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Tag: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

  • Tinubu debunks alleged meeting with INEC chair on Sokoto governorship rerun

    National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday refuted his alleged meeting with the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, together with other chieftains of the party.

    In an advertorial published in the Daily Trust on March 21, an organisation that called itself the Sokoto State Coalition of PDP supporters, had claimed that Tinubu and other APC chieftains like the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomole; Senator Adamu Aliero and Zamfara State Governor Abdul’Aziz Yari, met with Yakubu in order to influence the Sokoto State governorship rerun election in favour of APC.

    A statement issued by the Tinubu Media Office yesterday, however, described the allegation as “desperate untruth without a basis in fact.”

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a partisan advertorial in the 21st March edition of Daily Trust. This advertorial, placed by a shadowy organisation calling itself the Sokoto State Coalition of PDP Supporters, bears the logo of PDP National Youth League and is signed by one Engr. Haruna Usman Shagari.

    “Titled “Inconclusive Gubernatorial Election: Sokoto People Warn Tinubu, Oshiomole, Yari, Bagudu and others,” the advert makes baseless allegations against Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC); Comrade Adams Oshiomole, Chairman of APC; Senator Adamu Aliero and Zamfara Governor Abdul’Aziz Yari.

    “It falsely alleges that Asiwaju, along with the others, met the INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu in order to influence the Sokoto State gubernatorial rerun election in favour of APC.

    “These allegations by a contrived PDP organ are desperate untruths without a basis in fact.

    “But they are entirely in line with the delusional reactions of PDP to their devastating loss in the presidential elections.

    “The entire PDP hierarchy have been scared and jumping at their own shadows since the election. They have been seeing phantom conspiracies and imaginary gatherings that make us wonder whether they remain connected to reality.

    “Most recently, they alleged that Asiwaju was physically in Kano to manipulate elections there. They backed up this fraudulent allegation with photographs of Asiwaju and the Kano Governor taken last year in Lagos.

    “For so long and so often, they cannot even get right the whereabouts of one man. That they can’t even tell the truth about the location of a single person shows that they are incompetent to manage the complex affairs of an entire state.

    “It is a matter of public record that Asiwaju has always been at the forefront of the struggle for electoral reform; a struggle that culminated in the establishment of the Uwais Commission by late President Umaru Yar’adua.

    “A prominent member of that panel, Prof Attahiru Jega later became the INEC Chairman and was able to implement the far-reaching reforms that have enabled us to have the free and fair elections that we witnessed in 2015 and now in 2019.

    “If Asiwaju was such a prominent supporter of electoral reforms, why would he now be among those trying to subvert democracy?

    “Asiwaju’s only tools for influencing elections are his moral authority, his skills as a veteran politician, and his dedication to campaigning and mobilizing his own party members.

    Read also: Rerun polls: Tambuwal, Aliyu, Ganduje,Yusuf, others locked in fierce battle

    “With respect to Sokoto, former Governor Wamakko is a popular figure and leader who has the respect of the people of the state. It is also clear that the APC candidate is more qualified and more committed to the welfare of the people than his PDP opponent.

    “By his panicked responses, Governor Tambuwal has shown his sheer desperation. He is a drowning man clinging to the limp of a tree.

    “Having been tricked into joining the PDP only to be outsmarted by Atiku for the PDP presidential nomination, Tambuwal fears that his political career is crumbling.

    “If he loses this election, he has lost everything. Thus there is no untruth he will not tell and no tactic too extreme in order to hold on to his seat.

    “However, he should not use Asiwaju’s name to defraud the people or as a way to gain sympathy. Instead, Tambuwal should face the consequences of his own actions.

    “It is Tambuwal, not Asiwaju, who has caused his own predicament.

    “Try how he may to blame Asiwaju, the people know that Tambuwal has sacrificed their interests to advance his own.

    “He can try whatever propaganda and untruths he wants, but in the end, the people will render the verdict that his selfish and unproductive record deserves.”

     

  • Ebonyi APC candidate joins PDP hours to assembly supplementary poll

    Mr. Innocent Nomeh, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Ezza North West state constituency, has withdrawn from the supplementary election contest slated for March 23, 2019.

    The election originally scheduled for March 9 was cancelled because unidentified hoodlums burnt the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Registration Area Centre (RAC) at Umuoghara, Ezza North LGA of the state.

    Nomeh, while briefing newsmen in Abakaliki, said that he withdrew after considering salient issues confronting APC members and candidates after its loss in the presidential and gubernatorial polls in the state.

    “It was my genuine intention to represent my people at the House of Assembly after consulting with my family, friends and political associates.

