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Tag: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

  • Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo since 2015

    Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo since 2015

    Oluyemi Oluleke ‘Yemi Osinbajo (born 8 March 1957) is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who is the current Vice President of Nigeria. He assumed office on 29 May 2015. He is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Professor of Law and until his inauguration as Vice President, a Senior Partner with SimmonsCooper Partners, a commercial law practice.

    Yemi Osinbajo was born into the family of Opeoluwa Osinbajo on 8 March 1957 at Creek Hospital in Lagos. Osinbajo is married to Dolapo (née Soyode) Osinbajo, a granddaughter of Obafemi Awolowo. They have three children together.

    Osinbajo

    After the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013, Prof Osinbajo was tasked, with other notable Nigerians, to design and produce a manifesto for the new political party. This culminated in the presentation of the “Roadmap to a New Nigeria”, a document published by APC as its manifesto if elected to power.

    The highlights of the Roadmap included a free schools meal plan, a conditional cash transfer to the 25 million poorest Nigerians if they enrol children in school and immunise them. There were also a number of programs designed to create economic opportunities for Nigeria’s massive youth population.

    On 17 December 2014 the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari, announced Osinbajo as his running mate and vice-presidential candidate for the 2015 general elections.

    On 31 March 2015 Buhari was confirmed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the presidential elections. Thus Osinbajo became the Vice President-elect of Nigeria. They were both sworn in on 29 May 2015.

    Official Twitter Handle: @ProfOsinbajo

  • FCT Minister tasks Presidential Electoral Reform Committee on use of ICT

    The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, has called on the Presidential Committee on Constitution and Electoral Reform (PCCER),  has called on the Presidential Committee on Constitution and Electoral Reform (PCCER), to strengthen the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in future elections.

    Bello made the call when he received members of the PCCER led by its Chairman, Sen. Ken Nnamani, on Thursday in Abuja.
    According to him, the credibility of the 2015 general election has enhanced the image of Nigeria to the outside World; therefore, it should be improved upon.
    “The election was largely made credible, because of the use of biometrics and card readers by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
    “I am urging the committee to look into strengthening the use of ICT in all subsequent elections in order to sustain the achievements.
    “The use of card readers in elections in Nigeria is a revolution that should be sustained, as it would go a long way in reducing the number of litigation after elections,’’ he said.
    According to him, Nigeria is ripe and Nigerians are now well-educated and enlightened in the use of ICT in elections.
    “This is considering how the populace made use of mobile telephone in addition to internet data mostly for news media (social media),’’ he said.
    The minister assured members that the FCT Administration will support the committee in its work to ensure that subsequent electoral processes were fair and credible.
    Bello lauded the contributions of Sen. Ken Nnamani to the country when he was the Senate President, saying that history will remember him for his role in ensuring the sustenance of democracy.
    Speaking earlier, the PCCER Chairman, Nnamani commended the minister for his effort in completing abandoned projects across the 8,000 square kilometres of the Federal Capital Territory.
    He said that the committee was in the FCT to hold a national public hearing to collate more information from the residents before turning out an all-inclusive report to the government.
    “In addition to this, the committee will also bring up relevant bills for enactment by the National Assembly,’’ he said

  • 2019: Senate approves electronic voting, legalises card reader

    2019: Senate approves electronic voting, legalises card reader

    The Senate on Thursday approved electronic voting in the 2019 general elections and other future elections.

    It also empowered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deploy the card reader device for voter accreditation.

    The Senate also addressed confusion that could from sudden death of candidate of a political party before conclusion of election.

    Political party of such a dead candidate is mandated to conduct fresh primary election to elect a new candidate within 14 days, while the INEC is given 21 days to conclude the election with the transfer of votes of the deceased candidate to the new one.

    Among the sweeping provisions contained in the 2017 Electoral Act passed into law by the Senate included Section 52 (2), which states that, “The electoral commission shall adopt electronic voting in all elections or any other method of voting as may be determined by the commission from time to time”

    The said section however gives the INEC the discretion to use other methods of voting if it is impracticable to use electronic voting in any given election.

    Recommended along with the electronic voting proposal, as contained in the Act, is the card reader innovation used by INEC in the 2015 general election.

    The device was legalised by the Act under Section 49 which deals with accreditation of voters, transmission of accreditation data etc.

    Specifically the Act under section 49 (2) states that, “The Presiding officer shall use a smart card reader or any other technological device that may be prescribed by the commission from time to time for the accreditation of voters, to verify, confirm or authenticate the genuineness or otherwise of the voter’s card”.

