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Tag: Independent National Electoral Commission

  • Senators kick over pegging of elections expenses, others

    Senators on Wednesday took turns to criticize sections of a bill to amend provisions of the Electoral Act 2010.

    The renewed attempt to amend the Electoral Act 2010 followed the refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the amended Electoral Act transmitted to him for assent.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission, Senator Suleiman Nazif, on Wednesday presented a reviewed Electoral Act amendment bill for the consideration and passage.

    But new Electoral Act amendment bill aimed at accommodating the observations of President Buhari appeared to have created more controversies as identified by Senators.

    On election expenses (Section 91(1) the bill proposed that “Election expenses shall not exceed the sum stipulated in subsections (2)-(7) which stipulated that maximum amount candidates should spend in an election.

    It specifically proposed N5 billion for a presidential candidate; N1 billion for a governorship candidate; N100 million for senatorial candidate; N70 million for House of Representatives; N30 million for State Assembly and chairmanship candidate and N5 million for councillorship candidate.

    It also said that no individual or other entity shall donate to a candidate more than N10 million.

    It goes on to stipulate that “A candidate who knowingly acts in contravention of this section, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of 1% of the amount permitted as the limit of campaign expenditure under this Act or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both.”

    Most of the senators who spoke kicked against pegging of election expenses.

    For some other, election expense should be left open ended.

    Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central) warned that the proposal on election expenses was unimplementable.

    He said, “I don’t see the logic in pegging the amount to be contributed to a candidate. We all know that this won’t stand, because people are going to spend much more than that.

    “On N5 billion for a Presidential candidate as limit of expenses, Marafa wanted to know how many polling units the country has.

    “If you give each agent say N10, 000, the amount may get up the proposed amount. So, I don’t want us to do something that won’t stand.”

    On his own Senator James Manager (Delta South) said: “Some of the amendments raised are very technical and dangerous.

    “I advise that when this is referred to the committee, it should check all the views expressed here, including those not expressed, and come up with something that is acceptable.

    “For example, the issue raised by Marafa it is a very serious one.

    “Besides, who is going to enforce this? So, we should look at it holistically. What we have here is something that is completely unimplementable. We should be able to make laws that can be implemented.”

    Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) said: “On elections expenses limit, the provision here can’t be enforced. It is not enforceable.

    “Making this provision in the Electoral Act is like making anybody that wins election to be taken to court. We should look at how to strengthen the law against vote buying.

    “Monies spent by a candidate among his party members can never be ascertained by anybody. I suggest that this section should be expunged completely.”

    Senate Leader, Senator Ahme Lawan (Yobe North) was more concerned about when the issues raised by the President would be addressed while Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu expressed worry about item 7, on missing name of a candidate on the ballot paper.

    Ekwerenmadu noted that “This is very dangerous ‎ because somebody who knows he can’t win election will raise an alarm and make other candidates suffer for it.”

    The section states: “If at the point of display or distribution of ballot paper by the Commission, a candidate or his agent discovers that his name, the name of logo of his party is omitted, a candidate of his agent shall notify the Commission and the Commission shall:

    (a)  Postpone the election to rectify the omission and (b) Appoint another date to conduct the election, not later than 90 days.

    It further stated that “Where the election is postponed due to omission of a political party’s name or logo, the Commission’s officer responsible for such printing of party name or logo commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N2 million or imprisonment for two years or both.”

    Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South) said that his was more of an observation.

    Read Also: Saraki swears in two new senators

    “I want to add to what the Deputy Senate President said on the omission of logos. Prior to election day, a copy of the ballot papers should be made available to political parties to check their names and logos. If we allow it to go like this, there will be room for manipulation.

    “A sample of the ballot paper should be displayed two weeks to the election for all parties to see,” Ndume said.

    Senator Kabiru Gaya (Kano South) said: “The issues raised by the president are vital, and the committee said they would look into them. I believe the committee should come up with all the areas for us to discuss.”

    Senator Joshua Lidani (Gombe South) on his own said: “I don’t know why we’re bringing INEC to meddle into the issue of candidates. INEC doesn’t have anything to do with what the parties decide since they are the only ones that can forward names of candidates for elections.”

    Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North) said: “I believe INEC should be allowed to confirm all that happens during the parties’ primaries,” while Senator George Akume (Benue North West) said: “I want to draw attention to section 87 on parties’ nomination. It is an undue interference in the affairs of political parties.”

    Senator Andy Uba (Anambra South) noted that on “section 87 (12) where which talks about primaries, in a state where you have parallel primaries and INEC officials attended both, how do you handle that? So, I think this section should be expunged.”

    Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) drew attention to the issue of parties’ primaries.

    “It is a serious recipe for danger. It can be used to witch-hunt political enemies. There is a subsisting judgment by the Supreme Court that the issue of nomination is the prerogative of the political parties. This is a very dangerous trend.”

    Senator Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu North) noted that “in addition to other observations made by colleagues, I want to talk on section 49 (3). I’m of the opinion that the proposal on card reader should be 72 hours. On primaries too, political parties should be allowed to nominate candidates without INEC interference.”

    Having gone through second reading, the bill referred to the committee on electoral matters to report back on Tuesday.

  • PDP: our primary a lesson to INEC, APC

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said yesterday that its presidential primary is a lesson to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) on how elections should be conducted.

    It highlighted what it called the orderliness, transparency and credibility of its presidential primary.

    In a statement by its spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said “The success of our presidential primary followed our strict adherence to democratic rules and principles of transparency and fairness, which has eluded the nation since President Muhammadu Buhari-led licentious administration assumed office. Simply put, in the PDP presidential primary, every vote counted.

    “Nigerians are therefore no longer in doubt that our compromised electoral umpire, under the Buhari administration, is ostensibly culpable for injecting rancorous situations that create openings for violence, manipulations, inconclusive polls and outright rigging of elections.

    “We invite the whole world to note that the PDP conducted its Presidential primary  and a clear winner, Atiku Abubakar, emerged, without any form of disagreements or reliance on heavy security, showing that Nigerians are peaceful, orderly and desirous of credible processes at all levels of political engagement.

    “The PDP therefore charges INEC to stop blaming voters, accept responsibility for its failure to conduct credible elections and learn from our presidential primary, as we approach the 2019 general elections.

    “The PDP restates its determination to dismantle APC’s rigging machinery and return credible processes in all spheres of our national life”.

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan congratulated Atiku Abubakar describing him as a man with the capacity to take the country to greater heights.

    His media aide Ikechukwu Eze quoted Jonathan as saying: “I congratulate His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, Waziri Adamawa, and by the grace of God and the votes of Nigerians, the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “Our party members have spoken and have nominated you as the candidate for the forthcoming Presidential elections.

    “I am convinced that you have all it takes to take Nigeria to greater heights and transform her into a hub for prosperity and happiness. Congratulations.“ he said

    Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday congratulated the former Vice President for emerging as the standard bearer of the PPD.

    Saraki in a statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu also commended the delegates to the convention and members of the organizing committee, led by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, for holding a convention in which a candidate was elected in a free, fair, transparent and rancour-free atmosphere.

    “Our just concluded convention was a partisan event which the country can show-case as an example that democracy has a future in Nigeria and that when we are determined we can elect our leaders without any manipulation, intimidation and violation of the law and democratic norms.

    “The credit goes to the leadership of our party led by Prince Uche Secondus, the organizing committee led by Governor Okowa, the numerous delegates who came from across the country and conducted themselves in a civil, mature and democratic manner. I give kudos to them.

    “My commendation also goes to the government and people of Rivers State, for providing the best necessary facilities for hosting over 5000 delegates, campaign workers, security personnel, observers, media people and others who came to play one role or the other in the convention.

    “More importantly, let me congratulate the winner and new flagbearer of our party and all the fellow aspirants for running credible and mature campaigns and working all along to reassure millions of our fellow party members and other Nigerians that PDP will leave the convention venue more united and ready to work together to form the next government at the federal and other levels in a manner that we will unite the country, grow the economy, carry along all stakeholders, empower the youths and make government serve the people better.

    “Like I said in my speech at the convention after the official declaration of Alhaji Atiku as winner, all the other aspirants, especially myself, are ready to walk and work with him to spread the positive message of the PDP and his campaigns acrosss the nooks and crannies of the country such that the PDP will win the 2019 general elections.

