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Tag: Independent National Electoral Commission

  • Breaking: Cross River APC has no candidates, says INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it does not recognise all the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in Cross Rivers States for the rescheduled general elections.

    Resident Electoral Commission in Cross River State, Dr Frankland Briyai, declared the names of all candidates submitted by APC in the state would be removed.

    Addressing reporters in an abrupt briefing in Calabar late Friday evening, he said this was pursuant to an order of court with suit number FHC/CA/CS/731/2018 between Godwin Etim John vs the APC and others.

    He said the logo and names of the APC would be retained pending the submission of the list of candidates by the Godwin Etim John- led state executive by the national working committee in compliance with the order.

    Read also: Yari congratulates Zamfara APC candidates

    Briyai did not entertain questions.

    Reading a statement, he said was from the Secretary of the Commission, Rose Orianran-Anthony, Briyai said: “The commission pursuant to the order of court in the above matter has directed that the names of candidates submitted by the APC for Governorship, Senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly for Cross River State be removed from the list of candidates for the election in compliance with the said order.”

  • A/Court didn’t clear Zamfara APC’s candidates, Ozekhome insists

    Lawyer to the Senator Kabiru Marafa faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) confirmed on Friday that the judgment by the Court of Appeal in Abuja given on Thursday set aside the January 27, 2019 judgment by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Justice Ojukwu had, in the judgment, held among others that there was no evidence before her court that the APC in Zamfara conducted valid primaries for the purpose of producing candidates for this year’s general elections.

    The decision of the Court of Appeal on Thursday, setting aside Justice Ojukwu’s judgment, for lack of jurisdiction, has since been interpreted by many to mean that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should now accept candidates from Zamfara APC, a position Ozekhome faulted.

    He argued that, since the Court of Appeal only set aside the judgment, but failed to make a consequential order directing INEC to accept candidates from Zamfara APC; it implies that the earlier decision by the electoral body, refusing the party’s candidates, still stands.

    In two separate documents issued on Friday – a press release and a letter to INEC Chairman (both of which he personally signed), Ozekhome urged INEC to reject candidates from Zamfara APC on the grounds that that “nothing has changed,” despite the Appeal Court judgment given in Abuja on February 21, 2019.

    Ozekhome insisted that, since an appeal filed by his client, Marafa, was still pending before the Court of Appeal in Sokoto State, against the judgement of the Zamfara State High Court, which said there were valid primaries, the issue (of whether or not there were valid primaries) could not be said to have been safely resolved.

    The Senior Advocate said: “Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on 21st February, 2019, dismissed the appeal filed by APC challenging the judgment of Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, which had affirmed INEC’s stand that the APC did not conduct any primary election in Zamfara state and that INEC was right to have rejected APC’s candidates from Zamfara state.

    “The dismissal followed an application by APC to withdraw the appeal. The application was granted and the appeal dismissed accordingly.

    “Next was the cross-appeal filed by Yari & Co on jurisdiction and cause of action.

    “The judgment given by the Court of Appeal today clearly stated that the appeal partially succeeded and went ahead to set aside the judgment of the lower court on jurisdiction only, but refuse to grant the cause of action component of the appeal.

    “By this, the Court of Appeal refused to grant INEC any order to revive candidates of the APC from Zamfara state.

    “The cross-appeal therefore partially failed because, from the onset, APC had a complaint against INEC only. Governor had applied to join the case voluntarily.

    “And, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu in her judgment held that ‘APC did not seek any relief against the 2nd to 6th dependents (Yari & Co) and considering that Yari and & Co didn’t file a counter claim, or cross action against APC in the suit, she now held that Yari & Co have nothing to add in this case.

    “From the foregoing, it is clear that the cross-appeal by Yari and his group, before the Court of Appeal, having partially failed, becomes at best, a mere academic exercise bereft of any utilitarian value to the entire case.

    “The false assertion that the Court of Appeal had cleared the way for the APC to participate in Saturday’s election is therefore a lie from the pit of hell.

    “It is nothing short of the desperate minute by frustrated politician holding on any available straw to smuggle themselves Willy nilly into Saturday’s election. This cannot work.

