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Tag: Inec

  • INEC vows to tackle vote-buying

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday described as unfortunate, vote-buying during elections.

    The National Commissioner, Election and Party Monitoring Committee, Prof. Antonia Simbine, said to tackle the problem, the commission would reorganise voting centres with the help of security agencies before and during polls.

    She said the strategy would be put in place during the Osun State governorship election.

    Prof. Simbine spoke in Abuja at a seminar on party ideology and quality youth participation in politics, organised by Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD).

    She condemned desperate politicians trying to get elective positions at all cost, saying good politicians would not fight to serve.

    Simbine advised youths to get involved in politics, to effect change.

    She said: “We are making efforts to ensure that elections are properly organised and conducted on election day. It is unfortunate that vote-buying is trying to thwart the efforts we are making. We hope we can reorganise the polling units in way that whether people want to sell or buy, it will not happen. We are organising those processes. Unfortunately, some of the locations are open spaces, but we will do our best. What we will do and how we are able to reorganise the polling units with the support of security agencies, will reduce the problem.”

     

     

     

  • ICPC to partner INEC to curb vote-buying

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has expressed readiness to partner Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to tackle the menace of vote-buying in the electoral system.

    Acting Chairman of ICPC, Mr Musa Abubakar, made this known when he visited INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday in Abuja.

    Abubakar said that ICPC identified with INEC and Nigerians on the issue of vote-buying and was willing to work with the election management body to curb the ugly trend.

    He said that the commission was empowered to deal with all cases of corruption, including those committed during elections.

    “The ICPC is empowered to investigate and prosecute any person involved in any act of bribery and corruption under any laws that prohibit corruption.

    “I believe the Electoral Act also has provisions that deal with corruption and all forms of malpractices during election.

    “So, vote-buying is one of the corrupt practices under both our law and Electoral Act.

    “The main reason for this visit is to identify with the commission and the general public on the issue of vote-buying.

    “We assure you that the ICPC is ever ready to partner INEC to ensure that this trend is totally eliminated or reduced to the barest minimum,’’ he said.

    Responding, Yakubu commended ICPC for its commitment to partner INEC to tackle “this new brand of electoral crime’’.

    He said that the commission was prepared to ensure that vote-buying did not determine the outcome of 2019 general elections.

    “The votes cast by citizens will continue to determine who wins in our elections. We are focusing more on the processes leading to that outcome.

    “The outcome of any election is in the hand of the voter, but we are responsible for ensuring that the process is free and credible,’’ he said.

    Yakubu also said that in addition to partnering with ICPC and EFCC, INEC was taking measures at ensuring that votes were not bought particularly on election days.

    He said that the commission intended to ban the use of mobile phone at the voting centres.

    “We will restructure our polling units in such a way that it will be difficult for a voter to expose the marked ballot papers before dropping them into ballot boxes.

    “In doing so, the commission will need the collaboration of the citizens to report any cases of electoral violation through the commission’s Situation Room and free toll line – INEC Citizens Contact Centre (ICCC).

    “I will like to speak to the citizens that whenever they see violations of Electoral Act to quickly report to these, using our toll free number under our ICCC platform so that we can quickly respond.’’

    On Osun governorship election, Yakubu said that INEC was setting up an inter-agency collaborative framework against vote-buying and spending above what the Electoral Act stipulated for campaign.

    “As you are aware, under the law there is spending limits for party and candidate to participate in an election.

    “This inter-agency framework will include the cooperation and active participation of EFCC, ICPC and the security agencies, particularly the police and Department of State Services and the National Intelligent Agency.

    “Soon after Osun election, the commission will unveil that framework for the collaboration aimed at further sanitising our election

  • ICPC to partner INEC to curb vote-buying

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has expressed readiness to partner Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to tackle the menace of vote-buying in the electoral system.

    Acting Chairman of ICPC, Mr Musa Abubakar, made this known when he visited INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Monday in Abuja.

    Abubakar said that ICPC identified with INEC and Nigerians on the issue of vote-buying and was willing to work with the election management body to curb the ugly trend.

    He said that the commission was empowered to deal with all cases of corruption, including those committed during elections.

    “The ICPC is empowered to investigate and prosecute any person involved in any act of bribery and corruption under any laws that prohibit corruption.

    “I believe the Electoral Act also has provisions that deal with corruption and all forms of malpractices during election.

    “So, vote-buying is one of the corrupt practices under both our law and Electoral Act.