    “Those who expect that the party will degenerate into crisis after the primaries have miscalculated. We will all work for the Atiku-PDP ticket to succeed and contribute ideas into solving the problems confronting Nigeria today. The event in Port Harcourt between yesterday and today was a victory for Nigeria and for democracy. We will not lose the momentum but sustain it to rebuild Nigeria and elect Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the next President of Nigeria.

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, said Atiku has the requisite experience and knowledge to tackle the challenges bedevilling the country.

    Dickson, according to a statement by his media adviser on Public Affairs, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, said: “Let me congratulate the former Vice President and now the presidential candidate of our great party for the next presidential election over his resounding victory in a free, fair, transparent and credible primary election.

    “The delegates have spoken and they have elected a man who understands our country, the Niger Delta and a man who has the requisite experience. He can build bridges of understanding and unity and form a great team to address the challenges that are facing our country. We look forward to working, collaborating and supporting him in that onerous responsibility. As he rightly said, it is not a job left for him alone.”

    Dickson commended the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, and members of the National Working Committee as well as the chairman of the convention planning committee and Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, and his team “for their hard work and the good job they have done.

    “I cannot fail to appreciate my brother, Governor Nyesom Wike, the government and people of Rivers State for their hospitality and sacrifices in hosting this historic event.

    “Let me also commend our worthy leaders most of whom are my compatriots and friends for offering themselves for service. I thank and appreciate them for their show of sportsmanship and magnanimity.

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike urged Nigerians irrespective of political affiliation to sack the most “inefficient Federal Government”.

    Speaking to reporters after a Thank You Visit by PDP Presidential Candidate Atiku Abubakar at the Government House Port Harcourt yesterday, Wike said all PDP leaders and well-meaning  Nigerians should be united in this cause.

    He said though different party leaders supported different aspirants, with the emergence of Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s Presidential Candidate, all hands must be on deck for the good of the country.

    The governor said: “We have no party that will salvage the country other than the PDP. A candidate has emerged and we owe it a duty to see that the party takes over the government.

    “We are one family. You may support aspirant A or B, but once a candidate emerges  you owe it a duty to make sure your party returns to power.

    “We are doing everything we can to ensure that we don’t  give  APC any gap. They have failed Nigerians and we will take over in 2019.

    “My happiness today is that the convention was successful and it went on without hitches”, he said.

    Atiku said: “The entire country needs a new government. Definitely, we don’t need APC to  return to power  in 2019”.

    He said the country had gone through challenges ranging from recession, unemployment, insecurity and lack of unity. He said the country needed to chart a new direction in the interest of the people.

    He said: “I came to personally congratulate the Governor, people and Government of Rivers State and also thank him for hosting a most successful convention “.

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was accompanied by Former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel, Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, Senator Sam Anyanwu, Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara and Edo State PDP Chairman Chief Dan Orbih.

    Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi described Atiku’s victory as a consummation of the wishes and desires of most Nigerians, both high and low.

    In a message, Obi described Nigeria as a nation that had drilled off the paths of development due to what he called  cumulative leadership failure, Obi said going by  Atiku’s wealth of experience, track record of wealth-creation,  knack for identifying excellence among excellent people, detribalized nature and perfect understanding of the ills of the country, that he has confident that Alhaji Abubakar Atiku has all it takes to restore the glory of Nigeria.

    “Having personally followed him in the past 6 months, listened and interacted with him on a number of issues negatively affecting our society, I  observe in him a person who has the burning desire to leave a footprint  in the sands of time.”

    SouthWest PDP in a statement by its spokesman Ayo Fadaka, said: “We wish to congratulate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on his emergence as the flag bearer of our great Party in next year’s Presidential election. His victory signifies the Party’s determination to field our very best in the quest to win the Presidential election.

    “We also congratulate all those aspirants that sought to pick this same ticket, together they all participated in a race which was essentially beneficial to the synergy that currently propels the Party.

    “Their declared commitment at the convention to work assiduously for the victory of the Party in next year’s general elections signals the solidarity and uniqueness of actions that shall be deployed against the disintegrating APC.

