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Tag: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

  • Dogara’s defection not House matter, says Spokesman

    …We will deal with it when we resume, lawmakers

    …as Majority Leader Gbajabiamila keeps mum

    The decision of the Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara to pick People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is a personal decision that it has nothing to do with the House of Representatives, the Spokesman Abdulrazak Namdas has said.

    Dogara, a member of the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) was reported to have picked PDP’s Nomination and Expression of Interest forms on Wednesday.

    It would be recalled that prior to Dogara’s purchase of the forms, he had denied having endorsed the decision of two of his aides that defected to PDP.

    However, when asked what the decision of the Speaker to seek re-election on the platform of another party portends for the position of the Presiding officer of the House, Namdas said it was a personal decision that has no connection with the House.

    He said:  “This is a personal decision, the Speaker can pick forms from wherever he wants, but as a House, we cannot stop anyone from wanting to pursue his aspirations as he deems fit.

    “However, let me say it here, that I am still in APC and we are still in the majority. We will have to wait till the House resumes before we can officially make a comment on this.

    “You know, formal notice is usually given and read on the floor on a situation like this, so we have to wait to get an official communications from the Speaker”.

    As for the consideration of the budget for 2019 elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Spokesman said lawmakers would be available as soon as the leadership of the National Assembly communicates to that effect.

    “We are waiting for the report of the joint Committee on Electoral Matters, as soon as they are through with their job and the leadership gives the go ahead, we will reconvene to consider it”.

    The Majority leader of the House has refused to comment on the defection of Speaker Dogara.

    Several calls and text messages to his phone were not returned.

    However, a National Assembly source, who pleaded not to be named, said the media report of the purchase of the forms was a huge disappointment to the Speaker’s group.

    Read Also: Dogara’s aide joins PDP for State Assembly race

    According to him, the purchase of the form was meant to be a top secret, “It was not supposed to be a public knowledge for now. According to their plans, the defection was supposed to carry the same weight like the earlier defections of the over 36 members in the House and that of the Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    ‘I can authoritatively tell you that that was why the forms were obtained secretly, someone else was sent to procure them.

    “As it is now, the cat is out of the bag, the formal defection, on resumption from the annual recess would no longer carry the same effect, it would be like, we already know. His body language has indicated that much anyway.

    “As a matter of fact, Dogara and Governor Tambuwal are working in concert about the defection but I assure you, when we resume and we confront them with a list of defections from PDP, they’ll be shocked”.

    On his part, Bashir Babale (APC, Kano) expressed disappointment at the Speaker, who kept his decision to his chest while discussions were ongoing about his status in APC.

    “Even though it was a personal decision, which I must respect, I am still disappointed because he didn’t show any sign of having made up his mind about leaving all the time we were discussing his stay in APC.

    “All politics is local and the issue of cross-carpeting is a personal decision, but the sad thing is that he should have informed us earlier. We have been having meetings with him, thinking he is part of us.

    “Notwithstanding, APC is still in the majority in the House, so on the issue of his Speakership, we will decide that when we resume”.

    When contacted on the phone, Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC, Kano) said he has been indisposed and not aware of the Speaker’s picking of PDP Nomination form.

    Jibrin was reported to be working to remove Gbajabiamila as House Leader for allegedly working to unseat Dogara.

    He later denied it on his Twitter account stating that the issue had been resolved and that Gbajabiamila remained the House Leader.

    Similarly, calls to the Deputy Minority Leader, Chukwuka Onyema as  well as Tajudeen Yusuf for their comments on the development were not returned.

  • PDP cautions INEC over alleged plot to shift 2019 elections

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against alleged plots to shift the dates for the 2019 general elections.

    The opposition party also advised the chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu not to allow the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Buhari Presidency to use him to execute their plots to frustrate the conduct of credible elections in 2019.

    Saying that the plot was meant to push for illegal tenure elongation for President Buhari and the APC, the PDP told the President and his party to perish the thoughts of staying in power a day beyond May 29, 2019.

    A statement on Wednesday by the spokesman of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan said, the opposition party was already aware of suggestions by the INEC chairman to have the elections postponed.

    The PDP further stated that the alleged plot was a product of series of clandestine meetings between the INEC and the APC on ways to frustrate the 2019 elections. It added that the APC and the INEC have realised that there is no hope for President Buhari in the 2019 polls.

    Read Also: 2019: No plan to postpone elections, says INEC

    The statement said, “Nigerians and the international community have also noted the various ploys by INEC to frustrate a credible elections, including its stiff opposition to the amendment of the Electoral Act by the National Assembly to check APC rigging plans in addition to its exposed collaborations with INEC to manipulate the voters register, enrol underage voters and secretly creating 30,000 illegal polling centers in certain remote areas from where it plans to allocate fictitious votes to the APC.

