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Tag: Inec

  • Lagos PDP to INEC: Don’t involve NURTW members in elections logistics

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State says INEC should not involve the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the movement of electoral materials during the February and March polls.

    The state Chairman of the party, Dr Adegbola Dominic, expressed the position on Thursday at the party’s General Assembly in Lagos.

    He said the NURTW had openly aligned with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and that the union would surely protect the interests of the ruling party in the February and March elections.

    Dominic said a recently held rally of the APC clearly revealed members of the NURTW and its leadership pledging allegiance to the APC.

    He said the action of the transport union members clearly showed they were partisan and that they would work to ensure the victory of APC in the elections.

    “The Lagos State PDP condemn and reject in totality the announced agreement between the INEC and NURTW with respect to transportation and delivery of election materials before and during the polls.

    “We hinge our rejection on the admission and confession of the Lagos APC spokesman, Mr Joe Igbokwe, that officers and members of the NURTW are card-carrying members of the APC.

    Read also: INEC to recruit PLWDs as adhoc staff in Zamfara

    “The viral videos and pictures confirming notorious NURTW officers and members support for APC in Ekiti, Osun and Kwara states and the rally in Lagos shows the union is clearly partisan.

    “Consequently, we declare that the NURTW cannot be fair in the distribution and delivery of election materials to all voting centres especially where PDP voters dominate.

    ‘”We seek that INEC should terminate the agreement and seek collaboration elsewhere,” he said.

    Dominic condemned the violence in the recently held rally of the APC, saying the incident threatened democracy and safety of residents.

    He said the PDP was not disappointed at the mayhem, claiming violence had been the stock-in-trade of the APC.

    The party Chairman urged security agencies to provide security at campaign gatherings to avert what he called the loss of lives and valuables that characterised the APC rally.

    The party chairman said the APC had failed Lagos residents and that there was the need for electorates in the state to vote out the ruling party in the general elections.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that prominent PDP members at the assembly included a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George as well as the Publicity Secretary, Mr Taofik Gani.

    NAN reports that party members freely interacted with the executive and elders of the parry, on how to ensure electoral victory for the party in the state at the assembly. (NAN)

  • Boko Haram: Elections’ll be restricted to 3 centres in Madagali

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to restrict voting to only three centres in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State in the coming general elections.

    The state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Kassim Gaidam, who disclosed this, said the decision was informed by security advice, but that election will hold at all polling centres in neighbouring Michika LGA and the rest of the state.

    Election did not hold in both Madagali and Michika LGAs in 2015 due to the violent activities of Boko Haram which had seized both LGAs earlier in 2014, and even after the LGAs were liberated in January 2015, the effects and fear of Boko Haram remained dominant up to the period of the 2015 elections and fleeing residents were availed opportunity to vote at special centres in the state capital, Yola.

    Gaidam spoke at a ‘Prevention of Election Violence and Education for Inclusion in Nigeria (PEV-EDI) programme, a programme of the European Union Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) at internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in Malkohi and Fufore, through the state INEC Head of Public Affairs, Mrs Rifkatu Dukku who later specified, in a telephone interview Thursday, that voting in Madagali LGA would be restricted to Gulak Central Primary School, GSS Madagali and GSS Shuwa.

    Read Also: Air Force strikes Boko Haram in Borno

    “Right now what we have for IDP voting in Adamawa State is only in the Madagali LGA. Voting in the whole of Madagali is going to take place in Gulak Central Primary School; GSS Madagali and Shuwa. These are the only approved centres for the council,” she said.

    At the IDPs camp in Malkohi, in Yola South LGA, and in Fufore, headquarters of the Fufore LGA, the European Centre for Electoral Support had taken to the IDPs the campaign for electoral participation, in line with the goal of PEVI-EDI, which is to “increase marginalised groups’ participation in, and contribution to, electoral process through violence prevention and mitigation, voter education and inclusion, thereby supporting the successful conduct of the electoral process.”

    The ECES Senior Electoral Advisor, Dominique Werts and Inclusivity Advisor/ECES PEV-EDI Representative in Nigeria, Cathy Latiwa, both enjoined the IDPs to use their voting power in the scheduled general elections to elect the people who would give them the benefits they desire.

