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Tag: Inec

  • INEC to distribute PVCs in Kogi, Bayelsa from Friday

    INEC to distribute PVCs in Kogi, Bayelsa from Friday

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it will begin the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to eligible voters in Kogi and Bayelsa states, from Friday.

    INEC’s Deputy Director of Publicity  Mr. Nick Dazang, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja, said the exercise would begin in Kogi on Friday and end on November 11 and run from November 13 to 19 in Bayelsa.

    He said the distribution would take place at the ward level  from 8am to 4pm daily.

    Dazang said: “The distribution of PVCs is for voters, whose biometric was captured during the just-concluded Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) by INEC in the two states.

    “It is also open to those who registered before, but are yet to collect their PVCs.”

    He urged registered voters, who were yet to collect their PVCs, to do so before the election date, stressing that nobody would be allowed to vote without PVCs.

     

  • INEC clears 42 for Kogi, Bayelsa elections

    INEC clears 42 for Kogi, Bayelsa elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared 42 candidates for the governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states.

    The final list published by INEC and signed by its Acting Secretary, U.F. Usman, shows that 22 candidates are to contest the governorship seat in Kogi State and 20 in Bayelsa State.

     

  • PDP leaders : Buhari, Judiciary, INEC behind our electoral woes

    PDP leaders : Buhari, Judiciary, INEC behind our electoral woes

    President Muhammadu Buhari, the judiciary, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) yesterday came under fresh attack from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the party’s recent electoral reverses in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States.

    The PDP  accused  the Buhari administration of  politicising  and compromising critical institutions, including the judiciary, DSS and INEC,  for the purpose of  subverting democracy in the country.

    The party’s national caucus, rising from an emergency meeting in Abuja on Thursday, where it reviewed  the judgements of the Akwa Ibom   and Rivers State Election Petition Tribunals, said the behaviour of the President and the ruling All Progressives  Congress (APC) constitutes  a huge threat to the nation’s democracy and danger  to its peace, unity and progress.

    It did not spare the National Assembly which it claimed was being  intimidated  by the executive arm of government.

    In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the PDP  National Secretary, Prof.  Wale Oladipo, said the APC-led government has eroded  the  ‘gains’  recorded by the PDP in its 16 years in the saddle.

    It vowed to  “vigorously resist”  the  “undemocratic tendencies” it attributed to the President.

    It said: “The undue interferences by the executive arm of government in the activities of the judiciary, legislature and INEC, using the Directorate of States Services (DSS), is clearly unacceptable to the PDP as well as the Nigerian people and the party resolved to vigorously resist such.

    “The PDP finds it offensive and provocative the judiciary’s handling of cases involving it in election tribunals in some states, particularly Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Imo, Taraba, Ogun, Plateau and Lagos.

    “The conclusive evidence of external influence on the Rivers State governorship election tribunal is the fact that it was able to deliver its judgment within 24 hours in a case that had nearly 100 witnesses, 1,000 pieces of documentary evidences and nine counsel’s final written addresses; each not less than 40 pages.

    “The decision, in view of the rather interesting history of the case, indicates that the judiciary, like the PDP and the Nigerian electorate, are victims of the APC-led Federal Government.

    “The tainted judgments of these tribunals, which are evidently products of arm-twisting from the nation’s security operatives under the direct command of an APC member, remains unacceptable to us”.

    The PDP also alleged clandestine moves by the APC to use various agencies of government to manipulate the upcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states, vowing to deploy every means within the law to resist the moves.

    The APC, it claimed, is  steering the country towards dictatorship and asked the judiciary to restore its image by taking immediate measures to protect itself from political interferences.

    Besides, it  said  the Court of Appeal  must  remedy the “embarrassing rulings”  by some election petition tribunals, particularly  those of Rivers and  Akwa Ibom states.

    The PDP similarly called on President Buhari to stand up for justice and equity, and halt the undemocratic attitudes of agents of government in the interest of peace and stability.

    It hailed its senators for walking out of the Red Chambers on Thursday  ahead of the confirmation of former governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, as a ministerial nominee, saying: “We salute the courage and unity of purpose of our senators, especially as demonstrated in the Senate chambers on Thursday in their collective stand against impunity and corruption, in line with the wishes and aspirations of the Nigerian people.

    “The PDP states that what the APC senators did at the ministerial screening  was a death knell on their party’s pretentious war against corruption.”

    It wondered why “former APC governors are being rewarded with ministerial appointments” while those of PDP  “are being hounded and harassed in the selective war against corruption.”

