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Tag: Bayelsa

  • Bayelsa guber: Nembe Women backs Sylva 

    Bayelsa guber: Nembe Women backs Sylva 

     The women of Nembe have thrown their weight behind the governorship ambition of the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate in the November 11 governorship election, Chief Timipre Sylva.

     The women from Nembe Ogbolomabiri and Opu-Nembe under the aegis of Nembe Women for Good Governance spoke at a unity rally for the forthcoming governorship election under the Chairmanship of Dr Mrs Alayingi Sylva.

    The Unity Rally powered by Dr Kojo Sam has as its special guest of Honour, Mrs Sarah Joshua Maclver wife of the deputy governorship candidate.

    One of the organisers and the pioneer President of the Opu-Nembe Ladies, Mrs Beatrice Edward Awululu said the backing of Sylva is done deal as Nembe women would 100 per cent of their votes to Chief Timipre Sylva.

    According to her, the Nembe Women have decided unanimously to pledged their total support to Sylva.

     “ We the Nembe women have pledged total support for Chief Timipre Sylva because he is symbol of good governance. Voting for Chief Timipre Sylva is a done deal. He is our son, brother and father. He is loved by the people. This programme was not organised to lobby people to vote for him, we are 100 percent behind his candidature and he is going to win. We are united in our decision to vote for him. We are Nembe people and there is no way we are not going to support him”.

     She stated that the programme is to further engender the peace prevailing in Nembe Kingdom and ensure that the Women are united for good governance which Chief Timipre Sylva represents.

     Also speaking Mrs Inidoni Gamage, the President Nembe City Women Forum, who noted that the desire of the women is to see a peaceful election said the Nembe women are for Chief Timire Sylva.

     She described as rumour reports making rounds that Nembe Ogbolomabiri are behind another candidate saying Chief Sylva is a son of the soil and would be supported.

     “The public should disregard the rumour that Nembe Kingdom is not for Chief Timipre Sylva. He is our son and we are going to vote for him, “ she said.

     The former Women leader of Opu- Nembe, Mrs Seiyefiekuma Clinton, who harped on the need for unity said the Nembe are voting for Chief Timipre Sylva because he is the only candidate that can bring good governance to the people.  

      Mrs Ebiere Akpobasa who represented Mrs Alayingi Sylva commended the organisers and the Nembe Women urged them to stand firm and ensure that their votes are for Chief Timipre Sylva who is poised to bring good governance to the state.

  • Bayelsa APC deputy gov candidate granted amnesty under Yar’Adua – Correctional Service boss

    Bayelsa APC deputy gov candidate granted amnesty under Yar’Adua – Correctional Service boss

    The Nigerian Correctional Centre (NCS) has declared that a former ex-militant leader and deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joshua MacIver, has no pending prison sentence obligation.

    The Controller-General of corrections, Haliru Nababa, in a leaked document titled, ‘To Whom It May Concern’, clarified that Maciver was granted amnesty alongside other Niger Delta militants by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

    Nababa in a letter addressed to Benjamin Ogbara, the lawyer to MacIver, said the amnesty proclamation ended Maciver’s prison sentence at the Kaduna prisons.

    The controller-general also attached the official gazette containing the amnesty proclamation and other relevant documents to prove that MacIver was cleared of all offences.

    Maciver, prior to the amnesty proclamation, was convicted and thrown into the Kaduna prisons for mounting pressure on an oil company operating in his community to provide basic amenities to his people.

    Read Also: PDP calls on INEC to honour pledge on BVAS, IReV in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa polls

    Nababa said: “This is to confirm that Mr. Joshua MacIver, who was serving a prison sentence in Kaduna Prisons following his conviction in charge number FHC/KD/119C/2004, on the 26th of February, 2006 was granted Amnesty alongside other Niger Delta militants by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

    “This is in pursuant to the Amnesty Proclamation dated the 25th of June, 2009 in exercise of the powers vested on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under section 175 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “He is, therefore, no longer under any legal obligation to continue to serve the prison sentence. Please, find attached the official gazette containing the amnesty proclamation and other relevant documents”.

  • Bayelsa guber: I will attract more developments if elected, says Sylva

    Bayelsa guber: I will attract more developments if elected, says Sylva

    The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the November 11, governorship election in Bayelsa state, Timipre Sylva, has promised to attract more development to the state if elected.

    Sylva, a former governor of the state, made the promise on Friday, October 13, when his campaign train hit Ekeremor main town, Aleibiri, and other communities in Ekeremor local government area of the state.