    “INEC is hereby reminded that there exists in addition to the above legal obstacles, a subsisting appeal which arose from the Zamfara State High Court judgment, which is still extant and pending before the Sokoto division of the Court of Appeal , in Appeal no: CA/S/32/2019.

    “In any event, the judgment of the Federal High Court, going by the judgment of the Court of Appeal still partially succeeded, since the Court of Appeal refused to make any clear mandatory orders directing INEC to receive any candidates from Yari group for the purpose of Saturday’s elections.

    “INEC is therefore obligated and legally bound to stand by its earlier well founded position that APC, having never conducted any primaries in Zamfara state, have no candidates in the forthcoming elections in Zamfara state, have no candidate in the forthcoming elections in Zamfara state, except the presidential election.

    “Any other act by INEC in fielding any candidates from the Governor Yari’s group or the “G-8” group will be illegal, unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect whatsoever,” Ozekhome said.

    He made similar argument in the letter to the Chairman of INEC.

    Part of the letter reads: “Sometimes in October 2018 when INEC wrote to APC, intimating it that the commission would not be expecting any list of candidates from them, having failed to conduct primaries within the stipulated time, APC challenged that decision of the commission by filing a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, which decided the case in favour of the commission and dismissed the suit.

    “Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State had cross-appealed. By the judgment of the Court of Appeal on 21st February, 2019 the intermediate court held that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the matter in the first place and therefore struck it out.

    “What this decision means sir, is that, as at today, there is no valid or extant decision of any court of law in Nigeria, which has set aside the well-grounded decision of INEC as contained in its letter of 9th October, 2018.

    “In addition to this clear legal obstacle against any of the parties fielding any candidate in the forthcoming Zamfara elections (aside the presidential election), there also exists and still pending before the Sokoto division of the Court of Appeal, a valid appeal filed by Senator Kabiru Marafa in appeal no: CA/S/33/2019.

    “Consequently, by way of summary, nothing in the decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja has changed the well-grounded position of maintenance of status quo of disallowing. Any of the parties to field candidates for the forthcoming elections, except the presidential election.

    “The Court of Appeal, Abuja division merely struck out the suit which had been dismissed by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja with no consequential order.

    “Please sir, this letter urges you to firmly maintain your earlier position so as to prevent a clear circumvent of the judicial process and an appeal that is still pending before the Sokoto division of the Court of Appeal,” Ozekhome said.

  • INEC clears 72.7m to vote

    I won’t resign, says Yakubu

    MORE than 72 million Nigerians have been cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to vote in tomorrow’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

    They represent 86.63 per cent of the 84 million registered would-be voters who collected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu said yesterday at his daily news briefing.

    Besides, the INEC boss said he was not contemplating resigning from office.

    He said that 72,775,502 million of the 84,004,084 registered voters collected PVCs before the commission withdrew all the 11,228,582 uncollected last week Monday.

    The withdrawn PVCs will be kept until after the elections on March 9. Only PVC holders will be allowed to vote.

    Briefing reporters and observers, Prof. Yakubu said he had never contemplated resigning his job.

    “I see no reason why I should resign,” he stressed.

    On INEC’s preparation for the polls, Yakubu said 19 states had fully deployed electoral materials to local government areas.

    The remaining states, except Bayelsa, were expected to complete the process yesterday. The process will be concluded today in Bayelsa.

    On PVC’s collection, Yakubu noted: “The last date for the collection of PVCs was Monday, 11th February, 2019. Out of 84,004,084 registered voters, the total number of PVCs collected stands at 72,775,502, which represents 86.63 per cent of the total PVCs collected.”

    The breakdown and percentages of collection on state by state basis shows Katsina leading other states with 98 per cent PVCs collection rate; Taraba trailing with 97 per cent; Kebbi (95 per cent) and Zamfara 94 per cent).  Yobe State recorded 92 per cent collection.

    Lagos has the highest number of uncollected PVCs with 1.038 million.

    According to INEC’s breakdown of the number of registered voters and collected PVCs, Katsina with 3,230,230 registered would-be voters, 3,187,988 collected PVCs, which is 98 per cent. Taraba states follows closely with 1,777,105, with collection of 1,729,094, which is 97 per cent of total registered voters.

