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  • 2019: INEC targets 80m voters

    2019: INEC targets 80m voters

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) hopes to have between 80 and 85  million voters  registered ahead of next year’s elections ,according to the commission chairman, Professor  Mahmood Yakubu.

    The voter register already contains 74 million names,Yakubu said at the 15th edition of the Daily Trust Dialogue, where he was represented by the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mr Solomon Soyebi..

    The INEC Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi quoted Yakubu as saying the figure is expected to rise up to 85 million by 2019 because of the on-going nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

    He assured Nigerians that only their votes would determine the 2019 general elections and beyond.

    Yakubu noted that there had been a lot of improvement in the electoral process since the current commission came on board.

    He said the commission was not unmindful of the enormous responsibility of conducting elections in a democracy.

    He said the INEC would continue to engage all stakeholders to ensure an all-inclusive process.

  • 2019: INEC targets 80m voters

    2019: INEC targets 80m voters

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) hopes to have between 80 and 85 million voters registered ahead of the 2019 elections, the Commission chairman, Prof.  Mahmood Yakubu, has said.

    Yakubu, who spoke at the 15th edition of the Daily Trust Dialogue, said the voters register already contains 74 million names.

    He was represented at the event by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mr. Solomon Soyebi.

    The INEC Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi quoted Yakubu as saying the figure is expected to rise to 85 million by 2019 because of the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

    He assured Nigerians that only their votes would count in the 2019 general elections and beyond.

    Yakubu noted that there had been a lot of improvement in the electoral process since the current Commission came on board.

    He said INEC was not unmindful of the enormous responsibility of conducting elections in a democracy.

    He said INEC would continue to engage all stakeholders to ensure an all-inclusive process.

    Yakubu stressed the Commission’s resolve to adhere strictly to the timelines provided in the recently released timetable and schedule of activities for next year’s elections.

  • INEC seeks NURTW’s collaboration in Ebonyi

    INEC seeks NURTW’s collaboration in Ebonyi

    Ahead of the 2019 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in Ebonyi, on Wednesday sought  collaboration of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), for easy movement of personnel and electoral materials.

    Prof. Godswill Obioma, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ebonyi, who spoke at a meeting in Abakaliki with NURTW members, said the collaboration was necessary in order to ensure successful elections.

    Obioma, who described NURTW as critical stakeholder, said effective collaboration with the union was needed to ensure successful movement of men and materials.

    According to him, the meeting is convened to map out strategies and actions necessary for effective engagement of members of the union.

    “The INEC in Abuja has directed states to carry out preparatory inventory of what the commission needs for smooth and successful conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    Read Also: …. Ngige threatens to sue INEC

    “This meeting with the union aimed at boosting our partnership and collaboration is part of the preparatory inventory.

    “The meeting will foster greater cooperation and commitment which will ensure that only those people who are trustworthy and credible will be engaged in the transportation services during the elections.

    “There are 1782 poling units in Ebonyi, and the implication is that not fewer than 1782 sound vehicles will be needed to convey our men and materials to these voting areas.

    “You can see why the union is very important and indeed a critical stakeholder in the electoral process.

    “The commission must count on you to enhance timely and effective distribution of the electoral materials to the various poling units,” Obioma said.

    He said that the commission would engage the officials of the 29 branches of the union operating in Ebonyi in similar interactive meeting.

    The NURTW’s State Chairman, Mr Ewa Oko, who led other officials of the union to the meeting, commended the REC for the timely initiative.

    He said that the meeting would assist both organisations to work out areas of common collaboration and cooperation as well as strengthen grey areas.

    Oko said that the union has been supportive of the commission in previous elections and had always mobilised its members during elections.

    “We are going to cooperate and collaborate with the commission to ensure that 2019 general elections become a huge success in Ebonyi in terms of transportation of materials and men to various polling units.

    “If NURTW says yes; then you know that our yes is our yes. We have assured our support and cooperation to the commission for the success of the elections in Ebonyi and we hold on to it,” Ewa said.

    He said that the union had launched operation ‘show your voter card’ explaining that members who were yet to register and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were not allowed to attend the union’s meetings.

    “We in NURTW are taking the 2019 elections very seriously. We launched operation show your PVC which makes it compulsory for members to show their voter cards before they are allowed to sit in our meetings.

    “If you don’ t have your voter card we send you out of our meeting ,because you are not a good citizen,” he added.

    The meeting inaugurated a seven – man INEC / NURTW transport joint sub-committee to work out modalities for effective engagement of the transporters.

    NAN

  • Buhari welcomes Anambra, Taraba, FCT polls results

    The Presidency on Sunday said that the outcome of the INEC-organized elections at the weekend, in which three different political parties won, is a manifestation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s deep commitment to free and fair elections.

    A Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu, who was commenting on the outcome of the polls  said: ‘‘the President is inherently committed to the independence of the electoral commission in his belief that the will of the people shall be the basis of authority of government which is expressed through periodic, free and fair elections. He will do nothing to impede INEC.”

