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Tag: Femi Akinbiyi

  • Illegal recruitment: INEC cautions Lagos residents

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in Lagos State says it has apprehended some individuals impersonating officials of the commission and engaging in illegal recruitment of staff for INEC.

    Mr Femi Akinbiyi, the INEC Public Relations Officer in Lagos State, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Lagos.

    Akinbiyi said that Lagos residents must be careful of unauthorized recruitment going on in some places in the state.

    He warned those engaged in illegal recruitment for INEC to desist, saying that the commission would hunt them down and bring them to justice.

    The INEC PRO said: “On Jan. 22, our staff detected some people engaging in illegal and false recruitment of ad-hoc staff for INEC and exploiting several innocent unemployed people in Somolu Local Government Area.

    “Police were contacted and three of them impersonating INEC officials were arrested while others are still at large.

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    “These people were perpetrating this false recruitment at shop 33, Aluta Plaza, Federal College of Education, Akoka.

    “They were arraigned on Wednesday in court and got bail of N1 million each and two sureties each.

    “Our advice to the public is to be careful of unauthorized recruitment going on at different places; if there will be any recruitment, there must be advertisements.

    “We advise all persons or groups engaging in illegal recruitment for INEC to stop as the hands of the law will catch up with them very soon.”

    He said that the commission would be tough with those impersonating its officials not only in false recruitment but also those collecting money to process Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    According to him, so many unsuspected residents went to such places, thinking that they were dealing with genuine INEC staff.

    “There are so many of these illegal recruitment going on outside, even online. Job seekers should not allow anybody to play on their intelligence.

    “We never authorize anyone to recruit ad hoc staff for us. Don’t pay anyone to get employed as ad hoc staff for the general elections. We have concluded that.

    “INEC headquarters office is open for anybody to come for clarification on some of these issues if they are confused,” Akinbiyi added.

  • INEC begins distribution of PVCs for new registrants

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would on Monday start distributing Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) to newly registered eligible voters in Lagos State, its spokesman, Femi Akinbiyi, has said.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that INEC had concluded arrangements for the distribution of PVC in the 20 local government areas of the state.

    “Definitely on Monday, we are going to start the distribution of PVCs at the offices in the 20 local government areas of the state.

    “The available cards now are only for those who registered in 2017 and that is from the inception of the exercise in April 2017 to December 2017.

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     “We are still expecting more cards; other cards will be made available later, especially for those who registered in the first quarter of 2018 and those currently registering,” Akinbiyi said.

    He said that the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr Sam Olumekun, had on Thursday met with local  officials on modality for distribution of the PVCs in their respective council areas.

    At the meeting, Olumekun had urged the INEC officials to treat the people with love and courtesy, Akinbiyi said.

    The INEC spokesman enjoined the new registrants to visit INEC offices in their council areas to claim their cards.

    He said that INEC office in the state would monitor the distribution exercise across the councils, saying that ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise would continue across the designated centres.

    The ongoing Continuous Voters Registration exercise started nationwide on

  • 2019: INEC seek NOA, NYSC’S support for credible election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State has sought support of the National Orientation Agency & National Youth Service Corps to enhance success of 2019 general elections.

    The spokesman for the Commission, Mr. Femi Akinbiyi made this known in a statement issued on Thursday.

    According to the statement, Mr. Sam Olumekun, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner visited both NOA & the NYSC orientation camp in the state on Wednesday to seek collaboration towards a successful conduct of elections.

    “While I thank you for your response support for the Commission in the time past, I want to ask you for more support in mobilizing Lagos and to participate in the electoral processes ahead of 2019 polls.”

    “I want the NOA to especially join the Commission in mobilizing eligible for voters who have abandoned their Permanent voters cards (PVC) to come and claim them.”

    “I acknowledge the strength of NOA & the fact that INEC cannot do it alone. Our people must participate in electoral process for democracy to thrive”

    “The Commission is ready to partner with NOA & other stakeholders in our drive to deliver credible, transparent, free & fair elections in 2019.

    “INEC has developed an election project plan and strategic plan of action and has itemised all we need to conduct  a successful free and fair elections.

    “If the last election was rated very high by both local and international observers, we are prepared to deliver a more credible one in 2019 to spas previous achievement.

    Mr. Olumekun urged NOA to sensitized people against violence during elections, saying electoral violence could prevent people from exercising their civic responsibility.

