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Tag: Inec

  • INEC officials caught moving ‘sensitive materials’ in Osun

    INEC officials caught moving ‘sensitive materials’ in Osun

    Two Independent National Electoral Commission officials in Obokun local government  area of Osun State were reportedly arrested on Friday morning  for allegedly diverting sensitive election materials.

    One of the suspects, an electoral officer in the area, reportedly confessed to the act, but refused to mention who sent him.

    However, the official did not deny when confronted that he was seen inside vehicles belonging to a Peoples Democratic Party stalwart in Obokun.

    The call log of his mobile phone also showed  that he had regular communication with the PDP chief.

    The suspects would have been lynched by irate mob but for the quick intervention of policemen, report said,

    The suspects and the  INEC vehicle with registration number –  FG 816 V01, used in transporting the materials are presently held at the state CID office in Oshogbo.

  • ‘INEC should conduct credible poll’

    ‘INEC should conduct credible poll’

    Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Chief Tunde Temionu spoke with reporters on preparations by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the Osun State governorship election and how to ensure a credible poll. 

    WHAT is the chance of Governor Aregbesola in the governorship election?

    If performance is the the main issue, then, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola  has no problem.  He has the support of the grassroots and the elite in Osun. Bu,t if it is going to be another election based on high-tech rigging, then, one must be very careful because it is not possible to be smarter than the person who laid ambush for you. So, if the election is free and fair, unlike what we witnessed in Ekiti, Aregbesola’s chance is bright.

    It is commonplace for students or workers to ask for more incentives by way of protests or strikes. It is also an indication that the system is not static. Apart from likely political instigation, the students and workers in Osun State cannot honestly compare their present welfare situation with what Ogbeni Aregbesola inherited. His education reform is in the overall interest of the state. The school merger system, with three principals and a coordinating principal, is strictly for administrative purpose, and not  inspired by religion. It is only subjective critics who would never see anything good in his government.

    They said that he brought contractors from Lagos. Lagos contractors are in all the state capitals.   Osun is not an exception. You will remember that Aregesola was the Lagos State Commissioner for Works and a political player, whose  leadership remains an enviable inspiration in Alimosho town and a symbol of leadership in Lagos State. So, most of his visitors from Lagos came for political consultations, not contracts.

    After Osun, attention will shift to other Southwest states, especially Lagos…

    First of all, I wish all the aspirants in the region the best of luck. And I also want to remind them that two persons cannot simultaneously occupy a vacant position. I also believe that ,as Nigerians, all the aspirants are eligible to aspire. In this circumstance therefore, destiny has a very important role to play. For example, Nigerians voted for MKO Abiola to become our President, but God said no. That should be enough lesson for us. Human beings conduct primaries, but God picks a governorship candidate.

    These aspirants must accept the decision of the party and its leadership. The party’s governorship tickets is not meant for disloyal members. One thing that I am very sure of is that there will be party primaries. And that is where  aspirants will test their popularity at the party level. So, aspirants who have all it takes to win the primaries need not panic and should trust the ability of the party leadership to conduct free and fair primaries.

    Some aspirants are spitting fire, saying that, if they are not given the  ticket, hell will be let loose.  What is your comment?

    It is not possible for primaries to simultaneously favour all the aspirants. But, it is possible for some people or a mole to have won the contract to destroy the APC in Lagos State. Evidently, apart from Mr. Akinwumi Ambode and Mr. Tunde Fowler, other aspirants are beneficiaries of the party. They had one time or another enjoyed the blessing and support of the party leadership. By virtue of their positions, they are all leaders of the party. And as men of honour and stakeholders, who are fully aware that the party does not belong to one person or a group of persons, they are like people living in glass houses, who must not throw stones. Although you cannot take human beings for granted, they are all party loyalists and positive people who are not supposed to be thinking only of what the party can do for them, but what they also can do for the party.  I know some of them to an extent. Subjectively, by all standards, they are all qualified to be governor. For instance, I know Dr. Tola Kasali to be a reliable party builder in the East Senatorial District. No matter how smooth or rough the political situation might be, he can never be a party to the destruction of the APC. He loves the party. We both worked together with other senatorial leaders to nurture the party in the East for the past four years. Moreover, this is not his first attempt. Whichever way it happens this time, as a good Muslim, he will accept the will of Allah. He is not a violent person. I wish him well.

