The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

  • Recall: Drama as INEC dumps bags of documents at Melaye’s office

    Recall: Drama as INEC dumps bags of documents at Melaye’s office

    IT was all drama at the National Assembly yesterday as Senator Dino Melaye and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) engaged in hide-and-seek game over the Kogi West lawmaker’s recall.

    The INEC officials had arrived at the National Assembly complex as early as 11am with four ‘Ghana Must Go’ bags containing recall petitions and a heap of tied documents signed by constituents in Melaye’s  Kogi West.

    The INEC officials had split into two with one group waiting at the door of the senator’s office. The other group was monitoring the chambers, where Melaye kept himself busy with legislative duties.

    Apparently aware that some of the INEC officials were waiting for him in the frontage of his locked office at the Senate Wing of the complex, the lawmaker refused to go to his office after plenary.

    Melaye, who participated actively in the day’s proceedings, left the National Assembly complex without getting to his office as is the tradition with every lawmaker.

    Flustered by the senator’s antics, the electoral officials dumped the documents on the recall at the entrance of his office in the National Assembly.

    The documents were dumped around 11:00am.

    The INEC officials left the National Assembly complex at about 1.14pm disappointed.

    One after the other, they filed into a waiting Toyota Hiace bus that brought them.

    The controversial senator has been in a running battle with the INEC over plans by his constituents to recall him for alleged poor representation.

    He decided to buy time by approaching the courts to stop the process and succeeded in pushing the process for over the 90-day timeframe prescribed by the constitution.

    Melaye had, at a press briefing on Monday, washed his hands off the recall process, saying that the 90-day span prescribed by the Constitution had elapsed.

    However, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba in a later ruling, had ordered the INEC to start the process afresh by serving the relevant documents on the senator.

    At the last court appearance, INEC’s lawyers had sought to serve the senator through substituted service, but Justice Dimgba directed them to make another attempt at serving Melaye and that they should report back to court should the attempt fail.

     

  • Nine candidates jostle for vacant Lagos Assembly seat

    Nine candidates jostle for vacant Lagos Assembly seat

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has said that nine candidates will contest for the vacant Eti-Osa Constituency I seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly bye-election.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seat became vacant following the death of Mr Kazeem Alimi who represented the constituency in the Assembly.

    Alimi died on July 18 at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital during an illness, and was buried on July 19, two weeks after his 50th birthday celebration.

    The lawmaker, who represented Eti-Osa Constituency I, was until his demise, the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Community Affairs.

    The spokesman for INEC in Lagos State, Mr Femi Akinbiyi, told NAN on Friday that nine political parties would be jostling for the seat in the bye-election slated for Sept. 30.

    Akinbiyi noted that the constituency had only six registration areas (Wards), saying that the name of the candidates had been published at the INEC office in the constituency.

    “Nine candidates will be vying for the position, and their names have been published at our office in the area.

    On preparations for the poll, Akinbiyi said: “As part of our preparations, the commission has concluded training of supervisory presiding officers who will in turn train other ad-hoc staff.

    “The training of ad-hoc staff will hold from Sept. 21 to Sept. 23 to deliver the commission’s mandate,” he said.

    According to him, the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security has met and given assurance of security during the poll.

    Akinbiyi said that the commission had received most of the non-sensitive materials for the election.

    He said that INEC would ensure free, fair and credible poll.

    According to him, the new Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Sam Olumekun, has urged eligible voters to come out en mass to vote for the candidate of their choice.

    “We don’t want apathy; every eligible voter should participate. All issues pertaining to security has been taken care of, and we promise a level playing ground for all contestants.

    “We want everyone to play according to the rules. I expect a non-violent bye-election, ” Akinbiyi quoted REC as saying.

    NAN reports that the six registration areas in the affected constituency include Victoria Island II, Ilasan Housing Estate/Moriyegun 5 and Lekki/Ikate.

    The others are Ilado/Eti-Osa, Aja/Sangotedo and Ado/Langbasa/Badore.

