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Tag: Godswill Obioma

  • 2019: INEC requires 2,600 vehicles for elections in Ebonyi-REC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) says it requires 2,652 vehicles of different types for movement of materials and officials for the 2019 general elections in Ebonyi.

    Prof. Godswill Obioma, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner ( REC ) in Ebonyi made the disclosure at a meeting between the commission and state officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers ( NURTW ) in Abakaliki on Wednesday.

    Obioma said that effective and timely movement of election officials and materials to designated poling units and voting points was critical for credible, smooth and successful conduct of election.

    He explained that the vehicles would be deployed to the 2, 293 poling units and voting points across the 13 local government areas of the state and INEC state Headquarters.

    According to him, the Transport Strategy Plan ( TSP ) is an innovation by the state Headquarters of the commission to achieve prompt and unhindered transport arrangement for the 2019 general elections in Ebonyi.

    The REC said it would send the final draft of the transport strategy compiled by the two bodies to the INEC headquarters for approval.

    “The draft strategy plan provides for the deployment of 2, 652 vehicles of different types for the elections in Ebonyi.
    “1, 326 vehicles will be deployed for the Presidential and National Assembly elections in February 16, 2019 while another 1,326 vehicles will be required for governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections making a total of 2, 652 vehicles.

    According to the arrangement, Abakaliki will be allocated 131 vehicles, Afikpo North, 92, Afikpo South, 76, Ebonyi 90, Ezza North 99, Ezza South 89 and Ikwo 135.

    Read Also: INEC submits revised 2019 election budget to National Assembly

    Others are Ishielu, Ivo, Izzi, Ohaozara, Ohaukwu and Onitcha local government areas will receive 105, 60, 142,78, 125, and 98 vehicles respectively while INEC state Headquarters will have six haulage vehicles.

    “The transport strategy plan is a deliberate effort and knowledge driven initiative by INEC and NURTW in Ebonyi to strategize and produce a concrete transport arrangement for 2019 general elections.

    “The initiative will forestall logistics failure in the state in the short run and develop a frame work for the smooth conduct of future elections in the long run.

    “The place of transport logistics in the electoral process obviously is central and cardinal in spite of the inter play of other critical intervening variables.

    “The relevant provisions of the strategy plan are the determination of total number of vehicles requirements local government by local government strictly based on actual needs assessment.

    “It also provides for 10 per cent projected increase for the emergency responses alongside revised logistics of both men and materials required for the elections.

    “The plan also prescribed criteria for admitting quality and sound vehicles to be used for 2019, a proposal for a cost free training of drivers on ethical standard and code of conduct among other key issues,” he said.

    The chairman of the state chapter of NURTW, Chief Oko Ewah led officials of the transport union to the meeting.

  • Distribution of PVCs begins mid May, says INEC

    Distribution of PVCs begins mid May, says INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) says the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards ( PVCs ) to their owners will begin by middle of May.

    The Ebonyi INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner ( REC ), Prof. Godswill Obioma disclosed at a strategic security interactive meeting on Wednesday in Abakaliki.

    Our reporters,  reports that the strategic meeting involved INEC officials, representatives of security outfits involved in the conduct of election as well as the National Orientation Agency (NOA), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

    Obioma said that the commission would commence the distribution of the PVCs to eligible electorate, who registered between 2017 and 2018.

    He urged security officials, who were yet to register, to take advantage of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) to register.

    He further urged members of the security agencies, who transferred from other locations, wishing to transfer their cards to Ebonyi to approach any INEC office nearest to them for the transfer.

    He warned against double registration, noting that any double registration would result to cancellation and disqualification of the voter.

    “We have concluded arrangements for the distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards to their owners and the exercise begins by mid May and will involve those who registered between 2017 and 2018.

    “We have begun early to plan for the 2019 elections and I want to assure you that we will do our best to eliminate factors that will compromise outcome, credibility and integrity of the elections.

    “Let me use the opportunity to urge officers who have not registered to register and those wishing to do card transfer to visit any INEC office for the update,” Obioma said.

    The resident commissioner said that the strategic meeting was part of the early preparatory arrangements by the commission aimed at mobilising its critical partners and stakeholders.

    He said that the interactive security meeting would deepen collaboration between the security operatives and the commission and boost proper security arrangements and understanding ahead of the elections.

    According to him, the meeting is running concurrently at the three Senatorial zones of Ebonyi including Ebonyi South, Ebonyi Central and Ebonyi North Senatorial zones.