    “The PDP with the successful conduct of this convention further confirms its resurgence and extending same to new frontiers, we therefore inform Nigerians that we represent a fresh breath, a complete difference from the decadence that APC represents.

    “We therefore appeal for the support of Nigerians for PDP as we prepare for 2019 as there is an incumbent task on all Nigerians to salvage our lives, institutions and nation from the unimaginative and vindictive grip of the APC.”

  • Campaign funds’ tracking

    When the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, for assistance to monitor and track campaign funds spent by political parties and their candidates, it was an admission of inherent difficulties in carrying out this statutory duty.

    Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu told his anti-graft agency counterpart, Ibrahim Magu, when he visited the commission: “We want the EFCC which has the mandate and capacity to track and trace the sources of funds to work closely with us so that we can trace within the limits of the law”.

    He said cooperation would enable the commission enforce the provisions of the Electoral Act on electioneering campaign funding and ensure that election results are not determined by the amount of money a political party or candidate spends at the polls. Yakubu was apparently piqued by the practice whereby parties and their candidates go to the polling stations with sacks of money to induce voters even as he lamented that it compromised the rights of the people to vote freely for candidates of their choice.

    INEC is statutorily empowered to monitor all sources of funds of political parties. Specifically, sections 225 and 226 of the 1999 constitution assert the powers of INEC to monitor and assess parties’ sources of funding and management of same.

    They comprehensively deal with regulations to be enforced by the electoral body to make the political parties regularly financially accountable to it. Section 225(2) requires that all political parties shall “submit to the Independent National Electoral Commission a detailed annual statement and analysis of its sources of funds and other assets together with a similar statement of its expenditure in such form as the commission may require”.

    The 2010 Electoral Act went further to clear any ambiguity arising from monitoring of parties’ campaign funds by setting a ceiling of expenditure for political parties and their candidates for specific offices. The maximum for a presidential candidate is pegged at N1 billion, N200 million for governorship candidate and N40 million for the senate. The House of Representatives and state house of assembly are set at N20 million and N10 million respectively.

    Despite the wide powers of INEC to monitor and bring to book political parties and individuals that run fowl of extant regulations on campaign funding, the commission has been severely handicapped in this regard. Not only has it been unable to monitor and track electioneering campaign expenses of political parties and their candidates, it has not made much progress in monitoring and prosecuting the numerous electoral offences that have been a sad feature of our elections.

    It is the apparent difficulty in tracing and tracking electioneering campaign funds that compelled INEC to seek other ways to it.  Having admitted this handicap, it seeks cooperation of the anti-graft agency which has unlimited technology for monitoring and tracking the movement of funds. This would seem a new resolve and determination to overcome some of the limitations the electoral body encounters in compelling political parties and their candidates stick to extant regulations on campaign funding.

    The amount of funds political parties and their candidates spend during elections have remained vexatious. Even as the Electoral Act sets limits on campaign expenses, facts on the ground indicate that they are largely observed in their breach. The quantum of money that exchange hands during elections both on the side of the political parties and their candidates makes a mockery of the limits set by the Act.

    Not only has money assumed a prime role in swaying the direction of elections, it has prevented very credible and well qualified people without huge financial war chest from making themselves available for political leadership recruitment. This has impacted very negatively on the quality of leadership on these shores with deleterious consequences on the overall progress and development of the country.

    Elections have virtually turned into a market place where politicians and the electorate trade on votes with the highest bidder almost always having his way. And with a high level of illiteracy and poverty, the cankerworm has assumed a very pervasive dimension.

    It is good a thing INEC has sufficiently been agitated by the negative effects of the wrong deployment of money to sway the direction of elections. Money has come to play such pre-eminent role in our political process that the erroneous impression is being conveyed that democracy is for sale. Not only are politicians ever ready to compromise the electorate, the voters themselves have over time shown a very destructive appetite to trade their votes for a mess of porridge.

    This has had the net effect of not only compromising the sanctity of free, fair and credible elections but the rights of the people to elect their leaders without let or hindrance. Excessive deployment of money obfuscates the principles of representative democracy by infringing on the sovereignty of the electorate as freely expressed at the ballot box. It is nigh impossible for a virile culture of democracy which is a sine qua non for political development to grow and endure under such circumstance.

