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Tag: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

  • Bamidele, Adeyeye, Olujimi, others cleared for Nass Poll

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the names of National Assembly candidates in Ekiti State.

    The list of candidates cleared to contest was displayed at the gate of INEC state headquarters in Ado Elite.

    Parties including People’s Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), People’s Party of Nigeria (PPN), Democratic People’s Party (DPP) are fielding candidates.

    Read Also:I earned N60.2m in three years, Atiku tells INEC

    In the senatorial race, the APC candidate cleared for Ekiti North is a former National Assembly member, Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi.

    Former Houses of Representatives member, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele cleared to fly APC flag in Ekiti Central senatorial district.

    Bamidele defeated the incumbent Senator, Mrs. Fatimat Raji Rasaki in the APC senatorial primary held in Ekiti Central.

    Former Minister of State for Work, Prince Dayo Adeyeye is the cleared APC candidate for Ekiti South.

    Senate Minority Whip, Senator Biodun Olujimi, who is seeking re-election, has been cleared as the PDP candidate in Ekiti South senatorial district.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Air Force, Senator Duro Faseyi, who is also seeking re-election, is the cleared PDP candidate for Ekiti North.

    Former Ekiti State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Obafemi Adewale, is the PDP candidate for Ekiti Central.

    Three out of the incumbent House of Representatives members in the PDP fold were cleared by INEC to seek re-election.

    They are Mr Kehinde Agboola (Ekiti North 1), Mr. Akin Awodumila (Ekiti South 2), Mr. Segun Adekola (Ekiti South 1) and Mr Ayo Oladimeji (Ekiti Central).

    New entrants cleared to run in the House of Reps poll are Chief Bisi Kolawole (Ekiti Central 2) and Mr. Sola Omotoso (Ekiti North 2).

    APC House of Reps candidates cleared are Mr. Peter Owolabi (Ekiti North 1), Mr. Ibrahim Olarewaju (Ekiti North 2), Mr. Sola Fatoba (Ekiti Central 1), and Mrs. Omowumi Ogunlola (Ekiti Central 2).

    The rest are former Chief of Staff, Chief Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South 1) and former Ekiti House of Assembly Speaker, Mr. Femi Bamisile.

  • 2019: Police declare war on clashes, to hold politicians liable

    Ahead of the 2019 general elections, the Lagos State Police Command on Thursday said it would not tolerate clashes and street fights between political thugs in any part of the state.

    Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal again warned politicians to control their supporters vowing to prosecute  any politician whose supporters engaged in acts of violence, lawlessness.

    Edgal spoke at a town hall security summit aimed at ensuring a violent free election in the state held in Lagos Island.

    He said: “We cannot allow cultist groups to begin to fester hoping that they will receive patronage from politicians. Lagos is a cosmopolitan state, an elite environment so there is no room for thuggery in Lagos.

    “I am calling on politicians to abide by the rules. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made it clear that any form of campaigns or political activities for presidency and National Assembly elections are to commence November 18. Not earlier than that.

    “While governorship election campaigns will commence on December 2. So, politicians and their supporters must be patient. Political activities will not commence under any guise before the scheduled dates.

    Read Also: Ondo Police parade ‘Prophet’ for attempted abduction

    “We do not need to disguise campaigns in the name of thank you tour, or any other political activity before the stipulated time. Politicians should not go to public places and give money out. I am also advising that they should not give money out, because most of the troubles and killings that come up are usually because of money sharing.”

    According to Edgal, cultism has assumed a frightening dimension in the state, recalling the recent killings at Ikorodu Road during a politician’s ‘Thank you tour.’

    “As stakeholders we must not take the issue of cultism with levity because it has the potential to dislocate the peace that we experience across the state.

    We will not allow people come from anywhere and heat up Lagos Island in the name of politics,” he re-emphasized.

  • Peter Obi meets with EU, WEF delegations on 2019 election

    The vice presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Obi on Wednesday in Abuja met with delegations from the European Union (EU) and the World Economic Forum (WEF) to discuss the need to conduct free and fair elections in 2019 and also how to grow the nation’s economy through collaboration.

    Obi who stood in for the presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar at the separate meetings, told the EU delegation that efforts should be made to stop the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from intimidating candidates of opposition political parties who, he said, now live in fear.