    Dr. Leke Pitan is a self-satisfied person. He has never been identified with political violence or thuggery. As an elitist politician, it will take him only a short while to completely blend with the grassroots. Thereafter, the sky is his limit. Like other aspirants who have benefited from the party’s leadership style, all things being equal, he has the right to benefit again. But one thing I am sure of is, his medical consulting room cannot disappoint him. A good contestant must be propelled by variable outcomes. Should the worst happen, he is magnanimous enough to think of the other side of the coin. Moreover, clinical exigencies will not give him time for an unproductive project against the party.

    What about other aspirants?

    The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji, is a seasoned politician and the number three citizen of this state. By virtue of his position, he is a member of the party’s  apex caucus in the state. Should there be the need for the caucus to take a decision on any pending matter in the state, including the governorship race, he would certainly be a part of such a decision. He has that edge over other aspirants.

    As an astute leader and principal stakeholder, his continuous and positive contributions to the political growth of the party in Lagos East will remain indelible in the senatorial archives. In a similar vein, his leadership qualities and administrative values are reflected in the state legislative accomplishment. As a pathfinder, and a lucky politician, he was the first Speaker to have contested elections in a sequence, from the east, and the west senatorial districts. That was seen as a special dispensation, not an imposition.

    His administration also established the first Assembly Commission in Lagos State. All of these are clear proof of a builder. Notwithstanding, all of these notable achievements could not have been possible without the support of the party leadership. Above all, with all of these progressive inputs of his, and all he has gained from the party’s leadership style, he cannot destroy the house he built because of any odd reason.

    Senator Bariyu Gbenga Asafa is a gentleman to the core. His constituency projects and support for the grassroots were an additional value to the achievement of the leadership of Lagos East. Destiny catapulted him as former permanent secretary of Lands to the political arena and he became the serving senator of the district.

    The Commissioner for Works, Dr. Kadir Obafemi Hamzat, is another man that I have respect for. Although he is not a loud politician, he has a solid progressive political background.  The fact that his father, a  commissioner in Alhaji Jakande’s cabinet, and who is now the Oba Mufutau Hamzat, the Olu of Afoowa-Shagade, Ogun State, is also one of the most reliable pillars of APC in Lagos State.

    Ambode is a special stuff. His financial expertise and technocracy add value to his eligibility. His twenty seven years as a professional accountant and his civil service career were grassroots oriented. So, by virtue of his job, he has been a non-registered practising politician for many years.  But, now that he is formally registered to practise politics, his political sophistication and broad grassroots coordination skills have taken aback those who did not see him as a politician before now, and made him formidable, and a challenge to his opponents.

  • ‘No excuse for INEC’

    ‘No excuse for INEC’

    Youths in Osun State have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure that Saturday’s election is free and fair.

    They said the people would resist harassment by security agents and reject any election result that does not reflect their wishes.

    The youths, under the aegis of the Youth Reformation Group (YRG) and Students and Youth Coalition (SYC), in their hundreds, marched yesterday from the Osogbo City Stadium to Olaiya Junction in Osogbo.

    YRG’s National Coordinator Oludele Abiola said the march was to sensitise residents on the importance of one-man-one-vote and urged INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega to ensure a credible poll.

  • INEC pledges free, fair poll in Osun

    INEC pledges free, fair poll in Osun

    THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured the people of Osun State a free and fair governorship election on Saturday.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who spoke with stakeholders  in Osogbo, the state capital yesterday, described the election as another test for the commission.

    He also said INEC would prove through the poll that it is ready for the 2015 general elections.

    Heads of security agencies, the INEC National Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners, traditional and religious leaders at the event.

    The programme, which would be the last to be held before the Saturday’s election, gave the commission an opportunity to express its readiness to conduct a transparent and acceptable election.

    Jega, who said the commission had improved on the electoral process since 2011, noted that it was fully ready to conduct the Osun poll, using all the resources at its disposal.

    Warning politicians against unguarded utterances that could undermine the integrity of the commission, Jega assured that the commission was ready to punish any of its official involved in fraudulent acts.

    The INEC boss maintained that enough National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners from other states would be deployed to supervise the election in each local government, urging all political parties to field credible and trained party agents in each polling unit.

    The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sulaiman Abba, said all security agencies had come together to ensure that the election meet international standard.

    He assured that voters would not be harassed and intimidated by his men on the election day.

    The police boss added that there would be no use of siren by very important personalities (VIPs), adding that security agents in uniforms would not be allowed to escort their principals to the polling units.