    “At the borderline of the whole issue is the unserious disposition of the APC in the state towards the election which it ultimately lost to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “The APC was unserious during the electioneering campaigns and elections as its gubernatorial candidate even lost in his polling unit to the PDP.

    “APC received serious electoral battering by the PDP as it substituted genuine candidates from its primaries until the courts reinstated some of them, including myself,” he said.

    He remarked that it was clear that the APC was never serious in the election and ultimately its candidates still in the electoral race, engaging in a ‘wild goose chase.

    Read also: Appeal Court affirms Lulu-Briggs as Accord gov candidate in Rivers

    “We have been made vulnerable and politically incapacitated to win elections as the party leadership mismanaged funds and other logistics that could have enhanced our performances,” he said.

    Nomeh said that after consulting his family and political associates, he decided to withdraw his membership of the APC, withdraw from the contest on March 23 and join the PDP.

    “This decision is entirely mine, made out of my own volition without any coercion as I urge my supporters to take it with great courage.

    “I also enjoin them to support me in this new quest to contribute to the state’s development as present members of the PDP,” he said.

    Mr Eze Nwachukwu, the APC state Chairman however, told NAN that the party did not recognise Nomeh as its candidate for the election.

    “We only recognise Mr Emeka Nnoko as our candidate as Nomeh is on his own.

    “We have not received any court order reinstating him as the candidate of the party and we stand on our decision,” he said. (NAN)

  • Supplementary Elections: APC says it’s confident of victory

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it is confident of victory in the forthcoming March 23 supplementary elections in six states as fixed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, APC National Publicity Secretary, expressed the confidence in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    He, however, added that the decision of INEC to hold supplementary elections, in Rivers, Bauchi, Sokoto, Kano, Plateau and Benue states was illegal.

    “As a party, the APC is very confident of victory in the forthcoming supplementary elections; our commitment to free and fair elections in the country remains resolute.

    “We urge INEC to ensure that all loopholes that led to rigging, vote buying and intimidation of voters by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are blocked.

    “We equally urge INEC and relevant security agencies to ensure that the supplementary election is free, peaceful and fair compared to the last inconclusive governorship election,” he said.

    This, Issa-Onilu said, was especially in the state which was characterised by many irregularities including voter-intimidation, stressing that no political ambition was worth the life of any voters.

    He further noted that after the March 9 governorship elections across the country, polls in affected states were declared inconclusive by the INEC.

    According to him, the electoral process was also suspended in Rivers State in a very fraudulent circumstance.

    He recalled that the APC had severally raised alarm over the plot by the opposition PDP to use violence, vote-buying and other election malpractices to subvert the will of the electorate and steal their mandate.

    Issa-Onilu said the shocking events leading to the last minute postponement of the presidential election provided clear evidence with PDP agents caught in different parts of the country with programmed card readers.

    He said PDP agents were also caught with sensitive election materials and large cache of weapons and security paraphernalia.

    “Undeterred, the PDP executed its rigging plot through its agents across the country by unleashing violence, vote-buying and hijacking election materials to rig and falsify elections results.

    “The result was violent disruption in many polling areas and over voting which led to many cancelled votes and ultimately the supplementary elections and suspended exercise in some states,” Issa-Onilu said.

    He noted that in Benue, INEC declared the governorship election inconclusive, citing an insufficient margin in votes obtained by the APC candidate, Mr Emmanuel Jime and the PDP candidate, Gov. Samuel Ortom, the state incumbent Governor.

    INEC, he said, also reported that 41 polling units in Vandeikya did not use the card reader, as it was the case in many in Gwer-West, Gwer-East, Gboko and other places.

    Issa-Onilu said a coalition of election observers in Benue had since called on INEC to declare the candidate of the APC, the winner of the polls in line with the Electoral Act, adding that the APC align with the position of the observers.

    He maintained that there was no doubt that the APC candidate obtained the highest number of legitimate votes with the usage of the card reader.

    In Rivers, Issa-Onilu said the APC was concerned and deeply troubled by the unfolding events in the state which it condemned in strong terms.

    “This unholy alliance between Gov. Nyesom Wike, PDP and INEC is to prevent Rivers people from electing a candidate of their choice by imposing Wike, the PDP candidate on them.

    “It was glaring that Wike was losing until INEC stepped in to halt the process, apparently to save him from impending defeat. INEC must put a halt to this madness and brazen illegality.

    “The desperation of the PDP governorship candidate, Gov. Nyesom Wike, to remain in office even if it means destroying the state and killing its people, is throwing the state into turmoil and crisis,” Issa-Onilu said.

