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Tag: election timetable

  • APC disowns timetable for party primaries

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it was yet to release a timetable for the conduct of primaries for various elective offices ahead of the 2019 general election.

    The party in a statement signed by the Acting National Secretary said the list currently making the round in the social media was the figment of the imagination of those who originated it.

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    The two paragraph statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a timetable circulating in the social media and published today (August 23, 2018) purportedly for the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries for State House of Assembly, National Assembly, Governorship and Presidential positions.

    “The timetable is fake and should be disregarded. The Party is yet to announce its official timetable for the listed primaries.”

    The parties are expected to inform the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the timetable for their party primaries on or before 15th September and have till the end of October to conclude the processes.

  • NLC: election timetable must be sacrosanct

    NLC: election timetable must be sacrosanct

    •Union to reconcile aggrieved members

    THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked the Federal Government to ensure that the election timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remain sacrosanct, adding that the polls must go ahead as scheduled.

    The congress assured that it was determined to bring back its members who were aggrieved as a result of the just concluded delegates’ conference, which elected a new leadership.

    It has, therefore, set up a reconciliatory committee to dialogue with them with a view to avoiding a division within the congress.

    In a communique by its President, Ayuba Wabba and General Secretary Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson at the end of a National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting in Abuja, the Congress asked the Federal Government to take urgent steps to shore up the value of the naira and cushion the declining purchasing power of the workers

    The NLC also frowned at the trend among state governors to owe workers’ salaries for several months, praising the Ebonyi State chapter of the Congress for embarking on an industrial action to protest the backlog of unpaid salaries.

    The communique reads in part: “The NAC-in-Session acknowledged with relief, the vigour and momentum the Nigerian Armed forces have garnered in recent times in the fight against insurgency.  It called on the Federal Government to do the needful to encourage our troops and sustain the momentum to ensure a complete routing of the insurgents.

    “The NAC-in-Session examined the state of the economy and its impact on Nigerian workers. It was pained by the heavy burden that has been saddled on the worker.

    “NAC-in-Session condemned in very strong terms the vogue among state governments to owe workers salary in excess of eight months.  In response to this ugly, trend NAC-In-Session set up a task force to drive Congress intervention and actions in redressing the anomaly.

    “The NAC-in-Session noted with concern the devaluation of the Naira, which has drastically eroded the purchasing power of the worker and made nonsense of the N18,000 minimum wage. It urged the government to quickly come up with measures to shore up the value of the Naira and also to cushion the effect of eroded purchasing power of the worker.

    “The NAC-in-Session resolved to set up a Reconciliatory Committee to woo back the dissatisfied contestants in the just concluded 11th Delegates Conference of the NLC.

    “THE NAC-in-Session noted with concern the spate of protest calling for the removal of INEC Chairman.  It stated that the current elections timetable must be seen as sacrosanct and, therefore, any acts capable of threatening the sanctity of the election dates must not be tolerated.”

  • Parties fault election timetable

    Parties fault election timetable

    Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has queried the 2015 general elections time- table released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    IPAC also raised concern over the voters’ register being complied by the electoral body.

    IPAC Chairman Yunusa Tanko said parties are worried over the sequence, which he said, is a departure from the past.

    But INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega said there is no cause for alarm.

    The time-table has the blessing of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the United Peoples Party (UPP) and Labour Party (LP).

    Tanko spoke an INEC/political parties dialogue in Abuja. The forum was aimed at building consensus on electoral activities towards 2015 said: “political parties are worried about the sequence of the election which provide for a two face elections with the presidential and the National Assembly coming up first and the governorship and state assembly coming up next as against in the past which has a three face election with state assemblies, governorship, presidential and national assembly coming up in that sequence. This provided an opportunity for all political parties to have a chance of winning election in that process but with the present situation as the time table released you will agree with me that immediately the presidential election is concluded it will close doors for all other election to be free and fair for all concern.”

    Speaking on voter register, Tanko, who is also the national chairman of the National Conscience Party (NCP) said the register must be updated in a manner that can build confidence between the electorate, INEC and the political parties.

    He stressed that “the electorates need to be sure they were registered to vote and their names should appear accordingly.”

    IPAC chairman also want political parties seals on the ballot papers as a mark of authority and confirmation of the authenticity of the ballot papers adding that it would create confidence within INEC and political parties in the case of litigation.

  • On INEC’s 2015 election timetable

    SIR: The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) commends the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the timely and early release of the 2015 electoral time table. We particularly welcome the gaps provided in between each strand of elections which we believe will offer the commission ample space to make necessary adjustments in the event of any unforeseen developments.

    While we commend INEC for this feat, we hereby remind politicians that the early release of the timetable is not aimed at tempting them to embark on premature campaign activities but to guarantee the commission more time to address all cases of litigation that may arise from the electoral exercise in a timely fashion before the swearing in of the potential winners. This is in the spirit of the Uwais panel recommendations which envisages that all cases relating to election tribunal matters should be concluded in good time ahead of swearing in exercise.

    On the sequencing of election time tables, TMG is aware that the INEC has the constitutional powers to fix election dates as well as determine when and how elections are to be phased. Thus we urge Nigerians to be concerned about the preparedness and capacity of INEC to deliver on the over-flogged promises of credible elections across the country rather than dissipating energy on the sequencing of elections.

    We do not believe that the conduct of the 2015 general elections has anything to do with the proposed national conference. If anything, TMG is aware that both exercises are crucial in the life and existence of Nigeria. While the constitution has stipulated that regular elections must be conducted every four years, the same constitution has empowered the president to make pronouncements or proclamations in the interest of the Nigerian people.

    Finally, we urge all stakeholders to bother more about cogent issues that will enhance the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in 2015 General Elections

     

    • Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi (Chairman)

    Eddy Ezurike (Publicity Secretary)

    Transition Monitoring Group

    Abuja – Nigeria