    A statement released in Abuja by the Atiku campaign office said that the EU should insist on a level playing field for all candidates and parties during the 2019 elections in Nigeria, adding that “there is a need to get the country back to its feet and make it better for our children”.

    Obi was also quoted to have said that campaigns should be based on issues so that the electorate and the international community can come to grasp with the problems of the country, as well as the solutions being proffered by each of the political parties and their candidates.

    Has was similarly quoted to have said that there was need for agencies like the EU to strengthen and support the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The former Anambra Governor said that judging from what happened during gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun states, INEC needs to show that it remains an unbiased umpire in future elections in the country.

    On the issue of vote buying, Obi described the incidence as a new phenomenon that must be stopped.

    Read Also: Why Atiku picked Peter Obi as running mate

    “I contested and won elections when I was in a smaller party. Where would I have gotten the money to buy votes if it was the case then and how would I have gotten back the money especially when I am going to serve the people”, Obi was quoted to have said.

    On the new found unity of the PDP, the vice presidential candidate said the evidence could be seen from the outcome of the party’s free and fair presidential primary election conducted in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State on October 7, 2018 where all the presidential aspirants agreed that it was the best so far.

    On whether there was need for a fresh EU election observer group following the impending expiration of the tenure of the present group, Obi said that Nigeria deserved a replacement based on the role EU would play in ensuring free and fair elections in Nigeria in 2019

    In his comments, the head of the EU delegation, Ketil  Karlsen was quoted to have said that the election observer group has been consulting stakeholders in Nigeria to ascertain whether or not it would be necessary for the Union to send a new EU election observer mission.

    He said that the EU mission had been operating in Nigeria since 1999 and that the Union had invested over 100 million Euros in Nigeria’s election processes since then.

    While speaking with officials of WEF at a separate meeting, Obi emphasised the need for closer working relationship with African countries, especially Nigeria, saying that most governments in the continent do not want to work with the forum for fear of being criticised.

    He said that many governments in Africa implement activities that are “transactional instead of transformational” and therefore needed help to shape their policies.

    “A lot of work needs to be done in Africa because things are tough. The presidential and vice presidential candidates of the PDP have a clear picture of what the economic priorities are  and what the international community feels about the country”.

    “Nigeria needs to do something immediately for its economy to be put back on track and something has to be done immediately”, Obi was quoted to have said.

    Leader of the WEF delegation, Nontle Kabanyane was quoted to have said that the Forum was ready to strengthen relationships and to implement more activities in Nigeria through a collaboration that would lead to national transformation.

  • 2019: PDP chair restates doubts over INEC’s neutrality

    The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has again expressed lack of confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free, fair and transparent elections 2019.

    Secondus spoke Wednesday in Abuja while receiving a delegation of the European Union of the Election Exploration Mission to Nigeria, led by Niclay Paus.

    According to the party chairman, all intelligence available to the party showed that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has concluded arrangements with INEC to manipulate the electoral process.

    Secondus recalled events during the governorship election in Osun State, saying they merely underscored his fears that INEC might not be ready to be neutral.

    He insisted that redeploying Mrs. Amina Zakari from INEC’s ICT department to the commission’s Health unit was not enough to instill confidence in the opposition, adding that the woman ought to have been eased out of the electoral body.

    Secondus said Mrs. Zakari, who is widely believed to be a blood relative of President Muhammadu Buhari, was still capable of influencing other officials with INEC during elections.

    The party chair said, “When we eschewed violence after the electoral theft in Osun State and decided to exercise our right to peaceful protest, the Inspector General of Police directed his personnel to tear gas us notwithstanding the personalities involved in the protest.

    “The Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, five state governors, the PDP National Chairman and members of the National Working Committee NWC and other critical leaders of our party were teargassed.

    “Our fear is strong that the APC and the administration are not disposing themselves for a peaceful 2019 general election and we base our position on the multiplicity of induced crisis across the country

    “With all the unprecedented bloodletting in the country, the President is not engaging the people and a select group operating as cabals have hijacked the system”.

    The party chairman urged international partners of Nigeria, especially the European Union and United States to bring their influence to bear on the INEC to conduct free, fair and credible elections.