    A week ago, the Rivers State Election Petitions tribunal  voided the emergence of PDP’s  Nyesom Wike as winner of the April governorship election on account of the petition filed by the APC candidate, Mr.Dakuku Peterside.

    The tribunal said the election was characterised by fraud citing the over one million votes recorded for Wike  even when the records showed that under 300000 people were accredited to vote in the election.

    Wike denounced the verdict and vowed to take his case to the Court of Appeal and if necessary the Supreme Court.

    A few days earlier,the Akwa Ibom Election Tribunal  had cancelled the results of the governosrship election in 18 local government area of the state .

    It said fresh poll should be  conducted in the affected areas.

  • Politicians are INEC’s greatest problem – Jega

    Politicians are INEC’s greatest problem – Jega

    Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega Thursday expressed disappointment over the attitude of some politicians in the country.

    Jega described their mindset to electoral process as ‘predisposition and reckless.’

    He said: “From my experience, I quite often say that Nigeria has a special breed of politicians (Nee: ‘Militicians’). They generally tend to believe that political power through elections has to be “captured”, and this has to be done by hook or by crook; and by any means necessary! Them, winning election is, literally, “a do-or-die” affair.”

    Jega who is now at the Department of Political Science Bayero University, Kano said the sad development remained a formidable challenge for future reformation of the Nigerian electoral process adding that: “As long as politicians continue to have this unwholesome mindset, efforts at electoral reform and deepening democracy would remain constrained.”

    The ex-INEC boss who spoke in Abuja at the first University of Abuja Public Lecture Series, with the theme: Electoral Reforms in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects disclosed that the 2007 elections were manifestly the worst in Nigeria’s history.

    His words: “INEC faced perhaps its greatest challenge in containing the predisposition and reckless mindset of Nigerian politicians. Any wonder then, that our political arena increasingly resembled a bloody battlefield, with maiming, killing, burning, and unimaginable destruction of lives and property. Navigating the ‘minefield’ of ‘do-or-die’ politicians as an impartial electoral umpire required nerves of steel, and we had to quickly the requisite thick skin, as well as appropriate containment strategies.

    “Compliance with the laws and insisting on same and respect for due process, as well as being none partisan and transparent, helped the Commission in navigating this ‘minefield.”

    He advised government to ensure that security plays a wise roll in future elections.

    Jega said further that: “A series of badly conducted elections could create perpetual political instability and easily reverse the gains of democratization. If adequate care is not taken, badly conducted elections can totally undermine democratization and replace it with authoritarian rule, of the civilian or military varieties. At best, they can install inept and corrupt leadership that can herald, if not institutionalize bad governance. There are many illustrations or manifestations of this throughout Africa. But nowhere is this as amply illustrated as in the Nigerian case, especially between 1999 and 2007.

    “The 2007 elections were manifestly the worst in Nigeria’s history, as declared by both domestic and international observers. The EU observer mission, for example, noted that the elections fell “short of basic international standards”, and were characterized by violence and crude use of money to buy votes.

    “There was reckless mobilization of ethno-religious cleavages and heightened use of money and thugs to influence results. The pre-electoral processes, such as party primaries were conducted in grossly undemocratic fashion. In many cases, the results were said to have gone to the highest bidder. The winner of the presidential election, late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, himself admitted on the day of his inauguration, that there were serious flaws in the election that brought him to power.

    “There are also other associated challenges. For example, meeting the production deadlines in the production of PVCs was seriously affected by power failures, which damaged equipment, which the vendor could not quickly replace. The use of the SCR was constrained by the fact that some polling units are located in areas where there was no Internet coverage! Or in schools, which used as Super RACs, with no electricity to charge batteries and SCRs!”

    He urged the youths to be interested in the electoral reforms for a better country.

    Jega advised government to sustain the current ongoing reforms in the electoral process and ensure that the players and other stakeholders abide by the rule at all time.

    He commended President Muhammadu Buhari over the choice of his successor affirming that he can do the job.

     

  • Senate confirms INEC chairman, commissioners’ nomination

    The Senate on Thursday confirmed the nomination of the new chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu and five commissioners nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The new INEC commissioners are – Dr. Anthonia Okoosi Simbine, Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo, Amina Zakari Mohammed, Mustapha Lecky and Soyebi Solomon.

    They were confirmed after the screening exercise that took place at the Senate Chamber on Thursday.

