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Tag: 2019 polls

  • 2019: INEC warns against vote buying in Ekiti

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ), has warned its staff against conniving with politicians to promote the culture of vote buying that has inhibited democratic consolidation in the country.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC) in Ekiti State, Prof. Abdulganiy Raji, explained that INEC staff should not be blamed for the malfeasance but politicians, that many of the commission’s staff do compromise to perpetrate the offence through polling booths arrangement that could facilitate the unacceptable practice.

    Raji who spoke on the inability of the Nigerians in diaspora to vote in the 2019 elections, said there was no legal provision backing such policy for now, pointing out that this could only happen if the existing constitution and the Electoral Acts are amended to accommodate electronic voting.

    The REC said these in Ado Ekiti on Thursday while delivering a lecture themed: ‘Women Participation in Electronic Process in Ekiti State: What exists, Challenges and Benefits’, at a workshop organized by New initiative for Social Development (NISD)in collaboration with Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room.

    Speaking at the forum, Raji said the electoral management body is being challenged with the litigation on the guidelines to use for the poll.

    He added that could serve as clogs in achieving success in the forthcoming election.

    He stated that many of the new innovations fashioned into the electoral processes by INEC were being hindered by some parties in courts, saying these may create confusion for the commission.

    Read Also: INEC clears Buhari, Atiku, Ezekwesili, Okotie, others

    “The commission can’t deny the fact that there was vote buying in the system, but this was being done by politicians by way of manipulating the placement of the polling booths so that those voting can be monitored for financial inducement.

    “In most cases, some party leaders do coerce or manipulate our staff so that they can be favoured in such arrangement which INEC did not support. INEC is not in support of any action that can affect the actual outcome of elections and that we had told our staff, who are foreigners in most cases”.

    Raji advised that political parties may end up having high void votes in the coming elections if INEC staff are stampeded to circumvent the use of smart card readers.

    “INEC is no longer using Incident Forms. Whatever votes that will be counted as being valid must be verified and authenticated by Smart card readers, so resorting to other means will not be accepted by our commission.

    “If the smart card readers are not working as expected, call for another one because any votes not authenticated by the machine will be regarded as invalid”, he said.

    He urged political parties against institutionalising any structures that could manipulate the internal democracy against women emergence for political positions, saying doing so would amount to total infringement on their rights.

    “For our electoral system to get it right regarding women’s rights, the constitution must take cognizance of our culture. Women and aged people must be given the rights to vote first, but the present Electoral Acts did not take cognizance of such”, he said.

    The NISD Executive Director, Mr. Biodun Oyeleye, said the dialogue was organized to sensitize and conscientise women on the need to to have unity of purpose to fight for their rights in order to remain relevant politically in the country.

    Oyeleye lamented that Nigerian men always manipulate the internal democracy of their party to relegate women during primaries, describing this as inhibitive to democratic consolidation.

    He urged the security operatives to erect a formidable security architecture that would curtail intimidation, rigging, voting buying and all other forms of electoral threats.

  • 2019 polls: Farmers set agenda for politicians

    Ahead of the forthcoming polls, farmers, at an event organised by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre and Voices for Food Security (VFS), presented their expectations to some politicians in Lagos, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Farmers  organisations, especially those producing the raw ingredients and their suppliers from across the country, have united to set agenda for politicians aimed at addressing key principles that can help ensure Nigeria’s success in the supply of food.

    The manifesto emphasised the importance of the food production and supply sectors.

    The initiative, which is part of a national food security campaign supported by Oxfam, comes under the auspices of Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre.

    The farmers’ group, which comprised All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Association of Small Scale Agro Producers in Nigeria (ASSAPIN), Nigerian Association of Women in Agriculture (NAWIA), Voices for Food Security Campaign (VFS), presented the expectations to some politicians at a Meat Farmers Forum in Lagos.

    In the manifesto, the groups  noted that allocation to the sector have over the five years not exceeded two per cent, whereas there is a Malabo Declaration, which provides for at least 10 per cent of the yearly budgetary allocation to the sector. Nigeria is a signatory to the declaration.

    They observed that farmers are trapped in poverty due to the combined effects of poor policy implementation, poor markets and infrastructure provision for value addition, lack of credit as well as high cost of business environment which reduce their gross margins and therefore keep them within the poverty trap.

    The farmers observed that growth in gross domestic product for the agriculture sector was 13 per cent in 2015; 4.69 per cent in the third quarter of 2016 and 5.3 per cent in 2017.