    The amendment also took care of the scenario that played out in the November 2015 governorship election in Kogi State where the death of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the late Abubakar Audu created crisis within the party.

    Section 36 (a) (b) (c) addressed such unforeseen circumstances typical of the confusion that ensued after Audu’s death and the recrimination that greeted the merge cells of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as his replacement in the Kogi election.

    The Section states in (3) that “If after the commencement of poll and before the announcement of the final result and declaration of a winner, a nominated candidate dies, (a) the Commission shall, being satisfied of the fact of the death, suspend the election for a period not exceeding 21 days;

    It states in (b) that “the political party whose candidate died may, if it intends to continue to participate in the election, conduct a fresh direct primary within 14 days of the death of its candidate and submit a new candidate to the Commission to replace the dead candidate; and

    (c) Subject to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection, the Commission shall continue with the election, announce the final result and declare a winner”.

    Other provisions contained in the Act are section 8 (5) where any staff of INEC found to be registered member of any of the political parties is liable to an offence carrying 5 years jail term or N5, 000,000.00 fine or both.

    Section 87 deals with nominations of candidates by parties for election from councillorship to presidency, with pegging of the amounts that should be collected from them by their various political parties.

    The Act states that monies collected from aspirants by political parties for councillorship election should not exceed  N150, 000.00; Local Government Chairman, N250, 000.00; State House of Assembly member N500, 000.00; House of Representatives member N1,000,000.00; Senatorial aspirant N2, 000,000.00; Governor of a State N5, 000, 000.00; and N10, 000,000.00 from a presidential aspirant.

    Other provisions in the Act gave specific guidelines for political parties in election of delegates for their primary elections whether direct or indirect and jurisdictions of courts over such  primary elections.

    The Act under jurisdiction of courts specifically stated that though courts can entertain cases relating or arising from conduct of party primaries from aggrieved aspirants but cannot stop any of the primary elections from holding.

    The provisions state that, “Notwithstanding the provisions of this Act or rules of a political party , an aspirant who complains that any of the provisions of this Act or rules of a political party has not been complied with in the nomination of a candidate of a political party for election, may apply to the Federal High Court or the High Court of a state or the FCT for redress.

    “However nothing in this session shall empower the courts to stop the holding of ad-hoc delegates elections, primaries or general election or the processes thereof under this Act pending the determination of the suit”.

    The passage of the bill followed the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on a Bill for an Act to amend the Electoral Act No. 6, 2010 and for other related matters (SB 231 and SB 234).

    Commenting after the adoption of the report, President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, thanked his colleagues for what he described as a job well done and expressed optimism that the Bill would further improve the nation’s electoral system and also contribute to good governance.

    Saraki said, “Distinguished colleagues, let me thank all of you for this job well done. I want to particularly thank the members of the Committee on INEC and particularly the former chairman of the Committee, Abubakar Kyari,  Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and all the members of the committee who have worked very hard to ensure the passage of this very important bill which addresses our electoral process and goes on to strengthen our democracy.

    “We have touched on new areas which I believe will improve the credibility of our elections and by so doing, definitely improve our democracy and good governance.

    “Most importantly, I think, are some of the new sections we have added, in the area of technology, the smart card reader, and particularly the area of collation which has been an area of great concern.

    “Collation of results after the polling units and some of the additions we put on the electronic way by which the compilation of results can be done, I think will go a long way to reduce some of the irregularities we have seen before.

    “This is a great work you have been able to put together today and I want to commend everybody. I am also happy that we have passed the amendments very early. My concern has always been that if we don’t do it now, it will get more difficult as we get blown to the 2019 elections.

    “We hope that with this Bill that we have passed, very soon, we will sit together with the House of Representatives to be able to get the copy to the President for assent.

    “I think when signed into law, it will enable INEC to have something to work early enough. I think what we have done today will really put our electoral law among the best that we have and it will go a long way in improving our electoral process”.

     

  • 86 political associations seek registration

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said the number of political associations seeking registration as political parties ahead of the 2019 general elections was currently 86.

    The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this known during the commission’s quarterly meeting with leaders of political parties at INEC headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday.

    Yakubu described political parties as important vehicles in the management of the country’s democracy.

    “The number of applications for registration of new associations as political parties now stands at 86,” he said.

    He congratulated the 10 political parties recently re-registered after being deregistered following their performances during the 2015 general elections.