    The INEC National Commissioner Supervising the election, Ambassador Muhammad Wali and the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, promised that the commission’s openness and transparency would not be compromised.

  • INEC, where is my PCV?

    SIR: I tried to collect my PVC at Oriade Local Government Osun State and I was told it was not ready.

    I believe that INEC and PDP are probably trying to discourage people from voting. INEC’s inefficient way of producing Permanent Voters Card (PVC) may disenfranchise so many people.

    Many people have been told that their voter’s card and which should be the basis for collecting PVC so as to be to vote, would not be acceptable despite the fact that their PVC is not ready.

    Does that mean despite having a voter’s card they would be denied the right to vote?

    I want you to informe INEC, that people without PVC, but Voter’s Card should be allowed to vote.

    • Ayo Ajayi,

    Oriade Local Govt, Osun State.

     

  • Ebola virus: No scientific proof of bitter-cola potency, says Onyebuchi

    Ebola virus: No scientific proof of bitter-cola potency, says Onyebuchi

    Health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu has said that there is no scientific evidence to the potency of bitter-cola in the cure and prevention of Ebola Virus Disease.

    The research  work that people are laying claims to according to the Minister is inconclusive as it is still in text-tube.

    Former Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Maurice Iwu back in 199 alongside some American researchers did a research that shows that extract from bitter-cola tend to have some activities against the virus.

    The research was however not concluded and hence the minister said therefore there is no scientific proof to back up the claims.

    He said, “ information  that is been circulated especially through the social media and the rest of the internet tend to suggest that because right now, there is no known vaccine for EVD and there is no known specific drug as effective against EVD, if we don’t streamline a lot of these information, the unwary will become so vulnerable. People have said that they know that a fruit is sufficient to cure EVD.

    “As I speak to you now, there is no proof yet of any such fruit. I repeat, there is no proof yet of any fruit.

    “One that has been mentioned is that just keep chewing bitter kola and you will be alright. As the Minister of Health of the Federal Republic of Nigeria I say that right now, there is no scientific yet to suggest that if you just eat bitter kola you will get to prevent the disease or where you have it, it will help to cure it.

    “However, we are aware that in 1999, Prof. Maurice Iwu worked along with an administration in United States of America and conducted research which at the level of the laboratory is what we call in-vitro research which means it is still in the test tube as it were and it is not in any living body which we call in-vivo.

    “This shows that some extract they had obtained from the bitter kola which is common in West Africa and in Nigeria and which we use for so many purposes in Nigeria including social reasons which tend to have some activities against the virus but that research was not concluded and therefore as at today, there is no evidence to link that as a cure or preventive measure against Ebola Virus Disease.

    “As I speak to you, there is no scientific evidence that says the use of bitter kola either prevents or cures Ebola Virus Disease but having taken note of that particular disease and other ones, we also feel that mass mobilization and creation of enlightenment that is very vital as a public health strategy in management of EVD that we do not neglect the issue of research related to EVD as we know, no progress can ever be made without research.

    He however said the ministry do not neglect research on Ebola Virus Disease, stressing that the ministry is keen to encourage research into the treatment of the disease just like many other countries are doing.

    This he said explained the setting up of a six member working group on the treatment and research of Ebola Virus.

    According to him, “therefore,  the Federal Government is keen to encourage research into EVD and today we are looking at research into treatment of EVD to be sure and research is ongoing all over the world to find the vaccine or a specific drug that will be active against EVD.

    “So, we are setting up Treatment Research Group for Ebola Virus Disease.  TRG for EVD”

    The committee which included Prof. Iwu is co-chaired by  Innocent Ujah, Director General of Nigerian Medical Research Institute and Director General National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Prof. Kaniyus Gamaniel.

     

    Other members are  Prof. Andullraman Nasidi  of the National Centre for Disease Control ( NCDC ),  Dr Sani Gwarzo of the Port Health Service,  Director of Public Health,  Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Bridget Okoeguela and Director of Health Planning and Research,  Mrs As a Ogu.

     

    The committee which was inaugurated yesterday has as terms of reference: to carryout research and treatment on the virus; to receive and verify claims; collate and analyse research findings with similar countries around the world; and to advice government as may be appropriate from time to time.

    The committee has also been given free hands to bring in their technical staff as they deem fit.

     

    Ends

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • LP candidate to INEC: ensure all get cards

    LP candidate to INEC: ensure all get cards

    Osun State Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate Alhaji Fatai Akinbade has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the electorate is not disenfranchised on Saturday.

