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Tag: Inec

  • Nigeria truly on path to free, fair elections in 2019, says Presidency

    Nigeria truly on path to free, fair elections in 2019, says Presidency

    *2019 elections will be free, fair, says Presidency

    The Presidency on Monday noted that the United Nation’s prediction that 2019 elections in Nigeria will be credible and violent free is another indication of the world’s confidence in Nigeria’s current administration.

    Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, a day after a United Nations representative made the prediction in a Channels TV interview, Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, expressed pleasure at the world body’s accurate observation of the trends in President Buhari’s government, which could only lead down the path of free and fair elections come 2019.

    He said “The Buhari government doesn’t believe in cheap propaganda. It’s not about responding to the attacks, false allegations and insinuations of the PDP or of the still very active media machinery of the previous government.

    “We believe in taking active steps to ensure that the future of Nigeria is better than it is today and we are glad to see that the United Nations has acknowledged this.” he added

    During the Channels TV interview, Head of UN Office for West Africa, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambers, had pointed out the credible and peaceful local elections that have so far taken place in different states across Nigeria, and used this as one of the indices to judge what to expect for the presidential elections in 2019.

    “Under the government of President Buhari, a number of credible elections have been conducted in states and local governments across Nigeria and, so far, there has been no cause for fear or worry,” the SSA Media said.

    He added that the 2015 elections which saw the historic election of President Buhari – the first time in Nigeria and one of the rare occasions in Africa when an incumbent was soundly defeated in an election – were credible simply because of the presence and diligence of Professor Attahiru Jega.

    “At one of its meetings, the Council of States last year put on record the appreciation of the nation for the conduct of the 2015 elections and commended the leadership of Professor Attahiru Jega as Chairman of the Commission for bringing that about.

    “In addition to the steadfastness of the INEC, the ECOWAS, AU, EU, UN and other international bodies also had to be on guard to ensure that there was no opportunity for the kind of foolishness we saw at the INEC collation center from people in the circle of power to flourish,” Malam Garba said.

    “But, in 2019, the international community will have nothing to fear, and I am happy that the UN can already sense that several months in advance.”  he said

  • ‘INEC on right track for 2019’

    ‘INEC on right track for 2019’

    Head of United Nations (UN) Office for West Africa Dr. Mohammed IBN Chambers has said the upcoming general election in 2019 in Nigeria will be free from violence.

    Chambers spoke during an interview monitored on Channels TV at the weekend.

    He said: “It should be acknowledged that 2015 elections were largely violence-free. There are indications that we will see an improvement upon it in 2019.

    “I can assure you that from what we have seen so far, we are very, very, confident that Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and his team are on track.

    “Let’s not forget that so far, there have been some significantly successful elections in this country by the current INEC leadership – gubernatorial elections, senatorial elections and other by-elections.

    “So, there have been opportunity for INEC to test itself and so far, as we can all attest to, those elections have been credible and peaceful. This is highly commendable.”

    Chambers, who is also the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, said the UN is working with INEC to reactivate the National Peace Committee to guarantee a peaceful general election.

    “First and foremost, we need to put in place a national peace architecture,” he said.

    “I mean like the 2015 National Peace Committee, which was led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar, with other prominent members like the Sultan of Sokoto, Cardinal Onaiyekan and others.

    “We are in fact working to revive this committee and see how it can be strengthened,” he added.

    The former ECOWAS boss said the UN has regular engagements with INEC and was working together to “field what we call a needs assessment mission,” the UN envoy said.

    “Once this is done,” he said, “then we will have a good understand of which areas INEC will need international support. The support is not only from the UN, but from the wilder international community.”

    He canvassed for legislation to back the use of technology ahead of the general election, such as electronic voting.

    Although the Senate approved the use of technology for elections since March 30, the lower chamber of the legislature is yet to pass the amendment.

    Chambers added: “We all witnessed what happened in Kenya where, unfortunately, the first round of voting was cancelled on technology-related issues. We must learn lessons from each other.

    “Obviously, all the processes need to be backed by appropriate legislations.

    “Indeed, adoption of technology in the last INEC leadership proved very effective and useful. It’s a big country dealing with bid number. We hope there will be efforts in that direction.”

