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Tag: Inec

PDP, others move to stop INEC

The Anambra Central Senatorial Re-run Election scheduled for March 5, 2016 may not hold afterall as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and few other parties have already sued Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the exercise.

INEC had stopped PDP from participating in the re-run election based on the Court of Appeal judgment that quashed the election of Senator Uche Ekwunife last December.

During the last stakeholders meeting held at the INEC office in Awka, some leaders of other political parties had raised the issue of postponement of election, but the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Lawrence Azubuike, said they were acting on the orders of the court.

However, The Nation gathered yesterday in Awka, that some PDP chieftains had approached the Federal High Court, Abuja to stop the election because their party had been excluded unlawfully.

But the chairman of the party in Anambra, Ejike Oguebego, told The Nation yesterday on phone that he was not aware of the development, promising to dig further on the issue.

Also, the state Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr. Chinedu Nkwonta, told The Nation yesterday that none of the PDP chieftain’s had the capacity to stop the election.

He said it would be unconstitutional to go against the judgment of the Appeal Court in that direction, adding that APGA was already coasting to victory before the election.

When INEC was contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the commission, Mr. Frank Egbo, said as at the time of leaving office on Friday, that there was no such information.

He said if such was true, the INEC legal department in Abuja would brief the Anambra State office, adding that he was not aware of the situation as at the time of filling this report yesterday.

However, a top APGA chieftain told The Nation yesterday that some PDP eggheads based in Abuja had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja on the issue, declaring that he was speaking authoritatively.

He described it as unfortunate for PDP chieftains to try such an illegal act, adding that it was up to INEC to take its decision on the Anambra re-run election for Central Senatorial Zone.

February 21, 2016
INEC to assist Benin Republic in presidential poll

• Tchane leads in opinion poll

Nigeria has pledged to assist neighbouring Benin Republic develop its Information Technology (IT) towards the conduct of successful general elections next month.

Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made the pledge when he received a delegation of Benin Electoral Commission led by the Bennenoise Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Oyedipo Falaye.

Attributing the successful conduct of the 2015 general elections in Nigeria to the use of Information Technology, the INEC boss said: “The change that made the (2015) election a success was Information Technology, beginning with voter registration, collation and transmission of results.”

In a related development, Bio Abdoulaye Tchane, an independent candidate, has emerged as the frontrunner in the run-up to the country’s presidential elections.

Tchane, an economist and former top executive at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is also a former head of the West African Development Bank.

He announced his candidacy at a rally in the capital, Porto Novo, last month.

He will run against Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou of the ruling Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin and Sebastien Ajavon, the leader of Benin’s National Employer’s Council.

Tchane, 58, a former finance minister, is being supported by a coalition of parties called ABT, the initials of his surname and other names.

In a new opinion poll released in the French speaking West African country last week, he polled 21.9% and was closely trailed by his closest rival who got 20.5%.

Currently the Chairman, Board of Directors of African Guarantee Fund (AGF) based in Nairobi, Kenya, Tchane, is also former Minister of Finance and Economy from 1998 to 2002, during which he introduced far reaching reforms and transparent budgeting and procurement policies, which reduced the country’s internal debt and auditing systems.

An author of many articles and opinions on economic and financial issues, Tchane also had stints at the Central Bank of West African State (BCEAO) in Cotonou and in Dakar, Senegal, as Director of Research and Head, Credit Department, amongst several other high profile international appointments.

February 21, 2016
Anambra PDP warns INEC against recognising candidates other than those from Oguebego exco

The Ejike Oguebego-led state Executive of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against recognising candidates contained in the list of nominated candidates sent to it by interests other than his executive.

The Supreme Court recently affirmed the authenticity of the Ejike Oguebego leadership of the PDP in Anambra and ordered the director INEC to deal with it in all cases.

A Federal High Court in Abuja had also in the case marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/854/2015 restrained INEC from accepting list of nominated candidates from other source except from the Oguebego-led executive.

Bothered that INEC was yet to give effect, Ejike Oguebego (Chairman) and Chuks Okoye (legal adviser), acting for themselves and members of the Executive of the PDP in Anambra State have issued Form 48 against INEC before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Form 48 is a” notice of consequences of disobedience to court orders,” issued on a party who is reluctant or unwilling to obey a subsisting order of a court.

A party who issues Form 48 on a perceived erring party will proceed to issue Form 49 (request for order of committal against an erring party), commencing contempt proceedings against the erring party.

The Form 48 issued on February 18 at the Federal High Court, Abuja by Oguebego and Okoye have been served on INEC Chairman, Mahmud Yakubu, Secretary, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu and and Director, Legal Department, Ibrahim Bawa (SAN).

