NGF despite the clear explanation offered by members of his party who voted for the Rivers State governor. It is childish that the President of Nigeria in 2013 could condone his security details brusquely preventing a state governor from exchanging pleasantries with him. What actually is happening? Is this Nigeria or a banana republic? Why are the aviation agencies being used to hound and harass only governors deemed opposed to Jonathan’s 2015 agenda?

    It is 14 years since the return to civil rule, but little progress has been made.

    May the good Lord help Nigeria .

  • Comments on 2015 elections worrisome – Anyaoku

    Comments on 2015 elections worrisome – Anyaoku

    The former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, on Friday in Abuja expressed concern about what he described “the worrisome statements” being made about the 2015 elections by a number of high-profile citizens.

    Anyaoku made the observation in Abuja at a lecture to commemorate the 2013 Nigeria Public Service Day.

    “We hear declarations from notable nationals that the president in 2015 must come from a specific area of the country.

    “We also hear at the same time from similarly notable nationals that a different area must have its full two terms of eight years.

    “In our ethnically and religiously diverse country that is still to cohere fully into one nation, the potential consequences of the failure by either side to win the presidency in 2015 are the grounds for my worry, “ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the former Commonwealth chief as saying at the lecture.

    He, therefore, called on politicians and opinion makers to stop and think of the implications for the country’s stability of the battle lines for the elections being drawn on sectional and ethnic basis.

    Anyaoku, who was the Chairman of the occasion, said, in order to promote national solidarity and entrench democracy, “our politicians and leaders of thought must move away from section-based to policy-based politics.’’

    He said that campaigns and advocacy of support for candidates should be based on the manifestos of political parties outlining policies and programmes for addressing the various challenges facing the country and its citizens.

    Anyaoku added that competition among individual candidates for political office should be driven by specific pledges of how to serve the various concerns of the electorate rather than sheer quest for power.

     

  • 2015 election will be better – Jega

    2015 election will be better – Jega

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has assured that the 2015 general elections would be better.

    He, however, said the success of the election is not that of electoral body alone but the work of all citizens.

    Prof. Jega also noted the importance of enlightened citizens in the electoral process.

    The citizens, he stressed have to be sensitized, educated and be mobilized to discharge that civic responsibility.

    He assured that INEC was committed to a thorough voter education and public enlightenment before the 2015 elections.

    Jega spoke on Monday in Abuja when he received the top management team of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) led by its acting Director-General, Dr. Samson Shuaibu who were on a courtesy call to the commission.

    INEC and FRCN are working towards exploring areas of synergy and collaboration in the next election.

    Jega said, “We in INEC are aware of the enormous responsibilities that had been placed in our hands to produce a framework and deepen democracy in our country. We have been doing our best in that regard and we have benefited tremendously from the participation of all stakeholders and it is the partnership of all stakeholders with INEC that was responsible for the achievements recorded in the 2011 elections.

    “Since the 2011 elections, we have been doing our best to fine tune the procedures to engage all the stakeholders and ensure that we keep on improving the process. Our determination is to ensure that the 2015 elections remain must become better that of 2011 elections.”

     

  • 2015: PDP hails ruling on Jonathan

    2015: PDP hails ruling on Jonathan

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the ruling by the Federal Capital Territory High Court that President Goodluck Jonathan is constitutionally free to contest the 2015 Presidential election as yet another victory for the nation’s democracy.

    In a statement shortly after the ruling on Friday, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh said the judgment has laid to rest debates on whether or not the President is constitutionally eligible to contest the 2015 election, adding that it now depends on the party and Nigerians to decide when the time comes.

    Stating that the court ruling has “freed the nation from the shackles of intimidation and harassment by some desperate elements seeking to impose themselves on Nigerians”, the party said the judiciary has also restated the freedom and right of every Nigerian to seek any office under the constitution.

    The statement reads: “The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) applauds the ruling by the Federal Capital Territory High Court that President Goodluck Jonathan, as a Nigerian, has the constitutionally guaranteed right to seek re-election in 2015.

    “This landmark ruling is yet another victory for the nation’s democracy. It has laid to rest the unnecessary debate on whether or not the President is constitutionally eligible to seek re-election in 2015.

    “The court held that President Jonathan is in his first term, which commenced on May 29, 2011 and thus is free to seek a second term in office in the 2015 general election under the platform of the PDP or any other political party.

    “The import of this judgment is that it is now left for the PDP as a party and Nigerians to decide, through legitimate processes, whether or not to return President Jonathan to the Presidency in 2015 if he indicates interest.

    “With the ruling, it is now left for the President, the PDP and the people to decide and not for some people to try to stop others from exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights through intimidation and harassment.”

    The party appealed to Nigerians to continue to be law abiding and resist all attempts by “desperate politicians” to truncate the system through the distortion of the facts of the law.

    Metuh assured that the party will continue to focus on the welfare of Nigerians in line with the transformation agenda of the administration.

     

  • Canada to assist Nigeria on 2015 elections

    Canada to assist Nigeria on 2015 elections

    The Canadian Government said it will partner with Nigeria to ensure credible elections in 2015.

    The President, Parliamentary Centre, Canada, Mr. Jean-Paul Ruszkowski, told journalists in Abuja that the partnership was arrived at after a roundtable with leaders of major political parties on Monday.

    Ruszkowski said the aim of the meeting with leaders of major political parties was to work out modalities on how to set up a Parliamentary Centre that would enhance the country’s electoral process.

    “ The purpose of the visit is to learn about how Nigeria is progressing in its democratic practice; how the federal system works and through that process explore, with the help of the party leaders, to understand what the priorities, what will bring all parties together to conduct a project that will be of use to Nigeria.

    “Be it in the field of budgetary oversight, in the field public accounts, security, natural resources and whatever sector is identified by the parliamentarians as high priority is welcome.

    “We have been to several countries and over the years, we are in the position to help.

    “We are just starting and the whole idea is to build confidence between the citizens, and governments and political parties; so when the elections come there will be no doubt about how representative the election will be,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Ruszkowski as saying to journalists on Tuesday.

    He said the Parliamentary Centre worked with legislatures of 31 African countries to “help them better serve their people.”

    Also speaking, the Presidential Adviser, Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Ndi Obi, said several meetings with legislative leaders, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Canadian Parliamentary Centre would be held to map out strategies on improving the country’s electoral process.

    “He (Ruszkowski) will be meeting with the Senate President, the Speaker and some leaders of the National Assembly; we had met with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

    “To round off the visit, he will be meeting with Prof. Attahiru Jega all on how to further improve the electoral process of our country.

    “We have had a robust discussion with our leaders here on how to build formidable internal democracy in our parties and how the parties can work hand-in-gloves with their legislatures in the National Assembly to make democracy more at home with us.

    “I will add that our aim is to have the Canadian Parliamentary Centre be established here in Nigeria and because they have been functional in 31 African countries and in Nigeria, it is not there yet.

    “So, we intend that this visit is the beginning of how that centre can be established here in due course,” he said.