    They said the overall sector’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contribution is about 24 percent, making it one of the largest contributors to the economy. To this end, they noted that the sector needs to be given increased and adequate attention.

    According to the farmers, incessant dwindling of the budgetary allocation to the sector has continued with debilitating consequences on the funding of key projects and programmes under the various government policies including the Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP).

    The farmers said access to land for agriculture is still a challenge for them, especially their female colleagues because of the cost of and access to opening land for expansion.

    The groups noted that agricultural growth could lead to high rates of investment and gains in productivity throughout the economy.

    According to them,reforms would lead to growth in employment and income, improved income distribution, poverty alleviation, and stronger food demand.

    The farmers called for increased budgetary allocation to agriculture, especially for small scale farmers.

    The groups said if Lagos desires to make agriculture a major contributor to her GDP,then adopting the Maputo 10 per cent recommendation is a good starting point.

    HEDA Resource Centre Management Team Chairman, Suraju Olanrewaju, said the dream of farmers is to make the agricultural sector more competitive.

    According to him, Nigeria’s food security depends on increasing production to meet the demand of a growing population with rising income. To do so, he said a productive, competitive, diversified and sustainable agricultural sector will need to emerge at an accelerated pace.

    He said the group launched the ‘Farmers Manifesto’ as part of measures to boost economic development and food security in the country.

    He said that the group is tired of policy failures in the agriculture sector due to the non-commitment of politicians saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that the policies are implemented to the letter and in the interest of farmers.

    The Executive Secretary, HEDA, Sulaiman Arigbabu, said farmers face challenge  of having inputs such as fertiliser, provided in time; hence   because of this, he noted farm incomes remain poor.

    According to him, infrastructure bottlenecks are the main obstacle to Nigerian agriculture’s capacity to supply domestic market.

    He explained that poor roads impose high costs on farmers in the agricultural frontier.

    He said the farmers only ask for increase in budgetary allocation to agriculture, dedication of at least 10 percent of agriculture funding to the small-scale farmers (SSFs) and road map for the resolution of herdsmen-farmers crisis.

    He said the view of farmers is that they have been continuously short-changed over the years by politicians who only remember them when votes are needed.

    He said the idea behind the manifesto is to highlight the needs of farmers, for the endorsement of the political class and candidates of various political parties that seek their votes.

    He decried the continuous neglect by politicians across the country, saying that electioneering manifesto that capture farmers interests would henceforth earn their votes.

    Responding to the farmers request, the Lagos State Deputy Governorship candidate, All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, said his party will ensure that agricultural reform stays on the front burner.

    He   said the nation’s future growth in agriculture could slow down if efforts are not made to address constraints for farmers,including infrastructure along the food supply chain, and concerns about limited land access.

    He stressed that large investments in maintenance and expansion of transport infrastructure are needed to keep up with the expected growth in demand, to lower delivery times and costs and to maintain product quality.

    Hamzat said his party would ensure increasing productivity and expansion of land devoted to agriculture to enable Lagos become a major food supplier.

    Similarly, the Lagos State governorship  candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP), Jimi Agbaje, said the nation’s agricultural system still has much potential to supply more agricultural products if it can address financial constraints for farmers, infrastructure challenges along the food supply chain, and environmental concerns about land expansion.

    The Lagos governorshipl candidate, Action Democratic Party(ADP), Mr. Babatunde Gbadamosi, said the state’s  rising food consumption will require continued increases in food supplies. The challenge for the farm sector, according to him, is to sustain productivity growth to meet increasing domestic demand and, at the same time, maintain its position as a major supplier of agricultural commodities to world markets.

    The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party,Dr Adetokunbo Pearse said his party is ready to implement reforms that will restore steady economic growth.

     

  • ASUU: our members can voluntarily participate in 2019 polls

    THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) said yesterday that its members can voluntarily participate in the 2019 general elections processes.

    ASUU, however, said its members must not use any material that bears its name or insignia that relates to the union.

    The union also said the offer from the Federal Government in an effort to meet its demands as contained in the 2017 Memorandum of Action (MoA) is still fluid and far from expectations.

    In Bulletin 8 issued by the union’s president, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, a copy of which was obtained by the University of Ibadan ASUU chapter, asked members to await further developments on the strike.

    According to Ogunyemi, the proposal from the government towards resolving ASUU’s demands as contained in the 2017 MoA “is still fluid and far from expectations”.

