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  • 2019: INEC seeks support of monarchs in Ebonyi

    2019: INEC seeks support of monarchs in Ebonyi

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in Ebonyi says it will collaborate with traditional rulers to mobilise rural communities to fully participate in the electoral process.

    Prof. Godswill Obioma, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), stated this on Friday in Abakaliki, when he briefed newsmen on the outcome of a meeting held between the Commission and traditional rulers preparatory to the 2019 general elections.

    Obioma explained that traditional rulers had influence among their subjects and live with them in their rural communities, saying that the support of the royal fathers would be useful in mobilising rural participation in the electoral process.

    The resident electoral commissioner noted that the meeting with the traditional rulers was imperative in view of their strategic importance to information dissemination in rural areas as well as closeness to their subjects.

    He said: “Majority of the electorate live in hinterlands especially women and youths, hence the need to solicit cooperation, collaboration and support of the royal fathers who wield great influence among their subjects.

    “We must explore every avenue and opportunity available to ensure that the conduct of the 2019 general elections is credible and that it meets the expectations of the electorate in the state. “

    He said that the meeting was centred on five key issues which included mapping out ways to mobilise women and improve their participation in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), create strategies to enhance collection of unclaimed Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    He said that ensuring how to mobilise the grassroots through proper sensitisation to come out and register and how to move the registration machines from place to place to get every eligible voter registered were among other critical issues discussed in the meeting.

    He said that the Commission was determined to explore ways of improving on the number of eligible voters turning out to participate in the CVR, which he noted was on a continuous decline.

    “In the first quarter of the CVR, we recorded 40,000 registrants, while the number declined to 20,000 during the second quarter with more men registering.

    “The drop in the number of registrants coupled with fewer female eligible voters coming out to register are posing some concern to the Commission.

    “We are also disturbed that no fewer than 50,000 unclaimed PVCs are domiciled in all INEC’s local government area offices and the state headquarters since 2014, ” he added.

    He said that INEC headquarters in Abuja had approved the delineation of additional 370 registration centres, with 10 registration centre for each state and the Federal Capital Territory to enhance the ongoing CVR.

    “We have gotten 10 more registration centres in the state and we are going to sit down with stakeholders and work out how to spread the centres, ” he added.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that no fewer than 30 traditional rulers from various Ebonyi communities attended the meeting held at the Ebonyi Council of Traditional Rulers’ chambers.

    Read Also: 2019: INEC trains staff on ICT in Ebonyi

  • 2019: INEC to partner political parties for credible elections

    2019: INEC to partner political parties for credible elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) says it will partnership political parties and other stakeholders in Ebonyi to ensure that the state records credible election in 2019.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner ( REC ) in the state, Prof. Godswill Obioma, stated this while briefing newsmen on Wednesday in Abakaliki on the outcome of a meeting between the commission and Inter Party Advisory Council ( IPAC ).

    He said that the collaboration would raise the capacity and awareness of political parties’ members, equip them with knowledge of the electoral process.

    Obioma said that the synergy would also enhance understanding of provisions of the nation’s Constitution and the 2010 Electoral Act as amended.

    “Our focus, our commitment is on 2019 general elections and the desire to get things done right before and during the elections.

    “This is a special IPAC meeting and the aim is to achieve two results,’’ he said.

    According to him, it is to raise capacity ahead of 2019 in terms of equipping members with knowledge of IPAC and the electoral umpire with provisions of the Electoral Act.

    Obioma said that it was also to sensitize political parties on the need to adhere to provisions of the Act.

    “The meeting also highlighted the legal implications of violating the provisions of the Electoral Law and the need for political parties to conduct their activities within the ambits of the law.

    “It is through a strategic partnership with the political parties and key stakeholders that our aim of having credible 2019 elections in the state can be achieved,” Obioma said.

    He said that IPAC was set up within the structures of INEC to ensure inclusiveness in policy, transparency and probity in election process.

    He pointed out that regular meetings were held to address issues that would benefit the members and electorate.
    “IPAC is composed of all the registered political parties and meets with INEC from time to time.