    Besides, the increasing role of money in determining the direction of electoral victory is inexorably linked to the high incidence of corruption in public places. Those who buy their ways to elective offices, see elections as investments from which they have to recoup with high profit margin. That is why such public offices have easily become the quickest means of wealth acquisition. Little wonder politics has turned into a very profitable business attracting all and sundry including impressionable youths that are deployed to risky and life threatening assignments.

    A new dimension to this is evident in the phenomenon of vote buying during elections. Though this is not entirely new, it seemed to have assumed very worrisome dimension during the last two governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states. Politicians were seen openly with sacks of money buying votes. The ability to pay for votes played a prime role in swaying the direction of those elections.

    What unscrupulous politicians required before parting with their illicit money was evidence of having voted for their party. It was partly to check this practice that INEC barred voters from using mobile phones as soon as they were handed over ballot papers. The calculation of INEC was that it will prevent voters from capturing their ballot papers on their phones with the aim of convincing agents of the politicians as to which party they voted for. Without such evidence, INEC believes vote buying will be reduced. But it cannot be entirely eliminated by that measure as there exist other ways of inducing voters albeit, monetarily.

    The important thing is that INEC has shown some commitment to checking the influence of money during elections. It is good that it is partnering with the EFCC which has comparative advantage in monitoring and tracking sources of funds. The synergy of this partnership will be of immense aid to the electoral body in tracking funds deployed by politicians and their parties during elections. Even then, it lacks the capacity and resources to prosecute election offenders.

    The role of EFCC is vital given that political parties and candidates source for funds during elections through known and unknown means. Much of the funds for which former National Security Adviser to former President Jonathan, Sambo Dasuki is facing trial were security votes allegedly diverted for the prosecution of the 2015 elections. INEC lacks the capacity to unveil such monies and others that may accrue from diversion of funds and illegal contracts.

    In carrying out this assignment, the two agencies must be fair to all political parties and their candidates. They must rise beyond partisanship and any shred of partiality if something positive is to come out of this partnership. They must resist the temptation of viewing corruption as a malfeasance only associated with the opposition. Since governments in power are heaviest spenders during elections, we look forward to seeing the agencies expose illegal deployments or diversion of public funds from this quarter. That will be a real measure of the success of the new understanding.

     

  • Boroffice emerges APC candidate for Ondo North Senatorial District

    Sen. Ajayi Boroffice, representing Ondo North Senatorial District on Thursday won the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the candidate of the party for the 2019 general election.

    Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), monitored the primary election in Ondo North Senatorial District.

    Boroffice, who was the sole aspirant for the primary, got 64,300 votes out of the 66,200 votes accredited for the exercise from the 72 wards in the senatorial district.

    Mr Abuh Andrew, the Chairman of APC Primary Election Committee in Ondo State, declared, “this is to certify that Robert Ajayi Boroffice, having scored the highest number of votes cast is hereby declared winner.”

    Read Also: Ribadu, Modi reject Adamawa APC governorship primary

    Boroffice called for peace within APC’s family in the state.

    Speaking with newsmen in his home town, Oka-Akoko, Boroffice appealed to political stakeholders in the area to unite to build APC for the betterment of all and sundry.

    According to him, the disruption of peace within the ruling party in the state will be counter-productive.

    Boroffice, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology, expressed his continued loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari and other national leaders of the party.

    NAN

  • 2019: Party congresses, primaries to cost INEC N630m

    The forthcoming political parties’ primaries is to cost the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) N630 million, it was learnt.

    The sum is outside the N160.792 million proposed by the commission for campaign finance tracking and reporting; INEC is expected to monitor intraparty primaries of the 91 political parties across the country, ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Section 86 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, empowers INEC to monitor the activities of all political parties. It reads: “the commission shall keep records of the activities of all registered political parties.”

    While Section 87 states that any political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under the 2010 Act, as amended, shall hold primaries for aspirants to all elective positions.

    Consequently, INEC is expected to monitor all the primaries at states and national levels. The breakdown of the budget according to the commission’s 2019 Election Project Plan Volume II shows, that, of the N630 million budgeted, about N182.55 million will be allotted to conduct of primaries and congresses in at state and local government levels.