    “Nigerians may recall that the PDP had earlier alerted of the plot by the Buhari Presidency to enmesh the 2019 elections into a needless controversy by deliberately delaying the presentation of the election budget to the National Assembly until the time the parliament was proceeding on annual recess.

    “Ostensibly to ensure that the election does not escape controversy, President Buhari demanded that the fund be taken from already approved budget for lawmakers’ constituency votes, despite entreaties by well-meaning Nigerians for a fresh budget for the elections.

    “Seeing that Nigerians are standing shoulder to shoulder with the PDP to resist and dismantle their rigging machinery, the APC and Buhari Presidency are now trying to use INEC to frustrate the elections and cause crisis in our country.

    “The PDP therefore rejects this plot by APC and INEC. The 2019 election must hold as scheduled. Nigerians are ready for elections and cannot wait to vote out President Buhari and his dysfunctional APC.

    “In that wise, our party cautions the INEC Chairman to open up, expose the Buhari Presidency and immediately commence the application of its constitutional First Line Charge funding instruments instead entangling itself with the plot to destroy our nation”.

  • 2019: No plan to postpone elections, says INEC

    There are no plans to postpone the 2019 general elections as insinuated in some quarters, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said.

    The commission in apparent reaction to a report in one of the national dailies said that the newspaper’s headline “We May Shift 2019 Polls Over Threat Of Violence – INEC”  did not reflect correctly the statement of INEC boss, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu at the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Security (ICCES) meeting.

    In a statement signed by Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman the commission claimed that at no point during his remarks did the INEC Chairman allude to the notion that the Commission “may shift 2019 polls over threat of violence” as reported by the national newspaper.

    Read Also:PDP cautions INEC over alleged plot to shift 2019 elections

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a story with the headline – We May Shift 2019 Polls Over Threat Of Violence – INEC – which appeared on the front page of a national newspapers today, but which did not correctly reflect what the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said at the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting that took place at the Commission’s headquarters on 11th September 2018.

    “It is common knowledge that the Osun State governorship election will hold on Saturday 22nd September, while the 2019 General Elections are only 156 days away. The ICCES meeting, which takes place on a regular, quarterly basis, provides an opportunity for INEC and security agencies to evaluate and discuss the country’s security situation, with the aim of putting the necessary measures in place to enable the Commission carry out its mandate.

    “In his remarks at the meeting, the INEC Chairman told the security chiefs that with the 2019 general elections drawing close, the Committee would need to meet more frequently to constantly assess the security situation across the country and take proactive actions to forestall any unpleasant event before, during and immediately after the elections.

    “He underscored the fact that elections cannot be conducted under a rancorous atmosphere. He referred to Section 26 of the Electoral Act which, among others, gives the Commission the power to postpone an election “if there is reason to believe that a serious breach of peace is likely to occur if the election is proceeded with on (the fixed date)”, or as a result of natural disasters or other emergencies.

    “Prof. Yakubu made this reference to the Electoral Act only to underscore the importance of having peace and order in place before, during and after elections and to emphasize the significance of the synergy between the Commission and security agencies.

    “He also noted that the most important assignment before the Commission was the Osun governorship election, adding the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Osun State, Mr. Segun Agbaje and Commissioner of Police for Osun state, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye would brief the Committee on the current situation and state of readiness for the governorship poll. (Both Agbaje and Adeoye later briefed the audience).

    “Besides, he spoke on the rising phenomenon of vote buying and selling and harped on the need for collaborative effort to decisively tackle the menace and prevent it during the Osun governorship election. He said a Code of Conduct for security agents would be enforced during the elections and warned that any activity outside the confines of legality/ legitimacy will be viewed seriously.

    “The INEC Chairman also seized the opportunity to draw the Committee’s attention to a video clip making the rounds, in which some political actors were seen making inciteful statements that could lead to serious security breaches before, during and after the 2019 general elections. He called on the relevant security agencies to be vigilant, just as he urged them to take immediate action on the development.

    “He commended members of the Committee for their cooperation, which makes it possible for INEC to conduct credible elections.

    “It is thus clear that at no point during his remarks did the INEC Chairman allude to the notion that the Commission “may shift 2019 polls over threat of violence” as reported by the national newspaper.

    “To be sure, INEC has no plan to postpone the 2019 General Elections.”

     

  • PDP cautions INEC over alleged plot to shift 2019 elections

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against alleged plots to shift the dates for the 2019 general elections.