    Kebbi and Gombe states have 95 per cent collection rate each. Kebbi with 1,806,231 registered voters has 1,718,180 collected PVCs and Gombe with a population of 1,394,393 voters has 1,335,223 collected PVCs.

    Zamfara and Bauchi have 94 per cent collection rate. Zamfara with registered population of 1,717,128, has 1,626,839 PVCs collected.  Bauchi with registered population of 2, 462,843, has 2,335,717 PVCs.

    Kaduna registered 3,932,492 would-be voters;  3,648,831, representing 92 per cent, collected PVCs.

    Akwa Ibom and Enugu recorded 91 per cent collection rate. Akwa Ibom with 2,119,727 registered voters has 1,933,362 PVCs collected. In Enugu, of the 1,944,016 registered voters, only 1,787,537 picked up their PVCs.

    Adamawa, Sokoto, Niger and Cross River recorded 90 per cent collection rate.

    Abia and Nasarawa states recorded 89 per cent   collection rate; Ebonyi and Rivers recorded 88 per cent collection. Kogi has 87 per cent collection rate. Delta, Borno and Kano states have 86 per cent collection rate.

    Plateau, Lagos and Anambra recorded 84 per cent collection rate; Bayelsa recorded 83 per cent; Kwara (81 per cent); Edo 78 per cent and Jigawa (77 per cent).

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has 76 per cent collection rate. Oyo and Imo have 74 per cent.

    Yakubu said the remaining 11,228,582 million had been deposited at Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) offices.

    Of the uncollected PVCs, the recent registration accounted for 3,410,677 million. More than 14 million voters were captured in the exercise.

    On the fate of Rivers and Zamfara states APC, Yakubu reiterated  INEC’s plan to obey court orders.

    He foreclosed another postponement of the rescheduled elections.

    Yakubu said: “We are fully on course. There is no state that has not commenced the deployment to LGAs. In fact, 19 states have fully deployed. By the end of the day, all states and FCT would have deployed, except Bayelsa State which is moving direct from our State office in Yenagoa to the RACs tomorrow.

    “Tomorrow, activities at ward level will commence with the activation of the Registration Area Centres (RACs) at 9.00am while the movement of personnel and materials will commence at mid-day. This is the last staging post before deployment to 119,973 polling units leading to the opening of polls at 8.00am on Saturday (tomorrow).

    “I want to assure the nation that going by our revised   timetable and schedule of activities, this deployment will be concluded today. We are fully prepared for the elections.

    “There is no state that has not commenced the deployment of electoral materials to the local government areas. In fact, 19 states have fully deployed.

    “By the end of the day, all the states and FCT would have deployed, except Bayelsa State which is moving direct from our state office in Yenagoa to the Registration Area Centres tomorrow.”

    He also announced that a visa arrangement was on for foreign observers who were affected by the postponement of the elections.

     

  • Umahi alleges plot to bomb Ebonyi lNEC offices

    Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi on Thursday alleged plans by some desperate politicians to import thugs to bomb some local government offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Umahi disclosed this during a live security situation briefing to the people of the state.

    He said: “I have been told that there are plans to bomb lNEC local government offices.”

    He said security agencies have been informed and have beefed up security in all INEC facilities in the state

    The governor frowned at the outbreak of violence, characterised by burning houses and killings at Mkpuma Akpatakpa in Abaja community of Izzi local government area, promising that perpetrators would be fished out and brought to book.

    He further condemned the attack on Ikwo local government area Vice Chairman, Mrs. Regina Iteshi who was attacked by hoodlums.

    According to the governor, the thugs inserted objects into her private part and cut the tendons of some of the people with her.

    He promised that the perpetrators must be punished.

    “My major concern is that we have free and a fair election on Saturday. There were few things we noticed on 15th February that were not in the character of Ebonyi people.

    “Inserting objects in the private parts of the vice chairman of Ikwo. Justice may be delayed but the law must take its full course.

    “Yesterday, I visited Izzi and saw the faces of defenseless father and mother whose son was killed and their houses burnt down.

    “All those who participated in the killing of the young man and burning of houses will never go scot-free.