  • INEC commences CVR in Madagali LGA

    INEC commences CVR in Madagali LGA

    Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has commenced Continuous Voters Registration ( CVR ) in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa, Alhaji Kasim Gaidam, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) said.

    Gaidam told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola on Tuesday that the exercise was initially stopped following Boko Haram attacks on villages in the area.

    He said the registration followed intensive stakeholders’ meeting between security agencies, government officials and elders from the area.

    He added that “finally, INEC has fixed Wednesday, Sept. 20, to start Continuous Voters Registration in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa.

    “The exercise was halted due to insecurity challenges.

    “However, security situation has improved now and following stakeholders meeting, CVR can now start.”

    He announced that a total of 86,631 eligible voters had earlier been registered across the state.

    He said there were about 130,000 unclaimed Permanent Voter Cards in the state and appealed to genuine owners to come forward and claim them.

  • Melaye urges Appeal Court to void judgment on his recall

    Melaye urges Appeal Court to void judgment on his recall

    …Raises eight grounds of appeal

     

    Senator Dino Melaye (All Progressives Congress, Kogi West) has urged the Court of Appeal in Abuja to set aside the judgement, allowing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to proceed with the process to recall him.

    His request is contained in a notice of appeal filed Wednesday by his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN).

    Melaye faulted the decision by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, dismissing his fundamental rights enforcement suit and giving INEC the nod to proceed with Melaye’s recall process

    In his first ground of appeal, Melaye contended that the trial judge erred in law by holding that the petition presented to INEC for his recall was valid, even when the petition exhibited by INEC was not signed by more than half of the registered voters in the plaintiff’s appellant’s constituency as is required by section 69 of the 1999 Constitution.

    Melaye argued that the petition presented to INEC “by the purported constituents and exhibited before the court as Exhibit lNEC 1, was only signed by three persons, which number is less than the half of the registered voters” in the  constituency “as provided for by section 69 of the Constitution”.

    He said “a mere statistical analysis and general summary for the recall of Senator Dino Melaye (Exhibit DM13) done by INEC  itself”  and wholly relied upon by the trial court  “to hold that the petition was valid, can neither replace nor take place of the petition itself, which was tendered by INEC as exhibit”.

    Melaye also argued that the trial judge was in error when he held that the counting of the 90 days provided for by section 69 of the Constitution was halted in June 23, 2017, when theplaintiff/appellant commenced this action and subsequently ordered that the period would continue to run from September 11, 2017, the date of the judgment of the trial court” was delivered.

    He said contrary to the judge’s finding, “the time fixed by the Constitution for the doing of an act cannot be extended or expanded or elongated or in any way enlarged regarding what is to be done where not done within the time so fixed”.

    Melaye said such time fixed by the Constitution, “lapses since the court has no jurisdiction to extend the time fixed by the Constitution for the doing of an act”.

    He also argued in another ground of appeal that Justice Dimgba was wrong “by failing to consider the notice to produce issued on INEC to produce the petition for the recall of the plaintiff/ appellant and not invoking the provisions of section 167(d) of the Evidence Act, in the face of failure of the INEC to produce the purported petition allegedly signed by the plaintiff’s/appellant’s constituents despite service of a notice to produce on it”.

    Melaye said instead of doing this, the judge relied “on mere statistical analysis prepared by INEC itself to validate a petition which was invalid on its face.”

    Identifying his perceived errors In the judgment, Melaye stated that INEC, in its counter-affidavit to this originating summons, “exhibited the purported petition for the recall of the plaintiff which was signed by only three persons, a number grossly less than the number as required by the Constitution”.

    He added that he issued and served on INEC a notice to produce the petition for the recall as signed by more than half of the registered voters in the plaintiff’s constituency, “which it failed to do.”

    “Notwithstanding the notice to produce INEC failed, refused and neglected to produce the said petition before the court.

