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Tag: Inec

  • INEC clears nine for Bauchi senatorial by-election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared nine candidates to contest in the August 11 Bauchi South Senatorial by-election.

    INEC Head of Voters Education and Publicity in the state, Yahaya Mohammed, listed those cleared as Haruna  Ayuba (ADC); Lawal Gumau (APC); Aminu Tukur (APP); Isa Yuguda (GPN); Usman Hassan (KP);  Husseini Umar (NNPP);  Usman Chaledi (PDC); Ladan Salihu, PDP and Maryam Bargel (SDP).

    Mohammed said the list of the candidates was submitted to the commission by their various parties after their primaries.

    On preparations for the election, Mohammed said the commission had recruited 3,500 ad hoc staff that would man the 1,944 polling units in the seven local government areas that constituted the senatorial district

  • Ajimobi charges INEC on efficiency and transparency

    Oyo State Governor Senator Abiola Ajimobi has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to continually improve its operation by making it system driven rather than human-driven to forestall electoral malpractices in the country as well as improve the confidence level.

    The Governor gave the charge while receiving the Oyo state resident electoral commissioner Barrister Mutiu Agboke and top INEC officials who paid him a courtesy call at the Governor’s office Secretariat, Agodi Ibadan.

    Governor Ajimobi who rated the confidence of the public in INEC at about 60 per cent called on the electoral umpire to raise the bar and ensure electoral transparency in the state. He said voting should not be an excruciating experience but an easy process that should not attract hardship to the people.

    Ajimobi said, “There is nowhere in the world that human being will not behave like human beings, that they will not want to cheat, that they will not want to rig, I think INEC system should continually be improved to make it a system driven exercise and organization, rather than individual driven.

    “The moment you put in place checks and balances in terms of electronic devices, workability and such others, I think the more people will believe in INEC. As at today, the confidence level in INEC is about 60 per cent while the confidence level of the people in government and governance is about 30 per cent, which means INEC is doing better than the government. But let us increase that level and the only way is to continue to make it system driven and make it as transparent as much as we can.”

    Read Also: INEC fixes Aug 18 for Taraba by-election

    While speaking on the issuance of PVC, Governor Ajimobi noted that he has been inundated with complaints from members of the public as regards the slow pace, long queues and other challenges confronting the commission.

    The Governor also stressed the need for the commission to engage more ad hoc staff that would expedite the process while assuring the commission of the government support in the areas of sensitization and mobilization, noting that the state government is already considering working out a mechanism that would allow workers take time off duty to go and register as well as collect their PVCs to reduce the volume of uncollected PVCs.

    “We already planned to make the last week of the registration a time off or giving some days off for our people to leave work to go and collect their PVCs. I don’t think there should be a work-free day for that, but we can work out allowing them to go in the morning and then report back to work. We could say, we will allow them to resume work at 8 am then we give them so hours off to go there and collect till 12noon and then come back to work.

    “We could do that three times a week or even a whole week just to ensure that people registered and collect their PVCs. And when we give people that excuse from duty, they must also come back with their PVCs and we will want to see many of them register and those who have not collected it to do so too”, the governor said.

    In his earlier remark, the Oyo INEC boss, Barrister Agboke said about 756,450 PVC are yet to be collected in Oyo state, appealing to the state government to encourage the civil and public servants in the state by setting a day apart for the collection of PVC through a public holiday.

  • EFCC arraigns INEC officials for alleged N179.8m fraud

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned three Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials at the Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged N179.8million fraud.

    Yemi Akinwonmi, Dickson Atiba and Ogunmodede Oladayo were accused of conspiring to take possession of the money in March 2015 ahead of the general election.

    They were arraigned before Justice Muslim Hassan, who ordered that they be remanded in Ikoyi Prison pending hearing of their bail application.

    EFCC said they received the money from Adeyinka Ayo-Aina when they “reasonably ought to have known that the money formed part of proceeds of fraud.”

