The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Inec

  • Updates on moves to recall Melaye from Senate

    Updates on moves to recall Melaye from Senate

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday received signatures of registered voters in Kogi West Senatorial District, seeking the recall of Senator Dino Melaye from the upper legislative chamber.

    RELATED: ‘Melaye not fit to be Senator’

    At least 188, 588 out of the 360, 098 registered voters in the senatorial district have endorsed Melaye’s recall from the Senate.

    Reports said at least six bags containing the voters’ signatures were submitted to INEC on Wednesday.

    The Nation recalls that the process to recall the Kogi West Senator gathered momentum on Sunday, June 11 with the mobilisation of prospective signatories.

    It was gathered authoritatively that leaders across the seven local governments in the senatorial district met in Lokoja on Friday night to strategise on the ‘Dino Recall Project’.

    Meanwhile, the Senator in his response said that the ongoing move by the electorate in his constituency to recall him from the Senate will fail.

    According to him, his achievements in the Senate were enormous and as such the people of the constituency were solidly behind him.

    Melaye, who later led his supporters on a peaceful march around Kabba town, alleged that the state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, was behind the move to recall him.

    In his counter-response, the Governor urged the Senate to ensure the red chamber is made up of men of high calibre, integrity and good character to retain its high esteem.

    The governor made the statement, referring to Senator Melaye as a misfit for the Senate during his visit to the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday, June 15.

     

  • INEC issues certificates to APDA, four others

    INEC issues certificates to APDA, four others

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday presented certificates of registration to five newly-registered political parties in the country.

    The parties are – Advanced People’s Democratic Alliance (APDA), Action Democratic Party (ADP), All Democratic People’s Movement (ADPM), New Generation Party of Nigeria (NGP) and the Young Progressive Party (YPP).

    The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, while presenting the certificates to the parties in Abuja, urged them not to consider their registration as an end in itself.

    Yakubu said the registration should be seen as opportunity for the political parties to exercise their critical roles in the best interest of the nation’s democracy.

    He said, “As you are aware, political parties are at the heart of our democracy. Under the Constitution, no Nigerian can contest an election conducted by lNEC unless he/she is sponsored by a political party.

    “Similarly, under the Constitution, you are registered to operate as national political parties.

    “As such, you should remain committed to the politics of principles and development of the entire nation as articulated in your party constitutions and manifestos which you submitted along with your applications for registration.

    “You must eschew the politics of division, bitterness, mudslinging and hatred.

    “You must also be inclusive in all your activities by giving opportunity to all citizens, especially disadvantaged groups such as women, youths and persons with disabilities.”

    He assured that the new parties would enjoy equal rights and privileges of recognised political parties under the Constitution, the Electoral Act as well as INEC’s regulations and guidelines.

    NAN

  • Suspected thugs steal INEC data capture machine in Rivers

    Suspected thugs steal INEC data capture machine in Rivers

    A group of hoodlums suspected to be political thugs have stolen the direct data capture machine belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in  Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    The machine was stolen in the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Emohua, the headquarters of the local government area.

    Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Edwin Enabor, said  that the incident happened last Thursday night.

    Enabor disclosed that apart from the INEC office, the hoodlums also vandalised the entire council secretariat, adding that the INEC office in the area was situated within the premises of the local government secretariat.

    “It happened in the  night. Apparently, some unknown people came to the council and vandalised virtually the whole council, not just the INEC office; all the offices in the council.

    “We went there yesterday on an assessment tour and from what we saw, they really vandalised the council and unfortunately for the commission, our office happens to be within the council premises.”

    However, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the incident.

  • Suspected thugs steal INEC data capture machine in Rivers  

    Suspected thugs steal INEC data capture machine in Rivers  

    A group of hoodlums suspected to be political thugs have stolen the direct data capture machine belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    The machine was stolen in the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Emohua, the headquarters of the local government area.

    Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Edwin Enabor, said that the incident happened last Thursday night.

    Enabor disclosed that apart from the INEC office, the hoodlums also vandalised the entire council secretariat, adding that the INEC office in the area was situated within the premises of the local government secretariat.