  • Osun tribunal: INEC is allowed to rectify errors in result sheets, by witnesses‎

    *Tribunal asks PDP, Adeleke’s lawyer to be organised

    The Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal has been told that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is allowed to rectify discrepancies in entries in election result sheets.

    Three witnesses called by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State, at the resumed sitting of the tribunal on Thursday in Abuja, said they were trained on the operation of INEC’s Manual and Electoral Guidelines before they were engaged as agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the election.

    The witnesses – Bello Mukaila, Olatitoye Sodeeq, Iyiola Ismail – (who served as APC polling agent in Osogbo and Ikire) said they learnt, at the training, that INEC reserve the right to correct errors in result sheets.

    They also identified some of the result sheets where such discrepancies were corrected.

    Some of the result sheets were from polling units won by both APC and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    The tribunal is hearing the petition by the PDP and its candidate in the last governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

    Adeleke witnessed the tribunal’s proceedings on Thursday. He sat from beginning of proceedings (10am) to around 12noon.

    The legal team of the PDP and Adeleke got an additional hand on Thursday with the attendance of proceedings by former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Kanu Agabi (SAN).

    Agabi only announced his appearance but allowed Onyechi Ikpeazu to conduct the case of the petitioners.

    Wole Olanipekun (who led Oyetola’s legal team) also allowed Abiodun Owonikoko (SSAN) to conduct his client’s proceedings. He only intervened when necessary.

    Olanipekun contributed to argument, in favour of the 3rd respondent (APC) when Ikpeazu objected to the move by APC’s lawyer, Lasun Sanusi (SAN) to tender a copy of INEC’s Manual and Electoral Guideline through Mukaila.

    In a ruling, the tribunal, led by Justice Ibrahim Sirajo upheld the argument by Olanipekun and Sanusi and admitted the document in evidence.

    At the commencement of proceedings, Justice Sirajo advised Ikpeazu to be organised. The judge’s advice was informed by the discrepancies noted in the list of lawyers he submitted to court and the one with him.

    Read Also: Osun gov election dispute: Oyetola opens defence

    Ikpeazu announced the names of some lawyers in his team and left some out, an omission the judge noted from the list submitted to the tribunal.

    The tribunal Chairman later called out the names of about five lawyers, who were omitted by Ikpeazu, following which the petitioners’ lawyer apologised.

    Justice Sirajo then said: “Get more organised please, get more organised. That is all I have to say for today, get more organised.”

    The tribunal rose at about 12.30pm, after Olanipekun announced that the 2nd defendants were done for the day.

    Proceedings resume on Friday at 10am.

  • Zamfara APC not eligible to field candidates, says INEC

    THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has again maintained its stance that the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Zamfara State is not eligible to field candidates in the forthcoming general elections.

    The decision was reached after reviewing the two conflicting judgments on the issue.

    In the last one week, there have been two different court pronouncements on Zamfara.

    A High Court in Zamfara favoured the inclusion of the party and a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled in favour of the commission omitting the party from the elections.

    INEC had excluded the party due to its failure to conduct its primaries within the time lag.

    The commission finally rolled out names of the candidates to participate in the general elections, excluding candidates from Zamfara APC.

    A statement by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and  Voter Education, Festus Okoye, stated that after considering both rulings, INEC has decided to maintain its earlier position that the party is not eligible to filed candidates for the 2019 polls.

    He supported this position with Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

    The statement reads: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) met today, January 30, 2019 and, among other things, approved the final list of candidates for the governorship, state Assembly and FCT Area Council elections scheduled to hold on March 2 2019.

    On the whole, there are 1,066 candidates for the governorship elections, 14,583 for the state assembly elections and 806 for the FCT Area Council elections broken down into 105 chairmanship candidates and 701 councillorship candidates.

    Okoye said: “The commission reviewed the situation concerning the APC fielding candidates for the governorship and state Assembly elections in Zamfara State. Commission noted that there are two court judgements on the matter – one from a State High Court in Gusau and the other from a Federal High Court in Abuja. The former judgement clearly said the APC conducted primaries in Zamfara State, contrary to the position of the commission. On the other hand, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that the party did not conduct valid primaries and therefore not ineligible to field candidates for the elections.