    “Politicians are behind the killings and burning down of houses. My promise to all the victims, the young man that was killed and six others injured, all those behind it must be brought to book.

    “I appeal that there should be no reprisal attack. I have ordered that anybody that wants to kill our people should be shot at sight.

    “People must be allowed to exercise their right and vote for whom they want to vote for. I promised that if there is no reprisal attack, after the election, I will start the process of building the burnt houses.

    “Lives of Ebonyians are very important to us than positions and election. And anyone that takes the lives of others such will follow them to their fifth generation. Ebonyians must be alert and demobilize anybody that is parading thugs with police escort.

    The governor also had some warnings for INEC officers in the state.

    “Let me also warn INEC. I learnt that certain political party wants to cancel election. That they will go from polling booth to another killing people.

    “If you are INEC worker, discharge your duty according to the electoral law. I have asked the youths and Ebonyians to resist any INEC officials that wants to compromise. I learnt that collation officers are meeting, saying they nominated this and that.”

  • Falae writes INEC chairman over retirement as SDP chairman

    Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and presidential candidate of the Alliance for Democracy in 1999 elections, Chief Olu Falae has officially written to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, on his retirement as Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    According to the letter dated February 19, 2019, and made available to The Nation on Thursday by the SDP’s Director, Media and Publicity, Hon Yemi Akinbode, Falae said the Deputy National Chairman 1 from his Zone, Prof. Tunde Adeniran assumes the position of National Chairman in an acting capacity for the rest of his tenure which expires in March 2020.

    The letter reads in part: “I write to inform you that I have retired voluntarily from active partisan politics with effect from February 8, 2019, and therefore ceased to be the chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), from that date. In accordance with the provision of Section 13.2 (ii) of our party’s constitution, Professor Tunde Adeniran, the Deputy National Chairman 1 from the chairman’s Zone, assumes the post of National Chairman in an acting capacity for the rest of his tenure which expires in March 2020.

    “I wish to thank you, your fellow commissioners and other staff for the courtesies you always extended to me while I served as the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party.”

  • FG grants visa free waiver for accredited election observers

    Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) on Thursday approved a visa-free waiver for foreign accredited election observers and monitors.

    The development according to government is due to the rescheduling of the 2019 general elections.

    In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the Comptroller General (CG), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, affected individuals and organisations wishing to extend their stay or travel back to their countries and return for the next election are advised to visit Nigeria Immigration Visa Desk at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Headquarters.

    The minister emphasised that no fee is to be paid for the process.

    The statement reads in part: ” Sequel the rescheduling of the 2019 general elections to 23rd February and 9th March 2019 and considering the plight of accredited election observers and monitors who were caught-up by the re-scheduled election the Honorable Minister of Interior Lt Gen (Rtd) Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau CFR Phd has approved a visa fee waiver.

    “All affected individuals and organisations wishing to extend their stay or travel back to their countries and return for the next election are advised to visit Nigeria Immigration Visa Desk at the INEC Headquarters.

    “The desk Officers will attend to those requiring extension of their visa issued Gratis (No Fee Charge). This provision became necessary to afford those affected the opportunity to travel out or return without violating the Immigration provisions that relate to entry and exit with valid visa and document. 5All the affected Election Observers and Monitors are to take advantage and note.”

  • Buhari will get 80 percent votes, Enang boasts

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, on Wednesday expressed confidence that President Muhammadu Buhari will win Saturday’s presidential election with about 80 percent of the votes.

    He spoke with State House correspondents in Abuja as he based his verdict on the achievements of President Buhari’s administration; the vigorous campaigns of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC); and the president’s fair treatment of all parts of the country.

    He said “From the campaigns on the field, all the fillers we had, the support we had from the East, the West, the South, the North and all parts of Nigeria and the words of the president, the capacity of the campaign team and campaign machinery, the intellectual and intelligent words, words that hold and convince Nigerians that President Buhari is the best person to go for a second term as president.

    “This makes us confident and I am sure that in every state of the federation, President Buhari was able to show what he has done for that state.

    “In every state of the federation the president showed that he was not partial, that he is not in any manner tilted against one state of the country or favoring another part of the country.  He has shown that he is president for all and exclusively for none.”  he said

    The presidential aide said that President Buhari has identified with all, including the poor, the rich, the disabled and even those who could be called the low of the society.