    According to the Commission, they handled the cash without going through a financial institution, thereby violating the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.

    The prosecution said Akinwunmi and Atiba, on or about April 7, 2015, made and accepted a cash payment of N69million.

    It added that the sum “exceeded the amount authorised by law without going through a financial institution.”

    EFCC said the alleged offence is contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended and punishable under Section 16(2).

    Akinwonmi, Atiba and Oladayo pleaded not guilty to the charges.

     

  • NYSC DG allays corps members’ fears ahead 2019 election

    The Director General, National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ), Brig. Gen. Sule Zakari Kazaura, on Monday, assured corps members serving in Anambra State of adequate security ahead of next year’s general elections.

    He said the Scheme was liaising with all security agencies in the state to guarantee maximum security of the corps members.

    Kazaura who gave the assurance at the orientation camp in Umunya, Oyi local government area of the state, said the organization was also working with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure corps members carry out the national assignment unhindered.

    “We are in touch with all the relevant security agencies to ensure corps members’ security is guaranteed. We’re also in an MOU with INEC. With these, I don’t envisage any problems,” he assured.

    Read Also: ‘Corps members will not be posted to volatile areas in Plateau’

    Kazaura who was in the state for inspection of camp facilities, expressed satisfaction with the sanitary conditions of the facilities, however said trip to the state was also to meet with the government over the speedy completion of the permanent orientation camp.

    He noted that the post-service skill acquisition training which had posed a challenge to the scheme, would soon be history with the establishment of skill acquisition centres across the six geopolitical zones in the country.

    Underscoring the place of security consciousness and decent dressing among the corps members, particularly the female folks, the DG charged them to avoid unnecessary trips and to respect the culture and tradition of their host communities.

    Earlier, the State coordinator, Aremu Kehinde, expressed optimism that the corps members would tap into the entrepreneurial spirit the average citizen of the state was known for to become self reliant after service.

  • Unease in INEC over Senate, Reps recess

    There is palpable anxiety among officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the possible effects of the shutdown of the National Assembly on the Commission’s N242,445,322,600 2019 poll budget.

    Amid ripples of defections, the National Assembly on Tuesday began its annual recess which will end on September 26.

    The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who is also the chairman of the National Assembly, said the recess was necessary to enable the lawmakers to participate in party primaries ahead of the 2019 elections.

    But the timetable released by the electoral commission indicated that the primaries will hold between August 18 and October 7.

    It was however learnt that preparations for the poll might be hampered by the vacation of senators and members of the House of Representatives.

    Instead of a seven-month timeframe to prepare for the poll, INEC might only have between three and four months to prepare if the proposal is approved in October.

    According to investigation conducted by our correspondent, INEC needs to procure about 600 items for the poll, including sensitive materials like ballot papers and non-sensitive types.

    Most of the items are not those INEC can pick on the shelf within a month or two, especially in view of the nation’s long-winding public procurement process.

    A National Commissioner in INEC, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said the shutdown of the National Assembly will affect preparations for 2019 poll.

    The source said: “There is no way the shutdown will not affect our preparation timeline because we need funds to procure items required for 2019 poll.

    “We are procuring over 600 items for the general election. If we have funds, we need about seven months to prepare adequately for the poll.

    “At the rate we are going, we may have to put all items in place within three to four months to the general election.

    “And the law makes it mandatory to subject all procurement to the evaluation of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the relevant laws of the land.

    “What we are trying to do now is to prioritise these election items and ask the Federal Government for cash reprieve to pay for these materials ahead of approval of the budget by the National Assembly.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “Certainly, we will work round the clock within available time limit to give the nation a free, fair and credible general election.”

    Another top official in INEC gave technical details on why the election budget must be approved at the right time.

    The source said: “We started implementing 2019 Election Project Plan (EPP) and Strategic Plan of Action in January. Each item in the EPP has a timeline and threshold that must be met at a particular time.