    “It happened in the night. Apparently, some unknown people came to the council and vandalised virtually the whole council, not just the INEC office; all the offices in the council.

    “We went there Wednesday on an assessment tour and from what we saw, they really vandalised the council and unfortunately for the commission, our office happens to be within the council premises.”

    However, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the incident.

     

  • ‘ANN sure of INEC registration’

    The Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), a political association being promoted by professionals and technocrats, has assured its teeming members that it would get the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) registration to become a political party.

    The INEC last week registered five political associations following which ANN members were wondering why it was not on the list.

    But ANN’s National Coordinator, Dr. Jay Osi Samuels, said there was no cause for alarm adding that the association is on the verge of meeting all the requirements needed to be registered as a political party.

    He said the newly registered parties had been on the registration process since last year.

    Samuels said:  “Our members have nothing to worry about, we are confident of being registered as a political party. Our name, acronym and slogan have been approved and these are major steps towards registration. Those who have just been registered have been on it since last year. That was why they were first to be registered by INEC this year. Therefore, our name will soon be announced as a registered political party after all the necessary documentation has been concluded.”

    Dr. Samuels said INEC is under statutory obligation to register any association or group that meets the set criteria and urged member to continue to spread the message of “technoticianism”, which is “the ideology” of the group.

    The association also called for peaceful coexistence among the nation’s ethnic groups.

    Reacting to the ultimatum given by Arewa youth groups to Igbo to vacate the north, Dr. Samuels said while the ANN understood the ethnic emotions that often ruled the country, war mongering and mutual suspicions amongsthe nation’s ethnic groups remained an ill-wind that would blow no one any good.

    He said the party’s aim remains rallying professionals and technocrats in the country to join the political process and this is not limited to any particular region or tribe but all-inclusive.

  • INEC unveils officers of newly registered political parties

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled officers of the five newly approved political parties.

    The approval brings to 45 the number of political parties in the country.

    It will be recalled that The Nation reported about a month ago that five associations had met all the requirements for registration and only awaiting the nods of the management of the electoral body.

    The five, which the commission, said fulfilled the constitutional requirements for registration and their national leaders are Young Progressive Party (YPP), Comrade Bishop Amakiri and Barr. Vidiyeno Bamaiyi as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.

    Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA), Mohammed Shitu Kabiru and Dr. Emeka Okengwu National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.

    New Generation Party of Nigeria (NGP), Dr. Yakubu Shendam and Alh. Mohammed Abdu,  All Democratic Peoples Movement (ADPM), Engr. Okey Chikwendu and Idu-Agbo Emmanuel, National Chairman and National Secretary respectively and  Action Democratic Party (ADP), Engr. Yabayi V. Sani and Dr. James Okoroma National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.

    In announcing the newly registered parties, INEC noted that 95 associations applied to the commission for registration as political parties, while two of the associations voluntarily withdrew their applications.

    The approval, which was contained in a statement signed by Prince Adedeji Soyebi, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee reads in part:

    “The commission approved the applications of five of the associations which have fulfilled the constitutional requirements for registration.

    “At present, 95 associations have applied to the commission for registration as political parties. Two of the associations voluntarily withdrew their applications.

    “With the registration of the above parties, there are now 45 political parties in Nigeria.”

  • 2015 polls: Kwara police, army, SSS, INEC, others shared in $115m ‘Diezani bribe’, says witness

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday heard how several individuals and public officials shared in an alleged bribe of $115 million paid by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, to compromise the 2015 general election.

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) named the officials yesterday during the trial of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Dele Belgore, before Justice Rilwan Aikawa.

    In two documents it tendered before the court, the anti-graft agency said the individuals and public officials benefited from N450 million and N155,220,000 out of the $115 million (about N36 billion) Diezani cash.

    The disbursements, which the EFCC claimed were bribes, were contained in a document titled, “Security and transportation per state”, and another one titled, “Kwara State”.

