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Tag: Inec

  • INEC faces huge challenge in 2019, says Martins

    THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is facing a huge challenge ahead of 2019 than it did in 2015, Grand Patron of Legacy International Group Chief Kenny Martins has said.

    He argued that INEC, as presently constituted, must surpass what it achieved under former President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

    Martins spoke in an interview with The Nation during a meeting with a delegation of Legacy International Group, United Kingdom (UK), in Lagos.

    He noted that Jonathan set in motion a process of election that had become the envy of many nations,  hence the President Muhammadu Buhari  owe the nation a duty to surpass that.

    “We have seen how elections can be held perfectly, and so we do not want anything below the standard of 2015. It was Jonathan’s process that brought the current administration to power, and that means the present INEC cannot afford to perform poorly,” he said.

    On the task before the commission, Martins said Nigerians in the Diaspora must be able to vote during the country’s elections.

    He agreed that this might be too late to achieve in 2019, but that moving forward, it must be accomplished in 2023 general elections.

    The businessman added that as part of the efforts to realise this, Legacy International is already mobilising a million signatures for the purpose.

    Martins said with elections campaign underway, his group is looking forward to a campaign, where love would prevail and hate speech and mudslinging would not be the order of the day.

    He noted that based on the substance of political parties’ campaigns and especially prayers, Legacy International would endorse a candidate to support.

    Such candidate, he explained, will be one, whose planned programmes are supported by most Nigerians.

    To be properly guided, Martin said the group is organising a national prayer for the success of the election and for peace to reign supreme in the country. The prayer, he said, will hold on December 14, at the Eagle Square in Abuja. The event is expected to have in attendance political leaders and the citizens.

    The group’s coordinator in the UK,  Olawale Oguntoye, a retired Army officer, said Legacy was formed because of happenings in the country. He said those abroad are yearning to return to Nigeria to help move the country forward.

    He added that the UK branch has requested and applied for approval for the establishment and running of Legacy Newspaper and Legacy Television in the kingdom.

    “This two important media will come on stream immediately the government of United Kingdom graciously gives the green light,” Oguntoye said.

    Besides, he said UK government and the United States (U.S.) have shown indication that the electoral commission would be supported for a successful election.

    Besides, the coordinator said the body would register with INEC, ECOWAS and other bodies to actively monitor the elections.

  • UNIJOS registrar disowns lawmaker’s certificate to INEC

    Mr Monday Danjem, Registrar, University of Jos (UNIJOS) on Thursday said that the diploma held by a Plateau lawmaker, Ibrahim Baba-Hasssan, was not an authentic certificate by the university.

    The UNIJOS registrar disowned the lawmaker’s certificate during his cross-examination before a Federal High Court in Jos.

    “Ibrahim Baba-Hassan had failed six courses of the Diploma programme in Business Administration he enrolled in 1994 and couldn’t have completed and even obtained a certificate from UniJos in 1996, ’’ Danjem said.

    Baba-Hassan, member representing Jos North-North Constituency in Plateau House of Assembly, is standing trial over alleged forgery of the university’s diploma certificate in Business Administration in 1996.

    The registrar told the court in his evidence-in-chief that the diploma certificate the lawmaker submitted to INEC in 2014, while contesting for the Plateau House of Assembly did not emanate from University of Jos.

    When the matter came up on Thursday for cross examination by the defence counsel, Mr Solomon Umoh (SAN), the registrar said there was no way the university could have issued him with a certificate since the lawmaker failed the courses in the programme.

    Danjem also told the court that even when the Nigeria Police Force wrote to the university to confirm the authenticity of the certificate, “we told them bluntly that we didn’t issue that diploma certificate to him because it’s very strange to us.’’

    “When we saw a publication in Punch Newspaper of March 9, 2016, claiming that the university issued Ibrahim Baba-Hassan with that diploma certificate, we have to immediately counter that with a disclaimer in Vanguard Newspaper.

    “The University of Jos at no time issued the defender with such a certificate knowing fully well that he did not complete the course, ’’ he stated.

    Again, when Umoh, presented a 2000 Convocation booklet to the prosecution witness and showed him where Baba-Hassan was issued with B.sc Degree in Management Science, Danjem declared it as “only a semblance of the university.’’

    “I need to compare this convocation booklet with what  I have before I could be sure it’s a true copy of the University of Jos brochure.

