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Tag: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

  • CVR: INEC registers 1.8m new voters, distributes 65,000 PVCs

    CVR: INEC registers 1.8m new voters, distributes 65,000 PVCs

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it had registered no fewer than 1.8 million voters nationwide since the nationwide Continuous Voter registration began on April 27.

    The commission revealed this in its summary timetable on the exercise released on Thursday in Abuja.

    It disclosed that 1,810,153 voters had so far been registered across the country, and that 65,001 Permanent Voter cards (PVCs) had been collected during the period.

    It also stated that 76, 256 requests of transfer of voting units were recorded, while 155, 471 requests for replacement of defaced PVCs were received nationwide.

    A breakdown of the table showed that Lagos has the highest number of new registered voters with 109,040, follow by Rivers with 103,919 and Anambra with 80,439.

    The Federal Capital Territory and Gombe State recorded the least number of registrants with 14, 957 and 17,720.

    On the PVC collection, it revealed that Lagos also topped with 9,982, Kogi, 8,239; Ebonyi, 3,863; Zamfara and Taraba had 22 and 53 PVCs.

    A breakdown of the 76,256 transfer requests also revealed that Anambra led with 7,060 requests; Osun, 6,861; Lagos, 5,817 and Ekiti, 5,471 requests.

    Zamfara had 134 requests for transfer and Yobe, 136 requests, both recording the lowest.

    The table also revealed that Rivers topped the states with number of defaced PVCs with 14,176; Lagos, 13,428 followed by Kaduna state with 10, 182.

    Bayelsa had the least report of defaced PVCs with 86, followed by Zamfara with 378 and Niger, 1,247.

    Meanwhile, the Chief Press secretary to INEC chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, has disclosed that the commission would on Friday, swear in new eight Resident Electoral Commissioners recently cleared by the National Assembly.

  • INEC seeks media support toward free, fair elections

    INEC seeks media support toward free, fair elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Wednesday in Jos that media support was “very crucial” to its quest for free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.

    Mallam Husaini Pai, its Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Plateau, while on a courtesy visit to the Jos Zonal office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), solicited closer ties with newsmen because media reports determine how elections were viewed.

    “What the media say is what determines the success and acceptance of elections; ultimately, that also determines whether the polls will be peaceful or not,” he said.

    Pai said that the visit was to seek areas of collaboration and support from NAN in view of its wide reach and “fanatical commitment to fair journalism”.

    He said that the media was a critical stakeholder that no one could afford to ignore, and expressed INEC’s readiness to support newsmen to effectively participate in election matters.

    “Clearly, we cannot achieve results without the media. The media may not need INEC, but INEC needs the media so as to enable her conduct a free, fair, credible and peaceful elections,” he said.

    Pai, however, urged journalists to be professional, accurate and observe the ethics of the profession at all times.

    “When you report accurately, you are also exercising your civic responsibility towards nation building,” he said.

    Responding, the Zonal Manager, Mr Ephraim Sheyin, described the visit as “surprising, but very useful”.

    Sheyin assured the INEC commissioner that the agency would be consistent in the coverage of its activities in Plateau.

    “Our doors are always open to you; we want yours to remain equally open to minimise mutual distrust,” he said.

  • FCT residents laud INEC for 16 additional CVR centres

    FCT residents laud INEC for 16 additional CVR centres

    Residents of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for creating additional 16  centres for ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the territory.

    The residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the new centres would ease the suffering people were experiencing going to the only centre at Karu for the exercise, saying it was a welcomed gesture.

    According to Mr Sunday Musa, a teacher, before now the CVR centres were difficult to access; I live in Gwarinpa but had to come all the way to Karu to register. It is not easy going there due to traffic.

    “I am glad that 16 additional centres were added to the FCT; it will at least, ease the process.

    “With these new centres, I am sure that so many people will be interested in the exercise because the process has been made easy,” Musa said.

    Mr Maryam Idris, a trader, said that it took her three days of going to the centre in Karu before she succeeded in registering.

    Idris said that the long wait on the queue deterred many people from registering, adding that the additional centres would solve the problem of queuing for long periods to register.

