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Tag: Inec

  • Osun Election: Protesters against result mentally unstable – Aregbesola

    *Ganduje presents Osun governor-elect to Buhari

     

    Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, on Friday described those protesting against the result of Osun State governorship election as being mentally unstable.

    The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus were among the PDP leaders that staged a protest against the outcome of the election at the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.

    Read Also: Buhari, Aragbesola, Oyetola meet in Aso Rock

    Aragbesola spoke with State House correspondents on Friday after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The Chairman of the APC Governorship Election Campaign in Osun State and Governor of Kano State, Umaru Ganduje and Governor Aragbesola, on Friday, also formally presented the Governor-elect of the Osun Election, Gboyega Oyetola to President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The governors also thanked the President for his support in the election.

  • INEC to parties: Sunday’s deadline for primaries sacrosanct

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) warned political parties yesterday that Sunday’s deadline to conduct primaries to pick candidates for the 2019 elections and resolution of disputes remains sacrosanct.

    INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee Solomon Soyebi said “the resolution was made at the end of the commission’s weekly meeting on Thursday in Abuja’’.

    He said 89 of the 91 registered political parties that gave notice of their intentions to conduct primaries as required by the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) had commenced and were at various stages of the process.

    He added that “INEC wishes to restate that the conduct of primaries and resolution of all disputes arising therefrom must be concluded on or before Oct. 7 as earlier published in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2019 general elections.

    “The last day for submission of lists of sponsored candidates (Form CFOO2) and personal particulars (Form CF001) remains Oct. 18 for Presidential and National Assembly and Nov. 2 for Governorship and State Houses of Assembly.”

    Soyebi restated that the commission would only accept list of candidates submitted by the National Chairman and the National Secretary.

  • ‘Deadline for conduct of primaries, resolution of disputes remains Oct. 7’

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reminded political parties that Oct. 7 remains the deadline for conduct of primaries for all elective positions for the 2019 general elections and resolution of disputes emanating from the primaries.

    The reminder is in a statement by Mr Solomon Soyebi, the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee in Abuja on Thursday.

    Soyebi stated that “the resolution was made at the end of the commission’s weekly meeting held on Thursday in Abuja’’.

    He noted that the commission, among other things, considered the status of political party primaries to elect candidates into various positions for the 2019 general elections.

    He said that 89 of the 91 registered political parties that gave notice of their intentions to conduct  primaries as required by the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) had commenced and were at various stages of the process.

    He added that “INEC wishes to restate that the conduct of primaries and resolution of all disputes arising therefrom must be concluded on or before Oct. 7 as earlier published in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2019 general elections.

    “The last day for submission of lists of sponsored candidates (Form CFOO2) and personal particulars (Form CF001) remains Oct. 18 for Presidential and National Assembly and Nov. 2 for Governorship and State Houses of Assembly. ”

    Soyebi restated that the commission would only accept list of candidates submitted by the National Chairman and the National Secretary. (NAN)

  • 2019: Smart Adeyemi, others emerge Kogi APC Senate candidates

    Senator Smart Adeyemi on Thursday won the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the candidate for the Kogi West senatorial district for the 2019 general election.

    The Kogi West APC primary which was witnessed by INEC and security personnel lasted between 11.30 Wednesday night and 6.30am on Thursday.

    It was conducted at the Olonijola Event Centre, in Kabba, headquarters of the senatorial district.

    Adeyemi polled 1,659 votes ahead of three other aspirants; Dr Toyin Akanle, Tajudeen Bissimillahi and Mrs Ibikunle Adedoyin who polled 104, 98 and 19 respectively, while 13 votes was voided.

    The Returning Officer, Mr. Bonnie Eneh, before declaring Adeyemi winner of the exercise, said that 1,900 delegates were accredited, while 1,893 voted.

    Akanle before the commencement of the exercise had however called for its postponement to the following day, on grounds that it was already late.

    Akanle was to later stage a walkout.

    In Kogi East Alhaji Jubril Isah (Echocho) was declared the winner of APC Senate primary.

