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Tag: Independent National Electoral Commission

  • Commission debunks allegations

    THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied the claims by the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) that it is working for the opposition People’s Democracy Party (PDP).

    Besides, INEC said the exclusion of APC Zamfara was purely a judicial matter and not a decision of the commission.

    Reacting to the allegations raised by the APC, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, said there was no truth in the allegations.

    He added that the commission was not a political party and did not have a candidate for the forthcoming general elections.

    Read also: BEDC holds safety campaigns in Edo

    He stated that the commission’s responsibilities are to provide a level-playing field for all registered political parties and conduct  free, fair and transparent elections.

    “It is not true that INEC is working hand in gloves with any political party to do the wrong things. The issue of Zamfara and Rivers are well known. In the case of Zamfara, the commission had written to the APC leadership to notify it that, due to its inability to conduct its primaries in Zamfara State within the stipulated time as required by the law, the party cannot field candidates for the governorship election. Thereafter, two cases were instituted in court resulting in two rulings, which were delivered the same day. The commission then adopted one of the rulings.

    “In the case of Rivers, it was the Supreme Court that took a final decision on the fate of APC. Therefore, both cases were purely judicial and INEC, being a law abiding institution, will always obey court orders/judgment.

    “The commission is not a political party and does not have a candidate for the forthcoming general elections.

  • Mystery infernos

    •Fire incidents in INEC’s offices should be probed

    Although violence has become a common feature of our elections, a more disturbing trend appears to be evolving as offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have been torched in some states. First was the one at Isiala-Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State where the room storing the uncollected permanent voter cards (PVCs) appeared to be the target. About 2,979 cards were burnt.

    The situation was the same in Qu’an Pan Local Government office of the electoral commission in Plateau State. By the time the fire was put out, 5,987 cards had been burnt. Also consumed were 380 voting cubicles and 755 ballot boxes, 14 power generating sets and forms to be used for the elections on Saturday.

    It was the turn of Awka, the Anambra State capital on Tuesday. Whereas the INEC commissioner in charge of publicity had said concerning the two earlier incidents that no card reader machines were destroyed, since the machines were still in the state headquarters where they were being configured and coded, the same was not true of Awka, a state capital where 4,695 machines were lost to the fire. These strange fire incidents only days to the all-important presidential election are a cause for worry.

    We expected the police and Department of State Security (DSS) to have swung into action and to have made arrests, especially concerning the Isiala-Ngwa incident. This is not a matter to be treated lightly as it is of grave national importance. We refuse to accept the suggestion that the Plateau fire came from a drunk official of the electoral commission. A conclusion should come only after a thorough investigation.

    We expect that, given the importance, all officials of the INEC local offices would be grilled and technical experts consulted before the truth and the whole truth could be unveiled. It is gratifying that the commission has promised to replace the burnt cards before Saturday. It is heartwarming too that the acting Inspector-General of Police has also instructed the state police commands to beef up security around all INEC offices and facilities nationwide.

    But, despite the order given on Sunday, there was a more devastating fire outbreak in Awka, that consumed almost 5,000 card readers. It remains to be seen if the commission would be in position to replace so many of the machines within the short period available without exposing the states from which they are being mopped up to shortages.

    The 2019 presidential election has been marred by violence already before polling. There have been allegations, though unfounded, that INEC is colluding with one political party or the other to manipulate the outcomes. The commission should do everything to ensure that polling is smooth and transparent. Observers, domestic and international, have been fully mobilised and are monitoring every aspect of the elections. As such, the eyes of the world are on Nigeria. We should not fail and this new trend should be immediately nipped in the bud.

    One lesson INEC should learn from this is the need to produce and distribute the PVCs well ahead of the elections; request for adequate security cover for all offices even during the electioneering campaigns and bond with the community hosting them to see it as a civic responsibility to build a bulwark around the offices.

    We call on the political parties to call their officials who make inflammatory statements to order to forestall violence in any form before, during and after the February 16 and March 2 elections.

  • Use general elections to elect credible leaders, Aare Adams urges Nigerians

    The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, on Wednesday urged Nigerians to use the forthcoming general elections to elect Godfearing and credible leaders for the country.

    Adams also urged all politicians contesting the elections to go to the polls with civility, saying that Nigerians’ attitudes matter in ensuring a peaceful election.

    He, however, expressed the believe that restructuring would be the best option for Nigeria as a nation.

