The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Inec

  • Blame politicians for inconclusive elections – INEC

    The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Thursday blamed the activities of politicians for the recent inconclusive elections in the country.

    Yakubu said politicians’ desperation to win elections at all cost usually lead to  irregularities and electoral violence with innocent citizens killed and maimed during polls.

    He stated that INEC’s determination not to overlook the infractions in the conduct of elections in line with the tenet of electoral law, was another reason for the development.

    Yakubu, who spoke at a one day civil society/stakeholders roundtable on INEC and inclusive elections organised by the Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group (ISDMG), however said  inconclusive elections were not peculiar to his six months tenure in office as INEC chairman or the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, as people were made to believe.

    Represented by the Director of Voters’ Education at the commission, Mr. Oluwale Osaze Uzzy, the INEC chief also advocated a 10-year ban for politicians found guilty of electoral offences from aspiring to any public office.

  • INEC employs blind ex-Corps member

    INEC employs blind ex-Corps member

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has employed an ex-youth Corps member, Daniel Oluwatobi, who lost his sight while serving as INEC ad hoc staff in Yobe State for the 2011 elections.

    Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who led a team of INEC’s National Commissioners, Secretaries and Directors to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) headquarters for the presentation ceremony, praised Corps members for their patriotism, dedication and commitment to election duties.

    He described them as part of “our most committed, patriotic and non-partisan election duty staff. There is no way we can have a successful election without this crop of dedicated staff.”

    Yakubu recalled that he promised to employ Oluwatobi when he visited the NYSC headquarters to condole with the Director-General, Brig. Gen Sule Kazaure on the death of a youth Corps member, Samuel Okonta.

    “Today, we are fulfilling that promise. Oluwatobi has requested to be posted to Ogun State, and to Ogun State he has been posted,” he said.

    He then presented the appointment letter to Brig. Gen Kazaure, who in turn handed it over to Oluwatobi.

    Kazaure  thanked the INEC Chair for the gesture. He stressed the need for a review of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between INEC and NYSC, in the areas of security, transportation, allowances and insurance cover for corp members.

    Oluwatobi gave a salute and a shout to acknowledge the gesture.

  • 336,445 PVCs awaiting collection in Ondo, says INEC

    336,445 PVCs awaiting collection in Ondo, says INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday announced that 336,445 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from the 1,543,787 received in Ondo State are yet to be collected.

    INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Mr. Olusegun Agbaje said this at a news conference in Akure, the state capital.

    It was organised to sensitise the public on the plan of the commission to conduct a Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise between Wednesday, June 22 and Sunday, June 26.

    He said within February and yesterday, only 1,585 voters have collected their PVCs.

    The REC said so far about 1,207,342 voters have collected their PVCs.

    Agbaje, who claimed that the commission began distribution of the PVCs in February 1, urged people who have registered, but yet to collect their cards to visit INEC offices in their councils for the collection.

    He appealed to those who are coming for the new registration to collect their cards within five days after they might have registered at their respective INEC offices in their local government areas.

    The REC assured residents that the exercise would be credible as the commission had put in place strategies for the success of the programme.

    He explained that the commission had configured 396 Direct Data Capturing Machines (DDCMs) for 203 registration areas and 193 voting points.

    He added that the INEC had recruited 792 Assistant Registration Officers made up of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and INEC officers to handle the DDC machines. Another 203 documentation and distribution officers, he said, had been engaged to handle transfer cases and distribution of PVCs yet to be collected in the 203 registration centres.

    Agbaje said the commission would not allow any form of malpractices during the exercise, warning that registration would not be done by proxy.

    “Let me sound a note of caution to those who might want to misuse this opportunity by engaging in any form of illicit activity such as mobilising people from one place to register in another place, especially in areas that share boundaries with the neighbouring states of Ekiti, Ogun, Osun, Edo and Kogi as well as encouraging under-age registration.

    “They are hereby warned to desist from any of these acts as the full weight of the law would be brought against anyone caught acting in contravention to the relevant laws during the exercise.

    “The Electoral Act, 2010 as amended is very clear on what constitute offences during the voter registration exercise in Sections 117, 120,121, 122, 123 and 124.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, anyone who engages in double /multiple registration is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of N1,000,000  or 12 months imprisonment or both,” he said.

    He stressed that security agents would be mobilized during the exercise to ensure strict compliance to law and order.

    Agbaje said the commission is ready to conduct a free, fair, credible and acceptable governorship election come November 26.

    The INEC boss hinted that the commission would soon embark on enlightenment and sensitisation campaigns ahead of the election.

    He added that the formal flag-off of voters’ education would hold this week.

    The commission boss urged stakeholders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, political party leaders, security agencies, non-government organisations (NGO) as well as individuals to assist the commission to deliver successfully before, during and after the election.

  • Party registration: Inec gets 32 fresh applications, says Chairman

    Party registration: Inec gets 32 fresh applications, says Chairman

    Thirty-two associations have applied for registration  as political parties, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said yesterday.

    The Chairman of the Commission, Prof Yakubu Mahmood, made the disclosure at the second quarterly consultative meeting with, chairmen and secretaries of registered political parties.