    “The commission would like to reaffirm its commitment to obeying all court judgements, even when it disagrees with them. However, these are clearly two contradictory judgments delivered by two courts of coordinate jurisdiction on the same day.

    “Consequently, the commission has decided to maintain its original position that the party in question did not conduct primaries and, therefore, in line with Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), is not eligible to field candidates for the National Assembly, governorship and state assembly elections in Zamfara State.

    “Commission also reviewed various aspects of its preparedness for the 2019 general elections and expressed satisfaction with the overall preparations for the elections. A meeting with all the Resident Electoral Commissioners will take place next week to further review the state of preparedness of each state.”

  • INEC releases final list of Gov, Assembly candidates Thursday

    The final list of candidates for Governorship, State Assembly and FCT Area Council elections will be published on Thursday, the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has said.

    Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the list will be published in all the State offices nationwide and the Commission’s website.

    Yakubu spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at the Swearing -in of a new Resident Electoral Commission (REC) Elder Monday Udo Tom from Akwa Ibom State.

    This brings the total number of RECs nationwide to 36 out of 37 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The Commission is awaiting the confirmation and appointment of the nominee for Osun State.

    He also revealed the commission has implemented ten out of the fourteen activities outlined in the commission’s scheduled programs of actives.

    “Your appointment is coming just 16 days to the 2019 General Elections. We have already implemented 10 out of the 14 activities in our timetable and schedule of activities.

    Read Also: INEC worries over conflicting judgments, orders

    “The final list of candidates for Governorship, State Assembly and FCT Area Council elections will be published in all our State offices nationwide and the Commission’s website, tomorrow Thursday 31st January 2019.”

    Congratulating the new REC, Yakubu informed him that though he will be posted to a state within his geo-political zone, he can however be posted anywhere in the country.

    He said: “Furthermore, as a REC, you can be posted to any part of the country at any time as the exigencies of service require. For now, you will be posted to a State within your geo-political zone but you will never serve in you State of origin throughout your tenure. In line with this principle, you are hereby deployed to Bayelsa State.”

    The new REC holds a BSc. degree in Biological Science and a Master’s degree in Microbiology.

    He served as lecturer and civil servant in Akwa Ibom State.

  • Elections: Why Zamfara APC must not field candidates – Senator

    The Senator representing Zamfara Central, Kabiru Marafa, Tuesday insisted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State must not be allowed to field candidates in the February National Assembly and March governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    Marafa said that the ruling of an Abuja Federal High Court that Zamfara APC should not field candidates for the elections should be obeyed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Read Also:Why I left APC – Dogara

    The Senator who is also Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resource (Downstream) stated this at a press briefing in Abuja.

    He said that INEC should stand by its earlier position that the Zamfara State APC has no candidates for the elections due to the party’s failure to conduct primary elections within the time frame set for it.

    Marafa who is also a member of APC noted that allowing the party in Zamfara State to be on the ballot for National Assembly, governorship and State Assembly elections would be injustice of the highest order and must not be allowed.

    Marafa said: “I am a loyal and committed party man but my loyalty to the party has limitations especially in a situation where justice is required.

    “My loyalty first and foremost is to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, because we must have Nigeria before we can have the Senate or political parties.

    “So, my loyalty is first to my God and to my people. APC is not a religion. So, if APC decides that the worst APC candidate is better than the best other candidates from anywhere, I will respect them because they are in politics to field candidates to win elections.

    “But that cannot be true to me. So, I would go for the best for my people.

    “So, even if it means APC losing in Zamfara State, I don’t give a damn. After all, the crisis that we are in today started with the APC itself.

    “The governor (of Zamfara State) is going around whipping up sentiments that INEC should not accept the court judgment delivered in my favour because APC would lose Zamfara if the party did not present candidates for the election which to me is balderdash.”

    Marafa however assured that President Muhammadu Buhari would win in the State landslide without Governor Abdulaziz Yari’s input in anyway.

    He said, “Thank God President Muhammadu Buhari has broken the political barriers in the political space now. Before, it was the President that needs the governors. Today, the President does not need the governors to win elections; rather, they need him.

