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Tag: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

  • INEC yet to commence collation in Edo South

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to commence collation of results in Edo South Senatorial district.

    At the Urhokpota hall, venue of the collation centre, officials of INEC were seen waiting for results from seven wards.

    There was heavy security presence at the Urhokpota hall.

    Edo South Senatorial Returning Officer for INEC, Prof. Joseph Osemwenkha, said the results from five Wards available were not complete.

    Prof. Osemwenkha said two ad hoc staff that fled with results due to threat of attacks were yet to arrive.

    He said contact has been established with the ad hoc staff whose name he did not disclosed.

  • Wike gives thumbs up to INEC, blames the military

    The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Saturday praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for the prompt distribution of electoral materials across the state in the yesterday’s Presidential and National Assembly Elections.

    Wike, who spoke shortly after casting his votes at his ward 9, unit 7 Obio/Akpor Local Governmnet Area of the state, however blamed the military for the challenges recorded in parts of the state.

    Wike was accompanied to the voting ground by his wife,  Eberechi Suzzette Wike, a judge of the State High Court, to cast his votes at about few minutes to 12 noon yesterday.

    He expressed satisfaction in the large turnout of voters. He stated that Nigerians are ready to exercise their franchise.

    Speaking to newsmen he said,  “From what I have seen here, it is a large turnout and Nigerians  are ready to express their franchise.  Apart from the military intervention, things are moving on smoothly.

    “There is a clear improvement by INEC in the conduct of this year’s election. They have shown preparedness in the discharge of their electoral duties during the voting process, and I sincerely commend them for that.”

    Read Also: I have confidence in INEC – Hamzat

    He, however, regretted the activities of the Nigerian Military in the exercise, accusing them of deliberate efforts to frustrate the success of democratic process across the state.

    “It is unfortunate that our military can descend so low.  We use to complain about the Police, but now it is the military.

    “What Nigerians have wished to be will be, it doesn’t matter the manipulation anybody would want to carry out, I am very hopeful that Nigerians will decide today and a new President will emerge”, he said.

    Generally, the elections were peaceful in parts of the state, especially,  Port-Harcourt the state capital and its environs, though there were some skirmishes in some LGAs, of Bonny, Okrika, Abonnema in Akukutoru, and Andoni and arrests have been made in these places, the state  police command told newsmen.

    Speaking through its spokesman, Nnamdi Omoni,  Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), noted that the police was very prepared for the exercise, with over 15,000 officers and men deployed to the 4,442 polling unites across the state.

    Electoral materials arrived most of the polling centres early enough, resulting in accreditation and voting in most areas as early as 9 am.

    At Saint Andrew Anglican Church, Mile one Diobu, RACK centre  for the entire Diobu axis, electoral materials began to leave the centre as early as 7:30 am, by 9: 30, all materials had completely been moved from the place with voting already commenced in some places.

    There was large turnout of voters in the state with good number of them seen trekking several miles away to get to their voting centres.

    A voter simply identified as Ayozie, aged about 60, and was seen at second artillery along Aba/Port-Harcourt expressway going from Obigbo to Diobu to ensure he cast his vote.

    Interacting with him, he said, “I am coming from Obigbo in Obigbo LGA and I am going to Diobi to cast my vote to my preferred candidate.”

    Also at one of the polling units visited in Wimpey area, an average age woman told the story of how she trekked from Rukpokwu axis to her polling unit at the Wimpy area.

  • Nigeria has complied with election Code of conduct, says AU

    Nigeria has complied with Code of conduct in the prosecution of the Presidential and the National Assembly elections, the African Union Election Observation Mission said on Saturday.

    The group said though the shift in date of voting afforded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) better preparation for the exercise, delayed arrival of voting materials in some of the visited polling units however remained a spruce of concern.

    The group said it has no intention of dictating to the country on its electoral process other than to provide information from what it observed.

    Speaking at the Government Secondary School, Area 10, Garki, Abuja polling station, the leader of the team, Hailemariam Desalegn, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia denied that the group was passive in observation activities of the Nigeria election this time.

    He said: “African Union Election Observation Mission follows the African Charter for Democracy and Good Governance. We also follow our Charter for Election Observation and Code of Conduct I think this is the basis of this exercise.

