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Tag: Independent National Electoral Commission

  • Edo polls: There was accreditation before voting, witnesses tell tribunal

    Edo polls: There was accreditation before voting, witnesses tell tribunal

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Thursday opened his defence at the State Election Petition Tribunal in the ongoing hearing of the petition filed by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and the People’s Democratic Party.

     

    Pastor Ize-Iyamu is asking the tribunal to declare him winner of the September 28 governorship election.

     

    The Independent National Electoral Commission on Monday closed its defence by submitting 203 documents without calling any witnesses.

     

    It said calling of witnesses would amount to helping the petitioners repaired their case damaged by the witnesses they called.

     

    The six witnesses that testified before the tribunal as at press time insisted that all voters were accredited before voting.

     

    They told the tribunal that election was conducted freely and fairly in line with the electoral act and added that there were neither agitation nor complaints from anybody including PDP agents after the results were announced.

     

    Lovely Igene who hails from Ward 7 in Oredo local government said the PDP collation agent in the Ward, Orkar Friday, did not come to his polling unit on the Election Day.

     

    He told the tribunal that voting and accreditation took place simultaneously.

     

    Evbuomwan Jackson told the tribunal that Presiding Officer informed all parties the procedure for the conduct of the election which included simultaneous accreditation and voting.

     

    Attempts by Counsel to the petitioners, Yusuf Alli, to seek additional time for cross examination was rejected by the tribunal.

  • No electronic, diaspora voting in 2019 elections – INEC

    No electronic, diaspora voting in 2019 elections – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) on Monday ruled out electronic and diaspora voting in 2019 general elections.
     
    The electoral umpire told the Senate that until the Constitution was amended and necessary logistics put in placed, the commission cannot delve into electronic and diaspora voting.
     
    It said that electronic and diaspora voting do not only lack constitutional backing but were also expensive to execute. 
     
    The commission said that work was in progress to develop a strategic plan with a view to coming out with the financial requirements for the 2019 poll and other pending elections including the Anambra governorship election and Anambra Central Senatorial District by-election. 
     

    Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu
    Prof. Mahmood
    INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, stated this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Finance to defend the commission’s 2017 budget.
     
    The committee had demanded to know the preparedness of the commission ahead of the 2019 general elections. 
     
    A member of the committee, Senator Yakubu Abubakar, wanted to know if INEC would key into the reported breakthrough of by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, (NASENI), in the invention of electronic voting in the 2019 general election. 
     
    Professor Yakubu noted that since the news of the electronic voting machine invention came up, he had not been either formally or informally informed by NASENI.
     
    The INEC boss said that even if he was formally informed, to adopt electronic voting in the election, the possibility would not be feasible because the device should be tested to certify the efficiency.
     
    He added that the device should also be produced in large quantity to cover the country’s numerous polling units. 
     
    On whether INEC would incorporate diaspora voting in the election, the INEC boss answered in the negative.
     
    He said that there was no provision for diaspora voting. 
     
    Yakubu noted that for INEC to adopt the system the constitution needed to be amended to give it legal backing.
    He also said that the cost of running the method was very high.
     
    The INEC boss said that adopting the method at this time of economic recession occasioned by the problem of currency exchange rates would deeply and negatively affect the country’s finances. 
     
    Yakubu noted that for the past three years, INEC’s annual budget had stood at N45 billion.
     
    He said the commission was yet to know how much the 2019 general election would gulp.
     
    The commission, he said, was already embarking on a strategic plan with a view to coming out with the actual financial figure the 2019 elections and others would cost the country. 
     
    He said that INEC’s purse had been deeply drained following “unscheduled elections” in the last one year caused mainly by deaths of 13 national and state assembly members. 
     
    He said, “For instance, in the last one year, we have conducted 13 unscheduled by-elections caused by deaths of some members of national and state assembly, meaning that on the average, a member of the national or state assembly dies every month. ” 
     
    Chairman of the committee, John Owan Enoh, explained that the purpose of the session was to avail federal government agencies that come under statutory transfer the opportunities of interacting with the committee on their revenue framework before approval for their various committees.
  • INEC to spend N19.1bn for elections in 2017

    INEC to spend N19.1bn for elections in 2017

    …Says National ID card not feasible in elections

     

    The Independent National Electoral Commission is to spend N19.1bn for elections in 2017, its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has said.