    “If we slow down on any timeline or fail to meet any threshold, it will lead to pressure on us.

    “So, for those items that require procurement, we are really behind time. These materials include ballot papers, smart cards, ICT bordering on electronic transmission of results, and other sensitive security items which I cannot disclose.

    “Assuming the National Assembly approves the budget now and the cash is released, we must work for about 20 hours daily between August and February 2019.

    “The Executive and the National Assembly must have a common ground in order to hasten the consideration and passage of 2019 poll budget. If it means creating a window within the recess period to approve the budget, it will be better for the nation.

    “The truth is that the September 26 resumption time of the lawmakers is a bit late because we need funds to procure materials, some of which are customized and sourced from abroad.

    “The ultimate however is that the 2019 election must be conducted within the stipulated time allowed by the 1999 Constitution. “

    When contacted, the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Wole Osaze-Uzzi, only said: “Prompt passage of the budget or bill will aid our preparation for 2019 poll.”

    The 2019 election will hold in 1,558 national, state as well as local constituencies in the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) beginning from February 16.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had on July 17 forwarded the election budget to the National Assembly.

    He said: “As you are aware, the 2019 general election is scheduled to be conducted early in 2019. To ensure that adequate arrangements are made for free and fair election, it has become necessary to appropriate funds to enable the relevant agencies to commence preparations.

    “INEC and the security agencies have accordingly recently submitted their requests and these have been subjected to the usual budget evaluation. The aggregate cost of the election is estimated at N254,445, 322,600. However, in line with the prevailing fiscal I’m proposing that the sum of N164,104,792.65 be provided for through virement or supplementation of the 2018 budget.

    “I propose that the balance of N78,340,530,535 mostly related to personnel allowances, fuelling and other costs not required until election proper be provided in their 2019 budget.”

  • Bye-Election: Baba Kaita grabs APC ticket for Katsina North

    A member of House of Representatives, representing Kusada/Ingawa/Kankia federal constituency, Alhaji Ahmed Baba Kaita, has picked up the APC ticket for Katsina North Senatorial District to contest the bye-election scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the zone by August 11

    Kaita defeated other 10 contestants at the keenly contested party primaries involving about 4000 delegates held at Daura Motel, which ended at about 1.53 am this morning

    His closest rivals Nasiru Sani Zango, 1474, and Engineer Mustapha kanti who scored 317 votes, as well as the remaining contestants, all pledged to work for the victory of the party at the polls expected to hold in less than two weeks from now

    The total votes cast at the primaries were 3,879 with 91 invalid votes and the withdrawal of a candidate, Kabir Abdullahi, alias ‘’Change’’ from the contest

    Meanwhile after what some party officials described as a failed plot to impose a “consensus” candidate for the vacant Katsina North senatorial seat at the National Assembly, leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) succumbed to the primaries election process option, to produce a candidate to contest along with other political parties in the area

    The Nation recalled that the Senate seat became vacant following the demise of the then incumbent, the late Senator Mustapha Bukar, last April. The Independent National Electoral Commission has since fixed August 11 for the conduct of a by-election to fill the position.

    Party delegates from across 12 local government areas in the zone converged on the Daura Motel to choose a candidate from the 11 contestants who participated in the primaries

    Reports indicate that Masari had visited both the accreditation and voting venues at midnight and commended the level of preparation for the polls.

    The APC had earlier fixed Wednesday, July 25, for the conduct of the poll but later shifted the date as none of the contestants agreed to step down for the emergence of a consensus candidate through “affirmation.”

    The Nation further learnt that not even Governor Aminu Bello Masari could convince the contestants to abandon the voting process.

    According to a competent party source, “we held series of meetings and all of them ended in deadlock. The last meeting was with the Governor at the Government House which dragged on into the early hours of Thursday morning and at the end, it was agreed that we conduct the primaries. The Governor made case for the emergence of a consensus candidate but it did not work out.”

