The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2019 ELECTIONS

  • 2019 elections: Equities sell-off by foreign investors to persist

    • FGN Bonds face under-subscription 

    Foreign investors are expected to continue divestments in Nigerian equities market as the 2019 general elections approach and the need for them to secure their investments heightens, analysts have predicted.

    Analysts at Afrinvest Limited, an investment and research firm, said the bearish run in the bonds market has been sustained following selloffs by local and offshore investors. They said local Pension Administrators were the majority players in the bonds market with major selloffs witnessed across the March-2027 and July-2034 instruments.

    “At the FGN Bonds Auction last week Wednesday, the 12.75 per cent Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) April 2023 bond and 13.53 per cent FGN March 2025 instruments were 58.6 per cent and 45.5 per cent undersubscribed respectively. On the flip side, the 13.98 per cent FGN February 2028 instrument was 2.4 times oversubscribed as more investors positioned at the long end of the curve,” they said.

    In an emailed report to investors, Afrinvest explained that in the near term, it expects sustenance in the bearish sentiment leading to an appreciation in yields in the bonds market. “This is against the backdrop of Federal Government’s need to fund the 2018 budget as well as continued sell-offs by offshore investors ahead of 2019 general elections,” it said.

    It said a Primary Market Auction (PMA) is slated for this Wednesday with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) offering N9.5 billion, N33.9 billion and N127.1 billion across the 91, 182 and 364-day tenors, with expectation of higher marginal rates across tenors.

    “We expect liquidity level (N79.5 billion positive) to remain tight at the beginning of the week as market anticipates FAAC inflows to ease situation. Also, an Open Market Operation (OMO) maturity of N238.7 billion is expected to hit the system on Thursday.

    “With a boost in system liquidity from these inflows, we expect the CBN to conduct OMO auctions in the early trading sessions of this week. In addition, we anticipate renewed buying interests by investors in the secondary market following attractive rates. FGN Bonds Market Update: Sustained Sell Offs Expected to Buoy Yields in the Bonds Market,” the report added.

    Last week, performance in the T-Bills market was bearish on the back of sustained selloffs by offshore investors across the emerging markets. As a result, average rates across all tenors advanced 20basis Points to close at 12.40 per cent.

    The CBN conducted OMO auction once last week – on Monday – in a bid to mop up the excess liquidity in the system (N841.9 billion positive), ahead of expected Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) inflows and OMO maturities.

    However, investors’ bearish sentiment towards the OMO auctions witnessed in recent times was sustained as the auction was 84.3 per cent jointly undersubscribed (N350 billion offered as against N549.4 million subscription) – albeit 38 per cent higher than the previous week’s under-subscription rate. Investors’ weak appetite was on the back of more attractive investment options in the secondary market.

     

  • Role of judiciary, media and political class in 2019 elections

    Being text of a lecture delivered by Chief Wole Olanipekun at the 2018 annual lecture of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC), Ikeja Chapter

    Introduction

    It would amount to self-deceit to restrict any discourse on our democratic journey, as it were, on the Judiciary and media, leaving out the major participants, who double as the major beneficiaries of our democracy, that is, the political class/elite, who cut across party barriers and delineations, and who also litter our political space, from Local Governments through to the State and Federal levels. To my mind, we cannot address or furrow into the success or otherwise of the 2019 general elections, as well as the sustenance of our democratic voyage, without this category of people. Otherwise, we would, deceptively, be acting Shakes-peare’s Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark. Let the reality be quickly recognised that in normal climes, where and when the political class plays and activates politics according to the rules of the game, not taking it as a do or die affair, or a means to an end, or an end in itself, or the core and crux of livelihood, or where politicians respect their respective national Constitutions, electoral laws, et al, the judiciary in particular, has a lesser role to play at midwifing such democracies.

    In modifying the topic, however, I kept on reminding myself that I must not lose sight of the very essence, meaning, intention and tenor of the original topic, hence the ‘amended’ topic, which is “The Role of the Judiciary, the Media and the Political Class in Midwifing the 2019 General Elections and Sustaining Nigeria’s Democratic Process”, which conveniently subsumes the original.