    “The main reason for this visit is to identify with the commission and the general public on the issue of vote-buying.

    “We assure you that the ICPC is ever ready to partner INEC to ensure that this trend is totally eliminated or reduced to the barest minimum,’’ he said.

    Responding, Yakubu commended ICPC for its commitment to partner INEC to tackle “this new brand of electoral crime’’.

    He said that the commission was prepared to ensure that vote-buying did not determine the outcome of 2019 general elections.

    “The votes cast by citizens will continue to determine who wins in our elections. We are focusing more on the processes leading to that outcome.

    “The outcome of any election is in the hand of the voter, but we are responsible for ensuring that the process is free and credible,’’ he said.

    Yakubu also said that in addition to partnering with ICPC and EFCC, INEC was taking measures at ensuring that votes were not bought particularly on election days.

    He said that the commission intended to ban the use of mobile phone at the voting centres.

    “We will restructure our polling units in such a way that it will be difficult for a voter to expose the marked ballot papers before dropping them into ballot boxes.

    “In doing so, the commission will need the collaboration of the citizens to report any cases of electoral violation through the commission’s Situation Room and free toll line – INEC Citizens Contact Centre (ICCC).

    “I will like to speak to the citizens that whenever they see violations of Electoral Act to quickly report to these, using our toll free number under our ICCC platform so that we can quickly respond.’’

    On Osun governorship election, Yakubu said that INEC was setting up an inter-agency collaborative framework against vote-buying and spending above what the Electoral Act stipulated for campaign.

    “As you are aware, under the law there is spending limits for party and candidate to participate in an election.

    “This inter-agency framework will include the cooperation and active participation of EFCC, ICPC and the security agencies, particularly the police and Department of State Services and the National Intelligent Agency.

    “Soon after Osun election, the commission will unveil that framework for the collaboration aimed at further sanitising our election processes.’’ (NAN)

  • CVR: INEC registers 318, 255 in Edo

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) registered 318, 255 persons in Edo during the recently-concluded Continuous Voters Registration (CVR).

    According to a document obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the figure is comprised of those registered between April 27, 2017 and Aug. 30, 2018.

    The document showed that the Edo South Senatorial District, which comprises of seven Local Government Areas, had the highest figure of 204,539, representing 64.26 per cent of the total figure.

    The district is closely followed by the Edo North Senatorial District with six Local Government Areas, which had 73, 069, representing 22.96 per cent.

    The document further showed that Edo Central with five Council Areas, had a total of 40,647 persons, representing 12.78 per cent, registered during the exercise.

    NAN reports that a further breakdown of the figures according to the Local Government councils, revealed that Ikpoba-Okha from the South, had a total of 56, 254 persons, representing 17.7 respectively, per cent of the total figure for the state.

    It was followed by Oredo and Egor Local Governments, both from the southern Senatorial district, with 45,344 (14.25 per cent) and 39, 647 (12.5 per cent), respectively.

    Read Also: INEC to print 16.5m PVCs before 2019 general elections

    Esan Central (Edo Central), Etsako Central (Edo North) and Igueben (Edo Central), came in the rear with 6,352, 6,626 and 4,089, respectively.

    On the basis of percentage performance, the three council areas scored 2.0 per cent, 2.1 per cent and 1.51 per cent, respectively.

    NAN reports that Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area which had the highest figure, also produce the ward with the highest number of registered voters, with a total number of 10, 315, representing 3.24 per cent, registered in ward 7.

  • INEC to hold security meeting next week

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will hold a security meeting next week on the Osun State governorship election.

    The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the essence of the meeting is to review the security arrangement for the election.

    Besides, he said the commission is working on a multi-faceted approach to stop the menace of vote-buying and other sundry electoral malpractices.

    He said INEC will introduce changes to the election-day administration at the polling units.

    Yakubu spoke yesterday at the opening of the meeting of the management of the commission and Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) in Abuja.

    He said: “The Commission is convening a meeting of the national Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) next week to review the security arrangement for the election.”

    On the preparation for the election, Yakubu said that the omission is on course; adding that the processes and activities are going according to schedule of activities.

    He said: “Furthermore, the Commission is convening a meeting of the national Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) next week to review the security arrangement for the election.

    “We are working on a multi-faceted approach to the menace of vote-buying and other sundry electoral malpractices. We will introduce changes to the election-day administration of our polling units, in addition to the electronic tracking of our sensitive materials. We are discussing with the security agencies on a more vigorous enforcement of the law against voter-inducement.”

