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Tag: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

  • Edo poll: Ize-Iyamu remains PDP candidate – INEC

    Edo poll: Ize-Iyamu remains PDP candidate – INEC

    As the people of Edo states goes to the poll Wednesday to elect a successor to Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) maintained that Ize-Iyamu remains the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the election.

    According to the commission, the candidate forwarded by Senator Ahmed Markafi led faction is the accepted candidate for the party in the postponed Wednesday election.

    Responding to our reporter on the issue, Mr. Nick Dazang, Deputy Director, Media and Publicity said, “the candidate forwarded by the Markafi faction. Ize-Iyamu, that was the one forwarded to us and by the nature of the court order we received, Port Harcourt court order, he is still the candidate.”

    On Ondo state, he said the commission was yet to take any decision as the two factions in the party submitted names for the November election.

    Dazang however said that the commission have till October 27th before deciding who to accept as the party candidate for Ondo poll.

    He said, “We have not taken decision in respect of that yet, the two factions submitted names to us, first was the Markafi faction and followed by the Ali Modu-Sheriff faction. So you know at the stage we are now, it is just part of the submission of the list, so it is until 27th of Octobe, 30 days to the election in November that we will now publish the final list, by which time we now know which candidate is going to contest on the  platform of PDP.”

  • APC accuses PDP of flooding Edo with fake Army, Police, NYSC uniforms

    APC accuses PDP of flooding Edo with fake Army, Police, NYSC uniforms

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), has alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have sowed fake Army, Police and National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), with the plan to compromise the electoral process in the Governorship poll on September 28.

    Briefing newsmen in Benin, on Friday, Mr John Osakue, the Deputy General of the Godwin Obaseki campaign organization, alleged that the fake uniforms are to be used by agents of the PDP to derail the process.

    Osakue also alleged that the opposition party have infiltrated top officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in order to gain direct access to information, logistics and planning for the purpose of rigging the poll.

    He said more worrisome, is the plan to assassinate the candidate of the APC, Godwin Obaseki.

    While describing all these plans as not only heinous, but dastardly, and should be condemned by all peace loving people of the state, he stressed that it is a threat to democracy.

    The Deputy Director General, maintained that the APC and its candidate remained committed not only to a peaceful election, but a free, fair and transparent one.

    “As often as the APC inspires confidence in the political space, so on the other hand, the PDP sows fear and this is threatening to roll back the progress made politically and economically.

    “Edo people fret that politics is being drawn into another downturn and citizens keep guessing the next line of action by the PDP, since they won’t run out of destructive, outdated and unfashionable political ammunition.

    “The time has come for Edo to save their future and they have to fight to secure it. The sheers reckless of the PDP has led the state to this stage of heightened tension.

    “The PDP is not only taking extreme actions, particularly in the most benighted political environments, they have included and deployed risky tools.

    “For us, with room to lead this emancipation, have held back and would not degenerate to their level but we do know that a combined united progressives would pack more of a punch on this full-blown retrogressives to free politics from desperadoes and move Edo state forwards together.

    “In spite of this intimidation by the PDP, we remain poised to win the election.

    “We urge you to be law abiding as you go out enmasse to vote for the APC and Godwin Obaseki,” he stated.

    It would be recalled that the INEC had on September 7, postponed the poll from September 10 to 28, citing security reason.

  • Edo: PDP chieftain, INEC officer remanded for kidnapping

    Edo: PDP chieftain, INEC officer remanded for kidnapping

    A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Nakowa Suleiman and an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Mr. Effong Akpan, have been remanded at the Auchi prison for allegedly abducting two members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) during the recent conduct of Voters Registration Exercise.

    The court was informed that Alhaji Suleiman and Akpan confiscated the registration machine to the residence of Suleiman where the Corps members, Matthew Omaji and Grace Adah were coerced to register people illegally.

    The three-count charge preferred against the suspects reads, “..that on the 25th of June, 2016, at Ofukpo, in the Fugar Magistrate District did abduct one Mathew Omaji and compelled him against his will to carry out unlawful activities and thereby committed an offence contrary to to section 1 And punishable under section 3 (2) of the Edo state kidnapping prohibition law 2009 as amended in 2013.

    “That you compelled Mathew Omaji to carry out unlawful activities and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 and punishable under section 3 (2) of the Edo state kidnapping law 2009 as amended in 2013.

    “That you Effong Akpan on or before 25th June, 2016 at Ofukpo in Fugar Magistrate District did aid and abet Alhaji Nakowa to abduct Mathew Omaji and Grace Adah and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 4 (1) of the Edo state kidnapping (prohibition) law 2009 as amended in 2013.”