  • INEC fixes Aug 18 for Taraba by-election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed August 18 for Takum I, Taraba State House of Assembly by-election.

    Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Alhaji Baba Yusuf, who spoke yesterday while addressing chairmen in Jalingo, said the Speaker, Abel Diah, wrote to INEC on Tuesday declaring the seat vacant.

    The lawmaker representing Takum I, Hosea Ibi, was abducted on December 31, 2017, and murdered in January.

    Yusuf urged stakeholders to cooperate with the commission to ensure a successful election.

    He said: “I am pleased to inform you that Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Abel Diah, wrote to the commission on Tuesday, declaring Takum I seat vacant.

    “The commission is, therefore, mandated by law to conduct a by-election to fill the vacancy within 30 hinted that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) would end on August 17, and assured the people that registered voters would get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) before 2019 elections.

    “We are ending the CVR August 17 because we want all registered voters to get their PVCs. Distribution of PVCs will end one week to the 2019 elections and we have put in place measures to ensure smooth distribution,” he added.

  • Osun: 48 parties will contest, says INEC

    Forty-eight political parties are to contest the Osun State governorship election, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said.

    The election will hold on September 22.

    The commission also announced August 18 as the date for Rivers and Taraba states’ by-elections.

    This brings to six the by-elections the commission will conduct before the Osun poll.

    INEC Chairman Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, who spoke yesterday at the swearing-in of two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), said the commission was processing  forms for the Osun poll.

    The two RECs – Mr. Garba Attahiru Madami and Ahmad Bello Mahmud – are to resume work immediately.

    He said: “A record number of 48 political parties have nominated candidates for the election. The commission is currently processing the nomination form.

    “Our preparation for the Osun State governorship election continues in earnest. Nomination of candidates closed yesterday (Tuesday) in line with the timetable and schedule of activities released by the commission in October last year.”

    For the by-elections in Rivers and Taraba states, Mahmood said the timetable and schedule of activities would be out today after the commission’s weekly meeting.

    Also, Madami and Mahmud were posted to Kwara and Kebbi.

    Madami hails from Niger State, while Mahmud is from Zamfara State.

    In line with INEC rules, they are not allowed to serve in their states of origin.

    Mahmood urged the RECs to familiarise themselves with the relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), the commission’s plans, guidelines and regulations as well as established processes and procedures.

    He assured them of the commission’s support as they discharge their duties.

    Madami promised the RECs will obey the oaths of office and contribute to free, fair and transparent elections.

  • 48 parties to participate in Osun guber poll – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Wednesday that 48 political parties filed nominations for the Sept. 22 governorship election in Osun.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this at the swearing-in of two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

    Yakubu said that the commission was currently processing the nomination forms.

    “Our preparations for the Osun governorship election continued in earnest.

    “Nomination of candidates closed yesterday (Tuesday) in line with the timetable and schedule of activities released by the commission in October, 2017.

    “A record number of 48 political parties have nominated candidates for the election. The commission is currently processing the nomination forms,” Yakubu said.

    The two new RECs were Garba Madami and Ahmed Mahmud.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier on Wednesday sworn in Mr Festus Okoye, a human rights activist, as INEC National Commissioner.

    Yakubu said that ‎with the new RECs, INEC now had the full complement of 12 National Commissioners and “all but two RECs”.

    He expressed optimism that the new RECs would bring their knowledge and experience to bear in the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.

    The Chairman advised them ‎to quickly familiarise themselves with the relevant provision of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), INEC’s plans, guidelines and regulations as well as established processes and procedures.

    “On the practical side of your work, you must immediately interact with your staff and pay attention to their welfare.

    “Also visit the local government offices in your states and assess the various facilities and critical requirements for the 2019 general elections, ranging from the recruitment and training of ad hoc staff, logistics and more.

    “Within the confines of the law, I encourage you to be imaginative in responding to the needs of the electorate and add value to the electoral process.