    On the preparation for the  election, he said: “All processes and activities are going according to our timetable and schedule of activities released almost a year ago.

     

     

  • 1.38m PVCs yet to be collected in Lagos – REC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( REC) in Lagos State on Thursday said some 1.38 million Permanent Voter’s Cards ( PVCs) were still uncollected in the state.

    Mr Sam Olumekun, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Lagos State, gave the figure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria  in Lagos.

    “We still have about 1.38 million PVCs uncollected as we speak. Only about 15 per cent of the 2017 new registrants whose cards have been produced have come to pick their cards. It is very poor.

    “We have also added close to 750, 000 new registrants, whose cards are still going to be produced and distributed.

    “Of course, the ones (PVCs) newly printed for those who registered in 2017, people are coming to collect them than those which had been there since 2011 elections,” he said.

    The commissioner urged eligible voters whose cards had been produced to visit INEC offices in the 20 local government areas across the state to pick them up.

    According to him, this will enable them to exercise their civic responsibility in the 2019 elections.

    “We are still looking at the possibility of going to meet the people; taking the cards to them, but we are still looking at that. It is going to be a policy issue,” Olumekun said.

    The REC urged the people to be involved in determining those that would represent them in government.

    “We are imploring all stakeholders in this business to educate and sensitise the people, because it is important to get our democracy working.

    “Sensitisation, mobilisation and education is not the business of INEC alone; it is the business of every interest group, for people to come out and perform their civic responsibility,” Olumekun said.

  • 93, 788 PVCs uncollected in Plateau – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has said that 93, 788 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) were still uncollected in Plateau.

    Mr Imahiyereobo Osaretin, Head of Voter Education and Publicity of the commission in the state, made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria  on Wednesday in Jos.

    According to him, the unclaimed PVCs were for persons who registered between January and December 2017.

    “Between January and December 2017, we registered 133,007 new voters in Plateau and their PVCs have been ready long now.

    “But as I speak to you, only 39, 219 PVCs were collected, leaving 93, 788 unclaimed,” he said.

    Read Also: INEC moves to foil vote buying

    Osaretin explained that Jos North, Jos South, Wase, and Kanke local government areas of the state had the highest number of unclaimed PVCs.

    “For example, Jos North has a total number of 11, 147 PVCs, but only 5, 706 are collected.

    “In Wase, we registered 10, 408 voters and their PVCs ready, but only 1,253 have so far been collected.

    “In Kanke, only 906 PVCs have been collected out of the 4,848 produced for the area” he explained.

    The head of voter education said now that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) had been suspended, more attention would be channelled to collection of PVCs.

    He, therefore, urged registered voters who are yet to collect their PVCs to do so, adding that the personnel of the commission would be on ground at every collection point.

  • INEC moves to foil vote buying

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday announced its preparation to thwart the buying and selling of votes during the Osun governorship election.

    A lecturer in the Department of History and International Studies, Osun State University, Prof. Siyan Oyewesor had in his lecture at the INEC institute, Abuja, called for a proper check of the menace of vote buying during elections.

    In the lecture, titled “Policy Dialogue on Osun Governorship Election: Critical Factors and What INEC should do to ensure successful polls,” the don recalled that vote buying was reported during the Edo and Ekiti governorship elections.

    He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly give his assent to the electoral bill that he reportedly rejected, stressing that the Presidency and National Assembly to iron out the technical grey areas in the bill.

    Oyewesor was of the opinion that an assent to the bill would make votes count.

    Asked how the commission was planning to checkmate the scourge, the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, admitted that vote buying had become an embarrassment to the commission.

    Agbaje however revealed that plans were underway to reposition the cubicles in the polling units to make it impossible for voters to display their ballot papers for a fee, after casting their votes.

    His words: “The commission has made itself clear on this issue that it is an embarrassing situation. And one of the ways that the commission has planned to check the development during the Osun State election is  to reposition all cubicles in such a way that it is not going to be easy for the voter after casting his vote to come out and display his ballot paper for people to see.”

    Agbaje said people must understand that neither vote selling nor buying would aid the nation’s democracy and future. He said the commission was already embarking on education of voters to curb vote buying.

  • 2019: Army pledges security support for INEC

    The Nigerian Army said Tuesday that it would assist the Independent National  Electoral Commission (INEC)  in ensuring maximum security before, during and after the 2019 general elections especially in the northeast of the country.

