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Tag: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

  • Alleged underage voting: INEC investigative committee arrives Kano

    Alleged underage voting: INEC investigative committee arrives Kano

     

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has inaugurated an eight man committee had yesterday commenced investigations into the alleged cases of voting by under aged persons, during the last Local Government elections held in Kano.

    The investigative committee, chaired by Engr. Abubakar Nahuce was set up by the National chairman of INEC, professor Mahmud Yakubu, with the mandate to unravel if the voters register used during  the conduct of  the Kano Local Government election is  in tandem with the names of registered voters, on INEC’s record.

    According to Nahuce, the aim of the electoral commission is not to pass judgment on the conduct of the LG polls, rather to ascertain, if the voters registered used is that, which was obtained from INEC.

    The committee, which visited the headquarters of Kano Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC located on Sabo Bakin Zuwo road requested the state electoral body to furnish it, with the record of the  voters registration that was used  to conduct the LG elections, in the following areas,  Shahuci area, Kano Municipal Council registration area 21.

    The august body further requested KANSIEC to  avail it,  with the voters register used to conduct the poll, in Gama registration area 2, Nassarawa Local Government registration area 31, and Gezawa registration area 3.

    Nahuce disclosed that members of the committee had arrived Kano on Monday, adding that “ the committee  was tasked to ascertain, if the voter register requested by Kano Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC was actually that, which was used to conduct the Local Government Elections.

    “We are to investigate the widespread report that persons below the statutory age of 18 years voted  using INEC’s register. Engage with stakeholders on issues related to the use of the voters register in the election.” Nahuce further said.

    He disclosed that, the committee is directed to submit it’s findings, to INEC within the span of two weeks.

    The chairman, Kano state Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC, professor Garba Sheka in his remarks, said the commission will collaborate with the committee to ensure record success in its assignment.

    According to him, the allegations trailing the Local Government polls has assumed international dimension.

    He note that, the investigative committee  dispatched to the state by INEC will be allowed access to all relevant materials relating to the conduct of the election.

    Professor Sheka though cautioned that, the conduct and the findings of the committee will reflect on the forth coming  2019 General Elections.

    The committee composed by INEC , currently in Kano to conduct findings into the LG polls comprises of the following persons, Engineer Abubakar Nahuce, Chairman,  Barr. (Mrs) May Agbamuche Mbu,  Barr Mike Igini,  Barr. Kassim G. Geidam,  others are Yakubu M. Duku,  Rukayata Bummi,  Bello,  Paul Omokore,  and Jude Chikezie Okwuonu.

  • ‘INEC yet to clear Bello of double registration’

    ‘INEC yet to clear Bello of double registration’

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified the issuance of a Temporary Voters Card (TVC), to Gvernor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, despite pending allegation of double registration against him.

    The Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof James Apam, made the clarification Thursday in Lokoja, during an interactive session with journalists and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

    He explained that the issuance of the new TVC to the governor was based on advice from the commission’s legal department.

    Governor Bello, he said, had applied for the transfer of his voter registration from Abuja to Okene and that it was acted upon based on legal advice, adding that the development did not mean INEC would discontinue the double registration allegation against him.

    His words: “The fact that there is an allegation against the governor does not take away his right to demand a transfer. When his application was brought to INEC, it was subjected to legal advice and the application was approved, while the allegation of double registration is still hanging on him”.

    The commission, last year alleged Governor Bello of double registration, following which two of its staff were dismissed from the commission and a senior officer, compulsorily retired.

    Apam disclosed that the commission has so far registered 176, 868 new people; 90, 523 male and 86, 313 female, since commencement of the exercise in April 2017.

    He added that 57, 148 Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) were distributed, while a total of 202, 289 PVC remain unclaimed.

    Read Also: 2019: INEC boss to RECs: avoid controversies

  • INEC rolls out general elections dates for next 36 years

    INEC rolls out general elections dates for next 36 years

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) on Wednesday announced dates for general elections in the country for the next 36 years, starting from 2019 to 2055.

    Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mamood Yakubu, made the announcement at a consultative meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja.

    “In 2019, the dates are Feb. 16 and March 2; in 2023, the dates are Feb. 18 and March 4.

    “In 2027, the dates are Feb. 20 and March 6; in 2031, it is Feb.15 and March 1.

    “In 2035, it is Feb. 17 and March 3; in 2039, it is Feb.19 and March 5 and in 2043, it will hold on Feb. 21 and March 7.