    Yakubu, spoke while presenting the Commission’s N45 billion 2017 budget before the Hon. Aisha Dukku- headed House Committee on Electoral Matters Monday.

    According to him, INEC has drawn up a strategic plan in preparations for the 2019 general elections, while the financial implication is being worked out.

    The early preparation, he said, is to ensure readiness for the polls and the strategic plan for the general elections is already being discussed at the three levels of government, especially with the executive arm of government.

    Yakubu also said because the ongoing harmonisation of databases is yet to be concluded. the use of the National Identity cards for the polls, may not be feasible,

    A supplementary budget request would be submitted later in 2017, for the Implementation of the strategic plan,  Yakubu said.

    His words: “At this point, we cannot put a figure on the budget for the elections (2019) until we complete the process of validating the strategic plan. Therefore, we are likely to approach the executive and the National Assembly for supplementary budget in this 2017.

    “The supplementary aspect should incorporate something for the elections and in 2018, we will have it in the main proposals.”

    “N20.9 billion of the commission’s N45 billion budget is proposed for personnel costs, N2.3 billion proposed for capital projects, while N19.1 billion is proposed for elections that would hold in 2017.

    “Fortunately, we do not have many elections this year. Apart from Anambra State, where there will be a governorship election, there are no numerous elections”, he said.

    He said in 2016, the Commission, spent about N24 billion on elections, including re-run elections, across the country.

    On the use of the identity cards for elections, Yakubu said there is a policy in place, mandating all agencies with individual data bases, to harmonise such data with the national identity card and that the Office of the Vice President is coordinating the exercise.

    He further states: “That process has not been concluded. INEC today has the largest data base in the country with 70million registered voters. That is a huge figure, much larger than when you talk about the population of many African countries put together”.

    A member of the committee, Jonathan Gaza Gbewfi commended the early preparation for the 2019 polls, but however observed that the legislature ought to have been consulted on the strategic plan.

    “We are the elected representatives of the people. Those in the executive are mostly appointed officers. You have to start talking with the representatives of the people first on whatever plan you have for elections,” Gbewfi said.

  • Ondo decides: Unilorin VC INEC returning officer

    Ondo decides: Unilorin VC INEC returning officer

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali as the Chief Returning Officer for the ongoing gubernatorial election in Ondo State.

    It would be recalled that INEC on Friday rejected the claims of the Peoples Democratic Party alleging that the Commission, in connection with the All Progressives Congress (APC), had appointed the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Prof. Kayode Soremekun, who was Chief Returning Officer in Edo State to serve in same capacity in Ondo to “use the same template that compromised Edo election”.

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  • Ondo Guber: Ibrahim heads to S’Court,

    Ondo Guber: Ibrahim heads to S’Court,

    Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim has reacted to the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to remove his name as the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State.

    Ibrahim said in a statement shortly after the judgment that he was sure of getting justice at the Supreme Court.

    He said there was no way the incumbent Governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, would succeed himself by planting Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) as his successor.

    His statement reads in part.

    “I have read the decision of the Court of Appeal delivered today (Wednesday). We have nothing to lose, as the Supreme Court sits on the same case tomorrow.

    “We shall get justice at the Supreme Court and if PDP wins Saturday election, we shall have our four-year mandate to rule Ondo State.

    “Let me advise you not to abuse anyone or fight over this one day ruling. Mimiko will not succeed himself with Jegede. This is too sure.

    “We continue with our work and remain in our great party, PDP. I love the great people of Ondo state and I thank you all for continuous support.”