    “With this, we are sure that we will win the election and the APC will come up with the majority of the members of the House of Representatives, great majority in the Senate and President Buhari of the APC will be declared as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    Senator Enang said that President Buhari has exhibited the character of a true democrat by not interfering in the work of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

    Read Also: Buhari swears-in eight permanent secretaries

    He said that the president and the electoral body were not “working in tandem to postpone the election.”

    On whether there should be sanctions for the INEC for postponing the elections despite the long period it had to prepare and the support given to it by the President, Enang said the best that could be done was to move forward and let the elections be conducted.

    “The best we can do is to make sure that we consciously give maximum support to the INEC.

    “The best we can do is speak less of hard words against them and give them comfort so that all Nigerians, the international community and the product of the election will be taken as the best decision. So, we will not talk of sanctions now.“

    Enang also said that all international protocols concerning diplomatic relations must be respected by all.

    “There is what we call diplomatic protocol and when you are in a country, you are subject to the laws of that country.

    “There are limitations and red lines, which you must not cross.  When you cross the red lines in diplomacy, you are capable of being declared persona non-grata.

    “But Nigeria has not gotten to that stage and that is why it is issuing simple reminders as to what is the best international practice in diplomacy.”

    Dismissing allegations that the Resident Electoral Commission in Akwa Ibom State could be working in the interest of the government of the state, Enang said it did not matter and would not affect the outcome of the election.

    “Knowing that we will the election, I had occasion to say that even if it were Secondus, chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that conducts election in Akwa Ibom State as REC, APC will win the election.

    “As we are confident that we will win the election, we will speak less of the electoral body.

    “If we want to concentrate on that we will lose focus because what the opposition intends to do is to make us go after some issues while they prepare to attack with all kinds of things,” Senator Enang said.

  • Here we go again

    The postponement of the elections this past weekend was a sad confirmation of the fears of many Nigerians that electoral activity in this country is cursed by the same hand of mediocrity that has stained all aspects of life in Nigeria. For months, weeks and days before the original date set for the elections, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was resolute in his assurances that INEC was ready to go, and that all areas had been covered. Going by the excuses that poured out from INEC after the dirty deed had been done on Saturday, it seemed that no contingency had been made for the “logistical” issues that arose.

    Everyone would agree that “bad weather” should not feature in a list of things likely to derail preparations for a major national event that has technically been in the works since the last elections in 2015. Not only that, alleged acts of sabotage, which likely led to fires in INEC offices in Abia, Anambra and Plateau states, are said to have also contributed to the postponement, according to INEC. From the different statements collected from INEC officials, the explanations point to an overriding desire by INEC for all election activities to begin at the same time of 8 am throughout the country, which would not have been possible last Saturday. Whether Nigerians are even now confident that this will happen on February 23, is another matter entirely.

    Unsurprisingly, there have been accusations thrown from one political party to the other, and the leadership of INEC has not been spared in the blame throwing. For sure, Prof. Yakubu has to take the lion share of the blame, as the decision to postpone, and all issues leading to it, are areas within his responsibility which were not met. Faced with having staggered elections commencing at different times in different cities or outright postponement within hours to the exercise, INEC chose the latter, after arrangements had been made by people and businesses to accommodate the exercise. The action has now set a trend of unbroken election postponements since 2011 elections.

    Without being unduly critical, the quality of decision making at the highest levels of government in Nigeria always leaves one grimacing, out of sheer horror. The political parties showed lack of adequate planning when they could not meet deadlines set in the INEC timetable for the elections. Many of the lists of candidates from parties were submitted later than directed, and the avalanche of court cases that followed, with the attendant drama at that level, also bit into the limited preparation time for INEC to get ballot papers ready for the 70 odd political parties participating in the elections. The sheer number of parties registered and cleared to contest is another issue that needs to be discussed.