    “More so while the degree certificate you earlier showed me is a Second Class honour (Lower) as obtained by the defender in 2000, the page where his name appeared on the convocation booklet showed that he obtained Third Class honour.

    “So I need to compare this booklet with that which I have to be sure this is printed by the university, ’’ the registrar stated.

    Danjem said: “It’s true the university have every record about Baba-Hassan right from the time he enrolled into the university for the diploma programme.’’

    “Unfortunately he did not graduate and so the university never issued any diploma certificate to him because he failed six courses,’’ he concluded.

    Mr David Ibeawuchi, prosecution counsel and Mr Joseph Danboyi, who held brief for the APC counsel, Mr L.D. Dafar, declined to re-cross examine and cross examine the Danjem, respectively.

    On completion of his cross examination, Umoh applied for adjournment to enable him attend to some pressing personal issues.

    The Judge, Justice Musa Kurya, then adjourned the case until Dec. 7 for continuation of hearing.  (NAN)

  • Secondus demands resignation of IGP, INEC chairman

    ….As Atiku challenges Buhari to debate

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has demanded the immediate resignation of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris.

    Secondus also called on the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Mahmood Yakubu to resign his position without delay.

    Speaking on Thursday as the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the PDP, the opposition party chairman said the PDP has lost confidence in the capacity of the IGP and the INEC chairman to guarantee free and fair elections.

    He insisted that both the IGP and the INEC aided the All Progressives Congress (APC) in rigging the last Ekiti and Osun States governorship elections.

    Secondus warned that the PDP would not accept the outcome of rigged elections, adding that there would be a national crisis if the 2019 elections were rigged.

    Also speaking at the event, the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubabar, expressed his readiness to engage President Muhammadu Buhari in a public debate on key national issues in the 2019 elections.

    His speech was interrupted with a snide remark from an unidentified voice who asked if Atiku was referring to “Jubril”, an alleged non existent body double of President Buhari. The mischief has been trending in the social media space lately.

    Atiku however replied the voice, asking, “Which Jubril? Is it the one in Sudan or the one in Abuja?”, a remark that drew a derisive outburst from the crowd of party faithful present in the hall.

    The opposition presidential candidate further said that if elected, his administration would enthroned a policy of strict adherence to fiscal responsibility in the conduct of government business.

    He pledged to galvanize efforts through consultations to liberate the nation from the shackles of hunger, deprivation, killings and divisive tendencies.

    Atiku said, “Our aim is to work very hard and collectively liberate our nation from the shackles of hunger, starvation, deprivation, bloodletting, killings and division which bedevil us today. We must all work hard to return our nation to the path of harmony, peace and progress.

    “We need to be disciplined in our campaign because we are facing a desperate APC. The coming election may be the toughest presidential election since the return of democracy.

    “The APC has chosen personal attacks over issues, instead of campaigning on achievements. My campaign will be focused on issues not character assassination and personal attacks.

    Read Also: No move to impeach my former deputy – Tambuwal

    “We should be telling Nigerians what we want to do differently to get Nigeria working again. We must be vigilant at the polling units. We must demand the removal of the IGP. Elections are governed by laws and rules guiding the behaviour of all those involved”

    He urged President Buhari to sign the amended Electoral Act presently on his desk if he is truly for free, fair and credible elections.

    The PDP candidate made assurances of new templates for fiscal responsibility and productivity in every critical sector of national life.

    The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, who also spoke at the event urged party leaders and stakeholders, to remain united and strong as the elections draw nearer.

    Saraki said, “The people are with us and when the people are with us, God is with us, we will do it, we will succeed. I emphasise that we must stay strong because it is not going to be easy.

    “Let us remember when we were going for the convention this room was vibrating, there was tension in the country and people never believed that it was possible because it has never happened where people will go to a primary and come out with not even one person disagreeing.

    “I have said it many atimes that APC is not our opponent on the ballot paper; it is the security agents that are opponents on the ballot paper.

    “If you talk to ten Nigerians today, they will tell you yes your party is popular but they will rig it. What does that mean? We must stand, we must stand for free and credible election. We must stand for an election where people have the right to vote.

    Saraki, is the Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, warned that there could be crisis in the country if the elections were not free, fair and credible.

    The party inaugurated a 154-member Campaign Council shortly after the NEC meeting, with Secondus named as chairman of the Council.

    Atiku is co-chairman of the Council while former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is co deputy chairman.

    Also yesterday, the PDP inaugurated its Presidential campaign council with Secondus as chairman and Atiku as co-chair man.