    “We chart a way forward, look at challenges, create strategies to combat the challenges and of course, make strategic plans in terms of sensitisation and other issues.

    “As I have pointed out earlier, today’s meeting is a special one which was convened to address a particular issue.

    “The issue is the provision of 2010 Electoral Law (As amended) with particular reference to section 92 (A) and (B) which deals on campaign.

    “The essence is to alert political parties of the provisions of that Act stipulating the guidelines, time limit, when to start campaigns and when to stop.

    “They will know what constitutes a campaign and implications of contravening the provisions of the electoral Act,” the REC said.

    He disclosed that the meeting deliberated on the need for violence-free polls in the state, saying that election was not a do-or-die affair.

    He said that political parties were reminded to caution members, candidates and their supporters to limit their actions within the provisions of the law and avoid acts that could trigger election violence.

    “Election is not a do-or-die affair and we were able to highlight the issue in the meeting and this is why we are calling for strategic partnership to help build and cement our relationship with political parties.

    “We encourage political parties and players to abide by the provisions of the Act to abide by guidelines and also to do all it takes to ensure that elections are credible, fair and free, and that people’s votes count,” Obioma added.

    He said that INEC remained an unbiased electoral umpire committed to the discharge of its statutory mandate of conducting impartial and credible elections.

    “We in INEC want to assure the public that we are unbiased umpires; we shall do our job, we will carry out our work taking into account our statutory responsibility as provided for in the Act.

    “We will not add a vote that doesn’t count nor are we going to subtract a vote that counts.

    “We are appealing for cooperation so that at the end of the day, everybody would have seen that we have done the job, people will have been happy to see that their votes have counted.”

    Earlier in a paper presentation, Mrs Tonia Ndu, Head of Legal Unit of INEC in the state, urged political parties to desist from embarking on early campaigns.

    She advised the parties and candidates to adhere strictly to provisions of the Electoral Laws and comply with INEC’s guidelines in carrying out political activities, especially campaigns.

    Ndu said that political campaigns should only begin upon release of timeline for political activities by INEC, adding that it would constitute electoral offence to indulge in political activities outside INEC’s approved time-table.

    “Political parties must commence political campaigns upon INEC release of timeline, which must be 90 days to the election and must end 24 hours to the poll.

    “Any political party found engaging in political campaigns when INEC has not released time-table for political activities, on conviction, is liable to a fine of N500, 000.

    “INEC frowns at politicians and political parties kick-starting political campaigns when it has not given such approval,” Ndu said.
    On his part, Chairman of IPAC in the state, Mr Edward Constance, pledged support and commitment of the commission to credible poll in 2019, assuring that IPAC would always partner INEC to create virile electoral environment.

    Constance, who is also Chairman of United People’s Party (UPP) in Ebonyi, expressed optimism on the ability of INEC to conduct credible elections in the state in 2019.

    He said “we have assured the commission that we will support, cooperate as well as partner it to ensure free, fair and credible 2019 general elections.

    “The meeting was interactive and afforded members of the council opportunity to express views and ask questions on matters of electoral importance.

    “We have also assured the commission that we are not going to engage in early campaigns, and that we will confine political activities in our respective parties within the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.”

    NAN

  • REC: Senate rejects Zamfara nominee, confirms two

    REC: Senate rejects Zamfara nominee, confirms two

    The Senate on Thursday rejected the nominee from Zamfara, Mr Ahmad Mahmud, as Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).

    The upper chamber, however, confirmed the nominees from Lagos State and Kebbi State, Dr Rufus Akeju and Dr Mahmuda Isah, respectively.

    This followed the consideration of the report of the Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which was presented by its Chairman, Sen. Suleiman Nazif, at plenary.

    Nazif said that the nominees appeared before the committee in May, 2017.

    He said that after careful study of the nominees’ documents, the committee found those from Lagos and Kebbi suitable for the position of Resident Electoral Commissioner, but had to step down that of Zamfara.