    She commended INEC for the CVR, adding that it the process was smooth because there was no correction to be made on her details.

    A civil servant, Mr Hakeem Suleiman, told NAN that he could not register during the first quarter exercise in spite of being at the centre five times.

    He attributed the problem to long queues occasioned by existence of only one centre, saying “that was how I could not register till the first phase ended, but I am glad for the additional centres.

    “This means that I can freely walk in and register and leave without the stress of standing under the sun for hours.

    “INEC kept to its promise of adding centres for the exercise and I am glad to be benefiting from it.”

    A student, Mr Jonah Lekwot, who was at the venue to correct his registration details, said that he was glad there was an opening to do that.

    This, he said, was possible because people had the opportunity of correcting mistakes made during registration.

    Earlier, Mrs Ndidi Okafor, Head, Voter Education and Publicity, Gender and Civil Society Liaison, INEC, FCT, said that the new registration centres had increased the number to 22 in the territory.

    Okafor explained that the new centres were created in response to demand by residents in the area “to ease the harsh experiences they encounter in trying to get to the area councils, especially the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC)’’.

    She urged residents to collect their permanent voter cards and to check for correctness of their data and other issues for claims and objections.

  • NIDO urges INEC to extend voting right to Nigerians in diaspora

    NIDO urges INEC to extend voting right to Nigerians in diaspora

    The world body of the Nigerians Living in the Diaspora (NIDO), has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the voting right to Nigerians living in the Diaspora through Out of Country Voting system (OCV).

    INEC Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, noted that the call was made during NIDO delegation visit to INEC.

    Osaze-Uzzi quoted the leader of the team and Chairman, NIDO Asia, Prof. Emenike Ejiogu, as saying they were at INEC to seek inclusion of people in the diaspora in the country’s voting system.

    Ejiogu appealed to the Commission to consider taking the ballot box beyond the shores of Nigeria, to enable persons living in the Diaspora enjoy the right to vote.

    He noted that the number of Nigerians Living in the Diaspora was significant to the Nigeria’s voting and electoral process.

    Ejiogu, said that the body could actively engage the National Assembly to influence the needed dialogue on diaspora voting.

    It noted that the body representatives were drawn from the leadership of NIDO from Europe, Asia, Africa and America.

    The acting Chairman of INEC and National Commissioner, Mr Adedeji Soyebi said INEC has been studying the matter of out of the country voting with keen interest.

    Soyebi said it was rather unfortunate that the current legislation did not permit out of the country voting in Nigeria.

    He said it was the wish of the Commission to ensure every interested person wishing to vote was given the opportunity..

    He said that in spite of the wish “there is hardly anything the Commission could do” unless some amendments to the electoral law were made.

  • INEC Directors adopt draft framework on Persons Living With Disabilities

    INEC Directors adopt draft framework on Persons Living With Disabilities

    The Directors of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have adopted a draft Framework on Access and Participation of Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs) ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    This was disclosed in a statement issued by INEC Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Osaze-Uzzi said that the adoption was made at a workshop organised by the commission to review and adopt a ‘Framework on Access and Participation of PLWDs’ in Keffi, Nassarawa State, ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    He quoted Prince Adedeji Soyebi, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, while appraising the document before its adoption, as saying that the document was good enough right from the initial stage.

    Soyebi said that INEC was committed to promoting the participation of all social groups in the electoral process.

    He added that the document would be presented to other critical stakeholders for further scrutiny before its final adoption.

    Osaze-Uzzi also quoted Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, INEC National Commissioner, while declaring open the workshop as restating the commission’s commitment toward mainstreaming the PLWDs in electoral process.

    Ogunmola said:“the Commission aims to ensure that disability issues are mainstreamed into electoral matters.

    “This is against the backdrop of the fact that the 2011 World Health Organisation’s report on disability estimated that 15 per cent of the world’s population has one disability or the other, and 80 per cent with disabilities live in the global south.’’

    Ogunmola also cited the statistics of PLWDs in Nigeria which he said stood at well over 25 million men, women and children, of various age groups.