    Congratulating the winners of the elections in Anambra central senatorial district, Ardo Kola state constituency in Taraba and Gwagwalada central constituency in the FCT, on behalf of the President the spokesman reaffirmed that under President Buhari’s watch, Nigeria will record more free, fair and credible elections.

    He reiterated the President’s commitment to strengthening democratic institutions in the country, by ensuring that all relevant institutions in the electoral process maintain a high-level of professionalism and independence throughout the electoral process.

    While commending INEC, security agencies, civil societies, the media and other stakeholders for their roles in the elections, Malam Garba called on parties not satisfied with the outcome of the polls to heed the President’s counsel by seeking legal redress through constitutional means.

  • …. Ngige threatens to sue INEC

    …. Ngige threatens to sue INEC

    Labour and Employment Minister, Chris Ngige, may head to court over the inclusion of his name on the list of the candidates for yesterday’s rerun election in the Anambra Central Senatorial  District.

    Ngige threatened, yesterday, to sue the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for deliberately listing his name with a view to humiliating him.

    The minister said he had, in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, informed INEC of his withdrawal from the rerun election on the 13th of January, 2016 when the election was originally  scheduled for March 2016.

    He wondered what the commission was up to after rejecting the name forwarded to it by the APC as his replacement after monitoring the primary that produced the candidate.

    He accused INEC of working for the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to emerge unopposed.

    He described yesterday’s election as a charade.

    He said: ” I’m not participating in the said election which can be described as a charade.

    ‘I have since, by a letter dated 11th January 2016, withdrawn from this rerun  election when it was earlier scheduled for March 2016 in accordance with the provisions of sections 33 and 35 of the Electoral Act 2010 for personal and Family reasons.

    ‘My party, the APC, accepted and promptly wrote INEC for my substitution. It went ahead and communicated its intention to organise a primary election for my substitution.

    “The primary monitored by INEC was organised at Awka and the name of a new candidate that emerged was promptly submitted, only for INEC to reject the new candidate on 29 January.

    “My party, the APC and INEC are in the Court of Appeal, Abuja, over this obnoxious and illegal action of INEC with hearing on the matter fixed for 23rd of January which is still within the armbit of 90 days ordered by court, only for the INEC to fix an ‘election’ for 13th in order to give an unfair advantage to the APGA candidate to go ‘unopposed’.”

     

  • Anambra rerun: Ngige threatens to sue INEC over inclusion in candidates’ list

    Anambra rerun: Ngige threatens to sue INEC over inclusion in candidates’ list

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, may head to court over his inclusion in the list of candidates for Saturday’s rerun election in the Anambra Central Senatorial District.

    Ngige threatened to sue the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for “deliberately listing his name with a view to humiliating him.”

    The minister said he had, in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, informed INEC of his withdrawal from the rerun election on January 11, 2016 when the election was originally scheduled for March 2016.

    He wondered what the Commission was up to after rejecting the name forwarded to it by the All Progressives Congress (APC) as his replacement after monitoring the primary that produced the candidate.

    He accused INEC of working for the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to emerge unopposed.

    He also described Saturday’s election as a charade.

    He said: “I’m not participating in the said election which can be described as a charade.

    ‘I have since by a letter dated  January 11, 2016 withdrawn from this rerun  election when it was earlier scheduled for March 2016 in accordance with the provisions of sections 33 & 35 of the Electoral Act 2010 for personal and family reasons.

    ‘My party, the APC, accepted and promptly wrote INEC for my substitution. It went ahead and communicated its intention to organise a primary election for my substitution.

    “The primary monitored by INEC was organised at Awka and the name of a new candidate that emerged was promptly submitted, only for INEC to reject the new candidate on January 29.

    “My party, the APC and INEC are in the Court of Appeal Abuja over this obnoxious and illegal action of INEC with hearing on the matter fixed for January 23 which is still within the ambit of 90 days ordered by court, only for the INEC to fix an ‘election’ for 13th in order to give an unfair advantage to the APGA candidate to go ‘unopposed.”

     

  • Anambra re-run poll: Collation of votes in progress

    Anambra re-run poll: Collation of votes in progress

    Voting ended with collation in progress in Anambra Central Senatorial re-run election on Saturday in areas where voting and accreditation commenced at 8a.m.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the election commenced at 8 a.m in six Local Government Areas of Awka North, Awka South, Anaocha, Dunukofia, Njikoka, and Idemili South, except in Idemili North that recorded some hitches.

    Voting ended at 2 p.m. at Umudioka Town Hall polling units, Amawbia Village Square, Aroma Junction in Awka South Local Government and Central Primary School, Ukpo in Dunukofia.

    Voting also ended at Oye Market in Ukpo in Dunukofia with five polling units and collation of votes were in progress.