  • Anambra: Open letter to INEC

    Anambra: Open letter to INEC

    SIR: With the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State within days of taking place, this election offers you a chance to write your name in gold – an opportunity to undo the wrongs of the past. The opportunity is here with you. I urge you to seize it, act in good conscience and allow Heaven to take care of the devil in the detail.

    There is this rumour that a plan has been hatched to derail the process which I feel you should know. But for constant dropping of the name of your organization, the purveyors of the cheap gossip would merit no consideration at all. But because every society is surfeited with imps enough to cause distractions, including my dear Anambra, I suggest that you take proactive measures to forestall possible derailment. The threat should not be dismissed with the wave of the hand as these fellows seem determined to stultify genuine effort to have an equitable election. I haven’t the slightest reason to doubt your good office or to ever imagine it could be in cahoots with any plan to compromise the people. Not at all! Yet their boast of connections in high places is enough to arouse concern. They speak with definiteness that the result must pan out in their favour. Where otherwise – they boasted – the election will be postponed as was the case in Edo.

    I got worried when reference was made to the postponement of that election from September 10, 2016 to September 28.

    As a rule, Anambra is a pleasant state to govern. The people have no great expectations from government. They are sufficient onto themselves and can, on occasion, stand in for government. The state occupies a foremost position in Igbo land because of her unique potentials. It is not without reason that elections in the state are treated with great care.  Anambra electorate are sophisticated and do not need encouragement to accept or reject a leader as they deem wise. However, if deprived the right of choice they can prove most intractable. The state can make noise enough to get the nation worried. We are not unaware how important a peaceful Anambra State is to Nigeria and vice versa. It will be wrong to task the peace by doing anything untoward during the election. A challenged governorship election in Anambra State may worsen the volatile peace in the country.

    It will be a disservice to our people if their effort on November 18 is made of no effect just to satisfy a few interests.

    Our people appreciate the rat race involved in this election and cannot pretend to be unmindful of efforts by those who boast of their contact in high places in Abuja to subvert the will of the people. But to achieve that through any connivance with the umpire will spell a lot of trouble for everybody.  You owe the state a duty to resist any temptation and or intimidation by those determined to lead the state against the dictates of her conscience. What happens from November 19, whether there will be a peaceful Anambra, nay Nigeria or not, derives from how fair you choose to conduct the election. I

     

    • Ejike Anyaduba,

    Abatete, Anambra State.

  • Ex-INEC staff explains N30m ‘Diezani cash’

    Ex-INEC staff explains N30m ‘Diezani cash’

    A former Administrative Secretary at the Kwara State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Mr Christian Nwosu on Thursday denied being bribed by former Petroleum Minister Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke to rig the 2015 general election results.

    He said the N30 million he was alleged to have collected from her was spent on logistics.

    Nwosu said his office knew about the money and how it was spent.

    He spoke while testifying in a trial-within-trial before Justice Ibrahim Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
    Under cross-examination by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, Nwosu claimed he did not personally benefit from the money.

    He said it was shared to INEC ad-hoc staff for logistics.

    He said: “I did not personally benefit from the N30 million. The ad-hoc staff benefitted because the election went smoothly with the assistance of the logistics support. My commission was aware of the money and the evidence was that the election went smoothly.”

    On how he got the cash, he said: “The money was not given to me by way of cheque. We were asked to go to the bank to collect it. No cheque was given to me at the bank. I just signed a document at the bank which confirmed the receipt of the money.

    “I did not instruct the bank to transfer the money to any account because it was not for me but for the coordinator (Mr Isa Adedoyin) who is to ensure that the money gets to the ad-hoc staff.”

    Nwosu said N17 million was paid into his Diamond Bank Plc account on April 7, 2015, while N13 million was also paid into his Union Bank account on April 13, 2015.

    Nwosu had earlier claimed that EFCC allegedly forced him to surrender his property worth N30million.

    He said he was also induced to part with N5million in a bid to regain his freedom.

    According to him, “the statements he made at EFCC were dictated to him while the one he made voluntarily was described as “rubbish”.

    Nwosu and Tijani Inda Bashir were accused of receiving N30million bribe from Mrs Alison-Madueke.

    They were arraigned along with Yisa Adedoyin, who pleaded guilty to receiving the cash payment of N70,050,000.00 from Mrs Alison-Madueke.

    Mrs Alison-Madueke is also named in the charge, but is said to be “at large”.

