The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

  • Kano rerun: I‘m sure of victory, says PDP candidate

    The governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf has assured his teeming supporters of emerging victorious in the forthcoming Gubernatorial rerun election in Kano declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    This was contained in a statement signed by Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa the Spokesperson to PDP Gubernatorial Candidate for Kano State Abba Kabir Yusuf

    The statement said the election was declared inconclusive due to the cancellation of many polling units.

    The Nation recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday declared the gubernatorial election in Kano as inconclusive as the PDP candidate scored 1,014,474, leading the APC candidate who scored 987,819 votes, adding that 2,155,128 was recorded as Valid and 49,761 votes were rejected.

    According to the electoral body said declaration of the election as inconclusive was in line with section 26 of the Electoral act that said if the number of cancelation of votes cast is beyond the margin between the winner and the looser.

    ‘’We call on all supporters to remain calm, we are known to be peace lovers and so we shall remain, as we are very sure of victory during the rerun.’’

    Read Also: Kano gov results safe, says INEC

    ‘’Our supporters should not forget that PDP is already leading in the last count of the election and interestingly, the bye election would take place in the strongest areas of our party.’’

    We urged everyone to keep hope alive on our guest to rescue Kano from the hands of corrupt leaders and agents of distraction.

    It appealed to people in the affected areas to  come out en mass to cast their votes in favour of PDP, We will Insha Allah emerge victorious after the rerun to restore the lost glory of Kano

     

  • Groups laud Obaseki for leading Edo APC to victory

    Following the impressive outing of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the Edo State House of Assembly election, Edo-based socio-political groups have applauded Governor Godwin Obaseki for leading the APC to a landslide victory.

    Representatives of the groups, who spoke to journalists, said the outstanding performance of the APC in the March 9 State House of Assembly election, is not only unprecedented but goes to show that Governor Obaseki’s developmental strides and style of governance resonate well with Edo people and residents.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo State announced that the APC cleared 23 of the 24 seats in the State House of Assembly, with the election in Orhionmwon II State Constituency declared inconclusive.

    Read Also: Obaseki’s Chief of Staff wins polling unit

    In a congratulatory message, the Progressive Benin Youth Forum (PBYF) described the APC’s outing in the poll as an affirmation of Governor Obaseki’s sterling performance, adding, “we congratulate the governor on the historic victory in the State House of Assembly election.”

    Another group, Edo People in Diaspora Association, said the performance of the APC in the State House of Assembly poll is not a fluke, noting that the governor deserved such a support as he has shown to be “humble, noiseless, and an unassuming history maker.”

    The Godwin Obaseki Support Group (GOSG) said Obaseki will go down in history as a governor who led the APC to landslide victory in the State House of Assembly Poll.

    Another group, Edo Grassroots Movement, said “We hail Governor Obaseki, the champion of the masses because you put us first, we are behind you like a rock. Congratulations on the 100 per cent victory in the Edo State House of Assembly election.”

     

  • INEC erred declaring Adamawa governorship election inconclusive – PDP

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) erred in declaring the governorship election in Adamawa State inconclusive because the margin of lead was lower than the number of registered voters in places where voting was cancelled.

    The state chapter of the party contended at a press briefing in Yola on Tuesday that INEC should have reckoned not with all the registered voters but only the number of those who collected their permanent voter cards (PVCs) in the indicated units, which it said was smaller than the margin of lead in the election.

    The PDP had polled 367,472 votes; as against the next leading party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), which received 334,995 votes after results from the state’s 21 LGAs had been collated by Monday morning; but INEC declared the election inconclusive on the argument that the margin of lead by the PDP, which was 32,467 votes, was lower than the number of registered voters, 40,948 in 44 polling units (PUs) where elections either did not hold or were cancelled.

    The PDP however said, in the text of briefing read to newsmen by a former governor of the state under the party, Boni Haruna, that INEC’s argument was untenable.

    Read Also: Declare results, Rivers monarchs urge INEC

    The PDP said, “We’ve been able to establish that the number of PVCs collected by voters in the 44 PUs is 31,027. So, 31,027 are the only eligible voters in those units. If there is going to be a rerun, the 31,027 people who collected their PVCs are less than PDP’s margin of win. How then would the rerun affect the leading position of the PDP? So, there was no basis in declaring the Adamawa State governorship election inconclusive.”

    The party said it rejected declaration of the election as inconclusive and demanded that INEC rescind its decision and declare the PDP candidate, Rt Hon Umaru Fintiri, as the winner.

    It asked that if INEC would insist on a rerun, it should provide the number of PVCs collected in each of the 44 PUs and number of voters accredited in the units for the March 9 governorship election; and should ensure that all electoral materials for the rerun are distributed in a transparent manner.

    In its own reaction to the outcome of the governorship election in Adamawa State, the APC had on Monday alleged widespread irregularities and called for a redress.