    The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges and the presiding Magistrate, Abibor Emmanuel, remanded them to Auchi prison pending when a new date will be fixed to hear the their bail application.

  • Edo poll: PDP’ll resist rigging, manipulation – Senator Ordia 

    Edo poll: PDP’ll resist rigging, manipulation – Senator Ordia 

    Ahead of the September 28, 2016 rescheduled governorship election in Edo State, Senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Clifford Ordia, has called for free and fair polls in the state.
    He warned that any form of rigging or manipulation of the election would not be in the interest of the state.
    Ordia who spoke to reporters in Abuja, noted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was fully prepared to win the governorship election.
    He said that no amount of intimidation will distract the party from winning the election.
    He said: “In my Senatorial District, All Progressives Congress (APC) has no chance. We have put everything in place to checkmate plans by APC to rig. We will resist it. We know that the APC is desperate and they are doing everything to frustrate voters, but it will not work.
    “The APC knew they were going to lose the election and they decided to shift the election. Even if they want to shift it by another one year, PDP will still win. APC has no chance in Edo state. Edo is a PDP state and we will prove that during the election.”
    The lawmaker who urged Edo people to come out en mass and vote for Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, insisted that “no amount of intimidation should deter them from exercising their voting right.”
    Ordia also warned security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to make themselves willing tools in the hands of desperate politicians.
    “I want to also call on INEC and security agencies to maintain neutrality during the election. They should not allow themselves to be used. They must now ensure that voters are not harassed or beaten up.
    “I want to equally caution security agencies not to be used to snatch ballot boxes. I am making this call because we have seen or heard cases in the past where security agencies reportedly connived with INEC officials to deny Nigerians their voting rights.
    “I want to urge President Buhari not to allow Oshiomhole’s personal greed to throw Edo state into chaos. Mr. President must caution INEC not be used to rig the election in favour of APC.
    “The values of one man, one vote, which brought Oshiomhole to power have been abandoned. He is now desperate to impose his candidate on Edo people and we have rejected that. Edo people have rejected Oshiomhole and his candidate.”
  • Edo poll: INEC re-engages stakeholders

    Edo poll: INEC re-engages stakeholders

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be holding another interactive session with stakeholders in Benin on Thursday over the postponement of the Edo governorship election.

    The Deputy Director of Publicity and Voter Education of INEC, Mr Nick Dazang, made the disclosure in Abuja on Wednesday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    Dazang said that the aim of the forum was to address concerns arising from the postponement of the election from Sept. 10 to Sept. 28 based on security advice.

    “The session will also be used to address reactions and assuage the anxieties of stakeholders,’’ he said.

    Dazang said that 1,925,105 registered voters were expected to participate in the election.

    “Total number of registered voters remains the same as issued on Aug. 11 (30 days to the election) as demanded by law.

    “However, distribution of PVCs (Permanent Voter Cards) is on-going as directed by the commission in all states of the federation.

    Asked if the commission was considering reshuffling personnel for the poll, Dazang said he was not aware of that.

    He added that the commission was not aware of any of those recruited and trained for the poll changing interest on participating in the exercise.

    “We do not have any report to that effect. What INEC is doing now is to re-engage with the stakeholders, particularly the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), security agencies and others.

    “We appreciate that there could be such fear by the ad hoc staff. So, what we are doing is to re-engage with the stakeholders.

    “We are re-engaging  to reassure them based on the assurance given to us by security agencies that the same level of security that they assured us is still in place.

    “We will try and allay their fairs and anxiety so that they will feel strengthened to participate; we are working on that.

    “We are also sensitising all stakeholders and that is why we are holding another stakeholders forum in Benin to address whatever concern that they may raise,’’ Dazang said.

    He said that for now INEC had no challenge on getting the required ad hoc staff for the conduct of the election.

    Dazang said that one third of the ad hoc staff engaged were NYSC members, while the remaining two thirds were former corps members and students of tertiary institutions.

    “Be that as it may, we are not taking things for granted; we are going to assure them of their security while on election duty.

    “In fact since the postponement of the election, INEC offices have been under 24 hours surveillance and the same number of the security measures would be provided before the election proper.

    “The security personnel are going to be present at the eve of the election with the ad hoc staff in the all the 192 Registration Area Centres.

    “They are going to secure the ad hoc staff and our election materials,’’ he added.

    Dazang said that the commission would continue to build on its engagement with stakeholders to ensure security and success of the election.

    NAN recalls that INEC had trained 18,511 personnel for the poll, while the police mobilsed 25,000 before the postponement on Sept. 8, two days before the Sept. 10 scheduled date.