    Read also: ASUU bars members from 2019 elections

    The bulletin read: “Though some progress has been made with respect to discussion with government agents (the Minister of Labour and Employment as well as Minister of Education), at the moment, the proposal from the government towards resolving the demand of ASUU as contained in 2017 MoA and Strike Bulletin 1 is still too fluid and far from expectations. Hence, it is the view of the NSCC that members should await further developments, which are rapidly unfolding.

    “In accordance with the ASUU’s long standing position, ASUU as a union will not participate in the conduct of 2019 general elections, although members may voluntarily participate in the conduct of the elections. However, members are prohibited from participating in the election processes using any material that bears ASUU or relates to the union.”

  • 2019 polls …Power to youths, women

    The figures of registered voters released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) show that youths and women should be the targets of candidates seeking elective offices. The statistics also shows that if youths and women can unite, they can take over political offices, writes OLUKOREDE YISHAU.

    Samson Itodo is a human rights activist and good governance campaigner. As the Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, he worked assiduously for the actualisation of the Not Too Young To Run bill. His team worked with Tony Nwulu in the House of Representatives and AbdulAziz Nyako in the Senate to get sections 65, 106, 131, 177 of the Constitution altered. The alterations were meant to reduce the age of running for elective positions for House of Assembly and House of Representatives from 30 years to 25 years, Senate and Governorship from 35 years to 30 years and office of the President from 40 to 30.

    Itodo made many an advocacy visit, including to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, between May 2016 and mid-2018 when President Muhammadu Buhari assented to the bill. In the wisdom of the National Assembly, it, however, refused to reduce the age for governor and National Assembly membership. That notwithstanding, not a few felt a milestone was recorded.

    Like young people who felt the need for the alterations in the Constitution for them to have a place of pride in the leadership chamber, women have also been complaining of low representation. A paper delivered by Nse Etim Akpan of the Department of Political Science, Federal University Wukari, P.M.B. 1020, Wukari, Taraba State titled ‘Men without Women: An analysis of the 2015 General Elections in Nigeria’ shows that women are under-represented.

    Akpan said: “Women do not often receive the support and mentoring they need to compete with their male counterparts in politics. Even voters do not fully appreciate the benefits of having a mix of men and women in government, often saying that women are over-ambitious when they aspire for any political position. As a result, there is currently a low representation of women at all levels of government in Nigeria. In the 2011 general election, female candidates fared poorly, with only 32 women elected to the national parliament out of 469 members, which is barely 8% representation. This paper examines the level of women participation in the just concluded 2015 general elections. It argues that women’s political involvement in that election was very low in spite of decades of struggle for gender equity and women’s empowerment. The paper equally identifies and discusses the problems face by women in their quest to participate in politics, examine the theoretical perspective of the discrimination and inequality suffered by women; and lastly suggest possible measures that could aid their political participation and empowerment.”

    Akpan shows that in the 2015 elections, lesser women were victorious.  “In fact with the results of the just concluded elections, it seems women’s low participation in elective positions have grown from bad to worse. There is growing concern amongst women that the percentage of their participation in elective positions in the country witnessed decline or nose-dived from 2007 to 2011 and now 2015,” said the researcher.

    The findings show that: “in 2002, women made up only three percent of elected officials, in 2007 they made up seven percent and in 2011 they made up about five percent and even before the 2015 general elections few women emerged as candidates after the political party primaries.” It added that “in the 29 states where gubernatorial elections held this year, the representation of women seeking the office of governor and deputy governor was 87 out of the 380 candidates (22.9 per cent) running for the positions. In the contest for senatorial seats, 122 women out of 747 candidates, representing 16 per cent, were cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to run in the March 28 election. The number was not better in the contest for the lower chamber of parliament. Two hundred and sixty seven (267) women out of a total 1774 candidates ran for seats at the House of Representatives, representing 15 per cent.”

    Read also: Strengthen political institutions for stability, Buhari tells African leaders

    INEC Deputy Director Gender Division Mrs. Blessing Obidiegwu observed that 14 females were elected into the House of Representatives and eight women won as senators in 2015. This, said Akpan, means only 14 women are part of the 360 lawmakers in the House. The House before the current one had 27 women. In the Senate, there are eight women and 101 men.

    A lawyer and Chair of Women in Politics Forum (WiP), Ebere Ifendu, explained why women did not do well in the election: “Looking at what is going on in Taraba and Akwa Ibom where women contested, there was so much violence and unfortunately we are not going to have as much women as the previous senate. We are not happy with it but we have to re-strategize and see what we can do to have more women participate. Because as it is, we are just back to square one. Until there is legislation on the 35 percent affirmative action women will continue to have problems because election is very much monetised, women don’t have resources to match men. There is no genuine internal democracy in the political parties and candidates are handpicked, adding that when one scales party primary he or she has scaled the most hurdle.”