    He urged his visitors and other international bodies also to show more than passing interests in the activities of Nigerian security agencies, stressing that a biased police force could be an instrument of violence.

  • Court to hear suit against Oyetola on October 24

    Judge agrees to a summary hearing

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 24 for the hearing of a suit filed by an aggrieved governorship aspirant of the of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Kunle Rasheed Adegoke.

    Justice I. E. Ekwo, who gave the date on Tuesday, also elected to hear the substantive suit with the preliminary objection filed by the defendants.

    Adegoke, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/804/2018, wants the court to nullify the APC primary election, which produced Gboyega Isiaka as the APC governorship candidate in Osun State over alleged irregularities.

    Defendants in the suit are the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    It is Adegoke’s contention that the conduct APC s primary election in Osun State violated the Constitution, the Electoral Act, 2010 and relevant provisions of the APC constitution, including the Regulation for the Conduct of Political Party Primaries of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    He said, in a supporting affidavit, that the “direct method” adopted by the party allowing all general members of the party to vote in the primary election “was a departure from the extant 2014 guidelines of the party”.

    The plaintiff stated that contrary to the development in Osun State, “The indirect method of primary election was used in Edo State in 2016, Ondo State in 2016, Anambra State in 2017 and Ekiti State in May 2018”.

    He noted that he had also, in an open letter, challenged the National Chairman of the party, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, informing him that there was no membership register of the party by which the party could conduct a credible direct primary election.

    He also said he informed Oshimhole that the adoption of direct primary election without membership register would be in flagrant violation of the Constitution of the party due to the time of its adoption vis-à-vis the general requirements of the law.

    Adegoke said APC failed to notify him as an aspirant or the INEC in writing not later than 21 days to the date of the primaries, the details including the specific location and venue, date and time for the conduct of its nomination of candidate  before holding same on the July 20, 2018.

    He stated that APC also failed to notify INEC in writing “the rescheduling of the purported primary election from Wednesday, the 18th day of July 2018 to Friday, the 20th day of July 2018.”

    The plaintiff the party also failed to  maintain “a proper and duly certified membership register for the purpose of conducting direct method of primaries”.

    Read Also: Oyetola gets INEC’s Certificate of Return

    He also said officers of INEC “did not monitor the primary election”

    which held in 332 wards  of Osun State on July 20 “as no reports of such elections at the ward level were prepared and submitted to the 2nd defendant (INEC)”.

    ‎The plaintiff wants, among others, a declaration “that the Osun State governorship primary election of the APC held “in flagrant violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered), the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the 1st defendant and the Regulation for the Conduct of Political Party Primaries of the Independent National Electoral Commission is unconstitutional, unlawful, null and void.”

    He also wants the court to declare that “it is unconstitutional” for the APC “to organise and conduct” the  primary election “without a meeting of the National Executive Committee approving Rules and Regulations which ought to be made but was never made by the National Working Committee for the purpose of nomination of candidates through direct primary elections”.

    Adegoke is equally praying the court for a declaration that “it is ultra vires” for the APC to organise the primary election “without having given a prior 21-day notice of its primaries to the Independent National Electoral Commission (the 2nd defendant) indicating that a direct method of primary election shall be used”.

    He wants an order nullifying the primary election for allegedly violating the Nigerian Constitution,the Electoral Act, and the other cited laws, rules and regulations of the party and INEC.

  • Zamfara: Nothing has changed, says INEC boss

    ..says no extension for submission of candidates list

    The possibility of the All Progressive Congress (APC) fielding candidates in the forthcoming 2019 general elections in Zamfara state may have been sealed.

    The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on Monday said nothing has changed on the issue.

    INEC had barred the Zamfara State chapter of the APC from fielding candidates to contest in the 2019 general elections after failing to conduct primary elections.

    The commission had set October 7, 2018 deadline for parties to conclude their primary elections to elect candidates, but divisions within the state chapter of the APC prevented an INEC-supervised election from taking place for the governorship and legislative positions.

    Consequently, in a letter signed by INEC’s acting secretary, Okechukwu Ndeche, and addressed to APC’s national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, the party can no longer conduct any primary elections outside of the originally-stated window and will not be allowed to participate in the governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly elections in Zamfara next year.