    “In 2047, it is Feb.15 and March 2; in 2051, it is Feb.18 and March 1; in 2055, it is Feb. 20 and March 6,” Yakubu said.

    He pointed out that in other democracies of the world periods of elections were generally known and were not topics for speculation.
    Yakubu explained that the aim was to engender certainty in the election calendar and allow for long-term planning by the commission and all stakeholders.

    He said that certainty in election calendar was necessary to match Nigeria’s democratic system with global best practices.

    The chairman said that in the last one week, INEC received 108 applications from associations seeking to be registered as political parties.

    He said that 66 of the applications did not meet the initial requirements while 33 passed and had proceeded to the next stage.

    He said that nine others were at the final stage of registration.

    The INEC boss commended political parties for the roles they played in the governorship  and National Assembly by-elections in Anambra which ensured that the exercises were crisis-free.

    He urged all existing political parties yet to comply with all relevant sections of the constitutional requirements necessary for their existence, to do so.

    He advised the parties to ensure rancour-free conventions and congresses ahead of 2019 and the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections later in the year.

    “Internal party democracy is critical to the overall success of the elections and it helps to eliminate some protracted litigations.

    “Less than a year to the 2019 general elections, there are still cases in courts, challenging the nomination of candidates in the 2015 elections,’’ he said.

    Yakubu urged the parties to support the commission in its quest to sanitise the voter register by drawing the attention of the umpire to any irregularity.

    In his remarks, the Chairman, Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Alhaji Mohammed Nalado, commended INEC for recognising political parties as partners.

    He said that with little or no financial support, political parties were at the forefront of voter sensitisation to the need to conduct themselves responsibly at polling units.

    Nalado commended the commission for creating an enabling environment for free and fair elections by rolling out election calendar in good time.

    He added that the political parties were happy with the position of INEC on the sequence of elections, saying that the commission acted on the existing law.

    He welcomed the newly-registered political parties to IPAC and urged INEC to support the council’s plan to amend its code of conduct.

    According to Nalado, the amendment will address issues of internal democracy, conflict resolution system among other issues affecting political parties in the country.

    NAN

  • All registered voters will get PVCs before 2019 – INEC

    All registered voters will get PVCs before 2019 – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) on Monday said eligible persons registered in ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) would get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) before 2019 general elections.

    The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this known at an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja.

    “Those who registered in 2017, their PVCs will be ready in May; for those who registered in 2018 and those who intend to register will all get their PVCs before the 2019 general elections.

    “For now, we are giving priority attention to Ekiti and Osun governorship elections but all registered Nigerians will get their PVCs before the elections, ” he said.

    Yakubu said that there were 1,446 centres across the country where the voter registration was ongoing, adding that 400 Direct Data Capture machines had been deployed to hasten the process.

    He said that the commission was committed to conducting free, fair and credible elections and improving the electoral process in the country.

    He urged the media to monitor the process of forthcoming governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti and report grey areas for immediate actions by the commission.

    The INEC helmsman said that the media should collaborate with the commission on the task of ensuring credible elections by exposing any form of irregularities.

    He said that discussions were ongoing with telecommunication providers to ascertain the availability of 4G and 3G networks in rural areas to support transmission of election results electronically from polling stations.

    He said that the order of the 2019 elections as announced by the commission remained until a new law on elections was enacted.

    Yakubu said the commission had completed all preparatory steps ahead the elections and that the election budget would be presented to the appropriate authorities before the end of the week.

    He disclosed that the committee constituted to investigate alleged registration of under-age persons in Kano would commence work on Wednesday.

    According to him, the commission knows that a credible election begins with a credible voter register and the commission is interested in knowing what exactly happened in Kano.

    The chairman assured that only credible voter register would be used to conduct elections in 2019.

    In separate contributions, journalists urged the commission to train and monitor the activities of its ad hoc personnel, saying that it was necessary to reduce chances of being compromised.

    They urged the electoral umpire to consider the transfer of rural polling units in the North-East to urban centres so as not to disenfranchise Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs ).

    NAN

  • IGP, DSS, EFCC want court to allow search of Wike’s properties

    IGP, DSS, EFCC want court to allow search of Wike’s properties

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP) and two Federal Government’s investigating agencies have asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to reject a prayed by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, stopping them from searching his properties.

    The investigating agencies are the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The three are listed as respondents in a suit by the River State Governor, seeking among others, to prevent the search of his property and the execution of a search warrant against him by any of the agencies.

