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Tag: Inec

  • We are ready for Anambra Central rerun – INEC

    We are ready for Anambra Central rerun – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra said it has taken adequate measures to ensure smooth, credible, free and fair election in the Anambra Central Senatorial District rerun on Saturday.

    The Head of Publicity and Voter Education for INEC in the state, Mr. Leo Nkedife, stated this while speaking with journalists in Awka on Friday.

    Nkedife said all sensitive and non-sensitive materials as well as ad-hoc staff had been mobilised to the seven local government areas of the senatorial district.

    He urged the residents of Anambra central senatorial district to come out with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to exercise their franchise.

    He urged the voters to elect candidates of their choice, saying INEC was fully prepared for the election.

    The INEC official assured that plans had been perfected to ensure adequate security the area where the exercise would be conducted.

    NAN

  • 2019: Our party will rescue Nigeria from possible collapse’

    2019: Our party will rescue Nigeria from possible collapse’

    The Action Democratic Party (ADP) has reacted to the 2019 elections Time Table released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
    The party in a statement issued by the spokesman for Lagos, Prince Adelaja Adeoye on Wednesday, said that the ADP is ready to rescue Nigeria from a possible total collapse under the current mis-governance of the ruling APC.
    He said the reality for Nigerians is that governance is at its lowest ebb and that citizens are crying.
    Adelaja said that the ADP is working with all stakeholders across the country in order to present candidates who possess the 3Cs which he described as “Competence, Character and Capacity.”
     The party noted that for Nigeria to move forward, men and women of good character, competence and capacity must be put forward to lead. He said Nigeria needs a bridge builder as a President, someone who can restore peace, unity and love amongst the citizens and return the once revered nation to the path of economic boom. 
    He stressed further that the era of propaganda for votes is gone and that Nigerians will go to the polls based on issues that bother on their needs.
    According to him, these needs have not been met by Buhari’s administration. ADP however charges Nigerians to stay awake, alleging that the ruling APC is aware that its popularity has waned and will want to use force and rigging to remain in power. 
    The party said for them, Lagos is winnable and will be won because the state does not need an “Owambe” Governor, one tied to the apron of a god father but a serious minded governor who will take governance beyond environmental sanitation. The party said that most Lagosians have not enjoyed the dividends of democracy since 1999 and that the culture of impunity, imposition and godfatherism has held sway in the state.
    ADP said a change of guard will make Lagosians see that development is far beyond what they are currently seeing under the current rent seekers who claim to be working. 
    ADP charges Nigerians to be ready to do the needful at the polls as electioneering activities start, based on the recently released INEC time table; urging them not to make themselves willing tools for violence, election malpractices or used to cause voter apathy.
  • 2019 elections: Group cautions against violence, urges youths’ involvement

    2019 elections: Group cautions against violence, urges youths’ involvement

    A group, known as Yoruba Council of Youths Worldwide ( YCYW ), has urged the youths to get involved in leadership process and shun violence as the 2019 general elections approach.

    Mr Aremo Hassan, the President of the group, made the call on Thursday in Lagos, following the release of the 2019 election time table by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ).

    According to the time table, the Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on February 16, 2019 while the Governorship and State Assembly elections will be conducted on March 2, 2019.

    “The Nigerian people, especially those of the voting age should go and register at the nearest INEC office to them and vie for leadership positions.

    “There is need for us to conduct ourselves rightly ahead, during and after the process by shunning evil acts of electoral malpractices and violence.

    Read also: INEC releases timetable for 2019 general elections

    “We need to take this rear advantage to scout for good leaders whose interest is centred first on the people; we should ensure to vote wisely.

    “We are all stakeholders when it comes to election rituals, for this is another golden opportunity to elect excellent performance, qualitative leadership and good governance.

    “We need to alternate where we have bad records by voting out those that failed to deliver real dividends of democracy to the people,’’ he said.

    Hassan, a legal practitioner, commended the timely release of the 2019 electionstime table, saying there was need to create level playing ground for all candidates and political parties.

    “It is imperative to advise the politicians to take due advantage of the time table to prepare themselves and shelve any acts of criminality and monetisation of the process.