    At the NYSC Orientation camp, the REC Sam Olumekun also commended the State’s coordinator of NYSC, Prince Mohammed Momoh and asked for the support of the organization.

    “We thank   you for your usual support, the Commission will like to improve the MOU between us, please if there is area we need to fine tune in the MOU let us know now so  as to cement the synergy for it to work better in future.

    “Because of the advancement in technology and other issues we must commence early training of Youth Corps members on the handling of the smart card readers ahead of the election.

    “We have noticed that one of the reasons these smart card readers are handled

    “This time around, we want to devote time to educate the Corps members during their Community Development (CD) activities at various Local governments”

    Mr. I shola Waheed, the State’s Director of NOA,  in his response, promised to assist INEC to publicize its activities and mobilize people to participate in electoral process.

    “We shall avail the Commission our officials across the Local government areas in Lagos State to pubilise your programmes. We have over 207 officials to assist INEC”

    Prince Momoh also gave the commitment of NYSC to support INEC in order to deliver acceptable elections in the State.

  • INEC debunks rumours of deadline for CVR

    INEC debunks rumours of deadline for CVR

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has debunked the rumour that ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) would end on January 31, 2018.

    Head of Publicity of the commission in Lagos State, Mr Femi Akinbiyi, said in a statement on Friday “it has come to the notice of the Commission in Lagos State the rumours going round that the CVR would end on January 31, 2018.

    “We, therefore, wish to inform the people that the Continuous Voter Registration is still on.

    “In line with the provision of section 9 (5) of the Electoral Act (as amended), Continuous Voter Registration will be temporarily suspended 60 days to the commencement of the General Elections scheduled for February, 2019”.

    According to him, all eligible voters in the state, who has not registered before are encouraged to register at all INEC offices in the 20 local government areas in the state.

    Also Read: 2019: INEC fixes presidential, National Assembly polls for Feb 16

    Akinbiyi said that concerned residents could also go to other officially designated areas within the state between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. from Monday to Friday every week, excluding public holidays, for registration.

    “In response to the citizens’ plea to have centres closer to their domain, the Commission in the State has rotation plan for some Registration Centres within the Registration Areas (Ward) in each of the local government areas.

    “Also, the names of those who registered in the first and second quarters have been uploaded in the Commission’s website.’’

    Meanwhile, said on telephone that the rumour had made eligible persons to besiege registration centres daily, to register.

    NAN

  • Nine candidates jostle for vacant Lagos Assembly seat

    Nine candidates jostle for vacant Lagos Assembly seat

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has said that nine candidates will contest for the vacant Eti-Osa Constituency I seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly bye-election.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seat became vacant following the death of Mr Kazeem Alimi who represented the constituency in the Assembly.

    Alimi died on July 18 at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital during an illness, and was buried on July 19, two weeks after his 50th birthday celebration.

    The lawmaker, who represented Eti-Osa Constituency I, was until his demise, the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Community Affairs.

    The spokesman for INEC in Lagos State, Mr Femi Akinbiyi, told NAN on Friday that nine political parties would be jostling for the seat in the bye-election slated for Sept. 30.

    Akinbiyi noted that the constituency had only six registration areas (Wards), saying that the name of the candidates had been published at the INEC office in the constituency.

    “Nine candidates will be vying for the position, and their names have been published at our office in the area.

    On preparations for the poll, Akinbiyi said: “As part of our preparations, the commission has concluded training of supervisory presiding officers who will in turn train other ad-hoc staff.

    “The training of ad-hoc staff will hold from Sept. 21 to Sept. 23 to deliver the commission’s mandate,” he said.

    According to him, the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security has met and given assurance of security during the poll.

    Akinbiyi said that the commission had received most of the non-sensitive materials for the election.

    He said that INEC would ensure free, fair and credible poll.

    According to him, the new Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Sam Olumekun, has urged eligible voters to come out en mass to vote for the candidate of their choice.

    “We don’t want apathy; every eligible voter should participate. All issues pertaining to security has been taken care of, and we promise a level playing ground for all contestants.

    “We want everyone to play according to the rules. I expect a non-violent bye-election, ” Akinbiyi quoted REC as saying.

    NAN reports that the six registration areas in the affected constituency include Victoria Island II, Ilasan Housing Estate/Moriyegun 5 and Lekki/Ikate.

    The others are Ilado/Eti-Osa, Aja/Sangotedo and Ado/Langbasa/Badore.