    The former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources was given a rousing welcome in the communities visited as APC party faithful and members stormed the campaign venues from far and wide.

    Sylva, while rallying the support of the people of Ekeremor, one of the LGAs that commands large votes in the state, took a swipe at the Douye Diri administration, alleging that the governor is clueless and confused on the direction to take the state.

    He opined that the incumbent governor, who is also the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was not delivering on the dividends of democracy to Bayelsans.

    He, therefore, assured the people of Ekeremor of more strides in infrastructural development such as electrification of the LGA, provision of potable water and payment of salaries owed to teachers.

    Sylva stated: “I understand that five months’ salaries are being owed to primary school teachers. That will be paid within 100 days of my government.

    Read Also: Why Bayelsans should vote me, by Diri

    “I also understand that some people have been unjustly removed from their jobs. This is unacceptable. My government will surely bring them back.

    “We must change the sitting government. Workers’ salaries are not adequate; they cannot live well within their incomes, yet they are still being owed. We must seek means for our people to live well. I am telling the youths here that if you know what is good for you, you must vote for us.”

    He lamented the current conditions of youths in the state, promising that when elected on November 11, 2023, he would prioritise youth empowerment and education.

    Sylva noted: “I have made a promise and my promise is a bond. I said I would create women millionaires in Ekeremor and by the time I am leaving we will come back here to celebrate.

    “Ekeremor people, this is a new day. You must not be deceived. I hear they are now hawking appointments that they did not give you before.

    “Please don’t fall for them because they did it the last time and nobody collected their salary before they were sacked.”

    Also addressing the rallies, former deputy governor of Bayelsa, Peremobowei Ebebi, implored the Ekeremor electorate to vote massively for the APC candidate and his running mate, Great Joshua MacIver.

    Ebebi noted that Sylva had done it before when he was governor, and he believed that the APC candidate would do better than the current occupier of Creek Haven (Bayelsa Government House).

    Also speaking, the state chairman of APC, Dennis Otiotio, said that APC is the party to beat in the state, urging the voters not to waste their votes for other parties.

    Otiotio spoke eloquently of Sylva, saying he is a politician with the pedigree of performance who means well for the state and is poised to raise the bar of leadership in the state.

  • Sack bad leaders, Bayelsa LP candidate’s wife urges women

    Sack bad leaders, Bayelsa LP candidate’s wife urges women

    Wife of the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Mrs. Teslima Abubakar Eradiri, has urged voters in Bayelsa State to back her husband’s bid and sack Governor Douye Diri in the next month governorship election in the state.

    She made the appeal yesterday during the official launch of her campaign to mobilise women for her husband, Udengs Eradiri.

    Speaking after a meeting in Yenagoa with the LP women leaders in the eight local government areas, Mrs. Eradiri appealed to them to begin grassroots mobilization in their areas to support her husband.

    She said there was a need for the women to close ranks, understand her husband’s vision for the state and take the message to their various communities.

    She insisted that the LP candidate remained the best for the job, adding that Eradiri would transform Bayelsa from a spending state to an income-generating state for a better life for residents.

    She said: “He wants a better life for children. He wants a Bayelsa State where people will come to, a state that has something that will attract people. We are not going to be a spending state, by God’s grace we are going to be an income generating state.

    “There must be something bringing people to Bayelsa State, where people will, ‘say there is this hospital in Yenagoa, if you are looking for the best cancer doctor, it’s in Yenagoa’. If you are looking for the best orthopedic surgeon, it’s in Yenagoa. If you are looking for a rice factory, it’s in Yenagoa, if you are looking for a sugar mill, it’s in Yenagoa.

    Read Also: FG looking into gas exploration, solid minerals

    Mrs. Eradiri lamented that Bayelsa had been plagued with bad leaders, adding that it was time to issue them a red card.

    She said: “Then you will realize that Bayelsa State has been plagued with bad leaders, with greedy people who only want to come in and fend for themselves and their families. They will come and marry ten wives while they are in office with state resources, living lavish lifestyle.

    “A lot of these our leaders in the state, their children cannot come back to this state to speak. What are you speaking on? Did you go to school in Bayelsa?

    “It is these things that have caused deep pain in our heart that has made Udengs come forward and say this is what he wants to change in the state. He wants a state that will be better for all of us, it may not be for us today, it will be for the generations coming. It will be for our young children and your grandchildren.”