    But the party would not want to hear any of this, vowing to participate in the election.

    INEC boss however stuck to his gun, saying that the commission stands by its earlier statement on the issue.

    Yakubu spoke Monday in Abuja at the end of the opening of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Network of Electoral Commission (ECONEC) meeting in Abuja.

    The INEC boss who was responding to questions from newsmen said the commission stands by its earlier statement.

    He said, “We have issued a statement on Zamfara and nothing has changed. We stand by the statement that we issued.”

    He also revealed that the October 18th date for the submission of list of candidates by all the political parties. There are 91 but only 89 notify the commission of their intension to conduct primaries.

    On the submission date for list of candidates for the general elections, Yakubu said, ” I am sure we have made some progress, but the deadline as we say is on October 18.”

    He ruled out any possibility of extension as he declared, “we will give a full report after the 18th October. No extension.”

    On Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), Yakubu said that INEC has printing the PVCs of all those who registered in the second and third quarters of 2018.

    He also revealed that the PVCs for those who registered in the first quarter of 2018 have been printed.

    He said: ” We have printed the PVCs for those who registered in the first quarters of 2018. We are right now simultaneously printing for those who registered in the second and third quarters.

    ” We are looking at the end of November 2018 for all the PVCs to be printed including request for transfer and relocation.”

    He also reiterated the commission’s assurance to ensure that all the outstanding PVCs are ready for collection before the 2019 general elections.

    In his earlier remark at the opening of the ECONEC meeting, Yakubu said that two day meeting which kicked off yesterday is expected to validate the study carried out on the issue of cost of conducting elections.

    Read Also: Zamfara: APC kicks as INEC bars candidates

    The body has been disturbed by the ever rising cost of conducting elections and handling of pre and post election litigation. It was this concern that gave rise to the setting up of a study group among member countries.

    He added that the study is part of ECONEC’s two-year Work Plan (2016-2018). 

    The objective he said is for Election Management Bodies (EMBs) within the region to share experience, expertise and even pool resources not only with a view to ensuring best practice through peer review but also in order to reduce the cost of conducting elections among our member States.

    “It is borne out of the serious concern by all Electoral Commissions in the sub-region about the spiraling cost of conducting elections. With every cycle, the cost of elections keeps rising, making many countries unable fund critical aspects of the electoral process as a sovereign responsibility.”

    He also added that the “ ever rising cost of voter registration and the compilation of a credible voters’ register, recruitment and training of electoral officials, provision of electoral logistics, election security, civic and voter education, procurement of sensitive and non-sensitive materials, deployment of electoral technology, undertaking regular engagement with stakeholders and handling of pre-election and post-election litigations are enormous. The task of meeting such extensive expenditure has increasingly challenged the national resources of many countries in our region. It is against this background that Governing Board of ECONEC inaugurated this study to explore what we can do as Election Managers, working together with national stakeholders and development partners, to find ways to reduce the cost of elections without jettisoning new innovations or compromising the quality, transparency and credibility of elections. “

  • 2019: Okowa advocates alternative source of funding for INEC

    Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has advocated for change in the funding of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure its independence. 

    Okowa spoke on Saturday at the executive session of the 14th All Nigeria Editor’s Conference (ANEC).
    The event which holds in Asaba-Delta State had as its theme, “Credible Elections, Sustainable Democracy and the Role of the Media.”,
    His words, “INEC is supposed to be an unbiased body, so, how can they truly be unbiased? How will they get their source of funding? How will they work on their process of appointments? These and more questions are what we are supposed to address and they have to be dealt with in such a manner that we can give them enough power, make them truly independent in such a manner that they do not walk cap in hand to the executive to ask for funding, because when you know that somebody controls the funds, you will definitely not be in a position to be truly independent.”
    Continuing, “It will be hard to say, not when such individuals in charge of the funds make certain request, and I believe that INEC is gradually moving, I still believe that there is a lot to be done which means that our legislation must be in such a manner that will truly make INEC independent and if they are going to be answerable to anybody at all, they should be answerable to the legislature and not any other arm of government which will be better”. 