    If we were practicing true democracy in the established traditions of the developed countries we so eagerly want to emulate, then the quality of our party politics would be sophisticated enough for politicians to recognise the incredulity of registering mushroom parties at every opportunity, just to make a political point. In advanced democracies, politicians get ahead in established political parties with the force of their arguments and the profundity of their vision, coupled with an ability to sell these to the wider membership of the party and, by extension, the entire population. In Nigeria, we suffer from a dearth of options in an otherwise bountiful pool of shabby mushroom parties and unknown candidates who have no appetite for the grand scheming of the bigger parties.

    Can one, for instance, imagine adopting a fixed date for every election, with our weak systems and mediocre commissions? In the United States of America, elections are held on the first Tuesday after November 1st in an election year. It is a matter of law, fuelled by confidence in a working system that guarantees delivery of materials, in spite of weather conditions. In fact, the date itself is said to have been thought out to accommodate the more agrarian population of the US, and the long journeys that some had to make to their respective county centres, which could begin from the preceding Sunday. It is not a random date, but one that takes weather, harvest and many issues of “logistics” into consideration. So also, in the United Kingdom, elections into the House of Commons are done, every five years, on the first Thursday of May, although allowances are made for snap votes, in the event of a no confidence vote on a government.

    Because of politics and other factors that remove from our overall efficiency as a truly independent country, we are nowhere close to setting a date by law. To begin with, many lawful dates are already being dishonoured, like the deadline for adoption of the budget for a new fiscal year at the federal level and in many states. There is just a crippling disregard for time that leads to tangible losses, as in this case. Many statistics have emerged about the cost of Saturday’s postponement to the government and to private business. The director general of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce puts these costs at $1.5 billion while renowned economist, Bismark Rewane, estimates it closer to $10 billion. But of course, we can’t even get into a conversation about how to offset those costs. We barely got little in the way of apology as it is.

    The harm is in the indifference that the decision seemed to communicate. Indifference to hardship caused and expenses incurred by private citizens and the public purse. Some even say it is a new way of embezzling money and making sure that every kobo assigned for the elections disappears in a maze of logistical costs. Sensitive materials already deployed have supposedly been called back, and this recall will be at extra cost to what was projected. On the whole, it just casts suspicion on everything that happens from here onwards. If the one solace to be had is that people will be all the more watchful, then we will take it and run with it.

    It is fact, that not everyone had the chance to obtain their Permanent Voters Cards before the window allowed for collection closed. If the delay had allowed for the continuation of card collection, then it may have been easier to bear. However, the delay appears to be of no benefit to the electorate, except for the unguaranteed “satisfaction” of possibly starting voting at roughly the same time countrywide. We have long been known to major in the minor in Nigeria. If the card readers are functioning as they should, and all INEC systems are sufficiently tamper-proof, it shouldn’t matter terribly whether the elections are staggered across the states or not.

    That there is controversy surrounding the elections is no surprise. Neither is it a surprise that there has been a postponement. What will be really surprising is if the process continues, as re-arranged, with little or no incident. The frayed nerves of Nigerians have endured a lot in the past, and we can surely endure one more week of suspense in the ever playing drama of Nigerian society and politics.  The postponement will cost some more than others, but we are all equally stained by the stigma of never getting it right the first time, of unnecessary delays and the domino effect of African time that may have been started by the same political parties now calling foul and demanding the head of the INEC chair.

    Our already complicated electoral system is being affected by the lack of vision of our over 70 presidential hopefuls, most of whom lack the finesse to form sensible alliances. Instead, they complicate the electoral process with their numbers and ridiculously large ballot papers that do not present more than a few real choices. INEC and all the political parties should take this blame.

  • 2019: Cleric advises INEC, security agencies on credible polls

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies in the country have been told to faithfully work towards delivering a free, fair and credible 2019 general elections.

    The General Overseer of the Hour of Mercy Prayer Ministry Worldwide One (Alaseyori), Prophet Muyideen Kasali,  said the success of the polls depend largely on the good conduct of the INEC officials, its ad hoc staff from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and security agents.

    Kasali spoke during the February edition of Hour of Mercy programme which heralded the 13th anniversary of the programme and the prophet’s birthday celebration.

    “All eyes are on INEC, the security agents and the corps members who will conduct the polls .They must fear God and be thorough in their conduct during and after the election,” he said.