    “President Buhari is going to win Zamfara. He will stand by the truth. He is pained by what is happening in the state and he would want to see a change of leadership in Zamfara State.

    “I have not spoken with him on the issue but I believe that he will share the same view with me. It would be better to have a better person from another party (as governor in Zamfara) than to have a bad person from APC just because you want APC to win.

    “Of what benefit is an APC governor that will allow all these killings and corruption in Zamfara to continue?”

    He said that external influence in the matter of the state would fail as the people of the state know what is good for them.

    The Senator said that they were awaiting the decision of INEC since the electoral body said that it is studying the conflicting judgements on matter.

    He accused the state governor of procuring judgement from the state High Court in his (governor’s) favour.

  • INEC worries over conflicting judgments, orders

    THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed concern over the conflicting judgments and consequential orders emanating from courts, ahead of the forthcoming general polls.

    The inconsistency, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu noted, is putting the commission in a difficult situation.

    In the last one week, there were two different court pronouncements on Zamfara State All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries – one coming from a High Court in Zamfara and an Abuja High Court issuing a different order concerning INEC decision excluding the APC from the state from the coming elections as a result of not conducting their primaries within deadline.

    Already, the commission has been sued into 396 pre-election cases pending court cases as a result of the fallout of the party primaries.

    Besides, the commission has so far received 302 requests for Certified True Copies (CTCs) of documents from primaries monitored, which serves as a prelude for more legal actions.

    Read also: DSS provided funds I gave Lawan, says Otedola

    This is aside the 52 petitions on protests from aggrieved party aspirants received by the commission – all have financial implications for INEC.

    INEC has fixed February 16 for the presidential and March 2 National Assembly polls been slated for the governorship, state assembly and council elections.

    Speaking yesterday at a workshop on election petition for justice and judges, Yakubu noted the inevitability of disputes in the course of democratic elections.

    He, therefore, explained that because democratic elections are adjudicated by the Judiciary, the commission has always been obeying court orders.

    He expressed the concern of the commission regarding conflicting orders from the court.

    Prof Yakubu said: “On our part, there are two major areas of concern. First is the issue of conflicting judgements arising from pre-election and post-election cases. As a firm believer in the rule of law, the commission always obeys court orders or, where it is considered necessary, appeals them in the interest of justice.

    “There have been over 1,200 cases involving the commission since the 2015 general elections and not in a single case has the commission disobeyed a court order. However, conflicting judgements, especially by courts of co-ordinate jurisdiction at the high court level, are putting the commission in a very difficult position and creating uncertainty in the process.

    ‘The court in one judicial division may order the commission on a particular course of action only to be contradicted by another court of coordinate jurisdiction from another division or even within the same division on the same subject matter. Conflicting court orders are negatively affecting the consistency, neutrality, and public perception, not only of the commission, but the judiciary as well. There is, therefore, the urgent need to address the issue of conflicting judgements in order to engender certainty in the electoral process.

    “Our second area of concern relates to the lack of consequential Orders by the courts after making findings on an issue and stating the position. In such cases, the Commission is compelled to take a position relying on previous decisions of the Court on the subject.”

  • Buhari to traditional rulers: ensure peace during polls

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday tasked traditional rulers in the country to ensure peace and security in their domains during the 2019 general election.

    He spoke through Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the 10th General Assembly of the National Council of Traditional Rulers in Nigeria, NCTRN, in Abuja.

    He said, “Given the activities of unscrupulous individuals who use the election season to forment trouble and disturb the electoral process, the role of security agencies is particularly crucial.

    “But the backbone of effective security is quality intelligence and the most trusted repository of local intelligence is of course the royal father in his domain, and we encourage the security agencies to work closely with you in this enormous task.

    “As a nation with diverse norms, cultures, traditions, ethnic nationalities and religions we have witnessed various degrees of conflicts and violence during elections in the past borne out of irresponsible utterances, hate speech, designed to incite and provoke disturbances.

    “We must not tolerate this dangerous behavior.  Your positions as traditional heads of your communities accord you considerable influence and the respect of your subjects.”