    The opposition party also advised the chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu not to allow the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Buhari Presidency to use him to execute their plots to frustrate the conduct of credible elections in 2019.

    Read Also:2019 elections: PDP already conceding defeat, says APC

    Saying that the plot was meant to push for illegal tenure elongation for President Buhari and the APC, the PDP told the President and his party to perish the thoughts of staying in power a day beyond May 29, 2019.

    A statement Wednesday by the spokesman of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan said, the opposition party was already aware of suggestions by the INEC chairman to have the elections postponed.

    The PDP further stated that the alleged plot was a product of series of clandestine meetings between the INEC and the APC on ways to frustrate the 2019 elections. It added that the APC and the INEC have realised that there is no hope for President Buhari in the 2019 polls.

    The statement said, “Nigerians and the international community have also noted the various ploys by INEC to frustrate a credible elections, including its stiff opposition to the amendment of the Electoral Act by the National Assembly to check APC rigging plans in addition to its exposed collaborations with INEC to manipulate the voters register, enroll underage voters and secretly creating 30,000 illegal polling centers in certain remote areas from where it plans to allocate fictitious votes to the APC.

    “Nigerians may recall that the PDP had earlier alerted of the plot by the Buhari Presidency to enmesh the 2019 elections into a needless controversy by deliberately delaying the presentation of the election budget to the National Assembly until the time the parliament was proceeding on annual recess.

    “Ostensibly to ensure that the election does not escape controversy, President Buhari demanded that the fund be taken from already approved budget for lawmakers’ constituency votes, despite entreaties by well-meaning Nigerians for a fresh budget for the elections.

    “Seeing that Nigerians are standing shoulder to shoulder with the PDP to resist and dismantle their rigging machinery, the APC and Buhari Presidency are now trying to use INEC to frustrate the elections and cause crisis in our country.

    “The PDP therefore rejects this plot by APC and INEC. The 2019 election must hold as scheduled. Nigerians are ready for elections and cannot wait to vote out President Buhari and his dysfunctional APC.

    “In that wise, our party cautions the INEC Chairman to open up, expose the Buhari Presidency and immediately commence the application of its constitutional First Line Charge funding instruments instead entangling itself with the plot to destroy our nation”.

  • Terrorists may disrupt 2019 polls, says NITDA DG

    The Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Isa Pantami, has said the 2019 general elections may be disrupted if adequate information technology security measures were not put in place.

    He raised the alarm at the 10th annual conference organised by Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), Abuja Chapter, on Tuesday.

    Dr. Pantami said terrorists may disrupt the national elections by hacking into the voter register database of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He said: “If proper IT security measures are not put in place, terrorists may disrupt the national elections by hacking into INEC voter register database; they can disrupt the banking system by hacking into and taking over the Bank Verification Number (BVN) platform.

    Read Also: Army kill 3 Boko Haram terrorists in Borno

    “They can critically disrupt the national economy by cyber-jacking the Treasury Single Account (TSA) software, etc.”

    He said the agency has developed a Nigerian government enterprise architecture dedicated to securing the country’s information technology systems.

    “NITDA is developing a Nigerian Government Enterprise Architecture and a critical part of it was dedicated to security of Information Technology systems.

    “This section specifies what security measures should be in place while deploying IT systems in Public Institutions,” he added.

     

  • Aluko defeats Fayose’s candidate at PDP LG delegate election

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose on has suffered another electoral defeat at his home local government area.

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Delegate Election to choose representatives to the National Convention in Abuja was conducted in all the 16 local government areas on Tuesday.

    The governor’s candidate and former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Babatunde Omotoba, was defeated in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area by former state PDP Secretary, Dr. Tope Aluko.

    At the election conducted at the Irepodun/Ifelodun local government PDP secretariat, Dr. Aluko polled 80 votes to defeat Omotoba who polled 4 votes.

    It will be recalled that Fayose lost the local government area to the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the last governorship election.

    According to the Returning Officer who is also the PDP Vice Chairman in Ekiti Central, Chief Tunji Kayode, 84 delegates were accredited to vote.

    Announcing the result, Kayode returned Dr. Aluko as elected having polled the hugest number of votes cast.

    The election was observed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), officers of the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services and journalists.

    Loyalists of Fayose did not show up at the poll and conduct was delayed for about two hours before voting started.

    Read Also: Fayose’s aide speaks on N75 million Lexus “parting gift”

    Before voting started at about 11.45 am, members described the congress as an opportunity to liberate the party from Fayose’s alleged stranglehold.

    Delegates who voted at the congress included House of Assembly member representing Irepodun/Ifelodun Constituency 1, Mr. Posi Omodara, ward executives including nine out of eleven ward chairmen and local government executives.