    He said his birthday celebration was unique as God sent people from around the world to bless him with gifts.

    Prophet Kasali said:”Since I was born into the world, I never had a unique birthday celebration as this year’s. God is using the negative news being peddled about me by one Estabod and Sunday Olowoyo to further bless and enrich me. That has also spur me to further assist the needy and the less privileged.

    “Surely the rumors mongers i.e Estabod and Olowoyo will soon meet their waterloo because I am serving a living God. I have been receiving gifts from my well-wishers from USA, UK, Canada and other parts of world since February 1st when we started the fasting and prayer which will end on 28.

    “ God has been using the negative stories written about me to take me to the next level of my glory. I want to thank Mrs Dorcas Adeyinka and her family who has been our spokesperson on social media by putting things in the right perspective to ward off the moves the mischief makers against our ministry.

    “I equally appreciate my wife, Oredolapo Awosika. She is the angel God sent to me during the times of trouble. She is one in a million woman to me.”

    On the impending polls, Prophet Kasali, said the elections is not about who wins but what Nigerians stand to gain and benefit thereafter.

    “The youths must eschew violence. INEC has power over the polls but it must be seen to be fair and do things right. Security agent must do their best to protect the people before, during and after the polls.

    “Electorate should be allowed to vote according to their conscience and for the candidate of their choice. Neither Buhari nor Atiku can declare themselves winners of the election but INEC. They should just do things right and allow peace to reign in the country.”

    The cleric, who urged Nigerians to pray for the country, said: “We should rely on God’s wisdom and not our own understanding.

    “We should pray against famine and the prices of goods the will go skyrocketed. Corps members should not allow themselves to be compromised so that the glory of tomorrow will not be taken away by today’s loss.”

  • Let peace reign

    It is no longer news that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the early hours of Saturday unexpectedly announced a shift in the 2019 Presidential election which was slated for the day, and March 2, 2019.

    But the postponement no doubt left many Nigerians surprised as they had already prepared themselves to vote for candidates of their choice in the first sets of the election.

    Their plans for the following day before they slept last Friday night changed when they woke up on Saturday morning. They were faced with the realities on the ground: no election.

    Announcing the postponement, the INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu had attributed his action to challenges including logistics, poor weather, fire incidents and overwhelmed Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the last-minute rush.

    He said: “Following a careful review of the implementation of its logistics and operational plan and the determination to conduct free, fair and credible elections, the Commission came to the conclusion that proceeding with the elections as scheduled is no longer feasible.

    “Consequently, the Commission has decided to reschedule the Presidential and National Assembly Elections to Saturday, 23rd February 2019. Furthermore, the governorship, state House of Assembly and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections is rescheduled to Saturday, March 9, 2019.

    “This will afford the Commission the opportunity to address identified challenges in order to maintain the quality of our elections. This was a difficult decision for the Commission to take, but necessary for the successful delivery of the elections and the consolidation of our democracy,” he said.

    It should also not be lost on Nigerians that the former INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega, who conducted the 2015 general elections, described as the freest in Nigeria, at some point had to shift the election due to some challenges, just like he did during the 2011 general elections.

    But reactions to the latest postponement appeared to be dividing the political parties more.

    In their first reactions after the announcement, none of the major political parties publicly identified with or supported INEC in its latest decision. The electoral umpire appeared to be standing alone.

    Also before last Saturday, there have been accusations and counter-accusations, especially between the two major parties claiming that the other party has bought over the INEC.

    This trend continued during the reactions to the postponement of the elections on Saturday.

    The main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) immediately rejected the postponement.

    PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, maintained that the postponement was a deliberate pre-determined agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari to cling on to power and a grand design by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to thwart the will of Nigerians at all cost.

    “The party will not accept anything short of a well-organised electoral process devoid of manipulation, harassment and intimidation of voters and the opposition particularly members of the PDP.

    “Having failed in all their nefarious options to enable them cling on to power, the APC and the INEC came up with the idea of shifting election an action that is dangerous to our democracy and unacceptable.”

    In the same vain, the PDP Presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, said “This postponement is obviously a case of the hand of Esau but the voice of Jacob. By instigating this postponement, the Buhari administration hopes to disenfranchise the Nigerian electorate in order to ensure that turn out is low on the rescheduled date.

