The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

  • Wike paid UK Consulate officers $1 million to lie against military – Coalition

    The Coalition for Change and Transparency (CCT) has accused Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State of sponsoring propaganda and fake news against the Nigerian Army during the just concluded Governorship and State Assembly elections.
    In a bid to undermine the military’s exceptional and harmless conduct at the polls, Mr Wike and his wailing cohorts in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) resorted to cheap blackmails, going as far as bribing the UK Consulate to the tune of $1 million.
    In a press conference in Abuja, Monday, CCT’s President Danesi Momoh revealed that the embattled governor’s latest plot isn’t particularly strange, especially after his failed attempt to induce military personnel to rig the elections in favour of the PDP.
    The Coalition, therefore, concluded that the motive of Mr Wike was purely to manipulate the outcome of the elections and when that wasn’t possible, he resorted to propaganda.
    “During the state elections, fake news was deployed as a propaganda weapon against the military by those who felt they were unable to rig or manipulate the elections because of the critical role the military was playing. Interestingly, such fake news was targeted at areas where the military had successfully prevented violence from spiraling out of control.

    Read Also:Navy denies losing officer to electoral violence in Bayelsa

    Considering that fake news is now recognized globally as a weapon, and knowing the damages that could result from its deployment, the Coalition for Change and Transparency (CCT) reviewed instances of the use of fake news against the Nigerian Military with a view to identifying those that deployed it, those that exploited it, those that benefit from it and possibly understand the intents of those in the fake news chain.
    “We have identified that cyber operatives of the opposition, notably the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), are behind the production, distribution and promotion of misleading content using new media and social media as vehicles of delivery. In some instances, such contents get into the mainstream media, whose credibility and traditional status and believability are exploited to confer credibility on the lies being told by the propagandists. It is most unfortunate that even these cyber operatives and the opposition are being used in the fake news chain as the real culprit are foreign operatives that exploit such content. A specific culprit is the United Kingdom, which based its assessment of the election on fake news about the military beating staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), effectively exploiting the fake news that it had trained the cyber operatives of the opposition to produce.
    “The Coalition for Change and Transparency (CCT) therefore condemns in the strongest terms possible the United Kingdom’s unwarranted deployment of fake news to cause disaffection among Nigerians and against the Nigerian military. We see it as a deliberate and calculated attempt to cause violence against the military such that the situation will quickly degenerate to a point where violent anti-military protests will bring down the government and cause constitutional crisis for the country.
    CCT hereby by asks the United Kingdom High Commission in Nigeria to retract the offensive tweet and apologize for willfully attempting to incite violence in Nigeria through the promotion of fake news. We in the same vein demand that @UKinnigeria including the UK High Commission in Nigeria cease further comments about the election in Nigeria or be faced with deterrent actions from citizens. Nigeria does not interfere in UK elections so there is no justification for the attempts by the United Kingdom to manipulate the conduct and the outcome of the elections in Nigeria.”
    The CCT, however, urged the Federal Government to ” explore all available diplomatic channels and options to drive home the message to the United Kingdom that the British Empire expired long ago and Nigeria is not the place to revive the antiquated concept. The Federal Government owes it a duty to Nigerians, who were unnecessarily terrorized by the fake news, to ensure that the consular staff that were behind the offensive tweet are recalled by their country. This will also show that Nigeria will not tolerate undue interference by foreigners in the country’s affairs.
    In the light of the fact-checking conducted by TheCable, the Nigerian Military should assemble fact, present same to the UK High Commission in Nigeria, and demand an apology and deletion of the lie from the timeline of @UKinnigeria.”

  • 2019: INEC engages anti-graft agencies to track campaign finance

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has enlisted the services of the anti-graft agencies in tracking the campaign finances for 2019 elections.

    The anti-graft agencies include; Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Financial Investigation Unit (FIU) to help monitor and track campaign finances of political parties and their candidates. Others are The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

    The group will be under the leadership of Barrister Eze Onyekpere, Centre for Social Justice.

