The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Independent National Electoral Commission

  • Recovered 4,555 national ID cards: INEC staff gave us – Witness

    Recovered 4,555 national ID cards: INEC staff gave us – Witness

    The police in Cross River on Monday arrested four suspected thieves for unlawful possession of 4,555 National Identity cards and 21 others who committed various offences, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Hafiz Inuwa, said.

    Inuwa, who made the development known when he addressed newsmen in Calabar on Tuesday, said the suspects were arrested by personnel of the Police Command in Cross on May 19.

    He said the suspected identity card thieves were arrested at a location on Eyo-Edem Street in Calabar following a tip-off.

    The commissioner explained that after a thorough search on the suspects, 4,555 National Identity cards bearing different names were found on them.

    Upon interrogation, the four suspects confessed that one Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff gave the cards to them. All the four suspects confessed to the crime and investigation is on-going in order to arrest the alleged INEC staff

    The commissioner said that the command also arrested three suspected armed robbers on May 2, shortly after they allegedly robbed Solomon Alfred of his N380,000 and three mobile phones.

    “On May 2, our men arrested three suspected armed robbers who had robbed Solomon Alfred of his N380,000 and his three mobile phones.

    “Also on May 13, our men arrested a student of the University of Calabar for being in possession of fake currencies.

    “During interrogation, the suspect claimed that a friend of his that resides at Uyo gave him the fake currencies.

    “Investigation is on-going to unravel the truth of the matter and arrest his accomplices to ascertain the source/distributor of these fake currencies,” he said.

    The police also arrested three suspected manufacturers of firearms on May 19, the commissioner said.

    He also said  the police recovered five locally made pistols; six locally made single barrel guns, one locally made single barrel long gun, among others.

    “During the period under review, the state police command has arrested 25 suspects for various offences.

    “We recovered five AK 47 rifles, seven magazines and 200 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, one battle axe, eight live cartridges, among others,” he said.

  • INEC receives applications for 95 new political parties – Chairman

    INEC receives applications for 95 new political parties – Chairman

    …May announce new parties this week

     

    Ahead of the 2019 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received 95 applications for new political parties, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has said.

    Addressing Journalists Monday in Kaduna shortly after the opening ceremony of the Workshop to Review INEC Communications Policy, Prof. Mahmood said they have received applications from various intending political parties, adding that the applications will be looked into at a meeting of the Commission Wednesday in Kaduna and those successful will be announced soon.

    According to the INEC boss, “As at last week, we had received 95 applications for new political parties. At the end of this workshop, there is going to be a retreat on Wednesday to review the ongoing voters registration followed by a meeting of the Commission here in Kaduna. At the end of the meeting of the Commission, we will issue a release on the issue of parties.

    “I have said that we would be holding a mid-quarterly review of our activities and preparation as we head towards the 2019 general elections after every six weeks, by Wednesday, the mid-quarterly review will come up here in Kaduna on the ongoing continuous voters registration nationwide.”

    Speaking on the essence of the workshop held with the support if United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the INEC boss said, “While the current policy has served the Commission, it is obvious that a review is necessary as we prepare for the 2019 general elections. Such a review is significant in order to achieve four objectives; a comprehensive review of the policy to determine what worked and what needed to fine-tune.

    “Secondly, the need to examine the extent to which the policy has enabled the Commission to effectively communicate with the public. To determine the extent to which the policy has facilitated a more robust internal communication within the Commission and to appraise the effectiveness of a sustained stakeholder engagement between the Commission and relevant stakeholders.”

    Prof. Mahmood said since 2015 general elections significant changes have taken place in the political and electoral arena that should be taken into consideration in planning for the next general elections.

     

  • Gov Bello illegally registered twice – INEC

    Gov Bello illegally registered twice – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has accused Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of double registration for Permanent Voter Card, as against the electoral law.

    A statement by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Prince Solomon Soyebi, said Bello’s second registration was done on Tuesday at the Government House in Lokoja, outside the designated centre for ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

    The statement reads: “It has come to the attention of INEC that Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello registered as a voter for the second time on Tuesday, May 23, at the Government House in Lokoja.

    His first registration was on January 30, 2011, in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja. The governor’s double registration, and doing so outside lNEC’s designated centres, are both illegal. For the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), INEC has designated a centre in each of the country’s 774 local governments areas, including FCT’s six Area Councils.