    Mr Leo Nkedife, the Head of Department of INEC in Awka, said that the problem in Idemili North was sorted out a few hours after it was reported to the commission, adding that voting was ongoing in the area.

    He said that prospective voters in the area would be given consideration if they were on queue before 2 p.m when voting was expected to end.

    Mrs Oby Okafor, candidate of Action Congress for Democrats (ACD), described the election as smooth and peaceful.

    Okafor told NAN after casting her vote at Obunagu Ward in Awka South that there was low turnout of voters across the central senatorial district.

    She said it was good that the election had come and gone after months of uncertainty.

    Okafor praised INEC for its maturity and flawless conduct of the election and noted that she would accept the outcome of the poll.

  • Anambra: Transporters, Corps members abandon INEC duties

    Anambra: Transporters, Corps members abandon INEC duties

    Some transporters engaged to move materials for Anambra Central re-run election in Idemili North Local Government Area,  abandoned the assignment because the part payment they were given were insufficient, Mr Ayeleso Olutope, INEC Electoral Officer said.

    Olutope, INEC Electoral Officer in-charge of Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra, told NAN at Ogidi on Saturday that all materials for the election were supposed to have be moved to polling units at 5 a.m on Saturday.

    Olutope regretted the hitches recorded, noting that while some transporters conveyed the materials, some refused on the grounds that the part payment were insufficient for the job.

    He also said that some NYSC member engaged as ad-hoc workers also demanded that their stipend be paid before they commence work.

    The corps members claimed that some of their colleagues have received alert from their banks for the election duty while they did not get.

    A transporter, who gave his name as Johnson Uchendu, said because of the hike in the price of petrol, 50 per cent of the amount he agreed for the job was not enough to fuel his vehicles for this job.

    He noted that it was for this obvious reality that he demanded that INEC pay him complete to enable him buy enough petrol for the job.

    NAN reports that as at 10.30 a.m electoral materials were yet to arrive at some locations, including Central School Nkpor-Agu, Nkpor Ward two all in Idemili North Local Government Area.

    Mr Nwachukwu Enekwuwa, agent of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), expressed concern over the delay in arrival of materials, and called on INEC to sort out the problem before it affect the outcome of the election.

    Two security personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, who pleaded anonymity, said they arrived Nkpor ward two as early as 7 a.m but were yet to see any electoral officials for the exercise.(NAN)

  • INEC registers 112, 225 new voters in Bayelsa

    INEC registers 112, 225 new voters in Bayelsa

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) said it registered at least 112, 225 new eligible voters at the end of third quarter of the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) in Bayelsa.

    The INEC Administrative Secretary in the state, Mr. Clement Oha disclosed this on Friday in Yenagoa, during a stakeholders meeting involving Inter-Party Adversary Committee (IPAC) and political parties.

    Oha said the figure comprised the first, second and the third phase of the exercise in the state.

    “At the end of the third quarter on December 21, 2017, a total of 112, 225 new eligible voters were registered in the three phase,” he said.

    The administrative secretary said the Commission was also able to distribute over 1, 856 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) while a total of 30, 406 cards were still waiting for collection.

    “We are using this opportunity to call on all those, who registered before the 2015 general elections, to go to the Local Government INEC officers or other designated centers in their area to collect their PVCs.

    “When in difficulty to collect, the person can contact the State INEC office. I thank stakeholders in the state for their support to ensure that the CVR is being carried out successfully,” Oha said.

    NAN

     

     

  • MDP, others get INEC registration certificates

    MDP, others get INEC registration certificates

    Modern Democratic Party (MDP), a youth-focused political alliance, joined 21 other parties to receive their certificate of registration from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    With registration earlier approved by the Commission on 14 December, last year, certificates of operation were presented to representatives of the new parties at the INEC national headquarters in Abuja.

    Some of the parties present at the occasion are the All Blending Party, All Grassroots Alliance, Alliance for New Nigeria, Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party, Coalition for Change, Freedom and Justice Party, Grassroots Development Party of Nigeria, Justice Must Prevail Party, Legacy Party of Nigeria, Mass Action Joint Alliance, Modern Democratic Party, National Interest Party, National Rescue Mission and New Progressive Mission.

    Others are the New Progressive Movement, Nigeria Democratic Congress Party, People’s Alliance for National Development and Liberty, People’s Trust, Providence People’s Congress, Re-Build Nigeria Party, Restoration Party of Nigeria, Socialist Party of Nigeria and Sustainable National Party.

    Widely recognised as an indicator of active youth involvement in politics, the Modern Democratic Party is led by Prince Bukunyi Olateru-Olagbegi, a 27-year-old youth activist and entrepreneur.

    The presentation of certificates followed the recent passage of the ‘Not Too Young to Run’ bill by the National Assembly – a strategic move set to massively spur the interest of Nigerian youth in participating actively in politics.

    With 46 political parties previously registered nationwide, this brings the total number of parties to 67.