    The  meeting was a forum for the electoral umpire to brief party leaders on developments in the management of the democratic system.

    Yakubu told representatives of the  political parties that the number of applications was rising.

    He, however, hinted that the Commission had started processing the   applications; stressing: “the Commission remains committed to the opening of the democratic space in line with the law and our guidelines”.

    On alleged involvement of INEC officials in the subversion of last year’s general elections through cash inducement, Prof. Yakubu  said: “INEC will also take further administrative action against staff found culpable in this dastardly conduct. We will not hesitate to interdict officials where prima facie cases have been established against them by EFCC and immediately terminate the appointments of those indicted”.

    With regards to the prosecution of election offenders, the INEC chief disclosed that not minding the constraints has shown by the recently held bye-election in Minjibir Constituency in Kano State, “INEC legal team and the police have successfully secured the conviction of 42 suspects.

    The figure, he argued was the highest number of convictions in a single case ever achieved by the Commission.

    Speaking on the outstanding re-run elections, the INEC chairexplained that out of 80 court ordered re-run elections, the Commission has successfully conducted 49 and has 31 pending as well as one bye election.

    He said: “Except for Anambra and Plateau where re-run elections which are sub-judice, we have started the processes of consultation leading to the completion of the outstanding elections”.

    Yakubu also charged the political parties in the country to intensify voter education and mobilisation as he decried the low turnout of voters in elections conducted by the Commission in the aftermath of the last general elections.

    He said: “We urge political parties to intensify your voter mobilisation effort in order to galvanise the electorate to the polling units. The Commission will continue to intensify efforts towards voter education.

    “As we all know, political parties offer the only platform for contest to public office under our Constitution. Women, youths and people with disabilities are noticeable more by their under-representation in elective offices.”

    On deployment of ICT in the electoral process,  Yakubu assured that all avenues were being explored to address the challenges arising from the functionality of the Smart Card Readers.

    He further said that the Commission had designed a portal from which all registered voters could confirm and verify their registration online ahead of elections, adding that voters would also be able to transfer their registration from one point to another online.

  • INEC reinstates 20 unduly retired

    INEC reinstates 20 unduly retired

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reinstated 20 employees unduly sacked.

    Their reinstatement followed court judgments.

    It also wielded the big stick, as it sacked an employee for playing truancy.

    According to INEC’s in-house daily bulletin, another employee was demoted for misconduct.

    The bulletin reads: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the dismissal of Agudosi Chika Maryann from the service of the Commission for absenteeism, in line with INEC Staff and Condition of Service, and has also sanctioned three others for offences bordering on misconduct, while it has re-instated 20 who were unduly retired/dismissed.

    ”The Commission explained that Agudosi Chika Maryann was dismissed from the service for being absent from duty without leave in line with INEC Staff and Conditions of Service Section 3.02(c).

    ”It also approved the reduction of the rank of Ameh Mathew Onoja, and his posting out of Kogi State for misconduct (dereliction of duty) in line with Public Service Rules (PSR) Part V, Rule 15(i), and INEC Condition of Service.

    ”Similarly, Leah Abalaka and Abor Tabitha have been given written warning and are to be posted out of the state for general inefficiency and incompetence, in line with INEC Condition of Service, 3.04 (c).

    ”INEC has also complied with court orders by re-instating 20 officers who were unduly retired/dismissed or whose appointments were terminated by the Commission but reinstated by the Industrial Court, Regular Courts or the Court of Appeal respectively.”

     

     

  • INEC working on Electoral Act amendment – Yakubu

    INEC working on Electoral Act amendment – Yakubu

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it was finalising a comprehensive proposal for constitutional and legal amendments to the Electoral Act.

    The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this during a retreat organized by the Federal House of Representatives’ Committee on Electoral and Political Parties Matters in Abuja.

    According to the commission’s bulletin issued on Wednesday in Abuja, Yakubu said proposal would be forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration and legislation in due course.

    He said the proposal for amendment was part of the commission’s efforts to curb electoral malpractices in the country.

    “We are also looking at some of our guidelines and manual to see what changes are needed in the light of recent experience,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Yakubu as saying at the retreat.

    He added that work had also commenced on the commission’s strategic plan for 2017-2021, including the election project plan and the tracking mechanism.

    “This will be concluded by December 2016, well ahead of the general elections in 2019,” he added.

  • INEC to register voters in Ondo, Edo June 22-26

    INEC to register voters in Ondo, Edo June 22-26

    •INEC to register voters in Ondo, Edo June 22-26

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given condition for the conclusion of the suspended elections in Rivers, Imo, Kogi and Kano states not later than July 31.

    The suspended elections will only be conducted when the conditions were conducive enough, a statement by INEC Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, said.

    The statement added: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is committed to concluding the suspended elections in Rivers, Imo, Kogi and Kano states which were disrupted by violence not later than 31st July, 2016, provided that all necessary consultations and activities leading to the elections were concluded timeously and that conditions were conducive enough for the conduct of the elections.