    Speaking on the experience of INEC at the development of a durable and acceptable PLWDs Framework, Ogunmola said time, knowledge, expertise and consultation were necessary.

    He said that the “the first input to the draft came up based on consultation with PWDs groups”.

    He added that nationwide consultations had taken place with principal external stakeholders in which an acceptable template was developed.

    Ogunmola further said the content and direction of INEC PLWD Framework was guided by the national and international instruments on PLWDs issues.

    These, according to him, include the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (1948); International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1956).

    He also listed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) among other things; as well as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

  • INEC registers 69,000 eligible voters in Bayelsa

    INEC registers 69,000 eligible voters in Bayelsa

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday said it had registered about 69,000 eligible voters during the ongoing continuous voters registration in Bayelsa.

    Mr Clement Oha, INEC Administrative Secretary in Bayelsa, told newsmen in Yenagoa that the commission had also handled 1,057 cases of transferred registration in the state as at July 20.

    “In Southern-Ijaw, being the largest local government area in the state, we recorded the highest registration of 14, 110 eligible voters, with the least number of 2,724 recorded in Brass.

    “The first phase of the exercise was smooth and successful in the 8 local government areas of the state,’’ said the INEC official.

    Oha said that the commission was able to overcome logistics and equipment challenges which made it possible to register people in the riverine communities of the state.

    “We know the terrain already; at the flag-off of the exercise in April, we started with nine registration centres, but at the later stage, we got additional 10 centres, making it 19.

    “Preparation has started for the commencement of the second phase on July 31 and as I am talking to you, some of our staff are in the ICT centre for consolidation,’’ Oha said.

    The INEC boss appealed to eligible voters to register during the continuous voters registration exercise to enable them vote during future elections.

  • Melaye’s recall: INEC asks court to set aside interim order

    Melaye’s recall: INEC asks court to set aside interim order

    …Seeks prompt hearing of suit by Senator

     

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has prayed a Federal High Court in Abuja to set aside its July 6 order directing parties in a suit by Dino Melaye, a Senator from Kogi State, to maintain status quo pending the determination of the plaintiff’s motion on notice.

    INEC has also urged the court to discard Melaye’s motion on notice for interlocutory injunction and proceed to promptly determine the substantive case on the grounds that time was of the essence, as it (INEC) has 90 days under Section 69 of the Constitution, within which to conduct a referendum for Melaye’s recall having received a petition from the Senator’s district to that effect.

    It argued that it does no one any good for the court to waste its precious time considering Melaye’s motion on notice for interlocutory injunction when it could safely proceed to hear and determine Melaye’s main case filed on June 23, 2017.

    INEC’s said these in three separate documents it filed on July 14, which were brought to the court’s attention Thursday.

    The documents include a summons for accelerated hearing of the case marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/567/2017; motion on notice for and order setting aside the order made on June 6 and defendant’s counter-affidavit against plaintiff’s originating summons filed on June 23, 2017.

    INEC said the order made in its absence has served the sole purpose of preventing it from performing its constitutional responsibilities. It said it had planned to make public its report of the verification on August 19.

    It noted, “in a supporting affidavit, that the court, having made the order directing all parties to “maintain the status quo as it stands today 6th July 2017 pending the hearing of the plaintiff’s motion on notice,” the court adjourned to September 29 for hearing.

    INEC accused Melaye of misrepresenting facts and suppressing material facts in allegedly misleading the court to grant the ex-parte order.

    It added: “Since the ex-parte interim order of injunction to maintain status quo was served on the defendant/applicant (INEC) on 10th July 2017, the order has hindered the defendant from further action on the recall process notwithstanding the fact that time is of the essence in carrying out its duties.

    INEC argued that under Section 69 of the Constitution, it has the duty to process the petition against Melaye and conduct a referendum with 90 day, a duty it believed the court cannot stop under any guise.

    “The defendant has 90 days from June 21, 2017 (when it received the petition for Melaye’s recall) to conduct referendum in line with the approved time table and schedule of activities for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi Wets Senatorial District of Kogi State (Melaye) and the period of 90 days will lapse on September 18, 2017.