It states: “Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in the orders of this honourable court, attached to this form (in particular the 5th order) restraining you from acting on the list of nominated candidates, except those that emanate from the plaintiffs, you will be guilty of contempt of court and you will be liable to be committed to prison.”

Should INEC fail to comply with the order, the plaintiffs – Oguebego and Okoye – are at liberty to initiate contempt proceedings against the electoral body and its principal officials, by filing Form 49.

February 20, 2016
INEC suspends re-run election in Plateau

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has suspended the conduct of the re-run election in Langtang South Constituency of Plateau State, scheduled for Saturday.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Plateau State, Godwin Kwanga, told reporters Friday in Jos that the suspension stemmed from an interim order of a Federal High Court.

He, however, stated that supplementary elections in Pankshin North and Pankshin South would go on as scheduled.

February 19, 2016
Rivers re-run: APC, PDP clash at peace meeting

The Rivers state chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Thursday clashed at a peace parley with service chiefs, Political parties and their candidates in the forth- coming National and State Assemblies rerun elections in the state.

The meeting was organized by members of Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security and political parties and their candidates in the March 19, rerun polls.

In his opening remarks, the chairman of the meeting and Commissioner of Police (CP), in the state, Musa Kimo said, the meeting was meant to assure political parties and their candidates of the Agencies readiness to assist the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in the state to conduct free and fair, violent-free exercise and to also appeal to parties and candidates to advise their members and supporters on the need to conduct themselves peacefully during the elections, adding that they (security operatives), will not fail to deal with according to the Law, anybody caught violating the law and the electoral Act, irrespective of who.

Kimo’s speech was welcomed by all the participants. However remarks by the state Chairman of APC, Chief Davis Ibianmu Ikanya, which suggested that the killings in Omoku, the home town of the state chairman of the PDP, Brother Felix Obuah was masterminded by members of the ruling PDP turned the hitherto peaceful session into a theatre of commotion, as PDP members in the meeting reacted angrily as they insisted the APC retracts the statement before the meeting could move on.

More than 20 persons, including women and children have reportedly been killed in a fight which started in the area last Saturday. The PDP and APC have traded blames and counter blames on the matter. While the APC claims that the fight was politically motivated against it members and supporters ahead of the upcoming rerun, the PDP maintained that it was rival cult war, and that the APC is making false claim.

The APC sate Boss said 24 of his members and supporters have been killed in the mayhem and called on the police for proper investigation and possible arrest and detention of the culprits before the election dates.

He recalled that 95 APC members were killed across the state during the last general elections, and now over 24 of his members have been killed in Omoku alone, alleging that PDP members should be held responsible for the killings.

Reacting to the APC, Obuah called on the Police to invite Ikanya for questioning on the killings in Omoku, alleging that his statements suggests concluded plans to cause breakdown of Law and Order in the state.

“The APC chairman must be questioned for all the allegations he has made, by his statement, it is obvious that the APC has concluded plans to cause breakdown of law and order in the state.”

In his statement earlier, Kimo said, “…all the security agencies in the state have promised to be impartial in discharging our functions before, during and after the re-run elections.”

Also, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Aniede Ikoiwak, reiterated the use of Card Reader machine in the election, assuring that “a level playing ground” would be provided for all the candidates.

February 18, 2016
INEC to use card readers for Rivers rerun

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said card readers will be used in the rerun elections in Rivers State.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Aniede Ikoiwak spoke at a one-day interactive session with parties and stakeholders in Port Harcourt, the state capital yesterday.

The rerun elections for 32 legislative seats, cancelled by the Court of Appeal last December, are to hold March 19.

Ikoiwak said card reader was the major instrument recommended by INEC for the accreditation of voters, adding that incident forms would complement readers in special situations as approved by the electoral umpire.

He blamed the reported failure of card readers in the state on dubious people, who deliberately removed the batteries to enable them manipulate the election/results.

The REC enjoined the parties to conduct themselves properly, and regretted that rerun was only ordered in Southsouth states.

He said INEC would work with the new modified system in which accreditation and voting would begin by 8 am and end by 2 pm.

Ikoiwak said: “We are going to use the card reader, the new modified system. The accreditation will commence by 8 am and end 2 pm. We have to be mature, in the Southwest, no rerun election was ordered.

“INEC came with incident forms to complement the card reader but some thought it was to circumvent the card reader. This is wrong, card reader is for peculiar situations where fingers were not authenticated. “ The REC noted that ad hoc workers for the election will be engaged in line with stipulated guidelines.