    In this presentation, permit me to do some random samplings or a sort of panorama, and in doing so, the first port of call will be the Judiciary, before moving to the media, and finally berthing at the doorsteps of the political class

    Nigerian Judiciary considered within the context of the discourse

    The last topical political case that agitated the entire labyrinth of the American Judiciary is the celebrated case of Al Gore v. Bush .  Before then, either at the state or national levels, there was a lull of election petition gymnastics in any of the superior courts in the United States of America, as it is very unusual for any politician or political party over there to think of doing or intending to do what our politicians here do. In effect, the Judiciary in America is not saddled with the unenviable and hazardous responsibility and thankless job of adjudicating on sensitive electoral matters, either to install a state Governor, a member of the Congress or President, or to nullify election results. Despite the ‘too-close-to-call’ nature of the last presidential election between the two candidates of the Republican and Democratic parties, respectively, Donald J. Trump and Hilary R. Clinton, the latter is not the petitioner or plaintiff in the action asking for a decree for the recount of the ballots in some areas. Be it noted that she and her husband, Bill Clinton, were conspicuously present at Donald Trump’s inauguration. India is reputed to be the largest democracy in the world, and my research of the number of election cases in that large country and democracy,  in juxtaposition with what we have in Nigeria            has continuously and consistently resulted in the truism that despite the fact that the political constituencies in Nigeria constitute a very negligible percentage of the ones in India, the number of election matters, whether pre or post elections, or whether arising from pre-election summonses or post-election petitions in Nigeria, dwarfs that of India. Let us pause here to ask a rhetorical question, that is, when last did we hear or read of a challenge to the election of a Prime Minister of India,? Or the Prime Minister of Britain? Or the President of France? Again, let us remind ourselves that the last snap election in Great Britain was also ‘too close to call’, and, indeed, the ruling Conservative Party did not have the requisite number of MPs to form a government; but within hours, concessions were made here and there, and based on democratic traditions which had evolved in that country for centuries, Queen Elizabeth II invited Theresa May to form the government. Jeremy Corbyn of the Labour Party did not approach any election tribunal or court to stop Theresa May from so doing.

    This audience might be wondering about these excursions into the democratic records of some foreign countries when we are dealing with the Nigerian political process. Let me make myself clear. The President of the Court of Appeal in Nigeria, is the equivalence of the Master of the Rolls in Great Britain. The high office of the Master of the Rolls is not saddled with the pitiable responsibility of constituting election tribunals and their memberships, as the President of the Court of Appeal in Nigeria does regularly and intermittently, even whenever there is a bye-election to fill a vacancy in a State House of Assembly. The Chief Justice of Great Britain or the Chief Justice of the United States of America does not have anything to do with the constitution of election tribunals or panels. Unlike these countries and their judiciaries, the Nigerian Judiciary has lost most of its cherished dignity, prestige, honour and glamour, as a result of its continuous involvement at deciding high-tension election and electoral matters. When election tribunals are empaneled, the Judges constituting the panels are selected from different parts of the country and posted to States different from theirs. The Chairman and a member of the Tribunal constitute the statutory quorum; while a full panel consists of three judges of the High Court. In most jurisdictions in Nigeria, an average judge has between 14-16 cases on his cause list daily. Section 285(6) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), mandates the Election Petition Tribunal to deliver its judgment within 180 days of the filing of the petition. This means that depending on a variety of factors like number of polling unit results being contested, number of witnesses being called, modalities adopted for the calling of witnesses, an election tribunal may very well expend the entirety of the period allocated to it by the constitution in deciding a petition. In doing so, the Judges are uprooted from their courtrooms to the locus in quo. Not only that, pending trials and applications, will consequently be kept in abeyance and sacrificed on the altar of election petition expediency.

    • To be continued next week

  • National Assembly appeals judgment stopping re-ordering of 2019 elections

    THE National Assembly (NASS) has appealed a Federal High Court judgment, which held that it lacked the power to re-order the proposed sequence for the 2019 general elections.