    The political parties, according to him, are Better Nigeria Peoples Parties (BNPP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Peoples Progressives Party (PPP), Democratic Alternative (DA), National Action Council (NAC) and National Democratic Liberty Party (NDLP).

    Others are Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN), National Conscience Party (NCP), Nigeria Element Progressives Party (NEPP) and the National Unity Party (NUP).

    “The names of these political parties have already been uploaded on our website.

    “But, I will like to appeal to those of them, out of the ten that are yet to open their offices, to do so and immediately notify the commission,” Yakubu said.

    He also congratulated the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on the successful conduct of its election, which he said was useful for the development of the country’s electoral system.

    “I wish to assure you that INEC will continue to partner IPAC.”

    The chairman said that agenda of the quarterly meeting included INEC’s proposed strategic plan for 2017-2021, court judgment on the roles of political parties, violence in the conduct of parties’ primaries and elections generally.

    He also said that internal democracy of political parties, parties’ campaign finances, nationwide continuous voter registration, outstanding Anambra Central senatorial re-run election and presentation on INEC innovations.

    In his remarks, IPAC Chairman, Mohammed Nalado, urged INEC to seek alternatives to deregistration of political parties.

    He also expressed displeasure in INEC for not properly consulting political parties before fixing dates for 2019 general elections.

    Nalado admitted that INEC chairman notified IPAC of the decision, but said that the council did not know whether the information was official or not until it was in the newspapers.

    “We had meeting with INEC chairman, unfortunately we did not understand him whether he was telling us officially or he was just giving us information on how our elections should be done.

    “I hope this issue will be discussed thoroughly here,” Nalado said.

    He affirmed IPAC’s commitment to work with INEC in deepening the country’s democracy.

    Nalado also urged the commission’s new National Commissioners to make their inputs to the development of the electoral system.

    The National Chairman of United Democratic Party (UDP), Mr. Godson Okoye, in an interview with newsmen, said it was disrespect for INEC to fixed date for elections without consulting political parties.

    “We are surprised that dates were fixed for elections that will take place in two years time.

    “I think if that is the official position of INEC, the position of UDP is that it marks some disrespect for political parties from INEC,’’ he said.

     

  • Alleged N360m bribe: INEC officials challenge court’s jurisdiction

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday adjourned till April 7, hearing of an application filed by 23 INEC officials challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the bribery case filed against them.

    The 23 officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), were docked for allegedly receiving N360million from Gov. Nyesom Wike of River during the Dec. 10, 2016 re-rerun election in River.

    They were dragged to court on a seven- count charge bordering on money laundering and economic crimes.
    The defendants are: Shittu Lamido, Henry Owokure, Peter Ewatade, Mrs Mary Pennap, Gwatana Jibril, Ivase Stephen, Abdullahi Ogabo, Gayus Hassan, Hussaina Yahaya and James Oqwuche.
    Others are: Karimu Aminu, Adedokun Ayotunde, Najeem Ayotunde, Balogun Funmilayo,Adams Kadiri, Akinwande Adesoji, Lukeman Olabimpe and Tiamiyu Arowolo.
    The rest are: Akinwoye Amodu, Nwoha Yusuf, Patrick Anuke, Iro Abali, Nwosu Olucchi and Arukwe Chinelo.

    When the matter was called up for mention, Mr A.A Halilu, Assistant Chief State Counsel for the prosecution, told the court that all the defendants were present and they were ready for the matter.

    Mr Ahmed Raji, counsel to the 1st to 20th defendants, however, informed the court of his application which he filed, questioning the territorial jurisdiction of the court in the matter.
    Mr Raji said the offence took place in Port Harcourt, while their arraignment took place in Abuja.

    He also said that the defendants were not resident in Abuja and urged the court to hear the application.
    The other defence counsel, Mr Ukpan Ukaiso and Mr E. A. Nwagwa aligned themselves with the argument of Raji.

    The prosecution said they were aware of the issue of jurisdiction raised and ready to respond.
    Justice John Tsoho adjourned the matter till April 7 to hear the application.

  • Former PDP leader worried over 2019 elections dates

    Former PDP leader worried over 2019 elections dates

    Former National Deputy Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Uche Secondus, said fixing dates for 2019 general elections now was an “unnecessary haste’’ by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The commission had on Wednesday announced Feb. 16, 2019 for Presidential and National Assembly elections and March 2, 2019, for Governorship, State Assembly and Federal Capital Territory Area Councils polls.