    “All parties need to align their programs in conformity with INEC’s set guidelines and laws, by conducting their conventions and party primaries accordingly,’’ he added.

    The youth leader said that the people remained the legitimate key drivers of elections globally, adding that Nigeria was no exception.

    Hassan called on the Federal and State Governments to provide INEC with enabling support in terms of funding, security and infrastructure to ensure a hitch-free exercise.

    According to him, the support should be without any biased motives, duress, undue influence and interference that could negatively affect the overall success of the electoral process.

    NAN

  • INEC registers 68, 079 voters in Kwara; creates 10 additional centers

    INEC registers 68, 079 voters in Kwara; creates 10 additional centers

    Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) says it has registered 68, 079 voters in Kwara since the commencement of the Continuous Voter Registration ( CVR ).

    Mr Paul Atser, INEC Administrative Secretary made this known on Thursday in Ilorin while briefing stakeholders on the exercise.

    He said that the commission had created 10 additional mobile registration centres in the state to bring the exercise closer to the people.

    The continuous registration began in April 2017 in all the 36 states of the federation including Abuja.

    Atser however frowned at the low pace of collection of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) since the commencement of the registration exercise in April.

    Read also: Over 657,000 PVCs unclaimed in Oyo State – INEC

    “It was sad to note that collection of permanent voter card was at its lowest ebb since April, 2017 to date.

     “Only 3, 069 PVCs have so far been collected out of the total 242, 069 unclaimed cards after 2015 elections.

     “As we speak, 239, 000 Permanent Voter Cards yet to be unclaimed,” Atser said.

    The Administrative Secretary therefore called on the people that had registered as voters to come for the collection of their voter cards.

    He said the new registration centres were located in Ilapa in Asa Local Government, Ilesha in Baruten, Tsonga in Edu, Igbaja in Ifelodun and Iponrin in Ilorin East.

    Other centres are Oro II in Irepodun, Kemanji in Kaiama, Shao in Moro, Igbana in Oke-Ero and Kpada in Patigi.

    Atser also appealed to eligible voters who had not register for their permanent voter card to do so to enable them exercise their franchise during the coming elections.

    NAN

  • INEC gives Sarah Jubril’s party, 20 others certificates of registration

    INEC gives Sarah Jubril’s party, 20 others certificates of registration

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) on Wednesday issued certificates of registration to Mrs. Sarah Jubril- led political party, Justice Must Prevail Party (JMPP) alongside 20 other newly cleared political parties.

    Jubril was a special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Ethics and Moral.

    INEC had previously issued the certificate of registration to the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) following a Federal High Court’s order.

    This, therefore brings to 22 the number of newly registered parties in the country.

    Consequently, the number of existing political parties has risen from 46 to 68 with the likelihood of more parties getting the nod before the 2019 general elections.

    Already, 25 of the 90 fresh applicants have moved to the next stage after scaling the first huddle.

    Addressing the leadership of the newly registered parties at the certificate presentation ceremony held at the INEC headquarters, the Commission’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said though the increase in number of political parties is good, it has also increased the task before the electoral body.

    He, however, assured the gathering that INEC is capable to meet the challenges of grappling with 105,944 candidates as a result of increase in the numbers of political parties that would be participating in the 2019 general elections.

    He said: “The number of political parties is good for our plural democracy. However, political parties must cooperate with the Commission for successful elections. If each of the 68 political parties in Nigeria today fields candidates for all the 1,558 constituencies to be contested in the 2019 general elections, the Commission will grapple with 105,944 candidates. If you consider the management and logistics of providing ballot papers for a projected 80 million registered voters, ad hoc staff and the requirements for forward and reverse logistics, monitoring of political party primaries, electioneering campaign, campaign finance, voter education, accreditation of national/international observers and the media, the task is enormous. I wish to assure Nigerians that we are aware of the challenges. We are also up to the task.”

  • INEC gives parties Oct 7 deadline to pick presidential candidates

    INEC gives parties Oct 7 deadline to pick presidential candidates

    Political parties have been given an October 7 deadline to produce their presidential candidates for the February 16, 2019 presidential election.

    Governorship, National/State Assemblies candidates are also to have been picked on the same date.

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu released the time table and schedule of activities for the 2019 general elections in Abuja yesterday.

