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Tag: Festus Okoye

  • Kogi/Bayelsa guber polls: INEC axes 14 candidates

    FOURTEEN of the candidates whose names were submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the November 16 governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states were on Friday disqualified by the commission.

    The electoral umpire said their nominations were invalid.

    Nineteen other parties willingly withdrew from the polls, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye, said in Abuja.

    Disqualified  from Bayelsa are: Victor E. Izofapei of PDC (30years old); Deborah Ade  of SDP (31);Peter David of  ANDP (34); Princes Owali Willaims  of PPM  (27); Lucky Opio of RDMP (32); Sadjere Regan (31); and O. Ikolid Ayebanda  of YPP ( 34).

    Rejected from Kogi are: Musa Sodique of APP (34 ) and Usman Mihamemd I of DPP (31) .

    Running mates axed are: Ibrahim A. Abdullahi of ANP  (32); A. Bala of APM  (30); Omeiza Vincent of APP (34); Yinka Adeoye of ASD (33); Titus Adedeji Sunday of MRDD (33); Mohammed Bashiru Yakubu of SDP (34);  and Abubakar Aminat Mohammad of UPP (33)

    Okoye said that at the close of nomination, 23 political parties were cleared in Kogi with18 parties withdrawing from the race, while one party withdrew in Bayelsa, leaving 45 political parties in the race.

    “At the close of the time stipulated by sections 31, 33 and 35 of Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) for the submission of the names of nominated candidates, 49 nominations were received for Kogi.

    “Out of these, 41 nominations were valid, while eight were invalid. Subsequently, 18 political parties withdrew from contesting the elections. Therefore, 23 political parties will contest the governorship election in Kogi.

    “For Bayelsa State, a total of 52 nominations were received. Out of these, 46 were valid while six were invalid.

    “One political party has since withdrawn from the contest, leaving a total of 45 political parties to contest the governorship election in Bayelsa.’’

    Okoye recalled that INEC monitored the primaries conducted for nomination of candidates for the two states and also made public its preliminary review of the list and personal particulars submitted by the parties at the close of nomination.

    “After the review, we disclosed that some of the nominated candidates for governorship and deputy were below the minimum age prescribed by the constitution and that the Commission was considering further action.

    “In a letter dated Sept. 13, the Commission notified the concerned political parties of the invalidity of their nominations.

    Read Also: Kogi poll: INEC trains 210 security personnel

    “In Bayelsa State, six of the nominated governorship and/or deputy governorship candidates were affected, while in Kogi State there were eight such nominees.

    “Some of the affected parties have written the Commission admitting their error and requesting to submit new nominees to replace the under-aged ones.

    “However, this was after the deadline for submission of nominations on September 9, 2019. As such, the Commission could not accept any fresh nominations.

    “In like manner, since the parties did not submit valid nominations before the deadline, they cannot substitute the candidates on the grounds of death or voluntary withdrawal, in accordance with the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), which assumes the prior existence of valid nominations.’’

    Okoye said that members of the public may recall that just before the 2019 general elections, INEC had cause to draw the attention of political parties to the same problem of nominating under-aged candidates.

    “That communication was a notice to the parties that future violation of such a basic provision of the Constitution will be unacceptable and could lead to severe consequences.

    “Accordingly, the Commission has informed the affected parties that their names and logos will not appear on the ballots for the Bayelsa and Kogi governorship elections due to the invalidity of their nominations.’’

    He said that in compliance with section 34 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), the full names and addresses of all candidates standing nominated would be published in the relevant offices on Monday, September 30.

    He added that it would also be made available on the INEC website.

    Addressing reporters earlier this month at the close of nomination for the elections, Okoye had confirmed that 101 political parties nominated candidates for the polls from the two states.

    Okoye said that though 64 political parties conducted primaries in Bayelsa State and 59 in Kogi, some of them did not submit any list and personal information of their candidates, while a few others failed to submit before the deadline.

    He added: “From our records, 64 political parties conducted primaries in Bayelsa as against 59 in Kogi.

    “Out of these, 52 political parties from Bayelsa and 49 from Kogi respectively submitted the lists of candidates and their personal particulars at the close of nomination at 6pm. on Monday, September 9.

    “While some of the political parties that conducted primaries did not submit any lists and personal particulars of candidates, a few failed to submit within the time limit prescribed by the commission.

    “Out of the 101 nominees for the two states, 91 are males, representing 90 per cent, while 10 are females, representing 10 per cent of all the nominees.