    “The briefing is called cluster briefing running concurrently at the three Senatorial zones of the state which has in attendance all security agencies involved in the Inter Agency Consultative on Election Security (IACES).

    “The aim is to plan properly, especially in the areas of security and the idea is to share information on the proper conduct of elections.

    Read Also: 2019: INEC inaugurates teams to drive elections’ projects plan in Ebonyi

    “The commission is making plans in earnest for smooth, transparent and credible elections and we need adequate security to ensure safety and security of INEC staff and materials,” he said.

    He explained that IACES had set up a security sub-committee to identify number of security personnel to be deployed to polling units and voting points.

    He said that security operatives that would be involved in the election would undergo a joint training programme on election security.

    He said the training would enable the operatives imbibe high ethical standard before the elections as well as equip them with knowledge of security strategies developed by INEC to ensure credible poll.

    Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi and chairman of IACES, Mr Titus Sumba-Lamorde said security operatives would ensure that safety of voters, INEC materials and officials are guaranteed during the elections.

    The Commissioner, who was represented by DSP Linus Iwuanyanwu, Divisional Police Officer, Izzi Police Division, charged operatives who would be engaged in the election exercise to display professionalism and high ethical conduct.

    He said that IACES and the commission would address all security concerns that would be articulated in the meeting with a view to enhancing proper security arrangements before, during and after the elections.

    “Security agencies will ensure proper synergy and collaboration to enhance security of INEC sensitive and non-sensitive materials including election officials during the elections,” Sumba-Lamorde said.

    He said the meeting was part of the Election Projects Plan and  contributions to enable the commission to effectively plan on security matters for the election.

    Our reporters,  reports that security agencies in attendance include: Army, Police, Department of State Security, Prisons, Civil Defence, Road Safety, National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency and NOA among others.

    NAN

  • 2019: INEC inaugurates teams to drive elections’ projects plan in Ebonyi

    2019: INEC inaugurates teams to drive elections’ projects plan in Ebonyi

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in Ebonyi, on Tuesday inaugurated 19 different committees to drive the commission ‘s Elections’ Projects Plan (EPP), ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    The committees are: Inventory Committee, Election Monitoring and Support Centre Committee, Electronic Dashboard Committee, Security Committee, Domestication of EPP Committee, among others.

    The Ebonyi INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Godswill Obioma, inaugurated the committees at the commission’s state headquarters in Abakaliki.

    He said that the action was in line with directive from the national headquarters of the commission.

    According to him, the committees known as Elections’ Projects Plan task teams will carry out various responsibilities preparatory to 2019 general elections.

    He said that each of the committees has specific activities, team leader, team members, time line and terms of references.

    The resident commissioner described the inauguration as a ‘defining’ moment for the commission as it moved closer to the 2019 general elections.

    He said: “The Elections’ Projects Plan is a document developed by INEC to drive the implementation of transparent elections for 2019.

    “Therefore, the inauguration of the 19 Elections’ Projects Plan task teams is a defining moment for the commission in Ebonyi because they are going to drive transparent conduct of 2019 elections.

    “INEC has developed a five-year strategic plan covering 2017 and 2021 and what this means is that whatever INEC does in terms of election and other activities are captured in the strategic plan.

    “You have a daunting task to make the commission to succeed in the 2019 general elections and you must work hard within your committees to enable the commission achieve better result”.

    The resident commissioner said that a monitoring team would be set up to ensure that various committees worked within the time line.

    The INEC’s Administrative Secretary, Mr Charles Ezema, who responded on behalf of other heads of the committees, assured that the committees would carry out the assignments diligently and in accordance with terms of reference.

    “The committees will not disappoint the commission on this very important assignment and we must work within the time line.

    “What we have done today has helped our understanding to know that election is a process which can be reduced into strategic planning for efficient and effective result.

    “It is important that we take our responsibilities seriously, especially now that we have 68 registered political parties to contend with, ” Ezema said.

    Activities expected to be performed by the task teams include: to domesticate the 2019 Elections Projects Plan in order to design a state-based 2019 EPP for Ebonyi, adopt final report of the inventory committee.

    Other activities also include to set up state Election Monitoring Centre (EMSC), create Electronic Dashboard for state EMSC, reactivate periodic data – gathering for base line data, among others.

    The task teams are expected to conclude all their assignments by April 4.