    Following are the results from the nine LGAs of Kogi East for the APC Senate primary

    Idah LG
    Jibrin Isah Echocho   162
    Prince Yahaya Audu   119
    Invalid         11

    Dekina LG
    Jibrin Isah Echocho   335
    Prince Yahaya Audu   13
    Invalid       4

    Olamaboro LG
    Jibrin Isah Echocho   273
    Prince Yahaya Audu    20
    Invalid      5

    Igalamela LG
    Jibrin Isah Echocho 223
    Prince Yahaya Audu 54
    Invalid 2

    Ankpa LG
    Jibrin Isah Echocho   373
    Prince Yahaya Audu  1
    Invalid   6

    Omala LG
    Jibrin Isah Echocho   317
    Prince Yahaya Audu   3
    Invalid    3

    Ibaji LG
    Jibrin Isah Echocho   259
    Prince Yahaya Audu   15
    Invalid   6

    Bassa LG
    Jibrin Isah Echocho 272
    Prince Yahaya Audu 12
    Invalid 5

    Ofu LG
    Jibrin Isah Echocho 246
    Prince Yahaya Audu 71
    Invalid 3

    Total:

    Prince Yahaya Audu 308

    Alhaji Isah Jibrin 2,469

    For Kogi Central, Yakubu Oseni, who polled 1,100 emerged the winner of the APC Senate primary for the district.

    Others include Nurudeem Abatemi Usman 160 votes, Dalhatu Sharafadeen 371 votes and Yusuf Haruna 12 votes.

  • INEC issues Certificate of Return to Osun governor-elect

    Alhaji Gboyega Isiaka, the Osun Governor-Elect on Wednesday received his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ), in Osogbo.

    The INEC National Commissioner in charge of Oyo, Ekiti and Osun states, Prince Adedeji Soyebi, presented the certificate to Oyetola.

    The Deputy Governor-Elect, Mr Benedict Alabi also received his Certificate of Return at the event.

    In his remarks, Oyetola promised not to disappoint the people of the state who gave him the mandate in the Sept. 22 governorship election.

    He said the people of Osun would continue to enjoy the benefit of good governance in the state.

    Oyetola, who vowed to justify the confidence reposed in him by the people of the state, said he would run all-inclusive and participatory government.

    “I want to assure the people of the state that I will serve to the best of my ability and I will run all-inclusive and participatory government.

    “I will always consult majority of stakeholders in the implementation of the policies and programmes that would have positive effect in the lives of the people of the state.

    “I will run people’s friendly government. The focus of my administration will be the welfare of the people of the state.

    “We are going to work together to ensure that we justify the confidence people reposed in me,” he added.

    Oyetola also commended INEC and security operatives for ensuring that the election was free and fair.

    He also thanked Gov. Rauf Aregbesola for giving him the opportunity to serve under his administration and also prepared him for the task ahead.

    In his speech, Mr Segun Agbaje, INEC Resident Commissioner in Osun said that the commission had done its best to deliver credible election and also promoted the image of INEC.

    Read Also: APC primary: Ajimobi picks Oyo South senatorial ticket

    Agbaje commended the people of Osun for the maturity displayed before, during and after the election.

    The REC said that issues raised by the US, UK and EU and the domestic observer groups during the election would be closely studied by the commission for further appropriate action.

    He said, “I remained neutral throughout the election process.

    “If at the end of litigation at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the commission is found culpable for not discharging its responsibility faithfully and diligently, I will take full responsibility for any such laxity.

    “And also publicly apologize to all Nigerians and thereafter resign my appointment with the commission.

    “It should be put on record that the Commission carried out thorough investigation of all the allegations of intimidation of voters suspected to belong to a particular party, violence, arrest of Journalists and observers raised by some groups.

    “The commission discovered that all the allegations were not absolutely correct while the case of those arrested by the police with fake observer tags are still being investigated”.

    NAN reports that Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, the APC candidate, defeated Sen. Ademola Adeleke, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), candidate with 482 votes in the rerun poll.

    Oyetola scored a total of 255, 505 to defeat Adeleke who scored 255, 023.

  • FG to establish permanent electoral offences tribunal

    The Federal Government is set to establish a permanent electoral tribunal that would be saddled with the main responsibility of addressing issues relating to electoral fraud and offences.

    Special Adviser to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mohammed Kuna, Tuesday said that the Federal Government had proposed a bill for the establishment of the outfit.

    Kuna, who delivered a keynote address during a training organized for INEC legal and police officers on prosecution of election offences in Calabar, said, “This is a welcome development to the Commission because it would mean that some of the cases we have been seeing of electoral fraud and offences, would be addressed by separate body that would be fully staffed and funded to do address exactly the issue of electoral offences.”