    She also advised the women on the need to continuously sensitize the electorate especially at the rural areas on the processes of voting to avoid unnecessary mistakes that would lead to cancelation or voiding of votes on the election day.

  • Bayelsa poll: Diri receives defectors from APC, LP

    Bayelsa poll: Diri receives defectors from APC, LP

    Ahead of the November 11 poll in Bayelsa state, Governor Douye Diri has received eight new defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and one defector from the Labour Party (LP).

    They were received by the governor at Amassoma and Amatolo communities in the Southern Ijaw Local government area of the state when his campaign train went to SILGA.

    The leader of the new defectors, Suoyo Ebi Omonibo, said they took the decision to join the PDP in order to support the good work of the current administration in the state.

    Other defectors from the APC are Biebo Pino Oyinki, Igo Akpobolokemi, Evans Zidi Ambaiowei, Igo Eyibigha, Karikarisei Sunday, and Kemepade Warri while Samson Ogugu joined PDP from the LP.

    Read Also: Bayelsa poll: Your defeat is imminent, propaganda can’t save you, Nabena tells Diri, PDP

    Also, the PDP governorship campaign train landed in Ogbia Constituency 3 on Monday with a visit to some communities to seek support for the governor’s re-election as well as inaugurate some projects in some communities.

    The team, led by the Director-General of the Diri/Law Campaign Council, Mitema Obordor was in Oruma, Otuasega, Emeyal and then Kolo, headquarters of the Constituency.

    Many party faithful thronged Kolo to receive the candidate, Governor Douye Diri, and his running mate, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

    The governor was accompanied by his wife, Dr. Gloria Diri.

  • I’m committed to APC’s victory in Bayelsa – Lokpobiri

    I’m committed to APC’s victory in Bayelsa – Lokpobiri

    The Minister for State Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri has denied reports of alliance with the PDP-led government in Bayelsa state headed by Governor Douye Diri.

    Media reports had alleged that there is a crack in Bayelsa APC as top leaders, including Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and David Lyon, engage in talks with PDP’s Governor Diri.

    A statement by Nneamaka Okafor, Special Adviser on Media and Communication aide to Lokpobiri, debunked the allegations describing it as “handiwork of unscrupulous elements and individuals, groups who do not have Bayelsa State’s best interests at heart, especially threatened by the strong and cordial relationship that exists between Senator Lokpobiri and his boss President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”

    Nneamaka said: “Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Honourable Minister for State Petroleum Resources (Oil), wish to set the records straight and debunk these malicious claims.

    “It has come to our attention that certain false allegations are being circulated in various media outlets in an attempt to tarnish the reputation of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, PhD, a committed member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a staunch supporter of Chief Timipre Sylva, the APC Governorship candidate in the upcoming November 11, 2023, Governorship election in Bayelsa State.

    “These baseless allegations suggest that Senator Lokpobiri and Chief David Lyon have formed an alliance with the PDP Governor Douye Diri. We categorically state that these allegations lack credibility and are merely propaganda. Senator Lokpobiri’s dedication to the APC’s principles and values is unquestionable, and he remains steadfast in his commitment to the party’s success in Bayelsa State.

    Nneamaka noted that: “Senator Lokpobiri has consistently championed unity and cohesion within the State chapter of the APC and has been at the forefront of promoting the party’s agenda in Bayelsa State. Any insinuations to the contrary are unfounded and untrue.”

    Read Also: Bayelsa polls: Cracks deepen in APC as Lokpobiri, Lyon reportedly in secret romance with Diri

    He pointed out that these individuals behind the unfounded allegations are threatened by the strong and cordial relationship between Tinubu and Senator Lokpobiri which is yielding positive developments in Bayelsa state.

    “These false allegations against Senator Lokpobiri are the work of individuals and groups who do not have Bayelsa State’s best interests at heart. They are threatened by the strong and cordial relationship that exists between Senator Lokpobiri and his boss President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), a relationship aimed at bringing progress and development to the people of the state.”

    “Despite his demanding global and national assignments in boosting the nation’s oil production, Senator Lokpobiri remains fully committed to the All Progressives Congress. He is confident that, by the grace of God, the APC will emerge victorious at the polls on November 11, 2023.”

    “We urge the general public to disregard these baseless allegations and remain steadfast in their support for Chief Timipre Sylva’s candidacy. Any attempts to sow discord or spread false information will be met with resounding unity from both Senator Lokpobiri and Chief Sylva.”