    Read Also: ‘Okowa has done well in Itsekiri land, Delta’

    Governor Okowa disclosed the reason the Peoples Democratic Party’s Special Convention Planning Committee was able to organize a free, credible and acceptable presidential primary election of the PDP, saying, “we did our best to conduct the primaries that one can truly say that we did things, the way they ought to be, because we had to extract from our National Executive that we would be allowed to do what is right otherwise, we will not accept the nominations to conduct the primaries and I thank God that they allowed us do what is right and once we do things right, it becomes easier for one to move forward and the press is very important in trying to turn things around for our country.”

    “If all of us work together and that means that the press must be able to report appropriately, they must be in the position to advise us the politicians appropriately and they must be in a position to fully inform the people and beyond the information, they must put us, politicians, under pressure and it is very important that we must realize that not just the Guild of Editors but, the entire press need to play the role it ought to play if we are able to do things better that will gradually improve the situation, so that we can conduct elections that are credible,” Governor Okowa added.

    The governor highlighted his achievements in Delta State, stressing “generally, in our country, I do believe that the need for voters’ education, the need to ensure that we take our people out of the poverty level are motivations that will help us to improve on the electoral process because, as long as our people continue to remain in the poverty bracket, there will be no integrity.”

  • Senator Abe laments lingering crisis in Rivers APC

    The Senator representing Rivers East in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe has said  has the possibility of addressing the lingering crisis in the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was bleak unless the national leadership of the party do the right thing and put an end to the reign of impunity in the state.

    Senator Abe said the crisis is persisting because some leaders of the party in the state were averse to dissenting views, adding that the foundation of the crisis in the party is intolerance of dissenting views, impunity, high-handedness and lack of respect for others.

    Read Also:Cross River APC chieftains call for Oshiomhole’s resignation

    Similarly, members of the APC in the state stormed the party national secretariat to protest against what they described as impunity within the party in Rivers state and appealed to the leadership to immediately do the needful and avoid a Zamfara like treatment from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    In a statement Friday issued on his behalf by Kennedy Friday of the Kairos Media Group, the senator dismissed allegations that he was being sponsored by the state Governor, Nyesom Wike to destabilize the APC in Rivers state.

    He said “The crisis in Rivers APC began long before Sen. Abe’s thanksgiving to which Gov. Wike along with other Governors, senators and ministers attended. The foundation of the crisis in the party is intolerance of dissenting views, impunity, high-handedness and lack of respect for others. Disregard for all rules and laws including the constitution of the party and even orders of courts of competent jurisdiction. Until this is addressed the crisis will continue and singing Wike as a song will not change anything”.

    Reacting to an earlier statement accusing him of working for the Rivers Governor, Senator Abe said “Our attention has been drawn to a statement issued by Mr. Chris Finebone whose election as Publicity Secretary of Rivers APC has been nullified by the judgement of a court of competent jurisdiction spewing fire and brimstone against a judicial officer and the court of law. The statement also attempted to retool a tired and monotonous blackmail of an imagined collaboration between Sen. Magnus Abe and Gov. Nyesom Wike.

    “This same tendency and inclination to become a law unto themselves, thrive in impunity, intimidate everyone with contrary opinion, disobey lawful orders and trample on the will of the people is the very root of the challenges confronting Rivers APC today. Instead of allowing for a moment of introspection, Chris Finebone and his sponsors are scavenging everywhere looking for people to blame for the problems they themselves created.

    “It’s a known fact today that many state chapters of APC across the nation are mired in crisis, with many cases in court arising from same attitude demonstrated by the leader of Rivers APC to subdue the voices of the people. Are all those cases also instituted in collaboration with Gov. Nyesom Wike?

    “Was it Gov. Nyesom Wike who collaborated with the Minister of Transportation to exclude thousands of Rivers APC faithful who paid money to the party to participate in the congresses?

    “Was it Governor Wike who instructed the Minister to order security agents to open fire on innocent APC members who were protesting their exclusion from participating in the congresses? Or did the Minister collaborate with Wike by hijacking materials for APC congresses to INTELS camp in Port Harcourt away from the reach of party faithful?”

    However, protesting at the APC secretariat, members of the party from the state led by Amb. Anosike Odowa, Hon. Bethel Oko Jaja and Hon. Onyeche Uloma said if something was not done fast about the Rivers State APC, it May suffer the same pronouncement INEC gave to Zamfara State.