    “Of the 52 nominees for Bayelsa, six are females, while 46 are males. The corresponding figures for Kogi are four females and 45 male nominees.”

     

  • NCS Situation Room: we’re not proud of 2019 elections

    THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it withdrew about 70 Certificates of Return from those it issued them initially and re-issued them to other persons following various court judgments.

    This is as the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room said there was nothing to be proud of in this year’s general elections conducted by INEC.

    INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye, spoke on Wednesday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    He said one of the biggest challenges the commission faced was the large number of pre-election matters, which are still pending in various courts of law.

    Okoye spoke at an electoral reform round-table organised by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room and the Kofi Annan Foundation.

    He said: “As at today, the commission has 809 pre-election matters while we have just 800 post-election matters. So, the implication is that we have more pre-election matters than post-election.

    “As at Tuesday, the commission had withdrawn and reissued over 70 Certificates of Return that were previously issued to those who were elected into various state and national assembly positions.

    Read Also: Ripples over EU report on 2019 elections

    “There are more that we are still withdrawing and more that we are still re-issuing. Some of these things arose from the not too transparent party primary elections that were conducted by the various political parties.

    “It is really a source of concern that up till today, there are still a number of cases arising from pre-election matters in courts.”

    Okoye noted that the commission was looking at whether the fourth alteration to the Constitution of Nigeria would properly address the issue of pre-election matters.

    The INEC commissioner said this is because the fourth alteration gave the court, first instance, a total of 180 days to determine cases and issues arising from pre-election matters.

    “But 180 days from the period of the conduct of party primary elections and the end of substitution period dovetailed into the conduct of elections and even beyond.

    “This more or less distorts what the commission’s activities and also puts it on edge in terms of knowing which political parties would be on the ballot and which would not,” he said.

    The INEC commissioner said the commission was looking at a situation where the litigation period could be shortened.

    Okoye, who also spoke on the number of political parties, said political associations waiting to be registered are more than the existing ones.

    The INEC commissioner added that if they are registered, Nigeria would have over 200 parties in 2023 elections.

    “So, I think we need to have a national conversation to see whether we really need the number of political parties in existence in the country or not,” Okoye said.

    He called for necessary reforms to make the commission deliver its mandate to Nigerians.

    The European Union (EU) Ambassador Ketil Karlsen said the union made recommendations from its election observations not to castigate Nigeria but to instigate reforms to strengthen the electoral process.

    Karlsen said that four years is not a long time to begin electoral reforms and urged the nation to consider a wider form of reform to enhance inclusiveness especially of women.

    House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Idris Wase reiterated the ninth National Assembly’s commitment to electoral reforms to strengthen the nation’s democracy.

    “We will partner together with all stakeholders for the purpose of improving our laws, we will begin now and not wait till the end of our tenure to start it,” Wase said.

    The group’s Coordinator Clement Nwankwo said any election that lacks legitimacy will also lack international acceptance.

    According to him, the essence of the round table was to look at the last elections critically and take corrections, where necessary.

    “Both foreign and local observers have filed their reports on the last elections. The intention of the observers is to highlight the merits and demerits of the electoral process with a bid to moving forward…”

     

  • INEC to propose constitutional amendment to overhaul electoral process

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will embark on aggressive constitutional and electoral reforms to enhance the integrity of the electoral process.

    The commission also promised to consider the duality of electronic and manual collation and transmission of results to prevent noticeable lapses.

    A National Commissioner of INEC, Mr. Festus Okoye disclosed this on Wednesday in Enugu during the presentation of Certificates of Return to elected members of state assembly, governor and deputy governor-elect in the March 9 elections.

    Okoye, who is the commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, said that the commission could no longer afford to plan in an uncertain environment.

    He said that a section of the political class had refused to imbibe the democratic spirit that puts obedience and respect to constitutional dictates at the centre.

    “While the commission acknowledges the need for constitutional and electoral renewal, the greater challenge lies in the bad behavior of a section of the political class.

    “It is very clear that some of the provisions in the Constitution and Electoral Act must be realigned to meet the expectations of our people.

    “The commission will take a second look at the timeline for the disposal of pre-election matters and propose an amendment to the National Assembly,” he said.

    Okoye said that the commission would favour an amendment that would lead to the disposal of all pre-election matters at least 45 days to holding of elections.

    He said that INEC would take steps that would prevent political thugs from storming collation centres in search of results.

    The commissioner charged the beneficiaries of the certificates to live up to the expectations of their people.