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja had in his judgment delivered on April 25, 2018, in a suit filed by Accord Party against National Assembly, held that the election timetable earlier released by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could not be altered by the legislature.

    Other defendants in the suit are the Attorney- General of the Federation and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The court held that INEC was the only body constitutionally empowered to organise, undertake and supervise elections in the country.

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed held that such responsibility included fixing dates for polls.

    Dissatisfied with the lower court’s decision, the National Assembly, which was the first defendant, filed an appeal, asking the appellate court to set aside the decision of Justice Mohammed. It also dismissed in its entirety the plaintiff’s claims in the originating summons.

    In the Notice of Appeal filed through its lawyer, Mr. J.B Daudu (SAN), the National Assembly stated that the trial judge erred in law when he assumed jurisdiction to entertain and determine the suit.

    In particular, the National Assembly contended that the trial judge failed to observe and apply the principles and doctrine of separation of powers.

    According to the National Assembly, the trial judge wrongly failed to appreciate that, until the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018 was passed into an Act by the exercise of the legislative power of the National Assembly to over-ride the veto or withholding of assent to the Bill by the President, the same remained inchoate and not capable of vesting a justiciable civil right or obligation on any person, including the plaintiff.

    The National Assembly further contended, among others, that the lower court wrongly interpreted the provisions of Section 4(8) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), so as to reach the conclusion that the Federal High Court was vested with jurisdiction to impugn a Bill perceived to be unconstitutional.

    “The lower court was further in error, when it relied on the certificate of the Clerk of the National Assembly pursuant to the Acts Authentication Act on the Bill (Exh ‘A’), as proof that the Bill’s constitutionality could be challenged in a superior court of law.

    “The learned trial judge erred in law, when he failed to appreciate that the plaintiff’s suit (subject-matter of this appeal) was not properly constituted and therefore, incompetent”, it stated.

    No date has been fixed for hearing of the appeal.

  • 2019: Is PDP still a threat to APC in Lagos?

    As the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) prepares for 2019 elections in Lagos State, Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, reports that except the party’s warring chieftains are quickly reconciled, the PDP may not be able to repeat its 2015 electoral successes in the state

    DETERMINED to improve on its unexpected performances in the state during the last general election in 2015, the Lagos State chapter of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says it is poised to surprise the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) come 2019 by winning not just more seats in the national and state assemblies’ elections, but by installing one of its own as the next governor of the state.

    But pundits, political observers and of course chieftains of APC say the claim of the opposition party, that it is waxing stronger in the state, may not be true after all. And those telling the PDP to think twice about its continuous boast to win Lagos in 2019 are urging the party to take cognisance of the obvious effects of recent developments within the party in the state, on its electoral chances in the forthcoming election.

    No doubt, 2015 remains the finest moment of the PDP in the state. At the end of what many would readily describe as the toughest electoral battle ever in the state, the PDP won eight state assembly seats and seven House of Representatives seats across the state. Not a few chieftains of APC admitted that PDP’s unprecedented performances in the election was a huge setback for APC, which had always prided itself as the political controller of Lagos.

    So confident that it had arrived as the new toast of the people of the state was the PDP that it went ahead to challenge the victory of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of the APC as governor of the state in the courts. Not until it got all the way to the Supreme Court and was told in clear terms that Ambode and the APC validly won the 2015 gubernatorial election did the PDP give up the hope of unseating the current administration through legal processes.

    With eight members in the 40 member House of Assembly and a sizable seven at the National Assembly, PDP made its voice heard in the state more than ever before. And in the first year of the current dispensation, the party never spared any chance of telling and showing the ruling APC that they were co-owners of the political supports of the people of the state.

    “But for the luck they had and the malpractices they engaged in, there was no way APC would have defeated us in 2015. The people of Lagos voted for PDP like they never did before. That was an election the people showed interest in because they wanted to change the government at the state level. You can see how we won in areas they never thought we could win. So, they were simply told Lagos belongs to all of us,” a chieftain of the PDP, Hon. Seyi Damazio, said.