    RELATED: ‘Bello killing APC in Kogi’

    “We wish clarify that no INEC worker was authorised to re-register Bello or any citizen, or to do so outside our designated registration centres. The commission, therefore, dissociates itself from the governor’s action and promises to take disciplinary action against the staff who conducted Bello’s second registration.

    “As for the governor, Section 308 (l) (a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), precludes lNEC from prosecuting him while in office. However, the commission has cancelled his second and illegal registration forthwith.”

    It added that Bello’s second registration will be cancelled as the Electoral Law and the commission’s guidelines make no exception for anyone to register more than once, and to do so outside designated centres.

  • Voter registration yet to commence in Adamawa council

    The on-going nationwide Continuous Voter Registration exercise is yet to commence in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa due to security concerns, an official said on Wednesday.

    Mr Salihu Yau, the state Administrative Secretary, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC], said the commission had not received security clearance to go into the area.

    Yau told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola that INEC officials, traditional rulers and security officials were meeting in Gulak, headquaters of the local government on the way forward.

    The official, however, said that with the exception of Madagali, the exercise was going on smoothly in the remaining 20 local government areas of the state.

    He explained that so far, over 1000 people had registered across the state since commencement of the exercise four days ago.

    Yau expressed confidence that more eligible voters would turn up to be registered as the exercise continue.

     

  • INEC to give special treatment to nursing mothers, pregnant women

    INEC to give special treatment to nursing mothers, pregnant women

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it would give special treatment to nursing mothers, people with disability and the aged at the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

    The Administrative Secretary of the commission in Zamfara, Alhaji Abdu Gujungu, said this at the flag-off of the CVR and distribution of Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) in Gusau on Thursday.

    Gujungu noted that pregnant women, nursing mothers and other people with disability deserved special consideration, considering their nature.

    “We have told our personnel in all our centres that whenever any person among these categories of people come to register they should give them special treatment.

    “The exercise which commenced today will continue up to near 2019 general election.

    “Eligible voters who have attained 18 years and those who either lost their cards for any reason, should come and register,’’ he said.

    The scribe commended the support of stakeholders, particularly security agents, traditional rulers and the media.

    He said the commission has over 55,000 unclaimed PVCs.

    Meanwhile, the State Government has urged INEC to increase the number of polling units in the state considering the increase in the population of the people.

    The state acting Governor, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala, made the call on Wednesday during stakeholders meeting organised by the commission to mark the commencement of the exercise in the state.

  • INEC flags-off CVR exercise in Lagos

    INEC flags-off CVR exercise in Lagos

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially flagged-off the Continuous Voters’ Registration (CVR) exercise in Lagos State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was held on Thursday in Lagos at the INEC office in Surulere Local Government Area.

    It marked the commencement of CVR exercise nationwide.

    Ogunmola, the Supervisory National Commissioner in charge of Ondo, Ogun and Lagos States, urged leaders of political parties to encourage and mobilise their supporters to register and collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    “This event represents an important milestone in INEC’s mandate to deliver free, fair and credible elections.

    “The primary aim of this event is to register eligible voters who have just matured into the voting age of 18 years and those who could not register previously.

    “This will afford them to participate in the forthcoming general elections,” he said.

    According to him, the aim is also to update voters’ register to reflect transfers and deaths in accordance with Section 10 of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended.

    Ogunmola noted that the Act required the commission to update the voters’ register and make it available to every political party within 60 days after each year of registration.

    He added: “Uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will be distributed to their owners at the registration centres.

    “The local government offices of the commission or any other suitable location designated by the state offices of the commission would be used.”

    Ogunmola said that the CVR exercise would be held in all the 774 local government areas of the federation Monday to Friday weekly, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., excluding public holidays.

    The supervisory INEC commissioner said eligible persons for the CVR must be citizens who have attained the age of 18 year on or before the registration day.

    He said that such person must be resident, working or originally from the local government area or registration ward covered by the registration centre.

    According to him, an eligible person must not be subject to any legal incapacity to vote under any law, rules or regulations in force in Nigeria.

    He said that those who could not register during the previous registration exercise were also eligible.

    Ogunmola said that an eligible person must present himself or herself to the CVR officers for registration and must be able to provide proof of identity, age and nationality, if requested.

    He said that the exercise would also take care of persons who had registered before but their names, photographs, finger prints were not captured.