    “We are in the crucial week as election is few days away. Elections will come and go, but the future of Nigeria is very important to us as a people.

    “One of the mistakes we do make as Nigerians is that we place much premium on who becomes the President without setting strong agenda for the future.

    “There should be agenda setting for the Nigerian future, and that is why this election is the key.

    “It is the duty of all eligible Nigerians to vote, and in doing that, I am appealing to everyone to bear in mind the overall interest of the country,” Adams said.

    He also urged political leaders and candidates, irrespective of their political parties and affiliations, to put Nigeria first before their personal ambitions.

    “For instance, in the build-up to the 2015 general elections, former President Goodluck Jonathan meant well for the nation.

    “When he said his personal ambition is not worth the blood of a Nigerian. As the president, he spearheaded an election, and eventually lost to the incumbent and heaven did not fall,” he said.

    Adams, however, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), not to disappoint Nigerians, saying that there should be enough security at the polling units.

    “There should be adequate election materials for Nigerians to vote, ” Adams said in a statement in Lagos. (NAN)

  • INEC to relocate polling units over security challenges in Zamfara

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will relocate some polling units at the areas vulnerable to security challenges in Zamfara.

    The Residents Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the state, Hajiya Asmau Maikudi said this at a press conference in Gusau on Wednesday.

    The REC said the electoral officers at the local government offices of such areas were meeting with all stakeholders to see the possibilities of relocating those polling units to other places where security was guaranteed.

    She said as soon as all arrangements were concluded, the commission would notify the electorate of the affected areas where to cast their votes.

    Read also: Shekarau urges youths to shun violence during election

    She said the commission would appoint personnel that would guide the electorate to new the polling units.

    She maintain that no eligible voter would be left out in the electoral process, as all measures were being put in place to also include those living with disabilities.

    Asmau said those with any form of disability, old age, pregnant women and nursing mothers would be given special considerations during the election.

    She said all the 14 local governments in the state were affected except for Gumi and Bakura LGAs.

  • Fire incident: INEC takes stock, says card readers are safe

    8,966 Permanent Voters’ Card and other materials were among the things destroyed by in Abia and Plateau states, the Independent National Electoral Commission  (INEC) has said. 

    INEC in a statement signed by Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, the Smart Cars Readers were not affected in both incidents, which happened within one week. 

    The Commission however assured Nigerians that it will not succumb to the antics of arsonists whose motive might be to create fear in the minds of voters and sabotage the conduct of the 2019 general elections. 

    Meanwhile, the commission has urged all  relevant security agencies to arrest and bring to justice, persons or groups involved in the attacks on the offices of the Commission.  

    The statement reads “ The fire incident that occurred at the Qua’an Pan Local Government office of the Commission in Plateau State on Saturday 9th February 2019 is the second of such incidents in less than a week. The first incident occurred in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government office of the Commission in Abia State on Saturday 2nd February.

    ” Some of the items destroyed in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government include 2979 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and other materials. At the Qua’an Pan office, items destroyed include 5987 uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), 380 Voting Cubicles, 755 ballot boxes, 14 generators, election forms and official stamps.

    ” The Commission has notified the Acting Inspector General of Police of the emerging trend of the burning of the Local Government Offices of the Commission close to the conduct of the elections and at a period when the Commission is engaged in the massive movement of election related materials nationwide.

    ” In view of these developments, the Commission has taken the following steps: “Notified the Inspector General of Police of this new trend and requested that additional security measures be provided to enhance security around INEC Offices and other critical structures of the Commission. 

    “Directed the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Plateau State to open a register for all those in the affected Local Government Area who approach the Commission to collect their PVCs within the specified period. The Commission will print the PVCs and make them available for collection in good time before the elections.  

    “Reprinted and delivered the Permanent Voters’ Cards of the affected registered voters in Isiala Ngwa South in Abia State. 

    “Made temporary arrangements for the relocation of the burnt offices of the Commission. The said offices will be ready for the conduct of the February 16 and March 2, 2019 elections. 

    “The Commission will proceed as planned in the affected Local Government Areas and all the burnt materials will be replaced in good time and as such will not affect the conduct of the elections.

     “All relevant security agencies have been requested to arrest and bring to justice, persons or groups involved in the attacks on the offices of the Commission.  

    “The two fire incidents did not affect the Smart Card Readers that are presently being configured in the respective state offices of the Commission.