    Former PDP chairman in Irepodun/Irepodun council area, Mr. Jinadu Isiaka Olaoluwa, said alleged imposition of candidates by Fayose caused the party’s defeat at the July 14 local government election.

    Olaoluwa said the election of Aluko as the LG delegate to the National Convention has signalled an end to impunity, dictatorial tendency and personalization of the party by an individual.

    Speaking after his election as delegate to the National Convention, Dr. Aluko said 80 delegates formed quorum.

    He said: “I have been elected as the representative of this local government at the national convention in Abuja and I will give them responsive and responsible representation.

    “If some people decided not to show up, they are not up to 20 per cent. All the wards are represented here and I owe my victory to genuine party members.”

  • Kogi Senate aspirant task INEC chairman on vote buying

    An aspirant for Kogi Central Senatorial seat under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Hon. Abdulkarim Salihu, has charged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu to as a matter of urgency address the issue of vote buying during election.

    The former two term member of the House of Representatives called on the INEC boss to tackle the scourge before it damages the country’s hard earned democracy.

    Salihu who gave the charge on Monday while submitting his nomination form at the Kogi PDP secretariat in Lokoja, said the conduct of the governorship election in Ekiti State recently, served as wake up call to the electoral umpire to be awake to its responsibility of discouraging vote buying in order to protect democracy and give credence to the Nigeria’s electoral process.

    According to him: “What happened in Ekiti during the governorship election is enough signal that our democracy is nosediving and requires urgent measures to nip it in the bud so that such act will not take the centre stage in our country’s democracy.

    “If the major agenda of the federal government is to fight corruption, then buying votes should be seen as an act of corruption, which should be dealt with before it collapses the hard earned democracy.

    Read Also: ICPC to partner INEC to curb vote-buying

    “Vote buying is one of the major challenges that will affect the integrity of the 2019 elections, as it will not allow the electorate to support and vote for the candidates of their choice and if this is not discouraged, elections in Nigeria will lose credibility and where there is no credibility in an election, the desired dividends of democracy will not be enjoyed by Nigerians, as the politicians would gear their effort in recovering the money spent during the election.”

    He said the situation where the ruling party in the state prevented the opposition from organising activities in the state, noting that democracy cannot thrive in the absence of a strong and virile opposition, to checkmate the activities of the ruling party.

    “I have never seen in modern political civilization where the opposition parties are not allow to conduct their activities; the beauty of democracy is when the ruling party is being checkmated, in order to fulfil electioneering campaign.

    “All these are happening because of poverty of ideas and by the time the ruling party knows the enormity of their actions, they will allow the opposition parties to thrive in the state and the country at large,” he noted.

    On his mission and vision for his constituency if given the opportunity,  Hon. Salihu said he will introduce a need assessment committee where the people will have an input on the types of projects they needed, noting that the era of sharing motorcycles and sewing machine is over.

    While calling on the electorate to vote according to their conscience during elections,  the aspirant urged INEC to do the needful during elections.

  • Group plans workshop for Imo guber aspirants

    A nonpolitical pressure group, the Imo Economic Development Initiative (IEDI), has concluded plans to organize a two-day consultative and interactive session for governorship aspirants across the political parties.

    In a statement signed by the Chairman of the group, Chief Chucks Okoronkwo, said the idea is to engage the politicians and political parties on ways to ensure a rancour free primaries and general elections.

    According to the statement, “the idea is to promote and inspire rancour-free primaries among participating political parties. It is also to accentuate the need for good governance and aggressive economic development in the state henceforth”.

    Also expected to attend the event slated for Wednesday and Thursday, are Chairmen of the various political parties and will be chaired by former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Maurice Iwu.

  • INEC to print 16.5m PVCs before 2019 general elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will print 16,500,192 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and make them available for collection by citizens ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this at the regular meeting of the commission with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) on Thursday in Abuja.

    Yakubu said that for a period of 16 months, from April 27, 2017 to Aug. 31, it registered a total of 14,551,482 new voters for its nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

    He said if the figure was added to the existing register of 69,720,350 voters, it meant that the nation now had a voter population of 84,271,832.

    He explained that the figure might drop slightly after the commission must have run  the Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS).

    “In addition to fresh registration, the Commission is also processing 769,917 requests for intra and inter-State transfers as well as 1,178,793 requests for replacement of lost, damaged or cards with misspelt names or incorrect personal details of voters as required by law.

    “This means that the Commission has to print a total of 16,500,192 PVCs and make them available for collection by citizens ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Read Also: INEC registers over 5 million eligible voters in Kano

    “Already, the Commission has printed the PVCs for those registered in 2017 and delivered them to states for collection.