  • INEC to deploy 16,723 personnel for Ondo guber poll

    INEC to deploy 16,723 personnel for Ondo guber poll

    • Names of party candidates, voter register out Thursday
    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to publish the list of nominated candidates in the Ondo state governorship poll on Thursday 27th October.
    Also to be published on the same date is the official register of voters for the election scheduled for Saturday, November 26th 2016.
    The publication according to the electoral body is in compliance with the relevant sections of the law.
    Section 34 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) provides that INEC should publish the list of nominated candidates by political parties at least 30 days before the day of an election. 
     Similarly, Section 20 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) provides that the Commission should publish the official register of voters for an election, not less than 30 days before the election.
    In the same vein, the INEC is expected to deploy sixteen thousand seven hundred and twenty-three (16,723) personnel for Ondo governorship poll.
    Ondo state is made up of eighteen (18) Local Government Areas,203 Registration Areas, and 3,010 Polling Units. It has a total of1,660,055 registered voters.
    A breakdown of the 16,723 personnel to be deployed indicates that INEC would deploy one (1) Returning Officer, eighteen (18) Local Government Collation Officers, 203 Registration Area Collation Officers, 301 Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPOs), 3,010 Presiding Officers (POs), and 11, 103 Assistant Presiding Officers (I,II and III).
    Others are 1,321 Assistant Presiding Officers (VP), 621 Reserve Assistant Presiding Officers, 19 Local Government Area Supervisors, and 126 Registration Area Cluster Supervisors.

  • Edo Polls: PDP caucus alleges APC, INEC of conspiracy to rig

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) and some personnel of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are conspiring to rig Wednesday’s governorship polls in Edo state, the caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives has alleged.

    Compromising INEC staff, issuance of sensitive materials including result sheets before elections and alteration of card readers, among others  are the means to be employed to carry out the rigging, the leader of caucus, Leo Ogor (PDP, Delta) said at a briefing on Tuesday.

    “INEC surreptitiously and in conjunction with APC compiled names and list of INEC staff and persons sympathetic with APC to superintend over election to skew same in favour of APC.

    “Thus, INEC staff earlier listed for the elections were all replaced majorly with people from a particular section of the country, claiming that most people from the South-south are sympathetic to the PDP.

    “There was an arrangement to issue sensitive materials such as results sheets and incident forms to the APC before the election to enable them originate fake results and submit same with the assistance of security men.

    “Some top APC members were arranging with ICT experts and some INEC officials to alter the card readers to be used for the election to give an inaccurate figure, which was not generated from the legitimate accreditation in the field.

    “Additionally, INEC unlawfully agreed with some security agencies to move collation centres to police station, saying the action was to give the APC, who are ill-prepared and indeed not capable of winning any free and fair election in Edo State, the covering to bring in compromised results for the Returning Officers to announce,” he said.

    Ogor, who was accompanied by several members of the caucus said the APC in the State, in conjunction with some security agencies have consistently harassed PDP members in the various local governments of the state ahead of the election.

    The security report which was used as excuse to postpone the election would also be deployed as grounds to militarise Edo to ward off any anti APC voter, Ogor alleged.

    The caucus however appealed to the electoral umpire to live above board, saying, “We urge INEC as an independent and unbiased umpire to forestall these evil arrangements and uphold its integrity. The issues raised herein should be taken seriously and acted upon by civil society, the Nigerian public and the press to give credibility to the electoral process”.

  • 30 political parties to participate in Ondo guber poll

    30 political parties to participate in Ondo guber poll

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) Tuesday announced that thirty political parties will participate in the November 26, governorship election in Ondo State.

    It also informed that it has put in another arrangement to ensure smooth accreditation and voting process during the poll.

    This it said would reduce the rigorous process being experienced by the commission during the poll.

    The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Olusegun Agbaje disclosed at a press conference held in Akure, the state capital.

    Agbaje said all parties intended to participate in the contest have concluded their primaries as at on Monday.

    The REC listed the parties as Alliance for Democracy, (AD), Social Democratic Party,( SDP), People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), African People Alliance, (APA), Peoples Redemption Party, (PRP), All Progressives Congress, (APC) and Labour Party,( LP).