    The committee is expected to submit its report after six months. A National Commissioner, Prof. Antonia Okosi-Simbine inaugurated the committee on behalf of the chairman of the commission.

    The ten member group is to monitor the spendińg of all the candidates and political parties spending to ensure they don’t exceed the approved sealing.

    Nigerians are expected to go to polls on Saturday, 16th February 2019 for the presidential and National Assembly seats while the states elections come up on the 2nd of March 2019.

    The tracking for campaign financing is expected to end on the 16th February 2019 for the presidential and National Assembly while for the state elections the tracking will end on the 2nd March 2019.

    INEC had said that it will be monitoring the ongoing campaign by various political parties and candidates closely ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Read Also: INEC and the electorates

    The Campaign for the 2019 Presidential election officially commenced on Sunday 13 November 2918 as provided for by the Electoral Act.

    The commission is empowered by the section 90 of electoral Act, 2010 as amended to place a peg on campaign expenses. Election expenses is the expenses incurred by a political party and candidate within the period from date notice is given by the commission to conduct an election.

    Section 91 of the electoral Act stipulated a maximum of one billion Naira (N1, 000,000,000) for presidential candidate. While for candidate for governorship seat cannot spend more than 200,000,000 for campaign.

    Maximum amount allowed for Senate and House of Representatives is N40, 000,000.00 and N20, 000,000.00 respectively.

    The Act does not allow individual or entity to donate more than N1, 000,000.00 to any candidate.

    A political party that incurs election expenses beyond the limit stipulated in this Act commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of N1, 000,000.00 and forfeiture to the commission of the amount by which the expenses exceed the limit set by the commission.

    The Electoral Act 2010 as amended also stipulated N1, 000,000,000.00 fine or imprisonment for a term of 12 months or both as punishment for any individual that contravene the Act for the presidential and N600, 000 for the senatorial election while, House of Representatives N500, 000 or imprisonment N500, 000.00 for the governorship, it is N800, 000.00 or imprisonment of nine months or both.

    The commission had in the past confronted by some challenges which had hindered its work. However, the commission said it was ready to wield the big stick on any party or candidate that contravenes the law.

    Speaking during the inauguration of the Inter-agency campaign finance monitoring Group yesterday, INEC national commissioner, Prof. Anthonia Okosi – Simbina said the report of the 2019 campaign finances will be release immediately after the election.

    “We will check newspapers advert, TV, Radio, billboard and we must see to the conclusion. Those who spent beyond what the legal frame work provided for or spent outrageously will have themselves to blame,” Simbina said.

    According to her, “Vote buying must be monitored too. And those reports must be published after the election. Unlike what happened in the past, 6 months will be late for the report. We will ensure compliance to the electoral act, “Simbina added.

    She said all the 10 groups engaged for the tracking of the campaign finances will be working with the electoral finance and party monitoring department of INEC.

    Also speaking, the assistant director, Campaign Finance Tracking Unit, Ishaq Garba Aliyu, while speaking on the process, said they recorded milestone in the 2015 campaign finance tracking adding that they won’t leave chances in the 2019 election campaigns.

    “We have built the capacity of the staff. They review the tracking forms to include separate forms for candidates and political parties. The tracking ends on the day of election, “Aliyu said.

  • Stop undermining our democracy – Observers’ group, YIAGA warned

    Stop undermining our democracy – Observers’ group, YIAGA warned

    Elections observers groups, Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement, YIAGA Africa and Watching The Vote Group have been warned against comments and moves that could undermine Nigeria’s democracy.

    YIAGA and WVG are part of electoral observers in the just-concluded general elections in the country.

    However, the two observing group had sank during the weekend called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the military to order in the course of their assignment during the Governorship and State Assembly Elections.

    National Democratic Front, NDF, while desribing the demand as irresponsible, said the demand was a shameful affirmation of partisanship that should not come from any self-respecting group that ascribes neutrality to itself.

    It, therefore, warned them to must immediately put a stop to undermining Nigeria’s democracy.

    Dr. Bolaji Abdulkadir, Secretary General of the group gave this warning in a statement forwarded to our reporter on Sunday.

