The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Inec

  • Ballot box snatching, insufficient materials mar election in Imo

    The Presidential and National Assembly elections in Imo State were marred by late arrival and insufficient voting materials, as well as absence of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Officials.

    Though the turnout of voters was impressive, they were reported cases of ballot box snatching, shooting, among other repressive actions.

    In some places, aggrieved voters alleged that INEC officials in collusion with some politicians made away with the sensitive materials.

    There were also reported cases of ballot box snatching by hoodlums dressed in Military and Police uniforms in AbohMbaise,Ohaji-Egbema, Oguta, Oru East, IsiallaMbano and OwerriNorth  Council Area.

    A former governor of the state, and governorship candidate of the Accord party, IkediOhakim, who could not vote as a result of non-arrival of voting materials in his OsuOwerre Ward 1 in IsiallaMbano Council Area, until 3pm, expressed dissatisfaction over the conduct of the election.

    Addressing journalists, the former governor stated that, “here in OsuOwerre Ward 1, we have not seen INEC officials by 1pm and voting will stop by 2pm. I am afraid that this will disenfranchise the people”.

    Also expressing dismay over the late commencement of voting, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), IfeanyiAraraume, tasked the electoral umpire to put measure to ensure an improved performance during the next election.

    Meanwhile, the Imo State governor, RochasOkorocha has expressed satisfaction over the turnout of voters and the conduct of the election.

    The governor who addressed journalists shortly after casting his vote at ward 2 Ogboko in Ideato South Council Area alongside his wife, NkechiOkorocha, confirmed that the postponement did not affect the turnout of voters.

    Okorocha who arrived his polling Unit at about 11:04 expressed confidence that President Muhammadu Buhari will win the Presidential election with a wide margin.

    He said, “I am here with my wife at ward 2 Ogboko, for now I will say that everything is going on well. There is security everywhere.

    “I also had the rumour of ballot box snatching in Osemoto, among other areas. But given the Presidential Order many people are afraid. If not by now you will see alot of people carrying ballot boxes.

    “However, surprisingly there is no voter apathy; our people have realised that it is for the future of this country.

    “I have full confidence that Buhari will win and I will also win my senatorial election with God on our side”.

  • Presiding officer, corps member abducted in Anambra

    Anambra State Police Command yesterday announced the abduction of a presiding officer and a youth corps memberby unknown persons during the Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

    As a result, seven suspects have been arrested by the command, including two armed police personnel on illegal duty during the elections.

    Briefing reporters yesterday evening in Awka, Anambra State, the new Police Commissioner for the state, RabiuLadodo, said the cases were under investigation.

    According to him, “I have gone round the state along with heads of other security agencies both on Aerial and vehicular patrols, in order to assess levels of deployment by the security agencies at various polling units and to ensure that the electorates exercise their franchise without hindrance”

    “The election is generally peaceful and all the places visited have witnessed significant turnout of voters amid tight security in the areas.”

    “However, despite the relative peace recorded so far, there are few isolated incidents recorded; such as ballot box snatching at OnumaImeobi Square ward six unit 4 Onitsha, vote buying, disruption of election in some polling units, alleged abduction of a presiding officer and a youth corps member in Indiokolo unit, Orumba North LGA of Anambra South Senatorial Zone”

    “Consequently, the Command has arrested Seven (7) suspects in connection with vote buying and disruption of electoral Process. The Command equally arrested two (2) armed Police mobile personnel on illegal duty. All cases are under investigation at the State CIID, Awka and effort is being intensified to rescue the abducted persons and bring perpetrators to justice,” he said.

    Read Also: EFCC operatives at INEC collation centre in Lagos

    He said exhibits recovered from the suspects included, one mini shuttle bus, two motorcycles, sum of one hundred and ten thousand, nine hundred and twenty naira (N110,920),two handbags containing dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and two knives.

    “The public are equally advised to report any incident or suspected persons through the Police emergency numbers availed to the public for prompt response, please,”the new CP said.

  • Election: INEC expresses satisfaction

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is satisfied with the electoral process as the polls closed across the country for the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    There have been reports of violence, ballot box destruction, delay in polls opening in many states, and card reader malfunction.

    A national commissioner of the commission, Festus Okoye, gave INEC’s impression of the polls at a briefing of journalists in Abuja.

    He said, “As at this moment, INEC is generally satisfied with the process and the procedures for the conduct of this present election, notwithstanding the challenges relating to the commencement of polls in some polling units.”

    Despite the delay or malfunctioning of the Smart Card Readers, the commission said accreditation for voting can only be done as stated in its guideline.

    According to him, the regulations and guidelines of the commission view the refusal to use the SCR for the purposes of accreditation as negligent conduct.