    “The Commission wishes to assure all Nigerians that it will not succumb to the antics of arsonists whose motive might be to create fear in the minds of voters and sabotage the conduct of the 2019 general elections. “

  • 2019: Yar’ Adua’s PDM adopts Atiku

    The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) has adopted the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the group’s preferred candidate for the February 16 presidential election.

    The PDP, a political movement founded by the late General Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua, announced the decision in a communique issued after a meeting in Abuja by its surviving members.

    The communique, endorsed by members of the group from the six geopolitical zones, said it was gratifying to note that Atiku, who was one of the founding members of the PDM, emerged as the presidential candidate of the PDP.

    Chairman of the PDM, Chief Bode Ajewole, who signed the communique, called on all stakeholders in the electoral process to play by the rules, pleasing that everything possible must be done to make the elections free, fair, credible and peaceful.

    Ajewole said, “The tension that has been generated by the 2019 elections is getting to a disturbing proportion and we call on all actors in the electoral process to ensure that peace ensues before, during and after the elections.

    “We call on the security operatives to be impartial and to focus on their main mandate of preserving and protecting the lives and property of every Nigerian and foreigners alike. Politicians should refrain from making insidious statements and anyone caught going against this should be duly prosecuted.

    “We demand of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) to comply strictly with the provisions of the relevant laws in its conduct of the upcoming series of elections”.

    The group also called on election monitors, observers and voters to conduct themselves peacefully and in a manner that conforms to decent behaviour.

    Read Also: Atiku no match for Buhari – APC diaspora

    Stating the Atiku has contributed immensely to the growth of democracy in the country, the group continued, “It is noteworthy to point out that even though membership in this political family cuts across all the major political parties in the country.

    “It has always been our prayers that one of our own be given the opportunity to showcase our outstanding leadership qualities irrespective of the political parties that throws up such a candidate for as long as he/she is a member of the political family.

    “To this end, and with the 2019 presidential election exactly a week away, it has become incumbent on us, as founding members of the Yar’ Adua political family, PDM, to lend our voice to the conversations around the epochal electoral contest.

    “We are conscious of our position as proud members of the oldest political organisation in contemporary Nigeria and it is noteworthy to say that this particular election cycle presents itself as a test to the virility of democratic governance in our country”.

    Speaking to journalists earlier, a former Information Minister, Chief Dapo Sarumi, called on Nigerians to shun ex-military leaders seeking the office of the President.

    He accused successive military leaders of having disrupted the country’s democratic order over the years, adding that such leaders should be barred from political participation for a period of 50 years.

    Sarumi said, “The military distorted up to 80 percent of our political leadership. The civilians only had 20 percent. Nigerians must not reinforce failure by appointing a village head.

    “We must not reinforce failure by electing someone who believes he can work with only a group of people he can trust. How can we trust you to give us justice?

    “We should be able to trust our own, Atiku Abubakar. Let us trust one of our own who is not in khaki”.

    Chief Chief Ejiofor Onyia who convened the meeting, said the PDM family chose to come together after drifting apart for many years, adding however that if Atiku gets elected, the dream and vision of the late Yar’ Adua will be fulfilled.

  • I remain SDP presidential candidate – Duke

    Former governor of Cross River, Mr Donald Duke, says he still remains the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and would present himself for the Feb. 16 poll.

    Duke said this in a statement on Friday in Lagos, while reacting to the decision of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party to withdraw from the election and adopt President Muhammadu Buhari as its preferred candidate.

    “Regardless and for the avoidance of doubt, I Donald Duke, remain on the ballot and the candidate of the SDP as recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    “This unfortunate saga is as a result of an aspirant who lost at the party primaries on Oct. 6, 2018, fair and square, does not query the conduct of the primaries but rather resorts to bigotry, querying my suitability to contest for the presidency on grounds that I come from the wrong part of the country.

    “The Federal Court of Appeal has put this matter to rest. The office of president does not belong to any party and therefore not for a party to zone,” he said.

    Duke identified internal management of party affairs as the bane of the nation’s democracy.
    He said his decision to run for the presidency was to afford the electorate a credible alternative.

    “My decision to run on an untainted political platform rather than on one which I was a founding member is grounded on a desire to afford our electorate and indeed our nation a clean break, options and alternatives to her current gladiators.

    “For the SDP NEC to thereby endorse the APC or any other party, is rather unfortunate and betrays in my opinion, the desire of the vast majority of our party members and Nigerians credible alternatives to our nation’s leadership.