  •  APC, PDP trades blame over Okpella crisis

     APC, PDP trades blame over Okpella crisis

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are trading blame over the Okpella crisis.

    The crisis, which almost engulf the entire community before the postponement of the Edo gubernatorial election continued after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced a postponement of the election to September 28th, 2016.

    While APC is sure of claiming 99 % in the Okpella, PDP said the ruling party was trying to intimidate the people as it was becoming obvious that the opposition party was enjoying large support from the community. The supporters of both political parties have engaged in a free for all fight.

    According to the Publicity Secretary of APC Youth Forum in Okpella, Prince Omoh Batureh, trouble began when APC convened a stakeholders meeting immediately the election was postponed to offer explanation on the rational for the postponement of the September 10, election.

    He stated that no sooner had the meeting started that, a PDP mobile campaign rally marched towards the place.

    Batureh claimed that all attempt by the leaders of the APC stakeholder meeting to dissuade the PDP campaign team from being confrontational, fell on deaf ears.

    He further explained that with the Okpella Police overwhelmed by the aggression of the PDP members, the situation degenerated and in the ensuing melee, participants at the APC meeting were attacked, with many severely injured and properties destroyed.

    The following day, the APC members who escaped into hiding with various degrees of injuries the previous day, were on their way to lay complaints at the Divisional HQs of the Nigerian Poilce, Okugbe.

    Okpella, he said was again, attacked by the same elements, suspected to be PDP thugs; who were on a mission to attack the police station to enforce the forceful release of their members arrested by the police during the previous crisis.

    He claimed that the suspected PDP thugs were the aggressor all through.

    Batureh, “the PDP people started it. The APC were coming from their meeting, with the chairman of the council, Suleiman Fegba and other APC youths were discussing on their way from the meeting, when Abu Abdulganiyu, Chairman, Etsako East PDP used his Smartphone to take pictures and in the presence of the mobile police sent to the town to ensure peace he claimed that these (Sulieman Fegba and others) were the people that gave the youth guns and then ran back to bring the thugs.

    That APC was going to lose the election in Okpella, he said was unthinkable because the community belongs to APC.

    He said, Okpella is for APC, I am telling you categorically that APC will win Okpella 99%, “The PDP’s unprovoked attacks on defenseless APC members were pre-emptive action to create general atmosphere of fear, so as to scare-away the peaceful and law abiding citizens of Okpella from exercising the franchise in the forthcoming election.

    “The PDP knew, it was heading for a humiliating defeat in the September 28, election and wants to intimidate everyone. We know our supporters, they refused to be deterred; instead, the unwarranted attacks have reinforced our resolved to vote-in another APC government that has revived the state in the last eight years,” he said.

    But Mr. Abu Abdulganiyu said there was no truth in the allegation, explaining that it was the elements suspected to be APC supporters that attacked his members.

    According to him, he said it was hired hoodlums from APC that “attacked the residence of one of our Leader, Hon Godwin Eshieshi. This attack was unprovoked as it was meant to intimidate and harrass PDP into submission having sensed their imminent defeat. Below are pictorial evidence of the attack.

    “It is worthy of note that, APC members always come out with the intention of causing trouble whenever PDP organises campaign programmes, whereas, PDP calls it supporters off the streets whenever APC is campaigning. The reason being that they have boasted that they are in power and that they are in control of the security forces. Whenever any disagreement occurs even when APC is at fault, PDP is hounded, harassed and detained. The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice has obtained notoriety for changing charge sheets to murder and charging suspect to magistrate courts. The intention is to ensure the magistrate Judge declines jurisdiction and remind PDP members so as to keep them out of circulation till after election.

    “This attempt to subvert the course of justice with the active connivance of State is not only criminal but recipe for anarchy. Once the people lose confidence in the institutions that are meant to protect all, you create outlaws. This is dangerous and I call on security Agencies and the good people of Okpella to call the Leadership of APC in Okpella to order before the community is turned into a theatre of war. It took the intervention of well-meaning youths of Okpella to mount a successful resistance to this marauding APC hoodlums’ otherswise the story could have been worse.”

  • Edo polls: CDHR warns against another postponement

    Edo polls: CDHR warns against another postponement

    The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to weigh carefully any call for another postponement of the Edo governorship election.

    CDHR president, Malachy Ugwummadu, said Tuesday that INEC’s postponement of the polls earlier scheduled to hold on Saturday, September 10, greatly affected the logistics of civil society organizations as well as local and international observer groups.

    Last Thursday, the commission yielded to security advice from the police and Department of State Services (DSS) and moved the election to Wednesday, September 28.