    The training was organized by INEC with support from the European Centre for electoral Support (ECES) within the context of Component One of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN)

    Kuna said there was need to collectively address the problems of electoral impunity, which has become so much in the system, by ensuring that electoral offenders are diligently prosecuted.

    According to him, to move the democratic process forward, it must be ensured that those who break the law are brought to book, and this, he said, was part of what the training programme sought to address.

    “The issue of the electoral offences tribunal is something that has been recommended since the Uwais Commission and INEC after the 2011 registration given the number of multiple registrants thought it was not capable technically and resources-wise to prosecute all the 870, 000 cases of multiple registrants at that time. So it lent its voice to the implementation of that aspect of the Uwais Commission that said that there is a need to create an electoral offences tribunal.

    After the 2011 general elections the aftermath of that election, the government set up the Lemu Commission, which also recommended that an electoral offences Tribunal be created,” he said.

    He also said the commission was also working hard to check the problem of vote buying during elections.

    Cross River State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Frankland Briyai, said it was not just important to institute legal proceedings against electoral offenders, but far more important to successfully arraign, prosecute and secure conviction against such offenders.

    Briyai, who was represented by the Administrative Secretary of INEC in the state, Mrs. Irene Oghuma, urged the participants of the training to make best use of the opportunity.

    Senior Electoral Expert, ECES, Maria Teresa Mauro, said the perpetration of election offences undermines the smooth conduct of the elections and has impact on the integrity of the electoral process.

    “Election offences constitute a violation of the laws and regulations guiding the conduct of the elections, thus may lead to the disruption of elections, sometimes destruction of election materials and so forth. They can degenerate to a point of constituting a threat to the security of voters and election personnel. The perpetration of election offences constitutes to voter insecurity and the distortion of election outcomes.

    “There, clear, properly understood and followed mechanisms for prosecution of election offences committed by voters, candidates and election officials are necessary to render the electoral process less controversial and contentious as possible. Offenders need to be punished according to the law to make the electoral process ever more credible,” Mauro said.

  • I’m committed to ‘Independent’ INEC – Buhari

    Ahead of the general elections next February, President Muhammadu Buhari said on Monday that he is fully committed to make the Independent national Electoral Commission(INEC) to be truly ‘Independent’.

    The president reiterated the commitment in his speech to mark Nigeria’s 58th Independence anniversary.

    ‘I have committed myself many times to ensure  that elections are fully participatory, free and fair and that the Independent National Electoral Commission will be exactly  INDEPENDENT and properly staffed and resourced. The ballot box  is how we make our choice for the governments that rule in our name.

    “Developing a thriving democracy is not an easy task. There can be  no quick fixes or short cuts. These are the most important lessons that we have learnt in our 58 years as an independent nation”, he said.

    Perhaps with the pestilence of fake news and people inflaming ethnic passions and divisions on his mind, Buhari seized on the occasion to warn citizens not to misuse the technology now “in our hands”.

    “Now we have in our hands technology that is a powerful tool that we can and should use for knowledge and understanding. As with other countries, we must also learn how to manage those tendencies that, instead, look to abuse new technologies to provoke passions and stir tensions.

    “Never before have we faced such a challenge. We must all rise to the responsibility of shutting out those disruptive and corrosive forces that hide in today’s  world of social media. We need critical minds and independent thinking, to question and question until we are satisfied we have the facts.  Otherwise, all the progress we have made as a democracy since 1999 is at stake”, he said.

  • Agents of disunity exploit farmers-herders clashes – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari says he will continue to work tirelessly to promote, protect and preserve a united, peaceful, prosperous and secure Nigeria, where all, irrespective of background, can aspire to succeed.

    The president gave the assurance in his nationwide broadcast to mark the nation’s 58th Independence Anniversary in Abuja on Monday.

    President Buhari enjoined all citizens to continue to promote the values, virtues and common aspirations that unite Nigerians rather than engaging in divisive tendencies.

    He said: “As we celebrate the 58th Anniversary of our independence, we know we are on the right path. Although we have our differences, they count for far less than the values, virtues and common aspirations that unite us as a nation.

    “We have so much for which we should be grateful, and in which we should rightly take pride.

    “Our journey is not finished but we have come a long way.’’

    President Buhari also pledged that his administration would continue to support initiatives aimed at addressing “the challenges of our times.’’

    He said such challenges included global and regional crises and conflicts, terrorism, trans-border crime, climate change, human rights, gender equality, development, poverty and inequality within and between nations, etc.

