The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Inec

  • ‘INEC must look into complaints’

    The head pastor of Divine Favour Prayer Assembly Ministries, Mowe, Ogun State, Prophet Tayo Popoola, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to look into complaints and grievances from all quarters, including the parties, to avoid crisis.

    In his message at the conclusion of the annual end-of-the-year revival of the church, Prophet Popoola stressed that without such complaints and grievances addressed, the election could be postponed.

    Said he: “The Lord revealed to me that if the complaints and grievances are not addressed to the satisfaction of stakeholders, aggrieved parties will seek redress through the court and this will disrupt the electioneering timetable and voting.”

    Popoola also advised the government to shelve any plan to review petroleum products’ prices, saying: “It is a time bomb.”

    The cleric, who prayed for a peaceful and a prosperous Nigeria, said the two issues were key areas that could threaten the peace of the country. He enjoined the government to be cautious.

  • Court restrains INEC, aspirant in Edo

    Court restrains INEC, aspirant in Edo

    Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday restrained the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting the name of Charity Amayaevbo as the candidate representing Ovia Federal Constituency in Edo State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) pending the determination of the motion on notice before the court.

    In the ex parte motion dated December 23, Justice Ahmed Mohammed also restrained INEC, Amayaevbo and APC from presenting Amayaevbo as the candidate representing Ovia, pending the determination of the motion on notice.

    Justice Mohammed said INEC showcase why the interim orders sought should not be made against it.

    The judge ordered Amayaevbo to stop parading himself as APC flag bear/candidate for Ovia, pending the determination of the motion.

    He ordered INEC, APC and Amayaevbo to appear before the court on January 6 and show why the interim orders being sought by Osahon should not be made by the court.

  • INEC is conspiring with PDP, says Balarabe Musa

    INEC is conspiring with PDP, says Balarabe Musa

    FOURTEEN political parties, under the platform called Credible Alternative Alliance (CAA), have accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of conspiring with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to frustrate other political parties, ahead of the general elections.

    Former Governor of Old Kaduna State and a co-chairman of CAA Alhaji Balarabe Musa, who said this at a news conference in Abuja yesterday, decried the alleged stance of INEC on the merger of the political parties.

    Musa said: “INEC is deliberately creating difficulties for the emergence of parties under CAA. By doing so, the commission is conspiring with the PDP to make sure that they did not contest the 2015 general election and also not to vote.

    “What I mean is that those political parties, including the deregistered political parties, which are coming together to merge under CAA, are now faced with problems created by INEC to help the PDP. These political parties are not connected with the PDP and the APC. They have decided to form a democratic  and credible alliance under the leadership of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN).

    “But, INEC, which is serving the interest of the PDP, do not want to allow this to happen. Therefore, they are creating and supporting fictionalisation in the ACPN, so that there will not be a chance for these political parties to perfect their planned alliance.

    “INEC is illegally recognising a rebellious faction of the ACPN, so that ACPN will not give platform for these political parties to pursue their constitutional right of contesting election.”

    Musa vowed that the affected parties would not allow INEC to go away with its plans.

    The elder statesman noted that those behind the new political coalition were surprised to read in the newspapers that ACPN submitted the name of “Gani Galadima” along with other political parties that have submitted the names of their presidential candidates.

    But former governor said he never heard of “Gani Galadima” since his connection with ACPN, accusing INEC of smuggling him through the backdoor to frustrate the alliance.

    Musa, who is the chairman of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), also faulted President Goodluck Jonathan’s comment few days ago that no place was safe in Nigeria.

    He urged Jonathan to resign and forget running in the presidential election, adding that the president was “incompetent” to rule the country.

    His words: “Few days ago, President Jonathan said that there is no security anywhere in the country. The incompetence of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is quite clear. We must correct the negative state of the nation.

    “Jonathan has proven what I have always said that he is incompetent; because he is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and the chief security officer of the country. If he knows that no part of Nigeria is safe, he should be able to do something about it, because that is what is expected of him.

    “If he cannot for whatever reason; then, he should resign. The implication of what Jonathan has said is that Nigerians should not rely on government.

    “With this statement, Jonathan has ruled himself out of contesting the  presidential election.”

  • Confusion over Abia PDP governorship candidate

    Confusion over Abia PDP governorship candidate

    A huge haze seems to be hanging over the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Abia State, ahead of the general elections.

    It was learnt yesterday that there were issues surrounding Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu’s candidature.

    Ikpeazu’s form C0028, according to findings, was already with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This is contrary to information available to The Nation that the Form C002B, as it relates to Abia State, was withdrawn by the PDP national leadership, following questions about Ikpeazu, thereby casting doubt on the authenticity of the signature on the form Ikpeazu submitted to INEC.

    Form CF 002B is the INEC approved document with which chairmen and secretaries of parties can submit the names of their parties’ candidates for the governorship election.

    According to a copy of the Form C002B made available to The Nation yesterday in Abuja, only the signature of the PDP national chairman, alleged to have been forged, was appended. That of the PDP national secretary was not appended.

    It has raised questions in some quarters on how the document made it to INEC without the PDP national secretary’s endorsement.