    ‘’Nigeria is part of the African Union and abides to these charters and Code of Conduct.

    “We are not behind. We are following the Election Observer Code of Conduct. Where you have not seen and observed a process properly, you don’t need to comment. We had earlier given our observations to the media

    “So far, I think we are asking the people of Nigeria as the largest democracy in Africa, to perform their civic responsibility by voting. What happens in Nigeria determines what will happen in the whole continental democratic process.

    “We have been given all the necessary information, but we cannot go into judgement before we see what is happening

    “This is our Code of conduct it is very strict and we follow it accordingly  Those who give their own opinions before getting the necessary information, it’s up to them”.

    On what the group’s findings during its visits to some of the polling units, Desalegn said though an atmosphere of peace was observed, late arrival of voting materials and official was an area that should be looked into, going forward.

    “Our observation mission has deployed in all the geographic regions of Nigeria and our observation so far is that this election being conducted generally in a peaceful and orderly manner .

    “There are some areas that need some attention especially on the delay in the time of commencement of voting. We observed that the exercise was delayed for over an hour before the process began.

    “Of course after the delays, it has started in these places.  We hope that at the end of the process, the voters will be happy that they gave been given the chance to elect candidates of theor choice.

    “Apart from that we have seen that it is going on very peacefully. This is one of the positive things we have seen.

    “You know we had been disappointed earlier when the election was postponed but I think that it was worth it with what we have seen so far.

    “I think that extra- preparation has helped the process to go on in a peaceful and orderly manner.

    “There is one polling station called Nyanya, there are some problems there because of the delay of voting materials.

    “The election did not start there until after some time  I think that this is one of the hiccups and we hope that INEC is going to solve this problem as expeditiously  as possible,” he added

  • Ballot box snatching, insufficient materials mar election in Imo

    …Okorocha, Nwosu laud voters’ turnout

     

    The Presidential and National Assembly elections in Imo State were marred by late arrival and insufficient voting materials, as well as absence of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Officials.

    Though the turnout of voters was impressive, they were reported cases of ballot box snatching, shooting, among other repressive actions.

    At Egbenu Agbala booth 1 and 2 in Owerri North, there were no ballot papers for the Presidential election and result sheets.

    In some places, aggrieved voters alleged that INEC officials in collusion with some politicians made away with the sensitive materials.

    There were also reported cases of ballot box snatching by hoodlums dressed in Military and Police uniforms in Aboh Mbaise, Ohaji-Egbema, Oguta, Oru East, Isialla Mbano and Owerri North Council Area.

    A former governor of the state, and governorship candidate of the Accord party, Ikedi Ohakim, who could not vote as a result of non-arrival of voting materials in his Osu Owerre Ward 1 in Isialla Mbano Council Area, until 3pm, expressed dissatisfaction over the conduct of the election.

    He said that the turnout of voters showed that the people were prepared to participate in the election but were tactically disenfranchised.

    Addressing journalists, the former governor, stated that, “here in Osu Owerre Ward 1, we have not seen INEC officials by 1pm and voting will stop by 2pm. I am afraid that this will disenfranchise the people. It is early to say that it is an act of sabotage but I am really disappointed that INEC could not get it right after all the preparations”.

    Read Also: Imo AA insists on voting Buhari

    Also expressing dismay over the late commencement of voting, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Ifeanyi Araraume, tasked the electoral umpire to put measure to ensure an improved performance during the next election.

    He said, “In Osu Owerre Ward 2, voting materials got here by 1.30pm and the card readers were not functioning until the Electoral Officer came and gave them the code to operate it. INEC should do everything possible to improve in the next election”.

    Meanwhile, the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha has expressed satisfaction over the turnout of voters and the conduct of the election.

    The governor who addressed journalists shortly after casting his vote at ward 2 Ogboko in Ideato South Council Area alongside his wife, Nkechi Okorocha, confirmed that the postponement did not affect the turnout of voters.

    Okorocha who arrived his polling Unit at about 11:04 expressed confidence that President Muhammadu Buhari will win the Presidential election with a wide margin.

    He said, “I am here with my wife at ward 2 Ogboko, for now I will say that everything is going on well. There is security everywhere.