    “Nigerians must frustrate their plans by coming out in even greater numbers on Saturday, 23 February and Saturday, March 9, respectively.

    “Knowing that the Nigerian people are determined to reject them, they are desperate and will do anything in their power to avoid their rejection by the Nigerian people.

    “Their plan is to provoke the public, hoping for a negative reaction, and then use that as an excuse for further anti-democratic acts.

    “As such, I call on all Nigerians to be patient. We have tolerated the maladministration of this government for four years. We can extend our tolerance a few more days and give them our verdict via our votes,” he stated.

    The ruling party, APC, apart from adding its voice to the condemnation of the postponement, also expressed surprise at the development.

    A statement by APC Presidential Campaign Council (Official Spokesperson) and Director of Strategic Communications,

    Festus Keyamo said “We have just received with great disappointment and disillusionment the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its decision to postpone the Presidential/National Assembly and Gubernatorial/House of Assembly Elections to Saturday, February 23, 2019 and Saturday, March 9, 2019, respectively.

    “We condemn and deprecate this tardiness of the electoral umpire in the strongest terms possible. President Muhammadu Buhari had since cooperated fully with INEC by ensuring everything it demanded to conduct free and fair elections were promptly made available to it.

    “This news is therefore a huge disappointment to us and to our teeming supporters nationwide and around the world, many of whom have come into the country to exercise their franchise.

    “We do hope that INEC will remain neutral and impartial in this process as the rumor mill is agog with the suggestion that this postponement has been orchestrated in collusion with the main opposition, the PDP that was NEVER ready for this election.

    “We note that all the major credible demographic projections have predicted a defeat of the PDP and it seriously needed this breather to orchestrate more devious strategies to try and halt President Buhari’s momentum. It did the same as the ruling Party in 2015, when it realized the game was up, by orchestrating the postponement of the 2015 elections by six weeks. Now, it may be up to its old trick again.

    “We have earlier raised the alarm that the PDP is bent on discrediting this process the moment it realized it cannot make up the numbers to win this election. We are only urging INEC not collude with the PDP on this.

    “We are truly worried because as early as Friday morning, some known PDP Social Media influencers unwittingly announced this postponement, but quickly deleted the message and apologized to the public that it was fake news. We do not want to be forced to a situation of announcing our  total loss of confidence in INEC, because we know where that would leave our democracy,” he stated.

    Buhari, who had to cut short his trip to his home state, Katsina State on Saturday, said “I am deeply disappointed that despite the long notice given and our preparations both locally and internationally, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the Presidential and National Assembly elections within hours of its commencement.

    “Many Nigerians have traveled to various locations to exercise their right to vote, and international observers are gathered.

    “INEC themselves have given assurances, day after day and almost hour after hour that they are in complete readiness for the elections.  We and all our citizens believed them.

    “This administration has ensured that we do not interfere in any way with the work of INEC except to ensure that all funds were released to the commission.

    “We now urge INEC to ensure not only that materials already distributed are safe and do not get into wrong hands, but that everything is done to avoid the lapses that resulted in this unfortunate postponement, and ensure a free and fair election on the rescheduled dates.

    “While I reaffirm my strong commitment to the independence, neutrality of the electoral umpire and the sanctity of the electoral process and ballot, I urge all political stakeholders and Nigerians to continue to rally round INEC at this trying national moment in our democratic journey.

    “I, therefore, appeal to all Nigerians to refrain from all civil disorder and remain peaceful, patriotic and united to ensure that no force or conspiracy derail our democratic development,” he said.

    It’s very important for the stakeholders, even after the postponement announcement, to continue to respect the first and second National Peace Accord signed by the candidates of the various political parties.

    Noting that millions of people across the world were praying for Nigeria and its people, the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland had said during the second peace accord signing ceremony last Wednesday: ”It is a burden that Nigerian leaders gathered here today carry. We call on their party, supporters and public to follow their lead. Elections will come and go, but this great Nigeria will remain.”

    Peace should be maintained at all costs, and just like President Buhari noted during the peace accord signing, Nigeria is the real party, and must be protected.