  • Bayelsa poll: Your defeat is imminent, propaganda can’t save you, Nabena tells Diri, PDP

    Bayelsa poll: Your defeat is imminent, propaganda can’t save you, Nabena tells Diri, PDP

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Bayelsa state national gubernatorial campaign council on Monday, October 9, told Governor Douye Diri and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that they would suffer a great defeat in the forthcoming polls in the state. 

     The gubernatorial election is holding in the state on Saturday, November 11.

    The council also described it as a ruse, the rumour of a crack in the party, insisting that all members of the party are solidly behind Timipre Sylva, the APC candidate.

    The secretary, media and publicity committee of the campaign council, Yekini Nabena, in a statement in Abuja on Monday faulted what he called “sponsored media reports” in some quarters suggesting that the Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, and 2019 governorship candidate, David Lyon, are working for Governor Diri.

    Nabena, who was APC deputy national publicity secretary described the report as propaganda sponsored by the PDP camp to cause disaffection within the winning APC team.

    Read Also: Imo PDP candidate Anyanwu to step down for consensus candidate

    Media was awash at the weekend of an unholy alliance between Governor Diri, who is seeking re-election on the platform of PDP, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and 2019 governorship candidate, David Lyon.

    Quoting sources, the reports said Diri had conceded 50 slots of Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) each to Lokpobiri and Lyon and has also promised them some measures of influence on decision-making.

    But Nabena in the statement attached with recent pictures where both Lokpobiri and Lyon recommitted themselves before the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to deliver Timipre Sylva and the party in Bayelsa debunked the reports.

    The former APC spokesman said the propaganda tactics being employed by the PDP in Bayelsa towards the governorship election will not work because people have made up their minds to sack the PDP administration for underdeveloping the state.

    The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to a sponsored propaganda in some quarters suggesting cracks in the solid camp of the Bayelsa APC ahead of the November 11 governorship election in the State.

    “We will not be distracted because we are fully aware how desperate the incumbent Governor Douye Diri has become, therefore employing all manners of tactics including propaganda and lies just to confuse but sadly for the PDP, it is just too late because Bayelsans have made up their minds to sack under-developer of a oil-rich state.

    “For the benefit of the doubt, the attached pictures will tell doubters that the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and the 2019 governorship candidate, David Lyon, most recently held a strategic meeting with our candidate in the presence of our National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, where everyone recommitted themselves and massive mobilisation has since begun.

    “We, however, sympathise with the restless Governor Diri and his camp for acting too late, bearing in mind that their days are numbered in the Bayelsa state government House.

    “We urge all our party members, supporters and Byelsans, in general, to remain calm, expectant of a landslide victory and disregard lies suggesting cracks in our camp.

  • Bayelsa polls: Cracks deepen in APC as Lokpobiri, Lyon reportedly in secret romance with Diri

    Bayelsa polls: Cracks deepen in APC as Lokpobiri, Lyon reportedly in secret romance with Diri

    There is a crack in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State ahead of the November 11 governorship election.

    No fewer than 10 political parties are fielding candidates for the poll, but the battle is majorly between Governor Douye Diri, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Minister of State for Petroleum and former Governor of the state, Chief Timpreye Sylva.

    However, Diri is exploring the division in the APC to woo its members by dangling seemingly irresistible carrots to get their endorsement.

    A source said Diri has reached out to and lured prominent APC leaders, particularly those who have scored to settle with Sylva, including the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and 2019 governorship candidate, David Lyon, into his camp.

    Lokpobiri and Lyon are allegedly working for Diri’s re-election.

    The duo have distanced themselves from the campaigns and political activities of Sylva in the countdown to the forthcoming governorship election in the oil-rich state.

    Read Also: Guber poll: Tinubu, APC governors storm Kogi, ask electorate to vote trusted leaders

    The gulf between Lokpobiri and Sylva widened, following Sylva’s refusal to back his ministerial bid after APC won the presidential poll.

    Lyon, who was defeated at the primary, has an axe to grind with the APC governorship candidate because he lost out at the shadow poll.

    Lyon, who was sacked as Bayelsa state governor-elect by the Supreme Court in February 2020, had thought that he would be given the right of first refusal in the consideration of the gubernatorial candidate of the governing party in the November election.

    Reconciliation in the divided Bayelsa APC has hit the rock as pleas by the National Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, and other top leaders to the warring chieftains have fallen on deaf ears.