    Ideally, youths and women should have more say in the political space. Statistics released by INEC on Monday supports this. The breakdown of the 84,004,084 registered voters shows that female voters constitute 47.14 per cent, which is 39,598,645 voters; male voters constitute 52.85 per cent, which is 44,405,439 voters. Youths between ages 18 and 35 constitute 51.11 per cent, which is 42,938,458 voters. Those between 36 and 50 constitute 29.97 per cent, which is 25,176,144. Those between 51 and 70 constitute 15.22 per cent, which amounted to 3,100,971 voters. The septuagenarians and above constitute 3.69 per cent, which is 3,100,971 voters.

    INEC Director of Voter Register Iro Gambo said that the Southsouth has 12,841,279 registered voters, representing 15.29 per cent. He added that the Northcentral has 13,366,070 voters, representing 15.91 per cent; the Southeast has 10,057,130 registered voters, representing 11.91 per cent, and Southwest has 16,292,212 voters, representing 19.39 per cent.

    The Northwest has 20,158,100 voters, representing 24 per cent and the Northeast has 11,289, 293 voters, representing 13.44 per cent. Lagos State accounts for 6.6 million and Kano has 5.5 million voters.

    For many, women and youths can only use their figures to their advantage if they are united and do no develop apathy. A public affairs analyst, Mr Ezekiel Alabi, believes INEC and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) must intensify their campaign against voter apathy.  Alabi said the outcome of the last general elections showed that less than 50 per cent of registered voters actually voted.

    Alabi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan yesterday that the 84 million registered voters was not as important as the actual number of voters that would come out to vote during the forthcoming general elections.

    He said: “This clearly reveals that voter apathy usually characterise general elections in the country. It now behoves on INEC, NOA and other relevant agencies of government to step up strategies in sensitising these 84 million voters on the need to exercise their civic responsibility.

    “Those that are yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) should be sensitised to collect them while those with the PVCs should be implored to use it wisely during the elections,” he stated.

    Alabi also enjoined the electorate not to sell their PVCs to unscrupulous politicians. He expressed optimism that over 90 per cent of registered voters would participate in the elections.

    “That is if INEC, NOA and other relevant agencies of government play their respective roles effectively,‘’ he said.

    So far, there are no specific messages targeted by office seekers to get the votes of the youths and women. A public commentator, Moses Adagunodo, said: “What you can count as campaigns targeted at youths are basically on social media, but even at that they are general in nature. May be now that the statistics are out we may see targeted messages.”

    Will the women and youths use their electoral strength to their advantage? Time will tell.

  • 2019 polls: Katsina battles security challenges

    In Katsina state of northwestern Nigeria, insecurity has emerged as the major threat to next month’s general election. Unless something drastic is done to stem the growing tide of violent attacks across the state, the 2019 general election may be badly affected, reports Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor and Augustine Okezie in Katsina.

    CURRENTLY, not less than eight local government areas of Katsina state are at the mercy of bandits, kidnappers and other criminals that have been threatening the security of life and properties in the northwestern state for months now. Sources across the state says the situation is so bad today that residents of the affected areas rarely leave the confines of their homes for fear of being bobbed, abducted or killed.

    The Nation further learnt that concerns are already being expressed in many quarters across the state over the possible effect of the worrisome state of security on the forthcoming general election. According to reliable sources, chieftains of both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been speaking about the security challenges as the elections approach.

    “Even the state government and traditional rulers are expressing concerns over the development. It is left to be seen how a peaceful election can be held in an atmosphere of utter insecurity. This is not about politics, it is about ensuring that the people feel safe before asking them to go and vote. Across party divides, the people of Katsina are calling for urgent help in this regard,” a source said.

    Speaking on the frightening security situation in the state, Dr. Mustapha Inuwa, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chairman of a 10 man Security Committee set up last week by Governor Aminu Bello Masariafter an an extra-ordinary security meeting with security chiefs and other stakeholders, told newsmen at a briefing in his office that movement of personnel and materials to especially the affected frontline state s will be hampered by insecurity.

    He further listed the affected Local Government Areas to include Jibia, Batsari, Safana, Dandume, Faskari, Sabwa and Kafur. He said “certainly the security situation will threaten the general elections especially in those affected local government areas because if you post personnel to the affected area, they may refuse to go there out of fear of their safety.’’