    “The last day for submission of application by interested observers, last day for submission of names of verification agents for the member sought to be recalled, stakeholders meeting, conduct of verification and declaration of the outcome of verification have been slated to hold on July 31, August 10, 15 and 19.”

    Attacking the competence of Melaye’s suit, INEC noted that it was merely predicated on questions bordering on the propriety or otherwise of the petition for his recall by registered voters in his senatorial district.

    It added: “The plaintiff has no legal right in the matter of the petition to seek for any order of this court to restrain the defendant from performing its duties. The plaintiff will not be prejudiced if the reliefs sought for in the originating summons is refused and dismissed as the balance of convenience is not in favour of the plaintiff.

    Thursday, INEC’s lawyer, Suleiman Ibrahim informed the court about the three documents filed by his client. Lawyer to Melaye, Nkem Okoro confirmed that he has been served with the documents.

    Okoro said the documents were served on him on Tuesday and that he was entitled to seven days under the court’s rules to respond to the three motions.

    Trial judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba agreed with Okoro and adjourned to July 27 for hearing.

     

  • Senate confirms eight RECs

    Senate confirms eight RECs

    …Rejects one nominee as three others suffer temporary set back

     

    The Senate Thursday turned down the nomination of Professor Mustapha Zubairu for confirmation for appointment as Resident Electoral Commissioner.

    The confirmation of three other nominees, Ambassador Rufus Olofuntoyin Akeju (Lagos State), Dr. Mahmuda Isah (Kebbi State) and Ahmed Mustapha Zubairu (Zamfara State) was stepped down for further legislative work.

    The nomination of eight others, including Dr. (Mrs) Asmau Sani Maikudi (Katsina) (new appointment);, Sam Olugbadebo (Ondo)(reappointment); Professor Riskuwa A.Shehu (Sokoto) (new appointment); Barrister Kasim Gana Geidam (Yobe)(reappointment); Jibrin Ibrahim Zarewa (Kano)(reappointment); Abdulganiyu Olayinka Raji (Oyo)(new appointment); Professor Samuel G. Egwu (Kogi) new appointment and Barrister Mike A. Igini (Delta) “reappointment) were confirmed.

    The Senate rejected the nomination of Zubairu (Niger State) because he hails from the same area with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Federal Commissioners, Mohammed Haruna.

    For Ambassador Akeju, Senator Biodun Olujimi drew the attention of the Senate to unfavourable court pronouncement on the Lagos State nominee.

    Ambassador Akeju was cleared by the Senate Committee on INEC that screened the nominees.

    Senator Solomon Adeola (Lagos West) put up strong argument to sway the Senate to confirm Akeju.

    Adeola told his colleagues that the nomination of Akeju was not a fresh appointment but a reappointment.

    He noted that it was on record that Akeju served the country creditably during his first appointment and should therefore be confirmed as nominated.

    Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan also prayed the Senate to confirm the nominees.

    The nomination of Akeju, he said, is a clear case of reappointment.

    Senator Peter Nwaoboshi on his part noted that even though he agreed that the nominees should be confirmed, the Senate should not ignore court pronouncement of a nominee.

    Nwaoboshi said, “There is a judicial pronouncement on the candidate, we should not ignore it. Let us look at the court ruling, if the court said the candidate cannot hold the office, we cannot ignore it.”

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, said that it would be wrong for the Senate to sit in the chamber as an Appeal Court over the ruling of a high court.

    When Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki put it the matter to vote, the confirmation of Akeju was defeated.

    For Isah and Mahmud, their confirmation was stepped down for further legislative consultations.

    Meanwhile Saraki has explained that reports that the Senate has softened its position on the confirmation of presidential nominees are not particularly correct.

    Saraki’s explanation followed a Point of Order by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) that the actual position of the Senate on confirmation of nominees.

    Abaribe noted that if the Senate has actually soft pedaled on confirmation of nominees as widely reported the pending confirmation of Abia State nominee for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) should be carried.

    The Senate President who quoted Sections 153(f) of 1999 Constitution (as amended) said that the Senate resolved to foreclose all confirmation requests.

    He noted that there were confirmation requests specifically listed by the Constitution to do.