    The suit was filed last year in the wake of allegation that the governor compromised some electoral officials during the rerun elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    A number of INEC officials, from whom funds were allegedly recovered, are currently on trial before the Federal High Court in relation to their conduct during the River State rerun election.

    Arguing IGP’s position Thursday, David Igbodo urged the court to dismiss Wike’s suit on the grounds that it was based on “mere speculation.”

    Igbodo, a lawyer with the Nigeria Police Force, said: “The application is speculative because in the first instance, there is no search warrant attached to it.

    “The only exhibit attached is the interview granted by Wike himself in which he made allegations that the police wants to search his house in Abuja.

    “He made the allegation, but he did not attach the search warrant to prove it. Assuming without conceding that the police obtained a search warrant to search the Rivers State Governor’s house in Abuja; the question is:  Can the police execute the search warrant without requiring his presence?

    “The question has been answered by the Supreme Court and the answer is yes. The police can effectively do that without requiring his presence.

    “So the government house of Rivers State in Abuja can be searched without the Governor’s presence, as there are security men there that can witness the search.”

    Igbodo further submitted that the law allowed the police to gather evidence and investigate officials who had immunity adding that a search warrant was a process of obtaining evidence during investigation.

    He admitted that the governor enjoys immunity by virtue of the provision of the Constitution.

    Igbodo proceeded to argue that, the enjoyment of the constitutionally granted immunity by a governor cannot protect him from being investigated.

    He added that during the process of investigation, investigators were allowed by law to gathered evidence against such a governor.

    DSS’ lawyer, O. Atoyebi, who argued in similar vein, urged the court to dismiss the suit.

    He contended that the suit was intended by the governor to prevent the service (DSS) from performing its statutory functions.

    Lawyer to the EFCC, Mrs Elizabeth Alabi argued that hewr client was not a necessary party in the case.

    Mrs Alabi, who urged the court to dismiss the suit, argued that the EFCC has no business in the suit and was wrongfully joined.

    She prayed the court to award N100, 000 in compensation for his client, against Wike.

    Lawyer to the governor, Sylva Ogwemoh (SAN) noted that the essence of the suit was the interpretation of a section of the constitution.

    Ogwuemoh said: “The focal point of our summons is the interpretation of Section 308 of the Constitution as it relates to search warrant.

    “A search warrant is undoubtedly a process of court and if that is the case, there is a breach of the absolute immunity that Section 308 confers on the plaintiff (Wike).”

    He argued that under Section 308 of the Constitution the execution of a search warrant required the presence of the person to which the section applies and who enjoys immunity, and in this case, Wike, before the property could be searched.

    Ogwuemoh while faulting Igbodo’s argument argued that the IGP’s lawyer’s argument that despite Section 308, the police was with the discretion to search the government’s house in the governor’s absence was against the law.

    On Igbodo’s argument that the applicant failed to attach the warrant in question,  Ogwuemoh argued that since the suit only seeks the interpretation of a legal provision, there was no need to attach a warrant to the application.

    After listening to partied, Justice Ahmed Mohammed adjourned to May 9 for judgment.

    In the suit filed in June 2017, Wike, among other reliefs, wants a declaration that by virtue of the provisions of Section 308 of the Constitution, the IGP, the EFCC and the DSS cannot apply for, obtain, issue or execute any court process compelling his presence.

    He also wants the court to determine: “Whether the defendants can by the combined effect of Section 308 of the Constitution and Sections 149 and 150 of the Administration of Criminal Justice, apply for, obtain, issue or in any manner or form effectively execute a search warrant at the residence of Wike in Abuja or any of his residences without his physical presence in the course of the execution of such search warrant.”

    Read Also: Wike alleges plot by FG to use INEC to rig 2019 elections

  • Ekiti Poll: Fayose visits INEC, says he came to express his fears

    Ekiti Poll: Fayose visits INEC, says he came to express his fears

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Wednesday played host to an unusual visitor in person of Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state who paid an unscheduled visit to the INEC headquarters.

    Fayose said he was at the INEC National Headquarters to register some of his fears ahead of the July 2018 governorship poll in his state.

    The governor who spoke to newsmen after an initial decline said the activities of opposition parties ahead of the July election has raised some concerns which according to him are disturbing, and hence the visit to INEC for clarifications.