    The commission also proposes to spend N27.88 million for the presidential conventions while governorship primaries will gulp N104.8925 million. Senatorial primaries, federal and state constituency primaries will also cost N104.8925 million respectively even as INEC vows to track the campaign spending of all the political parties and their candidates, to ensure that they do not exceed the stipulated amount for electoral campaign.

    Section 91 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended stipulates that presidential candidate spending shall not exceed N1 billion and governorship candidate, N200 million. Campaign spending for senatorial and House of Representatives slots shall not exceed N40 million and N20 million respectively, according to the act.

    The maximum amount of campaign expenses to be incurred by candidates for state assembly elections shall be N10 million; while Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates spending should not exceed N10 million and N1 million respectively, as stipulated by the law.

    The law also holds that an individual or other entity shall not donate more than N1 million to any candidate.

    A political party that incurs election expenses beyond the limit stipulated according to Section 92 (7) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of N1 million and forfeiture to INEC of the amount by which the expenses exceed the limit set by the commission.

    Despite allegations that the major political parties have flouted these laws in the past, no party or candidate has been sanctioned till date. To successfully track the parties and candidates’ campaign finances, with a view to ensure that no party or candidate exceeds the stipulated figures, the commission has budgeted N160.792 million.

    Further  breakdown of INEC’s spending reveals that N55.5 million will be committed to sensitization workshop for political parties/candidates.

    The sum of N57.2 million will be used to do the actual monitoring of campaign finance for all registered political parties. The commission also stated that it will cost N8 million to compile and produce the report of the tracking of all political parties’ expenses.

  • Court stops move to expel APC Exco in Ogun

    A Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has restrained the leaders of the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), from suspending or expelling ward executive committees of the party at Ifo Constituency 1 Wards 1, 2,3 and 11.

    In the judgement obtained by The Nation, 10 leaders of the affected wards in Ifo Local Government, instituted the legal action against the party leaders in the state over the alleged plan to expel them(plaintiffs).

    In the originating summon, the plaintiffs dragged the APC, state chairman, Chief Derin Adebiyi, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, before the court.

    The court also warned that INEC, the party leaders and other defendants joined in the suit risk imprisonment if they failed to recognize the plaintiffs as ordered by the court.

    Read Also: Court remands welder for attempted kidnap

    The plaintiffs had sought the relief from the court to compel the defendants to obey the subsisting judgement, which conferred legitimacy on the ward executive committees in the mentioned wards.

    Granting the order restraining the defendants, the court ordered the defendants or their proxies to recognise the plaintiffs as the authentic officers of the ward executive committees in wards 1,2,3 and 11 in Ifo 1 state constituency.

    “An order restraining the defendants by themselves, agents, servants, proxies and surrogates from suspending or expelling the plaintiffs from the first defendant’s political party and recognizing them as the authentic officers of the ward executive committees in wards 1,2,3 and 11 in Ifo 1 state constituency,” the injunction reads in part.

  • INEC decries exclusion of persons with disability

    ….unveils plan for 25m PWD ahead of 2019

     

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has decried the exclusion of persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the country’s electoral process.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stressed that excluding a community with an estimated population of 25 million from the political process, amounts to denying the nation of their critical contribution.

    Yakubu spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening of the Public presentation of INEC framework on access and participation of PWDs.

    He therefore said that the commission has come up with various policies for the engagement of PWDs as well as the expertise to implement the Framework. The document is therefore expected to guide the decision making process and activities of the Commission from the Committee level, Departmental and Divisional level, down to the State and Local Government Area offices.

    Yakubu who was represented by National Commissioner and Chairman Outreach and Partnership Committee (OPC),Dr. Adekunle Ladipo Ogunmola said: “Permit me, distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen to stress that, excluding a community with an estimated population of over 25 million from the political process, amounts to denying the nation the much needed contribution of this critical mass in the task of nation building, as well as a dent on Nigeria’s domestic and international commitment to respecting and promoting the human rights of ‘ all its citizens.

    “Democracy is all about participation; it should be an all-comers affair. For it to have any meaning, all eligible citizens must be allowed to participate meaningfully not just symbolically.”