    According to the first document, the Resident Assistant Inspector-General of Police (IGP) in Kwara State at the time got N1 million cash and the Commissioner of Police (COP) in Kwara State at the time received N10 million cash. The Deputy COP in charge of Operations got N2 million cash.

    Also, the Assistant Commissioners of Police in charge of operations and administration in Kwara State, received N1 million cash each.

    The document also showed that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kwara State for the 2015 general elections got N10 million cash. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Administrative Secretary in Kwara State at the time received N5 million cash.

    The document added that INEC’s Head of Department, Operations and “his boys” were given N5 million. Other officers received and shared N2 million among themselves.

    Also listed as beneficiaries of the alleged bribe in the state were the “OC Mopol” and “his men”, who got N7 million, “2iC Mopol” and men in the state, who got N10 million; the Director of the State Security Service (SSS) and his men, who got N2.5 million.

    The military in Kwara State was bribed with N50 million, according to the document, while other security agencies including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) got N20 million..

    An EFCC investigator, Usman Zakari, who brought the document, told the court that it was recovered from Belgore.

    Belgore is accused of collecting N450 million from Diezani and distributing same to beneficiaries in Kwara State.

    The EFCC said he handled the cash without going through any financial institution, contrary to sections 1(a), 16(d), 15(2)(d) and18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

    According to the commission, the offence is punishable under sections 15(3)(4), and 16(2)(b) of the same Act.

    Standing trial along with Belgore for the offence is a former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman.

    The SAN and the don were arraigned on charges of money laundering on February 8, 2017 and they pleaded not guilty.

    Zakari is the second witness to be called by the EFCC in its efforts to prove its case.

    Testifying before Justice Aikawa yesterday, the witness explained that Belgore volunteered the list to the EFCC when he was invited and interrogated by the anti-graft agency.

    The investigator noted that Belgore’s endorsement on the document, stating: “document supplied by me, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN).”

    The second document the EFCC said it recovered from Belgore, also showed beneficiaries of a sum of N155,220,000 and the breakdown of what they got.

    Among them were 15 electoral officers who each received, 250,000; 15 supervisors, who got N100,000 each; state Returning Officers who got N1m, among others.

    The two documents were tendered by the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo. They were admitted in evidence as Exhibit 7 and 7A, against Belgore and Suleiman, as their lawyers, Mr. Ebun Shofunde (SAN) and Mr. Olatunji Ayanlaja (SAN), raised no objection.

    In his evidence, Zakari told the court that the EFCC’s findings showed that the money was disbursed in cash to the beneficiaries.

    “My lord, the mode of payment, as contained in Exhibit 7, is cash payment. The payments were not done through any financial institution,” Zakari said.

    Justice Aikawa also entertained Belgore’s application seeking the dismissal of the charges on the grounds that the EFCC failed to attach an affidavit showing that it had concluded investigation in the case before bringing the case to court.

    But in opposition, the EFCC lawyer argued that the current law governing criminal cases in the country, was the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

    He argued that the ACJA did not list filing of the said affidavit as one of the conditions that must be fulfilled before a criminal charge could be filed in court, stressing that the provisions of the ACJA were superior to that of the Federal High Court Practice Direction.

    Justice Aikawa adjourned till July 7 for ruling.

  • How Police, Army, SSS, INEC, others shared in $115m ‘Diezani bribe’ – Witness

    How Police, Army, SSS, INEC, others shared in $115m ‘Diezani bribe’ – Witness

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Thursday heard how several individuals and public officials shared in an alleged bribe of $115m paid by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, to compromise the 2015 general election.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) named the officials Thursday during the trial of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Dele Belgore before Justice Rilwan Aikawa.

    In two documents it tendered before the court, the anti-graft agency said the persons benefited from N450 million and N155, 220,000 out of the $115m (about N36 billion) Diezani cash.

    The disbursements, which the EFCC claimed were bribes, were contained in a document titled, “Security and Transportation per State”, and another one titled, “Kwara State”.