    It also include Citizens Popular Party,( CPP), People’s Party of Nigeria, (PPN) ,Democratic People’s Party, (DPP), Democratic People’s Congress, (DPC), New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP), Hope Democratic Party,( HDP), National Unity Party, (NUP), and Better Nigeria Progressive Party,( BNPP).

    Others were: Young Democratic Party, (YDP), Accord Party, (AP), All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA), Progressive Peoples Alliance, (PPA), African Democratic Congress, (ADC), Action Alliance,( AA) , Unity of Nigeria (UPN), KOWA Party, (KP), People for Democratic Change (PDC), Independent Democrats, (ID), Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), National Conscience Party, (NCP, United Democratic Party,(UDP), United Progressive Party,( UPP) and Advanced Congress of Democrats, (ACD).

    Agbaje who appreciated the peaceful conduct of political parties during their primaries, noted that the standard of the conduct exhibited will benefit the deepening of democracy in the state.

    His words: Going by the scheduled election timetable, the party campaigns for the election have taken off and open politicking is gathering momentum.

    “On this note, I wish to appeal to the political parties and politicians/ contestants to exercise restraint in their pronouncements and avoid getting involved in verbal wars and inflammatory comments capable of igniting political tension and provoking rancour that could threaten the peace currently being enjoyed in the state.

    “The current political campaigns should record a significant improvement. It should be violent -free, issue-based, enriching and peaceful. It is my belief that a peaceful campaign exercise is a likely harbinger to the conduct of a peaceful election.”

    Agbaje, however, assured the stakeholders the readiness of the Commission to conduct a peaceful, transparent and credible and conclusive governorship election in the state.

  • ‘Supreme court must do what is right on Kogi’

    ‘Supreme court must do what is right on Kogi’

    1.    On September 20, 2016 the Supreme Court will determine one of the most brazen attempts to violate the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria when it gives its judgment in the matter of Idris Wada & Others v Yahaya Bello & Others.

    2.    The facts of this case are clear and as such do not require repetition. However, the legal issues are somewhat murky. While our laws did not envisage the scenario caused by the unfortunate death of late Prince Abubakar Audu and do not stipulate the pathway to follow to resolve the quagmire, they are very clear on what not to do in pursuit of a resolution.

    3.    In attempting to resolve the issues thrown up by late Audu’s death, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) aided by the ruling All Progressives’ Congress (APC) took the option most prejudicial to democracy in Nigeria by permitting:

    i.    The substitution of the late APC candidate with Yahaya Bello;
    ii.    Passing off votes cast for the late APC candidate as votes cast for Yahaya Bello;
    iii.    Permitting Yahaya Bello to contest for the supplementary elections without a deputy governorship candidate, and
    iv.    Issuing him a certificate of return in furtherance of (iii) above.

    4.    Without prejudice to all the legal issues relating to this appeal, two fundamental issues can be distilled from the facts, both of which form the basis of our contention that Yahaya Bello ought to have been removed from office by the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal.

    i.    Were the Tribunal & Court of Appeal right to have upheld the election of Yahaya Bello in light of the provision of Section 141 of the Electoral Act?

    Section 141 provides that the Tribunal or Court shall not under any circumstance declare any person winner of an election if such a person did not fully participate in all stages of the election.

    This provision of law has already been applied and upheld by the apex court in a plethora of cases. These include: CPC v Ombugadu (2013) 18 NWLR (1385) 16; Gbileve v Addingi (2014) 16 NWLR (1433) 56; Eligwe v Okpokiri (2015) 2 NWLR (1443) 348; Jev v Iyortom (2015) 15 NWLR (1483) 484.

    The interpretation given to this section was that while Courts listening to intra-party disputes could declare a person who had not participated in all stages of an election winner, an Election Petition Tribunal or the Court of Appeal sitting as a court of first instance cannot do so.

    The facts are clear and unambiguous. Yahaya Bello did not participate in the elections of November 21st, 2015 where more than 230,000 votes which were allocated to him were cast.