    He reaffirmed that Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on February 16, 2019; Governorship/ state Assembly/ FCT Area Council elections are slated March 2, 2019.

    The parties have between August 18 and October 7 to pick candidates for all the elections.

    The Presidential election campaign will start on November 18 and end on February 14, 2019 while the governorship/state assemblies’ campaign will hold between December 1 and February 28, 2019

    Parties are expected to collect forms for all the elections at the INEC headquarters between August 17 and 24.

    All the duly filled forms for Presidential and National Assembly candidates are to be submitted latest by October 18 and forms for governorship and state assemblies to be sent in by November 2.

    Parties have between November 7 and December 1 to withdraw/replace candidates.

    INEC will publish the list of nominated Presidential and National Assembly candidates on January 17, 2019; Governorship and Assemblies elections January 31, 2019.

    The commission also fixed January 2, 2018 for the publication of notice for all elections while January 7, 2018 is fixed for the publication of official register of voters for the election.

    The political parties are also expected to submit names of their agents for the elections on February 1, 2019 for presidential and National Assembly eections.

    Prof Yakubu said INEC would be conducting elections for 1558 constituencies made up of one presidential constituency, 29 governorship constituencies out of 36 as seven governorship elections are staggered, 109 senatorial districts, 360 federal constituencies, 991 state assembly constituencies, 6 Area Council chairmen as well as 62 councilor ship positions for the FCT.

    The INEC boss urged all the political parties and all and sundry “to eschew bitterness and conduct their activities with decorum.”

    He also assured the country that the commission was determined to better the 2015 general elections which became a watershed in the history of the country’s democracy.

    “The commission is determined to build on this legacy by ensuring that our elections keep getting better,” he said, adding: “The decision of the Commission to fix election dates is to engender certainty in our electoral calendar and enable all stakeholders to prepare adequately for elections, as is the case in any mature and developing democracies.”

  • Falana: Why INEC must go ahead with Anambra rerun

    Falana: Why INEC must go ahead with Anambra rerun

    Human rights lawyer and activist Femi Falana (SAN) said yesterday that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is right to proceed with the January 13 Anambra Central Senate seat rerun election.

    According to him, two separate judgments of the Court of Appeal ordered the election agency to conduct the election within 90 days.

    He said the electoral body was right to ignore the consent judgment of an Abuja court ordering it to issue a certificate of return to Mr. Obiora Okonkwo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Falana said until the Court of Appeal judgments were set aside, INEC must obey them.

    “If a Court of Appeal, two of them actually, say, go and conduct election, can a High Court in defiance of those judgments, set aside the orders of the Court of Appeal? It doesn’t matter whether it is a pre-election matter or not.

    “You have to successfully set aside the orders of the Court of Appeal before INEC can do otherwise. I want to believe that the attention of the High Court was not drawn to the orders of the Appeal Court, because a high cannot deliberately ignore the orders of a higher court under our law.”

    When the election was originally conducted, candidate of the PDP, Uche Ekwunife, won.

    However, the Election Tribunal annulled the election, a decision the Appeal Court latter upheld.

    The Court of Appeal then ordered INEC to conduct the election within 90 days, without the participation of the PDP.

    Yesterday, some Corps members released by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Anambra to work as ad hoc poll employees for the proposed Jan. 13 election have declined the offer.

    Confirming the situation, NYSC Coordinator In the state Mr Ebenezer Olawale told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that only about 4,000 corps members out of about 7,600 shortlisted and released reported for INEC training.

    Olawale noted that the NYSC would make available any number of corps members requested by INEC for its election duties but reiterated that participation was not compulsory.

    Resident Electoral Commissioner Dr Nkwachkwu Orji, dismissed the notion that the corps shunned the duty call because of nonpayment of allowance for previous assignment.

    The REC said out of the 23,000 ad-hoc staff engaged in the Nov. 18 governorship election over 20,000 had been paid and promised to continue to address the complaints on nonpayment as they come.

  • PDP congratulates Weah, tasks INEC on 2019 poll

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated the Liberian President-elect, Mr. George Weah on his victory in an election he contested on the platform of an opposition party.