    Other members of the Council are the governors elected on the platform of the party, the party’s principal officers of the National Assembly, all the presidential aspirants that contested with Atiku, former Ministers, former principal officers of the National Assembly, members of the National Working Committee of the PDP, among others.

    At the inauguration of the campaign council, Secondus charged the team to brace up for the challenges ahead, adding that the task was to sell the agenda of the PDP across the entire country.

  • INEC to deploy one million personnel for poll

    THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will deploy one million electoral officers for the 2019 elections, its chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said yesterday.

    The  election will cost the commission N85 bilion  in providing logistics.

    At a meeting with representatives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Yakubu represented by Okechukwu Ibeamu, said the election officers would comprise  some INEC workers and  security agents

    On logistics INEC’s Head of Health Infrastructure Dr Amina Zakari said its cost was  enormous in any election.

    According to her, it will cost the commission at least N10 billion in logistics to conduct a single election.

    She said its commission would use the  Miilitary and Air Force for  the election in difficult  terrains.

    Zakari said: “We have earmarked N85 billion for logistics for the 2019 general elections. For a two-day election, which is the least number of days to conduct election, it costs about N10 billion in logistics. You can imagine what will be involved if we have to take the elections in more than one day like the presidential separately, National Assembly and even the cost of conducting five elections separately.

    “These costs exclude leasing of boats in the riverrine areas, additional gunboats for security, hiring helicopter for other areas affected by insurgency and difficult terrain.

    “Moving of personnel and materials in those areas is very challenging and these must be done at the same time nationwide. It is worst because about two-third of the country’s territory is covered by difficult terrain.

    Read also: 2019: Abdulsalami Abubakar Committee drums support for INEC

    “The window for the deployment of electoral materials is too short especially as it must be delivered between 5.00am and 8.00am. You can imagine the enormity of the task, considering the size of the country, difficult terrain and poor road network where the elections have to be conducted.

    “We are not even considering the supplementary elections that may come up, the run-off elections and the possible suspension of areas where violence may disrupt the poll which we normally suspend and reschedule.

    “The logistic cost is really enormous and it will be good for the country to find a more cost efficient manner at which elections can be conducted,” she said.

    On the use of the military in difficult terrains, Zakari said: “Security is of paramount importance and if there is no violence, elections can be done seamlessly.

    “The commission has also enlisted the services of the Air Force and the Navy for deployment especially to these difficult terrains. Recently, a Logistics Advisory Committee was set up with membership drawn from the commission, security agencies and other partners that will help us achieve a seamless transportation of the materials from the sea or airport to the polling stations.

    “With over 120,000 Polling Units, the biggest challenge the commission will encounter is the Election Day logistics. Our problem will be transportation in terms of movement of electoral materials,” she noted.

  • 2019: Abdulsalami Abubakar Committee drums support for INEC

    Former Head of State and Chairman,  National Peace Committee, Retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar has called for the support of stakeholders for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Abubakar made the call shortly after his committee met with management of INEC led by its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The former leader said political parties, journalists, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and security agencies were critical stakeholders needed by INEC to succeed in 2019 general elections.

    He said the outcome of the meeting indicated that INEC was ready for the elections, but there was need for stakeholders to support it and make the elections free, fair, credible and peaceful.

    “INEC briefed us on the preparations for elections, the challenges and what it is going to do in order to make sure that there is a peaceful, free and fair election.

    “ We are taking note. There are certain flash points where he (INEC Chairman) wants the peace committee to intervene in order to bring peace so that elections will be conducted.

    “On our part, we will do the best we can in order to have a sanitised political arena.

    “You members of the press have also a role and duty to educate our people and the politicians so that when they go on campaigning, they campaign on issues.

    Read Also: 2019: INEC assures PWDs of full participation

     

    “There should be politics without bitterness, there should not be any rancour,’’ he said.

    Abubakar also called on journalists to ensure that citizens were adequately educated to avoid being used as thugs during campaigns and elections.

    He also called for the need for Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).He stressed the need to sensitise the people to avoid ballot box snatching and all type of hooliganism during elections.

    “Our people should realise that peace is very paramount in any society. There must be peace before elections; there must be peace before we have country.

    “So, I implore you to know that people have the tendency to believe it in total what they read and what they see.

    “Make sure you educate our people and help in voter education and all the necessary things to be done so that there will be peaceful elections,’’ he said.