    According to the statement, “With its kind of posturing, YIAGA is apparently playing a mind game in which it wants to create a scenario whereby President Buhari would be perceived as reversing himself, after earlier giving the order to the military to deal decisively with anyone snatching ballot boxes irrespective of political affiliation.

    “It appears the YIAGA’s intention was to create the wrong impression that Mr President was only interested in the credibility of federal elections while state votes can go to the dog. Had President Buhari falling for the ruse and prevent the military from performing their duties during the state elections it is apparent that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), YIAGA’s employer, would have had a field by declaring that it has found its mythical smoking gun.

    “The true intention of YIAGA must be further called to question as series of incidents during the elections in question confirmed that political actors, across party affiliations, are subjecting the process to untold violence. Second guessing the professionalism of the military, which was only called in to do the needful based on security report, therefore presents YIAGA as group that is disappointed that its affiliated political party was unable to cash in on violence to earn political advantage.

    “YIAGA might have based its frivolous demand to the President on a fabled “assessment” of the state elections but the reality on ground proved that the military was never the issue. Rather, the problem is the posse of unpopular politicians that are yet to accept the reality of the electorate becoming better enlightened under the current dispensation. It is not possible that a better informed people will easily succumb to the propaganda deployed by persons that have no track record of delivering on their electoral promises.

    Read Also:PDP alleges plots by Buhari, APC to truncate democracy

     

    “The desperation on the part of this group has seen it accused everyone but its client for the incidents recorded during the state election. In addition to the military, it has blamed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the ruling All Progressives’ Congress (APC), other security agencies, communities and every other stakeholders but itself. This attitude suggests that the group has a sole assignment of undermining the credibility of the elections.

    “The National Democratic Front has nothing against YIAGA delivering its paid services to its clients in the opposition but it is pertinent that the group gives some thoughts to the number of lives that would have been lost to electoral violence had the military not deployed to offer deterrence against those that had premised their political success on the deployment of industrial scale violence. As things stand, the blood of those killed in the recorded instances of violence already cry out against organizations like YIAGA, whose crying wolf had limited the military’s ability to robustly respond to fully curtail violence.

    “Our demand to YIAGA is unequivocal. It must cease its ongoing belligerence against the Nigerian state as represented by its constant attacks on the military. The group should leave Nigeria alone so that citizens can continue with the moral restructuring of their political system, which has for instance moved away from excessive money politics with prospect of the practice further diminishing in future elections. With the knowledge that the state does not approve of violence for winning elections, future elections are likewise set to be more peaceful.”

  • Osun religious leaders pledge support of members for polls

    Religious leaders in Osun State have pledged the support of the members of their faiths for the February 16 and March 2 general elections in the state.

    They made the pledge at a press conference organized by Justice Development and Peace Makers’ Centre on the peaceful conduct of the 2019 general elections in Osun State.

    The press conference was jointly addressed by the leadership of both Christian and Islamic religions at the multi-purpose hall of the Chief Imam of Osogbo, Sheik Musa Ajisafe Animashaun.

    Also, in attendance were the Resident Electoral Commission for Osun State, Mr. Segun Agbaje and the Osun State Director of the State Security Service, Mr. Brown Ekowaba.

    In his welcome address, the Director of the JDPMC in Osun State, Rev. Father, Peter Akinkunmi, said the event was necessary to provide a platform for religious leaders to meet and give an assurance of their role for peaceful conduct of the forthcoming electoral exercise.

    Akinkunmi said the impressive population of members of the two religious faiths in the state, no doubt, would make their leaders have a wider reach and give a direction of where the   exercise will follow.

    He charged the religious leaders to begin to talk to their members on need to conduct themselves peacefully during the exercise in the interest of the nation’s development.

    He commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for their efforts so far and plead for support for the electoral body to be able meet the people’s expectations.

    Chief Imam of Osogbo, Sheik Animashaun, assured the INEC of  his members support but advised that the electoral body should be above board in its duties.

    Also, asking the media to avoid sensational reports, the Islamic cleric enjoined all stakeholders to carry their duties with the fear of God.