  • Ex-Ekiti Speaker faults Fayose’s criticism of Buhari on new INEC chief

    Former Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Femi Bamisile, has faulted Governor Ayo Fayose’s criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari on the appointment of Prof. Mahmud Yakubu as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain urged Ekiti people and all Nigerians to ignore Fayose whom he accused of “unsavory comments against the person, actions and policies of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

    Fayose had last week accused Buhari of appointing another Northerner to replace the former INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, describing the President as a “sectional leader who sees himself as mainly leader of Hausa/Fulani and not that of entire Nigerian people.”

    Bamisile in a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Babs Daramola, said Fayose’s outburst represents “a further display of the governor’s proneness to political tantrums which are not and can never be a true representation of the genuine opinion of the good people of Ekiti state.

    He said: “For Governor Fayose to label President Buhari as a sectional president is a reflection of a state of mind possessed by a pathological penchant for mischief.

    “Mr. Governor should stop seeking unnecessary negative media attention and focus on governance. Here is a governor that barely one year into his misrule, already has so much problems on his hands.

    “Ekiti has regressed into the days of social and economic enslavement. I wonder how a governor who has suddenly turned himself to public enemy number one among his people can claim any moral justification to constitute himself a judge on President Buhari’s policies.

    “It is unfortunate that the governor who is preaching  principle of equity and fairness failed to realise that of the 12 national electoral body chairmen that have been appointed between 1960 and 2015, only Prof. Attahir Jega (who took over in 2010) has come from the Northern extraction.

    “It therefore amounts to either a characteristic deliberate miscarriage of fact or unimaginable ignorance of history on the part of Governor Fayose to claim that the South-South, South-East and South-West, who have had at least two shots each at the position are being marginalized.”

  • What Nigerians expect from INEC chair Yakubu

    What Nigerians expect from INEC chair Yakubu

    Renowned historian Prof Mahmood Yakubu was yesterday named Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chair – 114 days after Prof Attahiru Jega vacated office. RAYMOND MORDI,  Tony Akowe and Vincent Ikuomola profile the new helmsman. They also write on what Nigerians expect from him.

    CONTROVERSY over the continued management of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by Mrs. Amina Zakari as acting chairman ended yesterday. President Muhammadu Buhari named Mahmood Yakubu, a professor of political history and international studies, as the substantive chairman of the electoral body.

    Mrs. Zakari, a Federal Commissioner of INEC for the Northwest, was appointed an acting chairman in June following the exit of former INEC chief, Prof. Attahiru Jega, whose five year tenure expired on June 29.

    The appointment of an acting chairman to steer INEC’s affairs drew flaks from some quarters, especially the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which argued that the appointment of an acting chairman was unknown to law.

    Besides, the PDP alleged that the acting chairman was a relation of the President. But, the President defended his action, saying he had constitutional powers to choose the head of INEC and that he appointment Mrs. Zakari based on merit and sensitivity to gender equality.

    The PDP fears were allayed yesterday with the appointment of Yakubu, a scholar, many believe is in the mould of Prof. Jega.

    Following Yakubu’s appointment, Mrs. Zakari will return to her former seat as Commissioner representing the Northwest in INEC.

    Yakubu’s appointment was ratified yesterday at the first National  Council of State (NCS) meeting presided over by President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The appointment is however subject to the approval of the Senate.

    The Council also approved the appointment of five new national commissioners for the commission. They are: Mrs. Zakari (Northwest); Dr. Anthonia Okoosi-Simbine (Northcentral); Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo (Northeast); Dr. Mohammed Mustafa Lecky (Southsouth) and Mr. Soyebi Adedeji Solomon (Southwest). The Southeast has a sitting national commissioner.

    The earlier delay in the appointment of a substantive chairman as well as national commissioners had raised concerns in some quarters, with observers arguing that their absence might jeopardise the governorship elections scheduled to hold in Kogi on November 21 and Bayelsa on December 5.

    Many observers argue the courts could nullify the results of such elections, on the basis of INEC not being properly constituted as required by the Amended 1999 Constitution.

    The governorship polls in Kogi and Bayelsa states, would no doubt be litmus tests for the professor of history.

    Reactions yesterday trailed Yakubu’s appointment, with some people hailing the development and stating their expectations.

    Those who reacted to Yakubu’s appointment included lawyers, spokesmen of registered political parties and representatives of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC).

  • Buhari appoints Mahmood Yakubu as INEC chairman

    Buhari appoints Mahmood Yakubu as INEC chairman

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday named an historian, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, ending the public clamour for a substantive electoral umpire.