    “In this context, we are working hard to achieve both the AU 2063 Agenda for socio-economic transformation of our continent; and the UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, which together aim at addressing these challenges,’’ he added.

    At the international level, President Buhari said Nigeria would continue to remain a responsible and respected member of the international community.

    He maintained that Nigeria would continue to play “active positive roles within ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations as well as all other regional and international organisations and institutions of which we are members.’’

    On development of democratic values and culture in the country, the president `confessed’ that the task was not an easy one.

    “Developing a thriving democracy is not an easy task. There can be no quick fixes or short cuts.

    “These are the most important lessons that we have learnt in our 58 years as an independent nation.’’ (NAN)

  • Osun rerun: US, UK, EU observers hail INEC

    Representatives of the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States who were observers at the just-concluded Osun governorship elections have blamed security agencies for interference.

    They, however, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the exercise.

    The missions expressed concerns over “widespread incidents of interference and intimidation of voters, journalists and civil society” during the exercise in a joint statement in Abuja.

    “Delegations from the Missions of the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States observed the voting in the Osun State re-run election on September 27,” they said.

    “We once again commend the vast majority of the voters in the state for exercising their democratic rights peacefully.

    “In contrast to our overall findings on the vote of September 22, we were concerned to witness widespread incidents of interference and intimidation of voters, journalists, and civil society observers by some political party supporters and security agencies,” they added.

    They said many of their findings mirror those of leading civil society groups that observed the election.

    They added: “We commend the work of INEC leadership during both elections.

    “But it is clear that the neutrality of the security services and responsible conduct by party agents, both inside and outside polling units, will be essential to ensure free, fair, credible and peaceful elections in 2019.

    “We continue to call for calm from all stakeholders and urge that any challenges to the election result be made through peaceful and lawful means.

    “We restate our position of firm neutrality among all parties and candidates.

    “We remain committed to supporting the Nigerian people in seeing free, fair, credible, and peaceful elections.”

  • Ekiti: Tribunal dismisses PDP’s application for recount of ballot

    The Ekiti Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja has dismissed an application by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the recount of ballot papers used in the July 14 poll.

    The PDP and its candidate, Prof. Olusola Kolapo are challenging the outcome of the election in court.

    The respondents in the matter are Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), All Progressives Congress (APC) and Dr Kayode Fayemi, the winner of the election.

    Ruling on the application, the Chairman of the three-member tribunal, Justice Bolaji Belgore, declared that the application lacked merit.

    Belgore noted that Ekiti had 177 wards with 2,197 polling units in 16 local government areas but the petitioners only complained of 325 polling units in their petition before the tribunal.

    The chairman said PDP and its candidate did not complain about all the 2,197 polling units in the state.

    “To pray for recount in all wards and polling units across the state is to make firm nonsense of the petitioners’ pleading,” Belgore said.

    According to him, pleadings are written statements of parties in a procedure wherein they clearly state the materials, including documents, they will rely on in the proceeding.

    He said the tribunal could only admit where it was supported by pleading, adding that what the petitioners wanted could not be situated in their pleading before the tribunal.

    The chairman further said that the evidence so generated from the recount would have no basis in the proceeding.

    He added that what the petitioners wanted to do was to spring a surprise on the respondents which they would not be able to respond to as time for pleading had closed.

    He stated that the tribunal was in agreement with the submission of the counsel for Fayemi, Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN), that the petitioners were fishing for evidence under the guise of recounting the ballot.

    The relief that seeks the recount be done in the presence of two representatives of the parties in the matter, secretary of the tribunal and security operatives, the tribunal held that involving its secretary would amount to the secretary giving evidence for the petitioners.

    “The secretary of the tribunal cannot be a party to do what the application wanted,” Justice Belgore stated.
    He, therefore, declared, “we hereby rule that the application is lacking in merit.”

    In a related development, the tribunal turned down INEC’s application from excluding the smart card reader machines used in the July 14 governorship election.

    Ruling on the application argued by Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) for INEC, Belgore said that excluding the card readers from inspection would be tantamount to setting aside the tribunal’s early order granted on July 26.

    The tribunal, however, made a consequential order that the inspection of the card readers must be completed by the end of each party’s case, which would commence on Oct. 17.

    The chairman declared that the consequential order was not setting aside the exparte order granted on July 26.
    The tribunal thereafter adjourned the commencement of hearing in the petition until Oct. 17.