    Buoyed by these good turn of events in its favour that year, the PDP and its members looked forward to the 2019 Election with a mindset that given the party’s new popularity in the state, it is time to go for the kill. According to party chieftains, membership of its various local government and ward chapters across the state doubled between 2015 and early 2017. But today, the story, party sources revealed, is not actually the same again.

     

    Unending crises

    Unfortunately for PDP, its fortunes in Lagos State have been on the decline since early 2017. Rather than take advantage of the victories it garnered in 2015 and put its house in order, the party continued with the intra-party bickering that had kept it on its kneels since the very formation of the party in the state. Party chieftains battled for control of party machineries while party members were left without directions almost immediately after the 2015 General Elections.

    While admitting that the fortunes of the party are on the decline once again in the state, Hon. Moshood Adegoke Salvador blamed the many problems of the PDP in Lagos on indiscipline. He concluded that unless and until party members and chieftains subscribe to party discipline, the PDP will not be able to achieve its aim of winning elections in the state.

    “Unity and forgiveness are some of the most important requirements that PDP needs to ascertain victory in the coming election. It is absolutely impossible to expect victory while you keep spoiling your party for no reason. Let us be loyal to PDP and not individuals. Let’s love PDP and win together in Lagos State. Don’t allow results of congresses to disturb our affection because governance is more important than party offices,” he said.

    But rather than heed his advice, leaders of the party had continued the infighting, especially after the last December National Convention of the party, where some chieftains of the party failed to get elected into offices they sought. The chairmanship ambitions of Tunde Adeniran, Bode George and Jimi Agbaje, according to party sources, further divided the Lagos State chapter of the party.

    “In spite of effort to harmonise our positions and agree on how best to move the party forward, some recent developments have worked against unity in Lagos PDP. One of such is the failed attempt by the Southwest zone to produce the national chairman of the party at the December convention. The ambition of some of our leaders further divided us and we are still working hard to heal the wounds,” a party source said.

    The Nation gathered that the camp of George, which has since he lost at the national convention, been unusually passive within the party, are miffed by the decision of some members of the chapter, to support other aspirants instead of throwing their weight behind him and giving his chairmanship ambition the much needed home support he was banking on then.

    “Though we are working hard to address the issues, it is a known fact that the decision of some of our leaders to abandon Chief George in the chairmanship race and support other aspirants, particularly from other states, divided us a lot. We had George and Agbaje in the race at a point. Yet, we could not bring ourselves to support our own in such a crucial race. That was really bad,” our source said.

    Worried about the situation within the party, a former Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, recently warned that the party would not realise its objective of winning the state in 2019 if members work at cross purposes. The worried party chieftain, while lamenting that the party should focus its attention on forthcoming elections instead of bickering, urged members to work together for the progress of the party in the state.

     

    Troubling defections

    As if to add to the troubles of the embattled PDP chapter, the party, in recent time, has been bedeviled with crippling defections of its leading members to the ruling APC. “The defection of some of our shinning lights is, for now, our greatest headache,” Wale Falade, a chieftain of the party and former state executive committee member in the Action Alliance (AA), said.

    He was however quick to add that the party has found a way of stopping its members from leaving the party ahead of the 2019 elections. “Such defections will not happen again,” he said last month after a group of party members in Ikeja Local Government Area dumped the PDP for APC. “We have found out why our members are leaving and we have plugged the holes,” he boasted.

    But it seems the PDP got it wrong. Last Tuesday, another frontline chieftain of the party and a former commissioner in the state, Chief Mrs. Remi Adiukwu, left the PDP for APC, saying her defection was motivated by the sterling performance of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and the orderliness in the ruling party. “I am back in the party, when I say I am back, I am actively back. We will do all within our strength to deliver back to APC all the slots and mandates we took to PDP during the 2015 election.

    “My sojourn away from the party was based on principle just as my return today is encouraged today by the same principle of supporting only good things that will be beneficial to Lagos. Here in Oshodi-Isolo, PDP is now dead and we must not hear anything about PDP again. We are the ones who led PDP to victory here in 2015 and we are now back home to return the victory to APC,” she said.