    He said: “As a public officer, I feel that it is important to express my disfavor on issues that has to do with INEC and some few other concerns and the bragging of some of opposition figures at the centre in respect of the governorship election in July 2018. I said I should come and have an interactive session with INEC and share my fears. INEC is a public place, a public office and any citizen of this nation should be able to ask questions. I have come here to ask questions as it affects July 14 2018 election in my state and as it affects the 2019 general elections.

    We hear a lot of things and we feel it I within our right to ask INEC questions and I was well received by all the national commissioners seated and I express my concern of what I have heard and what have been making the rounds. It was a very useful session, quiet educative.”

    On the take away from the interactive session with the management of the electoral body he said, “so far so good they have been able to allay my fears. I don’t want to sit down there and assume anything. I am a man of action. I am very proactive and I would not take a chance. I felt I should see them and ask questions and I have asked a number of questions and they have answered me. They have gone through the whole process, what to expect from INEC and they promised not to descend. That is assuring and I am satisfied. If I have further issues or questions to ask, I won’t fail to ask. “

    On the party stand on under aged voting, he said, “anyone would be concerned by underaged voting; you will not blame the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for protesting or any party. It is the duty of INEC to equally allay their fears. You see if you are the umpire, the referee, you must not only be neutral but you must be seen to be neutral. It is a shame for you to see people bringing children of four years, five years to register. For our nation, it is a shame. For the level of our democracy it is a shame. Today in the 21st century it is a shame.

    “But you want to believe that INEC said it will look into it, I want to give them the benefit of doubt so that they can look into it and address the Nigerian nation because the bulk stops at Mahmood Yakubu’s table and I am sure he would not want to compromise anything for his name, that is my view. ”

    Read Also: INEC to investigate reports of under-aged voting

  • Underage voters: PDP asks INEC chair to resign

    Underage voters: PDP asks INEC chair to resign

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu to resign over registration of underage voters, mainly in Katsina and Kano states.

    But the electoral body had defended the action, saying its registration officials in those states were compelled to register minors under threats by community leaders in the areas.

    The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, at a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, carpeted INEC for failing to take decisive steps to restore the sanctity of its register, particularly in Kano and Katsina states.

    Rather, the party said the leadership of the commission has continued to offer puerile explanations of plans to investigate the anomaly, stressing that it took concerted outcry by well-meaning Nigerians for the commission to reluctantly accept responsibility for the illegality.

    “As you are aware, the INEC has been indicted for registering and issuing permanent voter cards (PVCs) to millions of underage persons, particularly in Kano and Katsina states.

    “You are also aware that it took a press statement from the PDP and concerted outcry by Nigerians before the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu-led commission reluctantly accepted responsibility for this illegality.

    “As we speak, the credibility of our electoral process under the current INEC is hugely in doubt.

    The nation was last Wednesday terrified by the commission’s Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, who announced that INEC registered minors because its agents were threatened by members of the communities in those states.

    “By this alarming and unpatriotic statement, INEC under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has completely discredited and disqualified itself and cannot be trusted to conduct a credible, free and fair general elections in 2019.

    “The import of this statement is that INEC under Prof. Yakubu is not firm in its acts and will consequently cave in and accept any form of irregularities once it is put under pressure by members of a voting community.

    “It goes to say that this INEC can readily announce false results, cancel elections, alter polling procedures and allow any irregularities during the 2019 general elections once it is threatened by the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any other group for that matter.

    If INEC is afraid of a voting community so much so that after registering minors, it still went ahead to process their data and issue them with valid voters card, then there is no way it can withstand the pressure and threat that we all know will be exerted by desperate APC forces, whose electoral strength, particularly in Kano and Katsina states, is now exposed to be based on underage voters”, the party said.

    The PDP demanded an immediate review of voters register, across the country, particularly in Kano and Katsina and also the revalidation of voters register to eliminate the names of all the minors.

    It insisted that no election must hold in these states until the register is sanitised.

    “In order to achieve this, we demand that the revalidation/sanitisation by INEC must be carried out under the supervision of all political parties, credible associations, reputable NGOs as well as the international community”, it added.

    The PDP also described INEC’s invitation to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (INEC) to help it monitor political parties’ campaign funds illegal and a Machiavellian way of suppressing opposition’s financial contributions and spendings.

    According to the opposition party, the invitation was a plot by the EFCC to detain, defame, intimidate and illegally block bank accounts of opposition members under the pretext of monitoring campaign funds.

    It insisted that only INEC has the statutory duty to monitor campaign funds, stressing that the commission cannot delegate this functions to any other government agency.