    He added that it was on record that Wike through the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Obo Effanga, engaged PDP card carrying members as Local Government Area (LGA) Collation Officers to skew the elections in favour of Wike and the PDP.

  • Pro-Buhari group cautions INEC over Okorocha’s Certificate of Return

    The Southeast chapter of the Presidential Support Committee (PSC) and the South East Professionals have cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against creating constitutional crisis by refusing to issue Certificate of Return to the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha after being declared winner of the Imo West Senatorial election.

    In a statement jointly signed by Emeka Ugwu Esq and Comrade, the groups accused INEC of assuming the investigative role of the Police and the Court by finding the governor guilty without opportunity for fair hearing.

    According to the statement, “we have observed with keen interest the emerging political crisis and constitutional infraction emanating from the National Assembly elections and the Governorship elections, held on the 23rd day of February and the 9th day of March 2019 respectively. We intend to respond to the unconstitutionality and the illegality of the acts of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)”:

    It continued that,  “the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on the 23rd February, 2019 declared H.E Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha, through its Returning Officer, Professor Innocent Ibeabuchi, as winner, Imo West Senatorial District Election 2019 in the presence of all the Security Agencies and other Political Party Agents”.

    The groups contended that, “under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Electoral Act, INEC lacks the power to withhold Certificate of Return in an election duly declared in line with the laws of the land or cancel an election that met the minimum requirement of the law.

    “It is unfortunate that INEC has arrogated to itself the investigative powers of the Nigeria Police and other security Agencies, and the judiciary, by assuming the jurisdiction to illegally and unlawfully investigate the unfounded allegations of Prof. Innocent Ibeabuchi, who is alleged to be an Agent of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “It is quite worrisome that Prof. Francis Chukwuemeka Ezeonu (the Resident Electoral Commissioner) and Prof. Francis Otunta (the Returning Officer) could be used to cause havoc in Imo State by purportedly declaring Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha winner of the Governorship election without fulfilling the requirement of Section 179 (2 &3) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

    The statement argued further that  “the provisions of Section 179 (2&3) are clear and unambiguous, and any declaration made in breach of that section is unconstitutional, illegal, fraudulent, and cannot stand. That the fraudulent calculated and premeditated acts of the two Professors are targeted with the criminal intent to deliver Imo State to PDP.

    Read Also: Rivers: PDP tells INEC to declare its candidate winner

    “That from the results purportedly declared, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha did not meet the minimum requirement of Section 179 (2&3) as he did not secure the mandatory 25% votes casts in 18 out of the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo State. Rt. Hon. Ihedioha only secured 13 local Government Areas Only.

    ” We are hereby calling on the National Chairman of INEC to remove the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Francis Ezeonu, and equally calling on the security agencies to investigate the two Professors, and possibly prosecute them for the act of criminality, which is capable of inciting public unrest.

    “Imo State citizens are law abiding and should be allowed to freely elect their leaders. We therefore warn those inciting these criminal acts to desist henceforth from attacking the sensibilities of Imo Citizens.

    “Finally, we call on INEC, as a matter of urgency, to issue a Certificate of Return to H.E. Owelle Rochas Okorocha as Senator-Elect, Imo West Senatorial District; and to conduct a runoff election in line with Section 179 (4) of the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria. In the event INEC refuses to do the needful by end of business Monday the 18th day of March, 2019, the streets of the five States of the South East will be lawfully occupied”.

     

     

  • INEC won’t favour any party in Ekiti Supplementary Poll, Says REC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said the commission won’t derail from its foundational tradition of neutrality and fairness in the conduct of the  supplementary  election for  Ekiti East constituency 1 of the state.

    INEC said the election will hold on Saturday, March 23 in five polling units in the constituency , in line with the directive of the Chairman of the electoral body, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu.

    The election was suspended by INEC  on March 9, when the House of Assembly and governorship elections were held across the country, with results in other 25 constituencies already declared .

    In the election, the battle will be between Mr. Juwa Adegbuyi of the All Progressives Congress and the occupant of the seat and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Hon. Ojo-Ade Fajana.

    Speaking in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, the Acting Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ekiti, Dr. Muslim Omoleke, revealed that INEC would by the week meet the security agencies and brief them on the need to be prepared for the conduct of the election.

    Omoleke said the commission decided to suspend elections in the polling units , thereby making the outcome inconclusive, in line with its commitment to be neutral and fair to all contenders in any election.

    “We are prepared for the election and we won’t deviate from the practice of fairness and neutrality to all political parties.