    The Army Director of Public Relations, Brig Gen Texas Chukwu said the assurance was given by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division Brig. Gen. Abdumalik Biu when the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Borno state, Mohammed Magaji paid him a visit.

    Read Also:Osun election: INEC moves to foil vote buying

    Brig. Gen.  Chukwu noted in a statement that the assurance was to enable the commission carry out its constitutional responsibility of conducting 2019 General Elections peacefully.

    Brig Gen said: “The Acting GOC described INEC as a critical institution to democratic process in Nigeria and promised to provide security for all INEC staff and materials in all voting areas in hinterlands of the state, during the forth coming general election”.

    The statement further quoted the GOC as saying that “the Nigerian  Army will do all within its power to provide adequate security to INEC staff and their materials during the election”.

    Brig Gen Chukwu noted that “earlier the Resident Electoral Commissioner  thanked the Nigerian Army for their efforts in combating Boko Haram insurgency, stressing that this has led to the return of peace in the State. He prayed for God’s protection and victory for the troops fighting insurgency in all parts of North East of Nigeria.

    The statement reads: “The INEC boss further commended the Nigerian Army for keeping electoral environment safe during previous elections, adding that such efforts gave INEC leeway in conducting their affairs without fear of intimidation and harassment from any quarters.

    “He used the opportunity to inform the Acting GOC of the Commission’s end of registration for Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and also solicited for Nigerian Army’s support during the distribution of the cards prior to election year.

    “Present during the visit was some Principal Staff Officers of the Division as well as INEC management staff”.

     

  • Osun election: INEC moves to foil vote buying

    …writes CP

    …CSO doubts efficacy of measure

     

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ), on Tuesday announced its preparation to thwart the buying and selling of votes in the September 22, Osun Governorship election.

    A professor from the Department of History and International Studies, Osun State University, Prof. Siyan Oyewesor, had in his lecture titled “Policy Dialogue on Osun Governorship Election: Critical Factors and What INEC should do to ensure successful polls,” at the INEC institute, Abuja, called for a proper check of the menace of vote buying in the election.

    The don, who was the lead speaker, recalled that vote buying was reportedly part of the Edo and Ekiti governorship elections.

    He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly give his assent to the electoral bill that he reportedly rejected, stressing that the Presidency and National Assembly to iron out the technical grey areas in the bill.

    He was of the opinion, that an assent to the bill would make votes count in the country.

    Asked how the commission was planning to checkmate the scourge, the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje told reporters in the dialogue that vote buying had become an embarrassment to the commission.

    He however revealed that plans were underway to preposition the cubicles in the polling units to ensure that it is impossible for voters to display their ballot papers for a fee, after casting their votes.

    His words: “The commission has made itself clear on this issue that it is an embarrassing situation. And one of the ways that the commission has planned to handle it is that during this Osun State election, all cubicles are going to be repositioned in such a way that it is not going to be easy for the voter after casting to come out and display his ballot paper for people to see.”

    Agbaje said that the citizenry must understand that neither vote selling nor buying would aid the nation’s democracy and future. He noted that the commission was already embarking on voters’ education to curb vote buying.

    The REC, who said that the Commissioner of Police in the State had been very supportive, noted that he wrote him a later last week, drawing his attention to the flashpoint in the state that were mostly the boundary with other states.

    According to him, the commission had been in dialogue to get in touch with the aspirants to always ensure a peaceful atmosphere for the election.

    The Executive Director, Partner for Electoral Reforms, Mr. Ezenwa Nwaogu, however, disagreed with the measure for repositioning the cubicles, noting that the votes were always paid for several meters away from the polling units and not in the unit.

    Read Also: INEC denies receiving N50m logistics support from Jigawa

    Driving home his point, he recalled that the police that were supposed to keep order at the polling units, aided the selling and buying of votes during the last Edo State governorship election.

    In his opening remarks, the chairman Board of the institute, Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu, said that the dialogue was to provide a platform to discuss and interrogate the issues and challenges relating to the election and proffer suggestions as to what the commission should do to ensure successful polls.

    He said that with the support of other stakeholders, INEC would not spare any effort at ensuring the improvement of its service delivery through 2019 and beyond.

    He added that “ultimately our goal is a vibrant electoral process, strong electoral governance and institute and a delivery of a free, fair, credible and peaceful election in Nigeria.“