    NAN

  • INEC seeks NURTW’s collaboration in Ebonyi

    INEC seeks NURTW’s collaboration in Ebonyi

    Ahead of the 2019 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in Ebonyi, on Wednesday sought  collaboration of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), for easy movement of personnel and electoral materials.

    Prof. Godswill Obioma, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ebonyi, who spoke at a meeting in Abakaliki with NURTW members, said the collaboration was necessary in order to ensure successful elections.

    Obioma, who described NURTW as critical stakeholder, said effective collaboration with the union was needed to ensure successful movement of men and materials.

    According to him, the meeting is convened to map out strategies and actions necessary for effective engagement of members of the union.

    “The INEC in Abuja has directed states to carry out preparatory inventory of what the commission needs for smooth and successful conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    Read Also: …. Ngige threatens to sue INEC

    “This meeting with the union aimed at boosting our partnership and collaboration is part of the preparatory inventory.

    “The meeting will foster greater cooperation and commitment which will ensure that only those people who are trustworthy and credible will be engaged in the transportation services during the elections.

    “There are 1782 poling units in Ebonyi, and the implication is that not fewer than 1782 sound vehicles will be needed to convey our men and materials to these voting areas.

    “You can see why the union is very important and indeed a critical stakeholder in the electoral process.

    “The commission must count on you to enhance timely and effective distribution of the electoral materials to the various poling units,” Obioma said.

    He said that the commission would engage the officials of the 29 branches of the union operating in Ebonyi in similar interactive meeting.

    The NURTW’s State Chairman, Mr Ewa Oko, who led other officials of the union to the meeting, commended the REC for the timely initiative.

    He said that the meeting would assist both organisations to work out areas of common collaboration and cooperation as well as strengthen grey areas.

    Oko said that the union has been supportive of the commission in previous elections and had always mobilised its members during elections.

    “We are going to cooperate and collaborate with the commission to ensure that 2019 general elections become a huge success in Ebonyi in terms of transportation of materials and men to various polling units.

    “If NURTW says yes; then you know that our yes is our yes. We have assured our support and cooperation to the commission for the success of the elections in Ebonyi and we hold on to it,” Ewa said.

    He said that the union had launched operation ‘show your voter card’ explaining that members who were yet to register and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were not allowed to attend the union’s meetings.

    “We in NURTW are taking the 2019 elections very seriously. We launched operation show your PVC which makes it compulsory for members to show their voter cards before they are allowed to sit in our meetings.

    “If you don’ t have your voter card we send you out of our meeting ,because you are not a good citizen,” he added.

    The meeting inaugurated a seven – man INEC / NURTW transport joint sub-committee to work out modalities for effective engagement of the transporters.

    NAN

  • 2019 election results will be transmitted electronically – INEC

    2019 election results will be transmitted electronically – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) said on Tuesday it has developed a technology that would enable it transmit election results electronically direct from polling units to the states’ headquarters.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ebonyi, Prof. Godswill Obioma, disclosed this at a meeting with faith-based organizations in Abakaliki.

    According to him, the new technology is part of efforts by the Commission to eliminate rigging, electoral frauds and other irregularities and to ensure the enthronement of credibility and transparency in the electoral process.

    Obioma reassured the electorate that their votes would count in the 2019 general elections and urged them to participate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration ( CVR ).

    He said: “INEC is strengthening the process of transmitting election results electronically direct from polling booths to INEC headquarters.

    “We hope that the latest technological innovation would be perfected and deployed in the 2019 general elections.

    “The new strategy would discourage politicians from ballot box snatching, stuffing of ballot boxes and indulgence in other forms of electoral irregularities.

    “The commission would do everything to ensure that votes count in 2019 and that those who would emerge do that through popular votes.

    “We have only one message and the message is that you come out and register and ensure that you collect your PVC to qualify you to exercise your franchise.”

    Read also: 2019: INEC to partner political parties for credible elections

    The REC explained that the meeting was part of conscious efforts by INEC to build strategic partnership and alliance that would be harnessed to mobilize the electorate.

    “This meeting is aimed at jointly charting strategic paths for a credible 2019 elections and to see in what best ways we can partner with the organizations to reach out to their members.

    “It is also to mobilize those who are 18 years and above to come out and register and collect their PVCs,” he added.

    Obioma explained that making the electoral process more inclusive by getting more people involved in civic responsibilities would reduce political tension and those chosen in elections would be better accepted as representatives of the people.

    He said that the commission had embarked on aggressive sensitisation and voter education since he resumed office as REC in Ebonyi on July 12.