    To ensure that no one was left behind, the Commission, he said “commenced certain strategic initiatives beginning with its Gender Policy which it has faithfully implemented in the last few years. It is also in the process of developing its Youth Engagement Strategy.”

    On the policy framework which was presented, he said “From a human right perspective, this document not only guarantees the full participation of eligible PWDs and all such vulnerable groups, but places responsibilities and obligations on the Commission, as well as other election stakeholders in line with its objective of making our elections more inclusive.

    Read Also: Is INEC not right on Osun poll?

    “However, while we acknowledge that the document about to be formally presented may not necessarily carry the weight and force of law in all regards, it comes with a moral burden and weight on the part of all stakeholders to ensure the inclusion of all eligible PWDs in the electoral process. As a Commission, we intend to lead in this regard. We take the Framework as our Charter with all citizens living with any disability. We hold ourselves bound by the commitments contained in this Framework.

    “We are of the candid view that integrating aspects or the entire Framework into a codified law should be the immediate focus of stakeholders and the Commission is hereby committing to lead in the advocacy for such in the future.

    “The summary of this document revolves around the rights of eligible PWDs to vote, be voted for, and hold political party offices, among others. It further expands access of eligible PWDs to the electoral process by placing responsibilities and obligations on the Election Management Body (EMB) to provide assistive materials, as well as provide or ensure PWD friendly and compliant environment and processes.”

    Even before this formal presentation, the Commission he said “has since commenced the pilot of certain aspects of PWD access in the recent off-cycle governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States and will hopefully replicate same in other elections. The Commission will build on the successes of the pilots and with lessons learned, improve on the inclusiveness of our future elections.

    “Beyond this, the Commission has put in place various platforms for the engagement of PWDs as well as the expertise to implement the Framework. This document is therefore expected to guide the decision making process and activities of the Commission from the Committee level, Departmental and Divisional level, down to the State and Local Government Area offices.”

     

  • Group sues Saraki, others for defecting to PDP

    A rights group, the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), has sued Senate President Bukola Saraki and other lawmakers who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    It is praying the Federal High Court in Abuja to declare that they are no longer members of the National Assembly by virtue of their defections from the political parties that sponsored their election.

    LEDAP is urging the court to determine whether any lawmaker who defects from the party that sponsored him before the expiration of his term does not automatically lose his seat unless there is a division within the party.

    In a supporting affidavit, the plaintiff said there was “no division in any of the political parties the said defendants defected from”.

    LEDAP further argued there was “no mergers involving any of the parties the defendants defected from”.

    There are 55 defendants in the suit, including Senators Dino Melaye, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Barnabas Gemade, as well as House of Representatives members.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is also named as a defendant in the suit filed by LEDAP National Coordinator Mr Chino Obiagwu.

    The plaintiff’s reliefs are based on section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

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    The section provides: “A member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if, being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected, provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored.”

    LEDAP, in the suit filed on September 14, is praying the court for an order of mandamus compelling the Deputy Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to declare the defectors’ seats vacant.

    According to the plaintiff, pursuant to Section 8(2)(d) of the Legislative Houses (Powers And Privileges) Act, it is a criminal offence for any of the defectors to continue sitting in the National Assembly. 

    LEDAP, a non-profit organisation, said the suit is in furtherance of its core mandate of promoting the rule of law, good governance and accountability in Nigeria.

    No date has been fixed for hearing.

  • ‘Don’t burst bubble, you don’t have immunity against calamity’

    A leading Presidential Aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi has warned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to avoid bursting the bubble capable of truncating Nigeria’s democracy.

    He condemned what he termed as intimidation of the opposition, saying that, “I am cautioning APC, they should not be smiling and grinning, we must never burst this bubble. They should not be carried away by the comfort of power, and think that they are immune from calamity.”

    Makarfi, former Kaduna State Governor and 2-term Senator (Kaduna North), also said that Nigeria’s survival will depend on how the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies conduct the 2019 general elections, saying that their conduct may mar or make the nation’s peace.

    Makarfi who spoke to Journalists in Kaduna on Monday said INEC must conduct free and fair general elections in 2019, just as he urged the security agencies to be professional in their conduct.

    The former governor who scored both INEC and security agencies very low in their performances so far, noted that, their conducts could make and mar the country either before, during and after the elections.