    “In doing so, always seek for clarification and, where necessary, the approval of the commission.”

    He said that Madami would be deployed to Kwara while Mahmud would work in Kebbi state.

    Yakubu disclosed that INEC has also received additional declaration of vacancies from the Rivers and Taraba Houses of Assembly.

    These, according to him, were in respect of Port Harcourt III State Constituency and Takum I State Constituency in Taraba.

    “Since the law requires the commission to conduct the elections within one month from the declaration of vacancy, the bye-elections in Rivers and Taraba will be held simultaneously on Aug.18.

    “The timetable and schedule of activities for the two elections will be released tomorrow after the weekly meeting of the commission.

    “With this development, the commission will be conducting six bye-elections before the Osun Governorship election scheduled for Sept. 22. (NAN)

  • Elders forum seeks rejection of INEC voters register, cattle colony

    Elders from the South and Middle belt region of the country have sought the support of the House of Representatives in the rejection of the voters register by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), even as the 2019 general election moves closer.

    The elders, under the aegis of the Southern Elders and Middle Belt Forum also demanded the support of the lawmakers towards the realisation of the clamour for restructuring the country under a Federal system of government.

    The forum which comprised of Afenifere , Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEV) and the Middle Belt Forum, led by Ayo Adebanjo of Afenifere met with Speaker Yakubu Dogara yesterday in his office.

    Others in the delegation include Chigozie Ogbu, AVM Ikhanga Idongesit (rtd), Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (rtd), former governorsOlusegun Mimiko, Cornelius Adebayo and Chief Olu Falae among others.

    Saying that the group was apolitical, Adebanjo said it is only restructuring of the country in a Federal system of government that can keep the country together.

    He said: “Anything beyond restructuring, we are not for it and we believe in championing this cause, we need the support of the House.

    “Conveying the idea of restructuring  to you does not mean to break up Nigeria, it is the only thing that can keep Nigeria together in peace.

    “We do not think that after being together for so long we should break up but we don’t want to be in a Nigeria that is dominated by one section of the country, that is anti a section of the country and extremely pro another section of the country.

    “Anyone one who is opposed to the restructuring of the country is the enemy number one. We want a constitution that is agreeable to all of us.

    “Restructuring does not mean the break up of Nigeria, it has no religious or ethic coloration but uniting us in peace”.

    The group demands include devolution of power to the federation units, restoration of fiscal federalism, zonal or regional structure as federation units and reduction of cost of governance.

    The group also asked the government to put a stop to  killings allegeldy carried out in the parts of the country by herdsmen.

    The forum also expressed its opposition to the establishent of cattle colony and grazing lands by the Federal government.

    “The current voters registration exercise  has been compromised and marred by irregularities by the registration of underaged and foreigners bring recorded in some parts of the north.

    “Accordingly, we call for the total cancellation of the INEC voters register, support and insist on restricturing and true federalism and call on the National Assembly to immediately commence a legislative agenda in that regard,” he adeed.

    The elders also asked that the military Service Chiefs to begin immediately the process of their statutory retirement while their replacements must have a face of federal character.

    In his response,  Dogara said the composition  of the elders and their desire for a strong United Nigeria has reinforced his believe in a better democratic Nigeria.

    He told the delegation that the National Assembly has made efforts through the review of the constitution to address some of the issues raised.

    He said restructuring should  be seen within the context of making Nigeria work better for all citizen.

    He said: “Restructuring means we should make the country work but we  generate consensus for everyone to agree on formula that is agreeable to all.

    “Crisis is normal, else there won’t be any  reason for government. It is when we agree and disagree that we find solutions.

    “We should tend to even look again at what is even working  for us to make it sustainable and that is innovation.

    “People should make the system work, if the system  fails, its down to the people. Nations fail where family unit fails”.

    He however expressed regrets that the current Assembly would not be able to take further review of the constitution due to time constraints.