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Tag: INEC commissioner

  • 2019: INEC will conduct credible general elections – INEC Commissioner

    The Chairman, Planning, Monitoring and Strategic committee of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Dr. Mohammad Lecky, on Monday in Kano said the commission is poised to conduct credible, transparent and rancour free 2019 general elections, which will be far better and more effective than the previous elections in the country.

    Lecky who spoke at the opening of a three day capacity building for 95 state training officers (STO) drew from 36 states including the Federal capital territory, on implementers of election master trainers, said that the Election Monitoring and Support Center is, thus a strategy of the commission for effective support monitory and evalution system for the delivery of the 2019 general elections which will involve the deployment of tools and systems as participants at this workshop, to interrogate and internalise by ensuring that, the process know how is effectively cascaded at the states level.

    Lecky who was represented by the acting director general, INEC electoral institute, Dr. Sa’ad Umar Idris said, the workshop was in collaboration with European Centre for Electoral Supports (ECES) muted at the Election Project Plan (EPP), to unveil the structure and process for implementation and formation for an operational support frame work to be used for tracking the implementation of election project plan of (INEC).

    According to him, the primary objectives of the EMSC implementers are basically to familiarize the state trainers with the structure and operations of the EMSC at both national and state levels, checklist and date requirement, adapt the EPP state specific plans in line with the broad frame work as well as its communication flow.

    Lecky noted that the workshop most importantly seeks to critique the training materials expected to be used for the cascade training and also to sensitize participants on their expected roles and improve their capacities to deliver credible and fair elections in the state.

    He hailed the ECES for their supports and efforts to improve the electoral process adding that without their tremendious support and contribution, the commission would not be able to have achieved the modest successes recorded in the recent circled elections, described as free, fair, credible and peaceful.

    The representative of the intervention agency, ECES, Mr. Fabien Marie said the support on INEC electoral processes were part of ECES to ensure credible and peaceful elections in Nigeria. He said ECES is confidence that INEC will conduct credible elections come 2019 in the country.

  • Buhari picks Okoye as INEC Commissioner, 23 for NPC

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday named 23 members National Population Commission (NPC) for Senate’s confirmation.

    He also nominated one additional Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commissioner and two non-legal practitioners as members of the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) for confirmation.

    The position of the NPC members is said to have been vacant for about three years, making it difficult for the commission’s board to form quorum for its meetings.

    Buhari’s nominations are contained in a letter dated March 27, 2018, entitled: “Request for confirmation of appointment of 23 members for National Population Commission”, addressed to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

    The letter reads in part: “In accordance with the provision of Section 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), I write to forward to the Senate for confirmation, the following names of 23 nominees representing their respective states at the National Population Commission.”

    Those named include; Nwanne Johnny Nwabuisi (Abia), Dr. Clifford T.O. Zirra (Adamawa), Mr. Chidi Christopher Ezeoke mni(Anambra), Isah Audu Buratai (Borno), Navy Captain Charles Iyam Ogwa (retd) (Cross River), Sir Richard Odibo (Delta), Okereke Darlington Onuabuchi (Ebonyi), Mr. A.D. Olusegun Aiyejina (Edo), Ekike Ezeh (Enugu) and Abubakar Mohammed Danburam (Gombe).

    Others nominated NPC members are: Prof. Uba S.F. Nnabue (Imo), Dr. Abdulmalik Mohammed Durunguwa (Kaduna), Suleiman Ismaila Lawal(Kano), Prof. Jimoh Habibat Isah (Kogi), Dr. Sa’adu Ayinla Alanamu(Kwara), Nasir Isa Kwarra(Nasarawa), Aliyu Datti (Niger), Yeye (Mrs.)  Seyi Adererinokun Olusanya (Ogun), Prince (Dr.) Oladiran Garvey Iyantan(Ondo), Senator Mudashiru Oyetunde Hussain (Osun), Mrs. Cecilia Arsun Dapoet (Plateau), Dr. Ipalibo Macdonald Harry (Rivers) and Sale S. Saany (Taraba)

    The President nominated Kaduna State-based Festus Okoye, for confirmation as National Commissioner representing Southeast geo-political zone.

    He named Senator Abbe Ali (Katsina) Northwest and Mohammed Sagir (Niger) Northcentral for confirmation as non-legal practitioners members of the FJSC.

    Buhari solicited expeditious consideration of the requests.

     

     

  • Jonathan withdraws nomination of Oyo INEC Commissioner

    Jonathan withdraws nomination of Oyo INEC Commissioner

    President Goodluck Jonathan has withdrawn the nomination of Prof. Akinola Salau of Oyo State as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Jonathan conveyed the withdrawal in a letter dated March 21, and addressed to the Senate President, David Mark.

    The letter, which was read at the floor of the Senate by Mark, quoted the president as saying that “emergent circumstances have necessitated the withdrawal of Salau as National Electoral Commissioner.

    “A replacement nominee will be forwarded to the Senate shortly. It is my hope that this will receive your usual kind consideration,’’ the president wrote.

    Meanwhile, the Senate is likely to debate the 2013 Appropriation Act Amendment Proposal, forwarded to the National Assembly last week by Jonathan from April 15.

    Senate Spokesman, Sen. Enyinnanya Abaribe dropped the hint while briefing reporters.

    He said that the Senate Standing Committees had so “much work piled up’’ after the Easter holidays and the Senate would resume plenary session from April 15.

    Abaribe also told reporters that the Senate was not against the decision of the executive arm of government to place the supervision of constituency project under the Minister of Special Duties.

    About N100 billion was appropriated for constituency project in the 2013 budget.

    Abaribe said, “we think that what is being done in the Presidency is probably to make the constituency project more efficient.”

     

     

     

  • Ondo: INEC orders more staff for polling booths

    Ondo: INEC orders more staff for polling booths

    An Independent National Electoral Commission National Commissioner, Prof. Layi Olurode, has directed that more electoral staff be sent to polling booths with very large turnout of voters.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Olurode gave the directive in Ondo, Ondo State, when he visited Ondo Ward 7, where Governor Olusegun Mimiko will vote, after he noticed the slow pace of accreditation.

    He also directed electoral officers to accredit voters whose names and photographs on their cards correspond with the names and photographs on the voters’ register.

    The commissioner said that numbers on the voters’ cards might not correspond with the numbers on the register, as the register was not perfect.

    Olurode also directed the INEC staff members to give preference to the elderly and to people with disability in the accreditation exercise.

    Earlier, the INEC ad hoc staff in the polling unit, Mr. Ajayi Alaba, had complained that the numbers on the voters’ cards did not correspond with the numbers on the register.

    He explained that the situation had slowed down accreditation as party agents were disagreeing on the issue.

    Meanwhile, a member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr. Olotu Fatai, has commended INEC officials for coming to the polling booths with the necessary materials on time.

    Fatai, representing the Akoko North Constituency in the house, however, said that many voters could not find their names on the register, and called on INEC to resolve the problem.

    Also speaking, the Deputy Governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Dr. Paul Akintelure, commended the Federal Government for providing adequate security.

    He expressed the belief that the security men were up to the task of containing any outbreak of violence during the poll.