    In his contribution, the Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Osogbo, Most Rev. John Akin Oyejola, said elections are directly linked to the common destiny of the people and therefore, advised that voters should vote conscientiously to choose for development agenda and leaders that would ensure resources are deployed effectively for public good.

    The REC for Osun commended Muslims and Christians for living together in peace in the South West and particularly in Osun State.

    He expressed the readiness of the INEC for the exercise, disclosing that more than 15,000 personnels of the electoral body have been deployed to various parts of the state for the exercise.

    He also disclosed that training had been concluded for staff of the INEC and security personnel to participate in the exercise.

  • INEC allocates 774 election observer slots to women group

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have allocated 774 election observer slots to the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS).

    National President of NCWS, Dr Gloria Shoda said that the group has been advocating for inclusiveness and are pleased with INEC’s legal frameworks.

    She said that they are also pleased with INEC’s reforms of creating separate queues for expectant mothers and elderly women during the election.

    Dr Shoda stated this at the first NCWS quarter zonal national executive council meeting that took place in Abuja.

    Her words, “One of the important aspects of elections which we have been advocating for sometimes is inclusiveness. We are pleased to see that the nation’s electoral management body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has made provisions through legal frameworks for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and Intemally-Displaced Persons (lDPs).

    “We note too that there will be separate queues for expectant mothers and our elderly citizens. We encourage all people who belong to these categories to take advantage of the provisions made by lNEC to ensure they exercise their right to vote.

    Read Also: Breaking: INEC extends collection of PVCs

    “We also urge INEC continue in its bid to ensure a free, fair and credible elections and abide by its guidelines and regulation which it released in January 2019. The introduction of technology into the electoral process is to reduce the opportunities for fraudulent practices.

    “I will also like to caution our NCWS election observers to take care of hemselves. Please think safety first and do not interfere in the process even if you see anything going wrong. Your role is to quietly observe the process for making a report later; please don’t use your phone to record or take photographs when the atmosphere is tense. Finally, please do not take any unnecessary risks, your family and loved ones are waiting to see you back at home.”

  • 2019: INEC employs 16,500 ad-hoc staff in Osun

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State said it had trained and employed 16,695 ad-hoc staff, in the state, for the forthcoming general elections.

    Mr Olusegun Agbaje, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state made this disclosure during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo on Thursday.

    Agbaje said the ad-hoc staffs were sourced from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Federal tertiary institutions and Federal Government establishments in the state.

    “Ten thousand, five hundred and ninety four corps members; 3,360 students of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, 1,295 students of Federal Polytechnic, Ede and 1,446 federal civil servants will be engaged for  February and March elections.

    Read Also: PDP alleges INEC plans to rig

    ” The ad-hoc staff employed would serve as Presiding Officers (POs) and Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs) during the elections,” he said.

    Abgaje said that the training of the ad-hoc staff had been concluded, adding that the commission followed electoral laws and guild lines in selecting credible and dependable officers for the elections.

    He said that apart from the ad-hoc staff, 332 Supervisory Presiding Officers, 363 Collation Officers and 38 Returning Officers had also been trained for the election.

    He, however, called on the electorate who registered for the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) but yet to collect them, to ensure they do so before the deadline for collection.

    NAN

  • INEC warns against publication of false results

    With just two weeks to the general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned media practitioners and accredited electoral observers against disseminating results of elections not endorsed by the electoral umpire.

    The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC) of the commission, Barr. Festus Okoye gave the warning Friday in Awka at the Zonal sensitization forum for the media on the elections.

    He explained that announcing results were legally reserved for the Returning officer.

    Read Also:Why INEC ordered rerun in Osun, by witness

    He further warned that anyone caught going into the polling cubicle with a camera phone, which he said aides vote trading, would be arrested.

    The Commissioner underscored the place of proper study of both the Nigerian constitution as amended and electoral acts by the media practitioners.

    He said, “The constitution is the fundamental law of the land and all other laws are dependent and flows from its provisions.