    An INEC National Commissioner, Mr Solomon Soyebi, who announced the dates in Abuja, said it was part of efforts by the commission to standardise and ensure certainty of timetable for general elections in the country.

    Soyebi gave instances of countries, including US, Ghana, Mexico, Sweden, Norway and Switzerland where dates for general elections were standard and known calendars.

    Secondus in a statement on Friday in Abuja said that it was shocking for INEC to have released timetable for 2019 general elections when it had more pressing issues to attend to.

    He alleged that INEC announced the dates without consultation with critical stakeholders like political parties and civil society groups whose inputs were always sought before final decisions were taken.

    He described the action as part of the INEC determination to carry out designed agenda of the ruling party on the elections.

    Secondus called for the dissolution of INEC as presently constituted, “with men and women of integrity as a measure to save the country’s democracy’’.

    He said that the commission was currently operating without Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in 33 states.

    “It is curious that an electoral commission that is yet to be properly constituted has before it many unfinished matters, including voter education and enlightenment.

    “As we speak, Anambra gubernatorial election is due later this year and the state has no REC to carry out all the needful as enshrined in the Constitution before the election.

    “Since last year, Nigeria’s Senate had raised alarm over the implication of non-constitution of INEC but while the National Commissioners’ positions are filled, over 30 seats of RECs remain vacant,’’ Secondus said.

    He, however, acknowledged that statutorily, the President had the responsibility to appoint the RECs subject to the confirmation of the Senate in line with Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution as amended. (NAN)

  • INEC caution residents against illegal voters registration

    INEC caution residents against illegal voters registration

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State on Wednesday cautioned residents against illegal registration of voters going on in Ikorodu area of the state.

    Mr Femi Akinbiyi, the Head of Publicity and Protocol of INEC in the state, said in a statement that the commission had not started registration of voters in any part of the state.

    “It has come to the notice of INEC that some unscrupulous elements in the society have been engaging in illegal registration of voters in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State.

    “For avoidance of doubt, the commission in the state has not commenced registration of voters in any part of the state.

    “Appropriate notice will be issued to the general public when the registration commences,” Akinbiyi said.

    He said that law enforcement agencies had been informed of the development with a view to apprehending the criminals behind the illegal act.

    “The general public is kindly requested to furnish the office with information regarding any such illegal registration,” Akinbiyi said.

    He said that the public could also contact security agencies and give useful information such illegality.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident is coming as the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) is urging registered voters who have yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards to do so.

    According to the commission, this will enable them to cast their votes in the forthcoming elections into the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the state.

    Though the commission has yet to announce a specific date for the election this year, it has started holding stakeholders’ forum ahead of the poll.

     

  • Senate lauds enhancement of powers of ECOWAS Parliament

    Senate lauds enhancement of powers of ECOWAS Parliament

    The Senate Wednesday hailed the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for enhancing the powers of the ECOWAS Parliament.

    The upper chamber resolved to congratulate the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government as well as well as the ECOWAS Parliament on the milestone.

    It also pressed for the amendment of the Electoral Act to empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct election to fill Nigerian’s 35 seats at the Community Parliament.

    The resolutions were sequel to a motion sponsored by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu Wednesday.

    Ekweremadu who is also a former Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, recalled that although the Parliament was established in 2000 sequel to the Article 13 of the 1993 Revised Treaty of ECOWAS, and ECOWAS Protocol A/P2/8/94 of 1994, the Parliament had existed only as a mere advisory body.

    He further recalled that while previous efforts to enhance the powers of the Community Parliament had failed, the 3rd Legislature of the Parliament, which he headed as the Speaker, championed a robust advocacy for the actualisation of this project, “including coming up with a Draft Supplementary Act on the Enhancement of the Powers of the Community Parliament to bring the institution to the international best standards”.

    The Deputy Senate President, however, regretted that despite the adoption of the Supplementary Act by the 46th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of the State and Government in Abuja in December 2014, the 47th Ordinary Session of the Authority had failed to sign, to bring it into force in Accra in May 2015, before the expiration of the 3rd Legislature.

    He commended the 4th Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament for continuing with the relentless efforts (take this out :towards) to enhance the powers of the Parliament, and described as a thing of “immense joy” to the peoples of West Africa, the “eventual endorsement of the ECOWAS Supplementary Act A/SA/1/12/16 by the 50th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja in December 2016”.