    Last Monday, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) said it would petition INEC to postpone the election once more, because it would clash with the 2016 November/December West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) in the state.

    “In terms of cost in the entire logistics of this exercise, this postponement is a total disaster and waste for INEC itself, the political parties that have mobilised, the civil society organizations and observer groups both local and international who have mobilised but have to demobilize,” Ugwummadu said.

    Although he admitted that INEC had the “discretion and prerogative” to postpone an already scheduled gubernatorial election pursuant to Section 26 (1) and (2) of the Electoral Act 2010, Ugwummadu warned INEC not to entertain another “insecurity” excuse.

    He said: “One of such conditions upon which it can be postponed is insecurity. Thus, if the foremost security agencies i.e. police & DSS have raised security concerns, it is for the Commission to ascertain that the grounds given are both verifiable and cogent as provided for S.26(1)of the EA.

    “However, the timing and circumstances of the present postponement leaves much to be desired. INEC through its representative in Edo State had granted an interview saying that the election would go on.

    “Thus, what are the specific variables that have changed? The integrity of an election is also measured by certainty level of the process.

    What is the assurance that another security situation will not be cited in a fortnight when it has been postponed to within which time it cannot be further postponed in view of the constitutional time limit?”

  • Ondo APC primaries, not totally flawless – Observers

    Ondo APC primaries, not totally flawless – Observers

    The Accredited Observers Group for the last Saturday governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state on Thursday said the exercise was not totally perfect.

    At a briefing in Akure, the state capital, members of the six-man observer group led by Prince Richards Adebayo urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be more involved in parties’ primaries to give it credibility.

    Adebayo said: “We are not condemning the primary election outrightly. The voting pattern inside the Dome was transparent, but some of the contestants’ agents, observed, alleged and protested that clusters of delegates were allowed to cast their votes in contravention of the regulations of the primary election.

    “During the voting exercise, the poll officials detected that the accreditation of delegates was hastily done without proper screening and many delegates were given unstamped tags.

    “Some of the delegates that came to the voting centre were not accredited by the three major accreditation centres because they were not duly screened in contravention of the electoral rules and regulations of the electoral committee.

    “The Chairman of the Electoral Committee and Jigawa state governor, Mohammed Abubakar informed the electoral session that he had organised a few buses to bring the remaining delegates that were delayed due to the topology of the area and to enable them to cast their votes on time for the conclusion of the exercise.

    “We observed that few of the contestants’ agents condemned such arrangement of vehicles to convey delegates to the voting centre because it was outside agreed arrangement.”

  • INEC declare readiness to conduct Edo polls

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Monday declared its readiness to conduct the September 10, 2016 Governorship election in Edo state.

    Professor Mohammad Kuna, special adviser to the Commission’s Chairman, stated this at a stakeholders meeting on public presentation of the security threat assessment for the Governorship election in Edo state, organised by CLEEN foundation in Benin City.

    He added that the commission has been well equipped in terms of human and capital resources to carry out the exercise adding that all stakeholders must be up and doing to ensure a violent free polls.

    “It is however important that the people must own the process of electoral system. It has been observed that whatever the modalities INEC have put non ground to coin duct a credible poll, the people must ensure that they behave in a civil manner to help democracy grow in the country.” He said

    Also Professor Mim Abutudu of the University of Benin, in his presentation stated that rigging and fear of electoral manipulation can be a high risk factor that could raise the level of violence and urged INEC to ensure that materials are deployed on time to the various polling units.

    Mr. Benson Olugbuo, executive director, CLEEN foundation explained that the foundation has as one of its cardinal objective to monitor and report the level of security threat to the conduct of elections in Nigeria.

    Other stakeholders agreed that the activities of security agencies including officials INEC must be checked to ensure that the process is violence free, credible and fair to all.

  • Ondo PDP crisis: Judge declines to hear Jimoh Ibrahim’s suit

    Ondo PDP crisis: Judge declines to hear Jimoh Ibrahim’s suit

    A governorship aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Jimoh Ibrahim has suffered a set-back in his bid to have the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) accept him as the actual candidate of the party for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.

    Ibrahim was reported to have emerged as the winner of the Ondo governorship primary conducted on Monday in Ibadan, Oyo State, by the Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the PDP.

    Thursday, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja declined to hear Ibrahim’s motion for an interlocutory injunction, to among others, restrain the Ahmed Makarfi faction of the party from presenting candidate for the election pending the determination of his substantive suit.

    Ibrahim is, by the substantive suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/591/2019, seeking to among others, restrain the Makarfi faction of the PDP from organizing primary and presenting a candidate for the party in the governorship election slated for November.