    “The validity of the certificates rests with the people of the state. It is within their constitutional mandate to renew, withdraw and or elevate it,” Okoye said.

    Earlier, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr Emeka Ononammadu, said that the state office of the commission would be fair to all part during post-election activities.

    Ononammadu said such activities include reverse logistics and tribunal matters.

    He said that it was gratifying that the electoral process ended in peace with all promises of fairness, openness and neutrality kept.

    “It was a tortuous journey that did not come at zero cost but it is also a journey that the entire nation is poised to learn from Enugu,” Ononammadu said.

    In a remark after collecting his certificate of return, the governor-elect, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi said they had prayed for a peaceful and transparent election.

    Ugwuanyi commended efforts of security agencies during the process.

    He said his administration would continue to serve with the fear of God.

  • Democracy and duress

    It’s one thing to be declared the winner of an election; it’s another thing to be given a certificate of return to reinforce the declaration. Some election candidates who were declared winners don’t understand this. They think the declaration should be enough to get the certificate.

    It is interesting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is interested in how election winners were declared winners. Take the case of Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was declared winner of the Imo West Senatorial District election held on February 23. When the Returning Officer, Prof Innocent Ibeawuchi, alleged that he was forced to declare Okorocha the winner of the poll, the allegation changed the situation.

    Ibeawuchi had told reporters that he was held hostage from 7pm on February 24 till 11am the following day.  He was quoted as saying:  “I was compelled to announce the result which was inconclusive. I am a man of integrity and it is not true that the governor slapped me but I was held hostage by agents working for him. I was manhandled and I thank God I came back alive.”

    Of course, the professor’s claim that he had declared Okorocha winner “under duress” calls into question how the governor won the senatorial election. It is striking that there are others like Okorocha whose election victories are doubtful because the returning officers involved were allegedly forced to declare them winners.

    INEC’s National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education, Mr Festus Okoye, said the commission had received similar reports concerning the National Assembly poll in Oju/Obi Federal Constituency in Benue State, as well as the House of Assembly elections in Niger and Akwa Ibom states.

    He told reporters in Makurdi on March 22: “The commission has not given a certificate of return to anyone from Obi/Oju, the same thing with Agaye state constituency in Niger State. There is also another state constituency in Akwa Ibom. So as of today, there are four areas where declarations were made under duress and we said we will not give certificates of return to those individuals.”

    “Some of them are already in court,” Okoye added, which means the public should expect riveting drama when the returning officers and the election candidates concerned tell their stories in court. A certificate of return should not be in the hands of an election candidate whose victory was declared under duress. Democracy is not about duress.

  • Bauchi: INEC to proceed with supplementary elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will continue with the scheduled supplementary elections in Bauchi state, it was learnt.

    INEC noted that the poll slated for this Saturday will hold in areas not affected by the court ruling.

    Disclosing this Tuesday, the National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye said the  Commission will proceed with supplementary elections on Saturday in relation to areas that are not affected by the Court Order.

    Besides, Okoye said that INEC will work towards the expeditious resolution of the Collation process in Tafawa Balewa Local Government.

    He said, “The Commission has complied with the Order of the Federal High Court Abuja. The Commission has suspended the Collation of the Governorship Election Result for Tafawa Balewa Local Government.

     “The Commission will proceed and complete the Collation of the result of the State Assembly Election for Tafawa Balewa Local Government and make a return.

    “The Commission will proceed with supplementary elections on Saturday in relation to areas that are not affected by the Court Order.

    “The Commission has a history of obedience to court orders. The Commission will continue to comply with court orders and will take steps to vacate orders where it feels strongly that the Court that gave the order has no jurisdiction.

    “The Commission will work towards the expeditious resolution of the Collation process in Tafawa Balewa Local Government.”

  • APC rejects INEC’s decision on Bauchi governorship election

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Bauchi State Chapter alleged that the fact-finding Committee sent by the Independent National Electoral Commission to probe the irregularities in the governorship election of 9 March denied the party fair hearing.

    Alhaji Uba Nana the state Chairman of the party made the allegation at a press conference in Bauchi on Saturday.

    INEC announced on Friday night that a new returning officer will resume the collation of the Bauchi governorship election results on Tuesday. It also amended the result of four polling units in Ningi local government, from 25330 to 2533. The decision meant that the commission will announce the winner of the election thereafter.

    “The fact-finding Committee chaired by Festus Okoye, the National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee denied fair hearing to APC as a political party whose agents were not invited during hearing of the facts leading to the cancellation of the Results of Tafawa Balewa LGA.