    “I can also confirm that the PVCs for 2.7 million voters registered in the first quarter of 2018 have been printed and will be delivered to the states next week.

    “We wish to reassure Nigerians that every registered voter will have his/her PVC available for collection before the general election.

    “The collection of PVCs will continue until one week to the 2019 general elections. We shall ensure that the process of collection is simplified with minimum inconvenience to citizens.

    “We will also ensure that information about the collection of PVCs is widely disseminated.

    “Already, we are partnering with telecommunication companies to send bulk text (sms) messages to citizens for the collection of their PVCs’’.

    He added that after running the AFIS, the Commission would present a detailed analysis of the voter register, not only by state and gender, but also by age group and occupation.

    Yakubu appealed to Nigerians to seize the opportunity of the ongoing nationwide display of the particulars of new voters for claims and objections as required by law.

    “By doing so, citizens will be helping the Commission to further clean up the register and purge it of all ineligible registrants as required by Sec. 12 of the Electoral Act.

    “The Commission has consistently shared information on the voter registration exercise with Nigerians by publishing the figures as well as detailed breakdown by states and gender’’.

    Yakubu said that the meeting would consider consequential steps the commission needed to take as it continues to prepare for the 2019 general elections.

    He said that the Commission would also consider options to fast track the distribution of the PVCs before general elections, including the devolution of collection to Ward level.

    “We however wish to restate the Commission’s policy that no PVCs will be collected by proxy. Registered voters must endeavour to collect their cards personally.

    “We are working hard to ensure that no PVC goes into the wrong hands.

    On the commission’s  preparation for the Osun State Governorship election, Yakubu said all processes and activities were going according to our timetable and schedule of activities released almost a year ago.

    “The last major activity was the presentation of the Voters’ Register to each of the 48 political parties fielding candidates in the election, giving detailed information of the distribution of the 1.6 million registered voters by Local Government Areas, Wards and Polling Units’’.

    Yakubu said that the Commission had been working on a multi-faceted approach to the menace of vote-buying and other sundry electoral malpractices.

    “We will introduce changes to the election-day administration of our polling units, in addition to the electronic tracking of our sensitive materials.

    “We are discussing with the security agencies on a more vigorous enforcement of the law against voter-inducement.

    “Furthermore, we are working with the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and other stakeholders on voter education and sensitisation.

    This is the third election we are conducting in Osun State since the 2015 general elections.

    “The first was the Ife Central State Constituency and the Osun West Senatorial District. We wish to reassure the people of Osun state that their votes will continue to count.”

    He assured Nigerians that the country’s elections would continue to meet the requirements of laws, processes and procedures as well as international best practice.

    NAN

  • Osun election: INEC to convey security meeting next week

    ….says preparations are on course

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be convening a security meeting next week for the Osun state governorship election slated for the 22nd of this month.

    The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said the essence of the meeting is to review the security arrangement for the election.

    Besides, he said the commission is working on a multi-faceted approach to the menace of vote-buying and other sundry electoral malpractices.

    He assured the general public that INEC will introduce changes to the election-day administration at the polling units. 48 political parties have indicated interest to participate in the poll.

    Yakubu spoke on Thursday at the opening of the meeting of the management of the commission and Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) in Abuja.

    He said, “The Commission is convening a meeting of the national Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) next week to review the security arrangement for the election.”

    On the preparation for the election, Yakubu said that the omission is on course; adding that all processes and activities are going according to schedule of activities.

    Read Also: INEC moves to foil vote buying

    He said: “Furthermore, the Commission is convening a meeting of the national Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) next week to review the security arrangement for the election.

    “We are working on a multi-faceted approach to the menace of vote-buying and other sundry electoral malpractices. We will introduce changes to the election-day administration of our polling units, in addition to the electronic tracking of our sensitive materials. We are discussing with the security agencies on a more vigorous enforcement of the law against voter-inducement.”

    On the preparation for the Osun State Governorship election, he said “all processes and activities are going according to our timetable and schedule of activities released almost a year ago. The last major activity was the presentation of the Voters’ Register to each of the 48 political parties fielding candidates in the election, giving detailed information of the distribution of the 1.6 million registered voters by Local Government Areas, Wards and Polling Units. The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State will brief this meeting on the state of readiness so far.

    “Furthermore, we are working with the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and other stakeholders on voter education and sensitization. This is the third election we are conducting in Osun State since the 2015 general elections. The first was the Ife Central State Constituency and the Osun West Senatorial District. We wish to reassure the people of Osun State that their votes will continue to count.”