    He explained that most of the affected local government areas are locoed along the state’s border with Zamfara state. “We all know that Zamfara has been battling banditry and other vices for a while now. Many of these criminals being smoked out of Zamfara by the military and police operations going on therein are finding their ways into Katsina state through these border towns.

    “It is as a result of the failure of government to pre-empt this situation and prepare ahead that we now have this crisis on our hands. Katsina is a peaceful place and the current state government places a lot of emphasis on security of lives and properties. But the situation today requires help from higher quarters and it has to be urgently done so that the elections are not hampered by insecurity,” Abdulkadir Tsiga, state co-ordinator of Voters’ Right Agenda (VRA) told The Nation.

     

    Helpless govt

    Unable to keep quiet over the serious nature of the security challenges confronting it across the state, the Katsina State Government admitted that the present state of insecurity which has gripped the state may affect the conduct of a peaceful general election in the state if not properly tackled by a combined synergy of actions involving security agencies in the state through ground and air operations.

    Explaining the magnitude of the crisis on the government’s hand, Inuwa outlined several emergency measures already taken by the Masari-led administration to include reaching out for cooperation with neighboring states like Kaduna, Zamfara and Kano states, clearing the forests located especially within the urban centers which he said have become hide-outs for criminals, embarking on awareness campaign amongst inhabitants of the rural areas through traditional rulers and district heads as well as equipping security agencies.

    He said the state government also requested that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris should make available Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) and related equipment to police personnel in the state to enable them deal with the rising cases of kidnappings, banditry and cattle rustling in some parts of the state. “We discovered that the lack of synergy between the police, military and other security agencies in the state was responsible for the rise in cases of kidnappings, banditry and cattle rustling especially in council areas sharing border with the Rugu forest,” he added.

    The Nation recalled that Governor Masari had during an extra-ordinary security meeting that comprised of security chiefs and other stakeholders lamented the rise in insecurity, adding that security reports showed that one or more of the mentioned crimes were perpetuated in some parts of the state on a daily basis.    On the issue of Cattle rustling, Inuwa said government was considering the possibility of carrying out an enumeration of cattles and their owner in the affected areas.

    Earleir, citing increasing cases of armed banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling committed in parts of the state by suspected gunmen, Governor Masari had raised alarm that the state was under siege. The governor, speaking during a crucial meeting of security chiefs, traditional rulers and acting chairmen of local governments among others critical stakeholders, revealed that intelligence reports  available indicated growing cases of the menace of suspected bandits.

    He disclosed that urgent steps had to be taken at the meeting on the way out of the dangerous security threats facing the state which borders troubled communities in Zamfara State. He maintained that the prevailing situation was a serious threat to survival of the people of the state, adding that it is the responsibility of government and those steering the security apparatus to protect the lives and property of all.

    Masari stressed the need for collective efforts in addressing the challenges for the improved socio-economic activities in the state, while calling on Katsina citizens to assist security agencies with useful information to effectively tackle the situation. He equally solicited continuous prayers for God‘s intervention to overcome the security challenges facing the state and the nation.

    “No one, not even myself, is safe. So, this is the situation and that is why we are here to find a way out, which is a must. There is no option because we are thinking of the survival of our people and state. It is now a daily occurrence as no day passes without a case recorded. It is not even rustling of cows but now kidnapping of people. “Our state is currently under serious siege by armed robbers, kidnappers and armed bandits who arrest rural people at the grassroots at will and demand ransom, which if not paid, they kill their victims.

    “The Permanent Secretary was just informing me that his close relative was kidnapped and a ransom of N5 million was demanded and the person who took the money to them was shot. Some people visited me, and as they left, they were trailed and robbed of their belongings. The armed robbers could not go away with the vehicle because it has security lock on it. In the past, they carried out their activities in the middle of the night, but now, they operate at midnight, 10pm and gradually in broad day light.

    “It is not up to a month, right here in front of  Government House, five electricity poles were carted away. It is getting out of hand that we should not fold our arms. Let’s return to God, let’s pray to Him to salvage the situation.  So we must reach a lasting solution at this meeting to curtail this ugly trend.

    “The citizens are on daily basis being harassed by bandits and kidnappers that are on rampage in the state. The Katsina government organised this one-day joint security and stakeholders meeting to proffer solutions to the state’s current insecurity challenge. The people of Katsina in the 34 local governments now sleep with one eye closed and the other opened,” the Governor lamented.

     

    Help coming?