    Our findings showed that the national leadership of the party had dropped Ikpeazu’s name.

    Although the party did not name any replacement, The Nation learnt that it rather asked that stakeholders should meet  the governorship aspirants and Governor Theodore Orji to seek a credible replacement.

    The meeting is yet to hold.

    A source at the commission told The Nation that “it was possible the document did not pass through the right channel before finding its way to INEC.”

    Fingers are being pointed at a senior worker of the commission from Abia State in the alleged “smuggling in” of the Form C002B, as the PDP national chairman was said to be out of the country when the form was signed and submitted.

  • Restoring prisoners’ rights

    Restoring prisoners’ rights

    •The order by the Federal High Court that prison inmates be allowed voting rights is commendable

     

    The order by the Federal High Court sitting in Benin-City, Edo State, that inmates of the Nigerian prisons should be enabled to vote at elections is indeed a landmark in enforcing the fundamental rights of all Nigerians. As Justice Mohammed Lima who heard the matter pointed out, it is unconstitutional and illegal to deprive any Nigerian of the right to vote or be voted for.

    It is unfortunate that the ruling came so late in the day. It ought to have occurred to all involved in the administration of justice and conducting elections that being remanded in or jailed in any of the prisons is not enough to strip any Nigerian of his or her citizenship.

    Sections 14 and 25 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as section 12 of the Electoral Act 2010 have spelt out the rights of all citizens. Other Nigerians who have been inadvertently deprived a hand in deciding those who rule them are those in the diaspora and those in uniform. This is no longer so even in other African countries that have given effect to section 20 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. The physically challenged also deserve attention in the design of ballot papers and boxes. They are full citizens, not second class compatriots and must be encouraged to participate in the electoral system.

    We call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make provision for the inmates to participate in the 2015 elections as the court has ruled. It is not enough to hold that the commission would find it difficult to register and give effect to the order before the February 2015 elections.

    It is the more pathetic to note that of the 56,000 inmates of the Nigerian prison system, almost 40,000 are awaiting trial. They are, therefore, in the eye of the law, deemed innocent at the moment. Why then should they be deprived of their voting rights? We find it difficult to understand how they would be compensated for this deprivation if eventually they are acquitted of the crimes for which they have been accused.

    In any case, what are the administrators of the justice system doing to ensure that those responsible for pauperisation of the masses are duly punished? Rulers of yesteryear, responsible for the country’s underdevelopment, are those still dictating the tune today. They not only vote, but use looted public funds to dictate who should be elected.

    It is also proper to point out that the utter neglect of the prisons by the Federal Government is itself criminal. The poor attention to welfare of the prisoners is one reason for jail breaks recorded in various parts of the country recently. Even in the Kirikiri Prisons, inmates protested poor treatment and pounced on the warders recently, thus calling attention to poor funding of the facilities.

    The electoral commission should realise that the order made was a mandatory injunction and could not be set aside except by a superior court. The order has deepened the nation’s jurisprudence and further provided for the participation of all Nigerians in their own affairs.

  • Fear grips PDP candidates over INEC’s list

    Fear grips PDP candidates over INEC’s list

    There is tension in Anambra State, following the non-inclusion of the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) list for the general elections.

    Some of the candidates have threatened to mobilise against President Goodluck Jonathan in the elections.

    When INEC’s list was released last week, the PDP candidates’ names were missing, raising doubts whether or not the party would take part in the elections.

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), who preferred anonymity, said the submission of names had ended “and any other thing INEC does will be illegal.”

    APGA’s National Chairman and the party’s candidate for Anambra Central, Chief Victor Umeh, threatened that the party would seek legal redress to stop PDP from fielding multiple candidates.

    This, according to him, had become a norm in the party’s practice in the state over the years, adding that APGA had written to INEC and PDP.

    The Nation learnt that the situation was causing panic among PDP candidates.

    Following the deployment of 27 Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) ahead of the elections, another REC had been posted to Anambra. He is Edwin Nwakatari from Ezeagu in Enugu State. He takes over from Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukaogu.

    The Nation gathered yesterday in Awka that the REC might resume next week.

    When our correspondent called on INEC’s spokesman Frank Egbo for confirmation of the list, he said: “I’m not competent to comment on it.

  • Court stops Ondo PDP’s list of candidates

    Court stops Ondo PDP’s list of candidates

    An Abuja Federal High Court has stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from using any list of candidates from the Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate elections.

    The court gave the order, following an application for contempt filed by the state PDP Chairman, Chief Olu Ogunye.

    The vacation judge, Justice A. R. Mohammed, directed that whichever list of candidates to be used for the elections from either of the parties to the suit should be determined by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, whose order was violated by INEC.

    The court also ruled that the entire contempt proceedings and committal to prison application would be determined on January 6.

    Justice Ademola, on December 18, directed that the leadership of PDP and INEC should relate with the Ogunye-led new executive in respect of conduct of primaries and elections into the House of Assembly, House of Representatives and the Senate.

    This order was allegedly violated by INEC and the PDP, which precipitated the contempt motion.