    According to a source, Diri is capitalising on the polarisation to further divide the opposition ranks by giving a lot of concessions ahead of the poll.

    The governor has promised to hand over to Lokpobiri as governor, with Lyon as deputy governor, if the duo can fully abandon Sylva and team up with him to consolidate his hold on the oil-producing, South-south state.

    Lokpobiri and Lyon may have fallen for the bait.

    Not only has Diri conceded 50 slots of Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) each to Lokpobiri and Lyon, but he has also promised them some measures of influence on decision-making, the source added.

    He stressed: “This unholy alliance between the governor and APC top chieftains implies that the two may have to defect to the PDP after Lokpobiri has served his term as minister in the Tinubu administration ahead of the battle to succeed Diri in 2026.”

    PDP insiders confided that the governor is threatened by the aloofness of his predecessor, Senator Seriake Dickson, who has distanced himself from the Diri administration.

    In Bayelsa, the former governor and his camp nurse a feeling of alienation and marginalisation, and efforts by the PDP national leadership to broker a truce have not succeeded.

    Dickson was said to be disenchanted that Diri was running the show, especially with the opposition elements without his input.

    However, Diri has not limited its ‘succession promises’ to Lokpobiri and Lyon and the APC family alone; he has extended it to other bigwigs in his party.

    A source hinted that the governor has also promised Senator Benson Agadaga (Bayelsa East) the succession opportunity.

    Agadaga is from Ogbia, the base of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The source said: “Diri is promising succession across party lines by making overtures to APC and PDP. He also promised the Director General of his campaign council, Hon. Mitema Obodor, who is a member of the House of Representatives, to represent the Ogbia Constituency of succession.

    “So, also is Robert Enogha, a former Commissioner and two-time member of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, who also hails from Ogbia.

    “The three of them, Diri has made succession promises to – Obodor; Agadaga and Enogha, are all of Goodluck Jonathan’s stock in Ogbia. This succession promise for Ogbia guys was a deceitful plot to secure Dr. Jonathan’s blessing and support in the November poll.

    “Surprisingly, former President Goodluck Jonathan may have also fallen for the bait. He is supporting Diri’s election because of the dummy the governor has sold to him that one of his kinsmen from Ogbia is going to succeed him after his second term in office.”

    But, Diri’s media aide, Daniel Alabara, said the allegations are laughable and very speculative, adding: “Lokpobiri and Lyon are APC leaders. So will the governor at this time appoint 100 APC members into his government that is rounding off its first tenure or is it after his re-election? I don’t see any truth in that even though I’m not aware of any such discussion or deal.”

    He stressed: “It is equally too early for anyone to speculate who Governor Douye Diri will handover to when he has not even rounded off his first tenure. But to be clear, Lokpobiri is from the same senatorial district as that of the immediate past governor, Senator Seriake Dickson.

    “So, going by the generally acceptable rotational principle in the state, the governorship will not be the turn of Bayelsa West where Lokpobiri and Dickson are from.

    “At the moment, the talk in the state is that it is most likely going to be the turn of Bayelsa East after Gov Diri’s eight years. That is the reason the people of that senatorial district are saying that they prefer eight years to Chief Timipre Sylva’s four years and that they would rather support Gov Diri to complete his two terms so they can also have theirs when power rotates to that district.

    “Ogbia, Nembe and Brass LGAs are in Bayelsa East.

    But the governor has not promised anyone to be his successor. Picking a successor is a product of various levels of consultation. For a man focused on winning his re-election, this is not the time for that.”

  • Clashes among political party supporters threatens Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa elections, says INEC

    Clashes among political party supporters threatens Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa elections, says INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has again raised concern over the increasing spate of insecurity and violence as well as clashes among supporters of political parties in the forth coming governorship elections in three states of. The federation.

    The commission raised concern over the failure of political parties to upload the list of their polling and collation agents on the INEC portal as required by the rules and regulations guiding the elections.

    In a statement signed by the National Commissioner incharge of Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun mni, the commission said the action of political parties and their supporters is capable of undermining the smooth conduct of the elections.

    He said “the Commission is concerned about the spate of insecurity and violence, including clashes among supporters of Political Parties and candidates in the forthcoming elections.

    “In our engagement with Political Parties, the Commission has constantly called on parties to rein in their supporters from actions capable of jeopardizing the peaceful conduct of elections in Nigeria. 

    “INEC earnestly appeal to all Political Parties and candidates to avoid utterances and acts that may heat up the polity. 