    “The court failed to invoke the provisions of section 167(d) of the Evidence Act to the effect that failure by INEC to produce the said petition meant that such petition, if it were produced, would have been adverse to the interest of lNEC,” he said

    Melaye also argued that the judge erred in law “when he failed to act on uncontroverted facts in the plaintiff’s/appellant’s affidavit in support of his Originating Summons and also his further affidavit in opposition to the defendant’s/respondent’s affidavit in opposition to the plaintiff’s originating summons.”

    Justice Dimgba had while directing INEC to proceed with the signatures verification exercise, also ordered the commission to issue an amended recall timetable giving the senator a minimum of two weeks to equip and be able defend himself against the recall process.

    The judge ordered that the amended timetable, alongside the copies of the petition, the list of signatures and the list of the names of the voters who signed in support of the recall petition, be served on Melaye.

  • Dino Melaye: INEC to announce revised timetable for recall on Monday

    Dino Melaye: INEC to announce revised timetable for recall on Monday

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it will release a revised timetable for the recall of Mr. Dino Melaye, Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial zone.

    This follows Monday Court ruling which gave the commission the nod to continue with process.

    With the legal hurdle removed, Mallam Mohammed Haruna, National Commissioner & Member, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC)  Tuesday in a statement stated that INEC will release the revised timetable on Monday.

    INEC had commenced the recall process of Melaye following a petition by a group from his senatorial zone asking for his recall. But the senator went to Court to halt the process.

    The terse statement reads: “It will be recalled that in obedience to an interlocutory order of the Federal High Court, Abuja given on 6th July, 2017 the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stayed all actions relating to the petition to recall Senator Dino Melaye as the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District.

    “Judgment in the suit was delivered yesterday, 11th September, 2017. All legal hurdles have now been cleared and the recall process can now proceed as envisaged by the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the extant INEC guidelines and regulations.

    “Accordingly, and in compliance with the orders of the Court, the Commission will release a revised timetable and schedule of activities on Monday 18th September 2017.”

     

  • Anambra poll to hold as scheduled, says INEC

    Anambra poll to hold as scheduled, says INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday assured Nigerians that the Nov. 18 governorship election in Anambra would hold as scheduled.

    Chief Adedeji Soyebi, INEC National Commissioner in charge of Oyo, Osun and Ekiti, gave the assurance in Ibadan after declaring open a one –day Implementing Meeting on INEC Weekly Radio Programme.

    He said the threat by a group over the conduct of the election should be seen as a mere security challenge which the security apparatus was taking good care of.

    “We are ahead of time, continuous voter registrations in Anambra have been concluded and in three or four weeks’ time, all the registered voters must have collected their voter cards.

    “We are going to conduct the election by law, so the threat is just a security challenge and I am sure the security apparatus have strategised on how to take good care of it.

    “The election will be one of the best elections they have ever witnessed.

    “So, Anambra people should expect a peaceful, free, fair and credible poll,’’ the INEC commissioner stated

    Earlier, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had enjoined all INEC staff, especially participants, to step up effective voters’ education and publicity to ensure all stakeholders were fully informed about electoral processes and activities.

    Represented by Soyebi at the meeting, Yakubu said that the current national socio-economic challenges have a profound impact on voters’ attitude to electoral activities.

    “Voter disinterest and apathy is pervasive in our electoral terrain, so we are constantly required to encourage and motivate the people to participate.

    “The onus is on us to continuously remind them of the positive effect their participation can have on the polity,’’ the chairman said.

    He said that the commission had received approval for weekly enlightenment programmes on radio stations in all the states and FCT.

    According to him, the radio is recognised as a powerful channel to reach the citizenry.

    He said the meeting was therefore an avenue to discuss modalities for the implementation of the weekly radio programme.

    Yakubu implored the participants to continue to play effective part in sensitising the public to their civic duty of participation in the electoral process through regular education, exposure and positive influences.

    The News Agency of  Nigeria (NAN)  reports that heads of Voter Education Units of INEC across the 36 states of the federation and FCT attended the meeting.