    Justice Idris adjourned to November 15.

  • ‘INEC waiting for amendment of law on diaspora voting’

    ‘INEC waiting for amendment of law on diaspora voting’

    THE dream of Nigerians in the diaspora to participate in the country’s electoral process may soon be realised, going by the words of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu.

    He said the commission had written the National Assembly on the need to thinker with the enabling law, to allow Nigerians living outside the country to vote.

    Yakubu spoke yesterday with the Sudanese ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed, who was at INEC’s headquarters to deliver a letter of invitation to him. There are about 10 million Nigerians in Sudan under two categories- Sudanese of Nigeria origin and Nigeria migrants in Sudan.

    The INEC chairman said the visit was timely, as the country would need the envoy’s support in ascertaining the population of Nigerians in Sudan.

    He said the country would empower Nigerians in the diaspora to vote in future elections.

    Yakubu said: “The commission intends, as soon as the enabling laws are amended, to empower Nigerians living outside the country to vote in future elections.

    “This visit is timely, because the commission is part of the process of ensuring that Nigerians living abroad vote. INEC has written to government agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asking for statistics of Nigerians living outside the country, so that we know the number of Nigerians living abroad and target them in the voter registration that we will undertake as soon as the law is amended, to enable them vote.

    “Countries are undertaking diaspora voting, with the recent being Kenya and Benin Republic.

    It’s only a matter of time before Nigerians living abroad also have the right to vote. The commission is committed to this. We have set up a committee on how they can vote.

    “We have written the National Assembly to amend relevant laws so that Nigerians living outside the country will have the right to vote in future elections.”

     

     

     

  • INEC: we’re ready for Anambra poll

    INEC: we’re ready for Anambra poll

    •Commission yet to give up on Melaye’s recall

    INDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said his team has put in place measures to ensure a transparent, free and fair election in Anambra State.

    He said his commission has not given up on the process for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye.

    He said the process was only being delayed by the court and the legal process initiated by Melaye.

    Yakubu spoke in Abuja yesterday at a dialogue session with civil society organisations under the aegis of Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room.

    He said INEC has learnt some lessons from the Melaye recall process and has now reviewed its regulations and guidelines to provide room for the participation of civil society organisations and other stakeholders.

    Yakubu, who explained the seeming delay in the Melaye case, said: “These are legal processes. We cannot, as law-abiding agency, ignore the court and just proceed.

    “Supposing we do so, proceed, conclude the process and the court nullifies it? So, we said we will continue to obey the law on this matter of recall. But I will not like to say more, because the matter is already before the court,” he said.

    On the Anambra election, he said the commission will ensure that no opportunity was created for anyone to dispute the election, including the omission of candidate’s name and party’s logo.

    Yakubu said: “The preparation we have put in place for Anambra is simply amazing. We have done all that needs to be done to ensure a successful outing. We have finished printing the voters’ register in triplicate. One in colour, two in black and white.

    “I am telling you that in Anambra, there is no possibility of omitting the logo of any political party.

    “And, we will supervise the processes to ensure that no logo is omitted in the course of printing or any of the processes leading to the delivery of the ballots.

    “We have, as usual, customise the ballot papers. Each local government will have a different colour code. So, even if somebody wants to print his ballot paper, he doesn’t know which colour is for which local government.

    “There is also a secret code, which only myself and the printer know. Nobody in the commission knows this.

    “We have also customised the result sheets. It makes it easier because you have the names of the political parties, then the column for the raw figures, the figures in wards and signatures by the agents,” he said.

    On the threat by IPOB to disrupt the election in Anambra, he said INEC was capable of countering the group’s propaganda, but would leave the issue to security agencies should the group resort to physically stopping voters from participating in the election.

    Yakubu said the delay in the conduct of the rerun election in Anambra Central Senatorial District was because of the pending court case.

    He hoped that since the Court of Appeal has reserved judgment in the case, INEC will conduct the election with the coming governorship and House of Assembly elections should the appellate court deliver judgment before the scheduled elections.

    Coordinator of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room and Executive Director Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) said the dialogue session was meant to enable INEC educate Nigerians on its preparation for the Anambra election and related issues.

     

     

  • Registered voters may hit 80m by 2019 – INEC

    Registered voters may hit 80m by 2019 – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has projected that the registered voters in the country might increase by about 10 million to over 80 million by 2019.