    Read Also: Supplementary Polls: INEC promises to be fair in Plateau

    ” We will meet the security agencies this week and brief them on how the conduct will look like, so they can plan their own strategies on how to deliver a free, fair and credible election on Saturday.

    “We have received materials from the headquarters and they are being kept in the Central Bank of Nigeria, the materials are under safe custody.

    “We want to assure our voters that we won’t let them down. Let them come out massively and vote and we assure that their votes will count.

    “INEC  did not disappoint in the conduct of the presidential and state and National assembly elections in Ekiti,  this also will not be an exemption”, Omoleke stated”, he said.

  • INEC decision on Bauchi rerun evil, unacceptable – APC chieftain

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has continued to come under attack over the sudden change in its earlier decision to reject the result of the governorship election in Tafawa Balewa local government area of Bauchi state.

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Yekini Nabena, said the decision was a form of conspiracy against the APC, describing it as a evil plot which will not be allowed.

    Nabena who is also the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party said the governing party will not accept such a decision as it contravene the provisions of the electoral act.

    The electoral body had earlier declare the governorship election inconclusive and set a date for rerun but suddenly changed the decision based on the reports submitted by a committee headed by Festus Okoye to investigate the issue.

    Nabena said on Sunday that  his party has rejected the decision taken by the INEC on the governorship election results from Tafawa Balewa local government area, saying “Considering the letters and spirit of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended), and the INEC Guidelines for 2019 General Elections, INEC is not empowered to reverse any decision taken at the Collation Center by the Returning Officer appointed for that purpose.

    Read Also: INEC wrong on inconclusive elections

    “Such decisions can only be reversed by a Court of law, especially when INEC cannot approbate and reprobate”.

    The party also accused the Festus Okoye-led committee of denying it fair hearing as its agent were not invited during the hearing to ascertain the circumstances leading to the cancellation of the Tafawa Balewa local government election result.

    “The composition of the committee is also questionable as the Committee chairman, Festus Okoye Esq, is a close ally of and ex-personal Solicitor of Hon. Yakubu Dogara of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “No justice can be done by the committee chairman who is interested in the whole issues and the instant circumstances,” he said.

  • Adamawa governorship supplementary election to hold in 14 LGAs

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says the governorship supplementary election scheduled on March 23, would be conducted in 14 local government areas of the state.

    Mr Kasim Gaidam, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Yola.

    Gaidam said the election would be conducted in 29 Wards (Registration Areas) and 44 Polling Units where over 40,000 votes were earlier cancelled in the recent governorship selection.

    “The Commission had prepared for the Supplementary Governorship election in the state. The election is going to be conducted in 14 LGAs, 29 Wards and 44 Polling Units spread across the state,” Gaidam said.

    He listed the local areas to include Yola South, Fufore, Ganye, Girei, Guyuk and Hong.

    Other are Lamurde, Numan, Madagali, Michika, Mubi North, Shelleng, Song and Toungo  local government areas.

    Gaidam, however, explained that the election was declared inconclusive as provided by law based only on official registered voters, not Permanent Voters Cards collected or accredited voters.

    He said: “Other figures being circulated should be disregarded as only report released by the Returning Officer should be considered.”

    It could be recalled that the results of the governorship election announced by INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Andrew Haruna shows that the PDP candidate, Ahmadu Fintiri scored  367,472 votes, while a total of 334,995 votes scored by  incumbent governor, Muhammad Bindow, the APC candidate.

    The margin between them was 32,476 votes. (NAN)

  • Gbenga Daniel quits PDP, partisan politics

    A former Governor of Ogun State and Director-General of Abubakar Atiku Campaign Organisation , Otunba Gbenga Daniel, on Saturday announced his departure from the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    In a letter he wrote to the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, he also informed of his decision to quit partisan politics.

    The letter, a soft copy of which was received by our reporter, specified that the resignation of the former governor who ruled Ogun state between 2003 and 2011, on the platform of the PDP, takes effect from March 14.

    During the just- concluded 2019 general election, Daniel also served as the Deputy Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council (South).

    OGD’s media aide, Steve Oliyide, while confirming the development to The Nation, said :”Yes, the letter is from Otunba Gbenga Daniels.

    “He wrote the letter and it is true that he announced his exit from partisan politics”.

    The ex-governor had directed his supporters to vote for the All Progressive Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Dapo Abiodun in the last governorship election in the state.

    “This is to inform you of my intention to resign from active and partisan politics with effect from today, the 14th day of March, 2019.

    “My decision in this regard is entirely personal to me and having served in various capacities, including as Governor of Ogun State.

    “I have resolved to immerse myself in some other vocations and take on some new challenges,” the letter reads in part.