    He replaces Prof. Attahiru Jega, who left office on June 30, following the expiration of his five-year tenure.

    Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal told State House correspondents at the end of the first Council of State meeting to be convened by Buhari since coming to office on May 29, that Yakubu would oversee the forthcoming Kogi and Bayelsa states’ governorship elections.

    The Council, he said, approved Yakubu’s appointment.

    The President, he said, also appointed five new national commissioners for the commission.

    They are Mrs. Amina Zakari, the immediate past acting INEC Chairman, for Northwest; Dr. Anthonia Okoosi-Simbine (Northcentral); Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo (Northeast); Dr. Mohammed Mustafa Lecky (Southsouth) and Mr. Soyebi Adedeji Solomon (Southeest).

    The Southeast is still having a sitting national commissioner.

    Mrs Zakari acted between June 30 and yesterday.

    Tambuwal said the President acted in conformity with Sections 154 (1 and 3) and 156 (3) of the Constitution which confer on him powers to appoint a chairman and national commissioners for INEC, in consultation with the Council.

    He said the emergency meeting was called to approve the appointments because of the prevailing situation in the commission.

    The governor said: “The situation in INEC as at today is such that requires for this emergency meeting to approve the nominations by Mr. President, because the law requires that a minimum of four commissioners should form a quorum in INEC.

    “This is not the case as today, because the tenure of 11 national commissioners of INEC had expired,” he said.

    The Council, Tambuwal said, agreed to stagger the confirmation of appointment of INEC commissioners to ensure that their tenure no longer expired almost at the same time.

    He said the Council resolved that the names of the next six Commissioners should be submitted to it subsequently for approval.

    The governor said the names of those already approved by the Council would be sent to the National Assembly for confirmation in accordance with the law.

    The Council, he said, did not discuss the legality or otherwise of the dates fixed for the Kogi and Bayelsa elections by the then Mrs Zakari-led INEC.

    Tambuwal said: “That is not a matter for the Council to go into; it is a matter that is strictly under the purview of the commission itself. So it didn’t come up at the Council meeting.”

    He said: “Obviously, the new chairman and members of the commission (will preside over the forthcoming elections.)

    The meeting started around 11.10am when Buhari arrived at the Council Chambers.

    Among former leaders in attendance are Gen. Yakubu Gowon; Gen. Ibrahim Babangida; Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar (rtd.); and Chief Ernest Shonekan.

    Former Presidents Shehu Shagari, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan were absent.

    Also absent was Senate President Bukola Saraki, who was at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for his case.

    Some governors, deputy governors and other top government officials also attended the meeting.

    The Council commended former INEC chair Jega, for his exemplary performance.

    He said the President directed the council secretariat to note the commendations.

    “The council noted and commended Jega for his laudable activities as the chairman of INEC.

    “The President directed that the secretariat should note the commendations.

    “A letter of commendation may later be sent to the former boss of INEC’’, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu, said

  • INEC got over N114bn for 2015 polls – Report

    INEC got over N114bn for 2015 polls – Report

    The post election report has revealed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) got a total sum of N114, 058, 943, 747. 48 for 2015 general elections.

    The sum of over N108.9billion was appropriated for the commission by the Federal Government between 2014 to 2015, while fund received from developmental partners was N5, 207, 260, 433.55.

    The N5.2billion from the developmental partners came through sponsorship of workshops, seminars, conferences, enlightenment programmes and engagement of consultants, the report explained.

    Besides, the report also declared that the decision of former President Goodluck Jonathan to concede defeat gave credibility to the 2015 presidential election.

    The report made a case for e-voting ahead of future elections and advocated for the establishment of electoral offences commission and tribunal.

    The unveiling of the report was the last official function carried out by INEC acting chairperson, Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari.

    President Muhammadu Buhari announced Prof. Mahmood as substantive chairman of  the commission on Wednesday.

  • Yakubu is new INEC chairman

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday appointed Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He succeeds Prof Attahiru Jega who completed his tenure in June.

    Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State briefed State House correspondents at the end of Buhari’s first Council of State meeting.

    According to the governor, the appointment was approved at the first meeting of the Council of State presided over by Buhari on Wednesday.

    The President, he said, also appointed five new national commissioners for the commission.

    The national commissioners are Mrs. Amina Zakari (North West); Dr. Anthonia Okoosi-Simbine (North Central); Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo (North East); Dr. Mohammed Mustafa Lecky (South South) and Mr. Soyebi Adedeji Solomon (South West).

    The South East is said to still have a sitting national commissioner.