    The Rivers State APC asked the party leadership and President Muhammad Buhari to rescue the party from the hands of the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Ameachi, while demanding that the court ruling on Rivers State APC should be obeyed by the party, just as they also demanded for Direct primaries in the State.

    Hon. Anosike Odowa who spoke on their behalf said, “We are members of APC from Rivers State. We are here this morning to register our grievances, to speak to the National Chairman of the party and the NEC of our party that one man called Rotimi Chubuike Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation has gone ahead to disobey Court judgement. He has gone to bring his business partner to be the candidate of our party and we are saying that Tonye Cole, we don’t know him.

    “We are members of this party, we struggled for this party and we believe that APC, while we left PDP to APC is because of impunity and injustice. Now, the National Chairman of our party, should do the right thing by accepting the result of direct primaries which Distinguished Senator Magnus Abe emerged as the winner.

    “The Court of competent jurisdiction sitting in Port Harcourt has ruled and voided every activities of the purported primaries conducted by Rotimi Chubuike Amaechi. Indirect primaries conducted by Rotimi Chubuike Amaechi has been voided and in law it cannot stand.

    “If APC wants to win Rivers state then Magnus Abe is the Governor of Rivers state. We will stop at nothing; we will fight with our last strength to ensure that justice must prevail.

    “We are stakeholders in this party and I will advice the National Chairman to be upright and Amaechi should stop pushing him, this party is not Amaechi Peoples Party, it is All Progressives Congress not Amaechi Personal property. We want to ask that the National Chairman should live up to expectation and do the right thing.

    “We know him to be a man who is upright but he should not allow his integrity to be questioned in this matter. Rivers state is for direct primaries and Magnus Abe emerged winner of the direct primaries.”

    On the allegation of Abe working for the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, Bethel Oko Jaja said, “We want to say without fear and contradiction that senator Magnus Abe is a true APC member, he has never betrayed the confidence reposed in him. When Mangus went to receive the bullet, everybody was saying that ‘this is a true APC member’, did he tell them to disallow them from contesting the primaries that they were supposed to contest.

    “When we wanted to do our ward, local government and state primaries, did he say they should not contest? When they deprived people and they went to a court of competent jurisdiction to address the issue they said he is working with Wike, today they are accusing him.

    “He remains the only committed APC member that has worked for this party. You recall that in 2015, when PDP won election in Rivers state and it was nullified and in December 2016 to be precise that election was conducted. The only man who won his senatorial district is Magnus Abe.

    “He gave APC a face in Rivers state; APC would have been lost and forgotten today in Rivers state. Magnus Abe stood and won the election. Today they are accusing him of fighting for his right, he is fighting for the good right of Rivers people, he is fighting to liberate the people impunity perpetuated by one man.

    “We are sending a strong message across to the national chairman of All Progressives Congress, our own brother, Adams Oshiomhole, to leave up to expectation, the leader of this party and commander-in-chief of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari to please intervene in this matter.

    “We are committed members of APC in Rivers state. Impunity must not prevail; one man should not hold the party to ransom. We will stand against it. We believe in direct primary and on the one that was conducted on 30th September Abe emerged the winner and remains candidate of the APC come 2019 governorship election in Rivers state. “

  • Fresh crisis may hit Presidency, Senate over INEC budget

    …Senate approves N189.2bn for INEC

     

     

    The Senate Thursday approved the sum of N189.2 billion for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    This is coming as sharp disagreement appeared to have broken between the Presidency and the upper chamber over the source of funding of the INEC budget.

    In its approval, the Senate refused to give nod that the N189.2 billion for INEC should be sourced from Constituency Intervention Fund to fund the 2019 general elections.

    The upper chamber resolved that the fund should be sourced from the Special Intervention Programme, as provided in the Service Wide Votes of the 2018 Appropriation Act.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, in a letter addressed to the Senate President in July, requested the Senate to vire over N242 billion from the N500 billion the National Assembly inserted into the 2018 budget as its Constituency Intervention Funds.

    The fund, Buhari said, said was to enable the INEC and security agencies to conduct the 2019 general elections.

    The Senate failed to approve the request due to its annual break in July.