    The Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, made the prediction at a roundtable organised by the European Union Electoral Follow-up Mission to Nigeria and West Africa, held in Abuja.

    A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi on Sunday in Abuja, noted that the roundtable was also attended by Civil Society Organisations and other stakeholders.

    Yakubu speaking on the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) said that no fewer than 3.2 million Nigerians had been register in addition to the 70 million registered voters for the 2015 general elections.

    According to him, the credibility of election depends on the credibility of the Voter Register. We are now doing it continuously. We have seen some challenges and we are responding to them.

    “We started in April and as at last week, and we have registered 3.2 million Nigerians on top of the 70 million registered voters for the 2015 general elections that we had before.

    “Our projection is that the Voter Register will probably be over 80 million by 2019,” Yakubu said.

    He also revealed that about eight million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were yet to be collected by their respective owners.

    “We haven’t made much progress in the last two years, but we have made elaborate arrangements with the states to ensure that the cards are collected.”

    Giving a summary of the Commission’s preparations towards the 2019 general elections, Yakubu said that INEC would come up with a figure of the cost for 2019 general elections hopefully by next week.

    According to the chairman, the commission have a Strategic Plan 2017 – 2021 and a Strategic Programme of Action.

    “We have just completed the draft Election Project Plan for 2019,” he said.

    Yakubu said that as at today, INEC had conducted elections into 172 constituencies since the 2015 general elections.

    “The last election was three weeks ago in Gombe, the next election will come up in eight days time in Sokoto, followed by the Anambra governorship elections.

    “We have issued the timetable for Ekiti and Osun governorship elections.”

    Yakubu said that in Bayelsa in January 2016, INEC combined accreditation and voting simultaneously, adding that it was well received and has been going on very well.

    Also speaking on the Nov. 18, Anambra governorship election, Yakubu reinstated that the governorship election would be combined with the Idemili North state constituency election.

    According to him, all arrangements – logistics, staff training, and security are already in place, while nine out of the 14 activities lined up for the governorship poll had executed.

    On expressed fears that the security agencies could postpone the election at the last minute, the INEC Chairman observed that the responsibility of securing the environment before, during and after elections was not within the Commission’s jurisdiction.

    He said be that at it may INEC would continue to maintains a close relationship with all security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

    He said that was why the commission had also decided to issue the timetable and schedule of activities well ahead of all elections.

    “In Anambra, we issued the timetable in February for an election that will take place in November. We have done the same for Ekiti and Osun.

    “We have taken care, in both cases, to avoid party politics, national festivals and students’ examinations.

    “The last (governorship) election in Ekiti took place on June 14, but June next year is likely to coincide with the fasting period and Salah.

    “Since the law says that we should conduct the election at least 30 days to the end of the tenure (of the incumbent), we shifted it to July when there is no festival or examination.

    “The same for Osun – instead of August 4, we’ll conduct the election in September.

    “Interestingly in Osun’s case, we have given a one-year notice and we have always made copies of the timetable and schedule of activities available to the security agencies,” he said.

    On party primaries, Yakubu alluded to the Electoral Act, which provides that once the national headquarters of a political party recommends a candidate to the Commission for election, the Commission could not reject such candidate.

    “I think it was an amendment to the Electoral Act, borne out of our previous experience where the Commission with the security agencies were disqualifying candidates.

    “The power was taken from the Commission and given back to the political parties.

    “The parties have a role to play in strengthening our political processes.

    “Yesterday’s solution has apparently become today’s problem because the political parties are now abusing the process.”

    The chairman said that INEC look forward to whatever it could do to engage with stakeholders and the National Assembly.

    He said that was not with the intention to have the power brought back to the Commission, but in such a manner that could address some of the issues and challenges being witnessed.

    He warned that wherever a political party comes out openly to raise funds beyond the limits provided for in the Constitution, the Commission will apply sanctions.” (NAN)

  • Anambra: INEC makes provision for albinos

    Anambra: INEC makes provision for albinos

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has provided magnifying goggles for polling units to enable people living with albinism to recognise political parties’ logos in the November 18 Anambra elections.

    The Chairman of the commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu made this known while receiving EU Observer Mission to Nigeria led by Mr Santiago Ayxela on Thursday in Abuja.