    “I also had the rumour of ballot box snatching in Osemoto, among other areas. But given the Presidential Order many people are afraid. If not by now you will see a lot of people carrying ballot boxes.

    “However, surprisingly there is no voter apathy our people have realized that it is for the future of this country.

    “I have full confidence that Buhari will win and I will also win by senatorial election with God on our side”.

    Also commending the voters for the massive turnout, the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), Uche Nwosu, urged INEC to improve in the subsequent election.

    Nwosu noted that insufficient voting materials posed serious challenge to the electorate.

  • Voters fume as card readers malfunction at AOCOED

    Four card readers allocated to Polling Unit 015 inside Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Ijanikin, along Lagos-Badagry Express Way, failed on Saturday.

    Officials blamed the problem on poor network.

    But voters argue that network could not possibly select the card readers it would identify.

    Presiding officer, a Youth Corps member, who gave her name as Vivian Anselem, noted that out of the 10 card readers, only six are functioning well.

    The situation has slowed down voting exercise which did not start until few minutes to 9am.

    Voters also complained that while the card readers sometimes read the cards, they could not recognise finger prints.

    Anselem said this was not a problem as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had approved identifying the card reader alone was enough for people to vote.

    Read Also: ‘We need more workers at AOCOED’

    Those whose cards and finger prints could not be read are aggrieved that they would be disenfranchised if the situation was not remedied.

    They said as long as other documents were showing their names, they should be allowed to vote.

    The card readers appeared to be reading only newly issued cards while most of the old PVCs were not identified by the card readers.

    Anselem, who has been under severe pressure, has called the INEC office, saying her superiors were said to be on their way.

     

  • Breaking: INEC extends voting hours

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will extend voting hours in areas where polling failed to open by 8am, it be confirmed.

    The National Commissioner in Charge of Information and Voter Education Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye, said the commission had anticipated that there might be some hiccups.

    Okoye however assured Nigerians that the commission is on top of the situation, urging the public not to panic.

    Speaking on the extension of voting hour, Okoye noted that in any of the states where polls open at 9 o’clock, there will be an extension of one hour.

    Read Also: Pitfalls INEC must avoid today

    The extension time, he said, is predicated on the hours of delay experienced.

    On this, he said INEC is in touch with the Resident Electoral Commissioners

    Speaking on the identified hiccups, Okoye said most of the challenges are security- related and delay on the part of transporters.

    In the issue of security, he noted that INEC boss was already in touch with security agencies to address the situation.

    On the general outlook, he said polling in some states opened 100 percent at the stipulated time while some states recorded 90%

     

  • Everyone ‘ll vote despite late arrival of materials, says INEC

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) spokesman in Lagos, Olufemi Akinbiyi, has allayed fears that some voters could be disenfranchised due to late arrival of materials.

    He said despite materials arriving late at some units due to operational challenges, every registered voter will cast their ballot so long as they arrive before 2pm.

    Addressing reporters at INEC office in Lagos, Akinbiyi, Deputy Director of Publicity/Protocol, said: “Everyone who is in their polling unit before 2pm will vote.

    “At 2pm, the security personnel will stand behind the last man or woman.

    “Everyone in front of the security man will be attended to even if it lasts till 7pm.

    “So voting may end before 2pm in some units and extend beyond 2pm depending on when the poll opened.

    “But everyone who arrived at the polling unit before 2pm will be allowed to vote.”

    Akinbiyi said there will be no use of incident forms.

    “If the smart card reader identifies and authenticates your card but fails to read your biometric, you’ll be allowed vote after providing your phone number provided that the card belongs to INEC.”

    Voting is going on smoothly in units around INEC office in Yaba, Lagos.

  • Voters angry over non arrival of materials

    Aggrieved voters at Magwan special primary school polling booth No PO 2 expressed disgust the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for late arrival of voting materials.

    As at 9:230 am INEC officials were yet to be seen at the station while angry voters alleged that late arrivals could be a deliberate attempt to deny them their voting rights.

    Read Also: Don’t sell your destiny, female cleric tells voters

    One of the voters Malam Sani Ismaila told newsmen that, “we have been here since 6:30 am and this is 9:30 and we are yet to see any INEC staff. As you can see we are here sitting down waiting for their arrival despite the postponement of the election with one week.