    Addressing his supporters at a campaign rally in Oriade and Obokun local government areas, Akinbade urged INEC to ensure that all registered voters get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) before the poll.

    The LP candidate, who was reacting to the people’s complaints, said: “We urge INEC to do all it can to ensure that all registered voters get their PVCs. Many prospective voters have not got their cards. Even those who transferred within the state since April have not received their PVCs.

    “The commission is doing a good job but it can do better. I urge INEC to make sure prospective voters who are yet to get their PVCs in the two local government areas get them in good time to enable them participate in the election.”

    The people of Ijesa North Federal Constituency trooped out to welcome Akinbade’s campaign train. Traditional rulers in the area, led by the Arakeji of Ikeji Ile, Oba Adebayo Ogunmokun, prayed for Akinbade’s success in the poll.

    The LP candidate thanked them for their support and pledged to ensure equitable distribution of amenities across the state, if elected.

    He also promised to create jobs and reposition the education and health sectors.

  • APC exposes PDP rigging plan

    APC exposes PDP rigging plan

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday alleged “a devilish plan” involving an unscrupulous INEC official and PDP stalwarts to rig the August 9th governorship election in Osun State.

    Under the alleged plan, according to the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, some INEC IT staff have handed over the entire electoral register for the state to a Special Assistant to a top PDP national official with a view to manipulating it to disenfranchise many voters.

    ‘’For those who may see this as outlandish, they should recall that an INEC official tampered with the voters register used during the last gubernatorial election in Anambra State to remove the names of many voters,’’ the APC said.

    It added that the plan to tamper with the electoral register for Osun and  INEC’s delay in issuing Permanent Voters Register to registered voters, especially those who are APC members in the state, were pointers to  the desperation of the PDP to win the forthcoming governorship election at all cost.

    It said: ‘’The truth is that the PDP knows it cannot win a free and fair election in Osun State. Everything so far points to the fact that our party will win by a landslide if the election is free, fair, credible and transparent.

    “In fact, a highly-credible opinion poll carried out by the globally-recognised TNS-RMS shows that the APC leads among voters in the state by 73%, compared to a paltry 19% for the PDP.

    ‘’Apparently stunned by the reality on the ground, as against the propaganda by the PDP, the party’s candidate, Iyiola Omisore, quickly conjured his own opinion poll, purportedly carried out by USAID, showing that he is leading the APC candidate and incumbent Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

    ‘’Fortunately, USAID has denied carrying out any opinion poll in Osun State, thus putting a lie to the PDP’s claim. There is no better indication of desperation than this,’’ the party said.

    It called on all the good people of Osun state in general and APC members and supporters in particular to be very vigilant in other to thwart the evil machinations of those who are averse to credible and violence-free elections.

  • INEC recruits 10,432

    INEC recruits 10,432

    About 10,432 adhoc staff have been recruited by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the conduct of the August 9 Osun State governorship election.

    Addressing reporters at a press conference at the INEC Secretariat along the Gbongan Road yesterday, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, disclosed that the adhoc staff, who are presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, supervisory presiding officers, local government collation officers and returning officers, were youth corps members drawn from Osun, Kwara, Oyo, Ondo and Kogi states.

    He assured people of early delivery of election materials to all the 3,379 voting points across the state.

    He reiterated the readiness of the INEC to conduct a free, fair and credible election, saying the exercise would meet the aspirations of all and sundry.

  • Beware of fake election observers in Osun

    Beware of fake election observers in Osun

    THIS is a special appeal from a patriotic Nigerian to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It is my belief that the appeal will contribute to a free and fair election in Osun State.

    There is a rumour spreading in the SouthWest, and it has to do with the rigging of the August 9 gubernatorial election in the state.

    The rumour has it that a particular political party is planning to deploy fake election observers in all polling booths. The assignment of these people is to rig or cause trouble, if they are prevented from rigging.

    I want the INEC boss, Professor Attahiru Jega, to attach much importance to this information because anything can happen in this country. He should instruct all the INEC workers to carefully scrutinize the identity cards of all observers at the voting booths.

    I am also using this opportunity to call on all the good people of Osun State to be vigilant before the election and on the election day to prevent evil people from subverting the will of the masses.

    They should go out and vote in accordance with their conscience. They should not fear intimidation or harassment. They should have it in mind that where there is a will, there is a way.

    W A Adefolabi,

    Ibadan, Oyo State.