    The party also congratulated the Liberian people for a peaceful and successful political transition, saying that the development was a firm and loud statement that democracy has taken firm roots not only in Liberia but also in the entire African continent.

    In a statement on yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP also commended the Liberian national electoral umpire for its internal reforms that paved the way for a credible election.

    The PDP described the outcome of the election as being in consonant with the wishes and aspirations of the citizens.

    “As a leader in the West African sub-region, Nigeria, especially under the PDP, played key roles in ensuring political stability in Liberia and must continue to show direction by ensuring the consolidation of democratic practice and culture both at home and in other countries in the sub-region.

    “On that note, the PDP charges the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to ensure credible elections in 2019, by insulating the commission from external interference.”

  • INEC takes campaign on voter education to carnival

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is participating in Carnival Calabar street parade as a non-competitive band, to sensitise the public on voter education.

    Speaking at the carnival yesterday, the Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said it was part of the commission’s resolve to take voter education to the people.

    Yakubu, represented by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Cross River State, Dr. Frankland Briyai, said the carnival was a good opportunity to sensitise the public on the need to participate in the electoral process.

    The INEC boss said participation by the  public, especially youths, would reduce thuggery and other violence.

    “We want to get it right; so, we are exploiting every available opportunity to get Nigerians informed on the need for proper participation in the electoral process.

    “We feel Carnival Calabar is a great window for us to educate the indigenes, residents and international community on the need for everybody to participate in the electoral process,” he said.

    Yakubu said the commission would ensure that more Nigerians were aware of their civic rights.

    Mr. Olawole Uzzi, director in charge of Voter Education and Publicity, INEC headquarters, said the commission’s participation in the carnival was a continuation of what it started last year.

    “We were here in 2016, but not as elaborate as what we have here today. Carnival Calabar is the biggest street party in Africa, so we want to take the opportunity to sensitise the public,” he said.

    Uzzi advised eligible voters to ensure that they obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to enable them vote for the candidate of their choice during the 2019 elections.

    “I also call on those that have attained the age of 18 to take advantage of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) to register so that they can vote. Remember, `your vote is your power, ‘’ he said.

    The director enjoined INEC’s workers to demonstrate high responsibility and maturity throughout the exercise.

  • Bello: INEC acting a script for opposition in Kogi – UN group

    Bello: INEC acting a script for opposition in Kogi – UN group

    A non-profit organization, the National Rebirth Group (NRG), has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of acting a premeditated script prepared by opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a bid to stop Kogi Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello from seeking re-election in 2020.

    The group, with a United Nations consultative status, issued the statement through its National Publicity Secretary, Bekee Igwe, in Kogi the state capital.

    In the statement, the group pointedly accused INEC of concocting a claim that Governor Bello registered twice, a criminal act that would make him ineligible to contest for a second term and thus pave way for the PDP to return to Kogi Government House.

    NRG stated that its stand on the ongoing face-off between INEC and the Kogi Governor was based on findings from a study on the controversy, noting that there were gaps discovered which point to “possible collusion” and or “outright conspiracy” thereby exonerating Bello from any likely infraction.

    “Why did INEC not react immediately the so called double registration took place? At whose instance did the indicted INEC officials carry out their nefarious act? Since INEC was aware that Governor Bello was registered to vote, why would he seek a second registration? Why would the electoral body wait for more than seven months before disciplining its staff or make the findings public?”

    “The only possible conclusion to be drawn from this bizarre drama is a possible collusion and outright conspiracy, between INEC and the opposition in Kogi State which stands to benefit from the consequences arising there from”, declared the group.

    The NRG’s spokesperson said the group was not impressed by INEC’s belated attempt to sanction its staff embroiled in the controversy, arguing that it was obvious that those disciplined were mere “fall guys” thereby giving the impression that INEC was working; a development it considered unsavory and highly condemnable.

    “INEC wants Nigerians to believe it is decisive by sacking its staff. But, it is obvious they are fall guys sacrificed to achieve an evil aim. Ultimately, the aim is to rope in the governor and hand the state to the opposition. Otherwise, why would INEC be threatening Yahaya Bello who was not even in the country when the purported double registration took place? Clearly, the entire process is a sham”, he stated.