    The joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters, held a series of meetings with INEC officials to address some grey areas in the INEC request.

    Chairman of the committee, Senator Suleiman Nazif, said that members resolved to ask the Presidency to find other sources of funding for the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    The lawmakers refused to approve the reduction of funds meant for their constituency projects to fund the 2019 general elections.

    In another letter addressed to the Senate President which was read on Wednesday, President Buhari was silent on the source of funding for INEC election budget for 2018 elections.

    It was however believed that President Buhari still wanted the fund to be sourced from the Constituency Intervention Funds.

    The Senate Committee on Appropriations, which met on Wednesday to conclude work on the Presidential request, submitted its report Thursday.

    The appropriation committee adopted the position of the INEC and Electoral Matters committee that the fund should be sourced from the Service Wide Vote.

    The report of Appropriations Committee adopted by the Senate, said that N144.746 billion should be vired from the Special Intervention Programme (Recurrent).

    It vired another N44.260 billion from Special Intervention Programme (Capital), a total of N189.2 billion as requested by INEC.

    Chairman of the committee, Mohammed Danjuma Goje, while presenting the report, said: “The sum of N189.2 billion requested for the funding of the 2019 general elections should be vired from both recurrent and capital components of Special Intervention Programme captured in the Service Wide Votes of the 2018 Appropriation Act and be added to the sum of N45.5 billion provided for INEC in the statutory transfers.

    “This will bring the total budget of INEC in the 2018 budget to N234, 507 billion.”

    “It is pertinent to mention that the recommendations on this interim report cover provisions for INEC’s 2019 general elections operations.

    “In making this recommendation, the committee took into account the report of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on INEC, which met several times with INEC during the recess to justify the need for their component of the request.

    “The final report which will cover the affected security agencies will be presented in the next legislative day.”

    The Senate is likely to approve the fund for security agencies next week following a meeting of the Appropriation committee with security chiefs Thursday.

     

  • Police teargas Saraki, Dogara, Tambuwal, Lamido, others

    As PDP stages protest over Osun election

     

    The police on Friday in Abuja tear-gassed seven of the 12 presidential aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during a protest over the party’s loss of the September 22 governorship election in Osun State.
    Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, defeated the candidate of the PDP, Senator Ademola Adeleke in the election.
    The presidential aspirants tear-gassed by the police included the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; and former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
    Other aspirants at the protest were former Special Duties Minister, Tanimu Turaki; a former senator, Dr. Datti Baba Ahmed; Gombe Stats Governor, Ibrahim Dankwabo; and former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido.
    Also tear-gassed during the protest were the Ekiti State Governors, Ayo Fayose; Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Sencondus and other members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
    The protesters were tear-gassed at the main entrance to the Force Headquarters, following attempts by controversial senator representing Kogi West senatorial district, Dino Melaye to rail-road the protesters through security barricade.
    The protesters, led by Saraki and joined by a number of key party stakeholders, had earlier stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
    The party chieftains, riding in four open trucks and a convoy of cars, took off from the PDP campaign office, Legacy House, located in the Maitama District.
    Taking turns to speak at the INEC headquarters, the party chieftains demanded the declaration of Adeleke as winner of the Osun governorship election.
    Addressing INEC National Commissioner in charge of legal matters, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu who received them at the premises of the commission, they also restated the party’s rejection of the inconclusive verdict passed on the Osun election by the commission.
    They warned that the PDP would not accept what they described as rigging and manipulation of the electoral process, which they said, characterized the recent Ekiti and Osun States governorship election.
    Addressing the INEC commissioner, Saraki said, “We are here representing millions of Nigerians to speak to you, that INEC has a responsibility by law, by the constitution to do what is right to all Nigerians.
    “Enough is enough of election that are not credible. Enough is enough of impunity. Enough is enough of harassment. INEC, you met a standard, don’t take us back.
    “Nigeria has raised the standard of electoral processes, take us forward, don’t take us backward. The last two elections have been said all over villages, towns, Africa, other continents that it was a sham. INEC, enough is enough.
    “Just last night, the Senate and Congress in the United States issued a statement saying enough is enough. We must have credible elections in Nigeria. You are not a department, or a division of the APC. You represent the entire Nigeria and Nigerians are saying give us free and credible elections.
    “Be courageous and bold to stand for the truth because tomorrow history will judge you. We stand here to say we don’t want favours, just give us free and fair elections.