    Giving an insight into what he intends to do afterwards, Daniel explained: “My decision to quit partisan politics notwithstanding, I have decided to rejuvenate my charity based organization, the Gateway Front Foundation (GFF) which will literally continue to dispense succor to our people in need, address and assist in the areas of some of their health challenges. I also plan on resuscitation of the non-partisan Political Leadership Academy (POLA) which I established some years ago as a platform of political education to our citizens.”

    Hinting on some possible reasons for his decision to leave the PDP and shun partisan politics henceforth, the former PDP national chairmanship aspirant recalled: “Notwithstanding these widely acclaimed achievements however, our party, the People’s Democratic Party ran into trouble waters towards the end of our administration (about the year 2009) which led to the sad loss in the election of 2011, and regrettably ten (10) years after the party has been unable to resolve those internal disputes and challenges. Meanwhile, the PDP in Ogun State was confronted with a very difficult situation in matter of choice.

    Read Also: APC, PDP take INEC to task

    “Whereas the national leadership of our party, recognized one candidate for the 2019 election, by court pronouncements another candidate, and in compliance with those court orders, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognized was on the INEC list.

    “The candidates recognised by INEC were not acceptable to the national leadership of the party.

    “Our situation was then compounded because the candidate which the court and INEC recognized and accepted as valid has also been expelled by the party. This was the dilemma we found ourself as we approached the March 9, 2019 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.

    “Going forward, we have responded to the yearnings of our people and joined others in emplacing an administration that we believe will better serve the interests of our people than what currently exists. The rest they say is now history.

    “I must say that looking back, I do not have any regrets over that patriotic choice and decision, especially as several of our citizens, leaders and stakeholders in the state and outside have commended that singular action.

    “Many stakeholders within and outside Ogun State feel fulfilled, excited and grateful about our decision to join others in putting a stop to a regime that was believed to be against the collective and general welfare of our people.”

  • Rivers APC lashes INEC over comment on military

    The campaign organisation of the APC Governorship Candidate in Rivers state has lashed out at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for trying to rewrite history regarding the last governorship election in the state.

    Director of Strategic Communication of the campaign, Prince Tonye Princewill said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja that rather than blame the military for disruption of the exercise in the state, the commission should be aware that without the military, there would have been blood bath in Rivers state.

    Princewill said “We’ve seen the statement issued by INEC and I stand by my earlier comment that even if they tried, INEC can’t save Wike. Apart from spelling mistakes, the vague statement reveals a lot of things about an umpire that doesn’t pay attention to finer detail, refuses to take any responsibility for its failures and yet goes on to equate moral equivalence between the Nigerian Army and common thugs.

    Read Also: Yoruba group hails INEC

    “That ludicrous position is where they reveal their true colours. The statement could easily have been drafted in collaboration with Rivers state Government House. Let me reiterate again that without the Army, Rivers state would have been a bloodbath.

    “Just like with INEC, we too have more to reveal in the days to come. Let’s not say too much. There is an old African proverb that says if the mouth goes to war too early, when the leg arrives, the enemy will grab it.”

  • Supplementary poll: Police ban political rallies in Bauchi

    The Bauchi State Police command has banned all forms of rallies and procession following the violence that broke out in some parts of the metropolis during a protest after the governorship election was declared inconclusive.

    The command however stated that any form of political rally must be with its approval.

    It called on residents to remain calm and avoid any act capable of causing breakdown of law and order at this critical time.

    The Command PPRO, DSP Kamal Datti Abubakar, in a statement explained the reported cases of attacks on innocent members of the public by suspected Sara-Suka thugs, which most times emanated from political rallies in Bauchi metropolis, informed the ban.

    According to him: “Sequel to the declaration of Bauchi State Gubernatorial Election held on 09/03/2019 as inconclusive by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and subsequent scheduling of rerun election on 23/03/2019 in some parts of the State.

    Read Also: Police arrest nine suspected political thugs in Bauchi

    “The Bauchi State Police Command calls on the good people of the State to remain calm and avoid any act capable of causing breakdown of law and order at this critical time.

    “Meanwhile, with regards to some reported cases of attacks on innocent members of the public by suspected Sara-Suka thugs which most times emanated from political rallies in Bauchi metropolis, the Command wishes to assure the members of the public that, it is on top of the situation and is taking necessary measures to deal with the menace once and for all”

    “Consequently, for the interest of peace and harmony, the Command has placed a total ban on all forms of rallies and procession in the State without its approval.”

    The Command also assured it is on top of the situation and taking necessary measures to deal with the menace once and for, appealing for cooperation and understanding of the members of the public.