    He said the provision of the goggles was part of the commission’s efforts to ensure inclusiveness in the elections.

    “We are doing a lot about inclusiveness for women, youths and people living with disabilities in terms of access to the polling units and participation in the elections.

    “One of the things we have done in this regard in the forthcoming Anambra elections is the provision of magnifying glasses in polling units to enable people living with albinism see the logo of parties and make their choices,” he said.

    Yakubu recalled that it was exactly two years ago since the EU sent delegations to observe the 2015 elections in Nigeria.

    He said that the current mission was important and critical as it came at a time when the commission was preparing for the 2019 general elections.

    He reaffirmed that the commission had fixed Feb.16, 2019 for Presidential and National Assembly elections, and March 2 for Governorship, State House of Assembly and Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections.

    According to Yakubu, the commission is already in election mood as the date slated for the presidential elections is only 484 days away.

    He said that the 2015 general elections received global recognition for its credibility and for meeting international best practice.

    According to him, the commission is committed to ensuring that the 2019 elections would be better than 2015.

    The chairman said INEC had so far conducted elections in 172 constituencies since the 2015 elections and that eight of the 30 recommendations of the EU team in 2015 had been implemented.

    He said that the remaining 22 recommendations were at various stages at the relevant agencies, including the National Assembly, responsible for the implementation.

    Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Mr Santiago Ayxela, said they had come to make recommendations that would aid the commission in preparations ahead of 2019 elections.

    He said that the commission was at liberty to either implement the recommendations or not as the EU parliament was not in the position to impose its ideas on it.

    Ayxela explained that some of the recommendations were for the commission while others were for the national assembly and political parties.

    He announced that the technical team of the delegation would stay with the commission till November to further support and observe its preparations.

    Later at the National Headquarters of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chairman of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, Sen. Ahmed Maikarfi, commended the EU Parliament for supporting democracy in Nigeria.

    He urged the parliament to continue to support the country for sustained democracy and good governance in the county.

  • 2.2m registered voters for Anambra governorship election

    2.2m registered voters for Anambra governorship election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday, said 2.158171 million registered voters would take part in the Nov.18 governorship election in Anambra.

    Mrs Bimbo Oladumjoye, Assistant Director, ICT Department INEC , Abuja made the disclosure during the official publication of Register of voters for the Nov.18 Anambra governorship election in Awka.

    She said out of the figure, 50.3 per cent were females while 49.6 percent were males.

    Oladumjoye further said that students were the highest number of registered voters constituting 48 per cent, adding that Idemili North Local Government Area had the highest number of registered voters.

    Also speaking, Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu, INEC National Commissioner (South-East Zone), described voters registration as the bedrock of a free, fair and credible of any election.

    “It is in view of this that the INEC has decided, today, to publish the register of voters in Anambra state,’’ he said.

    Read also:  Anambra Polls: Buhari backs Nwoye, to attend rally

    Ibeanu said the publication was in compliance with the Electoral Law which according to him stipulates that the commission should publish the register, 30 days before the election.

    The INEC official said that the commission’s headquarters in Awka had received non-sensitive materials for the exercise.

    Ibeanu, however, noted that Anambra was the first to have 37 candidates contesting for a governorship position in an election since the history of elections in Nigeria.

    “In spite this number, the commission is very happy to remark that political parties have been very orderly in their campaigns without heating the polity and we are glad with such development,’’ he said.

    In an address of welcome, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, confirmed that 37 political parties would be participating in the election.

    He reiterated the commission’s readiness to conduct free, fair, credible and acceptable election on Nov.18 in the state.

    Orji applauded the assistance of security agencies to the commission and their readiness to ensure that the election would be violent-free.

    Some Chairmen of political parties that attended the meeting expressed confidence in the ability of the commission to conduct an acceptable election in the state.

  • INEC announces Nov 18 for Idemili by-election

    INEC announces Nov 18 for Idemili by-election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced November 18th 2017 for the Idemili, Anambra state by-election.

    The commission in a statement signed by its Secretary, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu said it notice of election will be announced on the 20th of October, 2017.

    The parties has also been given 31 of this month as the last day for conducting party primaries, while submission of nomination form has been slated for 6th of next month.

    The statement also scheduled November 12th for the publication of particulars.

    Political parties according to the statement are expected to end campaign on 16th November, two days to the election.