    In his contribution, Sen. Adamu Aliero (APC-Kebbi) said that it was true that they initially had reservation on the nomination of the nominee from Kebbi, but that the issues were later resolved.

    According to him, after due consultation with the relevant authorities in the state and other stakeholders, we resolved to allow the nomination. We are in support of his nomination.

    Similarly, Sen. Kabiru Marafa (APC-Zamfara) said: “I don’t accept the statement that after careful deliberations and consultations, the nominee from Zamfara was rejected.

    “With all sense of modesty, I am a critical stakeholder in Zamfara politics; nobody consulted me.

    “These nominations are entirely the exclusive right of President Muhammadu Buhari and no other person.

    “I respect the state governor and his views as to why he took some actions. At the same time, we are senators and by our oath, we are supposed to live above board.

    “I was not consulted about this gentleman. I don’t see the sufficient reason for his rejection; I oppose his rejection completely for want of evidence,” Marafa said.

    On his part Sen. Tijjani Kaura (APC-Zamfara) said that he was totally in support of the committee’s decision in rejecting the nominee.

    “The reason is that Ahmad Mahmud is not an indigene of Zamfara even though he hails from Sokoto which is a sister state.

    “The essence of appointing Resident Electoral Commissioners is to represent states. We feel in Zamfara that Mahmud does not represent the people of Zamfara,” he said.

    In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, congratulated the nominees whose nominations had been approved by the senate.

    Read Also: Senate orders probe of alleged sharing of 222 mansions recovered by Maina

  • Anambra: PDP urges Supreme Court to void judgment excluding it from election

    Anambra: PDP urges Supreme Court to void judgment excluding it from election

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, excluding it and its candidate from participating in the fresh election earlier ordered by the court’s Enugu division for Anambra central Senatorial district.

    The request is contained in two notices of appeal filed against two judgments of the Appeal Court, Abuja on November 20 this year, in appeal filed by Chief Victor Umeh and another (CA/A/160/2016) and Independent National Electoral Commission (CA/A/165/2016).

    In the two notices of appeal filed on Wednesday by its National Legal Adviser, David Iorhemba, the PDP urged the Supreme Court to set aside the judgments and ordered INEC to include it and its candidate in the fresh election.

     The Appeal Court in Abuja had, in its judgment on November 20 this year, ordered INEC to, within 90 days, conduct fresh election to fill the vacate seat in Anambra Central Senatorial District, but with the exclusion of the PDP and its candidate.

    Umeh and INEC had filed their appeals against the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in which Justice Anwuli Chikere, ordered the inclusion of the PDP and its candidate, Senator Uche Ekwenife in the fresh election after the Court of Appeal in Enugu, on July 2015 voided her (Ekwenife’s) election for having not been a “product of a valid primary and was therefore not duly and legitimately nominated.”

    The PDP, in its notices of appeal to the Supreme Court, raised three grounds of appeal, among which was that the Court of Appeal erred in law when it held that INEC was right to exclude the party and its candidate from the fresh election ordered by the Appeal Court in Enugu in appeal marked: CA/E/EPT/28/2015.

    The party argued that the Appeal Court’s decision to exclude it and its candidate amounted to a breach of their fundamental right to freedom from discrimination guaranteed under Section 42 of the Constitution.

    It contended that the Appeal Court in Abuja erred in assuming jurisdiction to interpret its own judgment by sitting on appeal in its own judgment “which is a final decision in CA/E/EPT/28/2015 between Chief Victor Umeh & another vs. PDP & others.”

     The PDP said the judgment by the Enugu division of the court “did not nullify the election to Anambra Central Senatorial district seat won by the appellant (PDP), but merely ordered fresh election after holding that the decision of the tribunal was perverse.”

    “A fresh election can only be ordered under Section 140(1) of the Electoral Act, as amended, after an order has been made nullifying that election pursuant to Section 140(1) of the Electoral Act. The only order made before ordering a fresh election was an order setting aside the judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal and there is a wold od difference between setting aside a judgment and nullifying a judgment.

    “Nullification of the judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal was an importation of the word ‘nullification’ by the court bellow, which was never used by the Election Petition Tribunal in CA/E/EPT/28/2015.”