    As the government and other stakeholders continue to cry for help in tackling the insecurity challenges currently suffocating the state, Tsiga says Katsina state should be specially considered by the military “as it plans its strategic involvement in the security of the nation during the general election.” The pro-democracy activists says there can be no free and fair election without adequate security of lives during elections.

    It would be recalled that last December, the Nigerian Army says it will conduct exercise “Egwu Eke III – Python Dance” nationwide, to tackle already “observed upsurge’’ in security challenges as the 2019 general elections draw nearer. According to the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, who announced this at a news conference in Maiduguri, the exercise will be conducted from January 1 to February 28, 2019.

    Represented by Lamidi Adeosun, the Chief of Training and Operations, Mr. Buratai, a Lt.-Gen., identified those threats as stockpiling of arms by criminal groups, the formation of ethnic militia and violence induced by political activities. The army had in 2016 and 2017 conducted exercise Egwu Eke I and II to address peculiar security challenges in the South- East geo-political zone.

    “These challenges coupled with other security threats across the country such as terrorism, militancy, kidnapping and banditry portend that dissident groups and criminal elements could cash in on the situation to perpetrate large-scale violence before, during and after the 2019 general elections,’’ he said. According to the army chief, Nigerian troops need to be prepared and equipped with requisite skills in order to professionally and effectively respond to these challenges and security threats in collaboration with the Nigerian Police and other para-military oganisations.

    Responding to a question on why Egwu Eke III is being conducted nationwide and not restricted to the South-East in line with its code name, Mr Buratai’s representative said there is python everywhere. “Even in the desert of Borno, don’t forget, the Lake Chad basin is there, python can also dance within the desert.

    “In fact, we have desert python, so python will dance all over the country this time around,’’ he said.

    The army chief explained that the success of the exercise Egwu Eke I and II in checkmating security threats in the South- East informed its implementation across the country now. Buratai called on Nigerians to provide the army and other security agencies with useful and timely information to enable them to deliver on the mandate of the planned exercise. He reaffirmed the commitment of the army to fight against terrorism and insurgency in the country.

    Thus, concerned stakeholders are hoping that the exercise will promptly take off in Katsina and help end the security worries of the government and residents of the state in good time before the general elections. “It is important to note that unless people are assured of safety long before the election, the entire exercise may suffer voters’ apathy, thereby reducing the credibility of the polls,” Tsiga said.

  • Interfaith group sues for peaceful 2019 polls

    A group, Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP), has admonished youths of Plateau State to resist the temptations of being used by politicians to cause mayhem in 2019 election.

    Coordinator of the training program, Dr. Auwal Farouk gave the remarks yesterday while welcoming participants to a 2-day training and dialogue programme organized for youths in Plateau State held at Crest Hotel, Jos.

    According to Farouk, “This training and dialogue session is for leaders of youths organizations in the state to meet and dialogue on ways to ensure a violent-free election in 2019. Which is why the participants are heads of Plateau youth council drawn from all the 17 local governments of the state, as well as religious leaders.

    Read also: Ibori to Anioma: Okowa’s re-election is your battle

    “It is the desire of Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP) that Nigerians should adopt a political system that is democratic and liberal, which will allow the electorate and citizens to chose liberally their representatives in government in a conducive atmosphere devoid of rancor and hostilities.

  • Afenifere endorses Buhari for 2019 polls

    •Public declaration January 29
    •‘Any other Yoruba not with us are renegade and usurpers’

    The Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Afenifere, has endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as the Yoruba candidates ahead of next year’s presidential election.

    It said any other group that fails to align with the current position would be treated usurpers and renegades.

    The organisation recalled that Afenifere, as started by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, should be progressive.

    Its spokesperson Biodun Akin-Fasae stated the group’s position yesterday while addressing reporters on the outcome of a meeting of delegates and elders from the six Southwest states in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    The group is led by the longest-living senator in Nigeria, Pa Ayo Fasanmi.

    Notable figures at the meeting included a former Oyo State Governor Omololu Olunloyo, Prince Tajudden Olusi, Dr. Abayomi Fini, Chief Adeleke Adewoyin, Prince Biodun Ogunleye, former Oyo State Deputy Governor Iyiola Oladokun and Pa Ayo Afolabi.

    Governments’ representatives at the meeting included Dr Morounkola Thomas (Oyo), Mr Oladosu Oladipo, Chief Akin Fasae (Ekiti), Mr Muyiwa Ige (Osun), Prof. Adebanjo Ademodi (Ondo), Mr Tokunbo Ajasin and Mr Awa Bamiji.