    “We have undertaken stakeholders’ town hall meetings in all the 13 local government areas of the state where we met with the people in their localities and sensitise them to the continuous voter registration.

    “We followed the town hall meetings with the stakeholders’ village square meetings in the wards across the local government areas.

    “We listened to their views on how we can do better in our programmes to achieve greater penetration in the society,” he said.

    Reports say no fewer than 50 representatives of faith-based organisations, including Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs attended the meeting.

    NAN

  • 2019: INEC to partner political parties for credible elections

    2019: INEC to partner political parties for credible elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) says it will partnership political parties and other stakeholders in Ebonyi to ensure that the state records credible election in 2019.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner ( REC ) in the state, Prof. Godswill Obioma, stated this while briefing newsmen on Wednesday in Abakaliki on the outcome of a meeting between the commission and Inter Party Advisory Council ( IPAC ).

    He said that the collaboration would raise the capacity and awareness of political parties’ members, equip them with knowledge of the electoral process.

    Obioma said that the synergy would also enhance understanding of provisions of the nation’s Constitution and the 2010 Electoral Act as amended.

    “Our focus, our commitment is on 2019 general elections and the desire to get things done right before and during the elections.

    “This is a special IPAC meeting and the aim is to achieve two results,’’ he said.

    According to him, it is to raise capacity ahead of 2019 in terms of equipping members with knowledge of IPAC and the electoral umpire with provisions of the Electoral Act.

    Obioma said that it was also to sensitize political parties on the need to adhere to provisions of the Act.

    “The meeting also highlighted the legal implications of violating the provisions of the Electoral Law and the need for political parties to conduct their activities within the ambits of the law.

    “It is through a strategic partnership with the political parties and key stakeholders that our aim of having credible 2019 elections in the state can be achieved,” Obioma said.

    He said that IPAC was set up within the structures of INEC to ensure inclusiveness in policy, transparency and probity in election process.

    He pointed out that regular meetings were held to address issues that would benefit the members and electorate.
    “IPAC is composed of all the registered political parties and meets with INEC from time to time.

    “We chart a way forward, look at challenges, create strategies to combat the challenges and of course, make strategic plans in terms of sensitisation and other issues.

    “As I have pointed out earlier, today’s meeting is a special one which was convened to address a particular issue.

    “The issue is the provision of 2010 Electoral Law (As amended) with particular reference to section 92 (A) and (B) which deals on campaign.

    “The essence is to alert political parties of the provisions of that Act stipulating the guidelines, time limit, when to start campaigns and when to stop.

    “They will know what constitutes a campaign and implications of contravening the provisions of the electoral Act,” the REC said.

    He disclosed that the meeting deliberated on the need for violence-free polls in the state, saying that election was not a do-or-die affair.

    He said that political parties were reminded to caution members, candidates and their supporters to limit their actions within the provisions of the law and avoid acts that could trigger election violence.

    “Election is not a do-or-die affair and we were able to highlight the issue in the meeting and this is why we are calling for strategic partnership to help build and cement our relationship with political parties.

    “We encourage political parties and players to abide by the provisions of the Act to abide by guidelines and also to do all it takes to ensure that elections are credible, fair and free, and that people’s votes count,” Obioma added.

    He said that INEC remained an unbiased electoral umpire committed to the discharge of its statutory mandate of conducting impartial and credible elections.

    “We in INEC want to assure the public that we are unbiased umpires; we shall do our job, we will carry out our work taking into account our statutory responsibility as provided for in the Act.

    “We will not add a vote that doesn’t count nor are we going to subtract a vote that counts.

    “We are appealing for cooperation so that at the end of the day, everybody would have seen that we have done the job, people will have been happy to see that their votes have counted.”

    Earlier in a paper presentation, Mrs Tonia Ndu, Head of Legal Unit of INEC in the state, urged political parties to desist from embarking on early campaigns.

    She advised the parties and candidates to adhere strictly to provisions of the Electoral Laws and comply with INEC’s guidelines in carrying out political activities, especially campaigns.

    Ndu said that political campaigns should only begin upon release of timeline for political activities by INEC, adding that it would constitute electoral offence to indulge in political activities outside INEC’s approved time-table.

    “Political parties must commence political campaigns upon INEC release of timeline, which must be 90 days to the election and must end 24 hours to the poll.

    “Any political party found engaging in political campaigns when INEC has not released time-table for political activities, on conviction, is liable to a fine of N500, 000.