The APC and PDP senatorial candidates for Rivers East, Andrew Uchendu and George Sekibo, praised the REC for the session, and called for a level-playing field for contestants, hoping that in free and fair elections losers should congratulate winners.

Rivers PDP Chairman Felix Obuah assured INEC of the readiness of politicians to do the right thing, but challenged the electoral body on a smooth electoral process.

February 17, 2016
INEC ready for Bayelsa House of Assembly re-run – REC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday announced that it would conduct re-run election in two state constituencies in Bayelsa on March 5, 2016.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr Austen Okojie, disclosed this during a meeting with management staff of INEC’s office in the state, in Yenagoa.

He said that the meeting was to arrange on how to make the exercise hitch free.

Okojie said the two constituencies were Ekeremor III and Southern Ijaw IV.

He, however, said that the election would not take place in Olodiama, Ward IV and polling units 20-30 in Foropa, Ward 14.

He expressed the readiness of the commission to conduct fair and credible poll and urged all stakeholders to support the commission to attain the objective.

February 15, 2016
Anambra re-run: Ngige yet to withdraw from race, says INEC

•As INEC meets with stakeholders, parties

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is claiming ignorance of the withdrawal of Labour Minister Chris Ngige from the Anambra central senatorial race re-run.

Dr. Ngige was the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the March 2015 election.

He was appointed minister by President Muhammadu Buhari following the victory of the party in last year’s polls.

The new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the commission, Dr. Lawrence Azubike, said at a meeting in Awka with political parties and stakeholders in the state that the commission was “not aware that anybody has withdrawn” from the rerun.

The state secretary of the APC Mr. Chukwuma Agupugo, had drawn the commission’s attention to a letter from Ngige about his withdrawal from the rerun.

Azubuike promised to verify the truth about the matter as he has just assumed duties in the state.

He said: “we have not received any statement to that effect. This election is a re-run not a bye- election.

“What the election means is essentially going back to March 28, 2015. INEC will use that same method in conducting the election and we are going to await further directive from the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

“The political parties and the candidates for the re-run election are not in doubt. Only the candidates and parties who participated in that election will participate now, excluding the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because of the court judgment.”

Fourteen parties fielded candidates for the first election.

February 14, 2016
Anambra Re-Run: Ngige Yet To Withdraw From Race – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that it is not aware of the withdrawal from the Anambra central senatorial race re-run by Senator Chris Ngige of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the commission, Dr. Lawrence Azubike, said this yesterday while meeting with political parties and stakeholders in the state at the INEC headquarters in Awka.

Before now, there had been speculations that Ngige had withdrawn from the race, following his appointment as the Minister of Labour and Employment.

However the state secretary of the APC in Anambra, state Mr. Chukwuma Agupugo reminded the commission of the letter to that effect by Ngige, which was submitted by the party to the commission as required by the electoral act.

But Azubuike maintained that he would go into the records of INEC to find out the truth of the matter as he just resumed in the state.

According to him “we are not aware that anybody has withdrawn, we have not received any statement to that effect, this election is a re-run not a bye- election.

“What the electron means is essentially, going back to March 28, 2015, INEC will use that same method in conducting the election and we are going to await for further directive from the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.”

“The political parties and the candidates for the re-run election are not in doubt, only the candidates and parties who participated in that election will participate now, excluding the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) because of the court judgment,” he said.

During the last National Assembly election in 2015, 14 political parties took part in the election; the implication is that following the disqualification of PDP only 13 parties would take part.

But INEC was yet to decide whether APC would be allowed to present a fresh candidate, if Ngige declines to contest because of his new position.

February 12, 2016
INEC to spend N10b on rerun elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to spend N10 billion on 80 rerun elections in the country, the commission’s chairman, Prof Mahmud Yakubu, said on Wednesday.

Yakubu, who said INEC was constrained on when to conduct the polls by law and the courts that nullified the elections, argued that polls must be conducted between now and March 19.

He, however, explained that the commission’s next line of action would be determined by the outcome of the various elections tribunals and court rulings.

Yakubu while presenting INEC’s 2015/2016 budget before the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, said the N10b is required for logistics and other electoral activities.

The committee promised to offer necessary assistance required for the conduct of the 2019 general election, saying early preparation for the polls should be prioritized.

The committee’s Chairperson, Aishatu Dukku, demanded for the schedule of various purchases required by INEC.

She added that the committee would visit all the state units of INEC to ascertain the commission’s preparedness for future activities.

February 10, 2016