    “Any decision taken in violation of fair hearing is illegal, null and void,” he said.

    According to Nana, the composition of the Committee was also questionable as the Committee Chairman, FESTUS OKOYE ESQ is a close ally and former solicitor to Hon. Yakubu Dogara of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

    Nana Stressed  that no justice can be done by the Committee Chairman who is interested in the whole issues and the instant circumstances.

    He pointed out that this was proved by the fact that PDP and Yakubu Dogara on Facebook pre-empted the outcome of the Committee’s finding before formal publication by INEC.

    The APC chairman said that the decision of INEC based on the Committee’s Report was already prayed for at the Federal High Court, Bauchi in Suit No. FHC/BAU/CS/18/2019 filed by Bala Mohammed and PDP against INEC.

    “Unfortunately, the extant decision of INEC reversing the cancellation of Tafawa Balewa Results was earlier sought for but refused by the Court in the said suit at interim stage. Now INEC has granted what was refused by the Court of law in the interest of justice,” he said.

    Nana said the Party rejected in totality, the report of the fact-finding Committee on the disruption of collation process at Tafawa Balewa and the subsequent decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reverse its earlier resolution cancelling the entire results of Tafawa Balewa LGA.

    He said the position taken by INEC is illegal, null and void having regards to the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and INEC Guidelines for 2019 General Elections.(NAN)

  • INEC fixes 23rd March for supplementary elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed 23rd March, 2019 for supplementary elections in states where elections were declared inconclusive.

    INEC announced the date in a press statement signed by the National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye.

    INEC noted that it acted in compliance within the ambit of the Electoral Act.

    Okoye also noted that in the case of Bauchi state, an investigation team has been set up to look into the matter in a bid to resolve whatever the issue is.

    The statement reads: “The Commission met today, l2th March 2019 and reviewed the conduct of the 29 Governorship and 991 State constituency elections held on 9‘h March 2019. In all, the Commission declared winners in the Governorship elections in 22 states.

    “However, the Returning Officers in Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Plateau and Sokoto States declared the Governorship elections inconclusive.

    Consequently the Commission will conduct supplementary elections on Saturday 23rd March 2019 to conclude the process.

    Supplementary elections will also hold in polling units in all States where State Assembly elections were declared inconclusive and winners could not be declared. Details of the constituencies including number of polling units and registered voters will be published on our website tomorrow Wednesday 13th March 2019.

    “The elections were declared inconclusive for a combination of reasons, mainly the discontinuation of use of the Smart Card Readers midway into the elections or the failure to deploy them, over-voting and widespread disruption in many polling units.

    “In compliance with the Margin of Lead Principle derived from Sections 26 and 53 of the Electoral Act as amended and paragraph 41(e) and 43(b) of the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of elections, the outcome of these elections could not be determined without conducting polls in the affected polling units.

    Hence, the Commission’s decision to conduct supplementary elections in line with this principle.

    “Furthermore, the Commission has considered a Report submitted by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Bauchi State on the disruption of the collation at the Tafawa Balewa LGA collation centre, which led to the cancellation of results for the entire local government”.

    “The Commission found that there are issues that need further investigation and has set up a team led by a National Commissioner to resolve them”.

  • INEC replaces burnt I98 Smart Card Readers in Akwa Ibom

    Says polls proceed as scheduled

     

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (lNEC) said it has replaced and reconfigured the 198 Smart Card Readers that were on Friday burnt in its office in lbesikpo Asutan Local Government, Area of Akwa lbom State.

    Mr Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chair, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja said that in spite of the incident, polls in the state would proceed as scheduled.

    Okoye said that the commission witnessed a fire incident its office, which occured in the early hours of Friday.

    He said that several sensitive and non-sensitive materials for Saturday‘s Governorship and State House of Assembly elections were destroyed including 198 Smart Card Readers, the printed Register of Voters, 13 generating sets as well as several Voting Cubicles and office equipment were destroyed by the fire.

    “Fortunately, the ballot papers and result sheets for the elections were not affected and are intact.

    “Acting on time, the Commission has been able to replace and reconfigure all the destroyed Smart Card Readers and reprinted the Register of Voters.

    “With the replacement and the salvage of other items, we are pleased to announce that the election will proceed as scheduled.

    “All registered voters in the Local Government Area are therefore requested to turn up to cast their votes between 8a.m and 2p.m tomorrow.”