    The PDP also argued that the Appeal Court in Abuja misdirected itself when it held that the case of Labour Party vs. INEC was applicable in the appeal before it “when the facts and circumstances of the case are not on all fours with the facts of the appeal at the court bellow.

    “The said Election Petition Tribunal did not order that the appellant should not filed a candidate for the fresh election and the court bellow, on its own, interpreted a final judgment in CA/E/EPT/2015 to hold that the appellant shall not filed in any candidate for the fresh election in agreement with the administrative decision of INEC (the 1st respondent herein).”

  • Anambra poll: Group rates security, INEC high

    Anambra poll: Group rates security, INEC high

    The Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group (ISDMG) has hailed the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the conduct of the Anambra State governorship election.

    The group said this while briefing reporters on its preliminary report released in Awka, the state capital. Its Executive Director, Dr Chima Amadi, said the group deployed 100 observers across the 21 local government areas to observe the election and the House of Assembly by-election in Idemili North.

    Amadi said personnel and materials were deployed early in most polling units, with the exception of few places. He said it is a sign that INEC prepared well for the contest and, as a result, voting started early in many polling units. He said Card Readers malfunctioned in a few areas, but were promptly rectified by INEC technical team.

    The Director said: “The practice of simultaneous accreditation and voting contributed immensely in activating voter participation and reduction of tension at voting points. There was improvement in the conduct of personnel — INEC and ad-hoc — which in our view can be attributed to the quality of training, ahead of the Election Day.’’

    He noted with dismay the incidence of “vote buying and selling” openly on election and concluded that such practice had cast a slur on the integrity of the votes. He, however, commended the Federal Government for improving on logistics and welfare of the policemen and other security agencies for the exercise.

    Amadi observed that most polling units in the cities close to Awka, the state capital, had at least four security officers, while in rural areas, they had one or two officers at polling units.

  • Anambra: IPAC commends INEC, security agents

    Anambra: IPAC commends INEC, security agents

    The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Anambra chapter, has commended the improved performance of security agents and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during Saturday’s governorship election.

    The Chairman of the Council, Chief Barth Igwedibia, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Awka that the exercise was peaceful due to the transparent conduct of the election by INEC and the absence of intimidation of political opponents by security agents.

    He said that if both INEC and security agents could sustain the level of professionalism they exhibited in the conduct of Anambra election during general election 2019, the rating of Nigerian democracy would improve the more.

    Igwedibia noted that the number of security personnel in each of the polling units and the presence of security at entry and exist points across the state was assuring.

    He said that he was particularly impressed that there was no form of molestation of voters by any security personnel.

    The IPAC chairman said he was equally impressed that the incumbent, Gov. Willie Obiano was re-elected, noting that his emergence showed that Anambra people wanted him back for another tenure.

    “Before the Nov.18 governorship election, the position of IPAC in Anambra was that the best of the 37 candidates that contested the governorship position should emerge, winner.

    “We made it categorically clear that we had no preferred candidate, but want the best person who the people of the state want to win.

    “Since Gov. Obiano won the election, it is very clear that the people have spoken and as Chief Igwedibia, I congratulate the governor for a well-deserved victory and urge him to run an all-inclusive government

    “If Obiano should appoint people based on merit, irrespective of the party they come from, such maturity in governance will further advance development in Anambra State,’’ he said.

  • US, UK monitors validate INEC’s final result

    US, UK monitors validate INEC’s final result

    •Anambra election in percentages 

    The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID) yesterday validated the final result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Anambra State governorship election.

    Along with the US-based National Democratic Institute (NDI), the international organisations partnered with the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) on a project called Watching the Vote (WTV).

    They used a parallel vote tabulation (PVT) methodology to compare the results.

    In a verification statement issued after incumbent Governor Willie Obiano of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was declared winner, the observers said the win percentage estimate for the parties tallied with INEC’s results.

    For the APGA, the observers estimated 52.1-57.7 per cent, while INEC declared 55.4 per cent.