    “INEC frowns at politicians and political parties kick-starting political campaigns when it has not given such approval,” Ndu said.
    On his part, Chairman of IPAC in the state, Mr Edward Constance, pledged support and commitment of the commission to credible poll in 2019, assuring that IPAC would always partner INEC to create virile electoral environment.

    Constance, who is also Chairman of United People’s Party (UPP) in Ebonyi, expressed optimism on the ability of INEC to conduct credible elections in the state in 2019.

    He said “we have assured the commission that we will support, cooperate as well as partner it to ensure free, fair and credible 2019 general elections.

    “The meeting was interactive and afforded members of the council opportunity to express views and ask questions on matters of electoral importance.

    “We have also assured the commission that we are not going to engage in early campaigns, and that we will confine political activities in our respective parties within the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.”

    NAN

  • 2019: INEC trains staff on ICT in Ebonyi

    2019: INEC trains staff on ICT in Ebonyi

    The Independent National  Electoral Commission ( INEC ), on Monday in Abakaliki, Ebonyi, commenced three-day training on Information Communication Technology (ICT) for its staff in the state.

    Prof. Godswill Obioma, the State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), who declared the workshop open, said that the initiative was to train and equip the staff with basic knowledge of computer and application of ICT.

    According to him, the training is part of strategies being put in place to ensure credible, free, fair and efficient conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    He said that the ICT training was the 5th batch in the series, slated to enhance the capacity of the staff of the commission.

    He said that 300 staff of the commission at its headquarters in Abakaliki would first undergo the training before it would be stepped down to the staff at the various local government areas.

    “Election is a process and the training we are organising for our staff is to equip and enhance their skills and capacity for efficient and effective election management.

    “This is the 5th batch in a series of training, lined up for the staff of the commission in the build up to the 2019 general elections.

    “We are concentrating on equipping the staff with knowledge of computer in this 5th batch and we identified and isolated those staff without any knowledge about computer and ICT.

    “We are going to train them on basic computer application for three days, and we are starting with 35 of them and each set will be trained for three days until we train all our 300 staff.

    “We expect that the over 300 staff stationed at the headquarters will undergo the training programme before we move down to the local government areas to train our staff there.

    “Voting and issues about election have become electronic-based, hence the need for the commission to build capacity of its staff to cope with the new trend,” Obioma said.

    He said that the commission had improved on its card-reader machines, saying that the use of the machine and electronic voting in 2019 would be hitch-free and more efficient.

    “The application of the electronic voting and the use of card-readers have been discovered to reduce election fraud and other irregularities associated with manual voting.

    “We have improved on our systems; the Federal Government is going to change and strengthen the card-readers, and the card-reader which was introduced in 2015 general elections has depressed considerably the issues of malpractices in elections,” he added.

    Obioma urged the trainees to pay attention, adding that the commission was depending on them to deliver on its mandate of conducting credible, free, fair and acceptable polls in 2019.

    NAN

  • INEC begins staff training on voter education in Ebonyi – REC

    INEC begins staff training on voter education in Ebonyi – REC

    Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has begun training of its staff on voter education to end voters’ apathy in the Ebonyi state in preparation for 2019 elections.

    The Ebonyi Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Godswill Obioma, made this known in an interview on Friday in Abakaliki.

    He explained that only 30 per cent of eligible voters participated in the electoral process in the state, saying that the commission was determined to change the situation for the better.

    He said that the training was designed to build capacity of the trainees so as to be able take voter education to the grassroots and to effectively mobilise the people to participate in the electoral process.

    The REC said that the training of the commission’s staff on voter education was part of strategies and preparation to ensure mass participation in the 2019 general elections in the state

    According to him, voter education is a critical component in the electoral process because it is used in mobilising the voter to carry out their civic duties at a stipulated time.

    The INEC chief noted that the beauty of participatory democracy rest in the ability of greater number of the people to participate in the process of choosing their leaders.

    “Lack of proper voter education has made most eligible voters to shun participation in the electoral process and such a decision often results in the emergence of non-credible leaders.

    “It is an important civic responsibility of every adult to participate in all the electoral processes including voter registration, voting in an election and ensuring that your votes are protected.

    “A situation where only insignificant 30 per cent of eligible voting population participate in the electoral process is unacceptable and we are working hard to change the people’s mindset,” Obioma said.

    Obioma also called for support from the media, traditional rulers, politicians, their supporters and other stakeholders in the political process in ensuring the success of the voter education in the state.

    NAN