    “The smart card reader is mandatory, therefore no staff of the commission or any ad hoc staff of the commission is permitted in whatever guise to deliberately refuse to use the smart card reader for the conduct of the election” he said.

    “And any of them that refuses to use the smart card reader or deliberately violated the use of the smart card reader is subject to prosecution in accordance with the regulations and guidelines of the commission and the Electoral Act.”

    On reports of violence which the commission confirmed to have received from some states, Okoye said it had asked its resident electoral commissioners (RECs) to submit first hand reports.

    “We are still receiving reports relating to incidents in some states of the federation but we have received reports on incidents in Akuku Toru and Bonny Island of Rivers State,” he said.

    On Rivers, INEC said so long as the commission could not deploy in these areas, the implication was that polls did not open in these areas and the commission would hold consultations with relevant authorities and with the RECs in relation to these areas.

  • Lanre Razaq commends INEC

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and member of the Governor’s Advisory Council, GAC, Chief Lanre Razaq, yesterday commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for having the courage to postpone the presidential and national assembly elections from upper week to yesterday.

    Razaq was answering questions from newsmen yesterday after casting his vote at Ward A5, Polling Unit 024 at Epe.

    He thanked God for the turnout and the peaceful election. “The turnout was good and at the end of the day, we want to be sure that there is good election.

    “One thing is key in this election. We’ve been around in the last 16 years when the other party ruled. We knew what happened and we knew how they ruled us. Now we have the opportunity to compare what happened in the last four years.

    “Nigeria is better placed on a sound footing of democracy, I want Nigerians to consider that, in voting, if you don’t participate, you don’t have the right to complain. The electorate should go out to vote, search their conscience, and vote the best of the number of presidential candidate we have on the ground. And we know too well that the best of the best is President Muhammad Buhari.

    “Nigeria will be an example of good governance in the nearest future if this man continues for another one term. I have to thank God for one thing, that INEC had the courage to decide the postponement of the election last week instead of going ahead and getting it wrong. We appreciate them for that.”

  • We‘ll cancel polls where ballot boxes were snatched – REC

    Mr Mike Igini, the Akwa Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), says the commission will cancel polls in units where ballot boxes are snatched in the state.

    Igini said this while addressing newsmen on the conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly elections in Akwa Ibom on Saturday.

    “We are able to deliver ballot papers and result sheets in various polling units apart from few that have one challenge or the other.

    “What I can tell you emphatically is that there is no election, where there is snatching of ballot papers or result sheets are taken to private homes or somewhere to thumb print.

    “We will not accept it, those things are not going to work here and we are not going to accept it. Those areas will stand as cancelled and we will take them as non events,” igini said

    He however, said that the conduct of the elections was not completely 100 per cent, adding that elections did not start accordingly in few centres in the state due to some challenges.

    Igini said the commission had learned lessons and promised to improve on the governorship elections.

    He added that the commission was able to deliver election materials to all polling units across the state.

    Igini said the elections were paradigm shift, saying that Akwa Ibom had not been conducting elections in the past.

    He expressed displeasure over irregularities in some local government areas in the state.

    The REC said that there were little skirmishes in some local government areas, including Ukanafun, Ikono and Oron.

    “It is for us to study what has happened and I am also waiting to see the number of arrests that has been made by now.

    “This thing that happened is deliberately done by politicians, thugs and conspiracy, we want to see if security personnel will be able to arrest culprits in connection to the disruption we saw,” igini said.

    Read Also; PDP leads Gwarimpa, Life camp polling units

    He said that some politicians massively resisted the enthronement of free, fair and credible elections that the commission tried to ensure, hence the issues.

    Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Odiko MacDon said that no casualties had been reported.

    He however, said that the command was waiting for the announcement of the election results, adding that there and then, there may be some skirmishes.

    MacDon described the election as peaceful and that Akwa Ibom people came out en mass to cast their votes.

  • Buhari wins in Akpabio’s unit in A/Ibom

    President Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has won in the polling unit of Sen. Godswill Akpabio in Akwa Ibom.

    Akpabio, a former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governor of Akwa Ibom and former senate Minority Leader, defected to the APC and is currently the APC senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North West.

    Buhari got 1553 votes to win his closest opponent in the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who polled 11 votes in Ukana West 2, unit 9, Essien Udim Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom, Akpabio’s unit.

    In the senatorial election result, Akpabio won in the unit with 1533 votes while the PDP senatorial candidate, Chris Ekpenyong got 4 votes.

    Speaking after the declaration of the result, Akpabio commended INEC and security agencies for conducting a peaceful election in the state.

    Read Also: Buhari floors Atiku in Obasanjo’s unit

    He blamed the PDP for election rigging in the state, saying that was why 400 thugs were recently arrested by security operatives.