    Abubakar said the next stage for the committee was to meet chairmen and secretaries of political parties and discuss the way forward.

    After the meeting with political parties, we are going to draw a Memoradum of Understanding (MOU) for peace and tranquillity.

    “This we hope will be signed by all the presidential candidates and the chairmen of the registered parties.’’

    The former head of state added that the committee would interact with political parties to ensure that there was no hate speech, and issue based campaign where there was no name calling among political parties.

    He added that “Each Nigerian has a role to play and I hope they will play their parts.’’

     

    (NAN)

  • AD urges INEC on credible polls

    Lagos State Alliance for Democracy (AD) governorship candidate, Chief Owolabi Salis has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure credible election in 2019.

    Addressing heads of Muslim Community who prayed for him in Lagos, he said INEC should ensure that those who violate the commission’s laws were punished.

    He noted that vote-buying and rigging were gradually becoming a norm in the polity, stressing that the 2019 elections would be another opportunity for INEC to demonstrate that it was up to the task.

    Salis added that Lagos State needs a transformation that would guarantee better opportunity for its citizens, noting that only a visionary leader could make it possible.

    He said: “Lagos is experiencing a wide range of economic and social development issues despite its rich resources to develop it. These need to be addressed by a visionary leader so that the state will be transformed. Basically, it is all about performance.

    ”Everyone can see the handwriting on the wall that the AD should produce the next governor of the state. We would give priority attention to issues of housing, health, education and a commitment to youth empowerment.”

    He maintained that all hands must be on deck to ensure that INEC carries out its task without bias, stressing that voters should get their permanent voter’s card (PVC) to enable them to perform their civic responsibilities.

    “One thing my government would do is to support the justice system so that the jurists can make decisions in the interest of the state. This is vital and I know what to do and how to do it.

    “As a practicing lawyer, I know that there is so much to be done by lawyers in Nigeria. Ours is a huge population, so, you can use law to expand the economy and empower the masses.”

    He urged Lagos electorate to believe in the AD, noting that the party would deliver in its manifesto.

  • 2019 Polls: INEC, Security agencies urged to be neutral

    The Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to be neutral  in the conduct of next year’s general election.

    According to the group, though elections in Nigeria are frost with serious challenges, they should see their roles as electoral umpires as service to their fatherland and not a means for financial aggrandisement from politicians.

    National Coordinator of the group, Sheriff Mulade, said this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

    He said that the 2019 general elections provides an opportunity for INEC to prove that it was apolitical.

    He said it was unfortunate that in the global political scene, Nigeria was still queuing behind smaller African countries in terms of electoral conduct and good governance when it ought to be a role model for the continent.

    According to him, each electoral circle should provide an opportunity for the country to consolidate its democracy, adding that the security agencies cannot afford to jeopardize the process.

    Read Also: 2019: INEC assures PWDs of full participation

    He said: “We find it necessary to call on the electorate, INEC, the police and other security agencies that would be involved in the conduct of the 2019 general elections to carry out their responsibilities without fear, favour or bias against any candidate or political party as the success or failure of the election rests in their hands.

    “We have had instances where Nigerians accuse security men and women of conniving with politicians to perpetuate electoral malpractices, we therefore urge the security agents and INEC to be apolitical and do everything possible to resist financial inducements which characterize the political landscape of the nation.

    “We also use this opportunity to call on political office seekers to conduct themselves in a manner that is befitting of leaders and should not see elections as a do-or-die exercise.”

  • INEC must whittle down political parties, says first female SAN

    Nigeria’s first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief ‘Folake Solanke, says having 91 political parties is unhealthy for democracy.

    She called for a review of Section 222 of the Electoral Act, and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do something to weed out the political parties to a minimum.

    Solanke spoke in Lagos on Friday at a colloquium to commemorate the 25th anniversary of a law firm, Kenna Partners, where she was chairperson.

    The colloquium’s theme was, ‘Footprints in law and society, towards a paradigm shift.’

    Read also: INEC must whittle down political parties, says first female SAN

    Solanke said: “Something must be done so that they weed the political parties to a minimum.

    “In the United States of America, there are two political parties but in Nigeria, 91 political parties; out of the 91, 80 of them want to be President. So, something is wrong with our Electoral Act; we must go and look at Section 222 and do something about it.”

    The anniversary lecturer, Justice Amina Augie of the Supreme Court, identified the amended Section 285 of the constitution, which stipulates that election petition must be determined in 180 days, as “one of the  extraordinary footprints in Nigeria’s electoral jurisprudence.”