    Saraki said that the confirmation of ministerial nominees, ambassadorial nominees, confirmation of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman, RECs of INEC, were clearly stated in the Constitution for the Senate to carry out.

    He said that resolution to suspend confirmation requests was specifically targeted at requests created by Acts of parliament because there were issues to resolve.

     

  • Appeal Court dismisses Akeredolu’s appeal

    Appeal Court dismisses Akeredolu’s appeal

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    Akeredolu had, by the appeal, challenged an order by a Federal High Court in Abuja, granting permission to Olusegun Abraham to serve Akeredolu through substituted means, court documents in relation to the suit he (Abraham) filed.

    Abraham’s suit is challenging the outcome of the primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which produced Akeredolu as the party’s candidate for the last governorship election in Ondo State.

    The Court of Appeal, in a unanimous judgment yesterday, upheld the ruling of the Federal High Court, grabting leave to Abraham to serve Akeredolu thorugh substituted means.

    Justive Abdu Aboki, in the lead judgment, said the lower court was right in ordering substituted service on Akeredolu through the headquarter of the APC.

    He also considered as proper service the decision of the court to allow Abraham serve the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through its headquarters in Abuja.

    Akeredolu’s appeal was against the ruling by the Federal High Court delivered on December 16, 2016 granting leave to Abraham to effect service through substituted means on the defendants.
    Reacting to the judgment yesterday, Abraham’s lawyer, Johnson Usman expressed delight over the court’s decision.

    He said the verdict of the court will afford his client the opportunity to expose the irregularities in the APC primary election.

    Usman said the coast is now clear for his client to prove, through his case, that  the September 3, 2016 primary election of the APC that produced Akeredolu as the party’s candidate was marred with irregularities.

    Lawyer to Akeredolu, Oluseyi Adetanmi said he will consult with his client before deciding on what further steps to take.

    Proceedings in the substantive case before the Federal High Court, Abuja has been adjourned indefinitely to await the outcome of Akeredolu’s appeal.

    Abraham, who was the first runner up in the primary election, is praying the court for among others, an order nullifying Akeredolu’s election

  • Melaye’s recall: Only legitimate court order can stop process – INEC

    Melaye’s recall: Only legitimate court order can stop process – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday said only a legitimate court order could stop process for the recall of Sen. Dino Melaye as demanded by his Kogi West constituents.

    Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of the commission, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said that filing a lawsuit was not enough to stop the recall process.

    INEC had on Monday released the schedule of activities for the recall of Melaye, the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the Senate, with Aug. 19 fixed for verification of signatures of petitioners demanding his recall.

    But, various suits have been instituted in courts to stop to stop the process.

    The cases include those by Melaye and Concerned Kogi Registered Voters, filed separately at a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order to halt INEC from conducting the verification of signatures and the recall.

    Oyekanmi said that the actions of the commission were being guided by the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

    “The constituents came with sacks of documents which they said were `the signatures’ of more than half of the voting population of Kogi West Senatorial District, which Melaye represents.

    “They also presented a register of the said signatories and a letter, asking INEC to begin the process of recalling the senator representing that particular district.

    “Subsequently, the commission, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Sections 116 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), on Monday issued a timetable and schedule of activities for the recall of the senator.

    “The first stage is a verification exercise slated for July 10, 2017.

    “To that extent, filing a lawsuit is not enough to stop INEC from carrying out its legitimate duty.

    “Only a legitimate court order or an injunction can be considered by the commission,’’ he said.

    On claims by Melaye that some of the signatures submitted to INEC were forged and that names of dead registered voters were also included, Oyekanmi said that the process of verification would clear all that.

    On method INEC would adopt in verifying thumbprints of registered illiterate voters who are part of the signatories for the recall, he said that it would be handled.

    “The commission will adopt its normal way of conducting the verification exercise, which will be applicable to both the literate and not-so-literate.’’

    He said that the commission would apply its standards in a situation where people believed to have signed the recall letter, failed to show up for signature verification.

    “If the verification fails to meet the established standards, the commission will not proceed to the next stage. The recall process automatically terminates there,’’ he stated.