    The former Caretaker Committee Chairman of PDP noted that this could spell doom for the nation as the action or inaction of these two agencies could threaten the country’s peace and survival.

    Speaking on the APC led government, Makarfi urged the government to desist from intimidating or harassing opposition governors, saying that, they should always remember that there tomorrow as, ‘What goes around comes around.

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    He said, the sitting government should not use the comfort of power to denigrate PDP governors, saying, PDP governors, aspirants must be allowed to operate according to the dictates of the country’s constitution.

    He said, “I was shocked when I saw the news in an online medium that the 2019 elections may be postponed, but thank God, I later saw INEC coming out to deny making such pronouncement. That not withstanding, that was the most dangerous news I ever read, that was very reckless.

    “You see, the interest of Nigeria is larger than interest of any of us. How we conduct this elections and how we manage this electoral process will largely determine the fate of Nigeria.

    “INEC and the security agencies must know that, the fate of this country squarely lies on their shoulders. It is not even about history being kind to them, it is about how they will end up. Therefore, they must conduct free, fair and credible elections.

    “When you see some moves like freezing of accounts, monitoring of opposition Governors. Because, I have never heard where an APC Governor’s account is being frozen. If Governors do certain things, is it only PDP Governors? The APC Governors may be doing worse, but you never hear that happens to any APC Governor. While elections are approaching, you don’t hear of APC members, aspirants accounts being frozen. But here (in PDP), even accounts of family members of aspirants are being frozen. They should remember that, there is tomorrow, because what goes around comes around and questioning that, what is good for the goose is good for the gander. If you are doing anything to anybody, do it to everybody. Our governors must be left alone to work, our aspirants must be left alone to do their politicking and campaign unmolested like other aspirants.

    “From what I am seeing, I am not comfortable, and if Nigerians keep quiet, then it is like harbouring what is wrong. People must speak out. If it happens to someone today, it can happen to you tomorrow. You don’t have to be in politics, but it means, once you dissent, anything can happen to you. As journalists, yours is to report but once you keep on reporting objectively, then something can happen to you.

    “So, for me, I think INEC and security agencies have a lot to do and so far, I am not impressed, but they must remember that the fate of Nigeria lies squarely on their shoulders. PDP and other political parties will do what is right.

    “I am cautioning APC, they should not be smiling and grining, we must never burst this bubble. They should not be carried away by the comfort of power, and think that they are immune from calamity.

    “We are all not immune from calamity; nobody knows when calamity will come. We all have a stake, we all have responsibility, be you PDP, APC or any other political party and especially INEC and security agencies and other agencies that are used to muzzle down the opposition, they must remember that the country comes first, not any government or political party”.

  • TUC urges INEC, security agencies on credible election

    The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria in Bayelsa State has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other stakeholders on the need to enforce the electoral law and ensure credible 2019 general elections.

    The state Chairman of the congress, Tari Dounana, who spoke in Yenagoa, said the survival of democracy depended largely on free, fair and credible election. He said the electoral body and security agencies could ensure this through the enforcement of the electoral laws.

    He said, however, that politicians, especially the contestants, had great role to play in ensuring credible elections in the country.

    Dounana condemned political thuggery and the increasing incidents of vote buying in the country’s electoral process and urged politicians and the electorates to respect electoral rules and regulations.

    He said: “We are appealing to INEC to step up the game and ensure that all aspirants respect the electoral laws.

    “All critical stakeholders, including the INEC, security agencies, politicians, youths and supporters of political parties need to abide by the rules of the game.

    “Let us remember that we do not have any other country than Nigeria and we must all see that the democracy we have practised is sustained.

    “People should not get involved in anything that will truncate the democracy that we are enjoying; the political gladiators must know that winning election should not be by violence and vote-buying.

    “Voters should not sell their rights or youths should not be used for thuggery. So, we must abide by those tenets that will continue to promote the progress of our country.”

    He further reminded Nigerians that the proceeds from vote selling were short-lived while the agony of helping to install bad governance could last a life time.

    Dounana said: “Respect the law, vote for the right candidate of your choice that will be able turn around the country for the best.

    “Avoid selling your vote; it is dangerous to the system.”