    Justice Augie stressed that accountability was foundational to good governance, adding that political office holders must build institutions.

    One of the panelists, Mr Damian Dodo (SAN), called for a review of the academic requirement for becoming a legislator.

     

  • 2019: INEC assures PWDs of full participation

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has pledged to enhance greater participation of persons living with disabilities in the 2019 general elections.

    Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, the INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Outreach and Partnership Committee made the pledge on Monday in Lokoja at the opening of a two-day strategic meeting on Access and Participation of Persons with Disabilities in 2019 general elections.

     

    He said that the commission was desirous of deepening the democratic process in Nigeria, saying that part of the strategies was to ensure the participation of the marginalized and the disadvantaged groups across the country.

    Ogunmola, who was represented by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kogi, Prof. James Akpam said that the INEC had introduced some innovations to reduce all forms of barriers experienced by people living with disabilities in all aspects of electoral process.

     

    “It has also provided assistive and materials such as magnifying glasses at the polling units during elections, transcriptions of voter education materials to Braille and others to ensure their full and effective participation in the electoral process,” he said.

    Ogunmola explained that more interventions were needed as the 2019 general elections drew near, hence the strategic meeting on improving electoral access for persons with disabilities.

    According to him, the strategic meeting is to facilitate discussions and sharing of information on existing and new plans towards better outcomes for people living with disabilities in the 2019 elections.

    Read Also: 2019: We’re monitoring campaign closely, says INEC

    “It is expected that the strategies developed at this meeting will enrich and complement efforts of the commission in improving the Electoral process,” he said.

     

    In her remarks, the INEC Deputy Director in charge of civil Organisation, Mrs Dorothy Bello said that the meeting was organized to examine the role people living with disabilities in the forthcoming elections.

    Mr Simon Fanto, the Project Manager of the International Foundation for Electoral System ( IFES) , said that the Organisation decided to partner with the INEC to organize the meeting as part of its global objective of enduring inclusiveness in electoral process.

     

    Mrs Ekaete Umoh, the National President of the Joint National Association of Persons Living with Disabilities ( JONAPWD) commended the INEC for the measures taken so far to ensure full participation of her members in electoral process but stressed the need for more action.

     

    Participants at the meeting include members of the Joint National Association of Persons Living with Disabilities, organizations of persons living with disabilities and persons with disabilities desk officers of the commission.

    NAN

  • 2019:NBC set to strengthen role for peaceful electioneering process – DG

    Ahead of the 2019 general elections, Malam Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, Director General, National Broadcasting Commission(NBC) has reiterated the commission’s commitment to strengthen and consolidate its role to ensuring proper supervision and monitoring of broadcast stations activities on political campaigns.

    Speaking on Monday at the opening of a 2-day workshop on political broadcast in Sokoto, Kawu in a welcome address, noted that political parties and candidates have role to play in shaping the process such that the nation’s democracy could thrive in peace.

    According to Malam Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, ” we need to responsively reflect on the mutual ideals of democracy to sustain an acceptable process.”

    While explaining that the commission was responsible for adequate supervision and sanctioning of erring stations, Kawu noted that stations must measure up with the challenges associated with their responsibilities especially during electioneering campaigns.

    “It is my hope that the workshop would avail us the opportunity of knowing the important task before us and take advantage to learn and do the needful towards ensuring a peaceful electioneering process”, Kawu said.

    Read Also: Anambra Speaker urges IG to unseal Assembly complex

    In his keynote address, NBC board Chairman, Ikra Iliyasu Bilbis stressed the need for parties and politicians to depart from negative tendencies and activities that serially characterised peaceful elections in the past.

    ” It seems Nigeria has not learnt from past experience.”

    He enumerated rumour, denying opposition access to air their views especially through government owned media, dwelling on non issue based political discuss among others as catalysts.

    Bilbis, however observed that was yet to learn much from the modern democratic process, recalling that ” in the 2015 elections, international observers, though commended Nigeria for a free and fair elections, they however, did not dwell n politically based issues.”

    In their separate messages of goodwill, INEC, NSCDC and other stakeholders who spoke in same direction including the traditional institution, assured of their resolve to support and responsively ensure smooth, peaceful and successful electioneering and elections process.

    According to them, ” parties , politicians and other stakeholders have the duty to make our work easier if we collectively observe the guide lines and requirements.“