    On the implications of the enhanced powers of the institution, he said the Supplementary Act now bestows on the Community Parliament enhanced competences, (take out namely) such as involvement in the enactment of all Community Acts, adoption of the Community Budget, and powers of oversight function.

    Ekweremadu called on the Senate to note in particular the provision for the election of Community Parliamentarians by direct adult suffrage by Article 18 of the Supplementary Act provides, a situation, he said, called for the amendment of the Electoral Act of Nigeria to empower the INEC to conduct the election of the Nigeria Country Delegation into the Parliament when that Article comes into effect.

    Summing up the debate on the motion, which was was seconded by the Deputy Leader of the Senate, Senator Ibn N’Allah (Kebbi South), the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, described the enhancement of powers of the Parliament as “historic and very commendable”

    He added: “We want to thank all those that worked towards it, especially our own Deputy President of the Senate and the leadership of the ECOWAS Parliament.

    “This is something we should all be proud of. It is a victory, not only for the legislative democracy, but I think the coming together of the ECOWAS body to a more people-oriented and focused assembly. We charge the regional body to take advantage of this to ensure that they continue to work for the actualisation of regional integration”.

  • Returning officers cannot fix elections – INEC

    Returning officers cannot fix elections – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday said that no returning officer could fix election Nigeria.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers, Mr Ikoiwak Aniedi, said this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) while referring to the APC’s claims that the Saturday supplementary election in Etche was declared inconclusive by the returning officers.

    NAN reports that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers had urged the INEC not to declare the result or it would contradict itself.

    The party claimed that the Etche State Constituency and Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency were formally declared inconclusive by Returning Officers, Prof. Olatunbosun Odusanya and Prof. Omotola respectively at the Okehi.

    According to the party, they (the officers) subsequently announced that the conclusion of the process will take place on Sunday or Monday.

    On this allegation, Ikoiwak said that the officers would not have said such.

    ”If the man (returning officer) had said it, it is a wrong one, he has no right; have you ever heard that a returning officer fixed a day for election?”

    He said that the returning officer had never fixed a day for election, but to announce the result and report to INEC what happened.

    Ikoiwak said there was no way the returning officer could have fixed election when he (the officer) had called the people to come to INEC headquarters by 9 O’Clock on Sunday for election result declaration.

    He urged Nigerians to always try to know the kind of election they are  voting in as all elections are different with different laws guiding them.

    According to him, the law is very clear; a rerun election is quite different from a run-off election or a supplementary.

    ”So, what we did was the right thing by declaring,” Ikoiwak said.

     

  • Edo polls: Obaseki opens defence Thursday as INEC

    Edo polls: Obaseki opens defence Thursday as INEC

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, will on Thursday open his defence at the ongoing hearing of the petition filed by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and the People’s Democratic Party at the Election Petition Tribunal.

    Governor Obaseki will have ten days to call witnesses and prove to the tribunal why Pastor Ize-Iyamu should not be declared winner of the September 28 governorship election.

    This is is just the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday the closed its defense before the Justice Ahmed Badamasi-led three man tribunal without calling any witness.

    It however tendered 203 documents to prove its case.

    The documents tendered by INEC as exhibits before the tribunal included 200 copies of Form EC8(B) for the 18 Local Government Areas, one copy of Form EC8(C) for the 18 LGAs of the state, Form EC8(D) for Edo state and Form EC8(E).

    Counsel to INEC, Onyinye Anumonye, also tendered a document titled “supplementary to the 2015 guidelines and regulations for the conduct of the election”.

    Anumonye informed the tribunal that no witness would be called over what he termed ‘to merely repeat the evidence already elicited under cross examination.’

    According to him, “having carefully and calmly revealed the evidence presented so far, it is our humble position that the first respondent has through the process of cross examination of petitioners witnesses which statement under cross examination support the first respondent case particularly documents tendered as exhibits.

    “The first respondent has sufficiently established its defense to the petition and we therefore consider it as unnecessary waste of the tribunal precious time to call witnesses who would merely come to repeat evidence we have already elicited under cross examination. The first respondent has decided to spare the tribunal that ordeal. What I have been trying to say in a very few words is that this is the case for the first respondent”, he said.

    When Counsel to Obaseki, Ken Mozia SAN, was called upon to open defence for the second respondents, he prayed the tribunal to adjourn till Thursday to enable him organise his witnesses.

    The Tribunal chairman ruled that the defence of the 1st respondent was closed, and adjourned sitting till Thursday for the 2rd respondent to open his defence.