    Rejoicing over Adiukwu’s defection, the Chairman of APC in Oshodi Local Government, Olamide Kasali, said the ruling party knows her strength politically, given her role in the 2015 elections. “She is the backbone of PDP in the council. With mama now with us, the fear of APC during elections is gone as the development marks an end to the opposition in the council,” Kasali said as he presented APC flag to Adiukwu.

    To Bolaji Muse-Ariyo, executive chairman of the council, the defection would make things easier for the council as the returnee will support the administration with her wealth of political experience. “And I am particularly happy that she is not just another defector, she is one of the most respected and connected politicians in Lagos State today. Her defection simply means there is no PDP here again,” he said.

    Few months before Adiukwu’s move, six, out of the eight PDP lawmakers at the State House of Assembly, have officially announced their defection to APC. The defection was announced through a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, titled; “Letter of Defection from PDP To APC.” It was signed by the defectors excluding the Minority Leader, who announced his defection on the floor of the House.

    The defectors included the Minority Leader, Akeem Bello (Amuwo Odofin II), Minority Whip, Mosunmola Sangodara (Surulere II), and Olusola Sokunle (Oshodi/Isolo I). Others were Jude Idimogu (Oshodi/Isolo II), Dayo Famakinwa (Ajeromi Ifelodun II) and Oluwa Fatai (Ajeromi/Ifelodun I). The two PDP lawmakers left in the opposition were Victor Akande (Ojo I) and Dipo Olorunrinu (Amuwo-Odofin I).

    Shortly after, one of the two remaining PDP lawmakers in the House, Victor Akande, jumped ship and joined the APC, leaving only Olorunrinu, who has vowed to remain the last man standing for his party in the House, as the lone PDP lawmaker.

    And when we recall that former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, had also returned to the fold of APC not too long ago, the plight of the opposition PDP would be better appreciated. He dumped the PDP after much speculations of his formal declaration for the APC for months until it finally came to pass at a rally in Lagos. These defections, pundits and political observers said, have further weakened the chances of the PDP as the 2019 elections approach.

  • 2019 elections: CJN urges judges to be wary of politicians’ antics

    THE Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, has admonished judicial officers to be wary of the antics of politicians as the country gradually moves into another season of intense political activities.

    Onnoghen, who advised them to always be guided by the constitution, their code of conduct and oath of office, warned justices and judges against yielding themselves and positions as tools for politicians.

    The CJN also regretted the growing impunity in the executive arm, which he said was the reason some states were reluctant to comply with the constitutional provision for fiscal autonomy for the Judiciary.

    Onnoghen spoke in Abuja yesterday while swearing in 12 High Court judges recently elevated to the Court of Appeal.

    He said: “You have to abide by the Constitution and the Code of Conduct, which actually is an extension of the oath of office that you have just taken.

    “When you adhere to your oath of office, the code of conduct, the constitution and the application of the law to the task before you, and abide by judicial precedent, you will be home and dry. You will continue to sleep and snore.

    “You don’t care whose ox is gored because the law is there to defend you. It is only when you apply short cut that you invite problem.

    “Be focused and courageous because you are carrying the whole country on your head in terms of dispensation of justice.

    “It is now time for politics. Things will be done to raise the temperature of this country within and outside of the political space.

    “You have to be very, very careful not be used as a tool. You should be guided by judicial precedent, particularly in election and election related matters,” Onnoghen said.

    He said the responsibility of a judge is to resolve disputes in accordance with the dictates of the law and to always apply the law in resolving cases brought before his court, without bothering who wins and who loses.

    The CJN said the Bill recently signed by President Muhammadu Buhari did not just provide financial autonomy to the Judiciary as being erroneously implied, saying that the provision has always been in the Constitution.

    He said: “Section 121 of the Constitution has always been there. The only amendment is to bring in the state Houses of Assembly.

    Onnoghen, who read the provision of the Constitution, said: “The provision for financial autonomy for the Judiciary has always been there in the constitution.

    “What has always been the problem is the absence of courage, political will in the executive arm of government to implement and enforce this provision. That is all.

    “Some state governments have done the right things, others are ready to do. Those who are yet to, we encourage them to enforce and implement this provision.