    Ogunmola said such persons must provide their Temporary Voter Card (TVC).

    He added that the exercise would also address cases of those who had PVC or TVC but their names were not on the register of voters.

    “INEC acknowledges the issue of transfer of voters. Therefore, we want to encourage people that have moved to a different location to seize the opportunity that is being provided to transfer their registration.”

    The commissioner advised those who were already registered not to do so again as it was an offence to register more than once.

    According to him, to facilitate the successful conduct of the CVR, the commission has mobilised a team of four Registration Area Officers and a Distribution officer in the INEC LGA offices.

    He said that the Preliminary Register of Voters would be displayed for public scrutiny at registration centres by the end of every quarter before the printing of PVCs is commenced.

    Ogunmola said that TVCs would be issued to registrants at the point of registration, adding that PVCs of voters registered in the 1st quarter should be ready for collection in the 3rd quarter.

    According to him, the PVCs of voters registered in the 2nd quarter should be ready in the 4th quarter.

    He added that cases of lost or omitted PVCs and test of PVCs using Smart Card Reader (SCR) would be attended to.

    The commissioner said the exercise would be all year round and urged eligible voters to participate so as not to disenfranchise themselves.

     

  • Voter registration: Monarch calls for large turnout in Rivers

    Eze Samuel Amaechi, the Paramount Ruler of Igbo kingdom in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers, has called for large turnout in forthcoming voters’ registration exercise.

    Amaechi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on Wednesday that large turnout would ensure that the people are not disfranchised in 2019 general elections.

    NAN reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) set aside April 27 for the flag-off of new voters registration in Rivers.

    The monarch said that full participation of his people in the exercise would boost voting strength of the area as well as that of state respectively.

    “Our people should realise that their voters’ card is the only weapon that they have to vote candidates of their choice.

    “If people fail to register; then they may not have the opportunity to vote their preferred candidates for leadership positions during elections.

    “I will synergise with relevant authorities of government to ensure eligible persons are registered while we provide peaceful environment for the exercise to take place across the kingdom,” he said.

    Amaechi assured both indigenes and non-indigenes residing in his domain of their safety before, during and after the registration exercise.

    The monarch urged the people to be peaceful in their conduct and thanked them for their hospitality to visitors to the area.

  • ‘1.4m PVCs yet to be collected in Lagos’

    ‘1.4m PVCs yet to be collected in Lagos’

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State says there are 1, 425, 282 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) yet to be collected in the state.

    The new Administrative Secretary of INEC in the state, Dr Mudashiru Mustapha disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    He spoke on the sideline of the commission’s Stakeholders’ Meeting with political parties on Tuesday.

    NAN reports that the event, which had no fewer than 20 state chairmen of different political parties in attendance, was organized by INEC to seek support for the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR).

    The CVR exercise, scheduled to be flagged-off by the commission on April 27 nationwide, will also provide avenue for people who were yet to collect their PVCs to do so.

    Mustapha said: “There are so many PVCs yet to be claimed by their owners in Lagos State. We want residents to go to INEC offices in each of the 20 Local Governments in the state.

    “We want to canvass for the support of leaders of political parties for mobilization of eligible residents for the forthcoming nationwide Continuous Voters Registration exercise.

    “The commission needs your understanding, support and cooperation to mobilize residents for this continuous voter’s registration, even though we have done the needful in awareness campaign.

    “There is no way we can achieve success without leaders of political parties, we want to solicit your support because you are closer to the people and live among them.

    “Voter card is the power people have to elect their representatives, they must be encouraged to come out en masse and get registered. Help us sensitize and mobilize the people.”

    Earlier, Mustapha assured the party representatives that the commission had put necessary measures to ensure a hitch free exercise.

    Mrs Seye Soriyan, the Head of Department, ICT/Voters’ Registry, also highlighted the eligibility and procedures for the fresh registration, transfer and distribution of PVCs.

    Soriyan said that the exercise would be from Monday to Friday every week between 9 a.m. and 3.p.m. at the INEC office in each of the 20 local government areas of the state.

    According to her, each of the local governments will have five Registration Area Officers who will register eligible residents and distribute PVCs ready for collection.

    Soriyan said eligible persons for registration include those who turned 18 years after the last exercise in 2015 and those who did not register before.

    She added that those who want to transfer their voting centers were also free to register during the exercise.