    “As a party, we reject the results of the governorship election in Adamawa State in its totality and we call for the cancellation of all … places where card readers were not used, and where there was over-voting,” the party said at a briefing in Yola.

     

  • Kano Emir sues for calm over inconclusive results

    The Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II on Tuesday appealed to residents to remain calm over Saturday’s inconclusive governorship election.

    He told them to avoid rumours over the development as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) works toward rectifying grey areas.

    The Emir urged them to avoid unguided statements that may plunge the state into chaos.

    Muhammad Sanusi II made the call while addressing reporters at his palace to douse the tension.

    He said the inconclusive verdict on the election shouldn’t make residents embark on violence or destructive activities.

    The Nation observed prior to declaration of the governorship election as inconclusive, there was apprehension in the ancient city as schools and markets were closed down for fear of possible breakdown of law and order.

    But the Emir said: “The law empowers only INEC to announce results of election and that should be respected.

    Read Also: Emir of Kano frowns at renewed political violence

    “Therefore, those sharing results not released by the electoral body should stop it.

    “INEC is the only body accorded the power under the law to announce election results and it has done that announcing the election as inconclusive, hence, there will be re-run.”

    He urged politicians not to heat up the polity with comments that can create chaos, adding “politicians should not see elections as war but rather a contest that should be conducted in friendly atmosphere.”

    The Emir appreciated the security agents for their efforts of sustaining peace in the state before, during and after the election.

    He praised the Commissioner of Police, Wakili Mohammed and his men for maintaining the peace.

  • Inconclusive elections: INEC, military compromised, says PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Prof Mahmood Yakubu-led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Army of compromise in states where the governorship and state assembly elections were suspended or declared inconclusive.

    Its Spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan told a news conference that the electoral umpire and the Army were playing the script of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

    Ologbondiyan alleged that elections were suspended or declared inconclusive in states where the PDP was maintaining a steady lead.

    Citing widespread disruptions, INEC, on Sunday, announced the suspension of electoral process in Rivers State and declared elections inconclusive in Sokoto, Bauchi, Adamawa, Plateau and Benue states.

    But the PDP described the affected states as its strongholds.

    It insisted that INEC, under Prof. Yakubu, “has become overtly partisan and has surrendered its independence to the APC.”

    The main opposition party said INEC carried on as a compromised umpire with obnoxious impunity, thereby sending signals of being heavily bribed by the APC to alter results for its candidates.

    It also accused the Army of intimidating its members in the affected states, particularly in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and other states in the Southsouth.

    The party dismissed claims by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, that the shootings and killings in those places were carried out by fake soldiers in military uniform.

  • Politicians, not INEC, should carry the can

    Who should be blamed for inconclusive governorship elections –  the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or desperate politicians perpetrating unruly behaviours?

    An election is a collective enterprise involving various stakeholders, particularly the umpire, security agencies and politicians. The failure of any of these stakeholders to abide by the rules of the game always spells doom for the process.

    This is the case in five states where the electoral agency was clearly undermined by the political class. The implication is that in Bauchi, Sokoto, Plateau, Benue and Adamawa and Kano states, the exercise is not complete. INEC has to prepare for supplementary elections as required by the law.

    In Bauchi, the Returning Officer, Dominica Anosike, was taken aback when thugs invaded the collation centre in Tafawa Balewa local government, carting away the result sheets.

    It was the same scenario in Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State where the collation was disrupted by thugs, resulting into a blame trade between All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    In Sokoto State, results of 22 polling units were cancelled. Tempers rose, following the cancellation. But, INEC stood its ground.

    Guns boomed at the collation centre in Nassarawa Local Government in Kano in Kano where the exercise was disrupted by thugs.

    In Rivers State, protesters invaded the streets, alleging plans by the electoral body to tilt the pendulum of victory in the direction of a party. There are fears that the protest may degenerate into violence, unless security agents avert the looming danger.

    Generally, the polls were free and fair in the affected states. INEC tried to justify the confidence reposed in it. There was no case of compromise on the part of polling officers. Card readers were not faulty. Electoral officers did not report late for work. Ballot papers were surplus. INEC officials were not partial.

    But, according to monitors, trouble started at the collation centres where widespread disruptions were recorded. Curiously, security agents failed to maintain law and order. Due to hiccups in some polling units, results were cancelled. However, the cancellation created an upset. In some instances, the cancelled votes were more than the margin between the votes garnered by the two leading candidates.

    The Electoral Act 2010 empowers the commission to cancel an election on the basis of vote disruption and violation of laid down rules, particularly multiple voting, disparity between votes cast and number of registered voters as well as violence.

    It is an additional burden for INEC. Within 21 days, the supplementary polls have to be held. But, the period of anxiety for candidates and their parties is also extended.

    If the collation of the supplementary polls are threatened by disruption, there is a way out. The onus is on INEC to critically look at the votes cast and ascertain whether the cancelled election in some units will significantly affect the totality of votes.

    The supplementary elections may generate tension. Will the collation be successful?