    “This is because the independence of the Judiciary, particularly its financial independence, is the bedrock of democracy itself. We have gone too far to go back.

    “We are under a democratic dispensation; a constitutional democracy for that matter. That is why I keep on saying that the rule of law is the solution to all of our problems.

    “If we operate under the rule of law and are bound by the rule of law, then impunity, which is the bane of our democracy, will disappear.

    “If not for impunity, did the Executive not know that the issue of financial autonomy for the Judiciary is a constitutional provision?”

  • Independent National Electoral Commission and 2019 elections

    Let me begin by expressing my appreciation to IPI for the opportunity to speak on the media and elections.  This is especially significant coming less than a year to the next general elections in Nigeria which, as usual, will be the focus of intense media attention nationally and international audience on our preparations for the election which will be different from all previous elections in many respects:

    The  2019 general elections will involve the largest number of registered voters our history.  We are currently inching closer to 80 million voters although the nationwide voter registration exercise is ongoing.  The figure will certainly rise above 80 million registered voters.

    The largest number of political parties will field candidates in the election.  There are 68 political parties at present.  However, with 138 applications from associations seeking registration as political parties, the number is set to rise higher.  The political parties will contest in elections into 1,558 National, State as well as Local Constituencies in the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja).

    From the statistics of new voter registration nationwide, youths will play a far greater role in the election and processes thereof in 2019 than in previous elections.

    There is also increasing determination by marginalized groups such as women, youths and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) for greater participation that ever before and we are working with these groups to facilitate their full participation in the electoral process.

    Therefore, how is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) planning for the elections?

    Clearly, the 2019 general election is the most deliberately well-planned election in Nigeria so far.  We have formulated, validated and published the Strategic Plan (2016-2021), the Strategic Programme of Action and the Election Project Plan with the full participation of all stakeholders and development partners.

    Similarly, election dates are no longer matters of conjecture.  On 9th January 2018, we published the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2019 general elections over a year in advance.  We did so to engender certainly in our electoral calendar and allow for proper planning by the Electoral Commission, political parties, civil society organization (CSOs), the media, security agencies and the business community (hoteliers, transporters etc.).

    Going forward, we have established the principle that our elections will be held on the third Saturday of the month of February of the election year, beginning with national elections (Presidential and National Assembly), followed two weeks later by state elections (Governorship and State Assembly).  Based on this principle, in 2019, the national elections will hold on Saturday 16thFebruary while state elections will hold on Saturday 2nd March.  We have already started the countdown to the elections.  It  is exactly 238 days to the opening of polling units at 8am on Saturday 16th February 2019.

    As we are planning, we are also test running our plans.  We have been fortunate to have conducted more off-season elections than any Commission in the history of our democracy; re-run election (by court order following successful litigations), bye-elections and end-of-tenure elections.  So far, we have conducted elections into 180 constituencies, the last one about three weeks ago (Ibarapa East State Constituency in Oyo State) and the next one in three weeks (Ekiti Governorship election scheduled for 14th July 2019).  Each of the elections we have conducted so far is a remarkable improvement on the previous one in terms of preparations and outcome, ranging from the deployment of personnel, functionality of technology and the speedy collation, transmission and declaration of results.  There is also a remarkable reduction in pre-and post-election litigations challenging the outcome of the elections.  Most remarkably, elections are won and lost irrespective of incumbency at State level.  I want to assure this Congress that the will of the Nigerian voter will continue to prevail.  Nothing but the votes cast by citizens will determine the outcome of elections.

    Turning to the use of technology in elections, we shall continue to deepen its deployment until such a time when we can fully automate the entire process. There will be no electronic balloting in 2019 but technology is already being used in many aspects of the processes.  Electronic voting should be the ultimate step in a chain involving five processes: electronic voter register, accreditation, balloting, collation and transmission of result.  At present, the Commission has a more robust voter register than at any time in our history.  Accreditation of voters (and storage of accreditation data) is also electronic while we are piloting the electronic collation and transmission of results.  What remains is to bring these processes into a voting machine to complete the chain.  I am confident that full automation of our electoral processes is only a matter of a short period of time.