    According to the first document, the Resident Assistant Inspector-General of Police (IGP) in Kwara State at the time got N1 million cash, the Commissioner of Police (COP) in Kwara State at the time received N10m cash, while the Deputy COP in charge of Operations got N2 million cash.

    Also, the Assistant Commissioners of Police in charge of operations and administration in Kwara State, received N1 million cash each.

    The document also showed that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kwara State for the 2015 general elections got N10 million cash, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Administrative Secretary in Kwara State at the time received N5 million cash.

    According to the document, INEC’s Head of Department, Operations and “his boys” were given N5m, while “other officers” received and shared N2m among themselves.

    Also listed as beneficiaries of the alleged bribe in Kwara State were the “OC Mopol” and “his men”, who got N7 million, “2iC Mopol” and men in the state, who got N10m; the Director of the State Security Service (SSS) and his men, who got N2.5m.

    The military in Kwara State was bribed with N50m, according to the document, while other security agencies including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) got N20m..

    An EFCC investigator Usman Zakari, who brought the document, told the court that it was recovered from Belgore.

    Belgore is accused of collecting N450m from Diezani and distributing same to beneficiaries in Kwara State.

    The EFCC said he handled the cash without going through any financial institution, contrary to sections 1(a), 16(d), 15(2)(d) and18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

    According to the commission, the offence is punishable under sections 15(3)(4), and 16(2)(b) of the same Act.

    Standing trial along with Belgore for the offence is a former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman.

    The SAN and the don were arraigned on charges of money laundering on February 8, 2017 but they pleaded not guilty.

    Zakari is the second witness to be called by the EFCC in its efforts to prove its case.

    Testifying before Justice Aikawa on Thursday, the witness explained that Belgore volunteered the list to the EFCC when he was invited and interrogated by the anti-graft agency.

    The investigator pointed out Belgore’s endorsement on the document, stating: “document supplied by me, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN).”

    The second document the EFCC said it recovered from Belgore, also showed showed beneficiaries of a sum of N155, 220,000 and the breakdown of what they got.

    Among them were 15 electoral officers who each received, 250,000; 15 supervisors, who got N100, 000 each; state Returning Officers who got N1m, among others.

    The two documents were tendered by the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, and admitted in evidence as Exhibit 7 and 7A, against Belgore and Suleiman, as their lawyers, Mr. Ebun Shofunde (SAN) and Mr. Olatunji Ayanlaja (SAN), raised no objection.

    In his evidence, Zakari told the court that the EFCC’s findings showed that the money was disbursed in cash to the beneficiaries.

    “My Lord, the mode of payment, as contained in Exhibit 7, is cash payment. The payments were not done through any financial institution,” Zakari said.

    Meanwhile, Justice Aikawa entertained Belgore’s application seeking the dismissal of the charges on the grounds that the EFCC failed to attach an affidavit showing that it had concluded investigation in the case before bringing the case to court.

    Moving the application on Thursday, Belgore’s lawyer, Shofunde, argued that the failure of the EFCC to attach an affidavit saying it had concluded investigation before filing the charges was a fundamental breach of the Federal High Court Practice Direction and which had rendered the charges incompetent.

    He urged Justice Aikawa to quash the charges and free his client.

    But in opposition, the EFCC lawyer, Oyedepo, argued that the current law governing criminal cases in the country was the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

    He argued that the ACJA did not list filling of the said affidavit as one of the conditions that must be fulfilled before a criminal charge could be filed in court, stressing that the provisions of the ACJA were superior to that of the Federal High Court Practice Direction.

    Besides, he referred Justice Aikawa to Section 221 of the ACJA which barred a judge from entertaining any application challenging the competence of charges in a criminal case in the middle of trial and Section 396(2) of the Act, which barred a judge from ruling on any such application until judgment is delivered in the case.

    While urging the judge to dismiss the application, Oyedepo said granting it would “amount to slaughtering justice on the altar of technicality.”

    Justice Aikawa adjourned till July 7 for ruling.

     

  • INEC registers five political parties

    INEC registers five political parties

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has registered five political parties – Young Progressive Party (YPP); Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA); New Generation Party of Nigeria (NGP); All Democratic Peoples Movement (ADPM) and Action Democratic Party (ADP).