    “Nigerians have completely lost confidence in INEC under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and we urge him to take the path of honour and do the needful before it becomes too late”.

    The PDP also alerted the public to what it described as the culture of intolerance in the ruling APC at the centre and across the various states where the party exercises control.

    Citing Tuesday’s demolition of a building belonging to Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi in Kaduna by Governor Nasir El-Rufai, the party said with this trend, properties belonging opposition figures and those perceived to pose threats to the re-election bid of some public office holders in the ruling party are now endangered.

    Detailing instances of such high-handedness in high places, the party said the government of the day was working to foist a fascist regime on the country.

    The party feared that if members of the ruling party could engage in vicious attacks against their fellow members, then it’s only a matter of time before they unleash havoc against opposition figures.

    Continuing, the PDP said, “In Adamawa, the state government has pulled down billboards and signposts belonging to opposition parties while harassing our members and perceived political opponents ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the state.

    “In January this year, Borno state Governor, Kashim Shettima superintended over the demolition of PDP state secretariat in Maiduguri following the renewed popularity of our party in the state.

    “In Kogi, a property belonging to Senator Dino Melaye, who is known for his criticism of the APC derailed government, has been marked for demolition.

    “Today, despite our constitutionally guaranteed freedom of association and speech, Nigerians now live in fear of this intolerant, overbearing, bigoted and dictatorial APC administration seeking to foist a fascist regime on our country.

    “How do we explain or justify the evil plan of the APC-led Federal Government to monitor citizens’ phone calls and social media communication, purportedly to check for hate speeches without any enabling law.

    “We advise the APC government to desist from this planned unconstitutionality, which threatens the very essence of democracy, especially plurality of opinions.

    “It is on this note that the PDP raises a rallying cry to all well-meaning Nigerians, civil society organizations and the international community to rise up and collectively condemn the anti-people actions and proclivities of this incompetent and imperious government, which has brought so much pain to our dear nation”.

    Read Also:INEC to investigate reports of under-aged voting

  • We will not register under-aged – INEC tells stakeholders

    We will not register under-aged – INEC tells stakeholders

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) says it will not register under-aged in the ongoing registration of voters as it is against the nation’s Electoral Act and processes.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo, Prof. Francis Ezeonu, made the promise at a sensitization campaign on the ongoing voter registration exercise in Ihite Uboma and Obowo local government areas of Imo.

    He said that under-aged were not qualified for registration as they should not be subjected to the rigours of the law in case of election violence or misconduct as persons of 18 years and above.

    He, however, encouraged those that are 18 years and above to ensure they availed themselves of the current registration exercise in electoral wards in Imo to register and collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) .

    According to Prof. Ezeonu, PVC is the individual’s power to elect persons of his or her choice during elections.

    The sensitization programme was being carried out in collaboration with Development Dynamics, a non-governmental organization.

    Ezeonu said that consideration would be given to the elderly, pregnant women and the sick during registration and elections and called for the understanding of all the stakeholders.

    He expressed regret that in spite of the commission’s repeated announcements for people to go and collect their PVCs, the cards had remained at the custody of the commission till date and called for a change of attitude.

    He said that PVCs could not be collected by proxy and enjoined stakeholders to collect theirs as well as inform their neighbours and friends to do same.

    The resident electoral officer reaffirmed the commitment of INEC to close all avenues of rigging during elections and advised politicians to do their home work well as “it is no longer business as usual.”

    Ezeonu said that the commission had upgraded the operational system of the card reader and would use it effectively in the coming elections.

    “All areas of rigging are being closed. INEC will make use of card readers and will transmit results electronically to the designated centres made for announcement of results.

    “Power to elect people into various offices in the country belongs to the people and we want the people to exercise this power,” he said.

    The commissioner said that the commission had come up with what it called Residential Area Camp (RAC) to ensure voting materials reached polling polls on time during elections.

    He said the commission adding had equally ordered for more registration machines to be deployed in states where they were needed to make registration faster.

    Mrs Ogbonne Achibie, the Electoral Officer in Obowo Local Government, said that the local government had a total of 48,746 PVCs with 12,386 PVCs yet to be collected.

    She said that following the deployment of the CVR by the commission to remote communities, many more areas were being covered with improvement in people’s turnout for registration.

    Mrs Ekeoma Adolpg-Nnebue, the Electoral Officer in Ihitte Uboma, urged traditional rulers and other stakeholders to increase their sensitization of those who were yet to register, returnees from other places and those who just turned 18.