    The other ranges are: All Progressives Congress (APC), 20.4-24.8 per cent (INEC, 23.4), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), 15.8-19.4 per cent (INEC, 16.6) and the United Peoples Party (UPP), 1.0-2.2 per cent (INEC, 1.9).

    The observers said: “The INEC official result is consistent with the YIAGA WTV estimated range.

    “Had the official results been changed at the ward, local government area or state collation centres, the official result would not have fallen within the YIAGA WTV estimated ranges.

    “Because the official results fall within the estimated ranges, governorship contestants, parties, and voters should have confidence that INEC’s official results for the Anambra 2017 gubernatorial election reflects the ballots cast at polling units.”

    On their observations, YIAGA said the management of logistics was poor in rural areas, with INEC officials arriving by 7.30am at only 28 per cent of the polling units on average.

    According to the group, it was possible to see how a voter’s ballot paper was marked in 14 per cent of the units; however, 92 per cent of the units were properly set up.

    YIAGA said 13 per cent of polling units completed accreditation and voting by 2pm, while 82 per cent of them completed the process by 3.pm.

    YIAGA’s findings are based on reports from 243 polling units from a representative statistical sample of 250.

    INEC officials, YIAGA said, arrived at 28 per cent of polling units by 7.30am on Saturday.

    Only 75 per cent of the polling units were open as at 10am, while almost 98 per cent of polling units had card readers, YIAGA said.

    The group said APC agents were at 89 per cent of polling units; those of APGA were at 96 per cent of the units; while those of PDP were at 87 per cent of the units.

    YIAGA said the card reader functioned in 77 per cent of the units, adding that one in four persons was allowed to vote even without the authentication of fingerprints.

    The group said there were attempts to intimidate, harass and influence the polling officials at four per cent of the units.

    YIAGA said its data centre received 36 critical incident reports, 14 of which were card reader malfunctions and six of which were cases of vote buying or bribery.

    On vote buying, YIAGA said: “The secrecy of the ballot remains a cardinal feature of democratic elections. Evidence abound that the secrecy of the ballot in this election was undermined in some polling units.

    “This created an opportunity for vote buying. There were also cases of bribery of election officials. These acts occurred in the presence of security officials who made no arrests or attempts to abate the illegality.”

    The group said the delay in the collation and announcement of results at the collation centre raised unnecessary suspicion among key stakeholders.

    It urged losers to accept the results and to show political maturity and maintain peace.

    It urged INEC to address the challenges in distribution of materials and training of ad-hoc staff, among others.

  • Anambra: Monitoring Group alleges widespread vote buying, applauds INEC

    Anambra: Monitoring Group alleges widespread vote buying, applauds INEC

    The Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group (ISDMG) has alleged that widespread vote buying by political parties was the hallmark of Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra state.
    According to the group, widespread voters inducement and vote buying almost marred the conduct of the election.
    The group which said it deployed about 100 election observers during the election across the state however  commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the quick deployment of election materials as well as what it said is improvement in the voting process.
    In its preliminary report made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday morning, Executive Director of the group, Chidi Amadi said the ISDMG is “alarmed at the increasing sophistication of political parties and their agents in colluding among themselves to pull resources together to openly bribe security agencies, INEC officials and even observers in order to brazenly and openly buy votes and induce voters.”
    Amadi described reports of vote buying and inducement by political parties as “serious”, adding that the trend of vote buying which has become a major feature of recent elections, sadly repeated itself with disturbing brazenness in Anambra state.
    While commending voters for their massive turnout despite the pre-election security scare, he said reports from our observers in the field on the wide spread open selling of votes by citizens however; cast a major slur on the integrity of the votes.
    Speaking on the conduct by INEC, he said available reports indicates that there was good preparations on the part of INEC, saying, “there were substantial reports of card readers malfunction as a result of technical hitches although in many instances  the INEC  technical team quickly rectified the faults
    ” The   practice of simultaneous accreditation and voting has contributed immensely to active voter participation and reduction of tension in voting points. The improvement in the conduct of personnel made up of INEC personnel and Ad-hoc staff which in our view can be attributed to the quality of training for the Election Day staff.”
    “We observed that in most places visited by our field observers we noticed that the voting cubicles were placed in the midst of the people thereby compromising the secrecy of the ballot. We  note the prompt and speedy response to reported incidents by INEC situation room”
    On the conduct of security operatives before, during and after the election, Amadi said reports from their observers on the field indicated that the police and other security agencies conducted themselves in civil and  professional manner  in their dealings with the electorates.
    He said, however, in most cases they turned  blind eyes to wide spread vote buying and in certain cases received payment to provide cover to the nefarious activities of political parties and their agents.
    He said, “the welfare of the police and other security agencies has remained a recurrent problem in elections; however we note a remarkable improvement in their mode of transportation to the state.
    “We note that the police and security agencies were effective in maintaining law and order as exemplified by the arrest of one Professor Nwamkpa who was arrested by the DSS for sharing money at a polling unit and was later released.”
  • Anambra: INEC says it remains vigilant until final result is announced