  • Anambra election:  Obaze clinches PDP ticket

    Anambra election:  Obaze clinches PDP ticket

    Mr Oseloka Obaze has clinched the People’s Democratic Party, PDP governorship ticket to fly the party’s flag in the November 18 Anambra governorship election.

    In a landslide victory, he defeated oil mogul, Dr Ifeanyi Ubah, Dr Alex Obiogbulu and Sen Stella Oduah to the ticket of the party.

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state and Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state led the Committee appointed by the National Leadership of the party that conducted the primary election amidst tight security at the Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre in Awka, the state capital.

    Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were also present to monitor the election.

    A total of 958 delegates took place in the one day exercise and at the end Obaze, a former Secretary to the State Government, emerged victorious with  672 votes while Obiogbolu came a distant second with 190 votes.

    Mr Ubah could only garner 94 votes to place third while two votes were declared as invalid.

    There was a mild drama after counting of the votes as Mr Ifeanyi Uba took the microphone and protested the election result claiming that the election was mared by irregularities.

    But Umahi interrupted him and asked him to wait for him to declare the results to make his protest.

    After the declaration of the results, Dr Uba said the delegates list was only given to them two days to the election unlike what other parties got their list four weeks before the primaries.

    This he said made it difficult for the candidates to campaign to the delegates.

    He also noted that he and some of the candidates who withdrew have already instituted a case in the court to challenge the primaries because of the massive irregularities.

    Three other contestants, John Emeka, a former Minister, Hon Linda Ikpeazu representing Onitsha North and South federal constituency and Prof Akaolisa Ufodike had earlier announced their withdrawal from the race.

    Mr Emeka in a press statement cited irregularities in the party’s delegates list for his decision to back out of the race.

    The aspirant who did not state those responsible for the mutilation of the list simply announced his withdrawal from the contest.

    Governor Umahi before the commencement of voting acknowledges receipt of withdrawal by Ikpeazu and Ufodike.

    There have been accusations and counter accusations over the party’s delegates list, with some aspirants complaining of the party’s rank being infiltrated by members of other political parties, with the hope of disrupting the emergence of the party’s choice candidate.

    Accreditation of delegates began at exactly 10am at three designated centres in the state which are Emaus house, J-Jumac Hotel and Alexandria hotel.

    Voting commenced as soon as accreditation was completed a few hours and was concluded at around 4:30pm.

    Thereafter sorting and collation of results began immediately after the votes were cast.

     

  • INEC approves Sept. 30 for Eti-Osa bye-election

    INEC approves Sept. 30 for Eti-Osa bye-election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday said the bye-election to fill the vacant Eti-Osa Constituency I seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly would be held on Sept. 30.

    Mr Sam Olumekun, INEC’s new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lagos State, announced the date at a stakeholders meeting attended by party leaders at the Lagos headquarters of the commission.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bye-election is coming up following the July 18 death of  Mr Kazeem Alimi of the All Progressives Congress, who occupied the seat.

    He succumbed to a brief illness at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, two weeks after celebrating his 50th birthday.

    Dr Mudashiru Mustapha, INEC Administrative Secretary in Lagos State, had on Aug. 11 said Sept. 16 was being considered for the election.

    He had, however, said it was tentative had yet to be approved by the national headquarters of INEC.

    The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), after Mustapha’s disclosure, urged the electoral body to shift the proposed date for the bye-election by two weeks.

    The group appealed to INEC to consider Sept 30, stressing that they just finished a local government election in the state.

    They said this would give the parties more time to be able to sensitise and mobilise their people ahead of the election.

    Olumekun, the new Lagos REC, told the stakeholders at his maiden meeting with them that Sept. 30 had been approved by the INEC national headquarters after considering the recommendations by party leaders.

    “This meeting is an opportunity for me formally introduce myself to stakeholders in the state and discuss the modalities for the forthcoming Eti-Osa I bye-election that has been slated for Sept 30.

    “Time table has been drawn and we have given them out to the parties. The commission will monitor these activities.

    “INEC is taking the management of elections to higher level. Since 2011, we have progressively improved on our performance.