    The stakeholders, made up traditional rulers from various communities, parties, women and youth leaders commended INEC in the state for the sensitization exercise.

    They, however, complained of INEC officials in the South East not allow under-aged to register as allegedly done in some other parts of the country.

    They also asked for the creation of more polling units and provision of more registration machines to make the voters registration faster.

    Eze Jude Uwaleke, one of the traditional rulers in Ihite Uboma, complained of the far distance to some registration centres and the difficult terrain in reaching some centres in some communities.

    Mr Gabriel Akubueze, a stakeholder from Umuebe Aboke in Ihite Uboma, complained of lack of polling booths in his community and the level of political apathy in the area.

    He urged INEC to liaise with the traditional rulers and community leaders to ensure people would come out to register and also vote.

    Chief Ambrose Onuoha from Ihite Uboma urged the commission to ensure the introduction of CCTV to monitor illegalities during elections, while Chief Awolowo Nkwo-Dede from Obowo tasked INEC on transparency during elections.

    NAN

  • Over 250,000 PVCs uncollected in FCT – INEC

    Over 250,000 PVCs uncollected in FCT – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) on Wednesday said over 250, 000 Permanent Voter Cards ( PVCs ) were yet to be collected by registered voters in the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT ).

    Mrs Ndidi Okafor, Head, Voter Education and Publicity, Gender and Civil Society Liaison, INEC, FCT, made this known in Abuja that the rate of PVC collection in the area was low.

    Okafor said that the uncollected PVCs were from the 2011, 2014, and 2016 voter registration by the commission in the territory.

    She said, “we are appealing to Nigerians to please come and collect their PVCs; it is not just enough to come and register, you have to complete the process by collecting your card.

    “We are doing a lot of partnerships with different organizations to create awareness on this; we go to churches and mosques to do advocacy and we even visit traditional rulers to help us talk to their subjects.

    “However, the commission cannot do this alone; political parties have a strategic role to play, so we urge them to talk to their supporters to send down these messages to the grassroots.’’

    Okafor appealed to Nigerians not to be discouraged by the long queue they met at voter registration centres, assuring that INEC was working out how to make the exercise hitch-free.

    She urged Nigerians to be more patient with the process “because it is their right to register and vote’’.

    “We need to be supportive of this process so that we can all register.

    “The wisdom here is that no matter how long these queues are, they get cleared up early because not everyone there is for registration.

    “Some people are just there to transfer their voter cards, while others are for corrections. So, ideally nobody is supposed to spend up to five minutes on the queue,’’ she explained.

    Okafor said that the registration centres in the FCT had been increased from 22 to 32 and urged people to go and register.

    She said that on April 27, 2017 when the exercise started, FCT had only six registration centres, but that due to stakeholders demanded, 16 new centres were added.

    She added that 10 more centres were recently created, bringing the number to 32 for the six area councils in the territory.

    Okafor said that INEC was also taking steps to increase the number of registration machines in the centres, especially in Abuja Municipal Area Council ( AMAC ), which had nine centres.

    She said that 10 machines and the scanners had also been deployed at the centres.

    NAN

  • Senate confirms seven RECs, stands down one nominee

    Senate confirms seven RECs, stands down one nominee

    The Senate on Wednesday confirmed seven out of the nine nominees for the position of Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ).

    They are Baba Yusuf (Borno), Dr Uthman Abdulrahman (Kwara), Mr Segun Agbaje (Ekiti) and Dr Cyril Omorogbe (Edo).
    Others are Yahaya Bello (Nasarawa) Dr Emmanuel Hart (Rivers) and Mohammed Ibrahim (Gombe).

    The confirmation followed a successful screening of the nominees at the committee level and adoption of report submitted during plenary by Chairman, Senate Committee on INEC, Sen. Suleiman Nazif.

    It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari in December asked the Senate to confirm nine INEC RECs in line with section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.

    However, the nominee of Akwa Ibom, Elder Monday Tom was stepped down while that of Osun, Eric Olawale did not turn up for the screening.
    Presenting the report, Nazif said of the nine nominees referred to the committee for screening, only eight showed up.

    He said that the nominee for Osun did not communicate to the committee reasons for his absence.

    According to him, Tom, the nominee for Akwa Ibom state was stood down for further legislative action.

    “Other seven nominees were duly cleared by the relevant security agencies and the Code of Conduct Bureau,’’ he added.

    In his remark, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki commended members of the committee for their diligence during the screening process.

    NAN