    “Electoral acts set out the procedure and processes for the conduct of elections in Nigeria and the third are the regulations and guidelines as well as the manuals issued by the INEC for the conduct of elections.

    “According to section 123 (4) of the electoral act 2010 (as amended), any person who announces or publishes an election result knowing same to be false or which is at variance with the signed certificate of return commits an offence and is liable on conviction to 36 months imprisonment.”

    Okoye who stressed that media managers must be abreast of the dynamics and nuances of the electoral processes, noted that anything contrary would pose serious danger both to the electoral process and to democracy.

    He added, “Media organisations and observers must also guard against violating the secrecy of the vote by attempting to record how a voter is voting or how the voter has voted even though they were allowed to polling units, collation centres and distribution centres.”

    Reiterating the commission’s determination to conduct credible elections that meets international standards, the Commissioner appealed for symbiotic relationship with the media for successful poll.

    Earlier, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, enjoined social media users to be factual and objective in their reportage and eschew fake news.

    Orji who was represented by the state commission’s Administrative Secretary, Mr. Charles Ibanaga, described the media as critical towards a free, fair and credible election.

  • Why INEC ordered rerun in Osun, by witness

    …Says PDP agreed to a rerun

     

     

    The Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal heard on Friday what informed the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to order a rerun in the last governorship election in the state.

    The State Collation Officer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the election, Adegboyega Rasaki Adeosun told the tribunal that the rerun, to which the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) consented, was informed by the need to comply with the law and to avert the disenfranchisement of many registered voters in the state.

    Adeosun said, after the collation of all the results, INEC’s Returning Officer (RO) for the state explained to parties’ representatives, at the collation centre, why a rerun was necessary.

    Adeosun, who testified as a witness of the second respondent (Adegboyega Oyetola) in the petition by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Senator Ademola Adeleke, said the RO was moved to directing a rerun because the margin between the scores of the two leading candidates was less than the number of registered votes in the seven polling units where elections were voided.

    The witness said the RO explained to all present, including the representatives of other participating political parties, including the PDP, that it would not be right to disenfranchise the large number of registered voters in the affected polling units.

    Adeosun, who was Oyetola’s 11th witness, and the only one on Friday, said the PDP, whose agent was present at the collation centre, did not object to the RO’s announcement, which informed why all representatives of all the parties endorsed the document.

    The PDP and its candidate, Adeleke are contesting the outcome of the election won by Oyetola, the candidate of the APC.

    Adeosun, under cross-examination by lawyer to INEC, Adesina Agbede, said: “At the State Collation Centre, when the Local Government Collation officers came to report Local Government by Local Government, the LG Returning Officers gave explanations on what happened at some polling units and said the results could not be finalised.

    “That led to the cancellation of the results of these polling units. At the point of aggregation of all results from the 30 LGAs, the RO of the state informed us that the number of voters in these polling units exceed the margin between the scores of the two leading candidates- the second petitioner and the second respondent.

    “The margin showed that difference is small compared with the number of the registered voters, and they cannot be disenfranchised. All the party agents were there as reflected by those who signed the Form EC8D,” the witness said.

    Adeosun said he stood by all he said in his written statement, which he earlier adopted before the tribunal.

    The witness said he voted on the day of election after he was duly accredited. He said he did not vote during the rerun election because the rerun did not take place in his polling unit.

    Earlier, at the commencement proceedings, Oyetola’s lawyer, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN) told the tribunal that Adeosun was one of the second respondent’s key witnesses.

    Owonikoko led Adeosun to adopt his written statement and tendered result sheets from some Local Governments, through him.

    Some of the Local Government Areas are: Egebdore, Ife Central, Ejigbo, Ede South, Ede North, Irepodun, Boripe, Ayedaade, Isokan, Ilesa East, Ife East, Obokun, Ayedire and Oriade.

    While being cross-examined by APC’s lawyer, Lasun Sanusi (SAN), Adeosun   said he was trained, with others, by INEC,   before the election. He said he was trained at the state level.

    The witness said, at the training, they were shown how to correct discrepancies in recordings in the result sheets and other documents.