    “The Commission will continue to closely monitor the situation and sustain its engagement with security agencies and stakeholders to ensure a peaceful conduct of elections in the three States.”

    Olumekun said further that out of the total number of polling agents expected from the three states, the political parties have only uploaded 55 percent of the figures.

    He said: “The commission notified all Political Parties of the opening of its online portal for the upload of the list of polling units and collation centre agents, which commenced on Thursday 24th August 2023. The commission thereafter engaged party representatives on the methodology for a seamless process.

    “However, despite this notice and subsequent reminders, Political Parties are yet to substantially comply by submitting the list of their agents. 

    “For Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States, only 55% of the expected total of 189,180 polling unit agents have been uploaded to the designated INEC Portal.  Specifically, 29,278 out of the expected 40,372 (72.5%) for Bayelsa State; 51,681 out of 85,644 (60.3%) for Imo, and 23,720 out of 63,144 (37.6%) for Kogi State have been uploaded.

    Read Also: Lagos vows to continue demolition of shanties, illegal structures

    “Similarly, only 25.1% of the expected 15,804 Collation Agents in the three States have been uploaded: 1,246 (26.0%) out of 4,806 for Bayelsa; 1,638 (27.3%) out of 5,994 for Imo, and 1,095 (21.9%) out of 5,004 for Kogi State.

    “The Commission hereby wishes to further remind Political Parties that the portal will automatically shut down at 12:00 midnight on Tuesday 10th October 2023.

    “There shall be no extension. Consequently, all parties sponsoring candidates for the elections that are yet to upload the list of their agents should do so before the deadline for the exercise”.

    Speaking on online Accreditation of Journalists to cover the elections, he said only 45 media organisations have so far applied for accreditation.

    The statement said: “The online accreditation of Journalists commenced on 24th August 2023 and will close on 22nd October 2023.  So far, 45 media organisations have applied for accreditation. 

    “The commission also wishes to use this medium to encourage all interested Media organisations to take advantage of the remaining window to apply on imap.inecnigeria.org before the deadline on 22nd October 2023.

    “For emphasis, late applications will not be entertained and there is no provision for manual accreditation anymore.”

  • CSOs reject INEC’s plan to jettison electronic transmission of results in Bayelsa

    CSOs reject INEC’s plan to jettison electronic transmission of results in Bayelsa

    A coalition of pro-democracy groups has vehemently rejected the proposal by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to abandon electronic transmission of results in the forthcoming governorship election in Bayelsa State.

    Rising from a meeting in Abuja yesterday, the group said the planned manual transmission of results being proposed was an attempt at allowing desperate politicians to manipulate the will of the Bayelsa electorate during the election. 

    INEC had on Wednesday stated its plans to transmit the results of the November 11 Bayelsa governorship election manually. This was made known through the State’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Obo Effanga.

    But the CSOs which are an amalgamation of groups committed to ensuring transparency, fairness, and accountability in the electoral process, in a communique signed by Comrade Olufemi, National Secretary, Campaign for Democracy (CD); and Comrade Atani John, Niger Delta Democratic Vanguard, said: “We believe that the integrity and credibility of any election depend on the transparency of the electoral process, including the accurate and timely transmission of results. 

    “Electronic transmission of results is a vital component of ensuring the authenticity and fairness of elections, and its abandonment would undermine the trust of the electorate, Nigerians and the international community in the electoral process.

    Read Also; Everyone will benefit from Tinubu’s democratic dividends, says Arisekola

    “The use of technology in the transmission of election results has proven to be a valuable tool in reducing electoral fraud, promoting accountability, and delivering more accurate and timely results to the public. It enhances the transparency of the electoral process and minimises the potential for manipulation or tampering with results at various stages.

    “We urge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reconsider its proposal and uphold the principles of transparency and accountability in the Bayelsa State Governorship Election. 

    “We call on INEC to ensure that the electronic transmission of results is not only maintained but also improved upon to guarantee the credibility of the electoral process.

    “As critical stakeholders in the Nigerian project, we are committed to monitoring the upcoming Bayelsa State Governorship Election closely, and we will continue to advocate for transparency, fairness, and the highest standards of integrity in the electoral process. 

    “We call on all stakeholders, including political parties, civil society organisations, and the international community, to join us in safeguarding the integrity of this critical election.

    “Finally, we urge the people of Bayelsa to rise and safeguard democracy, and avoid a rape of our democracy.”