    Soriyan explained that those registered would be given temporary Voter Cards, before their PVCs became ready after six months.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that party leaders at the meeting had urged the commission to make the exercise less stressful by decentralizing it to the ward level.

    Political parties represented at the meeting include All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Accord Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, KOWA Party, Labor Party, and Young Democratic Party (YDP) among others.

     

  • Continuous voter registration to run till 2019 election – INEC

    Continuous voter registration to run till 2019 election – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said on Tuesday that the Continuous Voters Registration beginning nationwide on April 27, would run till few months to the 2019 general election.

    The INEC Secretary in Niger, Alhaji Aliyu Bungudu, made the disclosure at a one-day forum for election stakeholders held in Minna.

    He said that the registration exercise was to ensure that no eligible voter was denied the right to elect leaders of their choice.

    Bungudu assured the stakeholders that INEC would not shirk its responsibility in that regard, and urged them to mobilise the people to get registered.

    “The voter registration exercise will continue at the local government levels when it commence, till few months to the conduct of 2019 general elections.

    “The exercise will scale down to registration areas/wards and polling units that records zero registration during the last exercise.”

    He therefore called on eligible Nigerians who have attained the age of 18, to take the advantage of the exercise to be registered.

    The Secretary said that the voter registration would be conducted in public and open places for ease of access.

    Bungudu also appealed to those who registered but did not collected their permanent voter cards to come forward for collection.

    He solicited the support of politicians, traditional and religious leaders in mobilising the populace to participate in the exercise.

  • Lawyers group decries Senate’s failure to swear-in senator elect

    Lawyers group decries Senate’s failure to swear-in senator elect

    • Threatens to drag Saraki to court for contempt

    Human Right Lawyers and civil society groups on Monday asked Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, to respect court order directing him to swear-in senator-elect, Bassey Etim, in the interest of rule of law.

    The group threatened to drag Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, to court for allegedly refusing to inaugurate Etim despite a court order for him to do so.

    The Human right lawyers who spoke in Abuja at a press briefing described as an unacceptable alleged refusal of Saraki to swear-in Etim even with a duly issued certificate of return for Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District.

    Coordinator of Human Right Lawyers, Frank Tietie told reporters that Saraki was trampling on rule of law for allegedly refusing to swear-in Etim.

    He recalled that on 27th, February 2017, the Federal High Court, Uyo Division in a well-considered judgement ordered among others that a certificate of return be issued to Senator-elect Bassey Etim by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He said that the same court nullified the certificate of return issued to Senator Bassey Albert.

    Tietie noted that INEC in obedience to the court order issued Basset Etim a fresh certificate of return on March 6th, 2017.

    He said that the Senate President has however delayed the swearing-in of Senator-elect Bassey Etim without any justifiable reason or excuse under the law.

    He said that on 31st March 2017, the Federal High Court in Uyo dismissed the application for stay of execution filed by Bassey Akpan to stop swearing-in Senator-elect Bassey Etim as the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East.

    He said: “It has come to our knowledge that series of letters have been written and advice given to the Senate President to swear-in senator-elect Bassey Etim but the Senate President has refused to do the needful.

    “It is worthy to mention that all relevant documents have been put before the Senate President. These include enrolled court order from Federal High Court, Uyo order for striking out of the application for stay of execution, order for the refusal of the injunction by the Federal High Court Judge in Abuja, Certificate of return from INEC.”

    Tietie noted that it is obvious that precedent has been set in the swearing-in of senators who have won pre-election matters and issued with a certificate of return.

    He said, “Just to mention but a few is the case of Kogi East in a case between Senator Isaac Alfa vs Senator Atai Aidoko. In this situation, stay of execution was pending in court and appeals were also pending in both the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. We believe that their swearing-in was right because appeal does not in law operate as the order for stay of execution.”

    Tietie insisted that in view of the precedent already set by the Senate similar to the instant case of Etim, Senate ought to be consistent and swear-in Senator-elect Etim immediately.

    He said that they have been duly informed that the delay to swear-in Etim is predicated upon giving Senator Akpan opportunity to procure an order of injunction to restrain the swearing-in Etim.

    According to him, “since Albert Akpan has failed to produce injunctive order to restrain the swearing-in of Senator-elect Etim, we hereby call on the Senate President to swear-in Senator-elect Etim forthwith in accordance with the rule of law for the sustenance of our nascent democracy.”