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    “Let me warn you INEC, Nigerians will not take elections that are not credible. Stand with Nigerians because you represent us. Stand and be impartial because you are an independent commission.
    “We are here to demand that you do the right thing, free and fair elections in 2019 for the unity and peace of this country”.
    Also speaking, Secondus said, “The country is sleeping on a keg of gun powder and you know it. If you feel that Nigerians are not aware of the activities of INEC and the police, you are deceiving yourselves.
    “You are pushing Nigerians to the wall and when you push them to the wall there would be resistance. We hope we will not get there, but this will serve as a notice.
    “Therefore we demand that INEC Chairman should resign, Amina  Zakari should resign. She is the manipulator of all elections. Let me address Mr President, Muhammadu Buhari, you cannot continue to give instructions to security agents to carry out your agenda, instead of protecting Nigerians.
    “The hunger in the land is too much, the corruption in the country is too much. You are not fighting corruption, you are fighting your perceived enemies, you are fighting the masses.
    “Nigerians have left you. You cannot change the will of the people by force, take note and stop directing the security agencies and INEC to rig elections. You must come out clean. What we expect from you is to conduct a free and fair elections”.
    On his part, Fayose said, “We want to let INEC know a few things and remind them that the damage done to this country is enough. The damage done to our democracy and by extension the common man is enough.
    “If the people cannot choose their leaders anymore, then we are in trouble. In 2014, APC won election in Osun state by 114,000 votes. But this last election, with all the rigging, APC won by 400 votes, that is a statement enough to say APC is no more in the demand in Nigeria.
    “We are not asking for favours, this country and this INEC belong to Nigerians and Nigerians must be respected by allowing them to make a choice.
    “If Jonathan had behaved this way, we would not have a Buhari in power. We had a Buhari in power because somebody thought the rights of Nigerians must not be trampled upon by INEC and everybody received the present administration with open hands
    “I want to say again on behalf of PDP and the governors of PDP that rigging will not work in 2019. We say no to rigging. We are already contesting against police, security agencies, and the alibi of INEC always is that we are not in charge of security agencies. You cannot be a referee in the pitch, and be giving excuses while thugs took over the field
    “We are saying again to the security agencies that enough is enough. Don’t take away the rights of Nigerians. We want a Nigeria that belongs to Nigerians”.
    Tambuwal said the protest was meant to address the Chairman and members of INEC commission, on behalf of millions of Nigerians.
    He said, “Our demand is simple; we demand for free, fair and credible elections all throughout this country. I believe that the chairman of INEC before this temporary assignment, you have a history and you have a record.
    “Don’t allow anybody, no matter how highly placed, to use you to undermine the will of Nigerians. You cannot suppress us, you can not intimidate us. Elections in Nigeria must be held freely and fairly, and whoever wins should be given the mandate. That is what we want and we shall take nothing less”.
    Responding, the INEC Commissioner on Legal Matters, May Agbamuche- Mbu said, “I want to thank you, and inform you all that Professor Mahmood Yakubu (INEC chair) would have received you all.
    “The commission takes this demonstration very seriously. We are happy that the protest is peaceful and carried out in civilized manner.
    “INEC is up to this job, we are all here in INEC as professionals and not politicians. We are going to do our best come 2019. I must say we are a team and decisions are made by the commission and not by any individual. All your comments have been noted and it will be passed to the chairman and the entire commission”.
    The protest kicked off at 11.45, shortly after a meeting of the party leadership with the presidential aspirants. No communique was issued after the meeting, which was held behind closed doors.
    However, only six of the 12 presidential aspirants attended the meeting, with a former Sokoto State Governor and presidential aspirant, Attahiru Bafarawa leaving the venue shortly before the meeting ended.
    Five of the aspirants, Saraki, Tambuwal, Lamido, Turaki and Baba Ahmed reportedly signed an undertaking to accept the outcome of the convention in good faith.
    They were also reported to have made written commitments to work with the party in projecting the eventual winner as the presidential candidate throughout the electioneering campaign.