  • Calling on Kogi INEC

    Calling on Kogi INEC

    IR: The importance of permanent voters’ cards to the smooth conduct of next year’s election cannot be over- emphasised, hence the distribution exercise to prospective voters across the country. The last voters cards distribution exercise across the country raised a lot of dusts; many registered voters could not obtain their permanent voters cards for various reasons.

    I appeal to Kogi State INEC to please make available the remaining voters cards to the people particularly as the former INEC resident commissioner while addressing the leadership of political parties in the state, admitted that a total of 1,189,355 permanent voters cards were received in the state, out of which only 755,777 have been distributed, representing 63.54 percent. The balance of 433,500 representing 36.46 percent is yet to be collected by electorates.

    Kogi INEC should ensure they distribute the remaining voters cards before the election next year as the good people will not allow any flimsy excuse from INEC to deprive them of their right to exercise their franchise in the coming election.

    The political parties should also be engaged in the efforts to make eligible voters collect their permanent cards for them to come out and votes the candidates of their choice.

    The complaints associated with the current distribution of permanent voters cards should not in any way hamper the smooth conduct of the election.

     Bala Nayashi,

    Lokoja, Kogi State

  • INEC redeployed FEC for administrative efficiency – AD

    INEC redeployed FEC for administrative efficiency – AD

    The National Secretary, Alliance for Democracy (AD), Mr. Rafiu Salau, on Tuesday said the redeployment of INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) would improve the commission’s administrative efficiency.

    Salau told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that all Nigerians should be able to work in any part of the country.

    It would be recalled that INEC had on December 29 redeployed some of its RECs across the 36 states of the federation.

    “The redeployment of the Electoral Commissioners is a normal administrative strategy for efficiency.

    “The party believes that every Nigerian should be able to work in any part of the country.

    “Therefore, the Electoral Commissioners are to ensure that all states are equal and manageable in the discharge of their duties,” he said.

    The national Secretary further added that the party had embarked on its campaign at the grassroots level and pledged that the campaigns would be in tandem with the INEC time-table.

    “The grassroots campaign is the responsibility of every local government structure of the party.

    “The party will embark on house-to-house campaign for the voters to have the awareness of their benefits when a government is under the leadership of AD.

    “The campaign has started and it will comply with the timetable of INEC, and the state chapters will complement the efforts of the campaign at the local government level,” he said.

    The scribe also said that the party had submitted a list of its candidates to INEC and AD would not entertain the replacement of those nominated by the party members at its primary.

    “The party has submitted its candidates according to the timetable of the INEC.

    “The party also abided by the Electoral Act and the Rules and Regulations of the political parties to nominate candidates.

    “For instance, the party presented only those who emerged at the primaries.

    “AD will not entertain the replacement of those nominated by the party members at the primary which was supervised by INEC with those who didn’t participate,” he said.

    However, Salau assured that errors would be corrected.

  • Protest in Ibadan over REC’s deployment

    Protest in Ibadan over REC’s deployment

    •’I’m going nowhere’

    More than a thousand supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Accord Party, Labour Party (LP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo State took to the streets yesterday to reject Rufus Akeju as the new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  announced the redeployment of the 37 RECs and directed them to conclude all handing and takeover formalities by tomorrow.

    Akeju was posted from Osun; his predecessor, Nasir Ayilara, was posted to Niger.

    The protesters, who marched on the INEC headquarters, carried placards with inscriptions, such as: “Akeju must go”; “Don’t bring back the old wild wild west”, “Oyo rejects Akeju”; “Akeju is not fit to conduct election in Nigeria”; “Oyo wants credible elections”; “We reject him”; “Akeju will destroy Oyo election.”

    One of the leaders of the protesters alleged that Akeju was partisan.  He urged INEC Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega to transfer him to the national headquarters.

    Rasheed Rufai, a member of the Accord in Ibadan North-East, Mrs Mojisola Soyooye (LP), Adisa Jelili (SDP) in Oluyole Local Government Area, Adeniran Adekola from the Youth for Better Society, and others said they wanted another REC.

    But Akeju said the protesters have the right to demonstrate, noting that they cannot stop him from resuming.

    “They can demonstrate. That is their right. They have no right to say I cannot resume. It is as simple as that.”

    Clearing the air on the allegation that he is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he said: “They should go to court and prove it. They have been saying that all over. It is the same people.”

    Ayilara said: “I believe Akeju is a man of integrity and I believe by the time he resumes, he would conduct the exercise in a manner that will accord him the respect he has earned within the community.

    “I was not around when the protesters came but it was well handled by the officers they met on ground.

    “Unfortunately for the protesters, they were not organised. There was no letter to really back the protest, meaning that we are not really sure of the groups that are even protesting. So, it was not a true gathering that has genuine intentions to really say their views to Nigerians.

    “We regarded them as hoodlums who wanted to disrupt our activities here. That was why we called the security agents.

    “If there is a court ruling that says he is not competent to be a REC, I know the INEC chairman would not post him.

    “I believe there is no ruling that restrains him from conducting any election in this country. I know the right thing has been done.

    “The people of Oyo should allow him to do his job in a manner that will be favourable to all of us. It is a national service; one can be posted to any state, except your state of origin.”