    Read Also: Guber Poll: INEC, police read riot act in Kaduna

    Okoye said that though the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, a report had been made to the law enforcement agencies and the Fire Service.

    “We are liasing closely with both agencies to investigate and ascertain the cause of the fire and if found to be a delibrate act, we will ensure diligent and vigorous prosecution of those responsible.”

    The commission according to Okoye also postponed the Nassarawo Binyeri State Constituency of Mayo Belwa LGA, in the Adamawa State House of Assembly to March 23.

    Okoye said this was as a result of thevdeath of one of the candidates, Adamu Kwanate, participating in the election earlier scheduled for Saturday. March 9.

    “Furthermore, the Commission has been informed of the death of Hon. Adamu Kwanate, who until his death was the member representing Nassarawo Binyeri State Constituency (Mayo Belwa LGA) in the Adamawa State House of Assembly.

    “He was also the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the same Constituency in the election scheduled for Saturday March 9.

    “Consequently, INEC is compelled to reschedule the Nassarawo Binyeri State Constituency election for tomorrow and the same has been rescheduled to Saturday March 23, in line with Section 36(1) of the Electoral Act (2010) as amended.

    “The Governorship election in the constituency and all other state constituency elections will, however, proceed as scheduled tomorrow.”

    NAN

  • Vinicius Jr’s shin injury heaps more pain on Real Madrid

    Still reeling from their painful UEFA Champions League elimination by Ajax Amsterdam, Real Madrid said on Wednesday that Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr had suffered ligament damage in his right shin.

    He has therefore been potentially ruled out of action for eight weeks.

    “After tests on our player Vinicius Jr, he has been diagnosed with damaged ligaments in the tibioperoneal joint. Pending evolution,” said a medical report from Real Madrid.

    The 18-year-old Vinicius Jr was reduced to tears when forced off in the first half of Real Madrid’s 1-4 defeat at home to Ajax on Tuesday.

    The defeat sealed a 3-5 aggregate defeat for the triple European champions.

    As ever, Real Madrid did not state how long the player would be out for, but Spanish media reports said he would be sidelined for up to two months.

    Read Also: Real Madrid installs TV screens in Bernabeu restrooms

    This means he will miss most of the remainder of the domestic La Liga campaign.

    Vinicius Jr, Real Madrid’s outstanding player in a roller-coaster season, is also ruled out of Brazil’s friendly matches with Panama and Czech Republic later this month.

    He was due to make his international debut in the two friendly matches after receiving a first call-up to the national squad.

    The defeat to Ajax capped a harrowing week for Real Madrid, who were knocked out of the Copa del Rey last Wednesday with defeat to FC Barcelona.

    They went on to suffer a 0-1 defeat to the Catalans in the league, which sent them 12 points adrift of Barca in La Liga.

    NAN

     

  • Poll: INEC insist on use of Smart Card Readers

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has insisted that the Smart Card Readers will be deployed in the Saturday polls.

    INEC is conducting elections governorship elections in 29 states of the Federation and the 36 states assemblies and also the council polls in FCT.

    The commission in a statement signed by Festus Okoye, National Commissioner, in-charge of Information and Voter Education also denied the allegation of selective use of smart card readers in the last election.

    The statement reads: “The general public and all officials engaged for the elections are hereby informed that the Commission is not reconsidering the use of these Smart Card Readers which has greatly improved the credibility of our elections and instilled a high level of public trust In them.

    Read Also: We’ll probe INEC on polls’ shift, says senator

    “To clear any doubt or ambiguity. We wish to state that the deployment and mandatory use Smart Card Readers in next Saturday’s elections will not only be uniform but also universal. and the provisions of the Regulations and Guidelines will be strictly and vigorously enforced All Stakeholders are to note and be guided accordingly please.”

    The commission explained further “Since the conduct of the February 23. 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections. there have been allegations from certain quarters that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was selective in its use of Smart Card Readers (SCRs) in its conduct of the electrons. These allegations have led to speculations that INEC may be forced to jettison their use in the March 9, 2019 Governorship, State Houses of Assembly and Federal Capital Area Council elections. ”

    It therefore added, “INEC hereby states categorically that the allegations are absolutely false and the speculations are without any basis whatsoever. The use of the Smart Card Readers is not only mandatory but its deliberate non-use attracts the sanction of possible prosecution of erring officials in accordance with the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of elections. This is in addition to the voiding of any result emanating from such units or areas. as was done in the Presidential and National Assembly elections of February 23, 2019. “