    “I need not say more, suffice that I remain on the ballot and thereby still present myself as a candidate for the office of president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Duke said.

    Read Also: Gana rejects Appeal Court affirmation of Duke

    The SDP NEC had on Thursday announced the party’s withdrawal from the presidential race while adopting Buhari, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, for the poll.
    It explained that the decision was based on the protracted legal issue facing the party.

    “We cannot campaign, we cannot do anything because of the protracted legal issue and we feel that it is impeccable to technically withdraw from the presidential election.

    “We want to focus on the National Assembly, Governorship and State House of Assemblies election for which we have fielded candidates across the country.

    “We are therefore adopting Buhari, the APC Presidential candidate, as our preferred candidate for the Feb. 16 election,” it said.

  • ‘INEC does not intend to postpone election’

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) does not intend to postpone any of the elections as a result of court orders coming close to election schedules, the Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has said.

    Yakubu made the position known at a National Stakeholders’ Forum for 2019 General Elections, organised by the Commission on Thursday in Abuja.

    He said that the Commission had been receiving court orders in which some had been conflicting or contradicting.

    He said that the Commission had been operating on the principle of latest order.

    “If two courts make a pronouncement on a matter, we go by the latest in time.

    “In the case of one of the judgments, the two judgements came on the same day; the Commission has to take a decision.

    “My assurance to stakeholders and Nigerians is that INEC will always obey court order.

    “ The next question we are going to ask is that what if the court order comes close to election, will INEC postpone elections?

    “No. INEC does not intend to postpone any election.

    “We will operate based on the order that we received but the Commission has also made contingency plan in case some of the orders come close to the elections.

    “We should be able to recover and conduct elections as scheduled.’’

    Yakubu said that party congresses and primaries for the 2019 general elections had been the most contentious since the return to democracy in 1999 as court 640 cases had arisen from them.

    INEC has been dragged to court 640 times on the conduct of parties primaries.

    “We have received 540 requests for certified true copies of documents and some of these will end up in court.

    “In addition, we received 186 protests and petitions for the conduct of congresses and party primaries.

    n logistics deployment, Yakubu said that the Commission was committed to ensuring that election materials and electoral officers would be the ones to wait for voters on election day.

    He said that the Commission was working closely with the security agencies to ensure security during the elections.

    He said provision had been made to ensure that internally displaced persons and physically challenged persons, such as albinos and the visually impaired, participated in the elections by providing them necessary aids for voting.

    Yakubu called for citizen collaboration to make the elections credible and peaceful as “INEC cannot do it alone.’’

    The Project Coordinator, European Centre for Electoral Support, , Mr Rudolf Elbling, urged all stakeholders to support the growth of Nigeria’s democratic system.

    “Use your offices and institutions to support INEC and participate fully in every aspect of the electoral process,’’ he said. (NAN)

  • Breaking: We’ll not postpone polls, INEC assures

    May extend PVC collection deadline

     

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has foreclosed any possibility of postponing the forthcoming general elections.

    INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu assured Nigerians and the international community that no election will be postponed.

    There are pending legal tussles from the primaries organised by political parties suggesting that INEC may have to postpone some elections.

    But Yakubu noted that the commission will not be swayed into postponing any of the polls.

    He disclosed this on Thursday at stakeholders meeting organised by INEC.

    He noted that the commission has been dragged to court for 640 times and received 540 applications for the certified true copy of documents.

    Yakubu promised the commission under him would continue to obey all court orders, assuring that it would not be deterred in the discharge of its functions.

    “Court cases arising from the conduct of congress and primaries have risen to 640. INEC has been dragged to court 640 times, we have received 540 requests for certified true copy of documents. We have received 186 petitions over the conduct of congresses and party primaries.

    “It is d policy of INEC to obey court orders. People ask if the judgements from these courts are decided close to elections if INEC will postpone the elections, INEC will not postpone any elections but we will make contingency arrangements in case some of the orders come close to elections,” he said.

    The INEC chairman also assured the stakeholders that he would “never fail Nigeria and Nigerians.”

    He stated that smart card reader would be deployed in the 2019 elections while expressing surprise that many Nigerians complained of not collecting their PVCs at the centres.

    Yakubu reiterated that the commission printed the total of 14.2 million PVCs after voters registration adding that those cards were ready for collection.

    He therefore said the commission would meet with a view to possibly reviewing the deadline for collection.