    At Kawaji Jigirya ward at Nasarawa Local govt area, there was massive turn out of voters as most of them have started casting their votes.

    Also at Gidan Dan Hausa polling station, as early as 8 am voters were seen casting their votes.

     

  • Nigerians set to vote President, NASS members

    Nigerians will today (Saturday) go to the polls to elect their president and 469 members of the National Assembly (NASS).

    This is coming a week after the exercise was rescheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) late Friday night (Feb. 16).

    While the electoral umpire would conduct only the presidential and NASS election this Saturday, the poll for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly as well as the Area Council election for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would hold on March 9.

    The election will hold at 119,973 polling units across the country, while collation of results will take place in 8,809 Registration Areas or Wards, 774 Local Government Areas, 36 States and the FCT.

    The polling units are expected to open by 8 a.m. and close by 2 p.m. with the last person on the line allowed to vote.

    INEC had said that the use of Smart Card Readers and Permanent Voter Cards were compulsory for the elections.

    The major presidential contenders are incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former vice president Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Demographic Party (PDP).

    Read Also: 12 presidential candidates back Buhari

    Others include Prof. Kingsley Moghalu of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), Felix Osakwe of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), and Christopher Okotie of Fresh Party.

    For the National Assembly elections, a total of 1,904 are vying for 109 Senatorial seats, while 4,680 candidates are competing for the 360 seats in the House of Representatives.

    Specifically, Nigeria’s NASS is made up of 109 members of the Senate or Red Chamber and 360 members of the House of Representatives or Green Chamber.

    The total number of registered voters in the country is 84,004,084, with 44,405,439 (52.86 per cent) as male, and 39,598,645 (47.14 per cent) as female.

     

     

  • ‘INEC chairman should stop doing Wike’s bidding on Rivers APC candidacy’

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-South zone, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has asked the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to stop doing the bidding of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Rivers APC candidacy for this year’s general elections.

    Eze, yesterday in Port Harcourt, urged the INEC chairman, who was reportedly the Director of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), when Wike, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was the Minister of State for Education in the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, to free himself from the entanglement of bias.

    Yakubu was admonished not to allow misleading interpretations of court rulings on Rivers elections to put him in judicial troubles.

    Eze said: “There is no judgment of the Supreme Court that bars Rivers APC from fielding candidates in the 2019 general elections. INEC chairman is allowing himself to be misled and used by enemies of true democracy, to deny candidates of the party (APC) from participating in the elections, and prevent Rivers people from having the opportunity of voting for candidates of their choice.

    ”It is unfortunate that despite the rulings of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt and the Supreme Court, the names of candidates of APC have not been published by INEC for the purpose of participating in the 2019 general elections.

    ”I call on the electoral commission, as a law-abiding institution, to without delay, publish the names of candidates of APC in Rivers State for the 2019 general election, as submitted by the APC.

    ”The enemies of democracy that are bent of ensuring that Rivers APC is not reflected in the ballot during the February 23 and March 9 polls are out to frustrate the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari, by weakening the APC’s structure in Rivers State and causing members of the main opposition party to be disillusioned, thereby leading to apathy.”

    The APC chieftain also urged the Rivers electorate, especially the party faithful, to stay focused and ignore the propaganda of PDP and the INEC collaborators.

    Eze admonished party loyalists to come out en masse and vote for President Buhari and other candidates of APC.

    Meanwhile, the lawmaker representing Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Abe, has said that he and 42 allies, who lost on Thursday at the appellate court in Port Harcourt, will approach the Supreme Court for proper interpretation of the merits of their suit for declaration, that, they should be affirmed as authentic candidates of APC in Rivers.

    Abe said, yesterday in Port Harcourt, that, ”There is need to ensure that justice and equity prevail for Rivers APC members who participated in a lawful process, but were wrongfully excluded from the polls.”

    The senator, who was Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) in the administration of Rotimi Amaechi, now Transportation Minister, also urged Nigerians to massively vote for President Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of APC.

    He noted, that, there was the need for Rivers people and other Nigerians to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner before, during and after the 2019 general elections, while backing President Buhari’s directive to the military and police to deal decisively with ballot box snatchers and other miscreants who might attempt to disrupt the elections.