    He identified a copy of the INEC guideline when it was shown to him. He also read from page 12, paragraph 33 M of the guideline, which stipulates the procedure by which discrepancies could be corrected.

    On whether he noticed any discrepancies, the witness said, when he went through polling unit results that were submitted to him. “I discovered, along with the polling unit agents, that there were discrepancies in the total number of votes cast, which exceeded the total number of accredited voters. And we saw that in 85 polling units.”

    He said when the discrepancies were corrected; the correction was signed by all the representatives of the political parties, including the PDP.

    Under cross-examination by petitioners’ lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), Adeosun said he did not know who effected the cancellation in the result sheets identified as: Form EC8A, EC8B and EC8C, because he was not at the LG collation centre.

    The witness also said he was not present at all the polling units while the election was on. He said he was only at his polling unit, where he voted, during the election, but went to the state collation centre after the election.

    The witness said presiding officers from the polling units were not allowed at the state collation centre. He said it was only presiding officers from the LGs who came to submit the results.

    The witness said polling agents were not present when the decision was taken to cancel the results from the seven polling units in which rerun were conducted.

    Adeosun said he did not serve as a polling unit agent on the day of the rerun election. He said he was not at any polling unit, because his polling unit was not affected.

    At the conclusion of Adeosun’s testimony, Owonikoko applied for an adjournment. He said his client intends to call a minimum of four more witnesses, including those subpoenaed, including election observers.

    Owonikoko prayed the court to adjourn to February 5 to enable the 2nd respondent prepare its witnesses.

    Other lawyer in the case did not object to Owonikoko’s application, following which tribunal Chairman, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo adjourned to February 5 for the second defendant to conclude his case.

    Justice Sirajo, with the assurance from Sanusi (lawyer to the third respondent) announced that the APC will open its case on February 6.

     

     

     

  • INEC to recruit PLWDs as adhoc staff in Zamfara

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it plans to recruit People living With Disabilities (PLWDs) as part of its adhoc staff for the forthcoming general election in Zamfara.

    INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr Asmau Maikudi, disclosed this at a meeting with the PLWDs in Gusau, on Thursday.

    “The general election will involve all Nigerians and we want to be sure that Nigerians participate in all our activities, most especially, voting by eligible voters who have collected their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).

    “l however want you to know that only those who have the requirements to serve as ad hoc staff for the election will be considered for recruitment as ad hock staff,” Maikudi said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a team of European Union (EU) election observers also attended the meeting and commended INEC for its preparations for smooth conduct of the election.

  • INEC assures NYSC corps members of adequate security

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday assured that adequate security would be provided for all ad-hoc staff of the commission, especially members of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) that will participate in the next general elections.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Dr Rufus Akeju gave the assurance during a courtesy visit to his office by the state coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs. Grace Akpabio.

    He said the commission has made necessary security arrangements for its staff during the forthcoming elections.

    According to him, the commission has trained security personnel that would participate in the general elections.

    Akeju said they had engaged experts who took these officers on the specialized area of election monitoring, handling and supervision.”

    His words “I want to assure you that corps members and NYSC staff would be adequately protected alongside other ad-hoc personnel recruited for the exercise, NYSC being a special partner and an indispensable stakeholder to the success of the elections in the country would continue to enjoy the conferred privilege because of the long standing relationship.

    He disclosed that 3933 corps members would be engaged for the February 16 general elections, stressing that the selection would be based on competence and diligence.

    The INEC commissioner assured that the corps members engaged would be remunerated appropriately by the commission.

    Read Also: NYSC tasks corps members on credibility

    Akeju assured the NYSC team that the Commission had put in place sound machinery in place to ensure seamless exercise and that all security agencies and para-military organizations have been put on red alert to protect the lives and properties of all personnel that would be engaged.

    The NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs Akpabio urged the INEC Management not to deploy NYSC corp members to troubled places during the elections

    She requested that life jackets and tags should be made available to corps members that would be deployed to riverine areas to prevent mistaken identity by scrupulous individuals who may want to take advantage of non-provision of those items.