    “Let me assure the nation and the stakeholders that smart card reader will be deployed in the 2019 elections. The next big issue for us is the voter register and the availability of the PVC.

    “We have heard so many complaints by citizens that they have been to collection centers but we are surprised to hear that in some centres they were told to come back that the cards were not printed.

    “We have 14.2 million new voters; the commission printed 14.2 million cards. The commission is going to meet today (Thursday) and where it is necessary, we will review the arrangements for the collection of PVC.”

    He urged the transport companies to ensure that polling units receive the electoral materials at 7:30 am while voting should commence at 8am.

    Read Also: ‘INEC should postpone Rivers elections’

    According the INEC chairman, priority has been given to the elderly, visibly pregnant women and the physically challenged persons to vote at the polling units or voting points.

    The INEC chairman reiterated that while magnifying glasses and brails have been provided for the visually impaired to aid them to vote, form EC30 containing bold instructions on how the deaf should cast their votes are posted at every polling units as well as the voting points.

    He also stated that the list of returning officers from the nation’s tertiary institutions would be vetted to ensure that partisan members of academic staff were not included.

    The INEC boss said his commission had approved 148 observer groups comprising 119 domestic observer groups and 29 foreign observer groups.

    He explained that internally displaced persons in other states would only be allowed to vote in the presidential election.

    Also speaking on the preparations for the elections, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, noted that the security agency has identifed flashpoint areas in the country.

    He assured all that the police will bring such places to order.

    The IG said no VIP would be allowed to move around with police escort on election days.

    He warned that any policeman who contravened the rule would be arrested.

    “No escort of VIPs on election day, any policeman who contravenes this order would be arrested,” the IGP said

  • Court to PDP: present flags to INEC-approved Ogun candidates

    The Federal High Court in Abeokuta on Thursday refused the application of a member of the House of Representatives Oladipupo Adebutu and others seeking to prevent the Governorship Candidate of the PDP in Ogun State, Senator Buruji Kashamu and others from being joined as “necessary and interested parties” in a suit pending before the court.

    Adebutu and others had filed the suit in which they are asking the court for an order of mandamus to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish their names in place of the ones already published by the Commission.

    When the matter came up on Thursday, counsel to Kashamu and others, Prince Raphael Ajibola Oluyede, informed the court that his clients who are the candidates whose names had been published by INEC were interested in the matter but were not joined. Hence, they had filed an application as interveners who are willing to be joined.

    But, counsel to the Plaintiffs, Mr. Afolabi Fashanu (SAN) objected to the joining of the applicant/interveners.

    After much argument, the court presided by Justice Abubakar Shittu held that the applicant/interveners were necessary parties that should have been joined. Consequently, the court joined them.

    Thereafter, Oluyede informed the court that they had filed an affidavit disclosing that the Plaintiffs and their collaborators were parading themselves as candidates of the party while they were still before the court praying to be declared as candidates.

    He added that they plan to hold a rally on Saturday where they will be paraded and flags presented to them as candidates of the party even when INEC has not published their names and for which reason they were before the court.

    Oluyede submitted that such an action could lead to a breakdown of law and order and render the case before the court nugatory, if the court does not intervene, adding that the Police have already summoned an emergency security meeting based on the tension being generated by the matter.

    He prayed the court to direct the Police not to grant any permission for a rally where flags will be presented to Adebutu and others.

    Read Also: 2019: Obasanjo meets with politicians in Ogun

    Alternatively, he urged the court to declare that if such a rally must hold, it is only those whose names have been published by INEC as the authentic candidates of the PDP in Ogun State that should be presented as candidates of the party in the state.

    Fashanu opposed the prayers, saying they were speculative.

    Ruling on the prayers, the court held that where the issue of a potential breakdown of law and order was raised, it has a duty to look at it and take steps to prevent it, adding that the Rule of Law was the basis upon which INEC and the parties conduct their activities.

    The court held that where the Rule of Law was jettisoned, it would result in the breakdown of law and order such as being raised by the applicant.

    The court then directed the parties in the matter (i.e. the plaintiffs and the respondents) and their counsel to refrain from being used to foist a fait accompli on the court or cause a breakdown of law and order.

    It also directed PDP not to hold anyone out or present anyone as candidates except those who names have been published by INEC pending the hearing and determination of the suits before it, stressing that anything done contrary to the position of the law would be contemptuous and could lead to the breakdown of law and order.

    The court adjourned till 14th February, 2019, for hearing of the substantive suit and all pending applications before it.