    This brings to 45 the number of registered parties.

    The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Adedeji Soyebi broke the news to reporters yesterday in Kaduna.

    He said only the five, of the 95 associations that applied for registration, succeeded.

    According Soyebi, two of the associations withdrew voluntarily. The remaining 88 did not meet the requirements.

    His words: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) held its usual weekly meeting today (yesterday) and reviewed, among other things, the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), which began on April 27.

    “In the meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and Administrative Secretaries, the commission received and considered submissions from 36 states and the FCT, as well as reports from some accredited observers of the registration.

    “It also noted the challenges encountered so far, and is addressing them.

    “At present, 95 associations have applied to the commission for registration as political parties. Two of the associations voluntarily withdrew their applications. The commission approved five of the associations, which fulfilled the constitutional requirements for registration. They are – Young Progressive Party (YPP), Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA), New Generation Party of Nigeria (NGP), All Democratic Peoples Movement (ADPM) and Action Democratic Party (ADP).

    “With the registration of these parties, there are now 45 political parties in Nigeria.

    On the voter registration, Soyebi said: “As at Friday June 2, 760,989 persons had registered across the country, representing 59.5 per cent male and 40.5 per cent female. So far, 31,808 persons have collected their PVCs while 34,560 others applied for transfer of polling units.

    “Due to budgetary constraints, the commission cannot decentralise to the registration area level. However, due considerations shall be given to certain areas with peculiar challenges.

    “It was also decided that, in view of the Anambra State governorship election, scheduled for November 17, CVR will be decentralised to the registration area (Ward) level from August 10 till 16. The same shall apply to Ekiti and Osun States, where elections will hold in 2018.”

  • INEC registers five new political parties

    INEC registers five new political parties

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has registered five new political parties.

    The new political parties are; Young Progressive Party (YPP), Advanced People’s Democratic Alliance (APDA), New Generation Party of Nigeria (NGP), All Democratic People’s Movement (ADPM) and Action Democratic Party (ADP).

    With the registration of the five new political parties, the number of political parties in Nigeria now stands 45.

    The announcement was made in Kaduna Wednesday evening after several hours of the commission’s meeting at Hotel Seventeen.

    Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the meeting, the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Prince Adedeji Soyebi said, only five out of the 95 associations that applied for registration succeeded.

    According Soyebi, two of the associations had earlier withdrew their applications voluntarily, while the remaining 88 did not meet the requirements for registration as political parties.

    His words, “the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) held its usual weekly meeting today and reviewed, among other things, the on-going nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which began on 27th April 2017.

    “In the meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and Administrative Secretaries, the Commission received and considered submissions from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as reports from some accredited observers of the CVR exercise.

    “The Commission noted the challenges encountered so far, and is addressing them.

    “At present, 95 Associations have applied to the Commission for registration as political parties. Two of the associations voluntarily withdrew their applications.

    “The Commission today approved the applications of five of the associations which have fulfilled the constitutional requirements for registration.

    They are: Young Progressive Party (YPP), Advanced People’s Democratic Alliance (APDA), New Generation Party of Nigeria (NGP), All Democratic People’s Movement (ADPM) and Action Democratic Party (ADP).

    “With the registration of the above parties, there are now 45 political parties in Nigeria”, he said.

    On the Voter Registration, INEC said, “As at Friday 2nd June 2017, a total of 760,989 persons have registered across the country, made up of 59. 5 percent males and 40.5 percent females. So far, 31,808 persons have collected their PVCs while 34, 560 others applied for transfer of Polling Units.

    “Due to budgetary constraints, the Commission cannot for now decentralize to the Registration Area level. However, due considerations shall be given to certain areas with peculiar challenges.

    “The Commission decided that, in view of the Anambra State governorship election scheduled for 17thNovember 2017, the CVR will be decentralized to the Registration Area (Ward) level from 10th to 16th August, 2017. The same consideration shall be given to Ekiti and Osun states which have governorship elections in 2018″.