    “We have designed new tools which we are going to work with to conduct a very fair, credible, peaceful and conclusive election,” he said.

    Olumekun urged political parties to conduct their activities peacefully and partner with the commission in the areas of voter registration and education.

    “Voters’ education is very key to the growth of democracy and INEC alone cannot educate and mobilise the citizens to perform their civic responsibilities.

    “We have about 1.4 million Permanent Voter Cards that are yet to be collected. We are appealing to political parties to help mobilise and encourage the people in this regard, and be part of the voter registration,” Olumekun said.

    Reading out the timetable for the forthcoming bye-election, Mr Oladosu Balogun, Head of Department, Electoral Operations, INEC-Lagos, said the conduct of primaries by political parties was from Aug. 26 to Sept. 5.

    “Forms should be collected from Abuja and the last day for submission of Forms CF001, CF002 and nomination form at INEC headquarters in Abuja is Sept. 7, while the last day for the publication of list of nominated candidates will be Sept. 14.

    “Sept. 23 is for the submission of names and addresses of party agents to electoral officers. Campaigns have started and the last day for campaigns is on Sept.28. Election will then take place on Sept. 30,” Balogun said.

    Reacting, Mr Charles Odugbesi, a representative of the Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), suggested that the collection and submission of forms should be done in Lagos and not Abuja to save cost and time.

    Also Mr Shola Omolola, Lagos State Chairman, Action Alliance (AA) said that the timing for the primaries was short and appealed for an extension of the date to allow political parties conduct their primaries adequately.

    Mr Kola Ajayi, State Chairman, IPAC, urged the commission to make the form available online.

  • Anambra 2017: 450 delegates for HDP primary

    Anambra 2017: 450 delegates for HDP primary

    No fewer than 450 delegates from the 326 wards in Anambra will participate in the governorship primary election of Hope Democratic Party (HDP) scheduled for Sept. 30.

    The Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Sam Oraegbunam, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.

    Oraegbunam, who is also seeking the party’s nomination to fly its flag in the Nov. 18 election, said logistics had been put in place for a hitch-free primary.

    He said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies, including the Police, had been duly informed of the exercise.

    The chairman said that the congresses conducted by the party at the wards were transparent, and that only delegates elected from the congresses would participate in the primary election.

    “We have informed the relevant agencies to come and observe what HDP is going to do on Wednesday; it is going to be one of the best primary elections in recent time.

    “Our party is ready; the delegates know themselves, so there will not be issues unless people from outside want to cause trouble, and that is why the security agencies will be there and I am sure they will be very professional,” he said.

    Oraegbunam maintained that HDP had grassroots support, saying that winner from the party’s primary had great chance of winning the governorship election.

  • APC appeals to INEC to conduct credible by-election in Gombe

    APC appeals to INEC to conduct credible by-election in Gombe

    All Progressives Congress (APC) Gombe State Chapter, has appealed to the Independent National Electoral  Commission (INEC) to conduct free, fair and credible by-election in Dukku North Constituency.

    The election is billed for Aug. 19

    The interim chairman of the party in the state, Alhaji Idi Gubana, made the appeal on Friday in Gombe while speaking with newsmen.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seat became vacant due to the death of Gambo Kabade of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who died in June 2017.

    “We are asking INEC to conduct free, fair and credible election.

    “The security agencies should ensure nobody snatch ballot box and every eligible voter should be allowed to vote for the candidate of his choice” Gubana said.

    The chairman said the party is prepared for and confident its candidate would win the election as Dukku North is APC catchment area.

    He said that members of the party   appreciated the security arrangements put in place for the election and urged the security agencies to maintan them on Election Day.

    “So far we appreciated the security arrangement made by the Commissioner of Police and the sister security agencies.

    “We were told that each polling unit will have not less than five security personnel.

    “We hope that security operatives posted to polling the units will ensure that the election is conducted credibly and nobody should be denied to cast his or her votes,” he said.

    Gubana called on supporters of the party to come out and vote for the party’s candidate and be peaceful before, during and after the election.