    The lesson of the exercise is that is collation is porous in some locations. To checkmate the thugs who disrupt the process, security agents must be up and doing. The baseline is the prosecution of culprits arrested in connection with the disruptions. This will deter others in the future.

  • INEC declares Orhionmwon II election inconclusive

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the House of Assembly election for Orhiomwon Constituency II inconclusive.

    It said the election was marred by violence, ballot box snatching and non-functional card readers

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Emmanuel Alex-Hart, who addressed reporters yesterday, said a report would be submitted at the INEC headquarters in Abuja and a decision would be taken thereafter.

    Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chris Azebamwan said the party would study the facts before coming up with a decision.

    Azebamwan noted that INEC has the constitutional powers to conduct elections, but the party would challenge the decision if it has no legal backing.

    Spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chris Nehikhare declined to comment on INEC’s decision.

  • Declare results, Rivers monarchs urge INEC

    The Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare all verifiable results of Saturday’s election based on units and ward.

    They said only compromised results should be discountenanced.

    The monarchs, at a news conference addressed by their chairman, the Amayanabo of Opobo, King Douglas Dandeson Jaja, said: “We urge INEC to declare all verifiable results and look into compromised results on units and wards basis, where boxes were snatched by thugs or military personnel.

    “We cannot go through another round of elections at a later date. INEC must ensure that collated results are declared and not tampered with by third parties.

    Read also: Ihedioha declared Imo governor-elect

    “What we have today is a few government appointees using Federal apparatus, including men in uniform, to cause chaos and breakdown of law and order. Our people who have attempted to resist such illegality have either been arrested or dealt with extrajudicially.

    “We need peace in Rivers State. The people’s will must prevail. The military must remove itself from directly participating in our elections…”

    They called on the Federal Government and the International Community to come to the aid of Rivers people.

     

  • Breaking: INEC declares Kano guber election inconclusive

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the gubernatorial election in Kano as inconclusive.

    The Collation Officer for the Governorship election in the state, Prof. Bibi Shehu announced this shortly after the compilation of the election results from the 44 Local Government Areas in the state.

    According to him, the declaration of the election as inconclusive was according to the section 26 of the INEC act that said if the number of cancelation of votes cast is beyond the margin between the winner and the looser.

    He explained that the winner of the election, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has defeated the APC candidate with 26,000 votes, while the votes canceled is 128,572 votes.

    Shehu disclosed that the PDP candidate scored 1,014,474, leading the APC candidate who scored 987,819 votes, adding that 2,155,128 was recorded as Valid and 49,761 votes were rejected.

    The Collation Officer said that the total registered voters in the state is 5,249, 989, while the total accredited votes was 2,211,528 and the total votes cast were 2,184,889 votes.

    Read also: Adamawa APC rejects inconclusive governorship election

    The PDP agent, who is also the Chairman of the party, Alhaji Rabiu Suleiman-Bichi warned that such result should not repeat itself in the supplementary election.

    Also, the co-agent, Aliyu Sani-Madakingini said that INEC is encouraging thuggery in this type of situation by also encouraging politicians to create unnecessary chaos to favour their ambitions.

  • Delta APC rejects governorship/House of Assembly election results

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta state has called for the cancellation of last Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.

    APC’s position was made known at a press briefing addressed by the chairman of the Delta state chapter of the party, Prophet Jones Erie, on Monday evening.

    Erue accused security agents who were deployed on election duties in different parts of the state, as well as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of conniving with agents of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to massively rig the election in favour of the PDP.

    “You all witnessed an electoral process where soldiers aided PDP thugs to hijack ballot boxes and materials in collaboration with the presiding officers and thumb printed them for the PDP.

    “Our people were not allowed to enter any collation centre, our agents were treated as enemies of the electoral process. The whole place was militarised against APC and results were changed at will.

    “For example, at Emede Ward 5 unit 2, soldiers aided the destruction of that unit. At about 10:00am, ballot boxes and ballot papers were carted away, we managed to complete the election and at the end, APC had 4323 votes, 1134 votes for PDP House of Assembly.

    “Surprisingly, the same votes were counted and they recorded 2,712 votes for the governorship for the APC and 2,702 votes for PDP. If this is the discrepancy in my own ward, it is enough prove to show that the same thing took place across the state.

    “Our members were brutalised, presiding officers collaborated with PDP to undo us. In Warri South and Warri South-West, most of the materials did not get to their units”, Erue alleged.

    Erue said the party would approach the Election Petition Tribunal should the electoral umpire refuse to cancel the election.

    However, when reached for a response, the spokesman of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, said the allegations by the parties against security agencies borne out of the wrong perception of what the agencies stand for.

    “People see security agencies as instruments of the state that can be used by the ruling party. The opposition parties will bash on the security agency, the ruling party will also bash on the security. The election is over, if he is not satisfied, he should go the Election Petition Tribunal,” Iliyasu said.