    Anambra: INEC says it remains vigilant until final result is announced

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has said that it will remain vigilant in collation of results until the  announcement of the final result and winner of the Anambra governorship election .

    INEC Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi disclosed this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja.

    Osaze-Uzzi said that the commission would continue to ensure that all the processes of the election went down well.

    “Election can be manipulated at any stage, so we have to be vigilant until the final result is collated and the winner is announced by the commission.

    “The collation of result from the units to the state level is on going. Until the final result is announced INEC remains vigilant to ensure that the people’s votes count.

    “So we are still vigilant at every stage,” Osaze-Uzzi said.

    He assured that all votes cast would be properly recorded, transmitted and collated at the end of the day.

    On the general assessment of the election, Osaze-Uzzi said the voting process was generally peaceful and was in accordance with plan, except for the late commencement of poll in some few units.

    He added that the commission was, however, investigating the cause of such late commencement of voting in affected  polling units.

    “Generally the election has been peaceful and we are very happy. The turnout look to me better than the last two previous governorship elections.”

    On the allegation that there was no election at Okpoko in Ogbaru and Umudim in Nnewi North council areas, Osaze-Uzzi said the matter was also being investigated by the commission with a view to find appropriate solution to the problem.

    “It is being investigated and I think it has to do with late arrival or shortage of materials.

    “The matter was resolved but a bit late. The community was saying we should reschedule the election in the affected unit to tomorrow, but we are looking at the best option,” he added.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Oseloka Obaze, had complained that poll did not take place in Okpoko in Ogbaru and Umudim in Nnewi North council areas of the state.(NAN)

  • Counting ongoing in most areas in Anambra governorship poll

    Counting ongoing in most areas in Anambra governorship poll

    Counting of votes have started in some polling units where elections commenced on schedule in the Anambra governorship poll.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that voting ended at exactly 2 p.m, and counting of votes immediately commenced in the polling units where accreditation and voting commenced between 8 a.m and 9 a.m on Saturday.

    NAN reports that INEC has 4,608 polling units across the 21 local governments areas.

    In most polling units located in Orumba, North and South, Aguata, Awka South and Awka North Local Government Areas, counting of votes was still in progress as at 2.30pm.

    Also, at Anaku, Anyamelum Local Government Area, Mr Tony Ifeanya, Secretary of APGA, described the process as impressive, though there was apathy in some areas of the local government.

    Voting has also ended in Ogbaru, while counting is ongoing in most polling units in Onitsha North and South council areas.

    At Umudina- Nteje, Iruama-Nteje, Uruokwe-Enugwu-Ukwu all in Oyi Local Government Area, counting and collation of votes are ongoing.

    NAN, however, reports that election is ongoing in Umuchu Civic Centre Ward 1, in Orumba North Council area where the PPA governorship candidate, Mr Godwin Ezeemo, voted at 1:30p.m.

    NAN reports that the officials and materials arrived at the polling unit at 1:02 p.m.

    Also, commercial vehicle operation had resumed in most areas where voting had ended.