    According to him, the general assembly of the traditional rulers came at the right time when Nigerians are preparing to vote in new leaders.

    He urged the royal fathers to build synergies that are important in assuring free, fair and peaceful elections to enable them to contribute to voter education.

    This, he said, would ensure that the electorate understands the processes to undergo during the election.

    “Coming at this time, this annual gathering of the royal heads of our traditional institutions is indeed a blessing and the theme most appropriate.

    “This is because the role of your royal majesties and traditional institutions are crucial for connecting the people of your kingdoms and domains to the federal and state agencies responsible for the conduct of elections.

    “The major purpose of establishing that link is to educate the local electorate or reinforce information that they may have about electoral processes as laid down by INEC.

    “For example, INEC has said that in the forthcoming polls, voters will be accredited and then vote immediately after accreditation.

    “This is different from the old method of accreditation first and then coming back hours later to vote.  This must be well disseminated to all.

    “Similarly, the use of card readers, the role of party agents and other electoral actors will require some explanation and some dissemination, especially where the rules have changed.

    Read Also: People with disabilities endorse Buhari

    “And we expect that INEC will be working in close collaboration with all of our royal fathers in your various domains to ensure that not are you adequately informed but also that your people are also adequately informed.” he said

    The President also restated the commitment of the Nigerian government to deliver a transparent, free and fair, credible and peaceful election this year.

    He said the security agencies have been directed to maintain peace and order and provide security during elections, warning that “any attempt to cause mayhem and undermine the electoral process would be met with the full force of the law.”

    According to him, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is properly equipped and free to conduct the election.

    “As a democracy in the 21stCentury, it is time for us to take our own place in the comity of nations as one to be reckoned with by ensuring that the 2019 general election meet all the standards civilized processes around the world and are free from all forms of irregularities,” He said.

    In his comments, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who is the Co-Chairman of the General Assembly of the National Council of Traditional Rulers in Nigeria, promised that the royal fathers would galvanize their subjects to perform their civic duties by voting in the election.

    Oba Ogunwusi said the royal fathers would also ensure a peaceful conduct of the 2019 general election in their domains.

    Among traditional that attended the event were the Sultan of Sokoto,  Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, who is the Co-Chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, and the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.

     

  • 2019: INEC accredits 144 observer groups

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has accredited 144 observer groups that will monitor the conduct of the forthcoming general elections in the country.

    The figure, as published on the commission’s official website, www.inecnigeria.org, comprised 116 domestic and 28 international observer groups.

    The commission advised all the accredited observers to abide by its code of conduct for election observers.

    “INEC is pleased to announce the successful applicants to observe the 2019 general elections holding on 16th Feb. 2019 and 2nd March, 2019.

    “All accredited observers shall abide by the code of conduct for election observers, which is available for download on the INEC website (www.inecnigeria.org).

    “INEC reserves the right to cancel and withdraw the accreditation of any organisation if its members or agents breach the code of conduct,’’ the commission said.

    It, therefore, advised the accredited groups to obtain and complete form EC 14A (ii) from its Elections and Party Monitoring Department, at its Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja between 8am to 4pm (Monday to Friday) starting from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1.

    The commission, however, warned that it would hand over to law enforcement agencies any group other than those accredited, found in any state for the elections.

    “Also, accredited field observers found in states other than where they are posted will equally be sanctioned.

    The accredited foreign observer groups are African Bar Association; African Parliament of The Civil Society; African Union; British High Commission; Democrat Union of Africa; ECOWAS; Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) Republic Of Cameroon; and the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa.

    Other accredited foreign observers are Embassy of France; Embassy of Japan; Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt; Embassy of The Republic Of Korea; European Centre For Electoral Support; European Union; German International Agency; High Commission of Canada; and the International Foundation For Electoral System.

    The International Human Rights CommissionI; International Peace Commission; International Republican Institute; the National Democratic Institute; the Network for Solidarity; and the Empowerment and Transformation for All were also accredited to cover the elections.