    To enhance our transparency, we have been working very closely with stakeholders, including the media.  At the moment, INEC has accredited correspondents from 85 media organizations to cover our activities all-year round.  The number is growing and our doors remain open to all.  We hold regular quarterly meetings with the media and other stakeholders.

    I have no doubt that the 2019 general elections will be the most widely covered event in Nigeria.  The Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) has regularly conducted election debates involving candidates at national level.  A number of media organizations have given similar opportunities to candidates at State level, including off-season Governorship elections on their own initiatives.  This is most commendable.  We have also been approached by a number of television stations in Nigeria requesting for partnership in setting up facilities for live coverage of our activities from the INEC Headquarters in the run-up to the 2019 general elections.  At least one international broadcast organization has also recently approached us with a similar proposal.  We welcome this development and for this reason, we are refurbishing our media centre, including two editorial suites for the convenience of the media.

    I want to assure this World Congress that INEC is committed to credible elections. On this note, I wish to extend our early invitation to especially the international media that require longer time and logistics to prepare that you are welcome to cover our 2019 general elections.

    We believe the forthcoming elections will further underscore the maturity of our electoral democracy after the globally acknowledged success of the 2015 general elections.

    The rule of law cannot thrive without free speech. There cannot be free speech without free press. There cannot be free press without democracy. There cannot be genuine democracy without credible elections. The relationship between an Election Management Body such as INEC and the IPI is therefore organic.

    May God bless IPI and thank you for the opportunity to speak.

     

    • Being remarks by the chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yukubu, at the 67th World Congress of the International Press Institute (IPI) held at the congress hall, NICON Hilton Hotel, Abuja… yesterday

  • Pray for national peace, violence-free 2019 elections, says NLC

    THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on Nigerians to intensify prayers for national peace and unity as the nation heads towards its general election next year.

    It also urged the people to work towards violence-free and credible elections.

    The congress also called on the federal government to listen to the cries of Nigerian workers and approve the demand for a new minimum wage in the spirit of the Eid-el-Fitri.

    In a goodwill message on the occasion of the Eid-el-Fitri yesterday, President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, expressed the hope that the will of Nigerian voters would prevail in the 2019 polls.

    He said: “Eid-el-Fitr teaches us to love and to share.

    “In view of the divisive political current flowing all over Nigeria and mainly driven by irresponsible politics, it is important that we learn that united in love and sharing we stand, divided in prejudice and hate we fall!

    “The NLC urges every Nigerian Muslim and all citizens to fully imbibe the virtues of Eid-el-Fitr.

    “Well, in the midst of harrowing general inflation, Nigerian workers have soldiered on in self-denial, dedication and diligence as partners in the onerous mission of nation building.

    “The government can make workers’ load lighter by quickly approving the demand of organised labour for a new national minimum wage.

    “Organised labour appreciates all Muslims for praying for Nigeria during this year’s Ramadan.

    “As we gradually approach another election year in 2019, we urge all Nigerians to intensify prayers for national peace and work towards a violence-free and credible elections.

    “It is our prayer that in the 2019 elections, the will of the Nigerian electorate will prevail, be respected and the blessings of Eid-el-Fitr will abide with us.”

    Why Nigerians must imbibe Ramadan lessons -TUC

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC) says Nigerians must imbibe the lessons of the Ramadan to move the country forward.

    The TUC, in a statement yesterday, said that Ramadan goes beyond the spiritual aspect of fasting.

    It said virtues like personal sacrifice, piety and self-denial must now be embraced by all in the interest of the country.

    “The deficiency of these virtues is the fundamental reason why countries we were at par with in the 1970s have all left us behind,” it said in the statement signed by its President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and Secretary General, Comrade (Barr.) Musa-Lawal Ozidi.

    It added: “The time to look beyond all artificial social, political and economic divisions, including minor ethnic and religious differences in society, is now.

    “All faithful must abide strictly with the teachings of the Koran and Prophet Mohammed.