    When the law and the judgments cited above are applied to the facts, it is impossible to reach a conclusion that the Tribunal and the Court of Appeal erred in finding in favour of Yahaya Bello.

    ii.    Were the Tribunal and Court of Appeal right to have held that Yahaya Bello could validly contest an election without nominating a deputy?

    Section 187(1) of the Constitution provides:

    “In any election to which the foregoing provisions of this part of this Chapter relate a candidate for the office of Governor of a State SHALL NOT be deemed to have been VALIDLY nominated for such office UNLESS he nominates another candidate as his associate for his running for the office of Governor, who is to occupy the office of Deputy Governor; and that candidate shall be deemed to have been duly elected to the office of Deputy Governor if the candidate who nominated him is duly elected as Governor in accordance with the said provisions.”

    The Supreme Court has, on several occasions interpreted that use of the word “SHALL” to connote an obligation that must be observed. In this context, the wording of Section 187(1), places an obligation on a gubernatorial candidate to nominate a running mate or face the risk of not being deemed to have been validly nominated to contest for such office.

    It is well known fact that Yahaya Bello did not nominate a running mate for the supplementary election of December 5th, 2015. It is also public knowledge that the person allegedly nominated on his behalf by his party, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, wrote a letter to INEC & APC stating that he was not running mate to Yahaya Bello. It is public knowledge that Hon. James Abiodun Faleke went further to file a law suit challenging Yahaya Bello’s emergence as Governor.

    When the law is applied to the facts, there is no escaping the conclusion that the learned Judges at the Tribunal and the Court of Appeal erred in finding in favour of Yahaya Bello.

    To highlight the very contradictory nature of these findings, answers have to be sought for the following questions:

    a.    If Hon. James Abiodun Faleke was the deputy governorship candidate of the party on the day of the supplementary why was Simon Achuba nominated, screened and sworn in as Deputy Governor?

    b.    How could Simon Achuba be nominated, screened and sworn in as Deputy Governor without a letter of resignation from Hon. James Abiodun Faleke?

    5.    In several small gatherings across the State, Yahaya Bello claims to have bought over the learned Justices of the Supreme Court. These claims are as unbelievable as they are worrisome. These claims are also a sign that having analysed the legal issues, particularly the dissenting judgments of Justices Obande Festus Ogbuinya and Tijjani Abubakar, Yahaya Bello is willing to resort to any means, legal or illegal, to win this case.

    6.     As seen here, even without giving consideration to the issues of inheriting votes cast for one candidate by the other, it is impossible to analyze the legal issues, the applicable laws and the extant facts and reach a conclusion that the provisions of our laws have been complied with in a manner that confirms Yahaya Bello to be validly nominated, elected and duly sworn in as Governor of Kogi State.

    7.    As the Apex Court of land gives judgment tomorrow, we urge the Court to uphold the sanctity of the Constitution and to stop this brazen rape of our laws and this arrogant violation of our democracy.

    8.    God bless Nigeria.

  • Edo polls: ‘Why election cannot hold on September 28’

    Edo polls: ‘Why election cannot hold on September 28’

    The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has said he would petition the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on why the governorship election fixed for September 28 must be postponed again.

    It said the governorship polls must be organized to accommodate candidates in the 2016 November/December West African Senior School Certificate Examinations in the state.

    Governorship candidate of APGA, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, said the September 28 date was not feasible because some students were expected to write Physics practical, Food Nutrition 1 and 2 papers and two other papers on that day.

    Onaiwu noted that the clash of dates would disenfranchise the students and also prevent them from voting for his party.

    He said that there “nothing wrong” in shifting the election further to October 1.

    The former Director General of the Governors Forum‎ said the earlier postponed election was necessary in order to secure the future of the youth and promote education.

    Onaiwu said: “On Wednesday 28, there is Physics. After the holidays, I think I am going to do a letter to WAEC and INEC, alerting them that (September) 28 is not convenient. We must accommodate those people writing exams.

    “They should take it (exam) to October 1. There is nothing wrong if we do the election on Independence Day, as long as we must have a governor that would be sworn in on November 12.”