    Other international obsevers accredited are Nigerians in Diaspora Organization; Pan African Women Projects; Pan African Youth Training and Enlightenment Centre; Queen Zara Foundation for Human Resources Development; The Commonwealth; and the United States Embassy

    On the domestic scene, Action Aid Nigeria; Advocacy for Quality Leadership and Health Awareness Foundation; African Centre For Leadership, Strategy and Development; African Christian Care Trust Organization; Transition Monitoring Group; and YIAGA Africa Initiative are some of the observer groups accredited.

    Read Also: INEC excludes Zakari, other RECs from Collation

    Others are African Initiative for Sustainable and Positive Development; African Youth Leadership Roundtable Initiative; Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society; Alliance for Credible Election; Asabe Shehu Yar’adua Foundation; Centre for Citizens With Disabilities; Centre for Strategic Conflict Management; and the Centre for Transparency Advocacy

    Still on the domestic list are Children and Youth Awareness Development Foundation; Christian Association of Nigeria; Christian Council Of Nigeria; Church Of Nigeria Anglican Communion; Citizens Rights And Leadership Awareness Initiative; and the Citizens Rights For Peace And Good Leadership Initiative.

    The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre; Cleen Foundation; Conscience Women of Africa Initiative; Jama’atu Izalatau Badi’ah Wa Ikamatu Sunnatu; Justice Development And Peace; Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria; and the National Orientation Agency also got the approval to cover the elections.

    The others are the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (Policy And Legal Advocacy Centre); Nigerian Bar Association; Northern Patriotic Front; Northern Youth And Elders Awareness Forum; Police Service Commission; Shehu Musa Yar’adua Foundation; and The Albino Foundation.

  • INEC excludes Zakari, other RECs from Collation

    As part of its commitment to transparency during next month’s poll, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has excluded all its National Commissioners from the collation of presidential poll results and other strands of elections.

    The commission has also decided to throw open its Situation Room to accredited observers, civil society organisations and the media.

    About one million (1m) Nigerians have applied for poll jobs as ad hoc staff.

    But INEC is still grappling with 639 court cases, arising from party primaries, barely 20 days to the general elections.

    It, however, said it is impossible for anyone, no matter how smart, to compromise Card Readers.

    According to a source, who spoke in strict confidence, neither the widely-criticised National Commissioner Amina Zakary nor any of the National Commissioners will be involved in the collation of presidential poll results.

    The source also said the Resident Electoral Commissioners have no business with collation of results.

    The source said: “No National Commissioner is in charge of collation of presidential poll results. It is true that there is what is called Collation Centre but it is separate from the Collation Secretariat, which is responsible for the collation of results.

    ”No National Commissioner will be appointed into the Secretariat Committee. So, Hajiya Amina Zakari or any National Commissioner does not have anything to do with the collation of results.”

    Responding to a question, the source added that INEC met on Saturday and resolved to throw open its Situation Room.

    The source added: “Related to the Collation Centre is our Situation Room. The international observers and other stakeholders want us to open up the Situation Room.

    ”The commission met on Saturday and decided that we will grant visitation rights to accredited observers, civil society organisations and the media.

    ”Observers might not be allowed to see all things but they can come in and out of the Situation Room. The greatest thing INEC has done with this is openness.”

    Regarding preparation for the general elections, the source said: “Our plans are on course, we are happy with the speed.

    ”We are almost through with the engagement of ad hoc staff. In most cases, we recruit from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) but the irony is that we do not have enough corps members.

    “We will recruit students in final year or penultimate year in the universities where there is shortfall. We have established portals for the recruitment of ad hoc staff and as at Saturday, one million (1m) Nigerians have applied.”

    The source allayed fears that Card Readers can either be cloned or pre-loaded.

    The source added: “It is impossible to compromise Card Readers or pre-load the cards. We have enhanced the cards, we have increased the memory of every card and we have increased the capacity of the battery of each card.

    ”Nobody on the field can tamper with any card reader because you have to break the seal.

    On cases arising from party primaries, the source said INEC has been joined in about 639 cases.

    The source added: “Between August 2018 and last week, we have been dragged to court 639 times on matters relating to the conduct of party primaries.

    ”We have received about 584 requests for Certified True Copy (CTC) of documents. We also have 186 protests and petitions from aggrieved persons.

    “The management of litigations is going to be a big issue in February election.”