    “In spite of this commitment, it would not return to conduct elections or hesitate to further postpone or discontinue the suspended elections in any area where there was imminent threat to lives or to peace or security, especially where such threats were likely to lead to breakdown of law and order.

    “The Commission which issued a road map for the resolution of the crisis and violence which led to the suspension of the elections in the affected areas said it would fix the dates for the elections following consultations with political parties and candidates.”

    The commission has also scheduled the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Edo and Ondo States from June 22 to June 26.

    According to the Commission’s Decision Extract issued the Director, Commission’s Secretariat, Ishaku A. Gali, INEC has also scheduled June 27 as the conclusion of Claims and Objectives.

    The CVR is to precede the two governorship elections for Edo and Ondo, scheduled for September 10, and 26th November 26.

    The Commission will today give Notice of the Edo Governorship election.

    Section 30(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides that the Commission shall give the notice of a governorship election not later than ninety (90) days before the election.

  • INEC fixes June 22 for voter registration in Edo, Ondo

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said voter registration in Edo and Ondo States would commence on June 22 ahead of governorship elections in both states.

    The governorship elections in the two states take place in September and November.

    The commission announced the date in its bulletin on Tuesday.

    It said the exercise would run till June 26, while June 27 would be dedicated for conclusion of claims and objections on the registration in the two states.

    It added that notice of activities on the Edo election would be released on Wednesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that section 30(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides that the INEC shall give the notice of a governorship election not later than 90 days before the election.

    The commission also stated that it would conclude the Nasarawa/Toto Federal Constituency election on Wednesday.

    The exercise was conducted on Saturday but declared inconclusive due to reported cases of over-voting in some units.

     

  • INEC conducts 127 elections in six months

    INEC conducts 127 elections in six months

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has conducted 127 elections in the last six months.

    Its Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said INEC has since the 2015 general elections conducted 50 re-run elections in 16 states in obedience to court orders. Seven by-elections, occasioned by death or resignation have also been conducted in five states, while two more elections were organised at the weekend in Kwara and Nasarawa states, due to the death of two elected individuals in the Kwara State House of Assembly and the Federal House of Representatives respectively.

    Yakubu, who spoke at a retreat organised by the Federal House of Representatives’ Committee on Electoral and Political Parties Matters in Abuja at the weekend, also said INEC did conduct three end-of- tenure elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as well.

    He said: “In the case of the FCT, it was one election, but conducted in 68 different constituencies – six council chairmen and 62 councillors. In addition, the courts have so far upturned 23 constituency elections – House of Representatives and State Assemblies – and ordered the commission to withdraw certificates from candidates adjudged not to have been validly elected. We have since complied and issued certificates to the rightful winners from the 2015 general elections. We still have 31 more elections to conduct from the 2015 nullified elections, in addition to the forthcoming end of tenure elections for governorship in Edo (September) and Ondo (November) states.”

  • Anambra poll: Court okays contempt proceedings against INEC chair, Yakubu

    •Form 48, other court papers to be served on commission’s chief

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has given Ejike Oguebego and Chuks Okoye, the Chairman and Legal Adviser of Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the green light to begin contempt proceedings against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu.

    Oguebego and Okoye, who are suing for themselves and on behalf of other members of the Executive Committee of the PDP in Anambra State, are accusing Prof Yakubu of refusing to obey the December 5, 2015 judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, delivered by Justice Evoh Chukwu.

    Justice Chukwu, in the fifth order contained in the judgement, restrained INEC, its agents, among others, “from accepting or receiving any delegates’ list or nominated candidates that may emerge from the congresses or primaries conducted by the caretaker committee set up by the first defendant (PDP) for the Anambra PDP, except those that emanate from the plaintiffs”.

    Bothered by INEC’s alleged refusal to comply with the judgment, particularly the Fifth order, Oguebego and Okoye initiated contempt proceedings against the INEC chairman before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Last Friday (May 20), Justice John Tsoho (also of the Federal High Court, Abuja) granted an order ex-parte for substituted service of processes in relation to the contempt proceedings, including Form 48, on Prof Yakubu.

    For service on the INEC chairman, Justice Tsoho directed the plaintiffs to serve the court processes, including Form 48 on “an adult person, staff or official at the Legal Department of INEC at 436 Zambezi Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, being the usual place of business of the second respondent (Yakubu)”.

    On INEC, the judge ordered the services of all processes, including Form 46, “by delivering or leaving same at the Legal Department of INEC, the commission, having refused to accept service of same from the bailiffs of this honourable court”.

    The Form 48 issued by the court’s Registrar on March 31 is a notice of consequences of disobedience to order of court.

    It states: “Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in the order of the honourable court, attached to this Form (in particular, the Fifth order, restraining you from acting on any list of nominated candidates for the PDP in Anambra State in respect of Legislative seats for the 2015 general election, except those that emanated from the plaintiffs), you will be guilty of contempt of court, and you will be liable to be committed to prison.

    “Take further notice that if the INEC continues to disobey this order, you, Prof Yakubu, the Chairman of INEC, will be held liable for contempt of court and liable to imprisonment.”

    Justice Tsoho adjourned further proceedings till May 27.