    Akpabio said PDP was now jittery knowing that security operatives had risen to their responsibility, saying three trucks of thugs imported to the state were apprehended.

    “When I was a governor I gave respect to the people. I did not use thugs. I am a lawmaker and will never allow myself in anything that will disrupt Buhari’s administration.

    “I am pleading that elections should not be war as we are peaceful in this unit,” he said.

    NAN

  • Ago Palace violence: We’re waiting for PO’s report, says INEC

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos has said it is waiting for a report from the Presiding Officer where voting was disrupted in Ago Palace area in Lagos.

    Deputy Director of Publicity/Protocol, INEC Lagos Office, said the PO’s report will determine the next line of action.

    Asked what options are open to voters in the area, he said: “We received report of violence in Ago Palace. Security operatives are on top of the situation. We’re waiting for the PO’s report.”

  • A’Ibom Speaker commends INEC over peaceful conduct of polls

    …harps on improved technology

    The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr Onofiok Luke says the elections have so far been peaceful, saying the electoral process has improved, though it was slow.

    Speaking after casting his vote in Unit 5, Itreto ward, Nsit Ubium local government area, Luke said the election process has improved compared to the last election, except for a little hitch with the card reader.

    He commended the early turn out of voters, and the INEC officials for starting early, adding that the peace experienced during the elections was enough victory for the people.

    “When I came to vote and from the report I have gotten around this community, it has been peaceful. I give glory to God Almighty. For me, the most important thing is not about my personal victory as a candidate in this election. The most important thing is victory for Nigeria, victory for peace in Akwa Ibom state.

    “The only challenge we had was that the card reader and the process was slow which we had asked party and agents to raise concern. The voting process was slow because we did not have enough stamp pads, stamping of the ballot paper and sharing to the electorates to thumb print.

    “In all I want to say kudos to Nigeria, kudos to the Independent National Electoral Commission, kudos to the security agencies with the monitoring and distribution of materials from state to ward, to respective units. We give God the glory for the peace enjoyed so far,” he said.

    On his part, the Commissioner for Works, Akwa Ibom State, Akparawa Ephraim Inyangeyen has also applauded INEC for ensuring early arival of materials at polling units across Onna Local Government Area.

    He reported that the setback caused by the card reader was promptly addressed and the card reader replaced.

  • Adebule to voters: INEC will deliver

    The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Idiat Adebule, has urged Nigerians to have strong faith in INEC to ensure a credible, free and fair election.

    She believed INEC will deliver credible poll after the last week hiccup.

    Adebule spoke at Unit 029 Devince, Iba, Lagos after casting her vote.

    She enjoined the electorate to report any shortcoming of the ad hoc workers to INEC supervisors, instead of taking laws into their hands.

    She bemoaned the lateness of some INEC official to the polling unit.

    “The INEC officials are a bit late but all the same, we are able to cast our votes successfully and by the end of today, we believe all voters in Nigeria will be able to cast their votes,” she said.

    Read Also: Breaking: INEC extends voting hours

    She urged all the INEC officials to fasten the procedure to ensure all eligible voters to cast their votes.

    “I believe if the INEC officials hasten up, none of the electorate will be disenfranchised,” she said.

    According to her, the turnout was impressive.

    “I am impressed with turn out, even on my way to the polling unit, i saw lot of electorate trooping out to their units,” she said.

  • Ambode: polls peaceful, best so far in Nigeria

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode cast his vote at exactly 10.01 on Saturday at Ward A5, Polling Unit 033 at Ogunmodede Junior College in Papa Epe.

    Ambode who arrived the polling center at 9.48am was the first to be accredited and to vote in the polling unit.

    Although INEC officials did not arrive with voting materials until 9.05 am accreditation and voting however commenced at about 9.48am

    The turnout at the polling center which has two voting units was impressive and the atmosphere was peaceful.

    The few security personnel at the polling center did not carry any arms and were very civil, there was however no military presence at the center.

    Read Also: Ambode gives PLWDs N10m, devices

    Speaking with newsmen after casting his vote, the governor said the election is going to be very peaceful and will be the best ever in the country.

    Ambode said, “I came to perform my civic right and I have voted successfully in my polling unit. And from the records we have across the state, I can observe that the election is going on peacefully across the state.

    “I am delighted that Lagosians have been very cooperative. We’ve had a peaceful night and ever since morning also, everywhere has been very peaceful.

    “We want to commend INEC, they have been up to the task and almost everywhere, election materials are in place. Places where materials have not gotten to, the materials are already on its way.

    “This election is going to be very peaceful; it will be the best ever in the country and I pray it’s very successful,” Ambode said.