    Ibrahim instituted the suit in his name and PDP, with Mkarfi, Ben Obi, Odion Ugbesia, Abdul Ningi, Karibu Usman, Dayo Adeyeye, Alhaja Aisha Aliyu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.

    He hinged his prayer on a purported subsisting order of the court made in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/439/16, by Chief Benson Akingboye and Hon. Ehizuwa Agbonayina, directing INEC to deal with the Sheriff faction in relation to candidates for the Ondo and Edo governorship elections.

    When the case was called Thursday, Ibrahim’s lawyer, Oladele Oyelami informed the court that his client has effected service of processes (court documents) and notice of hearing on the respondents through substituted means, by publishing them in two national dailies, as earlier directed by the court.

    Oyelami however, failed to exhibit copies of the newspaper publications in court yesterday.

    Ruling, Justice Abang, who currently sits as the court’s vacation judge, noted that, because he has up to September 9 to act as the vacation judge, it was practically impossible for him to hear and render his opinion on the suit, including the motion for interlocutory injunction.

    “Therefore, the only option left for the court is to return the case file to the Honourable Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for re-assignment after the court’s 2016 long vacation,” Justice Abang said.

    Meanwhile, the PDP in Ondo State has petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC), questioning Justice Abang’s handling of the case filed by Akingboye and Agbonayinma

    Ondo PDP’s Secretary, Chief Oyedele M. Ibimi, who endorsed the petition dated July 21, 2016, urged the NJC, under the leadership of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmoud Mohammed, to investigate Justice Abang’s conduct in his handling of the case and set aside orders earlier made by him in the case by  Akingboye and Agbonayinma.

    The CJN has since acknowledged the receipt of the petition. Justice Mohammed, in an acknowledgment letter dated July 27, 2016, with reference No: NJC/F.3/FHC. 44/III/504A, informed the petitioner that “action is being taken, please.”

    However, the Ward Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Igbotako II Ward 04 in Okitipupa Local Government Area, Ondo State, Alhaji Usman Lawal has applied to be joined as defendant in the suit filed by Ibrahim.

    Lawal, who claimed to be Ibrahim’s cousin and the Ward Chairman of the party in Igbotako II Ward 04 in Okitipupa Local Government Area, Ondo State, questioned his right to sue as a member of the PDP and in the party’s name when he is not a member of the PDP.

    The Chairman, who exhibited the register of the party’s members in his Ward, said Ibrahim’s name is not contained in the register. He said Ibrahim belonged to a party called Accord and has not obtained any “waiver” to contest the forthcoming governorship election under the banner of the PDP.

    Lawal stated, in a supporting affidavit to his application to be joined in the suit, that “I know as a fact that the 1st plaintiff (Barr. Jimoh Ibrahim) is a member of Accord and has severally visited our Igbotako community with vehicle branded in Accord logo and symbol, and has canvassed for membership of Accord assuring community members that he will contest the 2016 governorship election of Ondo State under Accord.

    “The plaintiff has boasted severally to me that he will use the courts to stop PDP from sponsoring a governorship candidate in the 2016 governorship election in Ondo State. Further to the foregoing, the 1st plaintiff, who is not a member of the PDP is among certain individuals, who have set up a sham parallel state congress under one Biyi Poroye, who never contested as the Chairman of the PDP.

    “The said sham parallel state congress set up by Biyi Poroye is planning a sham PDP 2016 governorship primary for the 23rd August 2016 in Akure. The 1st plaintiff is reported to have obtained a sham PDP nomination form from the said Biyi Poroye.

    “The said proposed sham governorship primary is subject of litigation in suit No: AK/133/2016; PDP and 3 others v. Biyi Poroye and INEC in which the 1st plaintiff was cited as one of the individuals, who without authority, collected purported governorship nomination form from Biyi Poroye.

    “The 1st plaintiff and other unknown persons, acting together to subvert the PDP nomination by the duly elected state party congress headed by Engr. Clement Faboyede have been restrained by the order of the High Court of Ondo State.

    “I know that the 1st plaintiff in this case is not a member of the 2nd plaintiff (PDP) let alone, a contestant in the forthcoming gubernatorial primary election in Ondo State. The 1st plaintiff, not being a member of the PDP can only aspire for any elective post, by the provision of the constitution of the PDP, if he is granted a waiver,” Lawal said.

    Lawal has also filed a notice of preliminary objection to the suit and urged the court to not hear it for lack of jurisdiction. He also queried Ibrahim’s locus standi (right to sue in relation to an issue) to institute the case.

    Hearing in the case will resume after the court’s vacation in mid-September, when the case is re-assigned and a hearing date communicated to parties.