    “We implore all Nigerians to be patriotic and strictly allow the cardinal principles of our respective religions to reflect in all our dealings, as it remains the way we can ensure peace and unity of the nation. We should exhibit oneness to be able to stand strong together through diverse difficulties and challenges. We must focus on the things that bind us together.

    “That is the new Nigeria we want.”

  • 2019 elections: Customs to deploy scanners in ports

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has approved the deployment of scanners in the nation’s seaports to check the influx of dangerous items into the country ahead of the 2019 general elections, it was learnt.

    Speaking with The Nation, its Area Controller, Tin Can Command Mr Musa Baba Abdullahi said the Service has concluded arrangement to deploy the scanners in boosting 100 per cent cargo clearance at ports.

    He assured that the scanners would check importation of dangerous cargoes. “With regards to the 2019 elections, the Service is trying to commission the scanners. Some of them are not there now, but the Service is working seriously to ensure that the scanners are put in place.

    “As soon as the scanners are put in place, we are sure of 100 per cent cargo examination through the scanners. At least,  we would be sure of what is coming, compared to the physical examination that is there now,  sometimes, human element can come in, sometimes you might forget certain things, which might end up being a serious issue,”he said.

    On the involvement of foreigners in cargo clearance at the seaports, Musa said foreigners had taken over the clearing and forwarding jobs because most Nigerians are bad managers.

    He called for a law that would  spell it out that certain jobs must be reserved for Nigerians, especially areas where we have the capacity and comparative advantage.

    “Our people prefer foreigners than Nigerians. We need to ask ourselves why it is so; many of the bike riders are from Chad, Niger etc, while those doing tilling of houses are from Togo and Cotonou.

    “Nigerians have to change our attitude to work. Sincerely, we are not good managers. You can carry out an independent analysis of certain sectors; take note of the businesses, we work more, if we are controlled by foreigners.

    “For instance, if you give Nigerian companies, they run it aground. But if you bring in an expatriate from outside, they work hard for every seven days, you would find a Nigerian being engaged unofficially in some family issues and extended family issues. But for the expatriates, who is in the country for the job,  he would forget about those mundane things and focus on his job for 30 days,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Customs Area Controller in charge of Seme border, Mohammed Aliyu has reclaimed the command’s land encroached upon by some individuals.

    Findings revealed that the command is ensuring that illegal structures are demolished and those with approval will update their status by routing their request to the Comptroller-General of Customs through the Customs Area Controller.

  • Youths form movement towards 2019 elections

    A new youth’s social movement, #voteorshutup2019 has joined the numerous campaign for a desired 2019 elections.

    Spotted around Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Maryland on Monday, members of the movement took advantage of the early morning commuters traffic to share free voter’s guide booklets, while enlightening the people on the importance of obtaining their PVC and participating in the upcoming elections.

    According to a representative of the movement, Mr. Osazee Bazuaye, a hospitality and lifestyle specialist; “It is easy for young people to complain, so many young people don’t bother to vote but they love to complain about the elected officials, we want people to come out and vote, we don’t care who you vote for just vote.”

    The movement started silently early this year and has seen a gradual growth in interest from its peers.

    Another member, Miss Moe of eventsbymoe said; “we want the politicians to acknowledge the efforts of groups like us, this is something we are passionate about and we are not even politicians so we expect the passion from the politicians to be 100 times more than ours in getting young people interested in supporting them.”

    The movement is said to consist of part-time volunteers, and interests has grown within celebrities and even peer leaders from other states such as Edo, Rivers and Cross River.

  • 2019: Keyamo appointed spokesman for Buhari campaign organisation

    Lawyer-cum human rights activist, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has been appointed  as Director of Strategic Communications for  President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 campaign organisation.

    The Director-General of the campaign organisation, Rotimi Amaechi, who announced the appointment, said Keyamo would act as spokesman for the organisation during the nomination process and subsequent campaigns for the 2019 presidential elections.

    Keyamo later took to his twitter handle to inform the public about his new assignment.

    He said: “With this letter below?, I have just been appointed the Director, Strategic Communications (Official Spokesperson) for the President’s 2019 Presidential Campaigns. I will be making a formal statement on this much later.”

    Festus Keyamo