    Akin-Fasae said: “We have decided to host the Yoruba land in Ibadan on January 29. It is to proclaim the support of the Yoruba for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 and to tell the world that the Afenifere that Baba Awolowo created before he left is still intact as a progressive movement. Any Afenifere person who is not in the progressive is not part of us.

    “We are now telling the Yoruba people and the whole world that Afenifere, as enunciated and enacted by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, is still intact and we are going to support President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the 2019 presidential election.”

    Asked why Afenifere was supporting the Federal Government, He said: “The economy is a collective issue. The economy has been bastardised for years. As at now, President Buhari is trying his best; he is bringing the economy up. The gross domestic product (GDP) is growing. Look at the programmes for youths and the children through empowerment and school feeding programmes in schools across the country; 26 states are already in the programme and many other states are happy with it.

    “So, President Buhari is trying his best and the best is yet to come. That is why we are asking people to vote for him, particularly in this Yoruba land, in the 2019 presidential election.”

    On the authenticity of the support in view of another faction of the group supporting another presidential candidate, Akin-Fasae said: “The Afenifere that we know in Yoruba land is a progressive movement. This is where we are today in Ibadan. The other Afenifere (the Ayo Adebanjo group) that is talking about Abubakar Atiku are not part of us. They are usurpers.

    “The Yoruba are not divided; there are not so many Afeniferes. Yoruba is a nation and even during the time of Baba Awolowo, there were dissent voices. So, we are not embarrassed. Our group is led by the longest living senator in Nigeria, Pa Ayo Fasanmi. You can see everybody there, including Senator Durojaiye, Dr Olunloyo, Baba Olusi. So, every other person in Yoruba land who is not a renegade is with us. There was no time Afenifere has not been a socio-political organisation. It is a socio-cultural and political organisation. That is just the full name of Afenifere…”

     

     

     

  • North’s monarchs meet over insecurity ahead of 2019 polls

    The monarchs of the 19 Northern states, under the auspices of Northern Traditional Rulers Council (NTRC), yesterday started a two-day General Assembly in Kaduna.

    They expressed concern about insecurity ahead of next year’s general elections.

    The opening ceremony of the assembly was attended by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Mamud Yakubu, and his national commissioners, chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Drug Abuse, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.) and Governor Nasir el-Rufai, who was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prof Kabir Mato.

    The theme of the general assembly holding at the famous Arewa House is: Pervasive Insecurity In An Election Year (Prospects and Challenges).

    The Chairman of the NTRC and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, emphasised the need for tight security before, during and after the elections to avoid loss of lives and property.

    He said traditional rulers would play their complementary role to that of security agencies during the elections.

    Prof Yakubu reassured Nigerians of the commission’s readiness to make the general elections free, fair and credible.

    He said: “Some of our politicians are not democratic. That is why some of them cross from one party to another.”

    The INEC chairman assured the nation that the commission would continue to improve on the logistics to enable it conduct hitch-free elections next year.

    He added: “It is more difficult to conduct states’ elections than that of the general elections because people will be more focused on the state where the election is taking place.”

    Read also: Insecurity: Kwara APC shelves campaign

    Yakubu insisted that the current INEC is better prepared for the 2019 general elections than it was in 2015.

    Marwa solicited the support of traditional rulers to tackle increasing menace drug abuse in the North.

    The former Lagos State Military Administrator accused some politicians for recruiting youths as thugs and buying illicit drugs for them to harass political opponents.

    He noted that if drug abuse remained unaddressed, it would destroy the society. Marwa said: “Traditional rulers are powerful, influential and respected. So, we have to reach out to them and explain the problems of drug abuse, a problem that, if we allow it to continue, will destroy all of us.”

    He said President Muhammadu Buhari had taken the bull by the horns by setting up a two-tier structure to tackle the problem.

    According to him, one of the challenges facing the fight against drug abuse in the North is the almajiri situation.

    Marwa added: “And I placed it before our royal fathers that this is one area that we need to come together to resolve.

    “You have these kids… You see them roaming about. In the olden days, you saw them getting something for food, but now the situations are not exactly the same.”

  • INEC: we’ll conduct 2019 polls with existing laws

    Advocates of a new electoral law may have lost their battle.

    President Muhammadu Buhari has returned the Electoral Bill to the National Assembly, stating why he did not sign it.

    And yesterday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it was moving ahead with its preparation for next year’s general elections despite the President’s stand.

    INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said the commission would conduct next year’s election using the exiting laws that are presently valid and in place.

    He said the commission would not be distracted by the wrangling between the Presidency and National Assembly.

    INEC, Yakubu added, is fine-tuning its processes and procedures to ensure it delivered a good election next year.

    He spoke at a national peace conference on 2019 general elections organised by Youngstar Development Initiative with support from the National Democratic Initiative.

    The INEC chairman, who was represented by National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee Festus Okoye, urged registered political parties, their candidates and supporters to place national interest over their own personal interest.

    He said: “As a commission, we are fine-tuning our processes and procedures towards delivering good elections in 2019. The commission is focused and will conduct an election that the Nigerian people will be proud of. But that election has to be and must be conducted under a very peaceful environment.

    “The commission is not bothered and will not be distracted by the hue and cry over certain issues and decisions taken by the President and the National Assembly. The commission is focused on organising the 2019 elections using the extant laws, using the laws that are valid as at today and we will not be distracted.

    “We urge all registered political parties, their candidates and their supporters to place the national interest over their own personal interest.”

    Yakubu added that the commission has constituted a committee to oversee the situation room and collation centres.

    Read also: Court okays nullified Rivers APC congresses

    He expressed concerns over the safety and security of corps members and other officials that will participate in the election.

    United States Ambassador to Nigeria Stuart Symington said it was important that the country conducted a violence-free election next year.

    He urged the youths to take charge of next year’s election by ensuring that they elect the right leaders.

    Symington added that next year presents an opportunity for Nigerian youths to contribute to the country’s democracy.

    A music star, Innocent Idibia, urged Nigerians to vote and not fight, noting that election is not a war.

    Idibia, who is the Vote not Fight Campaign ambassador, said there was need for the country to conduct smooth, free, fair and credible elections.

    Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council John Ameh called on INEC to ensure that the election was transparent and credible.

  • 2019 polls: Why Buhari didn’t sign Electoral Bill

    With the National Assembly threatening to veto President Muhammadu Buhari on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, the controversy seems to be growing.

    President Buhari insists that signing the Bill will undermine credible elections next year.

    Besides, he says it will negate an ECOWAS Protocol which states that no electoral legislation should be passed 90 days before an election, according to Presidency source.

    Nigeria is a signatory to the protocol and the general elections are barely two months away.

    The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the National Assembly to veto the bill.

    Peoples Trust (PT) presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim berated the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP for quarrelling over the document.

    He said both parties were playing pranks due to what he described as their hypocritical commitment to the proposed Electoral Act.

    However, a Presidency source yesterday listed the reasons the President withheld his signature to the bill.

    Besides, it was learnt, some senators have vowed to resist any plan by the National Assembly to veto the President on the bill.

    The source, who pleaded not to be named because he is not permitted to speak on the matter, maintained that the bill as passed by the lawmakers was full of “booby traps” that could compromise the credibility of next year’s elections if signed into law.

    According to the source, electronic transmission of election results as provided for in the bill could be manipulated by hackers.

    The source described the controversy over the Electoral Act as an “unnecessary distraction” to blackmail the President into signing the law with his “eyes wide closed”, adding that the document “is a landmine laid in the path of the President by the PDP-led National Assembly, which is determined to force his hands, despite the fact that the President has unambiguously explained his reasons for not signing the Electoral Act”.

    The source said:  ”The Act is fraught with dangers, which, if ignored, could only create chaos and confusion during the 2019 elections.

    “The President is validly worried about the loopholes in the Electoral Act that could undermine the will of the people.

    “Forcing the hands of the President to sign the amended Electoral Act in its present form could result in chaos, thereby truncating the democratic process.

    “We have discovered disturbing evidence that suggests that the nation’s interest has been sold off and all that the PDP will do is to hack into the mandatory electronic transmission of results to write whatever they wish and win. Government is determined to ensure that the votes count in the coming elections and have to do something to thwart their evil plan.

    “There is the issue of the so-called ‘fusion of votes’ by which the votes of party members in an alliance, without any form of merger can be counted for a candidate other than their own.”

    The President had on Friday returned the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018 to the National Assembly, urging the lawmakers to revisit his earlier observations on what he called “observed errors”.

    President Buhari in his December 6 memo addressed to Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, urged the lawmakers to save democracy by ensuring the law comes into effect after next year’s elections.

    It was the fourth time the President will rejected the bill.

    But the House of Representatives, through its spokesman Abdulrazak Namdas, said the President’s memo had not been officially communicated to the Green Chamber.